AFRICA and the USA

<h1 class="h1" style="color: blue; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">USA increases its presence in Africa "the rising continent", while Europe keeps on underestimating it until its too late to take advantage, for "frontier" markets of today's AFRICA will be the emerging markets of tomorrow.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></h1><h1 class="h1" style="color: blue; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></h1><h1 class="h1" style="text-align: center;">  <span style="color: red;">AFRICOM Expands Mission In Africa</span></h1><h1 class="h1" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: red;"> </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZBSd1onaNWs?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><h1 class="h1" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In 2012, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA is rapidly coming of age as an economic region and as an investment destination. The so-called "frontier" markets of today's AFRICA will be the emerging markets of tomorrow.</span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Over the next five years, according to the IMF, seven economies in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA are expected to be among the ten fastest growing economies in the world. In 2011, the economy of GHANA grew by 13.7%, while ETHIOPIA'S grew by 8.5%. Elsewhere, the MOZAMBIQUE economy grew by 7.5%, NIGERIA and ZAMBIA by 6.8%, and the Democratic Republic of CONGO by 6.5%. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Seeking economic ties with the continent augurs well for the future, both for AFRICA and the USA. AFRICA is forecast to emerge as the fastest-growing region in the world over the next 20 years. To realize this growth, it will have to nurture a number of key competitive advantages: the world's richest mineral and energy deposits, the most arable land, and what is predicted to be the </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">youngest population in the world by 2050</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. </span></span></div></div>

AFRICA and the USA

USA increases its presence in Africa "the rising continent", while Europe keeps on underestimating it until its too late to take advantage, for "frontier" markets of today's AFRICA will be the emerging markets of tomorrow.    AFRICOM Expands Mission…

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NO NEW REVELATIONS BY BBC

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On <u>17 July 2012</u> <b>BBC</b> wrote:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><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";">SYRIA: ASSAD REGIME 'READY TO USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS'</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The most senior Syrian politician to defect to the opposition has told the BBC the regime<b> <u><span style="color: red;">will not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it is cornered</span></u>……….. </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18864629"></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The rest of the article seems a “Psy Ops” style assumptions in line with British doctrines regarding Syria. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It needed an defected Syrian ex - ambassador telling mainstream media this revelation!!!!!!!!</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";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Read full article under: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18864629">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18864629</a></span></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">On <b><u>7 of July 2012</u> Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring</b> wrote:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">UNLIKE IN EGYPT AND LIBYA, THE SYRIA’S ASSAD REGIME WILL LEAVE WITH AN IMPACT, IF TOPPLED…….</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times","serif";">One should not underestimate SYRIA threat of using its bio chemical weapons arsenal if pushed into the corner</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times","serif";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> This could also have devastating consequences for TURKEY. The fact that SYRIA possesses these Bio chemical weapons is probably the main reason foreign intervention by western powers is put on hold, for it would affect the entire region.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">Read full article at: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">See also: Useful excuse for foreign intervention: Syria’s bio – chemical weapons arsenal?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">and</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/syria_11.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/syria_11.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BBC seems a bit late with its revelations. To go further back:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">On <b style="color: red;"><u>8 of March</u></b><u style="color: red;"> <b>2012</b></u><b>Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring</b> already reported that <b>Syria does possess bio chemical weapons and <span style="color: red;">that sooner or later they will either be used by Assad, if pushed into the corner</span></b>,<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/given-fact-syria-does-possess-chemical.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/given-fact-syria-does-possess-chemical.html</a>, or by western allies, in favor of toppling the regime, as a “Psy Ops” tool to either increase covert operations, or to justify a full out military intervention. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">On <b><u style="color: red;">20 of March 2012</u>Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring reported:</b> Syrian Missiles will pre emptive any military intervention. See: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/syrian-missiles-will-pre-empt-any.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/syrian-missiles-will-pre-empt-any.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

NO NEW REVELATIONS BY BBC

On 17 July 2012 BBC wrote:SYRIA: ASSAD REGIME 'READY TO USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS'The most senior Syrian politician to defect to the opposition has told the BBC the regime will not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it is cornered……….. The rest of the ar…

