CalifiaFarms iced coffee and almond milk review!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought this was so cool that they had this painted on the floor of the milk section of whole foods! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How cool is this!?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxniz-W-kASCE8mK6Uc7uI_y0e9rbylXOVRePQX2HqtiyKcum8ePNJdXXcRBQJr7RfbwfkBj10Fqu44_fHyg9p3wOjfQP0qASDT3zUBaY29l_8-xU9JzFcua7d3_mEkpZdp4nbB2sTbrI/s1600/IMG_20130713_182327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxniz-W-kASCE8mK6Uc7uI_y0e9rbylXOVRePQX2HqtiyKcum8ePNJdXXcRBQJr7RfbwfkBj10Fqu44_fHyg9p3wOjfQP0qASDT3zUBaY29l_8-xU9JzFcua7d3_mEkpZdp4nbB2sTbrI/s320/IMG_20130713_182327.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whether if it's a scorching hot day outside, rain or snow I am always with iced coffee in hand!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've tried many coffees that come already made at the grocery store and they just didn't have what I was looking for until now that is!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I came across these almond milks and coffees at whole foods from <a href="http://califiafarms.com/">Califia Farms</a> and I just loved the design of the bottles   Especially with their logo on it and I just knew I had to try them out for review!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love any kind of flavored coffee and couldn't wait to try them out to see how it differs from other brands.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gdR5hLfJ0k/UeNPuqXLc9I/AAAAAAAAIuw/ysHqnPcKT8k/s1600/13+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gdR5hLfJ0k/UeNPuqXLc9I/AAAAAAAAIuw/ysHqnPcKT8k/s320/13+-+2" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was sent some coupons for me to purchase the products of my choice !</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided to purchase mocha and cafe latte coffee </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h12IuwF5Hqg/UeNGZR834cI/AAAAAAAAIt8/5Pa3q9V7XqE/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h12IuwF5Hqg/UeNGZR834cI/AAAAAAAAIt8/5Pa3q9V7XqE/s320/13+-+1" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cafe Latte:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">loved the flavor and it was creamy and sweet!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mocha:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IBIYNe54_zg/UeNPunc3SfI/AAAAAAAAIuo/xEWthUwEu6w/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IBIYNe54_zg/UeNPunc3SfI/AAAAAAAAIuo/xEWthUwEu6w/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely loved the mocha flavor in the coffee it wasn't too sweet at all it was just right .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's perfect with some ice and you can even toss in some of your favorite ice cream along with the coffee for a frosty tasty treat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am a huge fan of coconut so I was so excited when I found the coconut milk!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also bought the vanilla milk as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eefi1_2jmlo/UeNGZd8EWSI/AAAAAAAAIuE/HiQXfAnWyZo/s1600/13+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eefi1_2jmlo/UeNGZd8EWSI/AAAAAAAAIuE/HiQXfAnWyZo/s320/13+-+2" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coconut Milk:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3riKC3eEEjh59lXK7abgt8yS_Hbk-UEg0nW1OgrBGTQgbNc10aYc5dn6sbsfqWHh9AQNYVHokonZXJoJUX89pJuoB7Gk1KUd0XH5GGocZwBFeG7DylkQ8Hnn1Vbz0IkS8NtAZp7zoP4s/s1600/califia+farms+coconut+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3riKC3eEEjh59lXK7abgt8yS_Hbk-UEg0nW1OgrBGTQgbNc10aYc5dn6sbsfqWHh9AQNYVHokonZXJoJUX89pJuoB7Gk1KUd0XH5GGocZwBFeG7DylkQ8Hnn1Vbz0IkS8NtAZp7zoP4s/s320/califia+farms+coconut+milk.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love how there is flakes of coconut in this deliciously nutty milk!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sweet but not too sweet and doesn't offer an overwhelming almond taste which is great!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can toss some coconut milk in a blender with some frozen yogurt and fruit for a sweet treat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vanilla Almond Milk:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFi8TKJzT5Nj0G2aTfyJYnRnbILynwt4nleygpxLr_GQFS_VabIcxEKDxK6DZXCuWHmIyeNCYDqlq5Fx-JnJh2u8yVTrEToAMzf2SPiPCW60JVkT0d03gcFSIynP8CcNHVQ1QWddVnKQ/s1600/califia+farms+banana+berry+smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFi8TKJzT5Nj0G2aTfyJYnRnbILynwt4nleygpxLr_GQFS_VabIcxEKDxK6DZXCuWHmIyeNCYDqlq5Fx-JnJh2u8yVTrEToAMzf2SPiPCW60JVkT0d03gcFSIynP8CcNHVQ1QWddVnKQ/s320/califia+farms+banana+berry+smoothie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Great Vanilla flavor, not too sweet it's just right and tastes so wonderful in smoothies!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which is just what I did in the picture shown above!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I tossed in some blueberries, 7 strawberries a whole banana and vanilla milk and it was just what I needed to refuel my body after my Curves workout! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Almond milks:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unsweetened</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coconut</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vanilla</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Original</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coffee made with almond milk:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mocha</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cafe Latte</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Double Espresso</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sweet and nutty facts:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">made with arabica coffee</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dairy Free</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Soy Free</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cholesterol Free</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Less Sugar</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No Saturated Fat</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Delicious</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rich in vitamins B2, B12, D and E</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They also have:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Orange Juice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lemonade and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Limeade</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Would love to try them as well, would be a refreshing drink for the summer heat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Website:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://califiafarms.com/">http://califiafarms.com/</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like Them on Face Book:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CalifiaFarms">https://www.facebook.com/CalifiaFarms</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Follow them Via Twitter:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/CalifiaFarms"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">https://twitter.com/CalifiaFarms</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

CalifiaFarms iced coffee and almond milk review!

I thought this was so cool that they had this painted on the floor of the milk section of whole foods! How cool is this!?Whether if it's a scorching hot day outside, rain or snow I am always with iced coffee in hand!I've tried many coffees that come …

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Mary Kay Influenster vox box

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_q7HEHH3bs/Uc7YlxvldBI/AAAAAAAAIk8/2CuyffMtf_4/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_q7HEHH3bs/Uc7YlxvldBI/AAAAAAAAIk8/2CuyffMtf_4/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was sent mary Kay makeup products through <a href="http://www.influenster.com/">Influenster</a> which is a site where you can take surveys to unlock badges and can test and keep products.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been a member for quite some time now and have been sent some really cool stuff to test.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway this time I was sent makeup and products of Mary Kay's makeup line!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've heard of the products before but have never tried them till now and I have to say I am in love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was sent a mascara, purple eyeshadow which I love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also the brush to apply the eye shadow, lipstick and mascara primer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am in love with the lash lengthening mascara it makes my lashes look more fuller and the eye shadow is not powdery which is good it's creamy and goes on pretty good and looked so good on me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am a huge fan of this makeup!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot of me wearing it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SVXrURMtyE/Ud3G013287I/AAAAAAAAIo8/dkFOclU4bgg/s1600/13+-+6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SVXrURMtyE/Ud3G013287I/AAAAAAAAIo8/dkFOclU4bgg/s320/13+-+6" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoaZlPT1cZo/Ud3G0_cVbgI/AAAAAAAAIpU/LML8z6zj2zc/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoaZlPT1cZo/Ud3G0_cVbgI/AAAAAAAAIpU/LML8z6zj2zc/s320/13+-+1" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Mary Kay Influenster vox box

I was sent mary Kay makeup products through Influenster which is a site where you can take surveys to unlock badges and can test and keep products.I've been a member for quite some time now and have been sent some really cool stuff to test.Anyway thi…

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Jimmy Bar energy Bar Review !

