What's Next for George Zimmerman

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Holaaaaaaaaaaa y’all! So, I know what you guys are all thinking. You’re worried that George Zimmerman will forever be known as the guy who chased and eventually killed an unarmed black teenager named Trayvon Martin and his life is going to be sad and miserable. Nonsense! This is America people and there are always opportunities out there. Here’s a list of the things George might be able to do with his new found fame. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Host a comedy podcast on BlogTalkRadio <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- A new reality show on Bravo about an all-gay male nude dance troupe called The ZimmerMEN’s Folles. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyGoVIsYAmJRAAlA0eC4GUXjodNlIiPsXXl7JFRRkk5iEc5RPCgd1RyG8J59vXv4rFfVk2ZR1PI3DoUcdbc8pLSoB6NfYpJwCtlAfQ28MMVH2xvhiV-Qlg6NX830p2eEjfbsJ0LULizg/s1600/george-zimmerman-hot-sexy-shirtless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyGoVIsYAmJRAAlA0eC4GUXjodNlIiPsXXl7JFRRkk5iEc5RPCgd1RyG8J59vXv4rFfVk2ZR1PI3DoUcdbc8pLSoB6NfYpJwCtlAfQ28MMVH2xvhiV-Qlg6NX830p2eEjfbsJ0LULizg/s400/george-zimmerman-hot-sexy-shirtless.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Other reality show ideas … <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“On Patrol with George” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Who’s Out There with George” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Wandering the Streets with George”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Fuck the Police with George” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“George Follows Black People Around” </i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- “Stand Your Ground” show every weekend hosted by George Zimmerman on Fox News<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Run for Sheriff of Seminole County Florida<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhSKWltG5HX-AFEf1845Qh4BoE2TYUG-kbT7HQ9IwupKqZvwzr1Pg8jTVHL6na-VZcG0RgxLa8IqwDX3LQqFO9j5DqOf9ZgUmhDdK66o2YBOGlG9QMx8VXQ879jv6KeXiuAwe0GTCoM4/s1600/George+Zimmerman+Barney+Fife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhSKWltG5HX-AFEf1845Qh4BoE2TYUG-kbT7HQ9IwupKqZvwzr1Pg8jTVHL6na-VZcG0RgxLa8IqwDX3LQqFO9j5DqOf9ZgUmhDdK66o2YBOGlG9QMx8VXQ879jv6KeXiuAwe0GTCoM4/s400/George+Zimmerman+Barney+Fife.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Become a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Gigolo<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Spokesman for the NRA <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- New show on The Food Network “Cooking with George and Paula” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUXhaqhxOdVwq9aFaZxOR4s1j1kw79BtA0uGy28gvylFo2Jw1lfyGGjEKbgyx-JJ8uE7dC2nLEClFRbD_Ndu6-nYjeGdWy1cWcl9iozqftzj-nAuUuDAicHv-aQp1n4q7C4cPvLc0WNI/s1600/george-zimmerman-paula-deen-lovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUXhaqhxOdVwq9aFaZxOR4s1j1kw79BtA0uGy28gvylFo2Jw1lfyGGjEKbgyx-JJ8uE7dC2nLEClFRbD_Ndu6-nYjeGdWy1cWcl9iozqftzj-nAuUuDAicHv-aQp1n4q7C4cPvLc0WNI/s400/george-zimmerman-paula-deen-lovers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Do a series of porn movies: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“George Comes at Night”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“George the Dick Stalker” (bi)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“George Knows how to Finish” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“George Gets Off” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“The Neighborhood Likes to Watch” </i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Write a book? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Why I Did It”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“I Didn’t Get Life” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“A Field Guide to Effective Neighborhood Watch Programs” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“In My Self Defense” </i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- And of course a new line of “The Zimmer” Hoodies <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVoOd0IDxyAaAxP1bP9PAbEmTx8XqcKJIXm962OeFx6NwDY_TQlyydVx0J7KO-O_heMyyp5YTxENI92imx8ywMcrwuaLdhZvBW0c937_kvGk7zYlx6JlSH381tBounH_dG5aHrd7udHg/s1600/George-Zimmerman-Hoodie-Clothing-Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVoOd0IDxyAaAxP1bP9PAbEmTx8XqcKJIXm962OeFx6NwDY_TQlyydVx0J7KO-O_heMyyp5YTxENI92imx8ywMcrwuaLdhZvBW0c937_kvGk7zYlx6JlSH381tBounH_dG5aHrd7udHg/s320/George-Zimmerman-Hoodie-Clothing-Line.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, as you can see, George Zimmerman’s life is full of all kinds of opportunities to be happy and successful! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">@Jayman_IWS</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

What's Next for George Zimmerman

Holaaaaaaaaaaa y’all! So, I know what you guys are all thinking. You’re worried that George Zimmerman will forever be known as the guy who chased and eventually killed an unarmed black teenager named Trayvon Martin and his life is going to be sad and…

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Workers demand Senate vote on NLRB nominees!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeYW4X_RcFm53GVCPDEieMr_LrfzeOmZz4o-13OpoQ2Zfd5Oxww3O0Z8DKuPJkwfh5GXX8ga0QdN7eieq-Tz47IHU9sDoI2HV3SvNkETUUIVid4TImnKP4gaP9GRbxwq8D-tLNfqqgfO/s1600/nlrb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeYW4X_RcFm53GVCPDEieMr_LrfzeOmZz4o-13OpoQ2Zfd5Oxww3O0Z8DKuPJkwfh5GXX8ga0QdN7eieq-Tz47IHU9sDoI2HV3SvNkETUUIVid4TImnKP4gaP9GRbxwq8D-tLNfqqgfO/s320/nlrb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Obstructionist senators have held up the nominations of three members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for months. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is about to push forward with votes that would ensure working Americans continue to have a federal agency that protects their right to collectively bargain.<br /><br />Working families deserve to a have a voice in government that protects their rights in the workplace. But unless <a href="http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/entry/c/nlrb#.UeRRn421FPM">the Senate acts by the end of next month</a>, they won't have one. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other corporate apologists are doing all they can to prevent a vote. This isn't about companies being inconvenienced, however -- it's about enforcing a 65-year-old law that ensures fair wages for workers and puts food on the table for millions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/hoffa-praises-obama-bold-actions-protect-working-families">Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa highlighted the qualifications</a> of the three nominees when President Obama first appointed them late last year:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Richard Griffin, as general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, is a strong choice for the NLRB. Sharon Block, currently deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs at the Labor Department, has worked for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a great protector of workers’ rights. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">And the appointment of Terrence Flynn, the Republican nominee to the NLRB, shows the president’s determination to rise above petty partisan politics.</blockquote>Many members of Congress have also called on the Senate to approve the three.<a href="http://lindasanchez.house.gov/index.php/press-releases/821-sanchez-courtney-tell-mcconnell-to-stop-attacking-workers-rights-july-9-2013"> Reps. Linda Sanchez and Joe Courtney unveiled a letter</a> signed by 201 House Democrats last week that demanded Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell allow a vote on the NLRB nominees to move forward:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The NLRB provides critical protections to American workers and gives businesses much needed labor certainty.  Each day that the Board sits idle is one in which workers’ lawful rights are put at risk. This continued ideological obstructionism is denying hardworking Americans the crucial worker protections that the NLRB provides. We urge you to withdraw this partisan demand and allow the Senate to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to consider presidential appointments, and to do so without continued delay. </blockquote>It is time to act now!<br /><br /><br />

Workers demand Senate vote on NLRB nominees!

Obstructionist senators have held up the nominations of three members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for months. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is about to push forward with votes that would ensure working Americans continue to h…

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Saudi princess arrested for slavery in Calif.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIc0ztFj8wKIPryoFZDpMEM3vLhlnrzHGx3tePkPK5lw7nVHu9RtfjyflfCmZp_BN9upJ9guWBn1m76gpOMGDnz41T8O8hyLrsmCvSQ9RmfcVEGkf4eAYT7TI9d-ohXR6pjygfKItMhkx/s1600/slavery-tm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIc0ztFj8wKIPryoFZDpMEM3vLhlnrzHGx3tePkPK5lw7nVHu9RtfjyflfCmZp_BN9upJ9guWBn1m76gpOMGDnz41T8O8hyLrsmCvSQ9RmfcVEGkf4eAYT7TI9d-ohXR6pjygfKItMhkx/s200/slavery-tm.jpg" width="200"></a> </div> <div class="tr_bq"> A Saudi princess charged with a felony count of human tracking is in an Orange County jail on $5 million bail.<br> <br> That's the polite way of saving she enslaved five maids but so far only got charged with one.<br> <br> The <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/12/saudi-arabian-princess-accused-of-holding-slaves-in-california/">Daily Caller</a> has the story about the escape of one of the five maids enslaved by Princess Meshal Albayan, wife of the Saudi Arabian prince Abdulraham bin Nassar bin Abdulazis al Saud:<br> <blockquote> The Kenyan maid who escaped Albayan’s third story apartment reported to police that she was forced to work 16 hour days for only $220 a month, a drastic difference from the $1600 a month her two-year contract promised.  </blockquote> <blockquote> Albayan kept her five maids confined to the apartment and permitted no days off. In order to flee her working environment, the maid escaped the house and flagged down a bus to reach the Irvine Police.  </blockquote> <blockquote> Albayan hired the Kenyan maid in 2012 as a domestic servant in Syria while residing in her family’s palace. She allegedly stole passports from the maid upon her arrival in the U.S.<br> The four remaining Filipino maids eagerly agreed to leave with the police after authorities searched the home. </blockquote>You didn't think slavery ended with the Civil war, did you? We learned just yesterday that the National Archives has box after box of pleas from the relatives of people sold into slavery decades after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. A letter from Carrie Kinsey begs President Theodore Roosevelt for help in freeing her brother, sold at the age of 14 into involuntary servitude at a huge plantation called Kinderlou. <a href="http://politic365.com/2013/07/14/americas-twentieth-century-slavery/">Politics 365</a> tells us:<br> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> As dumbfounding as the story told by the Carrie Kinsey letter is, far more remarkable is what surrounds that letter at the National Archives. In the same box that holds her grief-stricken missive are at least half a dozen other pieces of correspondence recounting other stories of kidnapping, perversion of the courts, or human trafficking-as horrifying as, or worse than, Carrie Kinsey’s tale. It is the same in the next box on the shelf. And the one before. And the ones on either side of those. And the next and the next. And on and on. Thousands and thousands of plaintive letters and grimly bureaucratic responses-altogether at least 30,000 pages of original material-chronicle cases of forced labor and involuntary servitude in the South decades after the end of the Civil War. </blockquote>Of course if you're paying attention to Walmart you know <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/hey-wal-mart-lets-call-it-what-it-is.html">the giant retailer  had dealings with human traffickers</a> as recently as last year.<br> <br> <div> Mary Goudie, a member of Britain's House of Lords, has taken up the fight against slavery. Today, she writes in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jul/15/slavery-industry-money-human-trafficking">The Guardian</a>: </div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Across the board, there has been a fundamental failure to address the reality of modern-day slavery – <a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_181961/lang--en/index.htm">an estimated 21 million people are trapped in some form</a>. </blockquote>She cites an estimate by the International Labor Organization that slavers <a href="http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@declaration/documents/publication/wcms_090356.pdf">earn profits of $32 billion each year</a>.<br> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> It isn't only criminals who are profiteering from the trade in human labour. Modern-day slavery is an underground business, intrinsically linked to global supply chains. Individuals and companies are making a huge amount of money out of this business and can make it extremely hard for campaigners and governments to chase the cash back to its true source. </blockquote>One reason for inaction, she writes, is disbelief that slavery is a problem. But when a Saudi princess gets busted in Orange County, Calif., for enslaving five maids, it's pretty obvious there's a problem. </div>

Saudi princess arrested for slavery in Calif.

