Teamsters, friends rise to food stamp defense

Americans angrily watching their standard of living decline look for blame in two places: above them, at predatory corporations and greedy billionaires, or below them, at people who need government help to survive.<br /><br />We often point out that the predatory corporations and greedy billionaires also need government help -- a lot of it. Take Walmart: The six <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/31/bernie-s/sanders-says-walmart-heirs-own-more-wealth-bottom-/" rel="nofollow">Walmart heirs</a> own more than the bottom 40 percent of the U.S. population, according to Sen. Bernie Sanders. And yet Walmart couldn't employ its army of low-wage workers if the U.S. government didn't step in with <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/dec/06/alan-grayson/alan-grayson-says-more-walmart-employees-medicaid-/" rel="nofollow">Medicaid and food stamps</a> (not to mention <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-14/wal-mart-fleet-gets-taxpayer-support-to-pay-controllers.html" rel="nofollow">subsidizing the operations of its air fleet</a>).<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.g.perry">David G Perry</a> gets it:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Poor people are not the problem ! Corporate welfare is !!</blockquote>Lots of Teamsters and allies get it, in fact. We posted this badge on our Facebook page recently. See the responses below:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9VQYpvRCpkGWO0G4NAQjNkGDHz1VM-M5bdTXQuW4HacAxEgA-1kDldi0OkxWEFZF8eO4ARt11uTBx4cbcuhm38OBJ3pQ3Zu_UJj6ZX_uEnZgebzxF81qy0xivh-pzebsROgB2MO3W612/s1600/food+stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9VQYpvRCpkGWO0G4NAQjNkGDHz1VM-M5bdTXQuW4HacAxEgA-1kDldi0OkxWEFZF8eO4ARt11uTBx4cbcuhm38OBJ3pQ3Zu_UJj6ZX_uEnZgebzxF81qy0xivh-pzebsROgB2MO3W612/s320/food+stamps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.tumilty">Elizabeth Luise</a> The point is that anyone who is an E1 to E3 is living in poverty and if they can't get base housing they're really screwed. The number should be bigger. The shame of it is they're asked to put their life on the line for us and we keep them in poverty because of ignorant people following the GOP who think it's better to give someone the finger instead of a hand. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kymberly.lewis.52">Kymberly Lewis</a> The point being - you don't KNOW the circumstances of those on food stamps. The single mom in the nice car? - it's her boss's car, he let her borrow it until she can afford to get hers fixed. The lazy freeloader who is able-bodied? - he has extreme PTSD and no access to mental health care. The "welfare queen" with the brand new, pretty finger nails? - her best friend paid for those as a birthday gift.<br /> <br />The point being - judge not lest ye be judged. I'm not Christian - but damn it if that isn't great advice. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rogernesta.shelton">Roger N Esta Shelton</a> Uh, I'm sorry, but if it were only ONE food stamp recipient that listed their occupation as "active duty military," that would be too damn many! </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/carol.a.rose.7">Carol Ann Rose</a> This is to those that think that people are collecting food stamps are not working. You are so wrong and why are you so jealous in the first place? Most people are working, but can't make ends meet on $7.25 an hour and besides, who knows, you just might be the next person that needs a little help. So keep quiet and Thank God that you are not there yet. God said to help the people. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/alnejmeh">Alan Nejmeh</a> That is why we need a minimum Livable Wage in this country for all nationalized citizen and adults. No exceptions! Then you will see a real economy with people that would be able to live. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bernadette.c.cox">Bernadette Catherine Jo Cox</a> Look, I work and have since I was 16 and I am not ashamed that for the last 13 years I have received assistance (my daughter is 13). I have worked 2 jobs, put myself through school, received no child support and he still has yet to be arrested or be in contempt when making an effort of $5 for three months is ok. It PISSES me off when people say people on assistance are free loaders. I have always had nice cars that my parents paid for, a cell phone that they paid for and clothes they paid for -- NOT ME. You know since I was busy holding down a minimum wage job going to school full time and being a single mom. They did those things to help me to get where I am today: teaching college, supporting myself and helping them out. Don't judge people, help them. Of course there are people who abuse the system. Report them. Don't look at my 5-year-old car and cell phone and name brand clothes from Goodwill and call me lazy. Folks, I busted my ass to get a college degree and I went without things that were basic necessities -- not wants. But family and friends helped me along the way. The state bought food, daycare and covered health insurance for my child, I qualified for help for me and cash but I never once took it, I just needed the basics. As far as military families on food stamps that's just well fucked up. These men n women put their lives on the line. Meanwhile, the pro athletes are millionaires? Priorities, people, come on! </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/elaine.taylor.961556">Elaine Taylor</a> Amen, judge not. Had a man get pissed off when me and my small children were in Mc D's after Christmas. It was a gift card.</blockquote></div>

Teamsters, friends rise to food stamp defense

Americans angrily watching their standard of living decline look for blame in two places: above them, at predatory corporations and greedy b...

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Budweiser Is the Drink of Choice for People Who End Up in the ER - Julie Beck - The Atlantic

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The only reasonable explanation for drinking Budweiser is to get drunk. It's certainly not for the taste. So it makes sense that in a pilot study of ER patients who'd been consuming alcohol, conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the number one brand they'd been guzzling was Budweiser,<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/budweiser-most-popular-beer-among-injured-er-patients-pilot-study-6C10925507" style="color: rgb(0, 89, 140); text-decoration: none; ">NBC News reports.</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Budweiser holds 9.1 percent of the national beer market in the U.S., but 15 percent of the questionably desirable demographic of people who drink and then end up in the emergency room. Also a top contender in the ER market is Steel Reserve, which only holds 0.8 percent of the U.S. beer market, but a whopping 14.7 percent of alcohol-inclined ER patients.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Bud Light, Bud Ice malt liquor and Colt 45 malt liquor also made strong showings in the hospital circuit.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The study is limited, of course, to the one small Baltimore hospital where the 105 patient interviews took place. (Sidebar: the survey takers wore white coats, which made patients more willing to talk—remember kids, not everyone in a white coat is a doctor)</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">Still, about one third of all ER visits involve alcohol in some way, and beer and malt liquor dominated in this particular study, so to improve your chances, perhaps reach for a refreshing glass of wine instead. </p></div><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/budweiser-is-the-drink-of-choice-for-people-who-end-up-in-the-er/278745/">http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/budweiser-is-the-drink-of-choice-for-people-who-end-up-in-the-er/278745/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Budweiser Is the Drink of Choice for People Who End Up in the ER - Julie Beck - The Atlantic

The only reasonable explanation for drinking Budweiser is to get drunk. It's certainly not for the taste. So it makes sense that in a pi...

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Louise's Foods Chia Granola Review and Giveaway!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XMVbZsOPyi0VwlUS4tB-orGvPUieSCL2s4r5Qi4gJqINrTZO0bIqHWsHGXY1rfrSNWYM1EK3oyboW3DrXiGXDFDpVQPVvwWtZqgte2WMgPrmajrLisuqYDfWMNVfBgab9p6fcMB9ips/s1600/Louise's+chia+granola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XMVbZsOPyi0VwlUS4tB-orGvPUieSCL2s4r5Qi4gJqINrTZO0bIqHWsHGXY1rfrSNWYM1EK3oyboW3DrXiGXDFDpVQPVvwWtZqgte2WMgPrmajrLisuqYDfWMNVfBgab9p6fcMB9ips/s320/Louise's+chia+granola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All those years we've been thinking that most granola and cereal have been healthy the manufacturers mislead us by adding in extra sugars and the cheapest of ingredients that our bodies don't need it, just read the labels on the back of the packages!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Half of those names we can't even pronounce, it makes me think what have I been eating all of these years.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With that in mind I'm on a mission to eat healthier foods and it's worked in weight loss!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When eating granola's I look for all natural ingredients and the taste is a major factor because I won't eat it if I don't like it, and I hardly ever find something I don't like!</span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhLyWAqYYmeCvGVmIjL5VvPmjZFFm2aLkne-2yt2GQx9OLoi1FNB6tHVf5iVhgl-D0FIJikAiQSP7Nzp2Xouy8lmFxYNCpw5GcIWdTJ1JkEtzlzRlbcCWZ8VBFM2mrQhyphenhypheneBmAGrhuWw4/s1600/chia+granola+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhLyWAqYYmeCvGVmIjL5VvPmjZFFm2aLkne-2yt2GQx9OLoi1FNB6tHVf5iVhgl-D0FIJikAiQSP7Nzp2Xouy8lmFxYNCpw5GcIWdTJ1JkEtzlzRlbcCWZ8VBFM2mrQhyphenhypheneBmAGrhuWw4/s320/chia+granola+breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This granola right here is out of bounds delicious.  <a href="http://louisesfoods.com/breakfast-bites/">Louise's Foods</a> sent me an email to review  their granola and this lovely package arrived on my doorstep! It's packed with nutrients such as chia seeds, raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes which I love!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to try it!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko4nsYChUur4iHUn_kmu4lnQoSFwUpnX-fRtl8RIRUYA4xbPx3zH5PBo4PdR-ejteRbOPQFK7DmbrB114VOOxCn1Wz82LnJpRpfsN2Woleu4WUIEzH-aQXtg9dVm0En3p9jtS2ZeY4ss/s1600/chia+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko4nsYChUur4iHUn_kmu4lnQoSFwUpnX-fRtl8RIRUYA4xbPx3zH5PBo4PdR-ejteRbOPQFK7DmbrB114VOOxCn1Wz82LnJpRpfsN2Woleu4WUIEzH-aQXtg9dVm0En3p9jtS2ZeY4ss/s320/chia+breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whenever I see raisins in granola I automatically think diced up apples, so I grab a knife and cut up the apple and toss it into some yogurt with the granola for a quick and easy breakfast or snack!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This granola is great because not only is it healthy it tastes great too!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can add it to many dishes such as ice cream, yogurt or even fruit for a crunchy topping!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can enjoy it too!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enter the giveaway below, starts tonight at midnight!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Face Book:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LouisesFoods"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/LouisesFoods</span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Website:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://louisesfoods.com/"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://louisesfoods.com/</span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Healthy Facts:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All Natural</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No toxins</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Delicious</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No processed Sugars</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nutritious ingredients </span></i></div><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/20ee163/" id="rc-20ee163" rel="nofollow"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></i></a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