<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2T0biUmSf6g/UeNPzIdhn3I/AAAAAAAAIvQ/EFtgaa_rqyw/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2T0biUmSf6g/UeNPzIdhn3I/AAAAAAAAIvQ/EFtgaa_rqyw/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Since I made a change to my life which is eating healthier and exercising more I look for snacks that are healthy and will keep me full throughout the day and with that in mind, I came across these snack bars that are all natural and made with fruits and I just had to review them they sounded oh so delicious!! </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was sent some of these delicious all natural snack bars for review and couldn't wait to try!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://jimmybars.com/">Jimmy bars </a> are packed with nutrients such as dates which are used as a base and their high in fiber. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Mothers and fathers won't be dissatisfied in giving their kids a jimmy bar as a snack because their healthy and delicious giving them the energy they need rather than chips! </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You can eat it as a quick snack on the go with some fruit or even crumbled on top of yogurt which can make a healthy breakfast as well! </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Jimmy bar facts:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All natural</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Vegan( super hip chocolate chip and no bluffin banana muffin)</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Gluten free</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Dairy free</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No added sugars or sweeteners </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No additives or preservatives </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Flavors:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No bluffin banana muffin</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Peanut butter clutter </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Super hip chocolate chip</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">How about dem apples</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was sent these two delicious and yummy flavors:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Super hip chocolate chip:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I loved the chocolaty taste of this bar, it was just what I need for a quick pick me up while working. Gave me enough energy to keep moving!</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Peanut butter clutter:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This sweet and nutty bar was just what I needed for an am pick me up at work today! It was packed full of nutrients that kept me going and was deliciously nutty! </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I loved the texture of the bar and how it wasn't too crunchy or too soft it was just right and not too sweet at all. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Check them out on the web! </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Website:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Connect with them on their social media sites as well !</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jimmybars.com/"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">http://jimmybars.com/</span></i></a><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Like them on Face book:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JimmyBarEnergyBars">https://www.facebook.com/JimmyBarEnergyBars</a></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Follow them via Twitter:</span></i><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/jimmybarenergy"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">https://twitter.com/jimmybarenergy</span></a></div>

Jimmy Bar energy Bar Review !

Since I made a change to my life which is eating healthier and exercising more I look for snacks that are healthy and will keep me full throughout the day and with that in mind, I came across these snack bars that are all natural and made with fruits…

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Euro Market in Harrisonburg

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQifBwWjXSMoBlyKC_u1AtPU3_LCfKCPC5089HHMdGVsTTmfwXCq-88Wl65gyjSrB64-E7FYzxUdoUKSC1nuxCv7L7-1GIhE3sWLpg53SAY2Ud_G2t0d_vAUa8ypZtLUkiaDs07XWx_G8/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQifBwWjXSMoBlyKC_u1AtPU3_LCfKCPC5089HHMdGVsTTmfwXCq-88Wl65gyjSrB64-E7FYzxUdoUKSC1nuxCv7L7-1GIhE3sWLpg53SAY2Ud_G2t0d_vAUa8ypZtLUkiaDs07XWx_G8/s640/15.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Found a new, interesting place in Harrisonburg ... the <a href="https://plus.google.com/102891326247707429932/about?gl=us&hl=en">Euro Market</a>. Lot of goodies from Russia and some from France. </div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 12, 2013

Euro Market in Harrisonburg

Found a new, interesting place in Harrisonburg ... the Euro Market. Lot of goodies from Russia and some from France. Photo by Lynn R. MitchellJuly 12, 2013…

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Lunch at Lake Shenandoah

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY877Advg365b43Zm4KQkDx5IzPopCRjzGGVLgE4rkeRco39nU-hC39-FzHCqxrpIb_HHX7ch-qB3R8c5u90vpffXNi_qIZ3N3V5tGtu9q8QmS8vx0_LvbVcvBgJyxCnoMbizv6KhBa5S/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY877Advg365b43Zm4KQkDx5IzPopCRjzGGVLgE4rkeRco39nU-hC39-FzHCqxrpIb_HHX7ch-qB3R8c5u90vpffXNi_qIZ3N3V5tGtu9q8QmS8vx0_LvbVcvBgJyxCnoMbizv6KhBa5S/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the shadow of Massanutten Mountain is Lake Shenandoah complete with fishing and a birding trail. On Friday my sister and I found ourselves roaming around Rockingham County so stopped here for a tailgate lunch while watching the fishermen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmH7EVoT6a-vrB5ydeL-9KeOYucuDBKRG_Wtkj9JtrKDlljNz4vTY1p5XXP-zhFYYkVfkED8Zb6EXbwxTkZ_A8ud61n7jfRH1LJB3rHkp3nNAdGuriDFa6syjnHGdIaKk4tyeE1tnGhe5/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmH7EVoT6a-vrB5ydeL-9KeOYucuDBKRG_Wtkj9JtrKDlljNz4vTY1p5XXP-zhFYYkVfkED8Zb6EXbwxTkZ_A8ud61n7jfRH1LJB3rHkp3nNAdGuriDFa6syjnHGdIaKk4tyeE1tnGhe5/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Massanutten looms in the distance on an overcast day with fog on the mountain ridges.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 12, 2013

Lunch at Lake Shenandoah

 In the shadow of Massanutten Mountain is Lake Shenandoah complete with fishing and a birding trail. On Friday my sister and I found ourselves roaming around Rockingham County so stopped here for a tailgate lunch while watching the fishermen.Massanut…

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Pick you own blueberries in Roseland, Va

