News for today's 2018

UMGESTALTUNG DER WELT

4:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PWpMsyvOkzg?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Objektivität oder Propaganda </span></span></b></span></div>

UMGESTALTUNG DER WELT

Objektivität oder Propaganda

Cul de Sac | Comics | ArcaMax Publishing

3:59 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0z1rypO0akVuOoSjxSeGMmxoG7OF9NmyKqLWpomVO924kV_UeuvbcG3srdpRnKFh5SlsSvtgJTXTpktih4CE2ISt8uOKekCZJoQXYEvXKHzEHIcVlKcdQ-PJH-wU_YnOdzOABVTupWk/s1600/s-1258261-762133.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5831046728592362738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0z1rypO0akVuOoSjxSeGMmxoG7OF9NmyKqLWpomVO924kV_UeuvbcG3srdpRnKFh5SlsSvtgJTXTpktih4CE2ISt8uOKekCZJoQXYEvXKHzEHIcVlKcdQ-PJH-wU_YnOdzOABVTupWk/s320/s-1258261-762133.gif" /></a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><br></div></div><a href="http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/culdesac/s-1258261-300015">http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/culdesac/s-1258261-300015</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Cul de Sac | Comics | ArcaMax Publishing

http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/culdesac/s-1258261-300015

Two South African teachers highlighted in the Global Classroom Project awards

3:34 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Karen Stadler</i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>We, at Schoolnet, are very proud of two of our teachers from South Africa who have been highlighted as ‘Global Lead Teachers’ in the </em><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/"><em>Global Classroom Project.</em></a><em> Karen Stadler is the ICT Integration Co-ordinator for Elkanah House’s Senior Primary campus in Cape Town. She keeps a blog called <a href="http://karenstadler.wordpress.com/">All Things ICT.</a>  <a href="http://cotslabnotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brenda Hallowes</a> is from Cotswold Preparatory School in Port Elizabeth and we featured one of her posts on our SchoolNet blog yesterday.  I asked Karen if I could use the <a href="http://karenstadler.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/an-honour/" target="_blank">blogpost</a> she wrote in response to the honour she and Brenda received and here it is…</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><br /></em></span><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/AVvXsEgxWaTZFJ85QpoMBpqdtL2sV2VM-jNERTlopm40W0HNu4xe4LFeS_u8yvHBV1e8CHRtCraLkW02LZv9liR95VT0Xl9DjORtnyQor4GJWeWxOCfm28rvUVSRIiO58bGX2kgtsuAWui01QEI/s1600/Karen5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWaTZFJ85QpoMBpqdtL2sV2VM-jNERTlopm40W0HNu4xe4LFeS_u8yvHBV1e8CHRtCraLkW02LZv9liR95VT0Xl9DjORtnyQor4GJWeWxOCfm28rvUVSRIiO58bGX2kgtsuAWui01QEI/s400/Karen5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen's blog called 'All Things ICT'</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Karen relates:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“On Friday afternoon, 16 November, I took part in the Global Classroom Project 2012 -2013 launch presentation, which was one of the presentations in the Global Education Conference 2012, a free online conference connecting educators and organisations worldwide. It started on Monday, 12 November and ran around the clock for five days!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was invited to take part by Michael Graffin (@mgraffin), co-founder of the Global Classroom Project and I was truly honoured to do so. I spoke about why global interaction and collaboration in education is important and I also reflected on her own project, Crazy Crazes, which is currently underway (<a href="http://crazycrazes.wikispaces.com/">http://crazycrazes.wikispaces.com</a>) and other highlights of 2012. Four of our Grade 4 pupils also shared their experiences and they did so well. I am so proud of how well they spoke and how they handled themselves! This was a wonderful opportunity and we were very proud to promote our school on this global platform. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This excerpt from Michael’s post in the Global Classroom Project blog, brought a lump to my throat. He says:<br /> "</span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">But perhaps the most emotional moment was when we handed over the microphone to some of our #globalclassroom students – from </span><a href="http://www.elkanah.co.za/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #009bc2; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Elkanah House</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">, in Cape Town, South Africa. </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><i>THANK YOU to Sarah, Abigail, Tyra, and Matthew – you did yourselves proud! And thank you to their wonderful teacher, Karen Stadler (@ICT_Integrator) who made it all possible."</i> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><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/AVvXsEjh3D6ZdpnMwRl1y5M0_zC1pv0TJnRCq1p-33ZL_iqz74kBR-90FFBMzzZFE7knRqNxw5tGSoUT6wk1Lz1g1nEZVCK7AMnSYjRrQ0sTyfXbyesBYUOun-kdCG0QLp-Zmy8C9bDgYbfPiQs/s1600-h/Karen1%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Karen1" border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1my5PtX5c0MyUjrXILz2n-DBTetbqjpQhBMXwEiwEqLF_j6iRieidkqLiub8cgW1CZ4QqWLm2Sl6vJBBPnEcOzY2zTYSF20h7qTMRJr86cOu4AOjv3JKsh4-DcqCwR_cPZjJa2OHbN9Y/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Karen1" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Graffin's acknowledgement of Karen and her students</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">o read more about the presentation and listen to the recording of this event, look </span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/global-classroom-2012-13-launch-slides-and-recording/">here</a></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the presentation Michael Graffin announced the inauguration of the annual<strong><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/announcing-global-classroom-lead-teachers-2012/#comment-824">“Global Classroom Lead Teacher” Award</a></strong>, which recognises teachers who’ve made an extraordinary contribution to the development and success of the #globalclassroom community over the past year. Imagine my surprise when I saw my name on that list, along with 25 other amazing, dedicated teachers from around the world! Brenda Hallowes from Cotswold Preparatory School in Port Elizabeth and I were both named – the only two teachers from Africa! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I get to add this lovely badge to my blog: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6NCRdd84UFTnYFuV6PuzZSAnG9Uef3dc4UZ_rj8UTKBMEbSd21apBVUqxWk-3ps1erTzSs9nynICE4ABgDdSbWNM79fSaSQjTkicFsTZoTXPckKY7ZYV7iL9OLsaCyeOW1p1Imj78mk/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzBNFCHiso7DsvD7eGoqE_F5Ezbla6W2hCA9dSMLOZxGpxPQPG9ktQLrDm4mwM-PXqDcB2oBKQ_mHAgEWrmPJLkUtquw9Ic_mliBasLxmBav77hxTHenALGrmXfq56sdB7bEViwXiXbA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="237" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please pop on over to the <strong><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/">Global Classroom Project blog</a></strong> and see what amazing connections are being made and how, as a #globalclassroom community, we can make a difference to the way in which our children learn and how they see themselves as global citizens of the world!”     </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you Karen, and a million congratulations to you and Brenda from PE from all of us!</span></div>

Collaboration Two South African teachers highlighted in the Global Classroom Project awards

Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Karen Stadler We, at Schoolnet, are very proud of two of our teachers from South Africa who hav...