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Recipe: Potato Torta with Romesco Sauce

Doesn't the name of this recipe sound super fancy?  Well guess what?  It's not!<br /><br />I made this breakfast dish last week and it was simple to prepare with easy on-hand ingredients (at least in my kitchen). <br /><br />This recipe comes to you from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Watchers-PointsPlus-Power-Cookbook/dp/B006KHWHI0" target="_blank">Power Foods Cookbook</a> by Weight Watchers.  I've loved the few recipes I have made out of this book thus far.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yWq-i599sA0elbAGCuLxg7c8qubxj9NwpqeV6D4BclY6s5K5olvfDQE5d3KOoyBTLFPxnKeTOp_Iuy8GJgoUAMp1NFy3EIgRuZSDXIdRkVORkUI2HR10nnF3RHT30kn304B3RZUYlEE/s1600/potato+torta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yWq-i599sA0elbAGCuLxg7c8qubxj9NwpqeV6D4BclY6s5K5olvfDQE5d3KOoyBTLFPxnKeTOp_Iuy8GJgoUAMp1NFy3EIgRuZSDXIdRkVORkUI2HR10nnF3RHT30kn304B3RZUYlEE/s400/potato+torta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately the picture doesn't quite do it justice! <br /><br />I've included the recipe in it's entirety below.  I will say this - it's an extremely versatile dish that can really go many directions.  I left mine as-is but next time I will add some spinach and protein into it to bulk it up, but you could get really creative with your add in's.<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><u>Potato Torta with Romesco Sauce</u> - <i>4 PointsPlus</i></b></div><br /><i>Ingredients:</i><br /><ul><li>12 oz small red potatoes, sliced</li><li>1/2 c chopped roasted red bell peppers, drained (not oil packed)</li><li>1 small tomato, quartered</li><li>2 Tbsp slivered almonds</li><li>2 Tbsp orange juice</li><li>1 small garlic clove, chopped</li><li>1/2 tsp smoked paprika</li><li>1/4 tsp ground cumin</li><li>1 c Egg Beaters</li><li>1 Tbsp minced fresh chives</li><li>1/4 tsp salt</li><li>1/8 tsp black pepper</li><li>1 Tbsp olive oil</li></ul><br /><i>Directions:</i><br />1. Bring potatoes and enough cold water to cover to boil in medium saucepan.  Reduce heat; partially cover and simmer until potatoes are fork tender, about 6 minutes. Drain.<br /><br />2. To make the sauce, combine roasted peppers, tomato, almonds, orange juice, garlic, paprika and cumin in food processor and process until smooth.  Set aside.<br /><br />3. Whisk together Egg Beaters, chives, salt, and black pepper in medium bowl.<br /><br />4. Heat oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add potatoes, spreading them in a single layer, and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes (do not stir).  Turn potatoes, keeping them in a single layer, and cook until lightly browned 3-4 minutes.<br /><br />5. Pour egg mixture evenly over potatoes.  Reduce heat and cook, covered, lifting edges with spatula once or twice until eggs are set 4-5 minutes.  Cut into wedges and serve with sauce.<br /><br /><span style="color: #351c75;">Serves 4 (cut into 4 wedges)</span></blockquote>I actually loved the potato "pie", but didn't much care for the Romesco sauce.  Now, I also don't like tomatoes, which is a base for that sauce.  Joel, however, loves tomatoes, and also didn't care for it.  We both thought it tasted too garden-y fresh.  Yes, apparently this can be a bad thing.  <br /><br />Next time I would add in some vegetable (a 0 PointsPlus one) and perhaps some turkey bacon or turkey sausage.  It would certainly affect the PointsPlus value depending on how much you added in, but I think it would make this dish even better!<br /><br />Enjoy! <br /><br />

Weight Watchers Power Foods Cookbook Recipe: Potato Torta with Romesco Sauce

Doesn't the name of this recipe sound super fancy?  Well guess what?  It's not!I made this breakfast dish last week and it was simple to prepare with easy on-hand ingredients (at least in my kitchen). This recipe comes to you from the Power Foods Coo…

