News for today's 2018

refinishing the bench - part 2

5:45 AM Anonymous 0

So the bench.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgoVhKlHlDc2o4BKpkY9YtzlB1SvD8Lhrh6weEFm2FA-VMkpQR8vryLXPnJFagOzp-A3TbXH0iTYNe4wrCezsjgq5EnRM_DbNF11jt66_lIwE819kwxBeTRTFgGSjxpoOE5USNgXhtp2f/s1600/sandingbench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgoVhKlHlDc2o4BKpkY9YtzlB1SvD8Lhrh6weEFm2FA-VMkpQR8vryLXPnJFagOzp-A3TbXH0iTYNe4wrCezsjgq5EnRM_DbNF11jt66_lIwE819kwxBeTRTFgGSjxpoOE5USNgXhtp2f/s640/sandingbench.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />When last we left our story (<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/08/refinishing-bench.html" target="_blank">read part 1 here</a>), it looked something like this.<br /><br />After all the sanding was complete, and my tears were dried, I called over my mom and dad to take a look at what I was working with. After decades of refinishing furniture and selling it, they are like the experts on Antique Roadshow. I bring them things, they tell me the good/bad news and then I jump for joy or kick them out of the house, depending on their answer.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The verdict - it was determined I was looking at a piece made of at least two different types of wood. Damn you furniture!<br /><br />But after a cool down period I realized/remembered that this is <i>not</i> a fancy piece. This is backwoods furniture y'all. The people sitting in these pews were most likely in their farmer overalls rather than suits so it was never meant to be a fine antique.<br /><br />So I gave in and decided I couldn't fight an old church pew. (its probably sacrilegious or something) It will be whatever it is. After all, I have it (and love it) because of its history, not its beauty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQFlDSHpaIhMtrv6ms1LygxoDaufRJ7EJ-oEyJ1rP8x7bYd9hzNU3P2eN4y3wEmY7D2BuhyphenhyphenaGXFgJrLgytf6CISF6l2n-00AfKAK3BMehNTVNhGbBOSHWgl1Dfw2FUAmBux1ahX0Vv8Dk/s1600/RefinishingBench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQFlDSHpaIhMtrv6ms1LygxoDaufRJ7EJ-oEyJ1rP8x7bYd9hzNU3P2eN4y3wEmY7D2BuhyphenhyphenaGXFgJrLgytf6CISF6l2n-00AfKAK3BMehNTVNhGbBOSHWgl1Dfw2FUAmBux1ahX0Vv8Dk/s400/RefinishingBench.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />So all though some spots never came out, no matter how much I sanded, I decided it was time to move on and stain. Embrace the character. Embrace the character. (this is my staining the bench mantra)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBnlZUYT8S7KBZQazTyTFZ2tmfNzTjTefX5ohKoj3CjvSKcMCV2p5HqDU6FhsMN9MGGntByPYQGyUJoDKoiPC_q7D2Kk6Z0ynMkxYRjkTj5NWHAp_qQAJ1lKIdhwH1olX1GCQjoh-QWI8/s1600/RefinshedBenchcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBnlZUYT8S7KBZQazTyTFZ2tmfNzTjTefX5ohKoj3CjvSKcMCV2p5HqDU6FhsMN9MGGntByPYQGyUJoDKoiPC_q7D2Kk6Z0ynMkxYRjkTj5NWHAp_qQAJ1lKIdhwH1olX1GCQjoh-QWI8/s640/RefinshedBenchcloseup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And after three coats of stain and two coats of clear polyurethane here she is. Some of her red paint still shows thru (some wood 'released' the paint better than others) and I like that. It is a reminder of how it looked as I grew up and my little nod to all the years my parents had it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaHpksXFtn3-rAmxlgiYqoNFMJ4UDJvnGXxFKbWDaSOezzyljRfZ_sYT2ZLEEEyf-Q7Z4dZqtzyWKjP6eAwB7giNqFuIM8OVt3sRGTz9HKxw_4d_GgTNuo0xsvkg1GEy0HMHxqpHkqJhB/s1600/RefinshedBenchlong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaHpksXFtn3-rAmxlgiYqoNFMJ4UDJvnGXxFKbWDaSOezzyljRfZ_sYT2ZLEEEyf-Q7Z4dZqtzyWKjP6eAwB7giNqFuIM8OVt3sRGTz9HKxw_4d_GgTNuo0xsvkg1GEy0HMHxqpHkqJhB/s640/RefinshedBenchlong.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AI6PyfvPLi7S_l9Ff0CzqtiR5dnVayZ2ZDeiy6Tn7jkutlE3YeLM2Nm6XeOBLYXXZzJC2EjFvGEx9bB_lZuqao9ev9tOKk7SER-vTGuLwvaJM_8O40b8EuMeT05ZIu3kljRlpy3G_lOO/s1600/RefinshedBenchend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AI6PyfvPLi7S_l9Ff0CzqtiR5dnVayZ2ZDeiy6Tn7jkutlE3YeLM2Nm6XeOBLYXXZzJC2EjFvGEx9bB_lZuqao9ev9tOKk7SER-vTGuLwvaJM_8O40b8EuMeT05ZIu3kljRlpy3G_lOO/s400/RefinshedBenchend.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AJwE7MrrVuZq8C7JCoz95MDqGtiFakEsqj00hfKcFRfYtY4GF5lLqtSmbo8EuifBe-WwnPdFtAdYjdLxjoGVDZ9x8N9GrKS6bGvk9Yq0o0uzzfIMHFX_AYQ5Y8fiqVMNpT_psW5XbFac/s1600/RefinishedBench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AJwE7MrrVuZq8C7JCoz95MDqGtiFakEsqj00hfKcFRfYtY4GF5lLqtSmbo8EuifBe-WwnPdFtAdYjdLxjoGVDZ9x8N9GrKS6bGvk9Yq0o0uzzfIMHFX_AYQ5Y8fiqVMNpT_psW5XbFac/s640/RefinishedBench.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSh3jDWwQJDOaWsdumYl14eH9HfLCIzOOSnENnYp3Pq0zHmnevXhOl2oE3NyfYYUkJRHu5nOvOINysEk_ZY4n-NP2g3KmUU7vqTp0SWlDge81iwUVOsKd6CYm-MFbo1JAB2DRzMelJ5X0/s1600/RefinishedChurchPew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSh3jDWwQJDOaWsdumYl14eH9HfLCIzOOSnENnYp3Pq0zHmnevXhOl2oE3NyfYYUkJRHu5nOvOINysEk_ZY4n-NP2g3KmUU7vqTp0SWlDge81iwUVOsKd6CYm-MFbo1JAB2DRzMelJ5X0/s640/RefinishedChurchPew.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ignore that table behind the bench and those lamps, that's a whole other post.<br /><br />This isn't a tutorial on refinishing (obviously) but rather just a tale to remember that not all furniture will cooperate with your plan. And sometimes that's for the best. Love what you have and it will work for you.<br /><br />Have you ever had a bossy piece of furniture that wouldn't cooperate? </div>

refinishing the bench - part 2

So the bench. When last we left our story ( read part 1 here ), it looked something like this. After all the sanding was complete, and my te...

