News for today's 2018

Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100

8:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><iframe height="360" id="kaltura_player_1366298017" src="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_4059fg3g/uiconf_id/3775332/st_cache/21680?referer=http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/west-texas-fertilizer-plant-explosion-significant-devastation-blast-18986370&autoPlay=false&addThis.playerSize=392x221&freeWheel.siteSectionId=nws_offsite&closedCaptionActive=true&addThis.playerSize=640x360&closedCaptionsOverPlayer.fontsize=18" style="border: 0px solid #ffffff;" width="640">Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.</iframe> <div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0; text-align: left;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/video">Watch More News Videos at ABC</a>  |   <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/technology">Technology News</a>  |   <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/entertainment">Celebrity News</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="headline-author" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 92px;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/author/leezel_tanglao" rel="author" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Leezel Tanglao" height="65" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Site/abc_leezel_tanglao_wy_111202_cutout.png" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: right; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="65" /></a><div style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #888888; font: inherit; line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/author/leezel_tanglao" rel="author" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Leezel Tanglao</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a class="author-handle" href="http://twitter.com/leezeltanglao" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">@leezeltanglao</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a class="sprite icon-twitter" href="http://twitter.com/leezeltanglao" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); background-image: url(http://a.abcnews.com/blogs/headlines/wp-content/themes/abc/img/sprite.gif); background-position: -20px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #30659c; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 7px 4px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px;">Follow on Twitter</a></div></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #888888; font-family: Arial; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 533px;">Apr 18, 2013 1:02am</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10:31 a.m. ET: </strong>Aboard Air Force One en route to Boston, President Obama called Gov. Rick Perry to offered any federal resources that may be needed to assist in the ongoing response and recovery effort.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9:45 a.m. ET:</strong> Sgt. William Patrick Swanton, spokesman for the Waco police, said at a press conference that one of the missing individuals has been found, a constable who is also a firefighter. He is currently hospitalized with “pretty serious injuries.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We’re still missing 3-4 firefighters,” he said. “No police or EMS are missing, as far as I’m aware.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swanton said that the “rough number” of fatalities remains at 5-15, but emphasized that it is still an estimate.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swanton also said that a significant area of the fertilizer plant had been destroyed, and that homes were leveled as far as five blocks away.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Homes have been destroyed. Part of that community is gone,” he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A small amount of looting had been reported in the area, Swanton said. There are some unidentified people in the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I can’t tell you the number of looters or whether they have been caught … that is a significant concern for us,” he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Authorities are now doing a more methodical search — under beds, in closets — and are still in search in rescue mode, and are not yet in recovery mode.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is no word yet on the cause of the fire, Swanton said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/slideshow/west-texas-fertilizer-plant-explodes-18984514" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">PHOTOS: Explosion Rips Through West Texas</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6:55 a.m. ET:</strong> An administration official tells ABC News that President Obama has been notified of the situation in Texas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The president has been notified. The administration is closely monitoring through FEMA who is also in contact with state and local officials who are responding,” an official told ABC News in an email.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6:39 a.m. ET:</strong> West Mayor Tommy Muska said perhaps 60 homes have been damaged. All of the nursing home patients have been accounted for and all of downtown West, Texas, has been evacuated.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For those trying to locate their family members please call: 254-826-4115</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6:30 a.m. ET:</strong> “Nightline” featured <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/west-texas-plant-explosion-injures-100-levels-homes-18985445" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">dramatic cellphone footage</a> of the explosion. Residents said the explosion sounded like a “massive” bomb.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5:45 a.m. ET:</strong> Sgt. William Patrick Swanton of the Waco, Texas, Police Department  estimated 5 to 15 fatalities from the fertilizer plant explosion. Swanton said 3 to 5 firefighters have been killed and there is also a law enforcement official who is unaccounted for.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5:23 a.m. ET:</strong> Pope Francis tweeted on his official <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/324814961572446209" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>, “Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion in Texas and their families.