A Saudi princess charged with a felony count of human tracking is in an Orange County jail on $5 million bail. That's the polite way of saving she enslaved five maids but so far only got charged with one. The Daily Caller has th…

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Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s1600/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s400/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their policies about immigration and other issues. Now add Bob McDonnell to that list.<br /><br />Conservative bloggers like <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2013/07/10/on-conservativsm-vs-access/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bearingdrift+%28Bearing+Drift%29" target="_blank">Willie Deutsch at Bearing Drift</a> have joined with Democratic bloggers in the mindless act of becoming participants in attacking the Virginia Republican Governor. What should be more disconcerting is the effect this circular firing squad will have on GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli who has also been <a href="http://www.c-ville.com/cuccinelli-mcdonnell-and-the-star-scientific-scandal-that-just-keeps-growing/#.Ud68GW2kNRw" target="_blank">caught up in the controversy with his own issue of unreported gifts</a> from Star Scientific and Jonnie Williams. When the far right is done with Bob McDonnell, will they then turn their guns on Cuccinelli?<br /><br />In the words of <i>Richmond Times-Dispatch</i> political writer <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/jeff-schapiro/schapiro-even-mcdonnell-s-friends-bracing-for-the-worst/article_245b13e4-371b-54cc-ab69-08165cdc980b.html">Jeff Schapiro</a>, "... all Democrats have to do is watch a great Republican tradition: cannibalism."<br /><br />The hemorrhaging needs to stop.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, in the shadows away from this controversy stands Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. The far right had its fair share of attacking him earlier this year by calling him a RINO and questioning his conservative credentials. In hindsight, perhaps Bolling did the wisest thing by stepping aside in this toxic environment. Meanwhile, as Jim Hoeft  <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/07/bollings-office-says-business-as-usual/" target="_blank">reported,</a> it's business as usual in the LG's office as he goes about the job of working for the people of Virginia.<br /><br />The LG is also on the minds of the editorial board at Charlottesville's <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank"><i>Daily Progress</i></a>, wondering <i>what if</i> concerning Bolling's aborted campaign for Governor. Noting the issues surrounding the Governor, the <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Daily Progress</a> wrote:<br /><blockquote>“Much of this has occurred on center stage during a summer that was supposed to have belonged to Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a better man who stands in the shadows, cast there by a party that failed him and failed Virginia.<br /><br />Undercut by state GOP leaders whose political IQ’s can only be measured in minuses, Bolling was thrown to the side by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a man with more baggage than Samsonite.<br /><br />Rather than hold a primary to allow voters to select the next Republican candidate for governor, party string-pullers conducted the rough equivalent of a meeting in a smoke-filled room, holding a convention to hand Cuccinelli the nomination. <br /><br />Bolling could have taken his shot in 2009 — surely, he wishes now that he had — but he agreed to stand aside to unify the party, paving the path to McDonnell’s sweeping victory. The idea was that Bolling would wait his turn until 2013.<br /><br />Then along came Cuccinelli. One wonders how strongly the capital’s most powerful Republican stood for the friend who helped him win election. There are apparent prices to be paid for McDonnell’s friendship. Williams is Exhibit A, evidently.<br /><br />That has stirred rumblings about McDonnell’s possible early departure from Richmond. A conservative blogger claimed over the weekend that two sources told him the governor was preparing to resign in a plea deal to avoid ethics charges. McDonnell’s staff quickly denied the rumor.<br /><br />It’s a sign of how deep the governor is in his own mess. Were he to be forced out, moving Bolling into the mansion, Virginia would be served in the interim by a leader superior to the alternatives being offered up for the fall. Perhaps Bolling might gain fuel enough for a write-in run.<br /><br />That might be a dream, but it is far pleasanter than the nightmare now being lived out in the state’s highest office.</blockquote>What the far right's circular firing squad is doing is driving people like Laura Lennox of Richmond to<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/your-opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_2d1648dc-9440-5bf3-968b-678c444fd32a.html" target="_blank"> consider a write-in vote for Bill Bolling</a> while others have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-in-Bill-Bolling-for-Virginia-Governor-2013/599114856787021?hc_location=timeline" target="_blank">taken to Facebook.</a><br /><br />The loser in all this is the Republican Party, both statewide and nationally. Maybe we all need to reconsider the 11th commandment often quoted by Ronald Reagan: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.

Bill Bolling Bob McDonnell Chris Christie Daily Progress facebook Jim Hoeft Lynn R. Mitchell Marco Rubio Virginia Politics On Demand write-in campaign Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their polici…

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UVa summer Young Writers Camp ... exploring the 3200-acre Sweet Briar College campus