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The Age of Common Sense

In the Information Age we are in dramatic need of some intelligence to it all. Information is everywhere, but where is the common sense?<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/AVvXsEjBf9LZtfAKr80O47sGVk-TL4auyWYdU7q30bdrQTRp2lNBhrt-uT69w4k0wqPLPNaMK7JiEhcwnZqiPJdphy8rEC0DBErUldEowsMKx12JQhWqImzzpQ0OGv2yc-9bBAnVpDLgwOT3kbrr/s1600/iStock_000020672296XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf9LZtfAKr80O47sGVk-TL4auyWYdU7q30bdrQTRp2lNBhrt-uT69w4k0wqPLPNaMK7JiEhcwnZqiPJdphy8rEC0DBErUldEowsMKx12JQhWqImzzpQ0OGv2yc-9bBAnVpDLgwOT3kbrr/s320/iStock_000020672296XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iStockPhoto - used with permission</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3> Does all the stuff make sense?</h3></div><div>In the 1990's we all hit WalMart and the mall with our credit cards and started organizing our stuff only to realize that we didn't need all that stuff. Our closets were overflowing, our waistlines were growing, and our debt was showing. More didn't improve our lives and we should have known better, but we didn't.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the Internet came along we started shopping online, racking up more debt all the time and losing ourselves in the wonder of the new library of Alexandria for hours at time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, we connected with friends and thought that more was more again and the more friends we had  online somehow the more legacy we had. The more we shared, the less privacy we had. We were "liked" for goodness sakes, didn't that count for something?</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, we can connect via our cell phones and smart phones. Every second we can be in touch with who had a baby, who got a promotion and who is on vacation. But more isn't more. More connections mean less time, less flow state, and less focus.</div><div><br /></div><div>We can stream, find, connect, and remind ourselves 24/7 to do more and be more. But 1000 apps reminding me to do 10 things is just keeping me from doing those things I need to do.<br /><br />When Kip turns me loose to blog, he says "do your stuff" and that is often what it is -- stuff. Not one specific thing but a thousand tiny things.</div><div><h3> Making sense</h3></div><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/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s1600/img_0046_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3G4qCrhzRtkEKkOhepzR542gK0_fX-CTP6t_LCTqCqzBCGK8kPcniytS9enAJNCKL0flVjsWL-xIEQYGczrPj7WF7CmkPZgufoFPsYraURG5XLpWZlrWE975lgCPS2z17yQ7ZbIFMWSU/s320/img_0046_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My youngest son and I went rafting a few weeks a go.</td></tr></tbody></table>Life is beautiful, fun, and a blast but those moments are often best when I get offline, away from all of this and make sense of things. </div><div><br /></div><div>Marketers have gotten so incredibly good at targeting me that my inbox is full, customized ads show up on the side of every website, and hyped up product launches make me think I have to have that or this new apps. My kids buy music and tune out or get psyched for something big while I buy an app so I can squeeze one more ounce of something out of this life I'm trying to live.</div><div><br /></div><div>So many people blame everyone else. In the US we have 2 political parties sworn to fight to the death but if they don't back off and start to work together, they'll find they didn't kill each other but rather, the nation they supposedly love. The truth is power is what people love and importance and being "followed" and "liked" and whatever narcissitic mess someone else can invent in order to make us feel important and like our life of more is not really worth less.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wisdom doesn't guarantee you popularity, just legacy. </b>We need more wisdom and a good old healthy dose of Grandma's common sense.</div><div><h2> The Age of Common Sense would be a blessing</h2></div><div>Common sense. Good, plain old common sense. We've had the Industrial Age and the Information Age. We can often be defined by the age in which we live. </div><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="http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Big-80-s-Hair-the-80s-300441_308_194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Big-80-s-Hair-the-80s-300441_308_194.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.fanpop.com/spots/the-80s/images/300441/title/big-80s-hair-photo" target="_blank">fanpop</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>All the stuff sprayed on my hair didn't make me prettier in the 80's,<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apreche/130101390/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="closet by Apreche, on Flickr"><img alt="closet" height="320" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/50/130101390_06e986247d_q.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>the stuff in my closet didn't make me happier in the 90's,<br />nor did all the bookmarks in the 00's,<br />nor did all the friends in the 10's,<br />nor do all the connections nor the fact that I can tweet from the bathroom just before I hop in tub.