Inside the Debt Limit Talks

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola Y’all! Now that the big Fiscal Cliff fight is over, it’s time to move on to the Sequester and Debt Limit fights. This will run simultaneously with the fight over the nomination of Chuck Hagel to SecDef. Man, the republicans are pissed about this one. They can’t believe Obama has nominated a guy who had the temerity to stand up to Israel. ONCE! Monster!<br /><br />Man, that’s we ever do in this country anymore. Fight. Fight. Fight! Luckily though, IWS World Media News Division has gotten a sneak peak how the negotiations are going to go. Check it out…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywoYOZEkB_hWbum0iQKHPquERmLaGcPwzSi6fcByXuRvEjMfCFLKKRQmZZhH6tOzJAuZrydAH4xrJsNQXZRdCFykNHhv_n2q4NktV6fL39bawwLg5aOrSgAj9PXp1XFZt4NyU9ul8JP8/s1600/Boehner+Crying+Pussy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywoYOZEkB_hWbum0iQKHPquERmLaGcPwzSi6fcByXuRvEjMfCFLKKRQmZZhH6tOzJAuZrydAH4xrJsNQXZRdCFykNHhv_n2q4NktV6fL39bawwLg5aOrSgAj9PXp1XFZt4NyU9ul8JP8/s320/Boehner+Crying+Pussy.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Obama:</b> Thanks for being here today Mr. Speaker<br /><b>Boehner: </b>SPENDING CUTS!!! SPENDING CUTS!!!<br /><b>Obama:</b> We’ll get to that, but let’s do this in a more formal manner.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> SPENDING CUTS!!!<br /><b>Obama:</b> Look, if you want to make the opening offer, go right ahead.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>WE DEMAND SPENDING CUTS!!<br /><b>Obama: </b>You’ll have to be more specific. What do you want to cut?<br /><b>Boehner:</b> No YOU be specific! YOU propose the cuts.<br /><b>Obama:</b> I don’t want to make any spending cuts, so you’ll have to do it.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>SPENDING CUTS!!!!<br /><b>Obama:</b> Okay, fine. We'll talk cuts. How 'bout we start with the Defense Budget?<br /><b>Boehner: </b>GO FUCK YOURSELF!<br /><br />*John Boehner goes off to have a good cry and a couple of drinks.*<br /><br /><b>Harry Reid:</b> Good afternoon Mr. Speaker.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> SPENDING CUTS!!! SPENDING CUTS!!!!<br /><b>Reid:</b> Stop screaming John. Let’s do this the right way.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>WE DEMAND SPENDING CUTS!<br /><b>Reid: </b>What would you like to cut? Which programs?<br /><b>Boehner: </b>FUCK YOU! You propose the cuts!<br /><b>Reid:</b> No. You want them, you have to propose them.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> This is bullshit! You should have to.<br /><b>Reid:</b> But we don’t want spending cuts, so we don’t have any to propose. Unless you want to make cuts in the Defense Budget?<br /><b>Boehner:</b> GO FUCK YOURSELF!<br /><br />*John Boehner goes off to cry and have a couple of drinks.