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4: 11 a.m. ET:</strong> ABC Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser says a continuing danger from the Texas fertilizer plant explosion and fire is exposure to ammonia.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“What you see with high level ammonia exposure is damage to your eyes, to your throat, to your nose, to your esophagus when you swallow,” Besser told ABC News Radio. “A blast that’s going in one direction, if you get a change in the wind, it can come to another neighborhood and be affected.”</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt="ap texas explosion11 wy 130418 wblog Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100" height="269" src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/ap_texas_explosion11_wy_130418_wblog.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="West, Texas" width="478" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 468px;">LM Otero/AP Photo</div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3:52 a.m. ET:</strong> ABC News has confirmed there are a total of 179 people hospitalized with 10 additional people in triage. At least 24 are in critical condition, nine of which are burn victims sent to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At least 38 people are in serious condition.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco:</strong></span></strong> David Argueta, vice president of operations, says they currently have over 100 patients with lacerations, orthopedic and burn injuries. There are 12 people in surgery or have been admitted that are critical. More than 38 are seriously injured, but no fatalities have been reported.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Providence Healthcare Network in Waco:</strong></span> Spokesperson Heather Beck says they have currently treated 65 patients. Of the 65 patients, 12 have patients have broken bones, burns and head injuries. One patient is in critical condition.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3:38 a.m. ET:</strong> Sgt. William Patrick Swanton, spokesman for the Waco police expressed a concern of new explosions or leaks of ammonia from the plant’s ruins.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2:58 a.m. ET:</strong> After hearing firefighters were down, George Willoughby, a police officer in a neighboring town, rushed to help the injured.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I wasn’t here (in West). I was in another town but yeah we felt up it (explosion) up there too,” Willoughby told ABC News Radio.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2:45 a.m. ET:</strong> A team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will be heading to the scene of the West Fertilizer Plant explosion, according to a CSB <a href="http://www.csb.gov/chemical-safety-board-deploying-to-west-fertilizer-plant-accident-/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">news release</a>. They are expected to arrive Thursday afternoon.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2:24 a.m. ET:</strong> Jonnie Payne of Aderhold Funeral Home in West, Texas told ABC News that she has not “received any calls as of yet about fatalities.” She said when the explosi0n happened her “whole house shook.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My son went out there to check on what happened and was injured in the explosion. He’s now in a hospital in Waco with a broken collarbone,” she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2:10 a.m. ET:</strong> There are a total of 172 people confirmed hospitalized with 23 more people en route/to be admitted.  At least 24 people are in critical condition and at 38-40 people are in serious condition.  Here is the breakdown from each area hospital:</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco:</strong></span>  Hospital officials said they have more than 100 patients — 101 registered but are currently assessing around 20 in triage area and are expecting another wave. They are seeing lots of patients with lacerations, orthopedic injuries and a few burns. Nine severely burned patients have been directly sent to Parkland hospital burn center in Dallas. They are reporting no fatalities.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Providence Healthcare Network in Waco: </span></strong>Hospital officials said they have treated 58 patients. They are in the process of triaging three. No word yet on whether they will get another wave, but are prepared. At least one patient is in critical condition Most of the injuries are moderate—broken bones, cuts, abrasions, scrapes, respiratory distress—most of these injuries were caused by flying glass or people knocked down by the force of the blast, according to hospital spokeswoman Heather Beck.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Hill Regional Hospital: </span></strong>Unclear</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Parkland Hospital in Dallas:</span> </strong>Hospital officials said they have nine severe burn patients.<strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Scott & White Memorial in Temple:</span></strong> Hospital officials said they received four patients, three at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, and one at McLane Children’s Hospital. Another patient is in route to McLane Children’s. At least two of the four patients are listed in critical condition at this time.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Blood Donation Center will stay open until 2:30 a.m. to allow residents to come in and donate. The donors can get to the Blood Donation Center by coming in the main hospital entrance at 2401 S. 31<sup style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">st</sup>Street, Temple.</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt="ap texas explosion1 waco wy 130418 wblog Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100" height="269" src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/ap_texas_explosion1_waco_wy_130418_wblog.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="west texas blast" width="478" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 468px;">Andy Bartee/AP Photo</div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2:03 a.m. ET:</strong> ABC News’ Steve Osunsami is at a triage center in West, Texas: “As we drove into town we ran into firefighters who were getting gassed up outside of town who tell us the fire is still burning. It’s under control. But it’s still burning.