<br /><br />What has made me happier is getting offline for longer periods of time, looking people in the eye, spending my mornings on my knees asking God what I should do with my day, and applying common sense before I buy another app, before I go shopping or before I spend a dime or my precious time on anything.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>If I could name an age and wish it upon us, it would be the age of Common Sense. </b>The whole world is being seen in "shades of grey" - and this attitude of "what is right for you may not be right for me" is crazy -- murder is wrong and so is lying and stealing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSzdIP9Esi9WuSNPQznhfoIaFSJtbjgQAlqStFfr09Z15XY80F5ps1lpe4oAUSLpOvWn2e8fm5wukhut30fl_fGkuMG36BAY_6AisCE2YfiCAg0E40rIJaldCkX_2edRaxU1hX2A4jyOc/s1600/iStock_000005946391XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSzdIP9Esi9WuSNPQznhfoIaFSJtbjgQAlqStFfr09Z15XY80F5ps1lpe4oAUSLpOvWn2e8fm5wukhut30fl_fGkuMG36BAY_6AisCE2YfiCAg0E40rIJaldCkX_2edRaxU1hX2A4jyOc/s320/iStock_000005946391XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Freedom has always come at a price and every human being on this planet deserves respect as a human being but not necessarily the right to be heard. Some people are crazy and others are crooked and their ideas and ideals don't belong alongside great men and women of history. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I am inundated and my inbox is full, I'm feeling completely and utterly rebellious. I think common sense has gone out the window but I'm not just going to whine about it. <span style="background-color: white;">So, I'm proclaiming my own age of common sense including:</span></div><div><ul><li>Time with family, in nature, exercising, reading, and talking to people are just as important as online time. </li><li>I will not elevate a person who is not there over a person who is right there. I will pay attention to people. People are important. I will be PRESENT.</li><li>I'm just not going to get hyper over anything NEW because it is new. I'm not a fangirl who worships any person or gadget or app, that is ridiculous.</li><li>I will look for people who are up front about who they are, their motivations and even their beliefs. We've been in a time of "abstaining" - no one wants to tell anyone what they believe because we're to the point that some people think "if you're not like me, I'm not going to follow you." I will look for honest, truthful people and work hard to be one myself. I will keep following people who are different from me, that is OK.</li><li>I will be minimalistic in the apps, alerts, and streams I allow into my life but intentional about participating where I want to be. If I can't use my iPad because I'm being alerted that Talking Tom needs to be "fed" then that is over the top.</li><li>I'm a human being not a human doing. Being is as important as doing and vital to my own sanity.</li><li>I'm going to go with the research that the fountain of youth is exercize. Mrs. Grace Adkins who is 80+ now rides her bike for an hour 6 days a week. She's de-aged 15 years, has lost 20 pounds, and still comes to work 5 days a week. She feels better than most 50 year olds I know. I'm going to work out an hour a day 6 days a week, no matter what. Tweeting another tweet and blogging another blog isn't going to make me live longer, exercise can.</li><li>I want to find people who have common sense and wisdom but also let them be human's who mess up. I'm not going to run away from a person because they screw up once. This "disposable people" society is ridiculous where people mess up and can never be forgiven. I guess it makes people feel better than a great person who messes up but part of my faith is the belief that I can be forgiven and have the ability to start over at any moment in my life.</li><li>My followers, friends, and those I follow are a cool, fun, powerful way to interact but I will not give them more importance than my husband or children. </li><li>Helping others live their dreams by being helpful and shining the spotlight on greatness wherever it is, is a lasting legacy.</li><li>A cell phone in my hand does not excuse rudeness. I will not stand up in front of people who are there in order to capture a moment for those who aren't. Manners start with me.</li><li>Complaining about everybody else is a sorry way to live life and will make me bitter and worthless. I will be the kind of person I think this world needs and ask God to give me wisdom to do that.</li></ul><div>What would you add to the age of common sense? I wish we could start using more of it.<br /><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/AVvXsEigT6f0jFxCLy3YN8E5mQoahcCYZRpvVHMoN5hO5hDjCUACWvZwy6ZKlISwtV4a00OphvESmrBKyShJmIV6uFJ0OyJYWKedLCgBtT3UEeivRDCAsT8mPohcaJcchRfKhj3pPxeJQhd8oz79/s1600/Zipline+2012+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT6f0jFxCLy3YN8E5mQoahcCYZRpvVHMoN5hO5hDjCUACWvZwy6ZKlISwtV4a00OphvESmrBKyShJmIV6uFJ0OyJYWKedLCgBtT3UEeivRDCAsT8mPohcaJcchRfKhj3pPxeJQhd8oz79/s640/Zipline+2012+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some would say ziplining isn't good common sense. But that is not what I'm talking about in this post. Common sense is that I left my iPhone behind and enjoyed every "wahoo" and "wow" on this trip. Common sense is taking time to go to the mountains with your family even if it means you lose a little privacy. Common sense is living your life offline as well as online and encouraging others to do the same. For life to be sweet, it takes more than a tweet. Get out there and live it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>