Waynesboro's Brown Bag Express announces closing

4:13 AM Tukiyooo 0

Every morning for the past two years the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrownBagExpress?hc_location=stream">Brown Bag Express</a> restaurant in Waynesboro announced its daily specials with friendly messages on Facebook. However, this morning owner Faith Ayres posted a different message:<br /><blockquote>I'm sorry to say that we will be closing our business on Thursday August  15th.  We will miss all of our customers.  Thank you for your business  for the last 2+ years!</blockquote>It was a surprise to those in the community who have become accustomed to running by 133 N. Wayne Avenue for delicious comfort foods on the go.<br /><br />Every morning, Monday through Friday, the day's specials were announced with familiar chirpy announcements:<br /><blockquote>Happy Wednesday! Today I'll have Mac & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli &   Steamed Corn for hot sides.   I have Chocolate Cake w/Peanut Butter  Frosting, Strawberry Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Spice Cake, Chocolate  Cake, Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies & Muffins for baked goods.   See you later!</blockquote>Reporter Roger Gonzales with the <i><a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/quick-bite-for-those-on-the-run/article_d3b34b80-f7a8-11e2-ba72-0019bb30f31a.html#.UfZUXlxJTa8.facebook">News-Virginian</a></i> highlighted the restaurant two weeks ago, noting at that time that they were weathering the difficulties of lower traffic due to downtown construction and blocked streets. Now it sounds like it may have had more of an impact than the Brown Bag Express could take.

Waynesboro's Brown Bag Express announces closing

Every morning for the past two years the Brown Bag Express restaurant in Waynesboro announced its daily specials with friendly messages on ...

Sylvia Martinez and The Maker Movement: Invent to Learn, Tinker to Teach! #makered #makerspace

4:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

The <strong><a href="http://www.inventtolearn.com/resources/" target="_blank">Maker Movement</a></strong> is here.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZfxlH7-37hBh3ciheUqwMAew5yPB7QPtACh5u2mE_LnkUvA3NZAt7dDiE5_y6_3vwcJWq5rmeOR7mcfUHpwNkNrLtPGbVOkdFobBtqKYJM4Gx2AIAp6NIQdZP8s2i_dKfRrrnpenBhh/s1600/3d-invent-to-learn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZfxlH7-37hBh3ciheUqwMAew5yPB7QPtACh5u2mE_LnkUvA3NZAt7dDiE5_y6_3vwcJWq5rmeOR7mcfUHpwNkNrLtPGbVOkdFobBtqKYJM4Gx2AIAp6NIQdZP8s2i_dKfRrrnpenBhh/s320/3d-invent-to-learn.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Invent to Learn by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager<br /> is the definitive book on the Maker Movement<br />in Schools</td></tr></tbody></table><br />What do 3D printers, Rasberry pi programing units, scrapbooks and woodworking have in common? They are all part of the <strong>Maker movement</strong> a growing effort to reinvent creativity by letting kids and people create.<br /><br />Libraries are incorporating <strong>maker spaces</strong> and many people are reading the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989151107/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0989151107&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b>Invent To Learn</b></a> by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager.<br /><br />If you want to know more about this movement, take a listen to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/smartinez" target="_blank">Sylvia Martinez</a> (see below on how to listen). We talked about how this method can positively impact our "STEM pipeline" and how we can foster the love of problem solving in many ways in the classroom. We also discussed managing maker spaces in the classroom and the many technologies being used in the maker movement. I learned a lot and highly recommend the book.<br /><br /><h3>My thoughts on the book, Invent to Learn</h3>Don't think this is a movement that is something new. It is actually built upon some profound research into how we all learn. I think every education professor should read this book as well as principals, curriculum directors, and librarians. Innovative teachers will want to read it as well.<br /><br />It is a book full of research and citations. The authors don't write something without backing it up in research. I do admit that I'm halfway through and have sometimes flipped to the back -- I'm totally sold, I'm just getting into the "how" now and am sure I'll be sharing more as I build my own maker spaces in my classroom. In many ways, I already have these spaces but need to utilize them better. This fits very well with <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2013/05/engage-students-supercharge-learning.html" target="_blank">Genius Hour work</a>, in my opinion.<br /><br /><b>Listen to the show: </b><br /><i>If you need help getting started with listening to the show or are having problems, see the Podcast page for a tutorial.</i><br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1177:teaching-teachers-with-technology&catid=91:every-classroom-matters&Itemid=259" target="_blank">Listen in your web browser</a> (Internet Explorer is best)</li><li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/every-classroom-matters-cool/id606677009" target="_blank">Listen on iTunes</a> (Click "Learning by Doing")</li></ul><br /><br />—–<br /><h1>Show Notes</h1><div>Here are some notes and resources that will help you understand and discuss the concepts discussed in this show.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989151107/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0989151107&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom</a><br />by Sylvia Martinez & Gary Stager</div><div><br /></div><h4>Invent to Learn Book Authors</h4><div>Sylvia Martinez:</div><div>Blog: <a href="http://blog.genyes.org/">http://blog.genyes.org/</a></div><div>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/smartinez" target="_blank">@smartinez</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Gary Stager:</div><div>Blog: <a href="http://stager.tv/blog/">http://stager.tv/blog/</a></div><div>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/garystager">https://twitter.com/garystager</a></div><div><br /></div><h4>Invent to Learn Book Resources:</h4><div>Intent to Learn Website: <a href="http://www.inventtolearn.com/">http://www.inventtolearn.com/</a></div><div>Resource Page  : <a href="http://www.inventtolearn.com/resources/">http://www.inventtolearn.com/resources/</a> <i>(a useful chapter by chapter set of hyperlinks. I wish every book did this.)</i></div><div><a href="http://blog.genyes.org/index.php/2011/06/08/8-big-ideas-of-the-constructionist-learning-lab/" target="_blank">8 Big Ideas of the Constructionist Learning Lab</a> by Sylvia Martinez</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4>Important Aspects of the Maker Movement mentioned on the show</h4><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/" target="_blank">Raspberry Pi</a> (See <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=49" target="_blank">Rasberry Pi Teaching and Learning Resources</a>)</li><li>Physical Computing</li><li>Programming</li><li>3D printing</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h4>Hashtags for the Maker Movement that Sylvia Recommends </h4><div><i>(I've linked to the searches below on Twitter)</i>: </div><div><ul><li>#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23makered&mode=relevance&src=typd" target="_blank">makered </a></li><li>#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23makerspace&mode=relevance&src=typd" target="_blank">makerspace</a></li><li>#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23inventtolearn&mode=relevance&src=typd" target="_blank">inventtolearn </a></li></ul><div>Make Do: <a href="https://mymakedo.com/">https://mymakedo.com/</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Maker Faire Information: <a href="http://makerfaire.com/">http://makerfaire.com/</a></div><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link (for the book mentioned) and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank">16 CFR, Part 255</a>: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"</span></blockquote>

Sylvia Martinez and The Maker Movement: Invent to Learn, Tinker to Teach! #makered #makerspace

EDUCATION every classroom matters innovation Teaching Technology Sylvia Martinez and The Maker Movement: Invent to Learn, Tinker to Teach! #makered #makerspace

The Maker Movement is here. Invent to Learn by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager is the definitive book on the Maker Movement in Schools Wha...