Louise's Foods Chia Granola Review and Giveaway!

All those years we've been thinking that most granola and cereal have been healthy the manufacturers mislead us by adding in extra sugar...

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Now Turn Anything To Touchscreen.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Microsoft & Ubi is going to introduce a software that can turn anything in touchscreen doesn't matter it is a wall, a screen or a desk. <span style="text-align: left;">Before this, it was only seen in Hollywood films but now it will in truth. Microsoft is working on this project with Ubi interactive and also selling software with same company. Ubi’s software can support touchscreen of two sizes one is 45 inch and other is 100 inch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDn1y86yk2Y/Ug4Gyl7_hqI/AAAAAAAAAKw/a7PhjgrONqo/s1600/screenshot-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDn1y86yk2Y/Ug4Gyl7_hqI/AAAAAAAAAKw/a7PhjgrONqo/s1600/screenshot-2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ubi-interactive.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Ubi was one of 11 startups selected to build up apps and software that can work with the Kinect, under the “Kinect Accelerator” program from Microsoft. According to Ubi technology touchscreen are useful but very costly especially large screen that are used in conference or in store displays. Kinect can help them to reduce the coast of touchscreen. This is also work with already set up projector and television. The price is also friendly,  for 45 inch screen’s software it is only $150 and for 100 inch screen you will pay $379.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A finger touch can be sense by the Kinect combo software, it allowing the user to execute all usual functions of a touch screen like click, scroll, drag and drop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Anup Chathoth, Ubi CEO said “By making it possible to turn any surface into a touchscreen, we ... reduce the cost and extend the possibilities of enabling interactive displays in places where they were not previously feasible -- such as on walls in public spaces,".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Microsoft is also working on a project of a wearable projector technology, which will also usable for smartphone user to project and control the screen of their device on their hands.</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXjnP_Z7ZiM/Ug4HNYew4CI/AAAAAAAAAK4/EwRDoITpfFY/s1600/setup-450.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXjnP_Z7ZiM/Ug4HNYew4CI/AAAAAAAAAK4/EwRDoITpfFY/s1600/setup-450.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ubi-interactive.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Setup for Kinect combo software: It  is not a difficult one , follow the three step written below and you will setup successfully.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Connect projector and Kinect to Windows 8 PC .</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Start Ubi software.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now Ubi automatically regulate your atmosphere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

Microsoft projector touch screen Ubi Now Turn Anything To Touchscreen.

Microsoft & Ubi is going to introduce a software that can turn anything in touchscreen doesn't matter it is a wall, a screen or a de...

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Simple ways to use mood music in your classroom to amp up learning

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZPWOuk6B9ls/Sxgv9L1wXUI/AAAAAAAAA1o/4m2mJEzkScs/s128/12750103187p6420.jpg.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="128" id="blogsy-1376650883804.7651" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZPWOuk6B9ls/Sxgv9L1wXUI/AAAAAAAAA1o/4m2mJEzkScs/s128/12750103187p6420.jpg.jpg" width="128"></a></div> <p> Music has so many uses in the classroom. After being jolted awake by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/burgessdave" target="_self" title="">Dave Burgess</a>' Teach Like a Pirate wisdom - I realized that there are so many aspects of the mood I need to use in my classroom.</p> <h3>Music sets the mood</h3> <p>I now use music for many purposes. When students are doing something a tad stressful, the Carribean calypso music is so relaxing, they just relax and get it done. </p> <p>When they are brainstorming, peppy music that they like gets them thinking. If they are making - it makes them more creative.</p> <p>There's a time for all types of music in my classroom. Like some choose wine for the meal, I choose music for the task. Sometimes that means the students pick. Other times it means we create a special station on Pandora and enjoy it.</p> <h3>Music makes a great timer</h3> <p>Here's what I've found that I love the most about music. I have always used a timer in my classroom to keep us on track. Otherwise, we'll just spend forever brainstorming - which isn't a bad thing - but I do have things to get accomplished with them. The problem with the timer is that no one pays attention to it. No one really knows how long 5 minutes is or 10 minutes. It isn't tangible.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w6n3rUKcE3E/SYNujMmDOXI/AAAAAAAAFdg/bJ8BmEIrJ3k/s100/got-music-necklace-sm.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="87" id="blogsy-1376650883760.6704" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w6n3rUKcE3E/SYNujMmDOXI/AAAAAAAAFdg/bJ8BmEIrJ3k/s100/got-music-necklace-sm.jpg" width="100"></a></div> <p>Now, I say "Ok, we're going to spend 2 songs on this." Most of the songs are around 4:30 or so. The students listen but they also know that time is passing. They tend to more creatively, enthusiastically get their work done.</p> <h3>Music has a place in the classroom</h3> <p>Music not only sets mood, it marks the passage of time in a way that students understand and respond to. I love it. I've always used it, but I haven't always used it in all of my classes pretty much daily. My classrooms works better when it is on.</p> <h3>Set guidelines for music</h3> <p>I have guidelines for music when students pick it. </p> <h4>1. Keep it clean.</h4> <p>I explain that I'm accountable for the words so I have to be able to understand them. I also ask them to help me keep it acceptable for school. If they break trust with me, the person who picked the song or music can't pick again.</p> <h4>2. Keep it simple</h4> <p>Students who are put in charge of music for a day in my classroom should make a playlist. This "pick one song at a time" is a real time waster. They should make it ahead of time and have it ready to go. Quite of my students have a "computer class playlist" they have just for me.</p> <h4>3. Keep it low bandwidth</h4> <p>I prefer NOT to do youtube playlists because of the bandwidth of the video. It also tempts students to want the videos to play and I find it distracting. There are also some things in some videos that just are not OK for school and there's no way for me to watch those ahead of time.</p> <h4>4. Keep it at a reasonable volume</h4> <p>The teacher next door shouldn't hear the music. Period. </p> <h3>How do you use music in the classroom?</h3> <p>So, this is a short post and on a simple topic. But this one simple thing has made a huge difference in my classroom.</p> <p>I'd love to hear what some of you do with music in your classroom. </p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

innovation Teaching Simple ways to use mood music in your classroom to amp up learning

Music has so many uses in the classroom. After being jolted awake by Dave Burgess ' Teach Like a Pirate wisdom - I realized that there...