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGTxfSDT7DVFBIas17qc1YySMC_3u7tj4vB3vXN8XlMgMHfLzHvgbN7z46_5zZDwziodorAHwre81Rzy1E6rd2clwy4H9mbo68fRsGo-7QBCj1wbEbtbkVrwCkTICEcdzVhKBYogNXjb3/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGTxfSDT7DVFBIas17qc1YySMC_3u7tj4vB3vXN8XlMgMHfLzHvgbN7z46_5zZDwziodorAHwre81Rzy1E6rd2clwy4H9mbo68fRsGo-7QBCj1wbEbtbkVrwCkTICEcdzVhKBYogNXjb3/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Overcast skies and cooler temperatures were perfect as my sister and I stopped by Seaman's Orchards to pick blueberries on Thursday. The mountains in the distance were fog-shrouded and beautiful as we gazed toward the Blue Ridge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJzplKgvXTp2qGA3tTy2yytQ7JWP0uJUnlNJNQ6CeJPyeqXwHnkIoqryuUrqVYb_m7X5C5fSw9U__dpwgfouKz3FnSC7Muaa8ks-41jdzE_RConq23X1sh73LY8ywrhRCk9JrhC4xF8eq/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJzplKgvXTp2qGA3tTy2yytQ7JWP0uJUnlNJNQ6CeJPyeqXwHnkIoqryuUrqVYb_m7X5C5fSw9U__dpwgfouKz3FnSC7Muaa8ks-41jdzE_RConq23X1sh73LY8ywrhRCk9JrhC4xF8eq/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blueberry bushes were loaded with ripe, plump berries that drew my sister like a moth to flame. In years past, it was a 4th of July tradition to pick blueberries on the Northern Neck of Virginia since our family spent that holiday with family who owned a summer home. The tradition died when they did and we sold the house and, thus, the beginning of new Independence Day traditions.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BtSuew-2F4xkWwMuEAG9fbG_L9xSeIv2k0VxfQYDykJmxlN2nJoAtSC_eYpZsKNcnWjM9UZGsLTfWjJJ8zxxyhUXIYe3wLhN5pC-8AvNe2SAZz-ipU8DYH3lIJtY4huOrDQRZA4I0o7G/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BtSuew-2F4xkWwMuEAG9fbG_L9xSeIv2k0VxfQYDykJmxlN2nJoAtSC_eYpZsKNcnWjM9UZGsLTfWjJJ8zxxyhUXIYe3wLhN5pC-8AvNe2SAZz-ipU8DYH3lIJtY4huOrDQRZA4I0o7G/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along a ridge are apple and cherry trees as well as blueberries and strawberries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNaakDgsb0d8vsHc8QSc6T9ilNZoIu2cSCrP4o7tmn9gquINw8g9yBGLMlFSGS12Y7xGed6ahjFkeYXKL6csenK9BUVgffyxj97I3AvcSlksIMyUO3bAsICXCedXIv9Bj_sDG83pz5X8P/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNaakDgsb0d8vsHc8QSc6T9ilNZoIu2cSCrP4o7tmn9gquINw8g9yBGLMlFSGS12Y7xGed6ahjFkeYXKL6csenK9BUVgffyxj97I3AvcSlksIMyUO3bAsICXCedXIv9Bj_sDG83pz5X8P/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog4i1FAATnlSvAB93dv-riCUdelT7b-P_9krm3SJ9lXMeOSAkI2urglyY8o6KD-N2hyDtpWLjFUhkk9psp3FhcXrgTyxTHgZ1CNwqaz9dyzJbY_L28jKuMAkAlHPOeHY-BmlnQTbzQ5rC/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog4i1FAATnlSvAB93dv-riCUdelT7b-P_9krm3SJ9lXMeOSAkI2urglyY8o6KD-N2hyDtpWLjFUhkk9psp3FhcXrgTyxTHgZ1CNwqaz9dyzJbY_L28jKuMAkAlHPOeHY-BmlnQTbzQ5rC/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizReGwnmLDVp81yftm-4lv7CKY84ZZrAzdnGYR_RWCh0k_PgyvtEpTifPG0L8ddbypEHc83zqnsjMDMXfHN9B8IXKDKlZl-ATqlfOc4UUOIujQAhWlpEfm-BZAS0CzZ3avHNceG2-opa-F/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizReGwnmLDVp81yftm-4lv7CKY84ZZrAzdnGYR_RWCh0k_PgyvtEpTifPG0L8ddbypEHc83zqnsjMDMXfHN9B8IXKDKlZl-ATqlfOc4UUOIujQAhWlpEfm-BZAS0CzZ3avHNceG2-opa-F/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The scenic views are an added plus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpqaMkytgKmUY94jSyNwjr_YjaeU19bMk4fWjmD3W9WGkjbDSWLBFQlZA9YUJTDNzjlbB9rns2BfzHACk6J3-3Q3YDOOuqSmEwkztFKMp1hgTJj0HI4C2SpjEq7-HAuYTb-NvPYghwJpy/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpqaMkytgKmUY94jSyNwjr_YjaeU19bMk4fWjmD3W9WGkjbDSWLBFQlZA9YUJTDNzjlbB9rns2BfzHACk6J3-3Q3YDOOuqSmEwkztFKMp1hgTJj0HI4C2SpjEq7-HAuYTb-NvPYghwJpy/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seamansorchard.com/">Seaman's Orchards</a> in Roseland.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT5PgQ3QomDoOLtRZ4f2fqaFLoKLG7F60MqAxgzISQaBPtKSTc8tSXwEKJrT3SgwF2cwvakZlWjTwnCLx_0vTGb0I4e51GHq_ggUM2t_PekYarPPaFTWkQ68szv7YFU4Bh9Auq3t2fi6y/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT5PgQ3QomDoOLtRZ4f2fqaFLoKLG7F60MqAxgzISQaBPtKSTc8tSXwEKJrT3SgwF2cwvakZlWjTwnCLx_0vTGb0I4e51GHq_ggUM2t_PekYarPPaFTWkQ68szv7YFU4Bh9Auq3t2fi6y/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then we headed toward the mountains in the distance to explore the hollows.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AVmkuVPsJ5HWz9Eswd6qm2di8ObGUC9lJVeJiY3ZeovtBwfTC1GJRvOjMGsAutVWRdNITpBPgjG_Bz_7iZ37kuK9f_37eklzIpKnlTFr84bhZGsW2Mo6muxyN_C7JgefyZ17rcBYBcq_/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AVmkuVPsJ5HWz9Eswd6qm2di8ObGUC9lJVeJiY3ZeovtBwfTC1GJRvOjMGsAutVWRdNITpBPgjG_Bz_7iZ37kuK9f_37eklzIpKnlTFr84bhZGsW2Mo6muxyN_C7JgefyZ17rcBYBcq_/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VUwxyQd0Cisea0cd-ITXBp-uPaNCG2hsKtO3Oi6BRlDrOEuL31OwWgl7Oxukm1RtvZGQljWL-q5JdpQ7NAeAR_hoa1SPtzF3w9c420OM3q2LfslGr9fUp6d6Ne69i5CDlUjJl8YwuuTQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VUwxyQd0Cisea0cd-ITXBp-uPaNCG2hsKtO3Oi6BRlDrOEuL31OwWgl7Oxukm1RtvZGQljWL-q5JdpQ7NAeAR_hoa1SPtzF3w9c420OM3q2LfslGr9fUp6d6Ne69i5CDlUjJl8YwuuTQ/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 11, 2013

apples blueberries cherries pick your own Roseland Seaman's Orchard strawberries Virginia agriculture Pick you own blueberries in Roseland, Va

Overcast skies and cooler temperatures were perfect as my sister and I stopped by Seaman's Orchards to pick blueberries on Thursday. The mountains in the distance were fog-shrouded and beautiful as we gazed toward the Blue Ridge.Blueberry bushes were…

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Smart Car Gathering

<span style="font-size: large;">2 years ago my sister and I organised a Smart Car Meet up in Dublin.  It was a lot of fun and we got 11 Smart Cars at the event.  We intended to organise a meetup again in 2012 but never got around to it.  Instead we travelled to a Smart Car meet in Belfast.</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">This year we got around to organising a meet yesterday.  It went so well and we got 12 Smart Cars in total!  What a result.</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">We held it in the Phoenix Park and met in Farmleigh (originally we planned it for  Ashtown Castle but had to relocate due to the Phoenix Park Concerts).  Ireland is currently experiencing a mini heatwave so the weather was just perfect.</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">We had a guy travel from Galway for the event and two ladies (with their two dogs) travel from Northern Ireland.</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">Have a look <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.489788441107936.1073741825.397903776963070&type=1">here</a> for pictures of the event.</span><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KM_uOJ2hoYZRoyvtUJnfuMM1FPgXH6pfSAng9gbL1zPkGSOHgTFNzMOAn6uBAWLdXlNJRT7MajhuFMQWB_W23qcpkafpIu2Q0JH4AGlXPfVcgHmHFjQmYNOgnxeiwKnDFcYgf_SwCx3a/s640/blogger-image--323625605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KM_uOJ2hoYZRoyvtUJnfuMM1FPgXH6pfSAng9gbL1zPkGSOHgTFNzMOAn6uBAWLdXlNJRT7MajhuFMQWB_W23qcpkafpIu2Q0JH4AGlXPfVcgHmHFjQmYNOgnxeiwKnDFcYgf_SwCx3a/s640/blogger-image--323625605.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7_JRyjlDKemQRm7KmWEkTg8wku4GaXN30cdmDCcy_87A8ExSzNB9mrs5E8gurWSP_QJFwhrswlv79sVPklT7IixQ6qrujowKJzxzAPKR2HexhFoj3ZT-2JoOXhOo4nWl3X0dIJG-U153/s640/blogger-image--855016678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7_JRyjlDKemQRm7KmWEkTg8wku4GaXN30cdmDCcy_87A8ExSzNB9mrs5E8gurWSP_QJFwhrswlv79sVPklT7IixQ6qrujowKJzxzAPKR2HexhFoj3ZT-2JoOXhOo4nWl3X0dIJG-U153/s640/blogger-image--855016678.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br>

Smart Car Gathering

2 years ago my sister and I organised a Smart Car Meet up in Dublin.  It was a lot of fun and we got 11 Smart Cars at the event.  We intended to organise a meetup again in 2012 but never got around to it.  Instead we travelled to a Smart Car meet in …

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Piney River, Virginia

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-1ZIXEFo2_oRY_RwZhJsTRxKalixwbzVpZQL64N2BT0vcXZgtLAceD7IKNDxPtvKcK3Idz74nChxzeWOEwVT46bQfI0eJ7YdSvMscDxqfHd6lzsjubwx2bb_gWEj4fF7iqxTNFkX3zDu/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-1ZIXEFo2_oRY_RwZhJsTRxKalixwbzVpZQL64N2BT0vcXZgtLAceD7IKNDxPtvKcK3Idz74nChxzeWOEwVT46bQfI0eJ7YdSvMscDxqfHd6lzsjubwx2bb_gWEj4fF7iqxTNFkX3zDu/s400/22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail in Piney River, Virginia. Located on Rt. 151, it offers hiking and cycling along an old railroad bed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4CrUQgHq0ufQYSY1MikDaJFe8HGpIFDp_KuJT05uIxhdR5aUdTTAo0Q9jhmZWABdzzIzw4uk9AhtuadIhdUMT1omwQ-qG7tCVvGjdLBlqi0RXVqnn-nqF9pm1RVzT0aqyTaQb9WLpC5h/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4CrUQgHq0ufQYSY1MikDaJFe8HGpIFDp_KuJT05uIxhdR5aUdTTAo0Q9jhmZWABdzzIzw4uk9AhtuadIhdUMT1omwQ-qG7tCVvGjdLBlqi0RXVqnn-nqF9pm1RVzT0aqyTaQb9WLpC5h/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back roads of Piney River included ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignzIB6d3y7eERRhj3ZMcxsC2AbqVu3PdebrnBquPSBOUaSalpoITZEoVAlgpq4H3G9MTZYYjJt2y15-nAG-k06YVgx86xKpey6Zw95Ofvdya1w8EkgI3Jv6ycnMg-RHGGRCkIsfp92GML/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignzIB6d3y7eERRhj3ZMcxsC2AbqVu3PdebrnBquPSBOUaSalpoITZEoVAlgpq4H3G9MTZYYjJt2y15-nAG-k06YVgx86xKpey6Zw95Ofvdya1w8EkgI3Jv6ycnMg-RHGGRCkIsfp92GML/s400/21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... a roadside table for a picnic lunch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoJkgWUn3dJVXu3EYQmdfyXhLH-8AWlOVtC9YRfseCFfRHiFDPwGhexnz0-c95txAEOInz_FTcPq1yHa0pVyPFpVQpbc2Ia0-_D3JLniKxJEMsAE__elOZCElbtWD9M7i4kSmnhe2bRuL/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoJkgWUn3dJVXu3EYQmdfyXhLH-8AWlOVtC9YRfseCFfRHiFDPwGhexnz0-c95txAEOInz_FTcPq1yHa0pVyPFpVQpbc2Ia0-_D3JLniKxJEMsAE__elOZCElbtWD9M7i4kSmnhe2bRuL/s400/23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Storm clouds over the mountains.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 13, 2013

