News for today's 2018

Sweden, Switzerland cement Gripen pact

4:04 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWQF0hJp_WzFHK9qNLqXWIk9VUlVUbPPaqpbktGweB0fev5066tIlFguzE5ysHSN2WYRjyelIArtctQaa7eNXaQB__V3ti_aD_1aUlA-Pyw1MUvJFO7m7YKfykvY-nlpug3dAVXpPwKCx/s1600/AIR_JAS-39D_Gripen_Rotated_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWQF0hJp_WzFHK9qNLqXWIk9VUlVUbPPaqpbktGweB0fev5066tIlFguzE5ysHSN2WYRjyelIArtctQaa7eNXaQB__V3ti_aD_1aUlA-Pyw1MUvJFO7m7YKfykvY-nlpug3dAVXpPwKCx/s400/AIR_JAS-39D_Gripen_Rotated_lg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saab Gripen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Craig Hoyle via Flight International</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Food for thought for AUSTRIA, who had been a loyal Saab customer for years and then, for political reasons, sided for the more expensive Eurofighter, despite the fact that the Austrian Army’s infrastructure was cemented around the Saab aircraft and weapon platforms. Austria had been using Saab military aircraft since the creation of the Austrian Armed Forces. ( <span style="font-size: small;">Austria does not have a Air Force per say, but rather an Army Air Cor</span>.)</span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Info</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: <a href="http://forum.keypublishing.com/archive/index.php?t-2944.html">http://forum.keypublishing.com/archive/index.php?t-2944.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Swedish and Swiss governments have signed a framework agreement to cooperate on the Saab Gripen E/F, with their air forces to potentially acquire up to a combined 82 of the new-generation combat aircraft.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Signed in late August, the pact is the result of discussions conducted between the nations since Switzerland selected the Gripen E/F last November for a planned 22-aircraft deal to replace its <a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Northrop%20F-5.html">Northrop F-5</a> fighters.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Reaffirming its commitment in a 28 August report, the Swiss defence ministry outlined a plan to allocate an initial Swfr300 million ($314 million) to the acquisition in 2014, as part of a fixed-price deal worth Swfr3.1 billion. Bern expects to sign a contract with Sweden late next year, or by mid-2014 should it be required to hold a public referendum over the purchase.</span></span></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 445px;"> <tbody><tr>  <td style="padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td> </tr><tr>  <td style="padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If a deal is approved, the Swiss air force will receive its first 11 E-model fighters and F-model trainers between mid-2018 and 2019, with the remainder to follow within the next two years. Its aircraft would be capable of performing air-to-air, air-to-surface and reconnaissance tasks, the defence ministry says.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Switzerland's introduction of the aircraft could also be preceded by a proposed five-year lease deal for eight Gripen Cs and three Gripen Ds, which would be made available by Sweden for an annual cost of Swfr44 million between 2016 and 2020.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Swedish government has, meanwhile, proposed including the acquisition of between 40 and 60 new Gripens in its Budget 2013 process, which will be launched on 20 September. The move would be supported in part by a suggested overall SKr2 billion ($300 million) increase in defence spending to be implemented over the next 10 years, it says.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saab has already submitted a tender to Stockholm for the planned E/F deal, under which deliveries would commence with a first batch of three aircraft to be handed over in the second quarter of 2018, followed by five more fighters by 2020. The Swedish parliament will later this year debate the proposal, which the government says is necessary for the nation's defence capability, "but also positive for Swedish jobs, exports and research and development".</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Flightglobal's MiliCAS database records the Swedish air force as operating a fleet of 180 JAS 39 Gripens, including almost 80 C/D-model examples. The service is expected to continue operating the type until beyond 2040.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saab launched development activities on the then A/B-standard Gripen in 1982. Key aspects of the E/F variant include extended-range performance and supercruise capability, plus the introduction of an active electronically scanned array radar and MBDA Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missiles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Sweden, Switzerland cement Gripen pact

Saab Gripen Craig Hoyle via Flight International Food for thought for AUSTRIA, who had been a loyal Saab customer for years and then, for ...

