News for today's 2018

Ray Lewis joins ESPN

8:20 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Hi-res-161460139_crop_exact" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/000/761/415/hi-res-161460139_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=85" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Two-time Defensive Player of the Year </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/964/ray-lewis" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ray Lewis</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> officially joined ESPN on Wednesday, one month after helping the </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baltimore Ravens</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> win the Super Bowl in his final NFL game.</span><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The linebacker, who retired after 17 seasons, will appear on "Monday Night Countdown," "Sunday NFL Countdown" and "SportsCenter."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He also will travel to the site of each week's "Monday Night Football" game, where he will offer analysis for ESPN's shows and have a weekly segment on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"ESPN is such a big part of how fans watch and experience sports, especially the NFL, so I'm excited to join their team," Lewis said in a statement. "I'm ready to bring the same level of passion to this next phase of my life as I brought to the field during my years as a player. I can't wait to work with my new teammates, many of whom I've already known for years."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lewis helped the Ravens win two Super Bowl titles during his career and was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, fifth on the all-time list and most by a linebacker. He was named The Associated Press' Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003 and retired as the Ravens' franchise leader in several categories, including tackles (2,643), fumble recoveries (31) and games played (228).</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Ray is a tremendous addition to our NFL roster and he will have an immediate impact on our coverage," said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production. "One of the most accomplished players in NFL history, fans will be drawn to his knowledge, experience and, of course, the passion he always exudes for the game."</div></div>

Ray Lewis joins ESPN Ray Lewis joins ESPN

Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis officially joined ESPN on Wednesday, one month after helping the Baltimore Ravens win th...