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Today's Teamster News 08.16.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-national-black-caucus-celebrates-its-fifth-annual-women%E2%80%99s-day" rel="nofollow">Teamsters National Black Caucus Celebrates Its Fifth Annual Women’s Day</a>  IBT   ...At the beginning of the TNBC’s fifth annual Women’s Day, a special tribute to the late Coretta Scott King, a Freedom Fighter and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was the highlight of the morning. In Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Civil Rights movement, a sea of red shirts filled the hotel ballroom as TNBC delegates observed Women’s Day with inspiring speeches, recognitions and a special luncheon...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-mourn-deaths-ups-flight-crew-recent-crash" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Mourn the Deaths of UPS Flight Crew in Recent Crash</a>  IBT   ...The Teamsters Union extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the pilots lost in the crash of UPS Flight 1354 on Aug. 14...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/audio/download/91545/8-14-13_Teamsters_Paratransit_Organizing.mp3" rel="nofollow">The Union Edge Reports on Teamsters Paratransit Organizing</a>  Union Edge   ...Teamsters are driving up standards in the school bus and transit industry, with a notable win for workers at Keolis, a global transit company. The Union Edge radio program interviews Patrick Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 952 in Orange, Calif., and Kizza Doby, a paratransit driver with Keolis. Doby and his Keolis coworkers recently came together to join Local 952. <a href="http://www.teamster.org/audio/download/91545/8-14-13_Teamsters_Paratransit_Organizing.mp3" rel="nofollow">Listen here</a>...<br /><a href="http://www.record-bee.com/news/ci_23864484/transit-restoration-plan-presented-citizens-voice-opinions" rel="nofollow">Transit restoration plan presented, citizens vocal about impact of Teamsters strike</a>  Lake County Record-Bee   ...Dana Spahn sat in her wheelchair across from the Lake Transit Board of Directors with the adjustable microphone as low as it went and talked about the difficulties of getting around the county without a bus running near her Lakeport home. Spahn, like many people, have been impacted by the labor dispute between Paratransit Services and Teamsters Local 665...<br /><a href="http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmckeesport/yourmckeesportmore/4533116-74/police-officers-borough#axzz2c3EiSuKr" rel="nofollow">Whitaker expands police force while Teamster negotiations continue</a>  Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ...The Whitaker council in Pennsylvania hired three new part-time police officers on Wednesday, but some residents remain skeptical that the move will make a difference in combatting crime. Meanwhile, the borough's police contract negotiations with Teamsters Local 205 are still underway…<br /><a href="http://www.telegram.com/article/20130815/NEWS/308159852/1116" rel="nofollow">No E-ZPass? You could pay more under new plan</a>  Telegram & Gazette   ...A proposed $100 million electronic tolling system would charge a higher rate for drivers who don't use a transponder when traveling on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Teamsters Local 127 represents the turnpike's toll collectors...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/08/the-free-trade-job-loss-express-is-coming-straight-at-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-free-trade-job-loss-express-is-coming-straight-at-us" rel="nofollow">The Free-Trade Job-Loss Express Is Coming Straight At Us</a>  TradeReform   ...The giant multinationals are pushing a trade deal that will literally let them bypass our laws. ..<br /><a href="http://inthesetimes.com/article/15436/mbas_without_borders/" rel="nofollow">MBAs Without Borders</a>  In These Times   ...Critics of the TPP, which is shaping up to be the most business-friendly trade agreement in American history, have taken to calling it “NAFTA on steroids...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-broke-privacy-rules-thousands-of-times-per-year-audit-finds/2013/08/15/3310e554-05ca-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html" rel="nofollow">NSA broke privacy rules thousands of times per year, audit finds</a>  Washington Post   ...The National Security Agency has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times each year since Congress granted the agency broad new powers in 2008, according to an internal audit and other top-secret documents...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/15/2471911/congressman-doesnt-believe-white-collar-crime-exists/" rel="nofollow">Congressman Doesn’t Believe White Collar Crime On Wall Street Exists</a>  ThinkProgress   ...There’s no such thing as financial crime, according to Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA)...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/food-stamps_n_3757052.html" rel="nofollow">Food Stamps Avoided By Millions Of Eligible Americans</a>  Huffington Post   ...Republicans say too many Americans that receive food stamps fraudulently could just get jobs instead. But roughly a quarter of Americans eligible for federal nutrition assistance don't sign up for it. The Department of Agriculture says that in 2010, nearly 51 million Americans were poor enough to qualify but only 38 million received benefits. So why don't the rest enroll?...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-pelosi/to-preserve-social-securi_b_3756333.html" rel="nofollow">To Preserve Social Security, Protect Voting Rights</a> (opinion)  Huffington Post   ...It's no coincidence that the same folks out to restrict voting rights are busy trying to privatize Social Security. The Koch and corporate funded American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) <a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/10/29/130891396/shaping-state-laws-with-little-scrutiny" rel="nofollow">has been promoting</a> politicians who practice voter suppression and Safety Net shredding for years now...<br /><a href="http://baystatebanner.com/news/2013/aug/15/student-loan-debt-reduces-lifetime-wealth/" rel="nofollow">Study finds that student loan debt reduces lifetime wealth</a>  Bay State Banner   ...A new research report on America’s still-growing student loan debt found that its financial effects can last a lifetime. According to the report, 39 million Americans have used student loans to fund college education. An education debt of $53,000 will lead to a $208,000 lifetime loss of wealth...<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20130814,0,2211924.column" rel="nofollow">Corporate welfare, alive and well</a>  Los Angeles Times   ...Big, wealthy mall developer Westfield Group is typical of businesses that get tax breaks by the boatload from L.A. County. That means millions in foregone revenue that could pay for schools and parks...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-14/wal-mart-fleet-gets-taxpayer-support-to-pay-controllers.html" rel="nofollow">Wal-Mart Air Fleet Gets Taxpayer Support for Controllers</a>  Bloomberg News   ...U.S. taxpayers are increasingly picking up the tab for the control tower at an airport that’s home to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT)’s corporate fleet, at a time lawmakers say they want to ban perks for hometown interests...<br /><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130814/POLITICS02/308140078/Court-strikes-down-required-Michigan-worker-pay-contribution-pensions?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s" rel="nofollow">Court strikes down required Michigan worker pay contribution to pensions</a>  Detroit News ... The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled the Legislature’s attempt to require 17,800 state employees to contribute 4 percent of their earnings to the state’s pension plan is unconstitutional…<br /><a href="http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/guest-commentary/guest-commentary-china-cheats-indiana-loses/article_bfc2ea86-2840-50f9-95d3-9f3a6e1f2c52.html" rel="nofollow">China cheats, Indiana loses</a> (opinion)   NWI Times   ...We’re five years past the onset of the Great Recession. Right now, the stock market is booming, and unemployment has inched down to its lowest level since the crisis began. So why, despite gaudy Dow Jones data and assurances that an 8.4 percent jobless rate in Indiana isn’t a real concern, does this economic recovery feel like such a drag?...<br /><a href="https://www.politicususa.com/2013/08/15/scott-walker-3-grannies-14-year-girl-arrested-singing-wisconsin.html" rel="nofollow">Scott Walker Has 3 Grannies and a 14 Year Old Girl Arrested for Singing In Wisconsin </a> Politicususa   ...Gov. Scott Walker is now arresting the elderly and children for singing protest songs about him in Wisconsin...<br /><a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/08/north-carolina-stuck-legislature-it-hates-until-2014/68327/" rel="nofollow">North Carolina Hates the Legislature It's Stuck With</a>  Atlantic Wire   ...When Republicans assumed control of the North Carolina legislature in 2010 and the governorship last year, few predicted the result: a sharply conservative turn on key policies and an attempt to entrench the party's advantage. A story in The New York Times and a recent poll show that voters are largely unhappy with the moves...<br /><a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/os-regions-bank-payday-loans-criticized-20130814,0,6013252.story" rel="nofollow">Two banks' payday-advance lending draws scrutiny</a>  Sun Sentinel   ...A move by two of Florida's largest banks into the payday-advance-loan business is drawing fire from consumer groups worried about "predatory" lending by offering customers the kinds of short-term, high-cost loans historically associated with storefront payday-lending businesses...<br /><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/morning_call/2013/08/connecticut-city-council-passes.html" rel="nofollow">Connecticut city council passes resolution opposing Koch buy of newspaper</a>  Wichita Business Journal   ...The city council in Hartford, Conn., passed a resolution this week opposing the idea of a Koch brothers' takeover of their local newspaper, the Hartford Courant...

Today's Teamster News 08.16.13

Teamsters National Black Caucus Celebrates Its Fifth Annual Women’s Day   IBT   ...At the beginning of the TNBC’s fifth annual Women’s Day,...