Piney River, Virginia

Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail in Piney River, Virginia. Located on Rt. 151, it offers hiking and cycling along an old railroad bed.Back roads of Piney River included ...... a roadside table for a picnic lunch.Storm clouds over the mountains.Photo…

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Weight Loss Solutions 5 Ways To Drop The Pound Fast

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Erin Newman</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Every day we find ourselves surrounded by advertisements for weight loss products, promising a fast and easy solution to weight loss. The truth is you didnt gain weight instantly and you are not going to take it off instantly. If you really want to lose weight and keep it off you must be willing to put in the time and effort necessary to achieve results.<br /> <br /> <b>Believe You Can Do It</b><br /> <br /> One of the most important factors for weight loss is belief in yourself.<br /> <br /> Having the belief that you can is just as important as exercising and eating healthier. Without belief, you are setting yourself up for failure before you even start.<br /> <br /> Write down the reasons it is important for you to lose weight. Then set a goal for how much weight you would like to lose and commit to it. Make a promise to yourself that no matter how hard it gets or how long it takes, you will reach your goal.<br /> <br /> Staying positive and holding on to the belief that you can will require you to feed your mind with positive thoughts daily. If you have one bad day don't let it discourage you. Just dust it off and get right back on track.<br /> <br /> The beginning of any weight loss program is usually pretty tough. This is because you are doing the right things but not seeing immediate results. If you give it time and stick with it for a solid month or two you will start to see your energy level skyrocket, the scale drop and your body take on a whole new form. This is when it starts to get easier because you like what you see and want to make it even better.<br /> <br /> <b>Stay Hydrated</b><br /> <br /> Water is the gas that fuels the engine of our bodies. The body needs water to function efficiently.<br /> <br /> Water is like fertilizer for our bodies. We need it to help our body function efficiently.<br /> <br /> When you drink the amount of water that your body needs, it will help your body digest food better and assist with eliminating harmful toxins from your system.<br /> <br /> Having a cup of water prior to each meal will also help you cut back on the amount of food you eat.<br /> <br /> <b>Start Working Out</b><br /> <br /> Exercise should be a vital part of any weight loss plan. It is possible to lose weight without exercise but in most cases the weight loss is only temporary.<br /> <br /> If the thought of exercise makes you panic start out with something simple like walking and gradually add in other exercises. Do whatever exercise you want as long as it motivates you to get up off the couch and start moving.<br /> <br /> Ideally, you should get to a point where you are working out for at least 30 minutes 5 days per week or more.<br /> <br /> As you become more comfortable with exercise try adding in some high impact aerobics such as Taebo or Zumba.<br /> <br /> In addition to helping with weight loss exercise is a great way to improve your health and reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancers.<br /> <br /> <b>Eat More Often</b><br /> <br /> Rather than having 3 large meals daily, break that down into 5 or 6 smaller meals. This will help you stay full and eliminate the need to snack.<br /> <br /> While eating 5 to 6 times daily has it benefits, be sure to plan your meals carefully so you do not find yourself eating more calories than you should be.<br /> <br /> Learning to plan out your meals can be challenging in the beginning. Until you get the hang of prepare your normal 3 meals and cut them in half.<br /> <br /> Sleep 7 To 8 Hours Each Night<br /> <br /> When you dont get enough rest it alters the bodys hormone levels. Ghrelin is the hormone that regulates hunger in the body and when sleep deprived causes an increase in appetite.<br /> <br /> The ideal amount of sleep is between 7 to 8 hours per night. When the body is deprived of sleep it throws off your metabolism.<br /> <br /> To improve your quality of sleep do not drink caffeine based drinks, workout or eat at least 3 hours before bed time.<br /> <br /> Incorporating these 5 simple tips can significantly impact the amount of weight you are able to lose.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Have you tried <a href="http://www.myJavita.com/yerbamate">javita</a> weight loss coffee infused with <a href="http://thejavitacoffeecompany.com/javita-burn-control/">yerba mate</a> to help you lose weight quick and safe?</div><br /> </div><br />

Weight Loss Solutions 5 Ways To Drop The Pound Fast

By Erin Newman Every day we find ourselves surrounded by advertisements for weight loss products, promising a fast and easy solution to weight loss. The truth is you didnt gain weight instantly and you are not going to take it off instantly. If yo…

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Discover The Fat Loss Power Of Proactol Plus - Best Diet For Losing Weight

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Adah Determan</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Proactol Plus is amongst the many weight loss pills in the marketplace today. Most dieters find it hard to lose the excess pounds in their body despite their strict exercise and diet strategy. This could be disheartening, thus leading them to have a look at alternative methods that could enable them to burn up fat. Thank goodness that diet pills are there to fill that gap. These supplements act in a variety of approaches to assist weight-loss, but with a huge number of them in the marketplace, dieters are at a loss on what product works. This article will supply you with a brief look at how Proactol Plus works and just how it fares depending on customer reviews.<br /> <br /> How Does It Work?<br /> <br /> Proactol Plus is a fibre complex, which when taken in, binds with dietary fat and then proceeds to remove it from your body. There are two kinds of fibre, soluble and insoluble, and both can be found in this product. Every time you eat, food is lodged in the stomach and excess fat can turn into stored fat that adds weight to your body. Insoluble fibre reacts with the fats in the stomach and turns it into a gel so that your body can easily pass it out through regular bowel movement instead of being absorbed by the body. The soluble and insoluble fibres react in your body and they form a solution that slows down digestion, thus reducing feelings of hunger. In short, the weight loss effect of Proactol is a combination of its fat-binding property and its ability to reduce appetite. This good combination will surely result to weight loss.<br /> <br /> Could it be Safe?<br /> <br /> Proactol Plus is made up of 100% natural organic ingredients that even vegetarians can use it. When it says 100%, you are assured that it does not contain any chemicals, preservatives, allergens, or artificial colours and flavours. It has undergone clinical studies to prove its weight loss effects and to see if there will be any side effects. The results of these studies have proven that Proactol is safe to use. In fact, it is very safe that even doctors and other health professionals recommend and prescribe it to dieters. Even the elderly can use this without fear.<br /> <br /> Customer Reviews<br /> <br /> The easiest method to rate an item is to see how people are pleased with its results. Proactol Plus has been out in the market for a while, so you are lucky that you have other customers' reviews as basis as you evaluate if you should try the item too. Here are summaries of customer recommendations and reviews.<br /> <br /> On losing weight: The amount of weight lost by shoppers varies widely. Some lost twenty pounds in 2 weeks; another lost eleven pounds in two weeks. The great news is, those that use Proactol Plus in addition to their regular exercise and diet regimen lost substantial weight.<br /> <br /> On side effects: Proactol surely met its promise that the product is safe. Users agree that they did not experience any side effect at all, unlike with the other diet pills that they have tried previously.<br /> <br /> On the money back guarantee: This is one great feature that comes with every purchase. Proactol offers a 180-day money back guarantee that assures buyer a full refund if they are not satisfied with the product. Most customers are thankful for this guarantee since it helped push them to try the product and later enjoy its positive results.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Find out more information about <a href="http://www.buyproactolplusonline.net">weight loss supplement</a> at buyproactolplusonline.net</div><br /> </div><br />