guest post - tiffany leigh interior design

4:00 AM Anonymous 0

<div style="text-align: center;">Hello LBD fans, I'm Tiffany and I blog over at <a href="http://tiffanyleighinteriordesign.blogspot.ca/" style="color: #8e7cc3;">Tiffany Leigh Interior Design</a> about my decor inspiration and my studies in interior design school!<br /><br />I'm thrilled that Elizabeth invited me over today while she is away on vacation (lucky lady).<br /><br /><br /><br />Fall fashion this year is calling for lots of army greens and camo wear.<br /><br />Often we see fashion creep into decor, but this one might be a bit trickier. Too much and it could start to look too masculine, or worse...themey.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUgiIymXcoFmgcAHfyHCrrWkXa8Mk6Ls8eUOQY5fhGCGEV7dcB12puEIS549JHFUiOz3TGTSncXYgRpp224-o142uK2RFxN35-Kbn4AJsGsp57nA41R3NC-wvDC_TNYWau1OYHGbbyCUv/s1600/camo+pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUgiIymXcoFmgcAHfyHCrrWkXa8Mk6Ls8eUOQY5fhGCGEV7dcB12puEIS549JHFUiOz3TGTSncXYgRpp224-o142uK2RFxN35-Kbn4AJsGsp57nA41R3NC-wvDC_TNYWau1OYHGbbyCUv/s1600/camo+pants.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/44543483784751428/">via pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The key to getting this look right in fashion is to keep it a little edgy (notice the leather jacket), mostly neutral (the hat) and add in some feminine touches (the gold nails and black pumps!).<br /><br /><br /><br />With this in mind, I've gathered some pieces to show you how to translate this fashion trend into timeless home decor:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN4zFlY8yN1FZ7b8nELsmGyhIOnDVoqwzUVIAGjItgdgpB2LyyWTF8aIKeCINwyse_iXjwiplQc7cBBMrXYa6aiXVC0_AP8Ftf9hnksA08qjXmEmqXvwnNa2PBCkUgih_K_CfRt2qtNfv/s1600/get+the+army+look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN4zFlY8yN1FZ7b8nELsmGyhIOnDVoqwzUVIAGjItgdgpB2LyyWTF8aIKeCINwyse_iXjwiplQc7cBBMrXYa6aiXVC0_AP8Ftf9hnksA08qjXmEmqXvwnNa2PBCkUgih_K_CfRt2qtNfv/s1600/get+the+army+look.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://www.wayfair.com/Kevin-OBrien-Studio-Deer-Decorative-Pillow-in-Twilight-DEE1420-TWI-OVB1043.html"> 1 </a>/ <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/102751397/abstract-art-painting-black-white?ref=sr_gallery_30&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=black+abstract+art&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=black+abstract+art&ga_includes[]=tags&ga_view_type=gallery#">2 </a>/ <a href="http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/code/44321.do">3</a> / <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/5952353/?catalogId=56&bnrid=3917995&cm_ven=AfCmtyCont&cm_cat=CmtyContOth&cm_pla=GAN&cm_ite=Std">4</a> / <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19167&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuCategory=201&menuSubcategory=198#">5</a> / <a href="http://wellappointedhouse.com/Products/157951-the-well-appointed-house-antique-gold-drum-garden-stool.aspx?clickid=0004c7e10ae936460a2a06129e0052ef">6</a> / <a href="http://www.stephenkenn.com/#">7</a> / <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_willow">8</a> / <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93696851/two-gold-brown-olive-green-gray-black">9</a> / <a href="https://www.tonicliving.com/productsDetails.asp?categoryid=87&productid=1062&currentpage=2&onsale=0">10</a><br /><br /><br /><br />The main army piece in this room is the chair:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OJfZf_gNVr3OkIBwvLtth1jeiiuNu3ROeJVv6wr46Z1PIPNvC71ExwSZ0KX86RIKougNryTezEg57FRNCm-BkpSFS8Kw_TGPkzwnzsLVzZDGFnLbl4-9mKgZ2Im235FLa0LOI_ygkxma/s1600/army+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OJfZf_gNVr3OkIBwvLtth1jeiiuNu3ROeJVv6wr46Z1PIPNvC71ExwSZ0KX86RIKougNryTezEg57FRNCm-BkpSFS8Kw_TGPkzwnzsLVzZDGFnLbl4-9mKgZ2Im235FLa0LOI_ygkxma/s1600/army+chair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stephenkenn.com/#">via Stephen Kenn</a></td></tr></tbody></table>It's actually constructed from genuine repurposed WWII military fabric. How cool is that? A conversation piece with a sense of history. It works because the khaki green colour is a classic neutral.<br /><br />The floral pillow uses the same colours as camo and the deer head pillow creates a slight hunting feel.<br /><br />The silver tray, bronze garden stool and blue sofa help to break up the army motif and add contrast.<br /><br /><br /><br />Let's see how this motif has been used by others:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYS7zsThhvaOC7MGUpFFGElnYiHZM8HOQ_5pi4r-Yk8pM0_u-M2HPKyxHOcp4fE3t75ZoSG9jA8iKHcEzfbvKVLWUOeCGGBvp8FCZhOrL8kBkyr0j0yy5MAEjv08b_apBssEyhLNbySUn/s1600/army+wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYS7zsThhvaOC7MGUpFFGElnYiHZM8HOQ_5pi4r-Yk8pM0_u-M2HPKyxHOcp4fE3t75ZoSG9jA8iKHcEzfbvKVLWUOeCGGBvp8FCZhOrL8kBkyr0j0yy5MAEjv08b_apBssEyhLNbySUn/s1600/army+wallpaper.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housingtouri.com/modern-baby-room-plans-wide-with-new-concept/">via</a></td></tr></tbody></table>^ A subtle and abstract camouflage wallpaper used in a nursery!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfne-Z3_mvVpFZrmiyJJbPOQI_zW3BTSxKsVafMIPmoAWI1mcq4O89obmRw-wDnGi8odbhqmLTiz0OuOKYeTdY7XKrc32erzVg6Xcl0k5jC-wCQnT9U4TbQbSncoU-DdAHMsg245aKgA-/s1600/sarahs-boys-bedroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfne-Z3_mvVpFZrmiyJJbPOQI_zW3BTSxKsVafMIPmoAWI1mcq4O89obmRw-wDnGi8odbhqmLTiz0OuOKYeTdY7XKrc32erzVg6Xcl0k5jC-wCQnT9U4TbQbSncoU-DdAHMsg245aKgA-/s1600/sarahs-boys-bedroom1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/sarahshouse/photo/?gid=1339183962940&pid=00UeeI73wq3WO#/13">via Sarah Richardson</a></td></tr></tbody></table>^ Sarah Richardson employs this scheme subtly with wool army blankets, olive green walls, and camo colored fern window treatments. <br /><br /><br /><br />What do you think of this fashion trend? Do you think you would be bold enough to incorporate it in the home?<br /><br />And please, come visit <a href="http://tiffanyleighinteriordesign.blogspot.ca/" style="color: #8e7cc3;">my blog</a>! I'd love to meet you :) <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh609/tiffanyleighinteriordesign/?action=view&current=Tiffany-27.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh609/tiffanyleighinteriordesign/Tiffany-27.jpg" /></a></div>

guest post - tiffany leigh interior design

Hello LBD fans, I'm Tiffany and I blog over at Tiffany Leigh Interior Design about my decor inspiration and my studies in interior desi...