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colorful shower curtains

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Obviously I've got bathrooms on the brain as this is the <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/08/best-of-pinterest-bathrooms.html" target="_blank">second time this week</a> I've written about them. All those pretty pictures have inspired me to do a bit of a refresh on my loo.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTAd03tjRx9TIQ77fwlZKLbtd7Py24-7HgZIeBja9vIevEfWx5jXg2uSnPV6ms5w4t_sEeQTyKW82w6smLgSkbjVQLmq3awqqec0JbJ22PslcP06p0dkwLkhu9z22udZcAkG2l0-g6OFt/s1600/PA300410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTAd03tjRx9TIQ77fwlZKLbtd7Py24-7HgZIeBja9vIevEfWx5jXg2uSnPV6ms5w4t_sEeQTyKW82w6smLgSkbjVQLmq3awqqec0JbJ22PslcP06p0dkwLkhu9z22udZcAkG2l0-g6OFt/s640/PA300410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Full disclosure, I've already painted. (I'll share that soon) But I want to do more. For those who might not have seen it before, or who don't remember, we are talking about a rather petite space - check it out <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/bathroom.html" target="_blank">here</a> - and it is our single solitary bathroom. That's right, go ahead and shed a tear for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it will remain rather clean (in theory) and simple but I love the idea of giving a little pop with the shower curtain.<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/AVvXsEhT6pfJhLFmNKIyRhU_Kh0Ib7BOELg3FjSocnwzFR4Wt8Tdqe7LVGZ_e9ZIXzQz91GF7BoqddURZ_Ob0VT_0AESkg_n6d7CYN-NiXgjZU4F-uUUFrLPo9aOnNatFeV3yic9mKqzuU6IHKS5/s1600/d39673f208ba06595aa4531d8c3619c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6pfJhLFmNKIyRhU_Kh0Ib7BOELg3FjSocnwzFR4Wt8Tdqe7LVGZ_e9ZIXzQz91GF7BoqddURZ_Ob0VT_0AESkg_n6d7CYN-NiXgjZU4F-uUUFrLPo9aOnNatFeV3yic9mKqzuU6IHKS5/s640/d39673f208ba06595aa4531d8c3619c4.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://natalieclayman.com/projects/arts-crafts-bungalow-bathroom" target="_blank">Natalie Clayman</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEh9j0tTTn9rEif-ZHartKQQ4WoVrTMZ_6SFR6tU1PsfqZl7aupfecjYRmUkn2kLEJKOqFWdl9aITKl8MYsBPV6sLTGhRYB8sOpxPhIWegQ-4QETE_E1m_fyIPMWo_9BWsKpjTQCxf-jW_WJ/s1600/f471ef5bee4cb164f88c20b30f4a8ced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j0tTTn9rEif-ZHartKQQ4WoVrTMZ_6SFR6tU1PsfqZl7aupfecjYRmUkn2kLEJKOqFWdl9aITKl8MYsBPV6sLTGhRYB8sOpxPhIWegQ-4QETE_E1m_fyIPMWo_9BWsKpjTQCxf-jW_WJ/s640/f471ef5bee4cb164f88c20b30f4a8ced.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.designmanifest.com/portfolio/north-ardmore-traditional-girl-bathroom/" target="_blank">Design Manifest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEip_7n4P7lNKvLTzOpFtaTY9R3ojMN8QYis0m6ESP2V24ncToiGEFrqHJTSgd_T6SDfk15CZE_JXd3EAXhLfKHwqfkEV0GukGgfiuaNVHuH7d7B2I3tPIEzEuKpWiQwCACe2ZfNW225f8wd/s1600/c24d1fd9a97f6cfc02401020d9c985a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_7n4P7lNKvLTzOpFtaTY9R3ojMN8QYis0m6ESP2V24ncToiGEFrqHJTSgd_T6SDfk15CZE_JXd3EAXhLfKHwqfkEV0GukGgfiuaNVHuH7d7B2I3tPIEzEuKpWiQwCACe2ZfNW225f8wd/s640/c24d1fd9a97f6cfc02401020d9c985a7.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peppermintbliss.com/" target="_blank">Bailey McCarthy</a> via <a href="http://www.ruemag.com/gallery/bathrooms" target="_blank">Rue Magazine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEgQB5dgzF_mBgvzHRkHS_qjWcFSHfrBquoGZ5wKZ7GSfUdg9Mvl1eye83PwnCxz9SENEMq-7qKnlL9DcIjiBn3aZoCabuid3qp-qrFugpKpLsqzPd-maSG7lDYqGD09XfaATg9KhrEAP5tu/s1600/bc1399ee5173d250ff35afd4796513bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB5dgzF_mBgvzHRkHS_qjWcFSHfrBquoGZ5wKZ7GSfUdg9Mvl1eye83PwnCxz9SENEMq-7qKnlL9DcIjiBn3aZoCabuid3qp-qrFugpKpLsqzPd-maSG7lDYqGD09XfaATg9KhrEAP5tu/s640/bc1399ee5173d250ff35afd4796513bf.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/beach-house-decorating-ideas-0710#slide-9" target="_blank">Kristen Ewart</a></td></tr></tbody></table>You can barely peek at that wonderful pink herringbone shower curtain, but you can see how it finishes the space. Its also the bathroom in one of my all time favorite houses btw.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoVDRm0cIHbmX_m1RezGUT4Lx7Nq3ElqDmo5tZmzY3xMcDxzaS1dS9EC3tU5xkDl1ubOkix2GiuSZ8oB0MdUX1O4NPD8wFp9xz91Yjj1VBwGMcr8sZJHS3hrlRsfRpfyXQli_NfllQa8M/s1600/ddcfde3333f36ab6c0378bb8e27d8a70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoVDRm0cIHbmX_m1RezGUT4Lx7Nq3ElqDmo5tZmzY3xMcDxzaS1dS9EC3tU5xkDl1ubOkix2GiuSZ8oB0MdUX1O4NPD8wFp9xz91Yjj1VBwGMcr8sZJHS3hrlRsfRpfyXQli_NfllQa8M/s640/ddcfde3333f36ab6c0378bb8e27d8a70.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobi Fairley via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205648982513/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEhDd3f12PvVDRrcYccsjt72idHtcRspGmkuuWdW3EJUGZpO2cEWM4idoxkzCqTFOm8TUMpje0V74KYi7_6i72OeOJnghuIGhyphenhyphenxDaXyiKfOLQgdKRbkfrtR7QVsChJ8V2x8RiAWXQ6jDjy0S/s1600/8a4b1e6d4d9c1df5dbcece2a99172519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd3f12PvVDRrcYccsjt72idHtcRspGmkuuWdW3EJUGZpO2cEWM4idoxkzCqTFOm8TUMpje0V74KYi7_6i72OeOJnghuIGhyphenhyphenxDaXyiKfOLQgdKRbkfrtR7QVsChJ8V2x8RiAWXQ6jDjy0S/s640/8a4b1e6d4d9c1df5dbcece2a99172519.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205651729492/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiGnXebxI5oVqPx8-_0pszRMfy2TwEvvyde90sO-cVMgI-yEIyMtTXSoAqjXiwp6Q3vN1Yd3TYUiOi4SdKdxDWJnJfTWUz8w2yW7-l8hQJtYsoO85-8D-yIFnqGkv-iRhUgkS0ZrShnAdO7/s1600/3dd59c49e70d8ddf9197051ad2dbb1f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnXebxI5oVqPx8-_0pszRMfy2TwEvvyde90sO-cVMgI-yEIyMtTXSoAqjXiwp6Q3vN1Yd3TYUiOi4SdKdxDWJnJfTWUz8w2yW7-l8hQJtYsoO85-8D-yIFnqGkv-iRhUgkS0ZrShnAdO7/s640/3dd59c49e70d8ddf9197051ad2dbb1f4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/" target="_blank">Jonathan Adler</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEik_Wsr6hPfasskYYzbczmAnPMHg7FRCO4gaAtz85c6D6zcYqOIusZjzXJ2tOaD2IEifdEF8hXurWKFOigYYQiAOdrR4V8vl818NOTuFGNp6QiSknrb58ANpVLEMHYobSDJjKJL_yiSFGFp/s1600/026f48f390884191b43903bd84dd3c74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_Wsr6hPfasskYYzbczmAnPMHg7FRCO4gaAtz85c6D6zcYqOIusZjzXJ2tOaD2IEifdEF8hXurWKFOigYYQiAOdrR4V8vl818NOTuFGNp6QiSknrb58ANpVLEMHYobSDJjKJL_yiSFGFp/s640/026f48f390884191b43903bd84dd3c74.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mebeck.com/" target="_blank">M.E. Beck Design</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEg5yST1jORiU3WAIbjMQFoKedkmyberbAcS4yR9fkhtiJhEQjdVbRoR7RlZVFhDpaAJxoBLrEZRY98upNQLG-6J1cM82cW-hGFv1e1uj1f5sNH6due-1uHe863dJjMh8IX5vxkt9Yv-AV6B/s1600/b841929d24920fe4ccf65d5caf54dd1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yST1jORiU3WAIbjMQFoKedkmyberbAcS4yR9fkhtiJhEQjdVbRoR7RlZVFhDpaAJxoBLrEZRY98upNQLG-6J1cM82cW-hGFv1e1uj1f5sNH6due-1uHe863dJjMh8IX5vxkt9Yv-AV6B/s640/b841929d24920fe4ccf65d5caf54dd1a.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Spiro via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205652517660/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So what do you think? Would you inject some color and (gasp) pattern into your shower curtain? Or do you like the classic crisp look of white? Are you a one curtain person, or a one curtain on each side kind of house?</div></div>

colorful shower curtains

Obviously I've got bathrooms on the brain as this is the second time this week I've written about them. All those pretty pictures h...