Discover The Fat Loss Power Of Proactol Plus - Best Diet For Losing Weight

By Adah Determan Proactol Plus is amongst the many weight loss pills in the marketplace today. Most dieters find it hard to lose the excess pounds in their body despite their strict exercise and diet strategy. This could be disheartening, thus lea…

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Enjoyable Beach Activities Together with A Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Jackie Johnson</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>There are numerous ways to have fun and stay healthy in Huntington Beach. It's a great place for surfing, rowing, and other popular beach activities. Since most of these activities need skills, you might have a difficult time finding a fun and easy activity that you could do under the sun. Finding a personal trainer in Huntington Beach will help you find simple routines that don't require skills or equipments.<br /> <br /> What are the things that you want to do while you are on the beach? You could incorporate workout drills to these activities so you could have fun and stay fit at the same time. Walking and jogging for example, are good ways to enjoy the view of the beach while working out. Stretching exercises are also great particularly in the morning - you do not have to worry about sunburns!<br /> <br /> Swimming<br /> <br /> This exercise is considered as one of the best fat burning exercises. This is because the exercise requires almost all of your body muscles to move. If you're serious of losing weight, your personal trainer in Huntington Beach will advise you to take this routine regularly. Of course, you must know how to swim and the safety measures along with it.<br /> <br /> The common cause of swimming-related accidents is muscle cramps. Because of dehydration or lactic acid buildup, muscles contract and that creates a painful sensation. When this happens, it's best not to panic - maintain composure and ask for help. Your body's natural buoyancy will keep you floating until the cramps subside.<br /> <br /> How to Avoid Cramps:<br /> <br /> * Don't force your legs (kick smoothly along with your hips).<br /> <br /> * Warm up exercises should help avoid lactic acid buildups.<br /> <br /> * Drink plenty of water.<br /> <br /> Rowing<br /> <br /> Another activity that you can enjoy in the beach is rowing. Like beach volleyball, this routine targets most muscles in your body (arms, legs, thighs, and shoulders). The only difference is that it only requires repetitive movements that will keep your boat moving forward and backward.<br /> <br /> Safety Tips:<br /> <br /> * Make sure you have the proper equipment for rowing.<br /> <br /> * Know the area where it is safe to row.<br /> <br /> * Learn how to swim if you're planning to take this activity on the beach.<br /> <br /> Beach Volleyball<br /> <br /> This is a great activity enjoyed by many beachgoers around the world. It doesn't require a lot of skill (especially if you love the sport), and you can do it with your friends. It's a good fat burner since it requires major muscle movements. It effectively improves upper and lower body strength.<br /> <br /> Your personal trainer in Huntington Beach might suggest a variation of this sport - the water volleyball. The practice and guidelines are the same with the traditional volleyball but players are submerged in water. It's more difficult to do since the resistance is significantly greater in water. It requires more force to move and that effectively targets your core muscles.<br /> <br /> With a personal trainer in Huntington Beach, you'll definitely have plenty of ideas to stay fit and have fun. While a lot of people push themselves a lot inside a fitness center, you can get the same results and experience nature's beauty on the beach.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Being in excellent shape by using the help of <a href="https://plus.google.com/112997657809142165825/about">Personal Trainer Huntington Beach</a> not just boosts your own physique but also your health too. The advantages that you can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-huntington-beach/">Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach</a> are endless.</div><br /> </div><br />

Enjoyable Beach Activities Together with A Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach

By Jackie Johnson There are numerous ways to have fun and stay healthy in Huntington Beach. It's a great place for surfing, rowing, and other popular beach activities. Since most of these activities need skills, you might have a difficult time fin…

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Useful Surfing Workouts From Your Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Brandon Watkins</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Huntington Beach is undoubtedly a hotspot for beach bums and surfers in the US. These people love to enjoy not only the beach activities they do but how great their bodies look as well. Surfing with a personal trainer in Huntington Beach is certainly among the best ways to enjoy and stay in shape at the same time. Since it needs some skill (especially if you're a beginner), patience and dedication is very important.<br /> <br /> Surfing is the way of riding the beach waves through a long gliding platform. It's surely easy to watch people do it, but it's something that you can only do through practice. It's a great way to have a full body workout while enjoying the sport. This is the reason why more and more people are getting more interested in surfing.<br /> <br /> Surfing Basics<br /> <br /> It is important to have a personal trainer in Huntington Beach that is going to teach you the basics of surfing. You'll also learn the significance of warm-up and core muscle workouts that is going to keep you standing on the platform. Surfing is all about balance - this means, your lower body muscles must be developed to be able to ride the waves smoothly.<br /> <br /> The very first thing you have to know is paddling. This necessitates the movement of your arms and shoulders - an excellent upper body workout. As you lay down the surfboard with your face in the front, paddle with your arms simultaneously (like you are swimming in freestyle). Keep the speed constant.<br /> <br /> Another part of the surfing basics is sitting on the board. This is very important so you can relax while you wait for a good wave to come. It can be difficult at first, but having a personal trainer in Huntington Beach will give you useful techniques to make it easy. Then, you can practice the transition of paddling and sitting position until it gets more comfortable.<br /> <br /> The First Wave<br /> <br /> Standing up on the surfboard is probably the most difficult to accomplish. It sure is easy to do it in a level ground - but it gets a lot more challenging once you get to the water. This is the moment when your balancing skills are put to test.<br /> <br /> How to Stand on the Surfboard:<br /> <br /> * While facing down, grab both edges of the board and perform a push up.<br /> <br /> * Slide your feet underneath.<br /> <br /> * Quickly move in an upward position but keep yourself low. This will adjust your center of gravity that will keep you on the surfboard.<br /> <br /> * To provide more balance, keep your hands above your waist.<br /> <br /> * A squat-like position will keep your feet attached to the surfboard.<br /> <br /> Make sure you're wearing proper equipments while surfing. This is going to keep you safe from injuries. For newbies, trainers require surfboard nose guards to protect yourself from dangerous impacts.<br /> <br /> With a personal trainer in Huntington Beach, you could learn how to surf in a day or two. On the other hand, being able to stand for a very long time requires a lot of practice. Doing it for fun is an excellent way to enjoy on the beach while staying fit.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Getting in excellent condition with the aid of <a href="https://plus.google.com/112997657809142165825/about">Personal Trainer Huntington Beach</a> not just improves your physique but also your well being as well. The benefits that one can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-huntington-beach/">Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach</a> are countless.</div><br /> </div><br />

Useful Surfing Workouts From Your Personal Trainer In Huntington Beach

By Brandon Watkins Huntington Beach is undoubtedly a hotspot for beach bums and surfers in the US. These people love to enjoy not only the beach activities they do but how great their bodies look as well. Surfing with a personal trainer in Hunting…