New Round of Voting Fails to Name a Pope

8:18 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/03/13/world/europe/20130314-VATICAN-slide-GR0Z/20130314-VATICAN-slide-GR0Z-articleLarge.jpg" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">VATICAN CITY — Black smoke billowed from a makeshift copper chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, signaling that the 115 cardinals of the Catholic Church eligible to vote for a new pope had again failed to muster majority support for a successor to</span><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/benedict_xvi/index.html" style="background-color: white; color: #666699; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;" title="Times Topic Page">Benedict XVI</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> and that balloting would continue until they do.</span><br /><br /><div class="columnGroup first" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; width: auto !important;"><div class="articleBody" style="margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><div data-key="AfvAfv" data-num="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">A first vote ended inconclusively on Tuesday, and the inky black smoke a day later indicated continuing divisions in two subsequent ballots on Wednesday among the cardinals over what kind of pope they want to confront the pressing, sometimes conflicting, demands for change after years of scandal.</div><div data-key="ImooPP" data-num="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“It’s more or less what we expected,” the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #666699;" title="More articles about the Roman Catholic Church.">Vatican</a> spokesman, said of the first three ballots. In relatively recent times, he said. only Pope Pius XII, whose papacy spanned World War II and lasted from 1939 to 1958, had been chosen on the third ballot.</div><div data-key="VisVis" data-num="3" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Voting is set to continue on Wednesday afternoon and onward — with up to two rounds each morning and afternoon — until the cardinals reach a two-thirds majority of 77 votes.</div><div data-key="AtpTbo" data-num="4" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">At that point, white smoke will billow forth, telling the world’s one billion-plus Catholics that they have a new leader to take on the myriad challenges confronting their church. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will peal over the huge piazza of the same name to announce the election of Benedict’s successor.</div><div data-key="IwwOoa" data-num="5" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">In what was scheduled as the first full day of balloting since the conclave began on Tuesday, the prelates celebrated a morning Mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace before voting in the Sistine Chapel under 16th-century frescoes by Michelangelo. Outside, on a rainy morning, pilgrims and sightseers sheltered by umbrellas began assembling early in case word of a new pope came sooner rather than later, hoping that the signal from the burning ballot papers would be unequivocal.</div><div data-key="TcsSct" data-num="6" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The crowd soon thickened, with many people staring toward the chimney with its simple cover or looking at it on huge television screens. Some closed their eyes and clasped their hands around rosaries in prayer.</div><div data-key="AtlBoT" data-num="7" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">At the last papal election, in 2005, the color was indeterminate in an early round, prompting confusion. But, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the smoke was unmistakably black.</div><div data-key="ThtBgs" data-num="8" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Technology helped, too. By the time the first smoke emerged, at 7:41 p.m. on Tuesday, it was dark outside. But giant screens in St. Peter’s Square showed the smokestack clearly.</div><div data-key="TVhBdf" data-num="9" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The Vatican has given details of how the black smoke is generated, saying that, since 2005, a secondary device alongside the traditional ballot-burning stove generates colored smoke from different chemical compounds. Both devices feed into stovepipes that join up as a single smokestack on the Sistine Chapel roof.</div><div data-key="FbsWsh" data-num="10" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">For black smoke, the Vatican Information Service said, the compound blends potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulfur. White smoke heralding a new pope comes from a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin, “a natural amber resin obtained from conifers.”</div><div data-key="BtbBtb" data-num="11" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Before 2005, the black smoke was “obtained by using smoke black or pitch and the white smoke by using wet straw,” the Vatican said.</div><div data-key="TioNfh" data-num="12" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The inconclusive outcome of the early balloting had been widely predicted. No front-runner had emerged in the same way as in 2005, when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected to become Benedict XVI on the fourth round of voting.</div><div data-key="FdbFdb" data-num="13" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">For decades before his election, the average number of voting rounds was higher, around seven, while no conclave since the early 20th century has lasted more than five days.</div><div data-key="BrlBrl" data-num="14" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Benedict <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/pope-benedict-xvi-says-he-will-retire.html?pagewanted=all" style="color: #666699;" title="Times Topic Page">resigned last month</a>, citing failing powers and infirmity, the first pope to do so in six centuries.</div><div data-key="TptBii" data-num="15" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">That paved the way for the voting in the Sistine Chapel, whose secrecy shields the cardinals’ deliberations from outside scrutiny. But it is also designed to protect cardinals from earthly influence as they seek divine guidance.</div><div data-key="TisTis" data-num="16" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Those influences seemed potentially acute on Wednesday for at least one cardinal elector inside the Sistine Chapel — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles.</div><div data-key="EatEat" data-num="17" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Even as the prelates weighed their options late Tuesday, news reports from California said the archdiocese, the cardinal himself and an ex-priest had reach a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0313-archdiocese-settlement-20130313,0,1962671.story" style="color: #666699;" title="Los Angeles Times story">settlement</a> of almost $10 million in four child sexual abuse cases, according to the victims’ lawyers.</div><div data-key="TaoTao" data-num="18" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The agreement offered eloquent testimony to the sexual, financial mismanagement and other crises facing Benedict’s successor.</div><div data-key="CMwCMw" data-num="19" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Cardinal Mahony, who retired less than two years ago as the leader of the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the United States, was removed from all public duties by his successor, Archbishop José H. Gomez, last month as the church complied with a court order to release thousands of pages of internal documents that show how the cardinal shielded priests who sexually abused children.</div><div data-key="HpcTto" data-num="20" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">His presence contrasted with the fate of <a href="https://connect.nytco.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=3dd3dd74c9024401894797d3e563d19a&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.nytimes.com%2ftop%2fnews%2finternational%2fcountriesandterritories%2funitedkingdom%2findex.html%3finline%3dnyt%2Dgeo" style="color: #666699;" title="More news and information about United Kingdom.">Britain</a>’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who announced his resignation last month after being accused of “inappropriate acts” with priests and said he would not attend the conclave. The timing of his announcement — a day after news reports of alleged abuse appeared in Britain — suggested that the Vatican had encouraged the cardinal to stay away.</div><div data-key="WaaWaa" data-num="21" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">When asked about criticism of some cardinals by advocates for the victims of clerical sex abuse, Father Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the group SNAP — Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests — was taking advantage of the attention focused on the conclave to reap publicity.</div><div data-key="PiCTca" data-num="22" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Prelates including Cardinal Mahony “have given their answers, have given their explanations,” he said. “These cardinals are people we should esteem” and they have the “right to enter the conclave,” he said.</div><div data-key="FLaAft" data-num="23" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Father Lombardi also said there were no plans for Benedict to attend the inaugural Mass of the new pope. As for the potential date of that ceremony, he said Tuesday — the feast day of St. Joseph — would be a “good hypothesis.”</div><nyt_author_id><div class="authorIdentification" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em;"><div data-key="DJWDJW" data-num="24" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.467em;">Daniel J. Wakin reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London.</div><div><br /></div></div></nyt_author_id><nyt_correction_bottom><div class="articleCorrection" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em;"></div></nyt_correction_bottom><nyt_update_bottom></nyt_update_bottom></div></div><div class="columnGroup " style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; width: auto !important;"><div class="articleFooter" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"></div></div><div class="columnGroup " style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; width: auto !important;"><div class="shareTools shareToolsThemeClassic shareToolsThemeClassicHorizontal articleShareToolsBottom shareToolsInstance" data-description="Black smoke billowed again from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, meaning a new pope had not been elected by the cardinals in the latest balloting." data-shares="facebook|,twitter|,google|,save,email,showall|Share" data-title="New Round of Voting Fails to Name a Pope" data-url="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/world/europe/vatican-pope-selection-conclave.html"><div class="shareToolsBox"><ul class="shareToolsList" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding-left: 0px;"><li class="shareToolsItem shareToolsItemFacebook noLabel firstItem" data-share="facebook" style="background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0.45em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;"></li></ul></div></div></div></div>

Pope New Round of Voting Fails to Name a Pope

VATICAN CITY — Black smoke billowed from a makeshift copper chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, signaling that the 115 cardinals o...