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Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/16/2013

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/08/to-foster-productivity-and-creativity-in-class-ditch-the-desks/?utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=bufferb08ad&utm_medium=twitter">To Foster Productivity and Creativity in Class, Ditch the Desks! | MindShift</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Erin Klein has great ideas for redesigning the classroom. I'm interviewing her this week for my online show (to be posted soon) about aesthetically pleasing brain-friendly classrooms. Take a look.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/design">design</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/classroom_design">classroom_design</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/movie-maker#t1=overview">Movie Maker - Microsoft Windows</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">The free movie program for Windows is Windows Movie Maker. This is a link to the version for Windows 7 and 8. It doesn't come loaded but you can install it for free.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/moviemaking">moviemaking</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/digital">digital</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/storytelling">storytelling</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/16/2013

To Foster Productivity and Creativity in Class, Ditch the Desks! | MindShift Erin Klein has great id...

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In regard to Oprah

<span style="font-size: large;">You have probably heard the story of how Oprah Winfrey was refused access to a bag by a shop assistant in Switzerland (she was there recently for Tina Turner's wedding, donchaknow!) who thought she wouldn't be able to afford it.  </span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a hilarious letter sent in to the Daily Mail by a reader in regard to the Oprah incident</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgPSw9ba-ZRehcxj3nMisHBGj5r-B5vzLVLjAIHsxYaIAsRfg41Noqb73QnBfIZ2XgFLAqwj5VfT9nE_T-4EeBkvJ9Pdf0c1oWxGwtgVH8dDyzP6o2Y26jU5DDNg4NYdfcyXNSNYfP0Sk/s640/blogger-image-447190059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgPSw9ba-ZRehcxj3nMisHBGj5r-B5vzLVLjAIHsxYaIAsRfg41Noqb73QnBfIZ2XgFLAqwj5VfT9nE_T-4EeBkvJ9Pdf0c1oWxGwtgVH8dDyzP6o2Y26jU5DDNg4NYdfcyXNSNYfP0Sk/s640/blogger-image-447190059.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div>In relation to the above, I must point out for my American readers that a European size 12 & 14 is a US size 8 & 10!  I guess for a skinny minnie Italian that may have appeared fat (eeek) :-(  </div>

In regard to Oprah

You have probably heard the story of how Oprah Winfrey was refused access to a bag by a shop assistant in Switzerland (she was there recentl...

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I Told You The Gun Grabbing Sonsabitches Would Be Back

It seems my esteemed Congress critter has welcomed them with open arms.<br /><br />Here is the Email Blast I got today about their latest tactic from Senator Patty Murray.<br /><br />I will tell you up front that other than this particular issue, she is a damn good Senator compared to some of the fucking whack jobs out there and according to the statistics quoted she is merely representing the majority of her constituents.<br /><br />No matter how fucked up and misguided they are.<br /><br />My reply to Senator Murray follows.<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Phil,<br /><br />The powerful gun lobby has done everything in their power to stifle the national conversation on guns -- hoping to make the possibility of reform far from reach.<br /><br />They've clearly underestimated us here in the state of Washington. Eight out of ten voters support simple criminal background checks for all gun purchases. And, while the legislature -- and federal government -- has failed to act to reduce gun violence, Washingtonians have taken matters into our own hands.<br /><br />That's why the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility is fighting to pass Initiative 594, which will apply criminal and public background checks used by licensed dealers to all firearm sales and transfers.<br /><br />This ballot measure will make Washington safer for our families and for ourselves, but they can't pass it without your help and support.<br /><br />Join the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, and add your name in support of simple criminal background checks on all gun sales -- endorse I-594 today!<br /><br />With so many senseless tragedies like Aurora, Sandy Hook, Lakewood, Skagit County, Graham, Kirkland, and countless others, haven't we had enough? It's long overdue that we come together to reduce gun violence and to stop the NRA leadership from torpedoing this commonsense step to make our state safer.<br /><br />Join the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, and add your name in support of simple criminal background checks for gun purchasers -- endorse I-594 today!<br /><br />Reducing gun violence IS within reach, and with your help, we can get this done.<br /><br />Thank you for helping to make Washington safer,<br /><br />Patty Murray<br />U.S. Senator </blockquote><br />My reply,<br /><br /><blockquote>Unfortunately for you I am one of the twenty percent of Washingtonians who happen to take our Constitutional rights seriously.<br /><br />I will ask you point blank, what part of "Shall Not Be Infringed " do you not comprehend?<br /><br />As I recall you swore an oath to defend our Constitution.<br /><br />Read it lately?</blockquote><br />I can expect to see a form letter response in 3...2...1...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5sGSmVD0Vj9r4kp7mxrvJBsbXyG10RlZWEn5a3J6xFPSJ3NDXSs5DA2UQcEXBs5jgjPf0Qpdf1rvwiuje6o6DAdQhTsYBCdHLeU5RsaxsDYJ65Esk0nHJJe6H1gQv90WmAgqRbWjJvK1/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5sGSmVD0Vj9r4kp7mxrvJBsbXyG10RlZWEn5a3J6xFPSJ3NDXSs5DA2UQcEXBs5jgjPf0Qpdf1rvwiuje6o6DAdQhTsYBCdHLeU5RsaxsDYJ65Esk0nHJJe6H1gQv90WmAgqRbWjJvK1/s640/112.JPG" /></a>

I Told You The Gun Grabbing Sonsabitches Would Be Back

It seems my esteemed Congress critter has welcomed them with open arms. Here is the Email Blast I got today about their latest tactic from S...

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Luis Guerrero is the Statue of Liberty!!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola…I mean...Hello.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/luis.m.guerrero.319" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Luis Guerrero</span></a> here, and I want to say something.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPoMY7FAGUbRF9XWPdZcwpBh9bj_f9IXDjlxCWjnsHu-gA7dIUNZ8oCBUpA1IZw4YFLN51P3BCl2mHUCF8Sp-tcbnTvKLIdp5UDT9ylpp7jISEBQZ410P5MMYmbQ7Zau-swkHQ0VrT7Hu/s1600/Luis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPoMY7FAGUbRF9XWPdZcwpBh9bj_f9IXDjlxCWjnsHu-gA7dIUNZ8oCBUpA1IZw4YFLN51P3BCl2mHUCF8Sp-tcbnTvKLIdp5UDT9ylpp7jISEBQZ410P5MMYmbQ7Zau-swkHQ0VrT7Hu/s400/Luis.jpg" width="240" /></a>Thank you America for welcoming me into your somewhat warm and embracing, yet sometimes cold and snowy country, which I hate.<br /><br />The snow and the cold that is, not the country.<br /><br />After several years of working hard, paying taxes, receiving no benefits, and living on a prayer and a Green Card, I took my citizenship test in July, had my citizen induction ceremony yesterday, and am now proud ‘Merican.<br /><br />I know right?<br /><br />You thought I simply tried to escape the hunger and empty dinner table of Mexico, by traversing hundreds of mile of desert, and all the while evading Border Patrol Agents and ne’er do wells, in order to simply come here to rape your pearly white daughters, illegally siphon off of your unending stream of goodwill, and raise the political capital of one Canadian-Born Cuban, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).<br /><br />But no…This is not the case.<br /><br />You see?<br /><br />I came to ‘Merica to escape the poverty of my land…to realize that I can work and gain reward…to know that I don’t have to look over my back to see if a pissed off drug cartel guy, with gun in hand, is looking at me “funny.”<br /><br />I came to marry a lady and have a happy, not so worried and not so hungry life with kids, cookouts, and parties once in awhile.<br /><br />I came here as a hard worker who just wanted an opportunity.  ‘Merica is all about that, and she has given me my opportunity, and I will not let her down, because I won’t let myself or my family down, but let me tell you…<br /><br />Now that I am ‘Merican, I have put in for a two weeks vacation.  As an ice delivery guy, I may or may not get to your place of business on time, and…<br /><br />There will be a ten minute break between every ten ice bags I put into your cooler.  The new helper, with far less seniority, demands it.  And really? Who am I to judge?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXa4q-uAuquQEQi_lEGBVR-aAxuTj_WwFjKbZszNsYKecAw7xe4yT0TxAQemRPDGmF1qsbDKFcCpMTC7Zj5RRtzW629xOUdWVs_h-FyJM8CF2LTbnAVWj-OzULSVdXR-WXZ-lhLaNeocd/s1600/Luis+Citizen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXa4q-uAuquQEQi_lEGBVR-aAxuTj_WwFjKbZszNsYKecAw7xe4yT0TxAQemRPDGmF1qsbDKFcCpMTC7Zj5RRtzW629xOUdWVs_h-FyJM8CF2LTbnAVWj-OzULSVdXR-WXZ-lhLaNeocd/s400/Luis+Citizen.jpg" width="400" /></a>Drive-By Mikey and Matt-Man may make fun of my new, slower process to filling their Ice Machine, but that’s because they we’re born with silver Ice Machines in their mouths, and I?<br /><br />I was born with the deadly taste of the Chupacabra within my thirsty and hungry mouth.<br /><br />I had to cross a desert twice and put up with INS for ten years in order to fill the Beer Mine's goddamn ice machine.<br /><br />If either of those bastards had to walk a mile in my shoes, you know what they would say?<br /><i><br /></i><i>“Ewwwww, ouch, ouch, the hot desert sands of death are too much for my fragile feet.  I guess I’ll just live here in a life of squalor and crime.”</i><br /><br />Coños!!  Er sorry…Pussies!!<br /><br />Sorry…Sorry…I get off course.  Here’s the deal.<br /><br />After ten years of paying my dues, and paying my taxes, I am ‘Merican.  I am not stealing your job or your hope.  I am living the life of a guy who loves his wife, his kids, and the chance of a better life here in ‘Merica.<br /><br />And…Now that I am a true ‘Merican and have official seniority, it would be sweet if my route was changed, and I would no longer have to deliver ice to Mike and Matt again.<br /><br /><i>¡Adiós!  And God Bless 'Merica!!</i><br /><br /><i>Luis Guerrero…’Merican</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Matt’s Facebook Page</span></a></div>