*<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTXP-m5-3KMyVhazUb1Cq5Olhz6IGpC6L5609gBasA2d5U2DYUOxoDDqs2KW6n4Row951o9no5Div3oSAdEnkJizw_nOdrsLdcuHwvaVN4r36PHg35BsqtOiRd7HN8Hw2wlWkKgrHaIM/s1600/Joe+Biden+Aviator+Sunglasses+Cool+Rock+Star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTXP-m5-3KMyVhazUb1Cq5Olhz6IGpC6L5609gBasA2d5U2DYUOxoDDqs2KW6n4Row951o9no5Div3oSAdEnkJizw_nOdrsLdcuHwvaVN4r36PHg35BsqtOiRd7HN8Hw2wlWkKgrHaIM/s320/Joe+Biden+Aviator+Sunglasses+Cool+Rock+Star.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><b>Joe Biden:</b> Hola Johnny-Boy! Mr. Speakerino! What can I do for ya?<br /><b>Boehner: </b>Mr. Vice President, my caucus is demanding spending cuts.<br /><b>Joe: </b>Okay, I knew you guys would want that. What do you want to cut?<br /><b>Boehner:</b> SPENDING YOU STUPID IRISH BASTARD!<br /><b>Joe:</b> Calm down J.B. It’s gonna be okay.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>NOT IF WE DON’T GET ANY SPENDING CUTS!<br /><b>Joe: </b>Well, make a proposal.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> NO YOU MAKE THE PROPOSAL!<br /><b>Joe:</b> What do you want me to propose?<br /><b>Boehner: </b>GOD DAMN SPENDING CUTS!<br /><b>Joe: </b>We don’t want to cut spending so you have to make specific proposals. Let's start with the Defense Budget.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> GO FUCK YOURSELF!<br /><br />*John Boehner goes off to cry and have a couple of drinks.*<br /><br /><b>Mitch McConnell:</b> Yes, Mr. Speaker, what is it?<br /><b>Boehner:</b> I can’t get them to propose any spending cuts.<br /><b>Mitch:</b> Did you push hard for any?<br /><b>Boehner: </b>OF COURSE I DID TURTLE BOY!<br /><b>Mitch: </b>That was unnecessary.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>SO ARE YOU!<br /><b>Mitch: </b>Nice comeback Orange Man.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>*sniff* *sniff* We’re supposed to be on the same side.<br /><b>Mitch:</b> Okay, I’m sorry. What did you offer them.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>SPENDING CUTS!!<br /><b>Mitch:</b> Hmm … That should have worked.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> IKNOWRIGHT?<br /><b>Mitch:</b> I guess I could make some calls and see what I can do.<br /><b>Boehner: </b>*sniff* You don’t mind?<br /><b>Mitch: </b>Not at all. I love bailing you out all the time.<br /><b>Boehner:</b> GO FUCK YOURSELF!<br /><br />*John Boehner sobs uncontrollably while drinking Jim Beam straight from the bottle.*<br /><br />Looks like lots of very mature and serious discussions about very serious issues. It’s tough for Boehner and the republicans though. They desperately want Social Security and Medicare cuts, but they don’t want to be the ones proposing or even voting yes on them. This is gonna be a tricky maneuver to try and pull off. Best of luck to them.<br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><br /><br /></div>