THE REMAPPING OF THE MIDDLE EAST

3:51 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By Claudio Gallo <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Jeremy Salt is a professor of History and Politics of the Middle East at Bilkent University, Ankara. His book <i>The Unmaking of the Middle East </i>is a brilliant history of the last hundred years in the region, not affected by "orientalist" cliches. We asked Professor Salt to explain the present transformation of the Middle East, including the Kurdish knot. The Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey now can't stop talking about the emergence of a Great Kurdistan. <br /><br /><b><i>Claudio Gallo:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gave a free hand to northern Syria Kurds. May this become a real <i>casus belli</i> with Turkey? <br /><br /><b><i>Jeremy Salt:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> It may be going too far - to conclude that Assad gave a free hand to the Kurds in Syria. It is more likely that in the<br /><br />complete turmoil spreading across the country, he could not stop them from taking control of Kurdish areas close to the Turkish border. He certainly would not want to open up a front against the Kurds while trying to suppress the armed groups. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Whether this becomes a </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>casus belli</i> depends on how the Turkish government chooses to read the situation. But it is alarmed at the possibility of a Kurdish enclave being established in Northern Syria, strengthening the prospect of a "Greater Kurdistan" being created in the future. These complications should have been foreseen but apparently were not when Turkey decided to confront the Syrian government more than a year ago. <br /><br /><b><i>CG:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> Ankara is keeping a direct connection with the Iraqi Kurd administration, bypassing Baghdad. What in your opinion is the goal of Turkish diplomacy? <br /><br /><b><i>JS:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> It is very difficult to read Turkish diplomacy at the moment or to understand what the present regional policy is intended to achieve. If we look at Turkish policy until the beginning of 2012, we can see that "soft power" and "zero problems" [as pushed for by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu] had worked. Turkey had a strong working relationship with all of its eastern neighbors. As a result of the decision to work for "regime change" in Syria all this has been turned upside down. <br /><br />The US and the Gulf states may be grateful for the central role Turkey is playing in the campaign to dislodge the Syrian government but the costs for Turkey have been great. Apart from the complete rupture with Damascus, the relationship with Iran and Iraq has been undermined. Turkey has also put itself at odds with Russia. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Again, all of this should have been foreseen a year ago as the inevitable outcome of confronting the government in Damascus, which has a strong strategic relationship with Iran and which gives port facilities to the Russian fleet and has had a strong relationship with Russia/the USSR for the past half century. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Iraq has been opposed to Turkish policy in Syria from the beginning. This is partly because Iraq is still suffering the consequences of armed Western intervention in 2003 and partly because of the way Turkey has developed its relationship with the Kurdish governorate in the north at the expense of its relationship with the Iraqi capital. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Turkey has a strong trading relationship with the Iraqi north and one has to assume that its position is dictated by trade, oil and the strategic importance of the Kurdish north to the Western-Gulf state alliance confronting Syria and Iran. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />It must be remembered that more than 60% of Iraqis are Shi'ite. The sectarian element in Iraqi politics has been brought to the surface by virtually daily attacks on the Shi'ite and by the charges laid against the Sunni Muslim vice president, Tareq al-Hashimi, of organizing an anti-Shi'ite "death squad". Hashimi is now out of the country, with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, among those who have risen to his defense. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><i>CG:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> Is independence in the agenda of the president of the Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani? <br /><br /><b><i>JS:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> The Kurdish governorate of Iraq is already independent in all but name. It maintains a strong army - officially described as security forces - and increasingly goes its own way whatever the government in Baghdad thinks or wants. So a declaration of independence is probably only a matter of timing once it is judged that the circumstances are right. <br /><br />Barzani has never made any secret of his view that a large slab of eastern Anatolia is "Western Kurdistan". The incorporation of all this territory in a Kurdish state would be his ultimate objective. This makes Turkey's dealings with the Kurdish north at the expense of its relationship with the central government of Iraq even harder to understand. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Ultimately the Kurds will put their own interests first, a point that was underlined when Barzani recently brokered a meeting of Syrian Kurds and pushed them into reconciliation. As the Syrian Kurds include a faction close to the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] the Turkish prime minister was infuriated. Turkey is now very alarmed by the awakening of the Syrian Kurds. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><i>CG:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> May the possible fall of Assad's Syria be the starting point for the creation of a Kurdish state? <br /><br /><b><i>JS:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> The repercussions of the collapse of the Syrian state would be so severe that no one could now predict what might come out of the ruins. Such a collapse is not on the agenda for the moment, and it is probable that even the enemies of the Syrian government don't want it because of the uncontrollable spillover effect. <br /><br />They might want a compliant government in place but they do not want chaos that will threaten their own interests across the region. A Kurdish state-in-being was able to arise in Iraq because of the invasion and occupation of 2003. This is not likely to be repeated in Syria. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><i>CG:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> Is Iran playing the Kurdish card against Turkey? <br /><br /><b><i>JS:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> These states are always playing one card or another against each other. This is what is called diplomacy. Both Iran and Turkey have a Kurdish problem that governments inside and outside the region can exploit, as they have exploited it in the past. For both these countries, exploiting the Kurdish issue always carries the risk of blowback. <br /><br />I see no evidence that Iran is at present using the Kurdish card against Turkey, unless there is something I have missed. The greater danger arises from northern Iraq, where both the PKK and its Iranian Kurdish counterpart maintain bases of operations. It is from Iraq and not Iran that Kurdish militants - terrorists according to the Turkish government - have traditionally operated against Turkey. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><i>CG:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> It seems that we are back to the "unmaking" of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. Do you think that the parallel is correct? <br /><br /><b><i>JS:</i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> What we are witnessing behind the immediate scenes of horror in Syria is the most comprehensive attempt to reshape the Middle East since World War I. The Sykes-Picot treaty of 1916 set out the geostrategic parameters of the modern Middle East but the model no longer works for the imperial/post-imperial powers and their regional allies. <br /><br />We have been through several phases but until now the nation-state has withstood the stress to which it has been subjected. These include the Suez War of 1956, the Western-backed Israeli attack on Egypt and Syria in 1967 and Israel's attempt to set up a puppet government in Lebanon. The center of attention is what used to be called the "fertile crescent", what is now Iraq and what is now Syria, Lebanon and Israel/Palestine. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />This entire region lends itself to ethno-religious breakdown if the "West" can get its foot through the door. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />The invasion of Iraq was followed by the destruction of Iraq as a unitary state. The constitution written in Washington - much as the constitutions of Iraq and Egypt in the 1920s and 1930s were written in London - turned a secular state into a state with a sectarian religious basis. It created a weak central government and fostered the growth of an increasingly powerful Kurdish governorate in the north. By submitting the future of Kirkuk to a referendum (yet to be held) it encouraged the demographic war that has been taking place as the Kurds seek to build up their numbers in and around this city. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Syria lends itself to the same process of ethno-religious separation if the country can be collapsed and there is opposition to a Western-installed government. In 1918, the imperial powers divided the Middle East in a certain way that suited their interests at the time. They are now remapping it again - and again to suit their interests. It is not coincidental that this program dovetails with Israel's own long-term strategic planning. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Russia and China are fully aware of what is going on, which is why the present situation can be seen as a 21st century extension of the "Eastern question" or of the "Great Game" between Russia and Britain. Certainly the outcome of the struggle for Syria will shape the future of the Middle East for a long time to come. However they see themselves, the local actors are pawns in this game. </span></span>