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Pure African Mango Extract

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Canjola Majoka</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>So what is this fuss about African mango reviews? It all actually boils down to one thing at the end of the day. It's really all about what this supplement can do to effectively lose weight. Where did this African mango originate? Does the African mango help lose weight effectively? How fast can one see results? Is it safe to use? What do people who have used this supplement have to say about the product? Read on and find out.<br /> <br /> <b>Origin of the African mangoes and its many benefits</b> The West-coastal rainforests of Cameroon, Africa - this is where African mangoes originated and the only place so far where it can be found. If one thinks this fruit was discovered just recently, then one is definitely mistaken. This fruit has been around for centuries already and has been used that long as a diet aid and energy booster.<br /> <br /> <b>Lose those excess lbs</b> For most, slimming down can be a terrific difficult task. It actually needs a powerful will as well as dedication to be able to start off and also stay with a fat loss plan. Besides a weightloss study course, individuals could also participate in strenuous, steady and also exhausting workout in order to be able to burn off some of those undesired fatty acids such that they can get back to their own recommended weight. This African mango can in fact help you remove some of those unnecessary inches long from your waistline and also help out just one obtain that extremely flat tummy. Using this type of health supplement, the goal to slim down quickly is probably not so difficult to accomplish.<br /> <br /> <b>Grow metabolism</b> There are actually many human beings who are naturally blessed with quickly metabolism. For these individuals, no matter how a great deal of meals they eat they will basically burn off their individual calories at a speed just like that. African mango in fact offers hope to individuals whose metabolism is just not as rapidly. It can truly enable one have an elevated metabolism resulting to quickly burning of calories and reduce the accumulation of fats.<br /> <br /> <b>Increase fat oxidation</b> The African mango reviews speak of this supplement as helpful in melting away fats particularly on the butt area, making it look more firm and sexy. Another obvious benefit of this fruit is that it helps burn fats around the thighs making one look even more attractive when wearing shorts. It is actually the fibers of this seed that allows the body to eliminate stored fats, even bad cholesterol. This supplement also speeds up weight loss when taken on a consistent basis.<br /> <br /> <b>Fight fatigue and increase energy</b> Exercising and going on a diet may sometimes leave one feeling weak and over fatigue. The body may not be able to adjust well to the change on diet and the regular exercise it had to go through consistently. With the African mango supplement, one is enabled to fight fatigue and also increase energy.<br /> <br /> <b>100% pure and risk-free</b> Evaluations have shown that medical professionals propose organic remedies to reducing weight such as taking the African mango supplement. A certain research has presented its own results on this very particular suppliment and indicated that from the people who have taken this suppliment, there has been positive results as regards to reduced entire body extra fat and excess weight together with inches lost about the waist spot have been observed. Taking into consideration that these dietary supplements are risk-free and 100% natural tends to make individuals confident that people who desire to eliminate fat will genuinely benefit a complete lot from this supplement.<br /> <br /> <b>More on African mango</b> The desire to lose weight may be done in a lot of different ways. While exercise and proper diet plays a big part in losing weight, supplements can be a great help too. Find a supplement that can help speed up the goal to lose weight. It is definitely better to go for the natural way of doing so. Choosing wisely will always be the key in doing this. This way, one can be sure that it's 100% natural, safe and effective. Find out more on African mango reviews and discover how to effectively lose weight in the most natural way.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Get details about <a href="http://www.africanmango.moonleads.info/">African Mango Reviews</a> options and a summary of the benefits of using the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/107999044/African-Mango-Reviews/"> where can i find african mango</a>, now.</div><br /> </div><br />

Pure African Mango Extract

By Canjola Majoka So what is this fuss about African mango reviews? It all actually boils down to one thing at the end of the day. It's really all about what this supplement can do to effectively lose weight. Where did this African mango originate…

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Turrell Videos

'Tis the season for James Turrell, with three major exhibitions this summer (at the Guggenheim, LACMA, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston). Recently <a href="http://www.designersandbooks.com/blog/10-notable-design-books-2013-july-reviews#seven">I wrote about the catalog to the LACMA show for Designers & Books</a>, so, like everybody, I'm on a Turrell kick. Here are a few videos to satiate anybody's interest in the artist of light.<br /><br />James Turrell on <a href="http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60235648">June 27 episode of Charlie Rose</a> (skip ahead to ~28 minute mark):<br /><iframe width="512" height="288" src="http://www.hulu.com/embed.html?eid=l8wreqvgadgmy_dggg4jgq&partner=charlierose&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hulu.com%2fwatch%2f506733" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />"<a href="https://vimeo.com/67926427">James Turrell's Roden Crater</a>" from LACMA (click image to watch video at Vimeo):<br /><a href="https://vimeo.com/67926427" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYzK_usp46MC4uwKI7bMwe96LzHx6DQ69cShRNiRfdPeUcbDrA6z19yJq6BnmWCJMWhOMF7R0svluy7zXBlnLAwAkdB6EG7Aij2AuwUM_4caYEdZA4gisUVzePXL1nhkpUFTf-7g2e57I/s1600/roden.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ox00pFnKS7g">James Turrell in conversation with LACMA Director Michael Govan</a> at the Guggenheim on June 21:<br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ox00pFnKS7g?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Turrell Videos

'Tis the season for James Turrell, with three major exhibitions this summer (at the Guggenheim, LACMA, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston). Recently I wrote about the catalog to the LACMA show for Designers & Books, so, like everybody, I'm on a Turrell…

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Pictures leaked : Motorola Droid Maxx coming soon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="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;">Motorola: Great news for the smart phone lovers ! Motorola is releasing its respective latest gadget almost in the same month ,i.e. in the month of August this year, according to the some sources.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_x-6M3Wz7bvimPidivWcY_PlxOAcyutFUX_4nlpvWn-ewSPVDAS2HSKh5LidBJ-dfbZ5Xirf17LJfzxfx2D8Thavgg2OinS6y-ihNtoqKDNsWt_N-Fyiz2i5CdPgIu35mLEaqZh3Xfc/s1600/motorola+droid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Motorola Droid Maxx coming soon" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_x-6M3Wz7bvimPidivWcY_PlxOAcyutFUX_4nlpvWn-ewSPVDAS2HSKh5LidBJ-dfbZ5Xirf17LJfzxfx2D8Thavgg2OinS6y-ihNtoqKDNsWt_N-Fyiz2i5CdPgIu35mLEaqZh3Xfc/s1600/motorola+droid.jpg" title="Motorola Droid Maxx coming soon" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Motorola Droid Maxx</td></tr></tbody></table>Motorola Smartphones which includes Droid Ultra, Maxx and Mini, and most recently the pictures of the new line of phones for Verizon. This news of the one gadgets release in the same month has excited the fans of the brands a lot, and at the same time , everybody is curious to know the exclusive features loaded in the respective gadgets.<br />Motorola has been working very hard to give itself a facelift and a new image.It is steady making an attempt to make a buzz for its forthcoming smartphones. Motorola is constant its partnership with Verizon to supply a variety of Droid smartphones. the opposite Motorola smartphones is that the motto X and can be offered with variety of carriers. It has customized user interface with android platform.<br />Looking at the image it seems that the Droid Maxx bears a bit of resemblance to the Droid RAZR HD and RAZR Maxx HD</div><a href="https://plus.google.com/109838201058606610638" rel="author">Jacob lefore </a> </div>

news Pictures leaked : Motorola Droid Maxx coming soon

Motorola: Great news for the smart phone lovers ! Motorola is releasing its respective latest gadget almost in the same month ,i.e. in the month of August this year, according to the some sources.Motorola Droid MaxxMotorola Smartphones which includes…

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Growing congressional criticism exposes weakness of TPP

Nearly 170 members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/freshmen-house-dems-dont-give-away-our.html">growing chorus</a> of those concerned about a proposed Pacific Rim trade deal that could place American workers and consumers at risk.<br /><br />The bipartisan collection of lawmakers called on U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to support strong textile protections for U.S. firms as part of the ongoing negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and want to make sure safeguards are included in any proposed deal. <br /><br />House members are particularly wary of the Vietnamese government's stance regarding textile negotiations. This comes on top of reports raised by labor groups about the nation's lack of fair wages, workplace protections as well as human rights violations. The <a href="http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20130711123543499">letter</a> sent to Froman said Vietnam wants a new rule that would let it buy textiles from China. Then it could export finished garments to the U.S., duty free. According to the letter,<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">A recent study concluded that if adopted as part of the TPP, this rule would cost more than 500,000 U.S. textile and related jobs and put more than 1.5 million jobs in the textile and apparel supply chains in the Western Hemisphere and Africa in jeopardy.</blockquote>The growing issues surrounding the TPP are only a part of the criticisms arising across several continents. The first round of negotiations for the Trans Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) end in Washington today. Increasingly, <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/07/11/v-print/196435/consumer-groups-fret-as-first.html">critics</a> in the U.S. and Europe are taking the proposed pact to task. They worry consumers will be hurt by a watering down of laws that control everything from food to chemicals.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022867176">shining a light</a> on one deal that has already been approved. She noted that the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea has soared since a trade agreement between the two countries went into effect last year. That undoubtedly is costing good American jobs.<br /><br />All of this brings it back to the problems with such agreements. Too often they are not fair. No one doubts the value of trade, but not if it puts American workers at a disadvantage and American consumers at risk.<br /><br />Stay tuned...

job killing trade deals TAFTA TPP Growing congressional criticism exposes weakness of TPP

Nearly 170 members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined the growing chorus of those concerned about a proposed Pacific Rim trade deal that could place American workers and consumers at risk.The bipartisan collection of lawmakers called on U.S.…

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Today's Teamster News 07.14.13