Luis Guerrero is the Statue of Liberty!!

Hola…I mean...Hello. Luis Guerrero here, and I want to say something. Thank you America for welcoming me into your somewhat warm and embrac...

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Barnana Organics Review

<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y2xS4R8BLsN2qIkdtHGt94qURw2qvcGspSKLEGxlPDD63B8VEhTdtjyBRVddy81LV8Dp1cpz86c44QqbJxazSjKAGJpwjkqHk6OtCeqrC-5glMswP3rDQtrEsVXjc8xqCR5dxZWn1yE/s1600/barnana+bites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y2xS4R8BLsN2qIkdtHGt94qURw2qvcGspSKLEGxlPDD63B8VEhTdtjyBRVddy81LV8Dp1cpz86c44QqbJxazSjKAGJpwjkqHk6OtCeqrC-5glMswP3rDQtrEsVXjc8xqCR5dxZWn1yE/s320/barnana+bites.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Craving something sweet but you don't want to overload on junk food?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Give these tasty organic chocolate covered banana bites a try from <a href="http://barnana.myshopify.com/collections/all">Barnana</a>, if your not a chocolate lover then try their banana chews which are chewy banana bites dusted with banana powder !</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though I am on a mission to lead a healthier lifestyle I still like to enjoy some chocolate every now and then and what better way to eat it when it's covered in delicious chewy bananas! </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've tried chocolate covered bananas in a previous review earlier and absolutely loved them!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So when I came across their website and saw these babies I knew I had to try them, they sent me a package of their chocolate banana bites and chewy banana bites for review!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chocolate Covered Banana Bites:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKoxbu8Ur8K71rfnLOLrtavOydEI4pFI9RLAo8aLT3Kccwt7PNij7bJGnpDEalW4Ko316OczncQ_O2FLyaHtszu_o9TYOSDrpX9LLcmwmYW674mq_leFyk2kRS7UWlPetYSzx2WdUOlc/s1600/barnana+chocolate+covered+banana+bites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKoxbu8Ur8K71rfnLOLrtavOydEI4pFI9RLAo8aLT3Kccwt7PNij7bJGnpDEalW4Ko316OczncQ_O2FLyaHtszu_o9TYOSDrpX9LLcmwmYW674mq_leFyk2kRS7UWlPetYSzx2WdUOlc/s320/barnana+chocolate+covered+banana+bites.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are delicious and such a great snack to bring to the movies instead of eating all that unwanted junk food!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved the taste of them, smooth and creamy almost like a caramel type texture with the chewiness of the bananas and luscious chocolate!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chewy Banana Bites sprinkled with Banana Powder:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was a bit skeptical to try this one at first, but I am glad I tried it because they are outstanding!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perfect banana taste throughout the chews with a delicious banana powder sprinkled on top, works great in yogurt!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Website:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://barnana.myshopify.com/collections/all">http://barnana.myshopify.com/collections/all</a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Face Book:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barnana">https://www.facebook.com/barnana</a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Twitter:</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/barnana"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">https://twitter.com/barnana</span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Barnana Organics Review

Craving something sweet but you don't want to overload on junk food? Give these tasty organic chocolate covered banana bites a try from ...

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Google and No weigh in tomorrow

I know everyone was looking forward to the big 8 week weigh in.  I am not going to be able to go weigh in at the doctors office.  A few things have happened this week.  The first thing is I had an unrelated health issue occur that I am dealing with through an internist (pre Belviq condition I've had for 4 years) and when I get these flare ups, I get kind of sickly.  So today was just a follow up CT scan, but I would out of the office for 3 hours.  So tomorrow, I can't take off to go over to get the weigh in done.  I will do it early next week for everyone.  Meanwhile I'm laying low just to get my bounce back!!<br /><br />Also, I wanted to report that my Google AdSense was disabled which has me highly upset.  They won't disclose what happened other than "invalid activity".  After reading the top 10 list of invalid activities from Google, the only one that remotely is a possiblity would be someone somewhere set their computer up to click multiple times over and over and over.  Other than that, I don't know what happened.  I didn't solicit anyone to click on my ads or anything.  It really upsets me because I had due about $150 for July for finalized earnings.  According to Google, once they disable me, I don't get those earnings as they are forfieted....even finalized ones.<br /><br />I filed an appeal but I don't know how much good that would do me.  So, if in the chance they do allow me to post them again, PLEASE only click if you are interested in the product and PLEASE do NOT click more than once.  <br /><br />Uggghhhh - my cheerleading outfit has been soaking in the washer and is now hanging out to dry!  That's how I feel lol<br />

Google and No weigh in tomorrow

I know everyone was looking forward to the big 8 week weigh in.  I am not going to be able to go weigh in at the doctors office.  A few thin...

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EGYPT: THE LYNCHPIN OF THE MIDDLE EAST (Part 1)