THE REMAPPING OF THE MIDDLE EAST

By Claudio Gallo Jeremy Salt is a professor of History and Politics of the Middle East at Bilkent University, Ankara. His book The Unmaking ...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/31/2012

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.shmoop.com/essay-lab/">Shmoop Essay Lab: Start Here</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Shmoop has a free Essay lab to help students write. They do have a college essay "tweaker" to help you with that s well. I'm not sure how that works, but certainly for kids who struggle, it might be a good option.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://ict.unescobkk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57603">ICT-in-Education Online Community • View topic - UNESCO Policy Guidelines on Mobile Learning</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">UNESCO is in the process of developing a set of policy guidelines for mobile learning aimed at high-level policy makers. To create guidelines that are practical, informative and balanced, they are seeking input from the public. Please consider reviewing and providing input on the guidelines.     http://ict.unescobkk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57603     Public comment will close on 2 September 2012. Drawing on the collective feedback from a range of mobile learning stakeholders, UNESCO will publish a final version of the policy guidelines in early 2013.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.schoolspeedtest.org">SchoolSpeedTest - National School Broadband Test</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">On September 10th, the non-profit organization EducationSuperHighway will launch a School Speed Test in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education to take an inventory of the state of Internet access in America's K-12 schools.  Their objective is to collect 1 million responses (10 per school) on the ACTUAL performance of the Internet in our classrooms and school libraries. The information gathered will be used to raise awareness of the need to upgrade the Internet access in our schools as a prerequisite to digital learning. It will also help guide the allocation of $2.5 billion in annual funding for school Internet access upgrades. To register for the test, go to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhgLiqdS7Hk">QFI / WeVideo Behind the Scenes - YouTube</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Looking at Wevideo, a tool that I'm going to be testing with students that allows students to edit video together. This is great.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/video">video</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.safestartcenter.org/infographic/national-survey-cev.php">National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence | Safe Start Center</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This infographic is a great one to share with teachers and administrators and shows that 1 in 10 children have seen a family member assaulted in the past year -- even more of them have been assaulted themselves. The infographic shows the warning signs of exposure to violence as well. Share this one with your staff.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/violence">violence</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/back2school">back2school</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/31/2012

Shmoop Essay Lab: Start Here Shmoop has a free Essay lab to help students write. They do have a coll...

Kilometro Rosso

2:30 PM Tukiyooo 0

Here's an unedited, silent film I made of the Kilometro Rosso (Parco Scientifico Tecnologico) for Brembo, designed by Jean Nouvel. It's located alongside the A4 highway near Bergamo. Previously I featured the project on <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2002/11/04/brembo-research-office/">my weekly page</a> and <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.ch/2008/03/ae2-highway-noise-barrier.html">daily blog</a>.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=728a5fb36f&photo_id=7896624036"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=728a5fb36f&photo_id=7896624036" height="360" width="640"></embed></object>

Kilometro Rosso

Here's an unedited, silent film I made of the Kilometro Rosso (Parco Scientifico Tecnologico) for Brembo, designed by Jean Nouvel. It...