Today's Teamster News 08.14.13

3:43 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/teamsters-st-james-heading-to-mediation/article_4bd0ca15-2fb7-5142-ad69-0c17368f4f61.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters, St. James heading to mediation</a>   Billings Gazette   ...The Teamsters Union and St. James Healthcare will start labor contract mediation on Aug. 20. Members of the union, one of three at the hospital, have been working without a contract for over a year, according to Dan Doogan, secretary-treasurer for the Teamsters regional district...<br /><a href="http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/747723/37.5-hour-work-week-proposed" rel="nofollow">37.5-hour work week proposed for union members</a>  Times Leader   ...With six union contracts expiring at the end of the year, Luzerne County Council members in Pennsylvania are trying to set pay and benefit goals they want negotiated into new collective bargaining agreements for workers, including members represented by Teamsters Local 401...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/justice-dept-states-challenge-proposed-11-billion-airline-merger/2013/08/13/e3b25a28-0426-11e3-bfc5-406b928603b2_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboNE_b" rel="nofollow">Justice Dept, states challenge proposed airline merger between US Airways, American</a>  Associated Press   ...The federal government is challenging the proposed merger of US Airways and American Airlines, a deal between two of the largest airlines that it says would result in “substantial harm to consumers” in the form of higher fares and fees...<br /><a href="http://www.wbay.com/story/23127508/police-arrest-20-protesters-at-wis-capitol" rel="nofollow">Police arrest 20 protesters at Wisconsin Capitol</a>  WBAY   ...Police have arrested more protesters in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda. Protesters have been showing up in the rotunda almost every noon hour for more than two years to sing songs against Republican Governor Scott Walker...<br /><a href="http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/com-march-labor/com-march-labor" rel="nofollow">At March on Washington, organized labor gave MLK a hand</a>  The Republic   ...Fifty years ago this month, Hank Lacayo, an up-and-coming labor leader in Southern California, received a call instructing him to come to Washington, D.C. Something big was in the works. The phone call was placed at the direction of Walter Reuther, the legendary national president of the UAW. The big thing on the horizon was a planned March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom planned Aug. 28...<br /><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-austerity-and-prosperity-20130812,0,1615487.story?track=rss" rel="nofollow">Inequality is hindering economic growth </a> Baltimore Sun   ...Our economy has grown at roughly the same rate as other advanced industrial economies. But unlike other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, our growth has overwhelmingly benefited the well off...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/08/10/increased_wages_wont_reduce_employment_partner/singleton/" rel="nofollow">Higher wages won’t increase unemployment!</a>  Salon   ...Conservatives on the right contend that higher salaries mean fewer jobs. A wealth of research suggests otherwise...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/hard-times-usa/5-reasons-congress-should-be-deeply-ashamed-about-jobs" rel="nofollow">5 Reasons Congress Should Be Deeply Ashamed About Jobs</a>  AlterNet   ...Congress has not only made the job search more difficult for average Americans, but has also impeded the process...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/08/13/2452301/nj-lonegan-koch-brothers/" rel="nofollow">New Jersey Republicans Nominate Koch Brothers Operative For Senate </a> Think Progress   ...The New Jersey Republicans voted Tuesday — in a low-turnout primary — to nominate Steve Lonegan for the remainder of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D) term. Lonegan, the former New Jersey head for the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity, will face Newark Mayor Corey Booker (D) in an October 16 special election...<br /><a href="http://www.julesburgadvocate.com/ci_22612998?source=most_viewed" rel="nofollow">U.S. automakers praise G-20 for opposing currency manipulation</a>   Detroit News   ...U.S. automakers on Sunday praised a group of 20 major nations for recognizing the harm caused to the global trading system by countries like Japan, who are manipulating their currencies to gain a competitive advantage for their exporters...<br /><a href="http://two%20minnesota%20public%20employee%20unions%20ratify%20new%20contracts%20%20star%20tribune/" rel="nofollow">Two Minnesota public employee unions ratify new contracts</a>   Star Tribune   ...About 32,000 unionized state employees have ratified contracts that call for pay hikes of 3 percent per year, the biggest increases they’ve received since the national economy nosedived in 2007-08...<br /><a href="http://sheltonherald.com/23516/minimum-wage-in-ct-will-increase-to-9-an-hour/" rel="nofollow">Minimum wage in CT will increase to $9 an hour</a>  The Shelton Herald   ...The minimum wage in Connecticut will increase by 75 cents during the next year and a half. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed legislation that hikes the minimum wage in two stages — from the current $8.25 an hour to $8.70 on Jan. 1, 2014, and then to $9 on Jan. 1, 2015...<br /><a href="http://timesleader.com/news/apfeatures/5108519447486709795/BART-unions-resume-talks-as-senators-add-pressure" rel="nofollow">BART, unions resume talks as senators add pressure</a>  Associated Press   ...Bay Area Rapid Transit's management and employee unions resumed <a href="http://timesleader.com/news/apfeatures/5108519447486709795/BART-unions-resume-talks-as-senators-add-pressure" rel="nofollow">contract negotiations</a> Thursday as California's two senators urged the parties resolve the labor dispute and head off a crippling <a href="http://timesleader.com/news/apfeatures/5108519447486709795/BART-unions-resume-talks-as-senators-add-pressure" rel="nofollow">transit</a> strike...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/12/hillary-clinton-nc-voter-id_n_3746321.html" rel="nofollow">Hillary Clinton: NC Voter ID Bill 'Reads Like The Greatest Hits Of Voter Suppression'</a> (Video)  Huffington Post   ...Hillary Clinton denounced recent voter identification legislation in a <a href="http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/AddressesM">speech</a> at the American Bar Association's annual conference on Monday.  Clinton criticized the Supreme Court <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/voting-rights-act-supreme-court_n_3429810.html">decision</a> that she believes "stripped out the pre-clearance formula that made [the Voting Rights Act] so effective..."<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/disney-princesses-for-equal-pay_n_3748479.html" rel="nofollow">'Disney Princesses For Equal Pay' Is Brilliant, Hilarious And Informative</a>   Huffington Post   ...All women want equal pay -- even Disney princesses. Jenny Joslin and Annette Mia Flores of the production company Texpats came up with a hilarious and creative way to raise awareness about the wage gap. Because who doesn't like Disney?...<br /><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/08/state_must_pay_500000_to_end_c.html" rel="nofollow">State must pay $500,000 to end court fight over overtime pay for prison guards</a>  Patriot News   ...A federal judge has approved a settlement requiring the state to pay $500,000 to end a class-action lawsuit filed by 247 Pennsylvania state prison corrections officers who claimed they were illegally denied overtime pay...<br /><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/13/5645498/billions-in-federal-transportation.html" rel="nofollow">Billions in federal transportation funds riding on California's new pension law</a>  Sacramento Bee   ...Less than a year after California lawmakers mandated sweeping changes for state and local government pensions, federal officials are poised to cut off billions of dollars in transportation funding because of the new laws. The Teamsters and two other unions have backed a measure that would exclude 20,000 mass transit workers statewide from the pension-change law...