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96TmI2QKzOxxSikBFsGm6n60oS3YproECFDJBC7l9_GJ_oRmxU4gbnDc5YGq3Bz5gmzg_TXDwVnecOGpAtxbYw-ZZ0KpClJY6E9N9KzgOz4KBn0F6BmgQTUXuhf8CmVDGafR2xbSYBvLl/s1600/Nile+delta+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96TmI2QKzOxxSikBFsGm6n60oS3YproECFDJBC7l9_GJ_oRmxU4gbnDc5YGq3Bz5gmzg_TXDwVnecOGpAtxbYw-ZZ0KpClJY6E9N9KzgOz4KBn0F6BmgQTUXuhf8CmVDGafR2xbSYBvLl/s400/Nile+delta+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">EGYPT AND HER STRATEGIC WATERWAYS ARE THE HEART OF THE ARAB ECONOMY</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></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; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adapted by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring from StratRisks </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wars have been waged in the past based upon these important straits. If EGYPT falls to militarism or radical Islam like its neighbors SUDAN and LIBYA, numerous ARAB and Western nations will suffer massive economic loss. You can have unlimited oil and LNG on hand but you need safe shipping routes in which to transport it. With this understanding EGYPT is not truly sovereign and that is why it is in a constant state of flux. ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, IRAN and other actors and countries are in the midst of a covert battle royal to influence EGYPTIAN affairs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is no coincidence that crude oil prices rose above $100 on the very day General Al Sisi overthrew the government of President Morsi in EGYPT. Supply risk is a constant fear in an oil market where global spare capacity (mainly SAUDI) is only one million barrels a day (mbd). Even though EGYPT is not a major oil exporter or a member of the OPEC, it has the SUEZ CANAL and the SUEZ MEDITERRANEAN, or SUMED pipeline, where oil tankers transport 2.5 mbd of mainly GULF crude to refineries in EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA. The SUEZ CANAL is one of global gas critical chokepoints, as geopolitically significant as the STRAITS OF HORMUZ and MALACCA </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DUE TO STRATEGIC INTERESTS EGYPT WOULD NEVER BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD</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; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a foregone conclusion that a nation as important to the world as EGYPT is, would not be left in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood. The brutality of the Mubarak regime was well known, most considered the region stable and their important business continued uninterrupted. ISRAEL’S intelligence apparatus monitors the tectonic shifts in EGYPT in relation to the Gaza Strip. If EGYPT sneezes, the Gaza Strip gets a cold. ISRAEL would find itself under a serious threat if the EGYPTIAN leadership had friendly relations with militant Islamic groups like Hamas. It is a dangerous yet delicate balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL’S foreign minister has warned his Prime Minister that EGYPT presents more of a security threat than IRAN. Subsequently the foreign minister urged the PM to create three to four southern divisions in the wake of a social and economic deterioration in EGYPT and the increasing number of EGYPTIAN arms buildup in the SINAI PENINSULA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ONE WHO COMMANDS THE SUEZ STRAIT CONTROLS A MAJOR PORTION OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv-MxNR3tBQd5N_6I9_C4CqtxhOVwW47YGMdC7XvtPXqBXHFr_os2cWFQk-6nlb2AStc8bBs5cwhs072QrGLHR9wUsicxqjHxiy95SIeFpTV9bw9TaB1MtUQuz3skInKW9iJ3YaE4zHuv/s1600/strategic_import_map4161333379629934.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv-MxNR3tBQd5N_6I9_C4CqtxhOVwW47YGMdC7XvtPXqBXHFr_os2cWFQk-6nlb2AStc8bBs5cwhs072QrGLHR9wUsicxqjHxiy95SIeFpTV9bw9TaB1MtUQuz3skInKW9iJ3YaE4zHuv/s320/strategic_import_map4161333379629934.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">substantially dependent upon trade and commerce. Washington’s relationship with EGYPT angled as humanitarian aid ends up being billions of dollars annually in foreign military financing grants supplying EGYPTIAN military apparatus with heavy weapons used to control and retain the allegiance of the uprising population and purge any subversion. The interdependent relationship between the U.S. and EGYPTIAN military is coherent, billions of dollars to maintain EGYPT’S military elite-led government, the uninterrupted military coordination and movement of the regions oil resources to the UNITED STATES and EUROPE and the establishment of a U.S. military bridgehead in a geo-strategic location for future military operations or conflicts in regions rich in hydrocarbon deposits, the MIDDLE EAST and the CASPIAN Basin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For US military planners, the sudden loss of access to EGYPT would present a double problem. Without EGYPT, they would find their options for shipping air and sea cargo, refueling and repairing aircraft and consolidating troop movements narrowed to those along the Persian Gulf. The loss of landing rights in EGYPT, for example, might mean that in a crisis, wide-body jets, each carrying hundreds of troops, would have to fly directly into congested Persian Gulf airfields, rather than into Cairo West, from which smaller transports would ferry troops into action, furthermore Persian Gulf facilities are increasingly vulnerable to IRANIAN ballistic missiles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>major strategic review completed by the Pentagon last year indicated that US forces need access to bases more resilient than today’s in the face of attacks. Planners are looking for ways to fortify those bases, with missile defenses being a high priority, but protecting high value airfields and ports where troops are disembarking is somewhat of a challenge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In war-fighting terms, the loss of EGYPT might also force a greater reliance on long range strike assets – strike fighters, bombers and missiles – at a time when the US arsenal of such weapons is limited. In a MIDEAST war, fighter jets once might have launched from EGYPTIAN airfields, without EGYPT, they’d have to operate from carriers – themselves vulnerable – or fly exhausting air refueling missions from distant bases in CYPRUS, TURKEY and EUROPE. The longer a mission lasts, the fewer daily sorties can be scheduled. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFRICA: THERE’S GOLD, URANIUM AND OIL IN THEM THAR HILLS</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; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cohorts of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-expands-secret-intelligence-operations-in-africa/2012/06/13/gJQAHyvAbV_story.html">special operation forces and intelligence agencies</a> are covertly engaging NORTH AFRICA by employing combinations of political, economic, psychological and military warfare to undermine unstable governments or nations actively engaged in civil wars through an ongoing inter-agency counter-terrorism plan, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom_-_Trans_Sahara">Operation Enduring Freedom – TRANS SAHARA</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">France and its allies have <a href="http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130607.OBS2446/mali-les-secrets-d-une-guerre-eclair.html">revitalized a military campaign for NORTH AFRICA</a>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>providing security and protection of <a href="http://www.dw.de/the-interests-behind-frances-intervention-in-mali/a-16523792">foreign economic interests, uranium sites, gold mining and oil reserves.</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cfr.org/france/french-military-africa/p12578">FRENCH military</a>is tighten its grip on NORTH AFRICA by supporting <a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/01/22/uranium-in-saharan-sands/f4ej">AREVA CORPORATE INTERESTS</a> to preserve a ’FRENCH’ dominant sphere in the region by providing vital security for the <a href="http://www.lepoint.fr/editos-du-point/jean-guisnel/niger-les-forces-speciales-protegeront-les-mines-d-uranium-d-areva-23-01-2013-1619466_53.php">key strategic Imouraren uranium mine</a> and <a href="http://theworldoutline.com/2013/06/france-and-west-africa-the-spectre-of-postcolonialism/">oil resource </a>centers. CANADIAN mining companies are actively involved in MALI gold mining and other ventures with a large<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/23/f-mali-canada-links.html">bulk of the investment summed up in one word: GOLD.</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FRENCH owned TOTAL SA already draws 28% of its oil output from AFRICA. The presence of significant uranium deposits in neighboring NIGER is also of utmost importance for FRANCE and other actors in the region. FRANCE in particular is reliant on uranium for a large portion FRANCES energy supply is nuclear based and thus it relies on NIGER’S uranium supply which accounts for almost 40% of Frances uranium consumption.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The strategic mobility of<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/17965537"> FRENCH Special Forces</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/22/uk-special-forces-active-mali">UK Special Forces</a> , <a href="http://www.africom.mil/Newsroom/Article/10206/us-airlift-of-french-forces-to-mali">AFRICOM</a>, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dia-to-send-hundreds-more-spies-overseas/2012/12/01/97463e4e-399b-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html">Defense Intelligence Agency</a>, <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-06-13/world/35462541_1_burkina-faso-air-bases-sahara">Central Intelligence Agency</a>, <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/28/canadian-special-forces-on-the-ground-in-mali/">CANADIAN Special Forces</a> and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9670274/Europe-to-send-400-special-forces-to-Mali.html">EUROPEAN UNION Special forces</a> have built up their intelligence and war fighting skills by conducting quick and surgical strike operations in<a href="http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/09/23/01003-20120923ARTFIG00152-mali-la-france-en-pointe-contre-aqmi.php">LIBYA</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/22/uk-special-forces-active-mali">MALI </a>, the<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/08/military-exercises-in-libyas-des.html">SAHEL</a> and <a href="http://northafricapost.com/740-us-deploys-aircrafts-across-mena-region-and-beyond.html">MENA</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHAT IS THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY AGENDA IN ALL THIS?