Inside the Debt Limit Talks

Hola Y’all! Now that the big Fiscal Cliff fight is over, it’s time to move on to the Sequester and Debt Limit fights. This will run simultan...

Activision Prize Pack

6:43 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXHddbntxB98yd3TOxuzmYIERw8dCmFHEI3Vsn3BXv8gqCBYk1u_g_5y2I7gyo2TX0aWgPMKWRaSpyBaD1SwXB45_AaXGOEQ8eJx8TSmXla4uWbISzgc4Rliep7OK5sbkM5o1Ysn1eRI/s1600/Activision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXHddbntxB98yd3TOxuzmYIERw8dCmFHEI3Vsn3BXv8gqCBYk1u_g_5y2I7gyo2TX0aWgPMKWRaSpyBaD1SwXB45_AaXGOEQ8eJx8TSmXla4uWbISzgc4Rliep7OK5sbkM5o1Ysn1eRI/s320/Activision.jpg" width="320" /></a></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: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about you but my nephew and I enjoy playing video games.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever since I was a kid I would sit in front of the TV for hours and play tons of games and was content, never got bored either.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still to this day love video games. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was beyond excited when the Activision family fun pack arrived at my door step!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was amazed at all of the great stuff that was included in the box.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeLenzxYcVX5Br91dEwgm8REvp5BtK4G_4GLrZLV1BC9MmTG10WsNN7EqwPYO38BnR7p0W9IV3VOz5si7BsDZw2Q_IDCEu3T1PWlRm_6Mkullj_msaptLxdXU2QwAOpYUiP97SP6FoVY/s1600/angrybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeLenzxYcVX5Br91dEwgm8REvp5BtK4G_4GLrZLV1BC9MmTG10WsNN7EqwPYO38BnR7p0W9IV3VOz5si7BsDZw2Q_IDCEu3T1PWlRm_6Mkullj_msaptLxdXU2QwAOpYUiP97SP6FoVY/s320/angrybird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Box included:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bratz Doll</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angry Bird plush toy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moshi monsters game</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Transformers game</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wreck it Ralph game</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soleil Moon Frye book</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Target gift card</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Transformers figurine </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bratz game</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Christmas I gave my niece and nephew the games.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My niece and nephew were ecstatic, they played them all day long!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved seeing their smile on their faces Christmas morning.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought it was great that this box had something in it for everyone.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGCCq9FveYq9XOms0nvTIG0awGjP3r3BBsrcrS16a77PhPJZOsrCgjBf88XSUPuVuiOjrmVOl8OljkA1gxIjOmFw8TfE-ts4vfCHD_a5vHuTu3Ypk-a3n2o354J2cxwnDSZOAMZL08TI/s1600/transformer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGCCq9FveYq9XOms0nvTIG0awGjP3r3BBsrcrS16a77PhPJZOsrCgjBf88XSUPuVuiOjrmVOl8OljkA1gxIjOmFw8TfE-ts4vfCHD_a5vHuTu3Ypk-a3n2o354J2cxwnDSZOAMZL08TI/s320/transformer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a kid I was a huge fan of the show Punky Brewster.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it was a surprise to see a book by Soleil Moon Frye which was Punky!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to read it, just love reading books!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajc85q65-296ePsf8a_rcVKuAhaEFCRUVRMJ2bmRTtMF7zvBwSJnBoPhgE6flnvtKJ6fhuceESO5zL-DqGrfh95qntqtFS0xMz1Qfl7idNbA43o3SQyVYSgYLjuOmP5-k_0cSQTZeqFg/s1600/punky+brewster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajc85q65-296ePsf8a_rcVKuAhaEFCRUVRMJ2bmRTtMF7zvBwSJnBoPhgE6flnvtKJ6fhuceESO5zL-DqGrfh95qntqtFS0xMz1Qfl7idNbA43o3SQyVYSgYLjuOmP5-k_0cSQTZeqFg/s320/punky+brewster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want to know more about their products?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find them here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://familygamesummit.com/live.php"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://familygamesummit.com/live.php</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