Today's Teamster News 08.14.13

Teamsters, St. James heading to mediation Billings Gazette ...The Teamsters Union and St. James Healthcare will start labor contract me...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/14/2013

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paZscyDLA9A">Premium Polling-Creating Quizzes with Celly - YouTube</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">I'm testing cel.ly right now. Here's the instructions about how to use cel.ly for creating quizzes. Of course, all of your students will need access to a phone to test this, but it does have basic information on how to do this. This is cool.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9A107lmL3M">Premium Polling-Creating Quizzes with Celly - YouTube</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">I'm testing cel.ly right now. Here's the instructions about how to use cel.ly for creating quizzes. Of course, all of your students will need access to a phone to test this, but it does have basic information on how to do this. This is cool.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://dottech.org/89331/how-to-use-google-calendar-on-windows-8/">[Windows 8] How to add Google Calendar to Windows 8 Calendar app [2nd Edition] | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTech</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This is the only way I've found to access Google calendar on Windows 8. The two companies, Microsoft and Google, aren't working together. This is not smart for either of them, I think, but I'll work around it for now.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/14/2013

Premium Polling-Creating Quizzes with Celly - YouTube I'm testing cel.ly right now. Here's t...

Attachable Lens for iPhone and Android Smartphones Will Hit the Market: SONY

1:34 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now mobile photography will get new definition and clarity with the help of Sony’s lenses. It can be attached with your iPhone or smart phones. This will definitely change your experience of photography. Now you don’t need to go with an extra gadget on your picnic or in your friend’s marriage. SonyAlphaRumors has leaked few pictures of external attachable lens for iPhone and smart phones manufactured by Sony.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewONBVAdtvI/Ugs9wEyt-SI/AAAAAAAAAKY/lh77nqv7pes/s1600/QX10_with_XperiaZ_1-1200_zps5b5d60f8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Attachable Lens for iPhone and Android smartphones from Sony" border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewONBVAdtvI/Ugs9wEyt-SI/AAAAAAAAAKY/lh77nqv7pes/s320/QX10_with_XperiaZ_1-1200_zps5b5d60f8.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SonyAlphaRumors.com</td></tr></tbody></table></div><h4 style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Technical specification: </span></h4><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 are not just lenses, they have built-in sensor, Wi-Fi/NFC wireless connection, Bionz processor and a slot for SD card. Lens has not its personal LCD screen and no common camera control. You can control these lenses through your Android based tablet or any smartphone. It can work only for android and iOS devices.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtPo9lWRkP4/Ugs-jfYD5rI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Xq7bRaGxRVI/s1600/DSC-QX100_DSC-QX10_InSituation_01_Xperia-Z-1200_zps932fca38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtPo9lWRkP4/Ugs-jfYD5rI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Xq7bRaGxRVI/s320/DSC-QX100_DSC-QX10_InSituation_01_Xperia-Z-1200_zps932fca38.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SonyAlphaRumors.com</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is first of its type and can be magnetically attached with your device. Two different sensors are available in lens, one is 20.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor and f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens from the Sony RX100 II and a 10X zoom lens with 1/2 ,3 inch 18-megapixel CMOS sensor is the quality of second model.</span><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently another leak related to Sony came in market, related to company’s forthcoming flagship smartphone, Sony Xperia i1 or Honami. The rumors said about this device that a display of 5.0 inch, full HD powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and will run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. This Smartphone also oppose the dust and water. The device is expected to introduce at an occasion on September’s first week in Berlin. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

android Camera iphone Lens Sony Attachable Lens for iPhone and Android Smartphones Will Hit the Market: SONY

Now mobile photography will get new definition and clarity with the help of Sony’s lenses. It can be attached with your iPhone or smart phon...

What Will You Tell Her?

12:28 AM Tukiyooo 0

I found this image over at <a href="http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/">Brock Townsend's</a> with the headline saying <a href="http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2013/08/im-going-to-cry.html#comment-form">"I'm Going To Cry"</a>.<br /><br />The more I looked at it, the more it sank in and the closer I came to shedding tears. This is a very powerful image.<br /><br />So I'm asking you.<br /><br />What would you say to this little girl?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9SK9yl2_I0CCUVSjhaLLU0V-k3JdtD7qIYhA9pRjG1n2f7sOaNF8_gaerctPwW2u0F-D4FWRwaKC2v_KDG5w99JJaXvpuB69s4kN1LFoohheoBmhsFEkhKY4hfdoIJhqAv5jhBytVuTL/s1600/1+998537_614626775225574_1274079395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9SK9yl2_I0CCUVSjhaLLU0V-k3JdtD7qIYhA9pRjG1n2f7sOaNF8_gaerctPwW2u0F-D4FWRwaKC2v_KDG5w99JJaXvpuB69s4kN1LFoohheoBmhsFEkhKY4hfdoIJhqAv5jhBytVuTL/s640/1+998537_614626775225574_1274079395_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />This is why we need to redouble our efforts people.<br /><br />The Fascist bastards are always using our children as a weapon when they tighten the noose.<br />"Think of the children" is their battle cry.<br /><br /><br />We need to step up to the plate and get right back in their faces and tell them one simple truth,<br /><br />"We are and that is why you are wrong"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you Brock.<br /><br /><b>Update;</b><br /><br />Dammit.<br />I wasn't paying enough attention. Brock linked to it from <a href="http://ninetymilesfromtyranny.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-worst-nightmare.html">Mike at 90 Miles From Tyranny</a>. <br /><br />My apologies to Mike for the oversight but I am going to let the post stand as is.

What Will You Tell Her?

I found this image over at Brock Townsend's with the headline saying "I'm Going To Cry" . The more I looked at it, the mo...

BlackBerry Launched Smartphone with updated OS7: Blackberry 9720

10:07 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div>BlackBerry 9720, which will run on an updated version of BlackBerry OS 7, depends on the previous OS 7. Updated BlackBerry OS 7 provides some more features like keyboard with BBM key, a trackpad and etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>BlackBerry users knows very well about the release of latest BlackBerry OS 10 includes intelligent keyboard, as well as a camera app which allows the user to adjust the photo and ability to run 8 Active Frames. The latest OS 10 features easy navigation gestures, multitasking, time shift camera, android player, BBM video/screen share and etc.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx9vBj422EM9iouTQEUpV9Dh4TP0GaW1UbykOcvKsrJ_zlelh2sfFht3kB9a9aye63iCi72Nf8dDxrf9o7LrVut7YrHWsIUN0pE6nHYNGIL0f1ZlbuI-XDRv_A0Iv9h3JPE5h3ocdlt8/s1600/blackberry_9720-1-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="BlackBerry Launched Smartphone with Updated OS7: BlackBerry 9720" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx9vBj422EM9iouTQEUpV9Dh4TP0GaW1UbykOcvKsrJ_zlelh2sfFht3kB9a9aye63iCi72Nf8dDxrf9o7LrVut7YrHWsIUN0pE6nHYNGIL0f1ZlbuI-XDRv_A0Iv9h3JPE5h3ocdlt8/s1600/blackberry_9720-1-big.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: ndtvGadgets</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The lower version has also less features in compare to latest, besides these thought BlackBerry launched its new smartphone with the old OS 7 and 806 MHz processor. The latest OS 7 smartphone will be available in some of the foreign markets in upcoming weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>It comes with 2.8-inch (360-by-480) display, 512 MB of RAM and 512 MB of internal storage which is expandable up to 32 GB using micro SD card. 1450 mAh battery will back up phone approx. 7 hours depending on the usage of phone.</div><div><br /></div><div>The device has a 5 MP camera providing better capturing of scenes. All the common features are also available like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, MMS, writing notes, FM and etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>“BlackBerry 9720 smartphone gives you all the essentials of our smartphones experience to support a communications centric lifestyle. It has the best keyboard and functionality for BBM, as well as updated BlackBerry OS 7. It is perfect for customers that want a richer experience and jump up in style and performance”: According to Executive vice President, BlackBerry.</div></div>

blackBerry BlackBerry OS smart phone BlackBerry Launched Smartphone with updated OS7: Blackberry 9720

BlackBerry 9720, which will run on an updated version of BlackBerry OS 7, depends on the previous OS 7. Updated BlackBerry OS 7 provides som...