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1:43 a.m. ET:</strong> West Mayor Tommy Muska said in a news conference said they are concerned about the wind – which they expect to change direction about 3 a.m.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Muska told residents to stay in inside because of the hydrous gas that is still in the air.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1:25 a.m. ET:</strong> The explosion registered as 2.1 magnitude quake according the <a href="http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000g9yl#summary" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">USGS</a>. Residents about 30 miles away in the town of Buffford told ABC News that they felt the quake.</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt="ap Plant ac 130418 wblog Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100" height="269" src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/ap_Plant_ac_130418_wblog.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="west texas " width="478" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 468px;">AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte</div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1:21 a.m. ET:</strong> VIDEO: Homes and business were completely destroyed around the West, Texas, fertilizer plant.</div><iframe bordercolor="#FFFFFF" frameborder="0" height="221" hspace="0" id="iframe" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="iframe" scrolling="no" src="http://abcnews.go.com/video/portableSFP?version=&affil=null&cid=null&id=18984293&autoStart=false&adPattern=null&size=embed&widget=&pageType=blog&section=us&subsectionOverride=&ipad=false&plist=" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" vspace="0" width="392"></iframe><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1:09 a.m. ET:</strong>  Texas Department of Public Safety trooper D.L. Wilson said in a short news conference that there are more than 100 injuries with fatalities confirmed but did not specify how many deaths. Officials are searching for more people and are doing a house by house search.  About 133 people were evacuated from a nursing home.  About half the town has been evacuated.  Between 50-75 buildings were destroyed or damaged.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Massive. Just like Iraq. Just like the Murray Building in Oklahoma City… So you can imagine what kind of damage we’re looking at,” Wilson said in describing the blast.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12:53 a.m. ET:</strong> Blood drives are planned for Thursday in Texas. Linda Goelzer of Carter Blood Care, the primary blood support service supporting more 58 counties, largest blood provider in Texas told ABC News the people in the community of West are “heart of gold people, like a Norman Rockwell painting.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The whole town is being evacuated. We had our blood supply pretty well stocked in Waco as of today but now we are sending more than 300 units of blood from Dallas Fort Worth down to Waco, that’s where patients are going. Many are being care-flighted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment at their burn center,” Goelzer said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Tonight our message to our donors is don’t everybody come at once, we will have patients for who knows how long who will be needing blood. Especially O-negative are needed, universal donor, will likely be expended tonight. What we tell people is that the blood helping people tonight is what’s already on the shelves. What we’ll need most is for consistency. We have blood drives everyday and we will have them tomorrow, we just don’t want people flooding in, in droves, like they did after 9/11. We’re asking our regular donors to keep coming throughout the week because we expect there will be many survivors.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12:33 a.m. ET:</strong> At least 124 people hospitalized, with one hospital telling us that 20 more are on the way.  Of those, 38 considered serious.</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt=" Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100" height="269" src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/ap_texas_fire_130417_wblog.JPG" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="west texas" width="478" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 468px;">AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News</div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12:19 a.m. ET:</strong> According to the CEO of the Providence Healthcare Network, Brett Esrock (in Waco), says officials are triaging the wounded. Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center has treated, or is treating 29 wounded, mostly minor to moderate injuries: cuts abrasions, broken bones, respiratory distress, and one critical injury. Hospital officials are being told they are about to receive an additional 20 patients “they are coming in ambulances cars vans, pretty much anything.” Other wounded people are also being sent to Hillsboro Regional Hospital, which has apparently received another 60 patients.  -  Matt Gutman</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:48 p.m. ET:</strong> West City Hall suffered significant damage according to Gail Scarborough with Texas Department of Public Safety. The middle school also caught on fire due to a gas leak in the building.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:00 p.m. ET:</strong> Texas Gov. Rick Perry released the following statement on the explosion in West, Texas:  “We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident. We have also mobilized state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene.”</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt="abc wfaa texas explosion 130417 wblog Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100" height="269" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/abc_wfaa_texas_explosion_130417_wblog.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="west texas blast" width="478" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 468px;">ABC</div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9:33 p.m. ET:</strong> According to a dispatcher at Texas Department of Public Safety, there were <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/explosion-rocks-town-west-texas/story?id=18983638" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">two explosions and a fire reported at a Fertilizer Plant</a> in the town of West, Texas.</div></div></div>