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPzkG1PeBaKYNiwAVqyf7yrhGNIjtSDZ6MPStgwl-oMShqR_rhFHzLY4Vuru-d8kuL1Vvlyw1a_mUpIDnauvXvGObqjkt8NIbm3aR4OGOMVqfuK4YADZDoR4Q5HKBG872QPMeMqE7o_fW/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPzkG1PeBaKYNiwAVqyf7yrhGNIjtSDZ6MPStgwl-oMShqR_rhFHzLY4Vuru-d8kuL1Vvlyw1a_mUpIDnauvXvGObqjkt8NIbm3aR4OGOMVqfuK4YADZDoR4Q5HKBG872QPMeMqE7o_fW/s400/26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After spending three weeks last summer immersed in the French language and culture when Washington & Lee University hosted the <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2012/07/2012-governors-school-french-academy.html">Governor's School French Academy</a>, SWAC Niece is enjoying a three-week <a href="http://theyoungwriters.org/">Young Writers Summer Camp</a> this summer sponsored by the University of Virginia but held on the campus of nearby <a href="http://sbc.edu/">Sweet Briar College</a>. This rising high school senior is a writer in all forms of the word, and has been since she was a little girl.</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/AVvXsEhz7nOQpldjdm60CEr-L-pzotdkLZE5l8HBJHxmgzZc3Wc6hBOlcImSA8McrHQzzC3AXodToPHI_QEFRqKDnZMR7AjeI1aDX19TosXlS6rEOoXeH1nGYZ0Tt8LZDL4OThxCGVT7UUAMRnRy/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7nOQpldjdm60CEr-L-pzotdkLZE5l8HBJHxmgzZc3Wc6hBOlcImSA8McrHQzzC3AXodToPHI_QEFRqKDnZMR7AjeI1aDX19TosXlS6rEOoXeH1nGYZ0Tt8LZDL4OThxCGVT7UUAMRnRy/s400/18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet Briar's campus consists of 3,200 rolling acres spread out over the Virginia countryside with room to roam for active young people. From the meandering front wooded drive to the historic brick buildings that are listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District, it offers nooks and crannies to explore or put pen to paper -- or fingers to keyboard -- to describe the scenery, recall experiences, or record memories.</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/AVvXsEhsw6qsmZ7VaOyxDA7bMaZxTqMPMhAOSEtGniZdRt8cJTLf3VAqFqu_Gd7Q2yP5wDHoeM7Mh9_d2uyTDj7__VSL8IBItVgyVQbFgxs4iE7eZ81ChyphenhyphenGpzbU8CyTww41tY1GMdHMWuBRBoCSk/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw6qsmZ7VaOyxDA7bMaZxTqMPMhAOSEtGniZdRt8cJTLf3VAqFqu_Gd7Q2yP5wDHoeM7Mh9_d2uyTDj7__VSL8IBItVgyVQbFgxs4iE7eZ81ChyphenhyphenGpzbU8CyTww41tY1GMdHMWuBRBoCSk/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Part of the African American heritage of Sweet Briar.</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/AVvXsEh_mjFpnnnEHgGPvMpCCeyxmKKjbRP2yb9a-GoDcmhBuaP7rssR6NQZhW-BSsg6hGvZgJNqK5oB2a1QD99kLDbm7WPxX3nie43HllhOjzTI6UHBqesoYZm0EApJ4I-du-qVDPoi3QQFsgQJ/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mjFpnnnEHgGPvMpCCeyxmKKjbRP2yb9a-GoDcmhBuaP7rssR6NQZhW-BSsg6hGvZgJNqK5oB2a1QD99kLDbm7WPxX3nie43HllhOjzTI6UHBqesoYZm0EApJ4I-du-qVDPoi3QQFsgQJ/s400/20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZZF_zU1-QLYa-lsGeiEGMjY4rfE7w-CTu6_nB9KW7zlLqCbCThB5a-6eTLz5b8Fp7S3-m8XPDO88ZqjVeUcHSRxzMFTdcTj4AtXL3D_uHMzbSnvZXZdvsVo8p2JPueZqH8ySUE2a6oA7/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZZF_zU1-QLYa-lsGeiEGMjY4rfE7w-CTu6_nB9KW7zlLqCbCThB5a-6eTLz5b8Fp7S3-m8XPDO88ZqjVeUcHSRxzMFTdcTj4AtXL3D_uHMzbSnvZXZdvsVo8p2JPueZqH8ySUE2a6oA7/s400/21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This imposing yellow structure is Sweet Briar House. Sweet Briar College was founded in <b>1901</b>, the legacy of Indiana Fletcher Williams, who left her entire estate to found an institution in memory of her only daughter, Daisy, who died at the age of 16 in <b>1884</b>. At the time of Mrs. Williams' death in 1900, her estate consisted of more than a million dollars, and over 8,000 acres of land, including the Sweet Briar Plantation.<br /><br />Sweet Briar House has been home to the presidents of the College since its founding in 1901. The former estate residence has been on the Virginia Landmarks Register since the 1970s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<br /><br />The original house was built in the late 18th century by Joseph Crews. Originally known as Locust Ridge, the structure was a two-story, six-room farmhouse of red brick. In 1830 Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres for $7,000 from Penn family relatives of his wife, Maria Antoinette Crawford. Fletcher, a schoolteacher from Vermont who had come to nearby New Glasgow (now Clifton) to teach at an academy there, rose to prominence in the local community and in Lynchburg following his marriage in 1813.<br /><br />Called "Sweetbrier" for the abundance of wild roses on the property, it became the summer home for the Fletchers and their four children, Indiana, Elizabeth, Sidney, and Lucien. In 1841 the family made it their permanent residence, and in 1851-1852 the original T-shaped farmhouse was enlarged with the addition of the tower wings, showing the daughters' attraction to Italianate architecture they had seen during a grand tour of Europe.<br /><br />The house was furnished with pieces bought in New York and Philadelphia. In 1858, upon Elijah's death, his daughter Indiana inherited Sweetbrier, renaming it "Sweet Briar." In 1865 Indiana married a New York clergyman, James Henry Williams, and though the couple traveled back and forth between New York and Sweet Briar, they considered this to be their home.<br /><br />Sweet Briar College's first president, Mary K. Benedict, used Sweet Briar House as her residence. For the first years of the College it also housed faculty members, the post office, and the infirmary. The first floor also served as the administration building for the College until 1926. A 1927 fire damaged the central part of the house and led to the rebuilding and modernization of the central part and east wing of the house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet Briar House is surrounded by gardens restored by The Garden Club of Virginia, and is filled with many of the furnishings original to the Fletcher and Williams families.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwJyFkxZex9tMp5h86a8JsD4hP_vLosOdl2iY21fcD6lbFyvd5oSYdS49Jx1QfpO-7TSfRI6H_ZaUCXwiePmnhBnKfYNU69o8NX49qdNMoEW-bb_kdvjvY-Y2Yq5Ry27Essdt7lCvoUeA/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwJyFkxZex9tMp5h86a8JsD4hP_vLosOdl2iY21fcD6lbFyvd5oSYdS49Jx1QfpO-7TSfRI6H_ZaUCXwiePmnhBnKfYNU69o8NX49qdNMoEW-bb_kdvjvY-Y2Yq5Ry27Essdt7lCvoUeA/s400/22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The campus includes hiking trails, <a href="http://sbc.edu/riding">an equestrian center</a>, boat house with two lakes, and an abundance of <a href="http://sbc.edu/outdoor-programs/sweet-briar-outdoor-program">outdoor activities</a> taking advantage of the surrounding national forests and ski areas.</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/AVvXsEgLCO08f8rDGGWTpLdKBSoS7Lj15wqprr5pJbMoE-b6fTPxZk1vT7dOOM1-PRvS44jfH0aRlcHnSAYO-zBXgNYvgsAHRjq6nlcntB7GHpVmFwnZzS9JzW9hNhiXbqshWwxriKzXZH_t09rh/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCO08f8rDGGWTpLdKBSoS7Lj15wqprr5pJbMoE-b6fTPxZk1vT7dOOM1-PRvS44jfH0aRlcHnSAYO-zBXgNYvgsAHRjq6nlcntB7GHpVmFwnZzS9JzW9hNhiXbqshWwxriKzXZH_t09rh/s400/23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8k_NhWK_M8tT0Btb4w6ihQOe98rivX4EwxURk_9NO07PXh4NG_xENA6JY-CV5jo_TsMxPYWZDBW65XhoVX_BP_HvsO3M6MMscxeKaAPJXUxy7OWIePplAlg-1_aMnelyIB9AC2taUgix/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8k_NhWK_M8tT0Btb4w6ihQOe98rivX4EwxURk_9NO07PXh4NG_xENA6JY-CV5jo_TsMxPYWZDBW65XhoVX_BP_HvsO3M6MMscxeKaAPJXUxy7OWIePplAlg-1_aMnelyIB9AC2taUgix/s400/24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Young Writers Workshop of the University of Virginia, established in 1982 as the nation’s flagship program for young writers, enters its third decade of bringing together a community of young people from across the country and beyond with a common purpose: to create a supportive, non-competitive environment where teenage writers can live and work together as artists. The faculty of authors and residential staff bring professional experience to the development of new talent.  In partnership with Sweet Briar College and its idyllic setting, the Young Writers Workshop has achieved a long-desired goal to welcome its participants to a retreat space where writers can commune with each other, immerse themselves in creative activity, and fuel their imaginations through an innovative arts program. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2GPdI2RjRV2HJ_iuR7pXrU2q_W5hxcfn9yL1Qgzm7orwTNd_q-XUirkQSe_vA3zHWplbAJqyXUE8vv4dpB64ROFbsocYoOHq5vOjphGuYY1TYT5bDNHf7bwclbpU_dw4xf0jTT0bPIrs/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2GPdI2RjRV2HJ_iuR7pXrU2q_W5hxcfn9yL1Qgzm7orwTNd_q-XUirkQSe_vA3zHWplbAJqyXUE8vv4dpB64ROFbsocYoOHq5vOjphGuYY1TYT5bDNHf7bwclbpU_dw4xf0jTT0bPIrs/s400/27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Participants learn the dynamic principles of play, invention, response, revision, performance, and publication as well as strategies to invent, develop, and revise material using the writer’s most essential tools—language, imagination, craft, sight, and insight. They conference with instructors and peer writers. They examine contemporary artists’ work. They become more discerning readers. Five workshops are offered. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtDzFp3bRfSDfIR_jxTXkKM_rozAWeeTVswgCzbb1Wv7HS74CWq6e9PaAX93wncB3xmYRGLsqcWZQ-iTqHA60RxoZZktLFJgGKWnzNloNpdEVp2cn4A-KkdqH4q8JFpuwPNK5KDkd9n5a/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtDzFp3bRfSDfIR_jxTXkKM_rozAWeeTVswgCzbb1Wv7HS74CWq6e9PaAX93wncB3xmYRGLsqcWZQ-iTqHA60RxoZZktLFJgGKWnzNloNpdEVp2cn4A-KkdqH4q8JFpuwPNK5KDkd9n5a/s400/28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fiction: From the real to the surreal, fiction writers learn how evocative fiction works: the power of provocative story hooks, resonant settings, and plot lines that weave together the lives of complex characters. This workshop also focuses on developing a repertoire of voices, styles, and narrative techniques to intrigue readers and leave them wanting more.</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/AVvXsEhy-3ykoIMwjouSXZiI3rWOmGbFzbyETaZlzoa-ZJUSqNBixCUrQIWra-GuGJei_RYFaX30BTaznozlT14yEPRE-XUchOBX6MPbh8nbRnHvjw7BWI5bmM4SKP1nUzwfnrzwEjIveYOZo458/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-3ykoIMwjouSXZiI3rWOmGbFzbyETaZlzoa-ZJUSqNBixCUrQIWra-GuGJei_RYFaX30BTaznozlT14yEPRE-XUchOBX6MPbh8nbRnHvjw7BWI5bmM4SKP1nUzwfnrzwEjIveYOZo458/s400/29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="program-video"><div class="video-wrapper"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Screen and playwriting: F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Writers aren’t exactly people … they’re a whole bunch of people trying to be one person." Script writers learn the skills needed to unleash their cast of characters onto screen or stage. Dramatic writing is the perfect genre for those whose inspiration exceeds the limits of the page! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUJV6ty7j_rlkzCt3-kuRLk8BEdEEkB4PV3OnO06fqTuAxhiOxt_uAmFnLTVUQ4AZxljYeQn61vpL5eOQ94KG0holIrXqJcG7PTM0uajfaTr8uRgy5slwjWk-XAKBKGUiq2Ef3yYfGI5h/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUJV6ty7j_rlkzCt3-kuRLk8BEdEEkB4PV3OnO06fqTuAxhiOxt_uAmFnLTVUQ4AZxljYeQn61vpL5eOQ94KG0holIrXqJcG7PTM0uajfaTr8uRgy5slwjWk-XAKBKGUiq2Ef3yYfGI5h/s400/30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Creative nonfiction: Creative nonfiction writers deploy the devices of great fiction—riveting description, charged dialogue, strong narrative structure—for telling true stories. They take these literary skills into field assignments to practice the real moves of the nonfiction writer, through humor, memoir, editorial, review, and many others bringing truth to the page with the force of fiction.</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/AVvXsEjPwH9H9KYTR31hz6417NoLu0lf9N3TMuEV3aRf52zJaGdRLQ2OmWcspeojMGjkJa6fUAmJyeqWBcYU57sUeLU2XAPFuEVnz_wTwdx8da7rG7KlxGQLwjYXkM4MnGXl6e18hXzwoKeoARix/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwH9H9KYTR31hz6417NoLu0lf9N3TMuEV3aRf52zJaGdRLQ2OmWcspeojMGjkJa6fUAmJyeqWBcYU57sUeLU2XAPFuEVnz_wTwdx8da7rG7KlxGQLwjYXkM4MnGXl6e18hXzwoKeoARix/s400/31.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poetry: Poets make the ordinary extraordinary. They experiment with craft and form. They embody whole worlds of experience in just one line or image, distill where they have been and what they know, and give shape to personal truth in luminous detail. This workshop helps young poets discover the ways to tempt the muse to the page and forge what follows into a full blaze.</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/AVvXsEji08HK3QondNCCU01N-hBd-xjmRePih8uul90usUJEhhijaV0Ux84efzAtg2p-l1UL03l7nVBvnMLLM4NzelfHdZjGHVXCqJ1PsGZuN7rV01zjSfn0xNnAUw-yJnD4bZym_KntVzty9fL2/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji08HK3QondNCCU01N-hBd-xjmRePih8uul90usUJEhhijaV0Ux84efzAtg2p-l1UL03l7nVBvnMLLM4NzelfHdZjGHVXCqJ1PsGZuN7rV01zjSfn0xNnAUw-yJnD4bZym_KntVzty9fL2/s400/32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Song writing: SWAC Niece may enjoy this since she's an accomplished guitar player. Artists in this workshop write songs that give rise to unequivocal statement. They concentrate on lyrics, music, or both. Through improvisation, they enter the kinship of poetry through jazz-poetry fusion. They perform live, go solo, or collaborate with other singer-songwriters. Either way, they create in that unparalleled space where sound and words explode.</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/AVvXsEiWQpbXsCfGb9iLS1DV1sxc0-3FLbhJkRAMVJE8qrw9m9hCjugPyKISSG6hEgeMZcBAwyBpveVxYz2aXLA1aU1kdm7Jr1HTzsg_Cxe06R0bWRtOAO54V8wvDi9bZ3iVSWutNHb-eAKjzL4m/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQpbXsCfGb9iLS1DV1sxc0-3FLbhJkRAMVJE8qrw9m9hCjugPyKISSG6hEgeMZcBAwyBpveVxYz2aXLA1aU1kdm7Jr1HTzsg_Cxe06R0bWRtOAO54V8wvDi9bZ3iVSWutNHb-eAKjzL4m/s400/33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Those who wished to attend had to compete for a slot by writing an autobiographical sketch including details reasons for wanting to attend the Workshop and capturing the applicant’s interests and influences as a writer, as well as a recommendation.</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/AVvXsEi3s8skTf6iNHeOXoO0y71yJUBmjcKGa2txFM2GBuhgpTc0I3GDq4vzfyiOmTaPK42Osy4K-9DoiUvedt-qxwiqaQm2osrr00FkupyFp7d33ZQr6LXV1tZUHhjoPYLeTWB5DbG-6-bqzgGx/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3s8skTf6iNHeOXoO0y71yJUBmjcKGa2txFM2GBuhgpTc0I3GDq4vzfyiOmTaPK42Osy4K-9DoiUvedt-qxwiqaQm2osrr00FkupyFp7d33ZQr6LXV1tZUHhjoPYLeTWB5DbG-6-bqzgGx/s400/34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Applicants also had to submit one one-page writing sample in their first choice of genres, one one-page sample in their second choice of genres, a selective writing portfolio (3-5 page document) in their first choice of genres, and a 2-3 page writing sample in their second choice of genres. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O6_v1aMvlh1vDqkVSNXM7rS_yNfLDtTIOVQzwhGC2j36HU2pgEU3WgDR5TZ_Lr5WMsly22aZyxu6Skjyc8Ck9Eb5zF5ThcJ2CBnuVE_oZiSQmHNIzt5vFmWwS4wGI5V9W2drD4rMvHi2/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O6_v1aMvlh1vDqkVSNXM7rS_yNfLDtTIOVQzwhGC2j36HU2pgEU3WgDR5TZ_Lr5WMsly22aZyxu6Skjyc8Ck9Eb5zF5ThcJ2CBnuVE_oZiSQmHNIzt5vFmWwS4wGI5V9W2drD4rMvHi2/s400/35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a <a href="http://theyoungwriters.org/our-story">tremendous opportunity</a> with the chance to work side-by-side with young writers from around the world as well as across the nation. </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/AVvXsEgpl77IE_ZNtgBOAP0FeuFqjj3_pdL4BmiUsEwXEbSgK5ZQPZRXHXxOSFbBK0NmMYetVN9fD7b_G9MaUwEsVjAhID8-86h5k49_3fGFcFZN5HfYJb3pna_aUGHNrm-g7X2O2IQ-rh3cLRqb/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl77IE_ZNtgBOAP0FeuFqjj3_pdL4BmiUsEwXEbSgK5ZQPZRXHXxOSFbBK0NmMYetVN9fD7b_G9MaUwEsVjAhID8-86h5k49_3fGFcFZN5HfYJb3pna_aUGHNrm-g7X2O2IQ-rh3cLRqb/s400/36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What inspiration will be found on this sprawling campus? We will know at the end of this session.</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/AVvXsEjOI7_8F2dMWojsA2E3h9uMa6-ydZRsn2cb1kDuxWNOfj2k-Ki3p3nECDBKcukHzqOGhZ2C9BMCTHEHSGlkCvtGDun1bFMpJRlyDP9e9KuYbicIB5gIZ0aguVM81mDMnwzgwAGXmq7SMA8f/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOI7_8F2dMWojsA2E3h9uMa6-ydZRsn2cb1kDuxWNOfj2k-Ki3p3nECDBKcukHzqOGhZ2C9BMCTHEHSGlkCvtGDun1bFMpJRlyDP9e9KuYbicIB5gIZ0aguVM81mDMnwzgwAGXmq7SMA8f/s400/37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabWNsDmBexHLovb2xW4wEY4J0FCy2SkoJO_-sfra7l9EZ064Pb2awnfqxlFrjpIzfwyG7PZ21bhyphenhypheneC8rDjB6CN6u2ruBPSNmFcaJEa9h8LNcg7hDP_xwRcsiew2lURU8nIqkDn6AS4_OY/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabWNsDmBexHLovb2xW4wEY4J0FCy2SkoJO_-sfra7l9EZ064Pb2awnfqxlFrjpIzfwyG7PZ21bhyphenhypheneC8rDjB6CN6u2ruBPSNmFcaJEa9h8LNcg7hDP_xwRcsiew2lURU8nIqkDn6AS4_OY/s400/38.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6brPqy7-KWK3UKk1FDHteogdF_NbYZ-9qIAdT-3DmwWjHs8S_U78DUQ8ZhlHc9_EdPFTeNGcocxpqmQwuFwNvJ542bwyVg_ewr7Bey4J0NKLBzShuMSCnDV3LcZQdXp5rnSPEMuc0wQKK/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6brPqy7-KWK3UKk1FDHteogdF_NbYZ-9qIAdT-3DmwWjHs8S_U78DUQ8ZhlHc9_EdPFTeNGcocxpqmQwuFwNvJ542bwyVg_ewr7Bey4J0NKLBzShuMSCnDV3LcZQdXp5rnSPEMuc0wQKK/s400/39.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_ercHYIg7fWTPu_dwvQPqLSSzqGc6cMEMt2b0AvFqjhyphenhyphenL8efVFo7g3HFbKq-gvYCcoI8zgc7Dmh7Kdtew1ZTPAY8OVv5w55_TCqCaKxSCtk0qQS4lBcehQRcRZrjc6fAcLBgvpO1jO5/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_ercHYIg7fWTPu_dwvQPqLSSzqGc6cMEMt2b0AvFqjhyphenhyphenL8efVFo7g3HFbKq-gvYCcoI8zgc7Dmh7Kdtew1ZTPAY8OVv5w55_TCqCaKxSCtk0qQS4lBcehQRcRZrjc6fAcLBgvpO1jO5/s400/40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The equestrian center.</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/AVvXsEgCtgNLewRpFee3wfz0a-UgUlWQnRLHEvST2aCEXnu6_780SvriVGbmnPeZtlruMGLZh4DSFr2z6bmQyhvIyjZ2pXVerBEi7KQLi7Hwz4Tr6-asIBgn8TLS7KIVYmt_2HSp0eODaiO0wkPr/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtgNLewRpFee3wfz0a-UgUlWQnRLHEvST2aCEXnu6_780SvriVGbmnPeZtlruMGLZh4DSFr2z6bmQyhvIyjZ2pXVerBEi7KQLi7Hwz4Tr6-asIBgn8TLS7KIVYmt_2HSp0eODaiO0wkPr/s400/41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_AolPN-qM95Q1o_zbVQWNz3ZLidAFYwXNtOeoqrrsSiXoRoGodFf2rVpVTgT3aMINpeCBvIeHqMbu-7iE0NFVfdssvNJtGsi9FMiwOLVk7leuwvvvx-YSkZIRu6aQSPyo9_E-lKfBL-6/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_AolPN-qM95Q1o_zbVQWNz3ZLidAFYwXNtOeoqrrsSiXoRoGodFf2rVpVTgT3aMINpeCBvIeHqMbu-7iE0NFVfdssvNJtGsi9FMiwOLVk7leuwvvvx-YSkZIRu6aQSPyo9_E-lKfBL-6/s400/42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjLwoGJZpvI6TE0_Pchy0IUMbplcP2MAwwMA0_cjAKNdVy96lc4KCktRrgw18LjubrQvElMi0olyojgs2deqme85Ck_Tw1Y84AG3UWTlAyAH9wxw1mSsx0PrLay8QYmA27HzrufTd-xaK/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjLwoGJZpvI6TE0_Pchy0IUMbplcP2MAwwMA0_cjAKNdVy96lc4KCktRrgw18LjubrQvElMi0olyojgs2deqme85Ck_Tw1Y84AG3UWTlAyAH9wxw1mSsx0PrLay8QYmA27HzrufTd-xaK/s400/43.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9OEZer6R5kgdoKKR5LlmBnjdxJe26XkTgTpEeoZjGBngkiN6bU9yq_9erCIP13Aot6Qg8I_PCIvkgHXCQqoP-NbL7wvk3R1Zz-DBRpVqD7CccGsIw2qnacnt1zkPXppnwwdHSuARDNA4/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9OEZer6R5kgdoKKR5LlmBnjdxJe26XkTgTpEeoZjGBngkiN6bU9yq_9erCIP13Aot6Qg8I_PCIvkgHXCQqoP-NbL7wvk3R1Zz-DBRpVqD7CccGsIw2qnacnt1zkPXppnwwdHSuARDNA4/s400/44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHtNRpRu8z51EvCQajEvbaawlAAWkX2FAMNRKYLlJLi5-oOHqV4OGaWglfxdkRTKaE1GYCbHNMiA5aeQS_8vSS4Vut4XCCrtaVGl94xtQNCAMwkPdMbmTK8yqPIWcQz8V5xUNj6JkFfXp/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHtNRpRu8z51EvCQajEvbaawlAAWkX2FAMNRKYLlJLi5-oOHqV4OGaWglfxdkRTKaE1GYCbHNMiA5aeQS_8vSS4Vut4XCCrtaVGl94xtQNCAMwkPdMbmTK8yqPIWcQz8V5xUNj6JkFfXp/s400/45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbVdecc6hKf8Z_EGXC4KD7SNhZrHBnIsXjsojztixMJTjf_F7DoUfnYG32gsEcdDXA1TdaX6vTExPiSp4udLP2yxRkf9PnA3n4xp4QVrYPB-FSN7DWXcWALl8AWqWvcWABHctW2w4RgmB/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbVdecc6hKf8Z_EGXC4KD7SNhZrHBnIsXjsojztixMJTjf_F7DoUfnYG32gsEcdDXA1TdaX6vTExPiSp4udLP2yxRkf9PnA3n4xp4QVrYPB-FSN7DWXcWALl8AWqWvcWABHctW2w4RgmB/s400/46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The boat house.</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/AVvXsEiMPfbXeZaP8dkjuTify7Qln_h2DvtNiPmH09wPqB0IpiwQLJXpm335RrxBZz_wmyFOJalc5puWsr46BWSv13BcP8TjpyyzdNdeEYmaCd2pCpJJXXSmUnwORfqTx9P56L8xeGpyrWwcbcG1/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPfbXeZaP8dkjuTify7Qln_h2DvtNiPmH09wPqB0IpiwQLJXpm335RrxBZz_wmyFOJalc5puWsr46BWSv13BcP8TjpyyzdNdeEYmaCd2pCpJJXXSmUnwORfqTx9P56L8xeGpyrWwcbcG1/s400/47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8D6JwnI-T1oY1TGMz5EizjNKYqd6fYEo5Au9P0Gh1GFEW33D_tbCpEwsdNV7XEg5IWEVVBL6flxv1kBqM1W7HqRgwPAk8bp23PfHaW_55Ek1EgR-X22agWaQpiME1-4D47zC9OuVtyKw/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8D6JwnI-T1oY1TGMz5EizjNKYqd6fYEo5Au9P0Gh1GFEW33D_tbCpEwsdNV7XEg5IWEVVBL6flxv1kBqM1W7HqRgwPAk8bp23PfHaW_55Ek1EgR-X22agWaQpiME1-4D47zC9OuVtyKw/s640/48.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM63dOgLKG2HIomfd4s2pZmJ2we6U7rFO7yMdI5TzyK-YZT7vQ5gFejXYg6On7QdT2PRtJprdjejESc7R-KkzjLFIuZ-JdspEVxUz9D3lFdx-OXKKoqxrU3Mib2ce6vOw9sjHGZLlPxZr/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM63dOgLKG2HIomfd4s2pZmJ2we6U7rFO7yMdI5TzyK-YZT7vQ5gFejXYg6On7QdT2PRtJprdjejESc7R-KkzjLFIuZ-JdspEVxUz9D3lFdx-OXKKoqxrU3Mib2ce6vOw9sjHGZLlPxZr/s640/50.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62qMiWiDyOfwVgYfgGPkDVDBRXqevrpBArWwzmRXlMUImVHkOQnvIOs1lMsaxMV9ZsALQIeIM1bR7bLuE9GMTyBcAyXArb9jzz5nStcLcyEm8nmlx71rt5YjT3hL6XH-5sRTHimNdrlCR/s1600/51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62qMiWiDyOfwVgYfgGPkDVDBRXqevrpBArWwzmRXlMUImVHkOQnvIOs1lMsaxMV9ZsALQIeIM1bR7bLuE9GMTyBcAyXArb9jzz5nStcLcyEm8nmlx71rt5YjT3hL6XH-5sRTHimNdrlCR/s400/51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From the beginning, Sweet Briar recognized that students who will become "useful members of society" must, as liberally educated women, be well equipped to move into professional life, a goal that continues into the 21st century.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In Staunton, City Councilwoman Andrea Oakes carries on that tradition of being a "useful member of society" as she serves on Staunton City Council and for various organizations while working a full-time job.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 11, 2013