Friendship....Albeit Random

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheers Chuckleheads…<br /><br />Matt-Man here on a Hump Day and I am feeling random, so…<br /><br />Here are some of my random thoughts.<br /><br />Does Anthony Weiner love all women except for his wife?  Or?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonl3wjbz5hmZs1ReagTBikunGrmKfzCeE1QRJrSGu3m3ZbODydvhjEr74To70OrhNUXwxPSbFh5h8yVmiH-63eSa93C1-VnszVTZqzLKI_hHhCzifaiIUe3XEjMB0pWVGgOyMV2sQJ9-i/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonl3wjbz5hmZs1ReagTBikunGrmKfzCeE1QRJrSGu3m3ZbODydvhjEr74To70OrhNUXwxPSbFh5h8yVmiH-63eSa93C1-VnszVTZqzLKI_hHhCzifaiIUe3XEjMB0pWVGgOyMV2sQJ9-i/s400/friends.jpg" width="400" /></a>Is he purging himself?<br /><br />If a chick on Facebook whom I have known since second grade, looks me up, sends me a message, and I still find her hot, does that make me a pedophile?<br /><br />A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet….Sorry Shakespeare guy, you don’t know the Rose Harbinger of 1027 Dartmouth St., that I know!!<br /><br />Will the Bengals win their division this year?  I really don’t care; I just hope we sell a lot of beer during the NFL season this year.<br /><br />If I ended this post now, would Jayman be upset with me?<br /><br />Probably so, but/and/or I will continue anyway, because my OCD compels me to.<br /><br />I asked my Facebook friend Amy Killeen to send me a message on Facebook last night.  Isn’t that sad?<br /><br />Hell yes it is, but…she did, and then we chatted for a few.  Amateurs!!<br /><br />Sometimes?  I’se gots is going on!!<br /><br />I have a few friends from school days that I talk with on Facebook.  One in particular, had golden hair, large, premature breasts, and the smile of an angel.<br /><br />I messaged her “Hi” the other day, unfortunately, she remembered me too well and responded…<br /><br /><i>“Dude…Matt…I had a breast reduction, so just move on.”</i><br /><br />While I initially thought that her comment was a bit hurtful, I then thought…<br /><br /><i>“You know?  It’s nice that I can leave a lasting impression on others, and that they truly know me for who I am.”</i><br /><br />Of course she then said…<br /><br /><i>“But if you’re looking for a good time, I am the woman for you.”</i><br /><br />I said…<br /><br /><i>“Oh Baby!!”</i><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jiqiOaNG4QGItEKRPBwN0NoM8KB4sFze9etaup6xJ2jdujIV8rJb6YPNrJ6-WdNjNGPNGnzwZvVtJJS6kAf4scswooivJuXAb_QW8BPA6dIB3ZUpdGM6gyyut5jjU5ANqWc8egB4XTVZ/s1600/southern+girl+sexy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jiqiOaNG4QGItEKRPBwN0NoM8KB4sFze9etaup6xJ2jdujIV8rJb6YPNrJ6-WdNjNGPNGnzwZvVtJJS6kAf4scswooivJuXAb_QW8BPA6dIB3ZUpdGM6gyyut5jjU5ANqWc8egB4XTVZ/s400/southern+girl+sexy.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />And then she said…<br /><br /><i>“I knew it.  You’re still a whore.”</i><br /><br />I said that I try to stay consistent, and she said…<br /><br /><i>“Thirty years and you are still the same lovable jerk.”</i><br /><br />To which I said, <i>“Hey now.  I’m not a jerk.”</i><br /><br />And my longtime friend responded…<br /><br /><i>“You CAN be a jerk, but that’s okay…because more importantly, you are who you are, and it’s better to be a sarcastic jerk than a fake.”</i><br /><br />I was initially stunned, but then I thought…<br /><br />It<i> IS</i> better to be a sarcastic jerk rather than a fake.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><i><br /></i><i><a href="mailto:mattman_iws@ymail.com">mattmaiws@ymail.com</a></i><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i><br /><i><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook Page</span></i></div>

Friendship....Albeit Random

Cheers Chuckleheads… Matt-Man here on a Hump Day and I am feeling random, so… Here are some of my random thoughts. Does Anthony Weiner love ...