Intel sponsors professional development for teachers at Thembelihle Primary

8:12 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><br />Submitted by Janet Thomson CEO of SchoolNet</em><br />Thembelihle Primary School is a small school, recently established by the Methodist Church in Howick for the benefit of learners from severely disadvantaged backgrounds. The school has expanded gradually from just being a play school and with the help of some overseas funding has built additional classroom and employed new teachers. It is now in the process of registering as an independent school with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education. The majority of learners receive sponsorship of their school fees; otherwise they would not be able to attend any school. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an attempt to foster innovation and excellence in teaching the school intends to equip the teachers with laptops and data projectors. The aim of this intervention is not only to provide technology and skills for teachers but also to allow teachers to access valuable lesson resources and to enhance their teaching in the classroom. </span><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/AVvXsEhAmS544ClXelc0Qv4HDhCL2OKmfRuSpxuApP5jsJlmHqZ1EL2KVTbF5aDuIcUOytwkbdQpBuOW7TyE7EGJHXfS4FLSHVp_GROtqpmfFtsRb3ZolpVaoD7EZ23wF7mmgnArnahUnACnDbo/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXyJYzyI6LWtIGrY65sJ_ieVMwINnHlbSDKYPWB1HRdzFguRrq6Olg0jypVtPWoT7qdn-U1dbouW_rpqsmP4UGFd4-RKWUJAPeJy4pZ9x7oG0-jRpE92z-XG0sHVEsjufADou6t0wseg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Learners at Thembelihle School</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting in the 2013 second term Hlengiwe Mfeka from SchoolNet South Africa will conduct professional development training for all the teachers that will be sponsored by Intel. Teachers will study the Intel Teach Getting Started course initially and then progress to the Intel Teach Elements courses for project based approaches.   </span><br /><br /></div>

Intel Intel sponsors professional development for teachers at Thembelihle Primary

Submitted by Janet Thomson CEO of SchoolNet Thembelihle Primary School is a small school, recently established by the Methodist Church in Ho...

Beware of over automation: an endless ifttt loop gone wrong

7:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

I use <a href="http://ifttt.com/">ifttt.com</a> to automate. Well, yesterday, something happened - I'm still not quite sure what -- that triggered an endless loop between <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.diigo.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Diigo">Diigo</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://blogger.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Blogger">Blogger</a> via ifttt.com.<br /><br />It posted over and over just links to this blog and the words "Cool Cat Teacher Blog" and as soon as it was on Blogger, it bookmarked to Diigo when posted back to blogger.<br /><br />So, I've turned off the autopost to Blogger via IFTTT.com - it is done and it won't happen again. I've learned a lesson - sometimes things happen that you don't really understand and it is best to totally control some things - especially blog posts.<br /><br />Needless to say - all of these links were posted to Facebook and Twitter too. AURGGH.<br /><br />Stay away from "recipes" that automatically post to your blog - especially if your blog posts send out automatic messages everywhere else.<br /><div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><h4 class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</h4><ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://maketecheasier.com/use-ifttt-to-automate-internet-life/2013/01/27" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/141032336_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://maketecheasier.com/use-ifttt-to-automate-internet-life/2013/01/27" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Use IFTTT to Automate Your Internet Life</a></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://jessversteeg.ca/2013/03/05/if-this-then-that/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/149978878_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://jessversteeg.ca/2013/03/05/if-this-then-that/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">If this, then that</a></li></ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=db5e4408-2929-43dc-bc95-e89c0e1d7f29" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Beware of over automation: an endless ifttt loop gone wrong

I use ifttt.com to automate. Well, yesterday, something happened - I'm still not quite sure what -- that triggered an endless loop betw...