Andrea Oakes Indiana Fletcher Williams National Register of Historic Places Staunton City Council Sweet Briar College University of Virginia Virginia Landmarks Register Young Writers Camp UVa summer Young Writers Camp ... exploring the 3200-acre Sweet Briar College campus

After spending three weeks last summer immersed in the French language and culture when Washington & Lee University hosted the Governor's School French Academy, SWAC Niece is enjoying a three-week Young Writers Summer Camp this summer sponsored by th…

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Hand Drawing in the Age of Computers

Over at World-Architects is an eMagazine Insight feature I just wrapped up, compiling some sketches after combing through the W-A profiles: "<a href="http://www.world-architects.com/pages/page_item/hand-drawing-age-computers">Hand Drawing in the Age of Computers</a>." <br /><br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/pages/page_item/hand-drawing-age-computers"><img alt="Insight13-29-def.png" src="http://www.world-architects.com/img/frontend/pages/2699/600%3Aw/Insight13-29-def.png" title="Hand Drawing in the Age of Computers" /></a><br />[Photo: John Hill/World-Architects]<br /><br />The intro: <br /><blockquote>Inspired by a recent Alvaro Siza lecture, in which the architect traced the design process of one of his buildings through a myriad of ever-more-refined sketches, we've combed through the profiles on World-Architects to find sketches and other hand drawings—not an easy feat, considering the ubiquity of CAD drawings, computer renderings, and photographs for documenting projects. Nevertheless we've compiled a rich sampling of drawings to illustrate the value—even necessity—of hand drawings in the age of computers.</blockquote>

Hand Drawing in the Age of Computers

Over at World-Architects is an eMagazine Insight feature I just wrapped up, compiling some sketches after combing through the W-A profiles: "Hand Drawing in the Age of Computers." [Photo: John Hill/World-Architects]The intro: Inspired by a recent Alv…

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Young union members protest No Rights at Work in Michigan

Young union members <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/07/union_workers_from_around_the.html">took to the streets</a> of Detroit late last week to demand that Michigan lawmakers roll back the no-rights-at-work law imposed in March. The participants were in the Motor City as part of an AFSCME conference that highlighted new voices within the labor movement.<br /><br />The protest comes at a time when there is <a href="http://business.time.com/2013/07/12/americans-are-warming-again-to-unions-will-the-relationship-last/#ixzz2Z3f1BJDZ">growing support</a> for unions nationwide, especially among <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/why-young-workers-love-unions-so-much.html">young adults</a>. A recent poll showed more than 60 percent of people under 30 approve of unions.<br /><br />Protesters also rallied against Detroit's emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, who wants concessions from pensions and unions. <a href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/12/protest-over-snyders-policies-rally-hundreds-in-detroit/">CBS Detroit</a> reported they also took aim at Gov. Rick Snyder, who calls himself "one tough nerd":<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Wearing suspenders and taped glasses about 500 protesters chanted “Revenge of the Nerds” as they packed the street – then the entrance of the building – effectively disrupting business for about 10 minutes before Wayne County deputies and Detroit police were called in to secure the building. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Reverend David Bulluck was among those protesting Friday afternoon. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">“We are not throwing the towel in,” said Rev. Bulluck. “This is the summer of our discontent and we will not let democracy be destroyed … we will not let the city of Detroit be fixed by putting the blame on the backs of citizens and retirees.”</blockquote>Workers from 40 different states were on hand to show support for their Michigan brothers and sisters.<br /><br />As Christopher Matthews <a href="http://business.time.com/2013/07/12/americans-are-warming-again-to-unions-will-the-relationship-last/#ixzz2Z3f1BJDZ">wrote</a> in Time magazine, the growing support for unions shouldn't be surprising given big businesses' poor treatment of working Americans:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...there are a few trends -- namely income-growth stagnation and the fact that corporate owners are taking a larger share of the national income than they have in generations -- that would lead one to expect increasing support for unions.</blockquote><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/03/30/number-of-the-week-college-grads-in-minimum-wage-jobs/">More than 280,000 college graduates</a> work in minimum wage jobs that qualified them for government help The writing is on the wall for today's young workers. And they are beginning to see what many of us have known for some time -- without unions, the middle class will disappear.<br /><br />Welcome into the fold!

Young union members protest No Rights at Work in Michigan

Young union members took to the streets of Detroit late last week to demand that Michigan lawmakers roll back the no-rights-at-work law imposed in March. The participants were in the Motor City as part of an AFSCME conference that highlighted new voi…

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Substitute - Westport Library

<strong>Substitute -</strong> <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Westport Library</span></strong></strong>. Energetic, forward thinking, service-oriented individual to work part time in a fast-paced public library. Must have superior customer service skills and experience working with customers of diverse backgrounds and expectations. Responsibilities include: supporting patrons needs for accessing and returning Library resources; providing individualized assistance ; assisting users with computers and all manner of electronic devices (including tablets, readers, etc.); offering patrons advise on available programs & services, and suggestions on what to read and view. Required qualifications include demonstrated people skills, knowledge of books, strong technology abilities, knowledge of social media and excellent written and verbal competencies. Must be available to work evenings, Saturday, Sunday and be flexible with weekday scheduling. Salary is $12.15 per hour. Email resume and names of three references to Wafaa Naggar, <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:wnaggar@westportlibrary.org" href="mailto:wnaggar@westportlibrary.org">wnaggar@westportlibrary.org</a> by Friday, <span style="color: red;">July 19, 2013</span>. EOE.

Substitute - Westport Library

Substitute - Westport Library. Energetic, forward thinking, service-oriented individual to work part time in a fast-paced public library. Must have superior customer service skills and experience working with customers of diverse backgrounds and…

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Beginning my 4th week - still no side effects

So on Friday marks the completion of 4 weeks on Belviq.  In true "Ellie Wenker" style, I will be doing my weigh in and recording it of course.  I am excited about this weigh in!  So be on the look out for it.<br /><br />I got a little frustrated this weekend and almost deleted my blog with all the drama, but I chose to just get over it and move on.  I have to remind everyone, I am in this for ME.  I want to lose weight for myself.<br /><br />Someone had offered to collect towards a goal met of 50 pound which would be a reward.  This first 50 pounds will be an absolute milestone.  Someone else suggested that the motivation takes away from Belviq and too much focus on the reward.  That really hurt because it was describing me as money motivated.  I will get to my 50 pound loss regardless.  I felt rob of a victory and that was the sole reason I wanted to delete my blog.  The person offering it was just trying to encourage me.   So, we pulled the reward off the table because I was not about to allow people who do not know me to steal my thunder.  <br /><br />I saw where someone else said something like "She'll never be the face of Bevliq, get a start like Jenny McCartney to take Belviq".  Well, that person isn't very smart because Jenny M does not meat the criteria.  And 2nd I'm not trying to be the face of Belviq.  I am trying to get my story out there so others can be motivated as well.  If They call and ask, I'd probably say yes just to get my story out there and help other, not for fame".<br /><br />Enough of that drama!  So far I am doing very well with Belviq.  I still have no side effects.  I've gotten the nutrition routine down and other than tat one day with muscle cramps, I am still doing great!!  In fact, all my labs are PERFECT so I just continue to carry on.<br /><br />Tomorrow I register with a virtual dietician Kickstarter60.  I am really really excited to explore more options.  Check her out at <a href="http://www.kickstarter60.com/">www.kickstarter60.com</a> . <br /><br />I want to thank everyone that has been encouraging me.  It's really meant a lot, especially with all that negative talk about my journey out there.  I took a risk and knew that would happen, I just expected more slams on my weigh vs. on the financial side.  <br /><br />Thanks everyone!<br />xoxoxox

Beginning my 4th week - still no side effects

So on Friday marks the completion of 4 weeks on Belviq.  In true "Ellie Wenker" style, I will be doing my weigh in and recording it of course.  I am excited about this weigh in!  So be on the look out for it.I got a little frustrated this weekend and…

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5 Ways To Lose Weight Without Exercise