KOSOVO

2:44 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPn6Jc2p6o14-AQgy_-NW0xACQ1832rm_66kao5FVWHhxWeQONhG7qvd7bUQea8T25ySCilYzDqlefe0vguVGWrfhZecOODbgWjH3pVX99bENq8MImLY_cUEWzcCuu2U7ph-J8vVM6tw0/s1600/4213520764_2bd84d4170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPn6Jc2p6o14-AQgy_-NW0xACQ1832rm_66kao5FVWHhxWeQONhG7qvd7bUQea8T25ySCilYzDqlefe0vguVGWrfhZecOODbgWjH3pVX99bENq8MImLY_cUEWzcCuu2U7ph-J8vVM6tw0/s320/4213520764_2bd84d4170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RADICAL ISLAMIST S REACH FOR CONTROL OVER KOSOVO MUSLIMS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Stephen Schwartz <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kosovo has not been spared infiltration by Islamist extremism. In June, Imam Irfan Salihu from the historic and multifaith southern KOSOVO city of Prizren—the country's second largest after the capital, Prishtina—was <a href="http://www.balkaneu.com/imam-relieved-reactions-sexist-language/">relieved</a>of his mosque duties after delivering a harangue in which he accused KOSOVO ALBANIAN women of being "prostitutes" and exhorted their husbands to abandon them. Salihu, it was noted, criticized only the behavior of women, and not of men.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notwithstanding its overwhelmingly Muslim population, KOSOVO is a constitutionally secular state in which women play leading political roles, none of them appearing in anything other than modern, WESTERN-style clothing and hair styles. Fanatical Islamist moral standards are unpopular among them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imam Salihu's diatribe was condemned by the three biggest political parties, the Democratic Party of KOSOVO (PDK), led by key players of the former KOSOVO Liberation Army (UCK), the Democratic League of KOSOVO (LDK), which preceded the appearance of the UCK and has always been committed to nonviolence and dialogue, and the “Self Determination” movement, known by its ALBANIAN initials LVV.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Self-Determination!" advocates an activist stance against apparently unending EUROPEAN control over KOSOVO. Fourteen years after the NATO air operation, concluded in 1999, KOSOVO continues to be administered legally by a EUROPEAN Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISLAMIC COMMUNITY OF KOSOVO IS HEADED BY A CLERIC OF PRONOUNCED RADICAL SYMPATHIES</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G42fwshk8j6u6kWSupc9qnsvp2rOghVGcVsKZ0YoLnra6ag5gVfKQEHGKnAs2KvUxzd8cbofQUeF3EZLuhzKm77WoDbkGRQQ67meVnfID25s8yTpzZb0qwTADPfYiLiwfdjSI2WYfEx7/s1600/kosovo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G42fwshk8j6u6kWSupc9qnsvp2rOghVGcVsKZ0YoLnra6ag5gVfKQEHGKnAs2KvUxzd8cbofQUeF3EZLuhzKm77WoDbkGRQQ67meVnfID25s8yTpzZb0qwTADPfYiLiwfdjSI2WYfEx7/s320/kosovo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imam Salihu was, nevertheless, defended by a new Islamist minority party, the "Islamic Movement to Unite," or LISBA, that as yet has no representation in the Assembly. As soon as the party was founded under the title "Join!" LISBA's leader, Fuad Ramiqi, led mass public prayers in the streets of Prishtina calling for the erection of a "mega mosque" as a response to the establishment of a Catholic cathedral in the municipal center, dedicated to Mother Teresa. KOSOVO sources suggested that participants in the religious demonstrations were mainly interlopers from the ALBANIAN districts of neighboring MACEDONIA, where ARAB radical influence is dominant in the state-recognized Islamic Community.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In view of the controversy his hateful remarks provoked, Imam Salihu of Prizren was discarded prudently by the authorities of the Islamic Community of KOSOVO (BIK in Albanian). Nevertheless, the BIK, which is headed by a cleric of pronounced radical sympathies, Naim Tërnava, will soon face a new test.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TËRNAVA WAS APPOINTED KOSOVO AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tërnava was elected to direct the BIK in 2003, after supporting a constitutional agreement for the Islamic institution which would ban its chief cleric from serving more than two five-year terms. The BIK will vote for its top leader on October 15, and Tërnava is expected to run a third time, in violation of the charter he signed a decade ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></span></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">INFILTRATION INTO THE BALKAN STATES EDUCATIONS SYSTEM - THE KEY AIM OF WAHHABISM</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><b>and <span style="mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">KOSOVO: RADICAL ISLAM A “TICKING TIME BOMB”</span></b> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-radical.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-radical.html</a></span></span></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">HOW RADICAL ISLAM INFILTRATES KOSOVO</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/kosovo-and-radical-islam.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/kosovo-and-radical-islam.html</a></span></span></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">EXTREMISTS ESTABLISH FOOTHOLD IN THE BALKANS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/kosovo.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/kosovo.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tërnava was challenged for the post in 2008 by his predecessor, chief cleric Rexhep Boja, a confirmed moderate and critic of Wahhabi Islam. Tërnava defeated Boja, who was then appointed KOSOVO ambassador to SAUDI ARABIA, one of the few ARAB countries to recognize KOSOVO sovereignty.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BOJA MONITORED THE SPREAD OF WAHHABI AGITATION FROM ITS SOURCE IN THE DESERT KINGDOM</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Given Boja's hostility to radicalism, the diplomatic appointment was brilliant, as it allowed him to monitor the spread of Wahhabi agitation from its source in the desert kingdom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another well-known moderate, Imam Idriz Bilalli, was removed in 2011 from his congregation in the northeastern KOSOVO city of Podujeva because he opposed plans for an ARAB-financed mosque in the small, nearby location of Bajqina. Bilalli has announced that with the end of this year's Ramadan fast, he and a dissident group he helped found, the Professional Association of Islamic Community Workers, will focus attention on Muslim community elections. Bilalli is assisted in the Professional Association by a similarly moderate dissident, Mullah Osman Musliu, who was brutally assaulted in 2009 by a Wahhabi gang.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Musliu is widely honored in KOSOVO as the only Muslim cleric willing to risk conducting the funeral in 1998 of the UCK leader Adem Jashari, who was murdered with his family by SERBIAN terrorists. Musliu was dismissed from his mosque at the same time as Bilalli.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bilalli, Musliu, and two more outspoken moderates, Imam <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/kosovo-still-balkan-front-line-against-radical-islam_693589.html">Adnan Vishi and Musli Verbani</a>, the latter an expert on Islamic law, have accused Tërnava of manipulating local Islamic community council elections held in KOSOVO last year. These BIK councils exist throughout the land, with four-year terms, in contrast with the five-year period of service for the chief cleric managing BIK. Verbani stated that all the candidates approved for the council elections were vetted by Tërnava and favored by him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vishi, who accused Tërnava of attempting to change the BIK constitution and institute a permanent term as its head, was expelled from supervising the Islamic council in the southern KOSOVO city of Kaçanik. But his adherents in the nearby village of Begrac backed him, against a further attempt at his discharge from his mosque itself, by Tërnava's clique.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commenting on the approaching balloting, Vishi repeated earlier charges that Tërnava seeks to become the "sultan" or "monarch" of KOSOVO Islam.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISLAMIC RADICALISM INFILTRATES SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES OF KOSOVO</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">KOSOVO Islamic community voting is constitutionally open to any Muslim above the age of 18, as an elector or a candidate, regardless of religious credentials, and is required to be secret and competitive. Term limits in the Kosovo Islamic structure may be altered by amendment of the constitution, but such must be carried out by a two-thirds majority of the BIK Assembly, which is independent of Tërnava's office and currently led by Xhabir Hamiti, a professor of Islamic studies who was one of seven moderate academics, including Idriz Bilalli, deprived of teaching responsibilities at the Prishtina Faculty of Islamic Studies in 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the time, the seven warned that they would be replaced by "the promotion of dubious professors, influenced by foreign ideologies, with rigid and extremist orientations. . . . Behind this kind of professors are generous donors with plenty of cash."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TËRNAVA DENIES THAT WAHHABISM OR ANOTHER RADICAL ISLAMIST TREND EXISTS IN KOSOVO</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0KoPl0Xl5-vzFtU3qcNNRvnxyiEn_4dUoOSNkDybCYvsshRJ8oEdROk2IZhPh7OMJSzNcqmSAaj3aH5iEdaQ4vmOszrQy_mCkvXFioc1v4LGbRV5RtwuHbBbMaatzM18i6FIg5F8DJzt/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0KoPl0Xl5-vzFtU3qcNNRvnxyiEn_4dUoOSNkDybCYvsshRJ8oEdROk2IZhPh7OMJSzNcqmSAaj3aH5iEdaQ4vmOszrQy_mCkvXFioc1v4LGbRV5RtwuHbBbMaatzM18i6FIg5F8DJzt/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Hamiti was also assaulted in 2009, in his house, his anti-extremist stand is popular, as shown by his election as head of the Islamic Assembly. Hamiti has denounced the ambitions of Naim Tërnava to become "chief cleric for life" as a "Communist" attitude. Bilalli has said that Hamiti will likely be the sole candidate in opposition to Tërnava, with endorsement by the Professional Association of Islamic Community Workers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tërnava, as reported on August 4 by Radio Television KOSOVO (RTK) and United Nations media monitors, denied that any form of Wahhabism or other radical Islamist trend exists in Kosova. One problem may facilitate official manipulation by Tërnava of the Islamic community elections this year. The date set for the polling, October 15, coincides with the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, or <i>hajj</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Background Information:</span></b></span></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">POLITICAL ISLAM PROMOTER, EX GRAND MUFTI CERIĆ, STILL INFLUENTIAL IN BIH </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/bosnias-dangerous-tango.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/bosnias-dangerous-tango.html</a></span></span></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">REIS-ULEMA MUSTAFA CERIC - ISLAMIC COMMUNITY – THE SCHOOL ARE OURS</span> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">has lately replaced another would-be Muslim "clerical sultan," <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mustafa Cerić</b>, with a presumed moderate as head of its Islamic apparatus, and the same may take place in KOSOVO. The conflict between radicals and moderates in the KOSOVO Islamic community bears close observation by all those interested in the current upheaval within Islam worldwide.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;">Background Information:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;">KOSOVO “ALBANITY” </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/greater-albania-united-states-project.html"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/greater-albania-united-states-project.html</span></a></span><b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CONTROVERSIAL OPPOSITION FIGURE: ALBIN KURTI</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/kosovo-natural-resources-jackpot.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/kosovo-natural-resources-jackpot.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WASHINGTON’S KOSOVO STRATEGY</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/kosovo.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/kosovo.html</a></span></div></div>

KOSOVO

RADICAL ISLAMIST S REACH FOR CONTROL OVER KOSOVO MUSLIMS By Stephen Schwartz Kosovo has not been spared infiltration by Islamist extremism....