3 Exercises to Burn Fat at Home

6:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2></h2><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To Burn Fat, you need to exercise, These are some simple exercise tips that will help you lose weight easily and quickly at home.</b></span><br /> <br /><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /></center> <br /><h3><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>(1.) Jumping Jacks:</b></span></span> </h3><span style="font-size: large;">Before starting off with the rest of the exercise, do jumping jacks  to warm up. It increases your heart beat and also stamina o do the rest  of the workouts.</span><br /><ul style="list-style-type: disc; text-align: left;"></ul><span style="font-size: large;">>> Stand with your feet at ease and hands by your side.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Now jump to set your feet apart and simultaneously flinging your arms in the air.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Jump gain to get back to position 1 </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0dHnhLroVwQxcWE0ieCN41h7xf9w6eLonewwXKE_lCvdsso7vgvyjoPklKjs3WQQ5Ot5WbkzDBZYdCCUQ8lm4MauhuuIO0oFS8q8nW_az5RNw4zcpozmFJPBpb4xkBywBQggmZrLW34/s1600/jumping-jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0dHnhLroVwQxcWE0ieCN41h7xf9w6eLonewwXKE_lCvdsso7vgvyjoPklKjs3WQQ5Ot5WbkzDBZYdCCUQ8lm4MauhuuIO0oFS8q8nW_az5RNw4zcpozmFJPBpb4xkBywBQggmZrLW34/s400/jumping-jack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><ul style="list-style-type: disc; text-align: left;"></ul><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"></ul><h3><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>(2.) Jumping Ropes:</b></span></span> </h3><span style="font-size: large;">Relive your childhood days with jumping ropes. It tones your legs and works on flab and other parts of the body too.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95pNO6HNf_qrQ7ZyxsnRDsDNi3BTtOXPdK1WWaB0hG7Al1x6dS_xZvhP1c83j-gSvApQwkfVSDJTrmMQiu1-rA6sKbkMJZqVGXKVBav3lKekgCRAH6m0IPOsT5m08fvpQbRMj6GEwzcA/s400/jump_rope.jpg" width="251" /> </div><h3><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>(3.) Squats:</b> </span></span></h3><span style="font-size: large;">Squats is like the king of exercise. It works on your thighs, abs, the lower back and also the cuffs of your legs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Stand with your legs apart at a distance of 1 foot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Bend your knees and lower yourself as if you will be sitting on a chair. Lift your       hands up straight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Bend your knees and stoop down as much as you can.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Hold this for a few seconds and stand up straight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">>> Repeat as many times as possible. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VXCcC0BCB9fSJbqdJb5UWM6TtjWzlZmuYa-l7U-reL1vGR2bkQgeU4LJ6C5lsc-p-7WUgs56J_F2abX8BzO87wjG9H7BSzFW2JGuNXIn7_3L1X3sNy9JYqQHpuENPPt7DVMk_7Mu2so/s1600/squats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VXCcC0BCB9fSJbqdJb5UWM6TtjWzlZmuYa-l7U-reL1vGR2bkQgeU4LJ6C5lsc-p-7WUgs56J_F2abX8BzO87wjG9H7BSzFW2JGuNXIn7_3L1X3sNy9JYqQHpuENPPt7DVMk_7Mu2so/s400/squats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Other than these,  you can do crunches and sit-ups.</span><br /> <br /><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /></center> <br /></div>

burn fat Exercises Jumping Squats Weight Loss 3 Exercises to Burn Fat at Home

To Burn Fat, you need to exercise, These are some simple exercise tips that will help you lose weight easily and quickly at home. (1.) Jum...

SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN

6:01 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 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; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><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/AVvXsEga9Jqu54rXucB7ymjitUQeA00DrjE3yHzS0W-mdrJpL70URB6EuqCFL7mxFmRjgOCygiAw_eZqiQWZ1I62SDb_nQ2mGDHyaocFsNxZ3E_k-SnUb4WQ_uHq_RlAA37tAiL6aH_4UHhH2q6D/s1600/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9Jqu54rXucB7ymjitUQeA00DrjE3yHzS0W-mdrJpL70URB6EuqCFL7mxFmRjgOCygiAw_eZqiQWZ1I62SDb_nQ2mGDHyaocFsNxZ3E_k-SnUb4WQ_uHq_RlAA37tAiL6aH_4UHhH2q6D/s400/sun.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The sun sets over the holy city of Mecca as seen from the top of Mount  Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of  the Koran through Gabriel, during the annual haj pilgrimage October 21,  2012.</span>            <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Image by:</b> Amr Abdallah Dalsh  / REUTERS</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MIDDLE EAST UNDER THREAT AS IRAN ENCOURAGES SHIITE UPRISING IN SAUDI ARABIA?</span></b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">See <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">additional</span> </span>Background Information: </span> </span></b></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/saudi-arabian-intelligence-headquarters.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/saudi-arabian-intelligence-headquarters.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><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";">SAUDI ARABIA'S anti-Shiite policies are leading the country closer to the worst clash of the Shiite and Sunni schools of thought in the history of the Kingdom, a clash which will branch throughout the rest of the Muslim world.