Made to Crave - Ch 3 Reflections

12:35 PM Tukiyooo 0

I really love this book and the things I'm learning.  I hope that someone out there is reaping some benefits from my reflections, but if not - I most definitely am!<br /><br /><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/made-to-crave-ch-1-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1</a>.<br /><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/made-to-crave-ch-2-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 2</a>.<br /><br /><b>Chapter 3: Getting a Plan</b><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></i><br /><br /><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>1. What thoughts, images, or emotions do you associate with the word plan?  Are you the kind of person who says, "I love it when a plan comes together!" or are you more likely to say, "Plan-schamn, can't we all just go with the flow?"</b></span></i><br /><br />I do love a good plan.  I do.  Like when we go on vacation, I drive Joel crazy with my Frommer's guide books.  I enjoy having some direction from day to day, especially when on a vacation.<br /><br />However, when it comes to planning anything related to healthy eating, I cringe at the thought of planning.  Lately, planning for me means something else I'm going to fail at.  It takes a lot of work to plan a variety of meals for each week.  Additionally, it takes a few minutes (yes, just minutes) each night to plan out my menu for the next day.  I'd rather be doing other things instead of pre-tracking my Points.  Other than the time devotion to pre-tracking, I think what I enjoy about not pre-tracking is the surprise of what I might get to eat from day-to-day.  I track as I go.  A lot of good this has done for me!<br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>2. Are there areas of your life in which having a plan works well for you?  For example, in your finances, for vacation trips, accomplishing daily tasks, reaching professional goals, reading through the Bible in a year.  In these areas of your life, does having a plan feel empowering or restrictive?  Do your feelings change when the plan is about food, what you will eat and not eat?</b></i></span><br /><br />As I said above, I thrive with plans in certain aspects of my life.  I need that structure.  I need something that I can compare my current status against to know how/if I'm reaching my goals, whether that be with money savings, daily to-do lists, how far along I am in nursing school, etc.  For the most part, having a plan in areas of my life is very empowering for me.  I feel in control.  Though I have to admit, sometimes I feel like a slave to my plan.  I wish I could be more spontaneous at times.  But then again, I choose spontaneity with food and that gets me NO WHERE.  Reading that part of the question felt so good by the way.  I often wonder how I can get it together with almost every other area of my life but not with food.  I feel like I am the only person who struggles with justifying my meal choices (i.e. choosing Chick Fil A over eating my nicely portioned out, PointsPlus friendly packed lunch).  Or I feel alone with not being able to gain control over food.  I think this is because a lot of the blogs I read for inspiration are people who have already accomplished most, if not all, of their weight loss goals.  Then I think, "Well obviously they knew how to resist temptation or restrict themselves from certain foods/cravings, but I just don't have that ability."<br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b><br />3. "My changing body revealed all my secrets...Poor choices with food will rat me out every time".  What is the relationship between food and secrets?  What secrets do you think your body reveals?</b></i></span><br /><br />I think the relationship between food and secrets is that there are no secrets!  If you continue to feed your body that 6 pack of fresh, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, it's eventually going to catch up with you somewhere on your body.  I am a 240 lbs female.  I am this weight for a reason, and that reason is not because I binge on lettuce!  I don't think it's any secret that I have an issue with food because I think generally speaking, overweight people are overweight because we don't know how to eat properly.  Yes, there are exceptions to every rule.  But, the fact of the matter is, I have a badonka-donk the size that I do because of my poor eating choices!<br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>4. Choosing a healthy eating plan that works for you may require research, experimentation, and consultation with your doctor or other health care professionals.  How does the prospect of doing these things make you feel?  Does it energize you and help you to feel equipped or does it overwhelm you and make you feel discouraged? </b></i></span><br /><br />I wish I could undo all my poor eating habits related to Weight Watchers and start with a clean slate.  For instance, because I don't like many vegetables, I rarely get in the daily required amount from WW.  A lot of times I forget there is even a required amount!  Why?  I've ignored it for so long it's as though I've developed "Hilary's Modified WW Plan". <br /><br />I've been working on going back through my WW materials and re-reading everything, trying to undo the poor habits I've acquired over the years.  The only feeling I have about this right now is exhaustion from constantly "starting over". <br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>5. Lysa described her food plan but emphasized the importance of choosing a healthy plan that works for you.  What words or phrases would you use to describe the kind of plan you think would be realistic for you over the long term?  On a scale of one to ten, how hopeful are you that you can find a realistic food plan, one that you can grow to love just as Lysa grew to love her food plan?</b></i></span><br /><br />I'm confident that WW is the plan for me.  I truly believe this am.  I don't think WW is my issue here.  I think <i>I</i> am my issue here!  I want a plan that is flexible enough to satisfy my picky eating but easy enough to understand and follow.  I also want a plan that gives me the ability to do the cooking, rather than subscribing to pre-made meals.  WW is definitely all of that.  The problem is not WW.  The problem is centered around my relationship with food and how I idolize it.

Made to Crave Made to Crave - Ch 3 Reflections

I really love this book and the things I'm learning. I hope that someone out there is reaping some benefits from my reflections, but if...

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 08/30/2012

12:30 PM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://teacherrebootcamp.com/2012/08/18/the-teachers-survival-kit-for-lesson-planning-tips-1000s-of-free-lesson-plans/">The Teacher’s Survival Kit for Lesson Planning! Tips & 1000s of Free Lesson Plans : Teacher Reboot Camp</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Excellent post from Shelly Terrell about lesson planning and where to find free lesson plans. She's a fantastic sharer and collaborator online.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhgLiqdS7Hk">QFI / WeVideo Behind the Scenes - YouTube</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Looking at Wevideo, a tool that I'm going to be testing with students that allows students to edit video together. This is great.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/video">video</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 08/30/2012

The Teacher’s Survival Kit for Lesson Planning! Tips & 1000s of Free Lesson Plans : Teacher Reboot Camp ...