commentary editorial Inspiration The Age of Common Sense

In the Information Age we are in dramatic need of some intelligence to it all. Information is everywhere, but where is the common sense?iStockPhoto - used with permission Does all the stuff make sense?In the 1990's we all hit WalMart and the mall wit…

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30 days of webtools: #9: Create PDFs from webpages using the Chrome Extension ‘Send to Google Docs”

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently I was faced with a problem. Some of the Constant Contact newsletter links that I had placed on the blog no longer worked…they had expired.  I thought the best thing to do would be to convert the newsletters to PDFs and upload them to Box.net with a link to the blog.  But, Constant Contact didn’t seem  to supply any way of converting these newsletters to PDF. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Google Chrome extension – Send to Google Docs</span></b>. <br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I remembered the wonderful free Chrome extensions for Google Chrome. They seem to provide the answers to many a problem. I went to the Chrome Web Store and searched for the ‘Send to Google Docs’ extension…and installed it. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloTnTsoxqQ0wi5v_8Uj2TAYsbqNdULlmlOkNrYz-IZithNk1DhnaxVZrtNnHKGti4ZLGEHMwWRFI2Xm1GwkkoN8BtwhWBYPjG0RRlOk233obiA_65e_VxnZZen52DDN8K1B_GjA3kI8g/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOtCGHPuDf8nbmXG61vxkYsG_TZ89aUzpGcy4M3kCzf1N0azsQe29FWU1rJQ3KO40Ux3wFsc7EnXyThbutg725I04zm2eRtS8ouC_mZ2dbWBmYWjouD2JhAYHUYD9SyPyGarNR6aIqYI/?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="image" width="361" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It neatly took its place alongside my other Chrome Extensions on the top right side of my Chrome browser. I then did what I had to do and converted the newsletters to PDFs. This is an amazing feature in Google Docs. You can take any web page and convert it to a PDF in this manner. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to save a web page as a PDF</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Step 1</u>: Find the web page you would like to save</span><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 2</u>: Click on the installed Chrome extension ‘<i>Send to Google Docs’</i> on the browser bar </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;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwL_MGR-3qLD_l2yYGRDfQFH0xvV3TQMOXW-cWEi2Inc_VdUY3Napw4mEkQh1ZAGI5ypzAuowZUIroV4RPf7xr9M23a4YOCFtqbM_jx_cLPhlRTNpxjbihNtxT82OUS5GnJY8Dg5fEpE/s1600-h/image%25255B12%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMsCq7-0FfXztL6WZBmaos8lXgUaCN_AosCX6vor6u6wIh79Ub12kMDK_NVEQSPXuGwEAWpvYkERjRDhZGTHWS14jraZW_WVU4eM99iDNFAWb2YhlyExhhkLrItC46wIE2aFq_otyqB8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The web page will appear in your Google Docs in no time at all.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV8oP6y_o42j0F-MX15pqHncfa5nfA5bwsGUudgeOsRLPVruFnnl8N4SdqD0swy5tqy1B-jevXh8yBVqQnJYvBHdHToCS7hcGsrInqKe-Htt92Xv8RyQM9AQygbBQbo2ZgOqfRjak1bc/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW873h-hLr6DL1pE6Txtdi6AZOPB3Sroe5uxiBaHBszNAqf4umDpYi4-4ux-y3VQNB6sda8TmGF5cPU2l1kClNPbPGLMZe3XthLdc5pm07rDNJXVrjbVvuNQhfUF_YlZXAfg1oDdosOdE/?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="image" width="417" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 3</u>: You’ll notice at the top of the page in Google Docs that three options are given.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscGST-h1S5b2GPXZUUxlGu8icmZThQmH8O8PEJY2wNgLDTxGdtTnNAXo_34g42NUCfIROp-IcUdL2iI1TSaxbvbvL5FrbELC1NuicmBdeZMn1WdqX-XycKV7a6sG6-97rL0Nnvh-wztA/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z7F4WaEQOgnLGQ7lyJZY6m2uf4m6cpnuZfT1WBets2ojSiAOeG_yLNFXEAbFU5-Lbgrt0lyxOk2lQvqK9DUsTgTot63hIZJAHpZ6hprbsnzaiGLgSFbIwEpbnsfYRYh7kU2_A5r5e_s/?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="image" width="406" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />You can actually do all three! I chose to <i>download the original</i> which it does in a PDF format which is perfect. From then on you can either link the document from Google Docs to a blog, wiki or website or you can upload it to a programme like Box.net to link from there.</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;">So, why not download the Google Chrome extension ‘<i>Send to Google Docs</i>’? It is a marvelous way of saving webpages as PDFs. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div></div>