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/opinion/youve-been-warned.html?_r=0">You’ve Been Warned</a> (opinion)  New York Times   ...With two bad rules adopted on Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission has all but invited hucksters, rip-off artists and other bad actors to prey on individual investors...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/07/consumer-groups-fret-as-first-round-of-european-trade-talks-nears-end/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=consumer-groups-fret-as-first-round-of-european-trade-talks-nears-end">Consumer groups fret as first round of European trade talks nears end</a>  Charlotte Observer  ...as negotiators prepare to end the first round of talks in Washington on Friday, many consumer groups in the United States and Europe fear their governments will be a little too flexible, rushing to help corporations cash in on billions of dollars in new business...<br /><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/14/313701/israelis-protest-austerity-measures/">Thousands of Israelis protest against austerity measures</a>  PressTV   ...Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against Tel Aviv’s austerity measures and to demand social justice...<br /><a href="http://variety.com/2013/film/news/citizen-koch-kickstarter-1200562262/">‘Citizen Koch’ Hits Crowdfunding Goal, Raising More Than $75,000 in Three Days</a>  Variety   ...“Citizen Koch,” a documentary critical of the billionaire Koch brothers and big money in politics, has surpassed its $75,000 Kickstarter goal in just three days with more than 1,700 donors...<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-5z0XBRfXk">Tax Dodging GE CEO Jeff Immelt Speaks to UW Regents, Dissenters Arrested</a>  youtube.com   ...Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric delivered the opening remarks at the UW Board of Regent's meeting ...(and) two protesters politely inquired how he was able to dodge billions more in taxes than Lauryn Hill...<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/26/us-sweden-ikea-idUSBRE95P1BQ20130626">IKEA founder to return home 40 years after fleeing Swedish taxes</a>  Reuters   ...Ingvar Kamprad, founder of furniture company IKEA, announced on Wednesday he plans to return home to Sweden 40 years after leaving the country to escape its high taxes...<br /><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2013/7/12/moral_mondays_700_arrested_in_north">Moral Mondays: 700 Arrested in North Carolina Civil Disobedience Campaign Against GOP Lawmakers</a>  Democracy Now   ...For weeks, thousands of people have been gathering at the North Carolina State Legislative Building for the weekly "Moral Monday" protest called by the NAACP to oppose the agenda of the Republican-led state Legislature...<br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175166/oregon-trail-end-student-debt#axzz2Z1PnNIaq">An Oregon Trail to End Student Debt </a> The Nation   ...On July 1, federal student loan rates doubled—yes, doubled—from 3.4 percent to 6.8, after members of Congress went home for fireworks without lifting a finger on the issue. Meanwhile, in Oregon, legislators unanimously passed a bill paving the way for students to attend public universities without paying tuition or taking out traditional loans at all...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/us-money-blog/2013/jul/11/fixing-student-loans-colleges-risk">Want to fix the US student loan crisis? Put colleges on the hook</a> (opinion)  The Guardian   ... We also need to look to the institution, and financially penalize them if students get in over their heads and can't pay their bills...<br /><a href="http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130714/OPINIONS03/130714005/Column-put-forth-propaganda">Column put forth propaganda</a> (opinion)  Springfield News-Leader   ...Missouri has real economic problems to be sure, but they are not going to be solved by slanted, partisan propaganda from Patrick Werner and the American Legislative Exchange Council...

Today's Teamster News 07.14.13

You’ve Been Warned (opinion)  New York Times   ...With two bad rules adopted on Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission has all but invited hucksters, rip-off artists and other bad actors to prey on individual investors...Consumer groups fr…

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Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

<p> When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s580/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1373800607505.2463" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s500/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" width="500"></a></div> <p>There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. There are tasks, standards, and objectives that must be met. However, it is easy to be so busy as a human doing and forget that you're teaching human beings.</p> <p>This is why I like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">Classroom Habitudes</a> so much. (Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">the book</a> by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/angelamaiers" target="_self" title="">Angela Maiers</a>) It gives us a "to be" list before you hit the to do list. Students need to know what we want them to BE as we reach to do the things that they need to do. They need to see the purpose behind the plan.</p> <h2>Make a list of the things you want your students "to be"</h2> <p>Even more so, we, as teachers, need to be intentional about what we want to help our students be. Thankful. Passionate. Curious. Ethical. Perseverant. Creative... and the list goes on.</p> <p>Intentionally think about your soft goals because these give you a canvas upon which you will paint your class activities. They should influence the posters you select, the projects you design, and the lessons you plan. You can teach math in a way that harnesses the power of passion. You can weave lessons in that will allow students to show thankfulness to others. You can have projects that foster curiosity.</p> <h3>Purposefully determine what these "to be's" are. Know them. Use the language. Discuss them.</h3> <p>These are things you can do, but important things <strong>never</strong> do themselves. They start with you.</p> <p>I think it is best to look at these soft goals in the summer. Take some time and write down the important things you want to help students be. </p> <h3>Activity to get you started</h3> <p>Try this activity. </p> <p>1. At the top of a page write... "this year, I want my students to be more..." then, answer the question. This will help you get started on your soft goals.</p> <p>2. Brainstorm the books, music, projects, movies, and creative ways you can redesign the lessons you have to incorporate these to be's. Write these things next to each of the items you wrote in step 1.</p> <h3 style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">TIP: State your "to be" in the positive</h3> <p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">When you pick them be careful to state your "to be" in the positive. Instead of "don't bully" select "speak up when injustice happens." We inadvertently remove the negative - so when you say "don't bully" - you're really hearing "bully." (This is why most of us teachers are taught to say "be quiet" instead of "don't talk." "Don't talk" will typically have the opposite influence of what we desire.)</p> <h3>Do this now.</h3> <p>School is right around the corner. Educators, we have a huge responsibility to educate a generation. If we forget the human beings in our classrooms we will one day have those humans be so busy doing that they might just forget about being kind, respectful, helpful, and understanding towards our generation. Things have a way of going around. You will reap the results of the soft goals you set now as will society, so choose well.</p> <h2>Schools can set soft goals for their year.</h2> <p>You can also be assured, that schools who are intentional about the "to be's" they select will reap the benefits of emphasizing those to be's. Principals can do the activity above. This is part of having vision and when it starts with the principal and superintendent - it becomes unstoppable. You are casting vision for what you want to be. Just prepare to work hard to be that yourself. If you say you want everyone to be something and you glaringly don't try to be that yourself. (For example, if you emphasize work ethic but find a way to leave early every day, you'll cause a morale problem.)</p> <h3>Please share</h3> <p>What are the "to be's" you want to emphasize this year? I am using Angela's Classroom Habitudes book for mine and adding "Integrity" as one of the to-be's. </p> <p>What are yours? Please feel free to share them or the links in the comments. Do you create "soft goals?" Why or why not?</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

innovation Inspiration Teaching Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals. There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. There are tasks, standards, and objectives that must be met. However, it is easy to be so busy as a human doing and for…