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Sheila Bell</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>The amount of overweight people in our society is rapidly increasing. The majority of overweight people want to lose weight but find it difficult to drastically alter their eating habits and stick to a regular exercise plan.<br /> <br /> Regular exercise should be included in every weight loss program. However many people find it difficult to maintain an exercise routine and quit. Is there a way to lose weight without exercise?<br /> <br /> While exercise is always best for weight loss and healthier living, there are some ways to lose weight without exercise, which include the following.<br /> <br /> <b>Kick The Soda Habit</b><br /> <br /> Because soda is a drink and not a food, we tend to overlook the fact that it contains a lot of calories which contain no nutritional benefit. Drinking one 12 ounce can of cola daily can cause you to gain 15 pounds in a year.<br /> <br /> Eliminating soda from your diet can be instrumental in helping you lose some of the unwanted pounds.<br /> <br /> <i>Eat Healthier Snacks</i><br /> <br /> When you find yourself getting hungry between meals, reach for something healthy like a piece of fruit instead of cakes and cookies.<br /> <br /> Fruits are naturally sweet and can be an effective way to curb your appetite and sweet cravings.<br /> <br /> <b>Portion Control</b><br /> <br /> If you want to lose weight without exercise, a good place to start is scaling back on the size of your meals.<br /> <br /> Whatever amount you would typically eat cut it in half and dont return for seconds. If you are still feeling a little hungry have a glass of water or some vegetables.<br /> <br /> If you implement this one thing on a regular basis you will begin to lose weight.<br /> <br /> <i>Consume Eight or More Glasses Of Water Daily</i><br /> <br /> Water is a vital for the body to eliminate harmful toxins and wastes.<br /> <br /> Drinking water during the day fills you up and keeps you from feeling hungry between meals. Also, substituting water for sweet drinks high in calories and sugar can be instrumental in helping you lose the unwanted pounds.<br /> <br /> To get the most health and weight loss benefit from water, drink at least 8 glasses daily.<br /> <br /> <b>Walk Up And Down The Stairs</b><br /> <br /> Many times we jump on the elevator without giving it a second thought. Next time, why not take the stairs. Taking the stairs may require a little extra effort but its an easy way to increase your calorie burn.<br /> <br /> When done on a regular basis it can result in several pounds of weight loss yearly.<br /> <br /> Although simple, these 5 suggestions can help you lose weight without exercise if you make them a part of your lifestyle.<br /> <br /> Losing weight can be done without exercise but adding exercise will drastically speed up the results and improve your health.<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'>Learn <a href="http://worksbodywrap.myitworks.com/Shop/Product/507">how to get skinny</a> with the <a href="http://bodywrap101.com">ultimate body applicator</a> body wrap</div><br /> </div><br />

5 Ways To Lose Weight Without Exercise

By Sheila Bell The amount of overweight people in our society is rapidly increasing. The majority of overweight people want to lose weight but find it difficult to drastically alter their eating habits and stick to a regular exercise plan. Regu…

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Doctors Badmouthing Other Doctors - Pauline Chen - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; " class="entry-content"><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">A physician friend known for her conscientious work recently disclosed that a year ago she was named in a malpractice lawsuit. The revelation rattled me not only because there were no discernible errors in the care she provided, but also because I couldn't believe who had provoked the patient to hire a lawyer.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">It was another doctor.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">"I'm shocked that nothing was done sooner," the other doctor had said when the patient went for a second opinion. "You could have died."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">The patient later decided to sue.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Like many who heard the story, I was quick to criticize the other physician. Throughout training and regularly at work, we are reminded of the importance of professionalism and respect. Shifting blame, doctors are taught, demoralizes other clinicians, undermines patient trust and <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=198334" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">compromises patient outcomes</a>.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Surely, I thought, the doctor who had trashed our colleague was out of line, his comments aberrant. But it didn't take long for me to recall instances when friends and I had been equally critical about other doctors' work. And while I wanted to remember those indiscretions as private, limited to a few colleagues at most, I wasn't entirely sure.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">I had to wonder: <em class="">are we all capable of talking like that in front of patients</em>?</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">The answer, according to a <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11606-013-2499-9" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">recent study in The Journal of General Internal Medicine</a>, is an unqualified and disturbing, "Yes."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Over the last decade, few issues have garnered as much interest among health care experts as disrespectful behavior among doctors. While sociologists have devoted careers to researching the topic, it wasn't until the 1990s that the medical profession itself began to take serious note.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Spurred on by the increasing complexity of medicine, concerns about safety and patient satisfaction and an ever-growing urgency to contain costs, the Institute of Medicine convened a national panel of health care experts to <a href="http://www.nap.edu/html/quality_chasm/reportbrief.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">discuss "the chasm" </a>between what could be and what was actually being done for patients. In 2002, they published an <a href="http://www.nap.edu/html/quality_chasm/reportbrief.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">ambitious report</a> that called for a "sweeping redesign of the entire health system." Realizing that vision, said the panel, would require, among other changes, better collaboration and cooperation among physicians and the creation of a "<a href="http://www.ajustnhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Culture-1-AM.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">culture of respect</a>."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Medical schools, regulatory agencies, professional organizations and entire health care systems responded to this <em class="">cri de coeur</em>. Official definitions of professionalism were rewritten to incorporate the concepts of <a href="http://www.abimfoundation.org/Professionalism/Medical-Professionalism.aspx" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">teamwork and shared responsibility</a>. Schools added mandatory coursework on the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1492501/pdf/jgi_30635.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">whys and hows of working in a team</a>. And licensing and accreditation boards began asking for evidence that doctors could not only lead, but that they also knew how <a href="http://www.acgme-nas.org/assets/pdf/NEJMfinal.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; " class="">to work as part of a team</a>.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">But this new study reveals that old habits and responses die hard.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Researchers trained three actors to portray "standardized patients" with advanced lung cancer who had recently moved to town after being treated by another doctor and who remained unsure about their diagnosis or prognosis. The actors, carrying medical records written to reflect only universally accepted guidelines of care, made a total of nearly three dozen office visits to various family physicians and cancer specialists working in the community.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">The actors were not told to elicit the doctors' opinions about their previous care; but after analyzing transcripts from each office visit, the researchers found that in 40 percent of the consultations, doctors went ahead and spontaneously offered their opinion anyway. A tiny percentage of these comments were neutral; a third were supportive. The vast majority, however, were unabashedly critical, with the doctors' comments ranging from "Hell, you don't want to trust doctors," to "This guy's an idiot!"</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">"Doctors will throw each other under the bus," said Susan H. McDaniel, lead author of the study and a professor of psychiatry and family medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "I don't think they even realize the extent to which they do that or how it can affect patients."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">Probably, added Dr. McDaniel, most of the comments were unintentional. Faced with a constant pressure to cut costs, increase productivity and keep patients happy, plus the additional difficulty in this case of discussing prognosis with a terminal cancer patient, many of the doctors no doubt experienced significant levels of stress. In the moment, criticizing another physician to a patient might have felt like an effective way to fortify their own credentials and build up the patient's trust.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">"There is probably something reassuring in saying, 'Boy, your doctor didn't do a good job and now I'm going to take care of you,'" Dr. McDaniel noted. "But those kinds of comments are bad for the patient."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">To help remedy this problem, Dr. McDaniel began a physician coaching program at the University of Rochester Medical Center a year and a half ago. So far, she and her team have managed to work with approximately 150 doctors, observing them with patients and with colleagues, then offering feedback and support. Eventually they hope to expand the program. "When you really think about it, it's hard for people to regulate themselves when they get frustrated," Dr. McDaniel said. "And physicians get frustrated a lot."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; " class="">She added: "There's a lot of attention focused on the patient experience, but I think we need to work on improving the clinician experience as well."</div></div></div><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/doctors-badmouthing-other-doctors/?smid=tw-share&pagewanted=print" class="">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/doctors-badmouthing-other-doctors/?smid=tw-share&pagewanted=print</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Doctors Badmouthing Other Doctors - Pauline Chen - NYTimes.com

A physician friend known for her conscientious work recently disclosed that a year ago she was named in a malpractice lawsuit. The revelation rattled me not only because there were no discernible errors in the care she provided, but also because I co…

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Vast anti-worker Kochaganda machine exposed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OPJCPhfJhuq8sLoGzOIOFOGAtvnm_NH_ZcEnMbsy3l2Fi93oa9CXdB25rKILltx7P6cUwLXGlqJ0YWoLcctA-gxFU6B4bTtey5D7UDw49p2kkxtXAg9vG896QMiFGT1XrnsDsd8bD8t/s1600/Koch-Brothers-Exposed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OPJCPhfJhuq8sLoGzOIOFOGAtvnm_NH_ZcEnMbsy3l2Fi93oa9CXdB25rKILltx7P6cUwLXGlqJ0YWoLcctA-gxFU6B4bTtey5D7UDw49p2kkxtXAg9vG896QMiFGT1XrnsDsd8bD8t/s200/Koch-Brothers-Exposed.png" width="200" /></a></div>Charles and David Koch spent more than $100 million to buy the government and convince the public that what they're doing is okay, according to a new report.<br /><br />It took two years for the <a href="http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/story/Koch_millions_spread_influence_through_nonprofits/">Investigative Reporting Workshop</a> to uncover the extent of the <strike style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/10/bombshell-kochs-sold-oil-equipment-to.html" style="color: #336699;">Benedict Arnold</a></strike> Koch brothers' vast influence-peddling machine.<br /><br />These predatory<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_C._Koch"> heirs to an energy conglomerate</a> don't just buy politicians. They pay for phony grass-roots groups, colleges and universities. They underwrite an army of lobbyists and propaganda mills masquerading as nonpartisan think tanks. They fund "charitable" foundations to <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/12/11/koch_brothers_tea_party_cash_drives_michigan_right_to_work_bill/">undermine workers' rights</a> and<a href="http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Billionaire-Koch-Brother-S-in-Best_Web_OpEds-130712-672.html"> lower their pay</a>.<br /><br />Five Koch-funded "foundations" contributed $41.2 million to nonprofits, $30.5 million to institutions of higher learning and $46.3 million to medicine, humanities and arts organizations (like PBS, which <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/05/kochs-23m-buys-kid-gloves-from-public-tv.html">spiked an independent documentary critical of the Kochs</a>.)<br /><br />As if that isn't enough, the Kochtopus is spreading its tentacles in new directions. Recently it started to secretly donate to the <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/02/14/12151/following-donors-trust-money-trail">Donors' Trust</a> group, which funnels money to the corporate escort group for state lawmakers called <a href="http://alecexposed.org/">ALEC</a>. They are starting another corporate empowerment group called the Association for American Innovation, which of course tries to quash innovative new competition to entrenched businesses. And they set up a transparently political group called "American Commitment."<br /><br />Let's be clear. The Koch brothers have no commitment to America. Their commitment is to greed. What's especially frustrating is that they are getting away with calling "American Commitment" a "social welfare nonprofit group." What it really does is take political sides and propagandizes against clean energy. If "American Commitment" were to succeed, the main beneficiary would be (wait for it) Koch Industries. <br /><br />The law says private foundations can't "be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests." Yet Koch-linked nonprofits testified before congressional panels at least 49 times.<br /><br />Guess it helps to own the government, right? Between 2007 through 2012,<br /><ul><li>The Kochs and their foundations gave <b>$8.7 million</b> to candidates and the Republican Party;</li><li>Koch Industries’ lobbyists spent<b> $53.9 million</b> to help the giant corporation loot American taxpayers. </li><li>The Koch-founded phony Tea Party group, Americans for Prosperity, spent more than <b>$36 million</b> on political advertising in 2012, mostly to defeat President Obama. </li></ul>Here's what's even scarier: The Kochs are working hard to poison young minds with their corporate-empowerment agenda. They've given money to 221 colleges and universities, ranging from $1,000 to Wisconsin Lutheran College to $16 million to George Mason University.<br /><br />Why doesn't the mainstream media do more reporting on the billionaires' influence? The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/billionaire-koch-brothers-use-web-to-take-on-media-reports-they-dispute/2013/07/14/6a0953a0-e5b5-11e2-a11e-c2ea876a8f30_story.html">Washington Post </a>offers an answer today:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...aggressive tactics have become part of the playbook for Koch Industries and its owners, Charles and David Koch. Faced with news articles they consider flawed or biased, the brothers and their lieutenants don’t just send strongly worded letters to the editor in protest. Instead, the company takes the offensive, with detailed responses that oscillate between correcting, shaming and slamming journalists who’ve written unflattering stories about the company or the Kochs’ myriad political and philanthropic activities.</blockquote>We're glad at least that groups like the <a href="http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/story/Koch_millions_spread_influence_through_nonprofits/">Investigative Reporting Workshop</a> and the <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12176/koch-club-new-report-details-how-brothers-spend-big-bucks">Center for Media and Democracy</a> are on the case. Because the Kochs are rumored to be interested in<a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/06/26/potential-koch-tribune-takeover-sparks-concerns/194630"> buying one of the most prominent newspaper chains in America</a>.<br /><br />Be very afraid.<br /><br />