30 Days of webools #24: Create a MentorMob playlist

7:47 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmE-h0Zjvz5NEhqQ0ycLJleV1Rpft4Y9corkqBWQlpdUukJTrsScbPEOR57OKNVT3I69yHm2lxqoUo0UrQRbMMeRDMkzuCtZvnxSFjFf0C5TiD_ttFAnxn3F2M6dm_WRfNVBqPuv732w/s1600/mm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmE-h0Zjvz5NEhqQ0ycLJleV1Rpft4Y9corkqBWQlpdUukJTrsScbPEOR57OKNVT3I69yHm2lxqoUo0UrQRbMMeRDMkzuCtZvnxSFjFf0C5TiD_ttFAnxn3F2M6dm_WRfNVBqPuv732w/s320/mm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is MentorMob?</span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s that word ‘curating’ that is popping up again! I found <a href="http://www.mentormob.com/">MentorMob</a>, a curating tool,  by chance when surfing the Net and I <i>really </i>like this free tool. This is a great tool which allows one to put together articles, videos and blogs related to a subject of interest in a play list. The end produce has a gorgeous look in my opinion</span><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Examples of MentorMobs</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To show you what I mean<br />1) Take a look at this one on Blended Learning by Anna Conway  http://bit.ly/NNlNDs<br />It is a mix of items - videos and articles.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mentormob.com//learn/widget/72668/580/99cc33/3-0" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-border-radius: 10px; background: #99cc33; border-radius: 10px; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 580px;"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Create your own Playlist on <a href="http://www.mentormob.com/">MentorMob!</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Using Technology to maximise instruction by Susan Oxenvad <a href="http://bit.ly/zhVvJ4" title="http://bit.ly/zhVvJ4">http://bit.ly/zhVvJ4</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one seems to concentrate on blog posts Susan has written.</span></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mentormob.com//learn/widget/38714/580/99cc33/3-0" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-border-radius: 10px; background: #99cc33; border-radius: 10px; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 580px;"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Create your own Playlist on <a href="http://www.mentormob.com/">MentorMob!</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) A collection of curating tools by Susan Oxenvad <a href="http://goo.gl/5eJ0s" title="http://goo.gl/5eJ0s">http://goo.gl/5eJ0s</a></span><br /><br /></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"></div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mentormob.com//learn/widget/53752/580/99cc33/3-0" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-border-radius: 10px; background: #99cc33; border-radius: 10px; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 580px;"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Create your own Playlist on <a href="http://www.mentormob.com/">MentorMob!</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why should one use MentorMob?</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This video gives some reasons for using MentorMob:</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/32422880" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/32422880">What is MentorMob?</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mentormob">mentormob</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to create a MentorMob</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are my instructions on how to create a MentorMob playlist from Slideshare</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/14118286" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/how-to-create-a-mentormob-playlist" target="_blank" title="How to create a MentorMob playlist">How to create a MentorMob playlist</a> </b> from <b><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></b> </div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my created MentorMob playlist - <i>Great tools for teachers</i> by Fiona Beal. I have used only articles and no videos or uploads this time around!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://bit.ly/PShgAL" title="http://bit.ly/PShgAL">http://bit.ly/PShgAL</a><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mentormob.com//learn/widget/105411/580/99cc33/3-0" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-border-radius: 10px; background: #99cc33; border-radius: 10px; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 580px;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Create your own Playlist on </span><a href="http://www.mentormob.com/" style="font-size: small;">MentorMob!</a><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Webinar recording</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still to be added</span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Classroom uses</span></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">         </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *<span style="text-indent: -27.35pt;">It is great to use for a flipped classroom instruction post</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *Students can collect articles for the same project in a team and then present to the <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">          class with a verbal explanation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *It could allow absent students to catch up with work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *Provides further resources on a topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *For language learning one could include reading, writing, listening </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -27.35pt;">and speaking resources.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *You can use a playlist for assessment as well, as there is something called a ‘Popquizz</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -27.35pt;">           that can be added where one can assess if students understood the material.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">         *Professional development resources – this is a great way to create teacher training<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> material instead of the bulky paper booklets/handouts.</span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -27.35pt;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 32pt;"><br /></span></div><br /></div></div>

30 days of web tools MentorMob 30 Days of webools #24: Create a MentorMob playlist

What is MentorMob? It’s that word ‘curating’ that is popping up again! I found MentorMob , a curating tool, by chance when surfing the Net ...