Activision Prize Pack

I don't know about you but my nephew and I enjoy playing video games. Ever since I was a kid I would sit in front of the TV for hours an...

CYPRUS UNDER THE CLAWS OF THE IMF

6:37 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFfx7AUkZyCXRoU_pkV2IT7eC59jrmvcIvogLy1xJjtwfQ7FYxMb8gG8386hrpQ4_4T9iCmM0fiUncFXjjYLIG9BFycQySxHG8JDOR0VdgOSmLNAT0ECoEpED6IL_TxBqloWwTL47_49e/s1600/cypresflag.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFfx7AUkZyCXRoU_pkV2IT7eC59jrmvcIvogLy1xJjtwfQ7FYxMb8gG8386hrpQ4_4T9iCmM0fiUncFXjjYLIG9BFycQySxHG8JDOR0VdgOSmLNAT0ECoEpED6IL_TxBqloWwTL47_49e/s320/cypresflag.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DE FACTO LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY<span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> CYPRUS MAKES BIG CONCESSIONS FOR BAILOUT</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><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";">By Christian Reiermann and Markus Dettmer via DS</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><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS wants help from the EUROPEAN UNION'S bailout fund. But the price for the billions in emergency aid money is high. The country will effectively lose its sovereignty.</span></b></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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WILL CYPRUS FACE THE SAME FATE AS ARGENTINA?</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dimitris Christofias had a serious look on his face as he turned to the cameras and spoke of what a "gut-wrenching" decision it was, but added that it was also a "necessary evil." The CYPRIOT president was not giving his people good news.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His staff realized how bad it would be when Christofias, in his televised address, reminded viewers of his country's darkest hour, the TURKISH invasion of northern CYPRUS in 1974.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although CYPRUS is not about to suffer the same fate, it is already clear that in return for billions of Euros for the debt-ridden country from the EUROPEAN bailout fund, the "troika," made up of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will essentially take control of the Mediterranean island.</span></span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Could it be that the troika in reality focuses on taking control of Cyprus’s proclaimed hydrocarbon findings? </span></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For further information on related topics see:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcEehWAbWtDggt_4xQE-wPoM60j0JI98zAgl6YUhUQlkDUqx3kT9PpT5Hr7neBFy3liyaulnPawLJRKNbfPeWGVbHqzsGHqHUiD4jw7eSCixQHiIeR1L1B8McRDYJpP9lNe1QoWaamPKJ/s1600/Pytheas_Net_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcEehWAbWtDggt_4xQE-wPoM60j0JI98zAgl6YUhUQlkDUqx3kT9PpT5Hr7neBFy3liyaulnPawLJRKNbfPeWGVbHqzsGHqHUiD4jw7eSCixQHiIeR1L1B8McRDYJpP9lNe1QoWaamPKJ/s320/Pytheas_Net_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQI-TREp08jEAp6L_I-pDJT43ckqsQAE7zAF8WEmSUcdT3-I7iJKAkVRLFKi4Bc-kqE5gmsjIiS_qKI-kEpX4ZsUqRDHApUaqeQGG8aYDXY49nVOgtmKoSNv1bWi6M7unpZ4ss1rLtLww/s1600/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQI-TREp08jEAp6L_I-pDJT43ckqsQAE7zAF8WEmSUcdT3-I7iJKAkVRLFKi4Bc-kqE5gmsjIiS_qKI-kEpX4ZsUqRDHApUaqeQGG8aYDXY49nVOgtmKoSNv1bWi6M7unpZ4ss1rLtLww/s400/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/complexity-of-eastern-med-energy-games.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/complexity-of-eastern-med-energy-games.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";">European Union</span></i></b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";"></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";"></span></i><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";">The European Union is also supportive of the aforementioned, since it agonizes for its energy security and a potential discovery of new reserves by a Eurozone country such as Cyprus further strengthens its energy planning. French and German companies especially, being the dominant players in the European energy corporate environment, estimates they will be able to acquire concessions and strengthen their businesses worldwide. Europe will face an issue with natural gas imports sometime after 2020 due to rising consumption, decreasing North Sea reserves and increase in demand by the rest of the world.</span></i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The CYPRIOT government and representatives of the troika negotiated for almost five months over the terms of a bailout package, worth at least €17.5 billion ($22.8 billion). The negotiations produced the draft version of a 30-page Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in which the troika dictates to CYPRUS what steps it will have to take in the coming years, down to the smallest detail.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Under the deal, civil servants and politicians, including cabinet ministers, will have to fly in economy class when traveling within EUROPE in the future. Exceptions apply to the president of the country and the president of the parliament. Spending on foreign trips will be trimmed. The privilege senior bureaucrats have to buy cars duty-free will be eliminated. And the salaries of civil servants and lawmakers will be frozen until 2016.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BLAMING THE BANKS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When representatives of the troika got down to the nitty-gritty of imposing rules, no detail seemed too small for them. For instance, they have prescribed new hours of operation for government offices. In the future, public offices will open punctually at 8 a.m. Starting Sept. 1, 2013, public servants and other government employees will work within a regulated flextime program. According to the MoU draft document, this will be "37 1/2 hours per week, 7 1/2 hours per day."</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The euro rescuers also addressed government revenues. The tax on fine-cut tobacco will go up drastically from €60 to €150 per kilogram, while the beer tax will increase to €6 per degree of alcohol and hectoliter. The troika also believes that a tax increase of 7 cents per liter is appropriate for diesel fuel and gasoline.