</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; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #990000;"><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";">SAUDI ARABIA ACCUSED IRAN FOR SUPPORTING UNREST IN SHIITE DOMINATED PROVINCE </span></b></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; 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";">The Eastern Province (Ash-Sharq?yah), the largest province of SAUDI ARABIA, is dominated by a population of two million Shiites and is termed as a significant site of opposition against the SAUDI monarchy. Sources have revealed that SAUDI higher-ups have raised the prospect of a Shiite insurgency in the Eastern Province and accused IRAN for supporting the unrest. The SAUDI Government, including the King, recently held a meeting to lay out a strategy on diffusing the effects of any expected Shiite uprising in the Kingdom, as unrest has been fueled by IRAN in retaliation for the SAUDI support of the rebels against Bashir al-Assad’s regime in SYRIA.</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; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #990000;"><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";">HARDSHIP (APARTHEID) FOR SHIITES LIVING IN SAUDI ARABIA</span></b></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; 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";">Shiites, as the minority sect at 17 percent of the total population of the country, face state-sanctioned discrimination fuelled by the Kingdom’s powerful Wahhabi clerics: Shiites are banned from practicing their rituals in public, as well as from holding high positions in government, state-owned companies, and the judiciary. They are very often turned away from the government employment, including police, army, and security services positions. Every year thousands of Shiites face unfair trials and are jailed for speaking against the monarchy. Shiites are closely watched and monitored by SAUDI intelligence agencies for routine activities.</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; 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";">The SAUDI government has even restricted certain activities in an attempt to discourage Shiites from showing their identity, including outlawing names specific to Shi'a Islam. Most appallingly, there is no cemetery for Shiites in SAUDI ARABIA.</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; 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";">In 2011, in the wake of the Arab Spring, Human Rights Watch condemned SAUDI ARABIA'S policies towards its Shiites citizens and urged on SAUDI authorities to treat the Shiites’ minority as equal citizens. However, SAUDI ARABIA is a major U.S. ally, and the U.S. has refrained from publicly criticizing violations of human sights or the Kingdom’s role in putting down pro-democracy protests.</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; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #990000;"><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";">WAR INSIDE IN ITS OWN TERRITORY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxduIY7dH_ooKRc1U6XPjxzJoOtpWSm158D6OOfaLY5Pr98V8RTqq4EcAgGQPq2Sg5oRO9f32AR67SO-p9PM-2BhhURMABsOTyWEfFhh-COMDiMOA0SHTrpx0ivkimn6q9zAoy1juoONfP/s1600/Saudi_shia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxduIY7dH_ooKRc1U6XPjxzJoOtpWSm158D6OOfaLY5Pr98V8RTqq4EcAgGQPq2Sg5oRO9f32AR67SO-p9PM-2BhhURMABsOTyWEfFhh-COMDiMOA0SHTrpx0ivkimn6q9zAoy1juoONfP/s640/Saudi_shia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><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 supporting the rebels against the Assad’s regime in SYRIA, attempting to make IRAN the world's only Shiite country, SAUDI ARABIA has unbolted a new war inside in its own territory that could unearth grave consequences for the sovereignty of the Kingdom.</span></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";">The monarchy of SAUDI ARABIA is already deeply concerned, as the Eastern Province is‎ home to most of Kingdom’s Shiite population and 90 percent of SAUDI oil, not to mention it is just 30-minute drive across the causeway from BAHRAIN. The aim of the recent conference called by the SAUDI top officials was actually to gain support from Muslims countries, excluding IRAN. A SAUDI state news agency quoted Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal as saying that King Abdullah has called for "an extraordinary Islamic solidarity meeting to ensure... unity during this delicate time as the Muslim world faces dangers of fragmentation and sedition".</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; 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";">Meanwhile as SYRIA (allegedly) heads towards the fall of Assad’s regime, retribution from IRAN is gradually increasing in the form of support for a Shiite uprising in SAUDI ARABIA, creating an increasingly dangerous situation for the stability of the Middle East as well as to the SAUDI monarchy.</span></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";">SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN have a long account of enmity, with centuries which have never witnessed good relations due to the SAUDI hold on Holy Kaaba. But now, both have geared up to blow the Middle East, which could lead towards a severe sectarian battle categorically injurious for the entire Muslim world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Malik Ayub Sumbal via Oilprice </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>

SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN

The sun sets over the holy city of Mecca as seen from the top of Mount Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first wor...

one room challenge - week 6

2:30 AM Anonymous 0

We have arrived at week 6 of the One Room Challenge (<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/one-room-challenge.html" target="_blank">see week 1 - 5 here</a>) and I'm ready to put everything together. Mostly. I've only got a few things left to do and then there is that whole putting the room together thing. I'll be busy this weekend. That's for sure.<br /><br />But enough about what I <i>still</i> have to do, let's see what I got done. I warn you it's not much, but maybe if I talk about it in a really up beat way, it will seem like a bigger deal. Smoke and mirrors people.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I0x1tiu5wtAMhcGYVwi-OHUg-1XxyA0cB-YAnRm0aYT-xDHDV9bhNpYNtoUxeumYau8j8-6fN_teiF1-r4bCYs8bSpUmzRlgFqXJ-qmoONB50r8fAZ7CrJhe2I8sTUs10bgy25iSxYBs/s1600/Navydresser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I0x1tiu5wtAMhcGYVwi-OHUg-1XxyA0cB-YAnRm0aYT-xDHDV9bhNpYNtoUxeumYau8j8-6fN_teiF1-r4bCYs8bSpUmzRlgFqXJ-qmoONB50r8fAZ7CrJhe2I8sTUs10bgy25iSxYBs/s400/Navydresser.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br />The dresser is finally finished and he's been moved in to the room. He was a lesson in patience and has earned his own post. Soon enough dresser. You will get your day.<br /><br />I also finished the silhouettes to go above the girls' beds which was refreshingly easy. (that passive agressive comment is for you dresser) The hardest part was trying to get Eve to sit still long enough to take the picture. (bribery and a doughnut works wonders)<br /><br />To get as high contrast in the pictures I set the girls in front of a window and snapped away. Take a look at those yummy cheeks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIjmjW5B_5FGrwk2n-OXvlgL-9_D_mSTswDcP9k55l-2uzlcEykJM9-OkJVVIKP3PTmz0EkGTKGkQtl7GultF7uMgcNmLvql4Xms7iRJJg7wG0FG9PwTsCbCh33DkRTvIabsZGccX51zb/s1600/GirlsSilhouetteBefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIjmjW5B_5FGrwk2n-OXvlgL-9_D_mSTswDcP9k55l-2uzlcEykJM9-OkJVVIKP3PTmz0EkGTKGkQtl7GultF7uMgcNmLvql4Xms7iRJJg7wG0FG9PwTsCbCh33DkRTvIabsZGccX51zb/s400/GirlsSilhouetteBefore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I printed them off in black and white, which again helps with the contrast, and then cut my child's sweet little head. Thanks to the contrast, it is very easy to follow the lines.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNPdig3-O_6WVweRFMWUg6kkQR1g_VS0Ja9dTYaO27koEbrMMzw5c3CIQgsns3CmdualsVCa0JnaFLTPehdH7QOoDXzBbuAHnMOsqLZtYgxmy6CIyFx6qwdaqz1bTPBd76OPX3OBOSm3W/s1600/SilhouetteCutOut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNPdig3-O_6WVweRFMWUg6kkQR1g_VS0Ja9dTYaO27koEbrMMzw5c3CIQgsns3CmdualsVCa0JnaFLTPehdH7QOoDXzBbuAHnMOsqLZtYgxmy6CIyFx6qwdaqz1bTPBd76OPX3OBOSm3W/s320/SilhouetteCutOut.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />Then I centered the black and white silhouette on top of the colored paper (pink for Eve and yellow for Amelia) and traced the black and white silhouette with my x-acto knife, leaving me with a simple and colorful silhouette. But when I pulled the finished silhouette away from the paper, I decided I liked the silhouette void even better than the silhouette itself. It acts like a mat and gives the silhouette a bit more presence. Voila. Happy silhouettes. (I'm going to call Guinness as soon as I'm done writing this post to see if I've broken the world record for number of times using 'silhouette' in a single paragraph. Fingers crossed)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G-ZCN2ppOUQ8oW8s0sGo-IqbjsTD-7RSqATaB72P2ebrOS9CkRgL55FWtg_LFHxM3WuEEv-QswaiWoOjuuNtkoA8WYJ9NiUFmw9mXteRgDW0fAmnD0QOXWS_7x0IG6sarj6-TwC5g8e8/s1600/SilouhetteAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G-ZCN2ppOUQ8oW8s0sGo-IqbjsTD-7RSqATaB72P2ebrOS9CkRgL55FWtg_LFHxM3WuEEv-QswaiWoOjuuNtkoA8WYJ9NiUFmw9mXteRgDW0fAmnD0QOXWS_7x0IG6sarj6-TwC5g8e8/s400/SilouhetteAfter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And finally, I picked up the cherry on top of two very happy beds.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xXQZzHlx0J_hQtOdqqRhgtppn79I4T-jxdznUsaqOS3ZWJMGTMxOPSnqc1ffUP4z_u317LXwxprEcWMPgAYFiYVi2SRVEPYJYIlVUqvjxeAsDTtUtU97RCRKMj99frfKOOZNL5IV9G4a/s1600/monograms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xXQZzHlx0J_hQtOdqqRhgtppn79I4T-jxdznUsaqOS3ZWJMGTMxOPSnqc1ffUP4z_u317LXwxprEcWMPgAYFiYVi2SRVEPYJYIlVUqvjxeAsDTtUtU97RCRKMj99frfKOOZNL5IV9G4a/s1600/monograms.jpg" /></a></div><br />Now to put it all together. I've only got three items left on the list and #5 has me stumped. Should I go with grosgrain, pom poms or some awesome new trim I don't even know about? What say you?<br /><br /><ol style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strike><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Come up with functional floor plan</span></strike></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strike><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paint walls/ceiling/trim</span></strike></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strike>Paint dresser (new hardware too)</strike> </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strike>Update vanity (maybe some fun color or hardware)</strike></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Find curtains and add trim</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strike>Add a rug and new bedding</strike> </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hang art and create some personalized pieces <b>PROGRESS</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strike><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Find/Install new light fixture (buh bye ceiling fan)</span></strike></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strike>Reupholster chair and possibly add comfy floor cushions</strike> </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Find/Make lampshade(s) </span></li></ol><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.984375px;">I don't know about you, but I'm excited to see how this will turn out. Let's check and see if anyone else will be doing some last minute cramming.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://chattafabulous.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Chattafabulous</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Chinoiserie Chic</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.classiccasualhome.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Classic Casual Home </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://laurenleonardinteriors.com/blog/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">the Cottage Mix</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://cottageandvine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Cottage & Vine</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Design Indulgence</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.designmanifest.com/blog/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Design Manifest </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://everythingleb.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Everything LEB</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.markovadesign.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hodge Podge</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://kimmacumberinteriors.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Kim Macumber Interiors</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.mattersofstyleblog.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Matters of Style</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">My Crafty Home Life</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://scottdesigns.ca/blog/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Nicole Scott Designs</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://blog.pacificfamilyhomes.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Pacific Family Homes</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.pawleysislandposh.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Pawleys Island Posh</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.thepeakoftreschic.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">the Peak of Tres Chic</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">the Pink Pagoda</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.powellbrower.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Powell Brower Home</a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://simpledetailsblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Simple Details</a> </span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></div><div id="lws_0" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="linkwithin_outer" style="border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="linkwithin_inner" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 358px;"></div></div></div>

one room challenge - week 6

We have arrived at week 6 of the One Room Challenge ( see week 1 - 5 here ) and I'm ready to put everything together. Mostly. I've o...