guest post - the pink pagoda, and a guest post

4:00 AM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HI Friends! A quick note to let you know that in addition to a great visit from The Pink Pagoda, I'm also over at <a href="http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emily Clark</a> today talking about the last thing I bought on line. <a href="http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2012/08/send-me-picture-last-thing-i-bought.html" target="_blank">Check it out</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now...the lovely Jennifer from The Pink Pagoda.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXIqTyVczA797Bv-wh6egwYB26EEWyTtut5SPjzjcbBAeVLd-7IPpakNgrgP-820eTT9dtXWUn9rzUunYJbC8CoDK3MCLuQqbFE1_dMbmMyNPWtN8RJsKI-ytE9GOad3Vikx-D487_Y2w/s1600/spoonflower7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXIqTyVczA797Bv-wh6egwYB26EEWyTtut5SPjzjcbBAeVLd-7IPpakNgrgP-820eTT9dtXWUn9rzUunYJbC8CoDK3MCLuQqbFE1_dMbmMyNPWtN8RJsKI-ytE9GOad3Vikx-D487_Y2w/s640/spoonflower7.png" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hi, I'm Jennifer from <a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/" target="_blank">The Pink Pagoda</a>. I'm thrilled to be Elizabeth's guest today.  I'm continually amazed by her ability to see potential and repurpose.  Whether it's wrapping paper or a less than lovely garden stool from the 80s, she can use it to create something amazing.  Thanks so much for having me today, Elizabeth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> has been around for awhile.  Chances are you've seen something about it before.  In case you haven't, it's a website where you can buy and/or create fabric.  You upload a file, and they print it for you.  Obviously, there's much more to it than that, and you can read all about it <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome" target="_blank">here</a>.   I created the fabric in the photo above for the first <a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/2012/02/one-room-challenge-final-week.html" target="_blank">One Room Challenge</a> in which I redid my laundry room.  I used the images below that are for sale in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkpagoda?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> to create the fabric.  It was easy, and when it arrived in the mail I couldn't have been happier with the result.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMtYip5aquMeB1_ZPfOHe7xyNuUtcl7Nhn82smhD1ZmYmNGdrT3Bq_ZMogxxOsqiKkGeiCUfl3Dbs2KPzrIdREo9AEPazmH7admPdfNkAjkl945YiXVjET9Ly7MbXkoJJP09SFiKALJsG/s1600/breakfastroom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMtYip5aquMeB1_ZPfOHe7xyNuUtcl7Nhn82smhD1ZmYmNGdrT3Bq_ZMogxxOsqiKkGeiCUfl3Dbs2KPzrIdREo9AEPazmH7admPdfNkAjkl945YiXVjET9Ly7MbXkoJJP09SFiKALJsG/s640/breakfastroom.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XvwSUPtm2AbEHlRBHMvqaEkSnpG8HG6wkZh6DBepI3J_rAW4YF-Ex4ughMTPvjooAzEjkFgwz8_1ZqmHWlwUz5NuBjfWrVdrSvmM2bXBTgAEC717eX4qyhOynZgARyIrz_LHu9ezleNG/s1600/spoonflower1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XvwSUPtm2AbEHlRBHMvqaEkSnpG8HG6wkZh6DBepI3J_rAW4YF-Ex4ughMTPvjooAzEjkFgwz8_1ZqmHWlwUz5NuBjfWrVdrSvmM2bXBTgAEC717eX4qyhOynZgARyIrz_LHu9ezleNG/s1600/spoonflower1.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaGDdANOwf-OS0jk0PkGVBFirt7IvW5waQgZXSPlnTS7lAkyiJvkgQvRMnhGv0mZoQjUx_mBR5FnB02YYaqncre_tYnGqG8xBLC6eaq7XhooEkWNe9Zht8MwEdPjmVo-1AiFlmjGejKvg/s1600/spoonflower9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaGDdANOwf-OS0jk0PkGVBFirt7IvW5waQgZXSPlnTS7lAkyiJvkgQvRMnhGv0mZoQjUx_mBR5FnB02YYaqncre_tYnGqG8xBLC6eaq7XhooEkWNe9Zht8MwEdPjmVo-1AiFlmjGejKvg/s640/spoonflower9.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried it again for the last <a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/2012/08/one-room-challenge-week-six-last-week.html" target="_blank">One Room Challenge</a> round and it did not work for me.  Apparently I should have purchased the color guide.  You can see from the first image the colors I created.  The second image is a photo of the fabric Spoonflower printed.  The colors are way off.  The blues went much greener.  I'm not giving up on Spoonflower, though.  I was impulsive (ADD) not to have taken the time to read about the color guide and purchase it.  There's too much fun potential not to figure this out.  And, if you don't have the tools or knowledge to create the fabric yourself, you can purchase from other  designers who sell their designs through Spoonflower.  There is some incredible fabric available that is much less expensive than designer fabric. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kerry Steele, from <a href="http://designdumonde.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Design du Monde</a>, posted about her Spoonflower designs <a href="http://designdumonde.blogspot.com/2012/08/spoonflower-fun.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://designdumonde.blogspot.com/2012/08/more-spoonflower-goodies.html" target="_blank">here</a>.  She created some absolutely amazing fabrics that she'll be selling through the website.  Her fantastic post inspired me to share my Spoonflower experience.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFtzL5G_b3wrsT40x_SAO0wjnDX3tMBNkkjODhu3F4xKAkAmL_kD0lKmdye_NCqrsp6EX75f3PqgVO0mKAKk5avCeNtyYDRGMG58V1oV_CIqqPLeJMEJgWJrSqUR2vDZBDoh3H5MgFgkH/s1600/spoonflower3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFtzL5G_b3wrsT40x_SAO0wjnDX3tMBNkkjODhu3F4xKAkAmL_kD0lKmdye_NCqrsp6EX75f3PqgVO0mKAKk5avCeNtyYDRGMG58V1oV_CIqqPLeJMEJgWJrSqUR2vDZBDoh3H5MgFgkH/s1600/spoonflower3.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is an Indian paisley pattern I created on Spoonflower.</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/AVvXsEj5bmiziWjAxtCVNpFudgIlPEmqGaFlJkek9FTkZcTP58gvdCA3Iz8YHqEDQFyenJ44Ck5bTRpFxfvXg54DbutxCE0nQfv8R46PcfofFFvZXKu-CAdfF2Pspd9zqPojoZBlv3whclQWuoO4/s1600/spoonflower6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bmiziWjAxtCVNpFudgIlPEmqGaFlJkek9FTkZcTP58gvdCA3Iz8YHqEDQFyenJ44Ck5bTRpFxfvXg54DbutxCE0nQfv8R46PcfofFFvZXKu-CAdfF2Pspd9zqPojoZBlv3whclQWuoO4/s1600/spoonflower6.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pink and orange watercolor pattern I created.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlsM8U7P5up-q-nRsx6k2e571nR7IH3SMrm2RQtInZ4edBmhAtkZ3wZWONu7YHzmZYXXnJJHQ7rEsQQAl9jL2U4CjpPhXmA2VtawarrlcjX8PahSnfwrNXj3SNvxsPY-79MthVm3i1R_1/s1600/spoonflower4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlsM8U7P5up-q-nRsx6k2e571nR7IH3SMrm2RQtInZ4edBmhAtkZ3wZWONu7YHzmZYXXnJJHQ7rEsQQAl9jL2U4CjpPhXmA2VtawarrlcjX8PahSnfwrNXj3SNvxsPY-79MthVm3i1R_1/s640/spoonflower4.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJdHXXtLmWYMrwXzK-4Svcb3t9XcPT1gh_8_4IU4blslQ16N9QE_MDbh_s868Xx3EfoPTQc-5B2G2b88sXPp-tJ2i4hc8Hl2qLV12DfXUOvr2l4otvs7pvXoYU_Ft8MXPbQ60JLQkuiHD/s1600/spoonflower5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJdHXXtLmWYMrwXzK-4Svcb3t9XcPT1gh_8_4IU4blslQ16N9QE_MDbh_s868Xx3EfoPTQc-5B2G2b88sXPp-tJ2i4hc8Hl2qLV12DfXUOvr2l4otvs7pvXoYU_Ft8MXPbQ60JLQkuiHD/s1600/spoonflower5.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two above are geometrics I created on Spoonflower.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you know how to use Photoshop or the like to create images to upload, <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> can be a fabric resource for you.  It's really fun to play around and see what you come up with.  And how amazing to be able to have fabric that you designed yourself!   I've had some new ideas I'm excited about trying.  Is this something you would ever attempt?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you so much for having me here at Little Black Door, Elizabeth!  I loved getting to be here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>