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Citizens will be especially hard-hit by the planned 2-percent increase in the value-added tax, bringing it up to 19 percent. <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;">The troika (IMF, ECB and World Bank) is also calling for cuts in the healthcare sector, as well as reduced pensions.</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></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";">IMF</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-destroyer-of-nations.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-destroyer-of-nations.html</a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-on-trial.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-on-trial.html</a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpkGhy7BxXw?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christofias left no doubt as to who he blames for the disaster, saying: "It's true that the decisions of bank executives and the miserable control by the CYPRIOT CENTRAL bank have cost CYPRUS billions of EUR." The amount of the aid package corresponds almost to the country's entire economic output in a year. According to the troika's plan, by 2016 CYPRUS'S national budget will be cleaned up enough that the country can hopefully make do without new debt.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CREDITORS TO TAKE LOSSES FIRST</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRIOT banks are also expected to make a contribution. Crisis-ridden institutions will no longer be supported solely by injections of cash from the EUROPEAN bailout fund. This time, the banks' creditors are also expected to pay up. "With the goal of minimizing the cost to taxpayers, bank shareholders and junior debt holders will take losses before state-aid measures are granted," the MoU draft reads. This means that creditors of CYPRIOT banks won't just be able to withdraw their money. Instead, their claims will be converted into bank shares.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In taking this step, the troika is avoiding a potential embarrassment. Substantial sums of RUSSIAN capital are deposited into CYPRIOT banks, and some of it is probably of dubious origin. It would be difficult to explain to the EUROPEAN public why its taxes are being used to rescue wealthy oligarchs. Now, people who had previously invested their wealth into yachts, cars and football clubs will be forcibly turned into bank owners.</span></span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: <i>See <b>11 Feb 2012</b> article published by <b><span style="color: blue;">Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring,</span></b> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a>:</i></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MUCH NEEDED ECO- FINANCIAL BOOST FOR CYPRUS AFTER RUSSIA’S BAILOUT, BUT WITH GEO STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS </span></b></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">During 2009 and 2010, CYPRUS and ISRAEL discovered enormous natural gas deposits off their shores in the Mediterranean Sea. And in late 2011 NOBLE ENERGY, the firm contracted by CYPRUS with exploring for gas in its waters, announced a discovery of gas estimated at 5-8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas there. <b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;">This discovery could not come at a better time for CYPRUS, which in 2011 endured a slippage in its fiscal ratings, was shut out of international capital markets, hit by a large munitions blast, and was finally forced to accept a RUSSIAN bailout.</span></b>All told, the discoveries by both countries amount to 33 trillion cubic feet of gas (ca. 1 trillion cubic meters). And the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Levant Basin, where most of these discoveries have occurred, may hold 122 TCF (3.4 tcm).</span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH THREATS DEEPLY DISTURB CYPRUS AND RUSSIA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">However, TURKEY’S threats against CYPRUS and ISRAEL due to their exploration and drilling for gas in the Eastern Mediterranean caused concern in RUSSIA. <b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; color: blue;">Moscow recently organized a large loan for CYPRUS to sustain it against a crisis should GREECE default because so many RUSSIAN accounts are held in CYPRUS’ banks and then reinvested in RUSSIA or used to launder the elite’s money by cycling it out of RUSSIA into the global banking system</span></b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; color: blue;">.</span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Clearly, Moscow cannot allow CYPRUS to go under</span></b>.</span> Turkish threats therefore deeply disturb both CYPRUS and RUSSIA. </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS FUNCTIONS AS AN OFFSHORE FINANCIAL CENTER FOR RUSSIA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">, </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/russia-and-cyprus.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/russia-and-cyprus.html</a></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At the same time, CYPRUS will have to rebuild its financial sector in the coming years, along with drastically improving regulations and intensifying the fight against money laundering and tax evasion. </span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The president wasn't willing to end his address without giving his fellow CYPRIOTS at least some words of comfort and hope. After the TURKISH invasion, he said, the country was rebuilt. And added, today Cyprus can hope for a new "economic miracle."</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><b><i> </i></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

CYPRUS UNDER THE CLAWS OF THE IMF

DE FACTO LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY : CYPRUS MAKES BIG CONCESSIONS FOR BAILOUT By Christian Reiermann and Markus Dettmer via DS CYPRUS wants h...