Pope Jayman I is Ready to Serve

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Hola y’all! Well, we’re anywhere from a few hours to several days away from having a new Pope. I’m 99% sure the next Pope is going to really fucking suck. But, if they want to avoid disaster, they should take advantage of little known Rule CXLVII Section: IV and elect someone who isn’t a Cardinal or even a member of the Catholic Church. I’m thinking...<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFyN6tJhpYbnKakuyGf7XkjqoBv-F7WCH-0SPClAi7aylEcpBRqWrQ-ZqZdyUe5s41IJvFwKrTG2Z9vLBArGb31r5R70ZQWFYT8lazz7s6fkIudrsq_S0cSYz5ndp4YKw9WiNbAHo6-g/s1600/Stalker+Pope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFyN6tJhpYbnKakuyGf7XkjqoBv-F7WCH-0SPClAi7aylEcpBRqWrQ-ZqZdyUe5s41IJvFwKrTG2Z9vLBArGb31r5R70ZQWFYT8lazz7s6fkIudrsq_S0cSYz5ndp4YKw9WiNbAHo6-g/s320/Stalker+Pope.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s just a small sampling of what I would do to make the Catholic Church far more acceptable and fun… <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>1. End that stupid vow of celibacy.</b> Sheesh! This is just about the stupidest idea the Church has ever had. There is no reason for it. Protestant preachers are perfectly capable of conveying all the great stuff about God and his boy Jesus AND still have sex with their wives, girlfriends and gay male hookers. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>2. Do away with daylight savings time.</b> It’s stupid and annoys me. I’m sure I could figure out a moral reason to do away with it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>3. Stop allowing Priests to rape children!</b> Okay, some of ya’ll might think this should be Number One, but if we get rid of the moronic Vow of Celibacy, this whole raping of children thing might not be as big of a problem. Anyway, I would also then release all the documents detailing the child rape problem and the cover up. Then I would deliver all the people responsible for both of those outrages to the proper authorities so they can be prosecuted to the FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>4. No left turns without a protection light or turn lane.</b>The NEW Catholic Church will focus more on practical ideas to make life better for everyone. So well drop the birth control demands and instead force governments to make sure that we never have to sit behind someone who is willing to wait until hell freezes over to turn left. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>5. Stop the demonizing gays.</b> Some people are gay. Get over it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>6. Wrap it up and experience the thrill of the pill!</b> Condoms save lives. The NEW Catholic Church will actually mean it when we say things like “all life is precious” and when we defend “the sanctity of life.” We’ll stop letting people die needlessly because of some stupid NO CONDOMS policy that we force governments to adhere to. Also, the pill is NOT an abortion. Family planning is a good thing. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>7. Make the I’m With Stupid internet radio show mandatory listening for every single Catholic and all other decent human beings every week.</b> Hey, what’s the point of even being Pope if you can’t use your position to increase the ratings on your podcast? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>8. Access to decent healthcare, living wages and help to people who are starving and suffering from terrible poverty and addiction.</b>That’s right we’re going to bring the Moral Authority of the Church back bitches! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>9. End the “One-and-Done” rule for the NBA.</b> It’s stupid and it’s ruining college basketball. There is no legitimate reason to claim that kids can’t jump straight from high school to the NBA. The NBA is not like the NFL where there are legitimate reasons for there “Three Years Out of High School” rule. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>10. Dancing girls and boys and lap dances for everyone who attends Mass.</b> Gotta draw in some crowds somehow, right? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I think I would be the most popular Pope EVAH! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">@Jayman_IWS </a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Pope Jayman I is Ready to Serve

Hola y’all! Well, we’re anywhere from a few hours to several days away from having a new Pope. I’m 99% sure the next Pope is going to really...

News Flash...

7:02 PM Tukiyooo 0

News Flash...

Kentucky is NOT on the bubble. No matter how much the media freaks out that the defending national champions won't make the NCAA Tournam...

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 03/12/2013

12:30 PM Tukiyooo 0

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 03/12/2013

math worksheets...and more Chris Smith is a dad who was making review worksheets for his child and s...