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYbxka25j1U27GSxteab5Lft18HgNu5cy95E6BY-FhG4VkjmvSVyjWKIQOjl9Yd5rdo97xwBigl-x99wRvmJgyiYm6iB0om1zhyZ38PMki4DuLtoSCFmWr3zwhjtk94khzPyvrS__Plv/s1600/Africa-Natural-resources-07-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYbxka25j1U27GSxteab5Lft18HgNu5cy95E6BY-FhG4VkjmvSVyjWKIQOjl9Yd5rdo97xwBigl-x99wRvmJgyiYm6iB0om1zhyZ38PMki4DuLtoSCFmWr3zwhjtk94khzPyvrS__Plv/s400/Africa-Natural-resources-07-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></span><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";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wealth protection, monopolize strategic raw materials and energy resources, <a href="http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3783.cfm">energy security of the EUROPEAN UNION</a>, reduce dependence on RUSSIAN oil-natural gas with completion of the <a href="http://northafricapost.com/1510-trans-saharan-gas-pipeline-operational-by-2015-if-obstacles-overcome.html">TRANS-SAHARAN gas pipeline</a> and counteract<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/dont-forget-the-critical-role-of-china-in-mali-8452530.html">CHINESE encroachment</a> into AFRICAN territory rich with <a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3147/">hydrocarbons</a> and <a href="http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2010/myb3-2010-ml-ng.pdf">mineral deposits</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AFRICA AND CHINA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA AND AFRICA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE SECRET WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US FOR AFRICA'S OIL RICHES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES CHINESE MILITARY ASSISTANCE </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/south-africa-and-china.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/south-africa-and-china.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">OUT OF AFRICA ……AND BACK IN</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOMALILAND’S ROLL IN A POTENTIAL MILITARY CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA is increasingly searching for iron – ore supplies in AFRICA. Allegedly there are 35 billion tons of direct shipping iron – ore available in AFRICA, which amounts to a production potential of between 400 to 600 million tons a year. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Currently the 27 EU member states import 85% of their oil needs and 65% of their natural gas. It is estimated that by 2030 those numbers will be 95% and 85% respectively. Up to now EU countries have no oil and gas production or fields. This could change however if recent gas findings south of CYPRUS and in GREECE are prove to be feasible for extraction. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HYDROCARBON FINDINGS</span></b><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> IN CYPRUS AND GREECE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS’S HUGE UNTAPPED GAS RESERVES WILL BENEFIT THE EUROPEAN UNION</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/broke-cyprus-could-be-energy-trump-card.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/broke-cyprus-could-be-energy-trump-card.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RECENT AEGEAN OIL AND GAS FINDINGS COULD BLOT OUT GREECE’S ENTIRE DEPT </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><b><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></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/cypruss-financial-crisis-and-its.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/cypruss-financial-crisis-and-its.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GAS RESERVES UNDER THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ARE TOO LARGE TO OVERLOOK</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINAS increasing influence in AFRICA, characterized by large sums of money with few strings attached in exchange for mineral concessions, is a concern for the USA. This rivalry may come to shape the future of a continent already marked out like an imperial jigsaw puzzle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S. CONTINUES TO PORTRAY THE ILLUSION OF A SECONDARY ROLE IN THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF CONFLICT IN NORTH AFRICA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIRUfMJ8dug0lDdjLjylOsrvh-O3ujJxSUWMozojF30iCgV2N0d_SadZ7Jah1cYVdEhtJq8fDRve-4opRaGIdKMreUF0r0VqTLmw2fGEI0KfVCWXU7WIkPHpDB1wHlKDcl7P6byqqYffj/s1600/ksk-kommando-spezialkraefte-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIRUfMJ8dug0lDdjLjylOsrvh-O3ujJxSUWMozojF30iCgV2N0d_SadZ7Jah1cYVdEhtJq8fDRve-4opRaGIdKMreUF0r0VqTLmw2fGEI0KfVCWXU7WIkPHpDB1wHlKDcl7P6byqqYffj/s200/ksk-kommando-spezialkraefte-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German KSK in MALI</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is interesting that orthodox military operations conducted during “Operation Serval” (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Serval">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Serval</a>) have done absolutely nothing but turn the region into a big black hole of uncertainty, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/ozatp-mali-libya-idAFJOE81909Q20120210">blow back central</a> with printed permanent war in the SAHEL. The military’s objectives are to position forces to ensue stable perimeters of <a href="http://www.dw.de/the-interests-behind-frances-intervention-in-mali/a-16523792">high value geographic areas</a>, control risks and the neutralization of <a href="http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africannews/2013/07/26/news-analysis-no-mans-land-sahel-a-breeding-ground-for-islamist-terror">Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and network affiliates</a>. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced the proposal to keep <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/world/africa/mali-france-proposes-permanent-force.html?_r=1&">permanent combat forces in MALI</a> and actively seeking to install a <a href="http://www.lexpressiondz.com/actualite/159636-vrombissement-de-reacteurs-a-nos-frontieres.html">military base in LIBYA</a>. As the U.S. continues to portray the illusion of a secondary role in the geographic scope of conflict in NORTH AFRICA, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/39/39411/1.html">U.S. AFRICOM and GERMAN KSK have been active for years in MALI</a></span>. Cloaked in secrecy, the U.S. military drone base in NIGER provides<a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-21/world/37905284_1_drone-bases-unarmed-predator-drones-surveillance-drones/2">a strategic foothold </a>to conduct ISR missions to target and terminate high valued targets with predator drone programs. Pentagon/ private mercenary in and out warfare tactics with incidents and operational details not disclosed to the U.S. public by means of the <a href="http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30403:us-army-seeking-private-contractors-for-african-commando-transportation&catid=47:Logistics&Itemid=110">US Army seeking private contractors for AFRICAN commando transportation</a> and multitudes of <a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/06/28/US-military-contractors-eye-Africa/UPI-96371277754990/">U.S. military contractors eyeing AFRICA</a>. The cohesive EU, NATO, Pentagon and mercenary force campaigns will continue under the guise of peace-keeping operations to take advantage of social discontent, ferment sectarian division and political regime change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The FRENCH and the BRITISH in their heart of hearts still believe that they can control the state of affairs of various countries in the MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sykes and Picot</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement</a>) have long since died and numerous rebellions have taken place to wrestle power away from EUROPE. Yet EUROPEAN influence still lingers like a ghost and their geopolitical desires are still as strong as they were in the 1900’s. Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of FRANCE introduced a regional framework called the ’UNION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN’. This power play could transform the MENA region into a satellite super state for the ultimate benefit of EUROPE and the USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MEDITERRANEAN UNION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbyV6OliIlToq-BaLyfJJ6r4-86cBiJ4rRh2TJcA8q6CfAiFt5rOXoWwQ81dhrxXzDxlPxolpqannr9BWYPldyUqTw3b91_aq8jYGQ5viHFLkidz-iAKFDKT-5pIP7RoF5x-gJsE6a6r/s1600/ResizedImage375353-mediterraneanunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbyV6OliIlToq-BaLyfJJ6r4-86cBiJ4rRh2TJcA8q6CfAiFt5rOXoWwQ81dhrxXzDxlPxolpqannr9BWYPldyUqTw3b91_aq8jYGQ5viHFLkidz-iAKFDKT-5pIP7RoF5x-gJsE6a6r/s320/ResizedImage375353-mediterraneanunion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>The geopolitical and political motives behind this proposal seemed fairly obvious at first sight. Politically, Sarkozy’s interest in setting up the MEDITERRANEAN UNION would be to offer TURKEY an alternative to full EU membership. This is certainly how the plan is being peddled in Paris. The second geopolitical motive would be to reinforce FRANCE’S weight on the world stage.</i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>The creation of a political “Club Med” is perhaps a typical example of the FRENCH love of the politics of the grand gesture, but there seems little doubt that it would institutionalise FRANCE’S leadership role in an area where she has huge historical ties and considerable political influence, from NORTH AFRICA to LEBANON and SYRIA.</i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>Perhaps the motives behind the MEDITERRANEAN UNION lie elsewhere, therefore. The plan, indeed, bears some resemblance to the “GREATER MIDDLE EAST” project favoured by the AMERICAN neo-conservative strategists. </i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083">Even more striking is the resemblance between Sarkozy’s plan and the existing Mediterranean Dialogue set up by NATO in 1994. The relevant page (in English, French, Hebrew and Arabic) can be seen here. Numerous Maghreb states have already signed partnership agreements with NATO. In other words, the MEDITERRANEAN UNION would be but a political superstructure over a military organisation which already exists and which is under US leadership</a>. –<b><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083">Brussels Journal</a></b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The so-called ’Arab spring’ has changed the political landscape and those countries that weren’t in favor of EUROPE might have had a change of heart. Interestingly enough, the conflict in LIBYA, the current proxy war in SYRIA, and the second coup in EGYPT help EUROPE work towards their EUROMED project tremendously. NORTH AFRICAN nations like LIBYA, ALGERIA and MOROCCO are assisting EUROPE to establish a new oil and gas route that will lessen the dependence on RUSSIA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the UNITED STATES has made a pivot towards EURASIA, EUROPE is selling weaponry to ARAB states who hope to secure their borders for any eventualities with IRAN or SYRIA. The problem with these uprisings in the MENA region is that in the minds of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ARAB youth</b> (</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARBINGER OF REVOLUTION</span></i></b></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html</a></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ) they have no real yardstick that would measure any progress and could be easily manipulated for the geo-economic and geopolitical goals of foreign states. EUROPE could start the wildfire that could clear a path to economic security and integration or for their own demise.</span></div>

EGYPT: THE LYNCHPIN OF THE MIDDLE EAST (Part 1)

EGYPT AND HER STRATEGIC WATERWAYS ARE THE HEART OF THE ARAB ECONOMY Adapted by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring from StratRisks  Wars h...

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