30 days of web tools Chrome extensions create PDFs Web tools 30 days of webtools: #9: Create PDFs from webpages using the Chrome Extension ‘Send to Google Docs”

Recently I was faced with a problem. Some of the Constant Contact newsletter links that I had placed on the blog no longer worked…they had expired.  I thought the best thing to do would be to convert the newsletters to PDFs and upload them to Box.net…

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A chance for your class to be filmed? Read on…

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently our Programmes Manager, Omashani, received a letter about the SABC Education Show ‘Mother of all professions’ from Unathi Memela, the Content Producer of the show. The show will be filming in the different provinces and planned to complete Gauteng before the June break.  If you are from one of the other provinces and would like to be considered for this as per the conditions outlined below, please contact Omashani at SchoolNet via the email address on the SchoolNet website (<a href="http://schoolnet.org.za/">http://schoolnet.org.za</a>)</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;">Here is the request:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I hope this mail finds you well. I am urgently looking for interesting stories to profile for  the new season of the SABC Education Show "Mother of All Professions"  The show is looking for exceptional and inspiring people, schools, projects or organisations that are doing exceptional work around education whether in the classroom or in communities. </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;">The theme for this new season is "anyone can be a teacher" and teaching doesn't necessarily have to happen in the traditional classroom. One of the themes that we would like to look at is the successful use of technology in education especially in disadvantaged schools. I came across a very interesting article on the how the use of I-pads have impacted learners in Embalenhle Primary School in Vosloorus. This is the kind of innovative approach to education  that the show is looking to showcase. We would like to profile this school as an example of how technology can help educators in the classroom </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 am hoping you can assist me with putting this episode together. I am also open to any suggestions of other exciting elements (besides the school profile) that you might have that would make this episode exciting. We would like to film this episode before the schools close for the June break.</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;">The episode would be 24 minutes dedicated to showcase ICT implementation in schools.”</span></div></div>

news A chance for your class to be filmed? Read on…

Recently our Programmes Manager, Omashani, received a letter about the SABC Education Show ‘Mother of all professions’ from Unathi Memela, the Content Producer of the show. The show will be filming in the different provinces and planned to complete G…

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