ALEC Koch brothers Vast anti-worker Kochaganda machine exposed

Charles and David Koch spent more than $100 million to buy the government and convince the public that what they're doing is okay, according to a new report.It took two years for the Investigative Reporting Workshop to uncover the extent of the Bened…

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Two international speakers on our next two Microsoft webinars on using Games in Education

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have two SchoolNet webinars coming up on the topic of Gaming in the classroom’. We are very pleased to announce that we have two distinguished overseas presenters for these webinars, Arjana Blazik from Croatia for the first one and Bram Faens from Belgium for the second one.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Arjana Blazik from Croatia</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6EJlybMU9Il6wFk1fDDa20uAE8av18G5WMSDxorYLYgjBZWy7Rsrhmi1Vt527BOwbh4ezl3VDzfer42un20yKXSFxXdfFq5vH1XOQPTPSP9VQuDb8wa2VgPXUl43Vr4-feE8W_61ceY/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z517xltpC-BkedapD2GFwbifk9BnIcZLA9xhJDXYcpDTU20Q7t-TJjm3BK1-RXA3Ee0iYM_FQsMwethg-rcjHPlHqZrHeH0oikJJLajZK4RvRNYorlIYKLoXVkdReH65ERDrqsT8Kw0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="381" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arjana is well-known in many different international circles. I met her at the world finals on the Microsoft Innovative Teacher competition in Cape Town in 2010 where she represented Croatia with her winning project entitled Greetings from the World. After that I met Arjana again at the inaugural Partners in Learning Institute in Seattle in July 2011. Since then Arjana along with Bart Versvijel from Belgium have been involved in running four online <a href="http://teachmeetinternational.org/">Internationl Teachmeets</a> as well as a number of online activities for the European SchoolNet’s e-twinning project. You can read Arjana’s blog at <a href="http://traveloteacher.blogspot.com/">http://traveloteacher.blogspot.com/</a> Arjana has been featured on Anthony Salcito, Vice-President of Microsoft’s blog, Daily Edventures as a global Education Hero – read about her here: <a href="http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2012/06/28/arjana-blazic/">ttp://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2012/06/28/arjana-blazic/</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arjana has a great interest in games in education and was privileged to attend a European workshop run by Ollie Bray from Scotland (who is known as THE games in education person).    </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bram Faems from Belgium</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8Rko5hz3S8JNUdlPaqiPIHeXNC8rx0lpyHwblwQg7DBjhyphenhyphenhTBf6kZYsqeCMfvqBQ-igaKTbObgvRBUjDbEDGvFuhnTV_37WaFXzJDHVFcqOSqY3PYcxX8U4ED6O794zjjsdOGO852T0/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlxmFi4VCrMS2e7wiAFFPejK6ti5Rbk-Nqc_hc6icfeDdZtv-hG1dYZMI_EPR58UYDyoHZPqXPg-XU-7WGm9cSvmyRqMQm2EVguMNZ0N6NzZsqve6ZLpipZnuug67BdNkchC8DS-Cuys/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="378" /></a><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bram Faems from Belgium is another educator who is well-known in International circles. I first met Bram at the Partners in Learning Institute in Seattle in 2010. Last year Bram was first the begium winner and thereafter the European winner of the Microsoft Innovative Teacher competition, and he represented Europe in Prage in November 2013 with his project that involved Stop Motion movie making with his class. You can read about Bram in his blog <a href="http://www.leesvoer.be/">http://www.leesvoer.be</a>. Bram has been featured on Anthony Salcito, Vice-President of Microsoft’s blog, Daily Edventures as a global Education Hero – <a href="http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2012/07/02/bram-faems/">http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2012/07/02/bram-faems/</a>. He has also been honoured by the Queen in belgium for his innovative teaching. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bram is a keen user of games in Education. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Details of these two upcoming webinars</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1) Spice up your classroom with games (Arjana Blazik)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Summary</u>:In this webinar we introduce educational games as a means to engage learners and to create an inspiring learning environment. You'll be shown how to integrate playful learning in your classroom and how to motivate students to create their own games. Not only that, but we also want to encourage you to become a game designer and create engaging games which will help your students develop their 21st century skills.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Presenter</u>: Arjana Blazik from Croatia</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Starting Time</u>: Wednesday 17th July 2013: 3:30 PM</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Duration</u>:30 mins </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>URL</u>: <a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/gaming2/">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/gaming2/</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Access</u>: Anyone who has the URL for the meeting can enter the room </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>2) </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Changing seats: quiz creation and game coding to activate pupils</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> (Bram Faems)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Summary</u>: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Variation in teaching methods keeps students "awake" and concentrated. Playing games and quizzes can be a nice variation on the traditional lessons </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">for your pupils</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">  But what about taking it a step further? Why can't students create a quiz about a lesson subject or even code a game? In this webinar you'll hear Bram Faems talk about creating quizzes in PowerPoint and how to playfully teach young children the basics of coding with Kodu Game Lab  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Presenter:</u> Bram Faems, Microsoft Teacher Trainer</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Start Time:</u> 3:30pm on Wednesday 24th July 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Duration</u>: 30 mins</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>URL</u>:<a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/gaming3/">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/gaming3/</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Access:</u> Anyone who has the URL for the meeting can enter the room</span><br /><br /></div>

webinars Two international speakers on our next two Microsoft webinars on using Games in Education

We have two SchoolNet webinars coming up on the topic of Gaming in the classroom’. We are very pleased to announce that we have two distinguished overseas presenters for these webinars, Arjana Blazik from Croatia for the first one and Bram Faens from…

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best of pinterest - curb appeal