Had A Good Laugh Yet Today?

1:21 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/asiana-payout-july-crash_n_3747104.html">This oughtta do it.</a><br /><br /><blockquote>SEOUL, South Korea -- Asiana Airlines Inc. has offered $10,000 to each of the 288 surviving passengers of the flight that crash landed in San Francisco last month.<br /><br />Asiana spokeswoman Lee Hyomin said Tuesday the payout is not a settlement and accepting the money does not prevent passengers from suing the airline.<br /><br />"Regardless of the degree of the injury, we are offering $10,000 to everyone," Lee said. "There could be situations when the money is urgently needed and this could reduce inconveniences."<br /><br />The Asiana Boeing 777 landed short of the runway on July 6, killing three passengers and injuring dozens. There were 307 people on board, including 291 passengers.<br /><br />Lee said Asiana has already made payments to the families of three passengers who were killed. She did not know the amount.<br /><br />A mother of one passenger said an Asiana manager contacted the family in Seoul by telephone last week offering $10,000. The family declined because the offer wasn't made in writing, no explanation on conditions was given and they feared accepting the payment would bar lawsuits.<br /><br />"We said no on the phone. We felt offended and didn't want to accept," said Jeong Ouek-yoon, mother of passenger Kim Ye-rim. "We didn't know whether there were conditions to the payment."<br /><br />South Korean news agency Yonhap said multiple crash survivors and their families had been made the offer in writing. The report said Asiana stipulated eight conditions but the company declined to disclose them citing their possible impact on future lawsuits.</blockquote><br /><br />These idiots are going to need a bigger pen.

Had A Good Laugh Yet Today?

This oughtta do it. SEOUL, South Korea -- Asiana Airlines Inc. has offered $10,000 to each of the 288 surviving passengers of the flight tha...

Undercover at the Chicago ALEC conference

1:04 PM Tukiyooo 0

<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/AVvXsEgLlTz2wIhj9UZs97OgXwCoz-WRatXAt2WAl2ISGtYtJE_utY-i8R3wduNtxGqQlSH_EYeJKPF2u_F9SokKFCcT_q_MCc7N58rMeWkH2mOZ5wonyeF4eyVwOmy4fmnHY0-5uKVOuVH-lyrH/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-13+at+3.55.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlTz2wIhj9UZs97OgXwCoz-WRatXAt2WAl2ISGtYtJE_utY-i8R3wduNtxGqQlSH_EYeJKPF2u_F9SokKFCcT_q_MCc7N58rMeWkH2mOZ5wonyeF4eyVwOmy4fmnHY0-5uKVOuVH-lyrH/s400/Screen+shot+2013-08-13+at+3.55.34+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protest at ALEC conference in Chicago last week.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://openstates.org/wi/legislators/WIL000487/chris-taylor/" rel="nofollow">Chris Taylor</a>, a Wisconsin state representative, went behind enemy lines at last week's<a href="http://alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow"> ALEC</a> conference in Chicago -- you know, the one that sparked a <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/alec-chicago-protest.html" rel="nofollow">protest by 3,700 union members, environmental activists and fed-up citizens</a>.<br /><br />Taylor, a Democrat, was picking up the torch passed by former Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan, now a member of Congress. Pocan infiltrated an <a href="http://progressive.org/inside_alec.html" rel="nofollow">ALEC conference in 2011</a> and reported:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Corporations and conservative interests are in charge; after all, they fund the organization. They call the shots. They write the legislation. They vote on the legislation. And they give advice on how to pass their bills.</blockquote>Taylor discovered the same thing -- that powerful corporations are quite confident that they're in charge of state legislatures. In "<a href="http://progressive.org/alec-diary" rel="nofollow">My ALEC Diary</a>," she writes a lobbyist told her:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...you didn’t really need the consent of the people if you had Republican control of enough states and the corporate money ... In the ALEC universe, policies no longer have to be by the people or for the people.</blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4TO3SLMl7de1XAJwJQWMdoOlR0hZ2JRK1bGpyXVV7pi4Yfrzwv80uKM9_3Ebt8q1Ks_Tgwx1KFQY2h1RQTZVkw9Lg1xULTbTiZ3OQANI7-yKjzUKXQKl1Tw2kx1T8C5GQLUh9FPA6TiJ/s1600/chris+taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4TO3SLMl7de1XAJwJQWMdoOlR0hZ2JRK1bGpyXVV7pi4Yfrzwv80uKM9_3Ebt8q1Ks_Tgwx1KFQY2h1RQTZVkw9Lg1xULTbTiZ3OQANI7-yKjzUKXQKl1Tw2kx1T8C5GQLUh9FPA6TiJ/s1600/chris+taylor.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Taylor</td></tr></tbody></table>There's a reason Democratic state lawmakers from Wisconsin have been going undercover at ALEC. The corporate bill machine was first flushed from the shadows when Wisconsin <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/scott-walker-still-kills-jobs-better.html" rel="nofollow">Job-killer</a> Scott Walker started imposing ALEC's anti-worker, corporate-empowerment agenda.  <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/jessica_vanegeren/what-madison-rep-chris-taylor-learned-at-the-alec-conference/article_479f4ad0-0136-11e3-9e5b-0019bb2963f4.html" rel="nofollow">The Cap Times</a> notes:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">To the average voter, ALEC meant nothing until Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2010. That’s when people started to realize ALEC was more than just another non-profit, political group holding conferences around the country. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">It soon became clear that similar bills were being pitched and passed in Republican-controlled legislative houses across the country. ALEC, with its process for developing so-called model legislation, was the source. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">“My takeaway after spending two days at a conference is ALEC is a well-oiled machine," Taylor said Friday on her way back from the conference. "Putting the amount of money it has aside, the coordination and the infrastructure this group has in place is incredible. I was both fascinated and horrified by it.”</blockquote>ALEC claims that it "<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/07-1" rel="nofollow">really believes in transparency</a>." That wasn't Taylor's experience. ALEC conference organizers knew she was a Democrat who didn't embrace their agenda. She tells her diary:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...after joining ALEC, registering for the conference and shelling out almost $1,000 in conference and hotel fees, the group still wouldn’t send me a conference agenda. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">This led me to wonder what they were hiding. </blockquote>We actually found out <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/anti-ALEC-protesters-converge.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. It isn't pretty.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote>

Undercover at the Chicago ALEC conference

Protest at ALEC conference in Chicago last week. Chris Taylor , a Wisconsin state representative, went behind enemy lines at last week's...