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MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH-eZ4xwur0ye4IsyT3B6YM5mpiIXkzCJ7hm6r7HcgSffGA1yAPq6J366Mv84ogtBhhcyhtiY3aRgturHB8dW6iZ9r7u_beChAw7NQSyXc7Lo7aTxxV8Z5nHruNiVDNpB4okJI1We3_di/s1600/photo_1369289663150-1-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH-eZ4xwur0ye4IsyT3B6YM5mpiIXkzCJ7hm6r7HcgSffGA1yAPq6J366Mv84ogtBhhcyhtiY3aRgturHB8dW6iZ9r7u_beChAw7NQSyXc7Lo7aTxxV8Z5nHruNiVDNpB4okJI1We3_di/s400/photo_1369289663150-1-0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CHINA HAS BEEN TAKING OVER WESTERN NOTIONS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY AROUND THE WORLD IN FORM OF UN MISSIONS</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Moritz Pollath</span> <br /><br /><b>This year, CHINESE soldiers and engineers will serve with GERMAN soldiers for the first time since World War II, when GERMAN military advisers modernized the Kuomintang army until the alliance with Imperial JAPAN ended the SINO-GERMAN cooperation. Soldiers from both countries and other participating nations will meet in MALI, far away from CHINA'S heartland and in EUROPE'S near-abroad, under the aegis of the UNITED NATIONS. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHY THE SAHEL IS CRUCIAL TO EUROPE'S NEIGHBORHOOD – AND ITS SECURITY STRATEGY. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/eu-involvement-in-mali.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/eu-involvement-in-mali.html</a><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, the circumstances have changed completely. The CHINESE soldiers herald from the People's Liberation Army and serve the CHINESE Communist Party, which pursues a model of authoritarianism and state capitalism, and the Bundeswehr operates as a parliamentary army from an established liberal democracy. <br /><br />Both countries will meet in the hot and sandy environment that is MALI outside to stabilize a weak but democratic government in a region that is struggling with extreme poverty, weak institutions and is confronted by well-equipped transnational Islamist groups. <br /><br />The world truly has changed. CHINA has changed, but in which direction? If WESTERN foreign policy can be summarized as a combination of a cooperative approach towards global governance through the UNITED NATIONS and other regional organizations and an adherence and promotion of human rights and freedom of speech: Does MALI serve as an indicator, that we will experience a Westernization of CHINESE foreign policy? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wy7ZmH46AHnYtR-_u-jVz5JheyLeocipPfBaEVlYZnelPxh6cMaUunAO16jLJx46IIJG1u4NEMLD9O4sieUKjrYfFZdtPwgAwljhrQQPqmhQswnHKQUGR3p0lg6zsTHNu3ekS3f9-c3c/s1600/220px-Member_of_FOCAC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wy7ZmH46AHnYtR-_u-jVz5JheyLeocipPfBaEVlYZnelPxh6cMaUunAO16jLJx46IIJG1u4NEMLD9O4sieUKjrYfFZdtPwgAwljhrQQPqmhQswnHKQUGR3p0lg6zsTHNu3ekS3f9-c3c/s320/220px-Member_of_FOCAC.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><b>China is not new to UN peacekeeping operations. The country has supported UN missions in IRAQ and CAMBODIA, where it helped maintain a ceasefire between the various CAMBODIAN factions, ensure general elections and help the country in its difficult transition period. So why is the new UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in MALI (MINUSMA) worth our attention? <br /><br />CAMBODIA is part of CHINA'S near abroad. Beijing directly benefited from security and stability in its SOUTHEAST ASIAN neighborhood. Today, the CHINESE participate in the stabilization and assistance to democratic governance and national unity in MALI in a region of the world, which decades before were of no or merely peripheral interest. In addition, in MALI and other places Beijing's communist past seems to play no role. CHINA'S constructive engagement demonstrates that step by step CHINA has been taking over WESTERN notions of security and stability around the world in form of UN missions. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFRICA, A CONTINENT WHICH DECADES AGO WAS OF NO OR MERELY PERIPHERAL INTEREST TO THE REST OF THE WORLD SUDDENLY BECOMES A FOCAL POINT</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br /><br /><b>Cooperation in UN missions is just one aspect of CHINA'S modern foreign policy: Fittingly described as a reluctant internationalist by scholars, CHINA has played a stabilizing role in international affairs throughout the financial meltdown of 2008, which Beijing judged as a WESTERN crisis. Even with global governance at a low point since the end of the Cold War - recently demonstrated by the inability of the Group of Eight to find a solution to the war in SYRIA - beneath the big challenges, climate change, mass migration and weapons proliferation, MALI demonstrates that local and regional conflict management is still possible and active.</b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WEST AFRICAN OIL REMAINS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT FOR U.S. POLICY MAKERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO PERSIAN GULF OIL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE PANAMA CANAL WAS PART OF AMERICAS RISE TO GLOBAL POWER. THE </b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.miamidiario.com/economia/economia/america-latina/canal-de-panama/daniel-ortega/xi-jinping/nicaragua-china/contrato-por-30000-millones-de-dolares/gran-canal-acuatico-interoceanico-de-nicaragua/310015">GREAT INTER-OCEANIC NICARAGUA WATERWAY CANAL</a>," COULD BE </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PART OF CHINA'S RISE TO POWER</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even CHINA'S more assertive foreign policy, which accelerated the AMERICAN pivot to the PACIFIC, finds comparisons in the rise of the WEST. Historians list the construction of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Panama Canal</span> in 1904 as part of AMERICA'S rise to a global power. The canal saved enormous travel time, and about 11,000 kilometers in distance, for commerce and warships. In 2013, CHINA is founding the construction of a similar project in NICARAGUA. Although it is far too soon to tell if the NICARAGUA project will ever be realized, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CHINA'S naval expansion and presence in the INDIAN OCEAN to combat piracy have become reality</span>. </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">See also:</span></b><span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/china-and-nicaragua.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/china-and-nicaragua.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IS CHINA'S ENGAGEMENT IN MALI AND ITS ASSERTIVE POSTURE AROUND THE GLOBE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS A WESTERNIZATION OF BEIJING'S FOREIGN POLICY?</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>No. Cultural differences will remain and lead to different policy choices than WESTERN capitals might embark upon. Even though MALI shows that CHINA could become a policeman for international stability, strong indicators remain that it will be guided by its own cultural and political premises and not by WESTERN values: in past major conflicts CHINA always emphasized the importance of state sovereignty regardless of the brutal and inhumane actions of leaders such as Slobodan Milosevic in the BALKAN Wars and al-Baschir against SUDAN'S ethnicities. </b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b></b></span><br /><b>As long as stability is ensured, CHINA is prone to subordinate human rights beneath the support of authoritarian rulers, a mindset that is all too familiar from CHINA'S own human rights and freedom of speech record. This hierarchy will remain in the near and middle future, because any change in this core hierarchy would lead to serious ramifications for CHINA'S internal political stability. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DEMOCRATIC RECESSION: 9 OF THE 11 TOP CRUDE EXPORTERS ARE LABELED AS DICTATORSHIPS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are currently 22 states in the world which earn over 60% of their respective GDP from oil (and gas), and are ruled by non-democratic, authoritarian regimes. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/europe-and-arab-spring-that-never-sprung.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/europe-and-arab-spring-that-never-sprung.html</a>and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEVEN ECONOMIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE TEN FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, China has not displayed the strong voice WESTERN officials often use to promote universal human rights around the world. In certain circumstances, when military feasibility and geopolitical interests converged, Western powers resorted to military intervention and sanctions in countries which were a threat to international stability and their own citizens. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY DOES NOT LOOK NECESSARILY MORE WESTERN, JUST BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS STABILITY. FOR BEIJING, STABILITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>CHINA never has promoted Communism the way the SOVIET UNION did or the way the WEST promotes liberal democracy and market capitalism. During the Cold War, at the root of Beijing's support for NORTH KOREA or NORTH VIETNAM against the UN and the UNITED STATES was a mixture of geopolitics and common ideology. <br /><br />For the WEST it remains important to remember: CHINA'S foreign policy posture does not look necessarily more WESTERN, just because it supports stability. For Beijing, stability does not necessarily mean global governance. Far from it, the communist party leader's foreign policy aims resemble more the time of Metternich, when the Concert of EUROPE defended the unfettered rule of monarchies and the balance of power against liberal opposition movements in the various EUROPEAN countries. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">THERE ARE STARK DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEIJING’S AND WASHINGTON’S FOREIGN POLICIES, AND NOWHERE ARE THESE MORE OBVIOUS THAN IN AFRICA. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><b>Although this constitutes some form of global governance, it is not the kind WESTERN leaders aim to achieve. In Beijing's defense, even the US, EU and other major and emerging powers ignore the big issues of global governance when they run contrary to their national interests. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WESTERN capitals can expect CHINA to be a constructive actor in places like MALI, but cannot expect CHINA'S support to actively intervene and end horrendous human rights violations. Beijing remains very hesitant towards global governance because from the CHINESE perspective it constitutes an agent against the status quo and leads to interference with national sovereignty. CHINA will behave with restraint because of its own demographic challenges, staggering economic growth and domestic policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet Autonomous Regions. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA FOLLOWS ITS OWN FOREIGN POLICY BASED ON ITS CULTURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL PARAMETERS </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While CHINA might follow a foreign policy idea from the past days in EUROPE, it does not place the same value on human rights and the responsibility to protect as modern WESTERN foreign policy does. </span></b></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>CHINA follows its own foreign policy based on its cultural and geographical parameters with a strong emphasis on diminishing foreign interference in its direct neighborhood. Defending the status quo is currently in China's best interests, even though Chinese leaders behave far more responsible in global affairs than they get credit for in Western opinion. Mali tells us more about the extent and limits of cooperation between China and the West than one might expect to find in the landlocked West African state.</b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Related topics worthwhile reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html</a></span></div></div>

MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY

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