Hey sunshine! Did you have a good weekend? Spend anytime on Pinterest? I did (follow me <a href="http://pinterest.com/ladybaum/boards/" target="_blank">here</a>) and I actually had an occasion to search for something on one of my boards. It got me thinking - I pin like a mad woman, but how often do I ever really go back and look thru what I've pinned?<br /><br />Not often enough is the answer. Why am I pinning all of these wonderful images if not to use them for inspiration/daydreaming.<br /><br />So I've decided I'm going to use Pinterest to create my dream house and today I'm starting with the outside.<br /><br />Something a bit farmhouse like is striking my fancy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87H0NxuA_Jf_G7e-sJUJSwg5k1_lgpmqlyXismJHuHBY4XfXx3iuttbzl9Y37KRbyigFhpHr3Toh_ln3gjZ9RXDCvuw65G20LxGUnGvbvbolBYAey8g4154AW5GPNuQ8pqC32DtK8QdGa/s1600/188461b5b6c99c2c1ae905714b634e32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87H0NxuA_Jf_G7e-sJUJSwg5k1_lgpmqlyXismJHuHBY4XfXx3iuttbzl9Y37KRbyigFhpHr3Toh_ln3gjZ9RXDCvuw65G20LxGUnGvbvbolBYAey8g4154AW5GPNuQ8pqC32DtK8QdGa/s400/188461b5b6c99c2c1ae905714b634e32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Or maybe cedar shake. Either way, I want lots of windows and a nice big front porch.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU2WR0SYE9RaaGzeoyH3lStoEArZPcL2oYlUKG9pc_qeB3GoipDQxRayLA7W4fHun60_PIEq5pbeU5lto_jRl0xZL09EPkTUrLTLOmaXntUYzb1m17SkzAjiIrt4njdbQp33C7Tkdeuv_/s1600/ee6f199e9f574e692930571abb508a0e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU2WR0SYE9RaaGzeoyH3lStoEArZPcL2oYlUKG9pc_qeB3GoipDQxRayLA7W4fHun60_PIEq5pbeU5lto_jRl0xZL09EPkTUrLTLOmaXntUYzb1m17SkzAjiIrt4njdbQp33C7Tkdeuv_/s400/ee6f199e9f574e692930571abb508a0e.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /> Of course this frankenstein house is on a grand lot with a long winding path,<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeEvDdJRmzdmg1dP9j-cLEQzixUvYjgMugEkItnZW2NJbkiudiyW_k1PkHfbJrDZwpLIyj79R9O5DoaMk8ajFrpBs6i-L6h2lMGYRB7_ot-wr6SPT382z_foGzHNlzJUyLty8zmy0gWZ9/s1600/b5a8ecfe4a76d1422837a1ddcf4aeb12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeEvDdJRmzdmg1dP9j-cLEQzixUvYjgMugEkItnZW2NJbkiudiyW_k1PkHfbJrDZwpLIyj79R9O5DoaMk8ajFrpBs6i-L6h2lMGYRB7_ot-wr6SPT382z_foGzHNlzJUyLty8zmy0gWZ9/s400/b5a8ecfe4a76d1422837a1ddcf4aeb12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />which takes you to a front door with some major presence<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBajwCrYsk7zPgb0knxYGUwklZyWcqZ4KCBMcgWYpL_RxU5CcQ0uSG5QAtKRo12UxTBw8Rp_l7j_1SeDJQon0aV6Ylyuij1yIGOPgBT6M4Z8RsgC__R4IdGUjgVbPtRFJg9lN0GScqIKr/s1600/3791e24f38f01b9201b941e2ca5438d0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBajwCrYsk7zPgb0knxYGUwklZyWcqZ4KCBMcgWYpL_RxU5CcQ0uSG5QAtKRo12UxTBw8Rp_l7j_1SeDJQon0aV6Ylyuij1yIGOPgBT6M4Z8RsgC__R4IdGUjgVbPtRFJg9lN0GScqIKr/s400/3791e24f38f01b9201b941e2ca5438d0.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRMQryVIlioI-SSaGk0iDO8NA-Sqvyg84SGQd-gEkxFJ9wg_fJgNLDeU6bivEwJUuSZtNJGNt6VRMjHoJatRD4a9jAvxk_L6Yb9z1ZAjFcUTOQ1LgLGXhGEyOlcA6xesuzYd0xHq7jJuS/s1600/b5640df9e38042d93ff27e7ab1140d21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRMQryVIlioI-SSaGk0iDO8NA-Sqvyg84SGQd-gEkxFJ9wg_fJgNLDeU6bivEwJUuSZtNJGNt6VRMjHoJatRD4a9jAvxk_L6Yb9z1ZAjFcUTOQ1LgLGXhGEyOlcA6xesuzYd0xHq7jJuS/s400/b5640df9e38042d93ff27e7ab1140d21.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aHTd15owg0j5SB39FWu26uibhQvjGblOJiGESQ0BswSzqirU7dpV1PPOjykKINP3SxO-28SbRZgjrydW6qb_q8DGjNWvTxgJr5pKbyTTH0VtDDXI1lszOR6SHLeplv_C2LvyGLTUvjGu/s1600/d8a32a090d2bc0931bd32b29fdc91b15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aHTd15owg0j5SB39FWu26uibhQvjGblOJiGESQ0BswSzqirU7dpV1PPOjykKINP3SxO-28SbRZgjrydW6qb_q8DGjNWvTxgJr5pKbyTTH0VtDDXI1lszOR6SHLeplv_C2LvyGLTUvjGu/s400/d8a32a090d2bc0931bd32b29fdc91b15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and window boxes everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-DPPsRnYrsZRtZ2jSxkXex0OAXpfbY2m3tAcxJfYsOmGDSNZhBoloq6rAiT9Ye1MWWeRhHWQUpfwZTfwvwEIMzE6ObzjvplXybVVg2J5oz3wIqL3NXLHUxOjsT40CT2Xqsc5gUw7kyVm/s1600/3bfbf648c316853296b936959858a067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-DPPsRnYrsZRtZ2jSxkXex0OAXpfbY2m3tAcxJfYsOmGDSNZhBoloq6rAiT9Ye1MWWeRhHWQUpfwZTfwvwEIMzE6ObzjvplXybVVg2J5oz3wIqL3NXLHUxOjsT40CT2Xqsc5gUw7kyVm/s400/3bfbf648c316853296b936959858a067.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />There is a courtyard in the back with a lovely pool<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirnZix6JPdwytc2tlkAujlbSOgR-S7i-lxfLIoVPBYAqPDFsRHL_q6HCf7eU4Rpt1G6ey-RlVR9zqdI331gYxj9BMGFmvyhcXRdk9Ekk-bg6YRxMj4Zv4qsj2mPnO9AKLlr2ZLODnBKUT/s1600/9150a32036bc44448f3589f014b2e31e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirnZix6JPdwytc2tlkAujlbSOgR-S7i-lxfLIoVPBYAqPDFsRHL_q6HCf7eU4Rpt1G6ey-RlVR9zqdI331gYxj9BMGFmvyhcXRdk9Ekk-bg6YRxMj4Zv4qsj2mPnO9AKLlr2ZLODnBKUT/s400/9150a32036bc44448f3589f014b2e31e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens that my tan house boy CoCo maintains.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOOSuk5KDUiy4nfSjh8uLAzlUfmSIhX-qEt6GyRUJh2OZ2JvvWPiBTZXgBWOQaemsHmj-dwjg3H9g6kC1mT0YoqnuIHSKFBwZfWf5CPJ1pwjKwF_B2iH50STuQj5omnXb54qMOSfaZOIn/s1600/c7171dc9b5873ddc7353d0aa7247427a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOOSuk5KDUiy4nfSjh8uLAzlUfmSIhX-qEt6GyRUJh2OZ2JvvWPiBTZXgBWOQaemsHmj-dwjg3H9g6kC1mT0YoqnuIHSKFBwZfWf5CPJ1pwjKwF_B2iH50STuQj5omnXb54qMOSfaZOIn/s400/c7171dc9b5873ddc7353d0aa7247427a.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />Beyond will be an herb garden that would make Ina proud<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqbcmgdCXQ12XJ-Y7lZj5g7tillt_kz531l-r4WrkUubKh4HJLieiGT37eRnXReZsuyOBtd3VUDSYiucNFYfjKK0TzTtEIQi5k29z7jKohjE3NQr8k8qsYonQqHCGhTg7HqrVt9p71uE9/s1600/33fb5ccb529ab2aee7f85f340b7dc31b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqbcmgdCXQ12XJ-Y7lZj5g7tillt_kz531l-r4WrkUubKh4HJLieiGT37eRnXReZsuyOBtd3VUDSYiucNFYfjKK0TzTtEIQi5k29z7jKohjE3NQr8k8qsYonQqHCGhTg7HqrVt9p71uE9/s400/33fb5ccb529ab2aee7f85f340b7dc31b.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />and more hydrangeas that I can count.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHH8m77o9hHBVDur0tZN4d8Qe73qtQXxEKNOpwbre157aWD0uphyphenhyphenQuEDS_nGCRH-Lhjx8HrLC8I3tMGoTZqkAxfeHVYdCmMjZMf2hpKOvKX8ScR7Vj8n-NCCNOr04CS6Ic57quWF792_0/s1600/4ec16655d88458c6f26e71f659620019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHH8m77o9hHBVDur0tZN4d8Qe73qtQXxEKNOpwbre157aWD0uphyphenhyphenQuEDS_nGCRH-Lhjx8HrLC8I3tMGoTZqkAxfeHVYdCmMjZMf2hpKOvKX8ScR7Vj8n-NCCNOr04CS6Ic57quWF792_0/s400/4ec16655d88458c6f26e71f659620019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There also needs to be a gate somewhere<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd8zVtHYQe17Kt04_O3ktTpMwFKLD7Rj1XgArvJ2S3fYS19jD7RnC8Y75p2o-L5_DbqxLZJIm6ROkJty6ykpS2ILYt3MnYwhTZxGCYbjOL5svy-YfRPRIm7n9LT1KKdQMHWWR6pPuJOuA/s1600/6736ffa7015d82be778ee1d6616aeb4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd8zVtHYQe17Kt04_O3ktTpMwFKLD7Rj1XgArvJ2S3fYS19jD7RnC8Y75p2o-L5_DbqxLZJIm6ROkJty6ykpS2ILYt3MnYwhTZxGCYbjOL5svy-YfRPRIm7n9LT1KKdQMHWWR6pPuJOuA/s400/6736ffa7015d82be778ee1d6616aeb4a.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rL6NVe6Lf0qiEWODSNS6a3ZzIRbx6jpRkeAAw7R6sky2EZQN5aA-0qIrHv06b_MVrLrZ4kLntJPOQp_WDuejpbdP1NXvfIn6RZFstfhxV7oY8oFREU5_49ASIiu73iIj_pb12s54uIra/s1600/67058d9d374d5c1b93930d8fc0ac8f34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rL6NVe6Lf0qiEWODSNS6a3ZzIRbx6jpRkeAAw7R6sky2EZQN5aA-0qIrHv06b_MVrLrZ4kLntJPOQp_WDuejpbdP1NXvfIn6RZFstfhxV7oY8oFREU5_49ASIiu73iIj_pb12s54uIra/s400/67058d9d374d5c1b93930d8fc0ac8f34.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />And a carriage house/garage, for CoCo's apartment of course.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdQCkzq4I_HBxbS5A7bL0cA_J9AdPjVF2V0JEMCRl5DkQ-FhBdBP3JruwXA0LprDLfiR63Iy5D3nZf5_5-dH5wlRJyxXcwEUSHY4vqTmz2Ub1IOTnjp1t5HBVsJnA0OhbA9Imwa2KzDhv/s1600/495df6471dfbd2466eb3dcae93211096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdQCkzq4I_HBxbS5A7bL0cA_J9AdPjVF2V0JEMCRl5DkQ-FhBdBP3JruwXA0LprDLfiR63Iy5D3nZf5_5-dH5wlRJyxXcwEUSHY4vqTmz2Ub1IOTnjp1t5HBVsJnA0OhbA9Imwa2KzDhv/s400/495df6471dfbd2466eb3dcae93211096.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubApfcWO2Bv1vMqUK_I2KhYTBRHIyd6YF3rjtwaX-jsK2q8b6tpgalT9NCwzSz8dy5sUwcvYYWSvy9vst4hSu3Ze-hU2SnrSduBgjKKF6q3yg01EXLhJ_cmIGGICT_caGXDhvzvK16Jj2/s1600/e199c376d5635b6a233e5c829c154988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubApfcWO2Bv1vMqUK_I2KhYTBRHIyd6YF3rjtwaX-jsK2q8b6tpgalT9NCwzSz8dy5sUwcvYYWSvy9vst4hSu3Ze-hU2SnrSduBgjKKF6q3yg01EXLhJ_cmIGGICT_caGXDhvzvK16Jj2/s400/e199c376d5635b6a233e5c829c154988.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/ladybaum/outside/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All pins via my Outside board.</span></a></div><br />What about you? What would your Pinterest dream house look like?

best of pinterest - curb appeal

Hey sunshine! Did you have a good weekend? Spend anytime on Pinterest? I did (follow me here) and I actually had an occasion to search for something on one of my boards. It got me thinking - I pin like a mad woman, but how often do I ever really go b…

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