Cooper Union's Next Dean

1:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

With Anthony Vidler's <a href="http://www.cualumni.com/s/1289/indexNoRtcol.aspx?sid=1289&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=2029&ecid=2029&ciid=10255&crid=0">recent retirement</a> as Dean of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union, the school has put out a search for his replacement. Here is <a href="http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1104612157354-458/Dean+Search_Architecture.pdf">a link to the PDF of the announcement</a>, with text for it also provided below. Any guesses on who the next dean will be?<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdhWin_BOBCOtgMQ4RAnrc1YJcveXnoDacO-LtZLusQ1NmfOGqjIy1zSkJ5pFIlT3JoGmkCEa23RLgoK4wO3IjsLKTbO4d-7E2_CxJUdUYSB4Rp37JjeWs_v7zVgkIKpcqNZ9KprQc7nY/s1600/cooper-dean.jpg" /><br /><blockquote>The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture invites nominations and letters of application for the position of Dean, the academic and administrative leader of the School. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private institution that has been dedicated exclusively to preparing students for the professions of Architecture, Art and Engineering since 1859. Within the larger institutional context, The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture occupies an exceptional position as an intensive laboratory for innovative pedagogy, original research and distinguished scholarship. <br /><br />The School of Architecture seeks for the position of Dean an individual who can provide the leadership necessary to carry forward its distinguished standard of excellence. It is the Dean's role to affirm the mission of the School of Architecture, while overseeing the continued development of its programs and the evolution of its curriculum. The Cooper Union currently faces significant challenges, which in turn provide exceptional opportunities to reaffirm and advance the School's strengths and values. The Dean will champion the School's interests, both within the Institution and in the broader professional and academic realms. <br /><br />Candidates must demonstrate a significant contribution to the culture of architecture, through their work in education, practice, and/or history and theory. A professional degree in architecture, regardless of current professional or academic position, is a requirement of candidacy. <br /><br />The position is a full-time academic and administrative appointment at the rank of full professor, with tenure. The salary is competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications. Letters of application should include a brief statement of intent and a detailed curriculum vitae. Applications will be accepted until November 15, 2013. No telephone inquiries, please. Applications will be reviewed in confidence. The Cooper Union is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (AA/EOE) by choice. Materials should be addressed to: <br /><br />Diana Agrest FAIA, Chair <br />Dean Search Committee <br />The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture <br />c/o Director of Human Resources, The Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003 or by e-mail: archsearch@cooper.edu </blockquote>

Cooper Union's Next Dean

With Anthony Vidler's recent retirement as Dean of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union, the school has put o...

The Art Of Femininity Demonstrated

11:59 AM Tukiyooo 0

The Art Of Femininity Demonstrated

Not to be told I discriminate, I submit to you the feminine version of the last post. Yep, she's a keeper. On a side note, I have been ...

Sunday's 41-vehicle pileup caused I-81 nightmare

11:12 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX53BEHMV8Hoplnk2DFIWNExymOaid5la-pVERbiUMhIjikU0wDJfk2Q50_WPwM5OJM6VZvJeiFY2MLwiKsLY7V4IuVY-yx9O8AqNoeQNLn2iZHaG5YXRfhLw4f92czA1L0zkTs-tsUovp/s1600/_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX53BEHMV8Hoplnk2DFIWNExymOaid5la-pVERbiUMhIjikU0wDJfk2Q50_WPwM5OJM6VZvJeiFY2MLwiKsLY7V4IuVY-yx9O8AqNoeQNLn2iZHaG5YXRfhLw4f92czA1L0zkTs-tsUovp/s400/_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Congested traffic detour on Rt. 11 in Rockbridge County during a 2012 incident on I-81.</i></div><br />It was a <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/2143352-12/41-vehicles-involved-in-wreck-in-rockbridge-co.html">recipe for disaster</a>. As rain and fog moved into the Shenandoah Valley Sunday afternoon, driving conditions deteriorated for travelers along the rural, hilly Interstate 81 and eventually resulted in a devastating 41-vehicle pileup in Rockbridge County near Lexington that included six tractor-trailers and took hours to clean up.<br /><br />Most areas of I-81 are two lanes wide with passenger cars and 18-wheelers jockeying from lane to lane in a sometimes-white knuckle drive while trying to make it safely to destinations. Many who travel the route regularly have tales to tell about nightmarish wrecks, weather conditions, crazy drivers, tail-gating, and tractor-trailers. Jersey concrete barriers along construction zones add to the hazards, and may travelers have sat in stand-still traffic at one time or another. <br /><br />Sunday was one of the worst. Thankfully, no lives were lost although more than a dozen injuries were reported, and travelers sat parked on the interstate for seven hours while emergency personnel cleared debris.<br /><br />Reporter Zach Crizer with the <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/2144584-12/dangerous-conditions-spawned-41-vehicle-wreck-on-i-81-in.html"><i>Roanoke Times</i></a> wrote:<br /><blockquote>Sgt. J.F. Murphy, also of Virginia State Police, was  among the nine  troopers who dealt with the pileup Sunday night. He said  it's unlikely  investigators will ever determine exactly what or who  started the  crash, but he suggested the common practice of tailgating  may have been  a factor.<br /><br />He said brakes were applied at the front of a pack  of cars, setting  off a chain reaction that rippled a mile and a half  down the road.<br /><br />Murphy said speed was not a factor, as most of the  cars were  traveling at less than 50 mph because of the rainy conditions.  Still,  he said the tightly packed traffic on a wet road was a recipe  for  disaster.</blockquote>State Police Sgt. A.D. Nicely <a href="http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/08/12/2629628/41-vehicle-pileup-in-virginia.html">said it could have been worse</a> but that some truck drivers made split-second decisions to steer their vehicles off the road:<br /><blockquote>The officer said some truck drivers veered off the road and overturned to avoid hitting other vehicles, likely saving lives.<br /><br />"I  believe that decision on their behalf saved us a lot more injuries or  fatalities," Nicely added. "You don't know what would have happened when  you start having 80,000-pound vehicles slamming into 2,000-pound  vehicles."</blockquote>Waynesboro reporter Chris Graham, owner of the <a href="http://augustafreepress.com/update-41-vehicles-in-i-81-crashes-in-rockbridge/?fb_source=pubv1"><i>Augusta Free Press</i></a>, began reporting on the accident Sunday afternoon as he posted on <a href="https://twitter.com/AFPChrisGraham">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AugustaFreePress">Facebook</a> and it was quickly picked up by Valley residents who passed the word along by social media.<br /><br />Quite frankly, as one who lives here and often drives I-81, I'm  surprised accidents don't happen more often although they  certainly happen enough. Sunday's wreck was just one more incident and proved to be a rough way for many travelers to end the weekend.<br /><br /><i>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell </i>

Sunday's 41-vehicle pileup caused I-81 nightmare

41-vehicle pileup bad driving conditions I-81 Interstate 81 J.F. Murphy Roanoke Times Virginia roads Virginia State Police Zach Crizer Sunday's 41-vehicle pileup caused I-81 nightmare

Congested traffic detour on Rt. 11 in Rockbridge County during a 2012 incident on I-81. It was a recipe for disaster . As rain and fog mov...