Jerusalem, My Happy Home: Part 14

12:22 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MARONITE CHURCH – We spent today in the Old City beginning at the Maronite Church. The Maronites are a little confusing. Their liturgy is Eastern Orthodox and has always been in Syriac; never Latin, but they are part of the Roman Catholic authority structure. Their origins could be said to go all the way back to the Church in Antioch in the Apostolic Era, but their name goes back to Maron, a 4<sup>th</sup> Century monk in the Desert Fathers tradition. After he died, his disciples built a monastery and the Maronite Church grew out of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Eastern and Western Church divided during the same general era as the Crusades. There were other theological issues, but when the Western Crusaders sacked Constantinople, that did not help church unity. The Maronites who had been living under Muslim rule, on the other hand, welcomed the Crusaders. So relations between Rome and the Maronites, who are mostly in Lebanon, have always been cordial. Hence, the formal connection to Rome despite the different language and ritual.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Church was covered with icons. I have been in a lot of Orthodox Churches and am accustomed to lots of icons. But this place didn’t have a bare spot. Sitting in the Church was an experience of being totally immersed in the narrative the icons told. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER – From the image rich Maronite Church, we went to the Lutheran Church with elegant stone arches and bare wall, a study in simplicity. It was a different kind of holiness. But there was one icon and it was unusual. It was the moment of God’s Covenant with Noah, sealed by the rainbow. I had been praying the Loving Kindness Mediation – “May I be filled with Loving Kindness. May I be well. May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy” – then praying those prayers as intercessions for others. Somehow having that prayer rolling through my head while looking at the rainbow icon fit perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ST. HELENA’S CISTERN – Next stop: The Greek Orthodox Church, adjacent to – almost part of -- the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There is such a network of caves and caverns under Jerusalem, I expect the whole place to sink someday. One such deep place is St. Helena’s Cistern, a pool of water in a deep underground cavern under the Church. We bent double to climb down the narrow twisting stone stairway to the pool of dark water. I kept expecting Golem to pop up form the black surface. This cistern was found in the same excavation that led to the discovery of the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and was the water supply for the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ST. MARK’S SYRIAN CHURCH – We were allowed inside St. Mark's thanks to our guide Bishara’s friendship with the holy old priest. St. Mark’s makes several bold claims: to be the site of the Last Supper, to be the oldest Christian Church, to be the home of Mary Magdalene and John Mark, to be the place the disciples waited and prayed while Peter was in jail. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Let’s start with the Last Supper. The Church building is not that old. It is Crusader era. But it is built over the ruins of older churches. There is stone basement where a meal could have been shared. “But wait,” you are thinking, “wasn’t the Last Supper in the ‘Upper’ Room?” Yes, but that may not mean it was upstairs. It may mean it was in the “upper” part of Jerusalem, which is where the first Christians are believed to have lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Tradition holds that Mary Magdalene and her son, John Mark (a protégé of Paul and possibly the author of the Gospel of Mark) lived in a house at this location. Feminist theologian Elizabeth Schuessler-Fiorenza makes a plausible argument that Mary Magdalene would have been one of the first Eucharistic celebrants and this is where she would have done it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I bought a card of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic written by the white bearded old Syrian priest and received a blessing from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ARMENIAN VESPERS – From the Syrian Church we went to the Armenian Church for Vespers sung by the Armenian Seminarians. Armenia became the first Christian nation when St. Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III in 301 C.E., several years before Constantine’s victory at the Milvian Bridge turned the tide for worldwide Christianity. But tradition holds that Christianity had a rockier start first century Armenia. St. Bartholomew is said to have been skinned alive and crucified upside down for his efforts to share the gospel there. But that’s legend. Gregory and Tiridates are history. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Following yesterday’s visit to the Holocaust Museum, it seemed fitting to be in an Armenian Church today. Beginning in 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated the first modern genocide against the Armenians. Armenia, situated in modern Turkey, had been part of the Empire for centuries. Armenians as well as Greeks had been treated quite badly by the Turks. As the Ottoman Empire began to crumble with World War I dealing it the final blow, they blamed the Armenians and killed 1.5 million of them. I mention this because yesterday’s blog post told the story of genocide committed against Jews, and expressed concern over anti-Islamic prejudice in Europe and the United States. This is a case of a genocide committed against Christians by Muslims. The slaughter of Muslims by Christians in the Crusades was a study in barbarity. It is important to remember that the potential to be either a victim or a perpetrator is there for us all. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Armenian Church was dark. Turkish carpets covered the floor. Hundreds of lamps hung from the ceilings. I was told that the lamps represented villages wiped out in the Armenian Holocaust. The priests wore long pointed black hoods. The seminarians wore black cassocks. Some of them were deacons and wore stoles hanging straight (not crossed diagonally) over their left shoulders, Mike Margerum style. (I am sure they got it from him.) As they chanted a skillful thurifer, swinging a thurible with bells, filled the church with smoke. It was all quite holy and mysterious. I kept thinking, "they sure didn’t do it this way back in Bowie County, Texas." I am a long way from home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now one more day: The Road to Emmaus, Closing Eucharist, farewell dinner, then rise and shine at 1:30 a.m. to catch a plane to Nevada! It’s been great, but I cannot wait to get home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Jerusalem, My Happy Home: Part 14

MARONITE CHURCH – We spent today in the Old City beginning at the Maronite Church. The Maronites are a little confusing. Their liturgy...