guest post - the pink pagoda, and a guest post

HI Friends! A quick note to let you know that in addition to a great visit from The Pink Pagoda, I'm also over at Emily Clark today tal...

Pinterest Inspired Outfit

4:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

One thing I've tried to make good on this year is allowing myself to still wear nice things even if I'm not at the weight I want to be.  It's honestly been really tough for me to do this - spending money on clothes of a size that I don't want to be - it feels like a waste!  But the fact of the matter is, I don't know how long I will be at this weight, and I should be living everyday as if it were my last.  Therefore, I want to feel put together and not frumpy.  <br /><br />So, I'm saying all that to say.... :)<br /><br />I've found Pinterest to be a huge style inspiration for me.  I use it mostly to get ideas of different ways I can wear the current clothes I already own.  I tend to wear the same things in the same way over and over. <br /><br />My "Pinterest" style this week was a grey ensemble I put together with inspiration from this pin:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8SBp7EYeUQo86DWJ_j4MZX9FhfMQbxgEDtk1nlzBO62QeQr78Vh-SbhWIVJ0FXlRKxF2Pwi3PVIll-v39Y_7ERz_uyI3vSHlw-_YmOrqZEljZ6M_Ipm3V4z_i9M1Wlb7NgYh7K1XHcg/s1600/fashion+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8SBp7EYeUQo86DWJ_j4MZX9FhfMQbxgEDtk1nlzBO62QeQr78Vh-SbhWIVJ0FXlRKxF2Pwi3PVIll-v39Y_7ERz_uyI3vSHlw-_YmOrqZEljZ6M_Ipm3V4z_i9M1Wlb7NgYh7K1XHcg/s400/fashion+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>  <br />Obviously, the above is for a more casual look - which I can certainly get down with.  However, I wanted to take that look to the office as well.  So I went with this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P_TwimqWKn14ZDxil8QZqeBaf1mbir3-ZYmpW_KhaGjQiDZLX41MMmTQKUQX1PGqY7188smKhfVKb_bwXFSuOffA2LJGPhu_vaJQ8GjgD1IRQGfeZMgDGbZiyxSrYnh21B19JF5HcEU/s1600/grey+clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P_TwimqWKn14ZDxil8QZqeBaf1mbir3-ZYmpW_KhaGjQiDZLX41MMmTQKUQX1PGqY7188smKhfVKb_bwXFSuOffA2LJGPhu_vaJQ8GjgD1IRQGfeZMgDGbZiyxSrYnh21B19JF5HcEU/s400/grey+clothes.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click for bigger pic!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There's lots of grey going on... but I liked it.  I think the earrings helped keep the color noticeable enough since my necklace wasn't quite as chunky and full of color as the original.<br /><br />By the way, posing is so awkward for me.  I hate that whole hand-on-the-hip pose.... it seems so fake and staged......and vain.  But how else can I do it? <br /><br />The necklace is from Target and was $14.99.  The shirt I bought just this past weekend on clearance for $5 at Kohls!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO48JoWm_tZKFpdIXjj-_ww9VPB4VmVbGAorqw416Q2qclLJQrivi_kB6eVsXeUMRD-4JUVCtN9L-DBLed49I_bQq1_d5AvZ7oFVS5mGiBtcUP0InRTLGOFuTPOMB1k0OI2O5OVzPmTC8/s1600/necklace+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO48JoWm_tZKFpdIXjj-_ww9VPB4VmVbGAorqw416Q2qclLJQrivi_kB6eVsXeUMRD-4JUVCtN9L-DBLed49I_bQq1_d5AvZ7oFVS5mGiBtcUP0InRTLGOFuTPOMB1k0OI2O5OVzPmTC8/s400/necklace+close+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I will have to try this look with jeans and see how it goes.  Your thoughts on this look?<br /><br /><b style="color: #674ea7;">Do you use Pinterest for style inspiration?</b>  I am style challenged, so I need all the help I can get.  Let me know - I'd be happy to follow you!<br /><br />

Clothing Style Pinterest Inspired Outfit

One thing I've tried to make good on this year is allowing myself to still wear nice things even if I'm not at the weight I want to ...