West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Live Updates: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Injures More Than 100

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Stormy weather

6:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

Stormy weather

We had a storm last night! A serious gale was blowing. It was after 2am when it quietened down and we finally got asleep. I met a colleagu...

Soup of the day

5:54 AM Tukiyooo 0

Thai Noodle Soup to takeaway from Betelnut Cafe<br /><br />I'm a little disappointed.  I thought it would have coconut milk.<br /><br />It's a very thin soup.  I tossed in some sundried tomatoes to bulk it out. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliAX5RWLLwiGAgN7YCG_V8wzdbrl1MjWynLfUXI0mrQijaYb4dkozV6XnLRpqowyJNljNTX2FHtyyvOjingTXKcPmt9-e3yHM2UiMquTsh0KnFHvNAB1xIuRC9p5C_y5rXImE9bpczmD2/s640/blogger-image-1034892561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliAX5RWLLwiGAgN7YCG_V8wzdbrl1MjWynLfUXI0mrQijaYb4dkozV6XnLRpqowyJNljNTX2FHtyyvOjingTXKcPmt9-e3yHM2UiMquTsh0KnFHvNAB1xIuRC9p5C_y5rXImE9bpczmD2/s640/blogger-image-1034892561.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqvAhJtVPhvfLRpfYHjLA_0m-wHY7sWpzDac9Rw4aE0Rxap4WBHGxTGm11OFPAXjdEkSXry3-lKuMuprzrjOmeMu8edAUIK96-XNDMVgA2Ytkf2qeUAMeZ9Cy1b419ith2TqmvUudrJ2/s640/blogger-image--160107429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqvAhJtVPhvfLRpfYHjLA_0m-wHY7sWpzDac9Rw4aE0Rxap4WBHGxTGm11OFPAXjdEkSXry3-lKuMuprzrjOmeMu8edAUIK96-XNDMVgA2Ytkf2qeUAMeZ9Cy1b419ith2TqmvUudrJ2/s640/blogger-image--160107429.jpg" /></a></div>

Soup of the day

Thai Noodle Soup to takeaway from Betelnut Cafe I'm a little disappointed. I thought it would have coconut milk. It's a very thin s...

Fiona's Natural Foods Review

5:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZLslQ8qT4nwOnunUQsORfkwEYbTaky-OkFMKH-QtzzU4j9OBjMIf5Qw05CWCFBD80pP3AfuoduotPujhYmCdPYyZCm_nDB0Ol-qBopK0XhwCfKyjpGzw2SGaLH8g3R-jhgWwFWZoics/s1600/fiona's+natural+foods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZLslQ8qT4nwOnunUQsORfkwEYbTaky-OkFMKH-QtzzU4j9OBjMIf5Qw05CWCFBD80pP3AfuoduotPujhYmCdPYyZCm_nDB0Ol-qBopK0XhwCfKyjpGzw2SGaLH8g3R-jhgWwFWZoics/s1600/fiona's+natural+foods.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As you may know I eat yogurt daily for breakfast along with some fresh fruit and granola. I just love all the different tastes married together, it's light, sweet and the perfect breakfast that is quick and fills me up for half the day!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I was browsing the web one night and came across this web site that makes all natural products such as granola, trail mix and granola quinoa energy bars! I was like whoa, trail mix! I am so in! </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO9e12yl7ba0GWbtXjMy8LFRg__F5Fhz7yoM4hxL1R10j74P2BVyjuG4z2pHpa-2HDNX8fGkZ1fvI9Nlo_OBLGIBtWdn7afrEOB0NbbCQXzdHOEPttL7MMiCG4IY5q1fCbmZoFn_X9Cw/s1600/fiona's+display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO9e12yl7ba0GWbtXjMy8LFRg__F5Fhz7yoM4hxL1R10j74P2BVyjuG4z2pHpa-2HDNX8fGkZ1fvI9Nlo_OBLGIBtWdn7afrEOB0NbbCQXzdHOEPttL7MMiCG4IY5q1fCbmZoFn_X9Cw/s320/fiona's+display.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I was stoked when I found out that I was going to be doing a review on their products! I was sent an amazing assortment of natural foods from <a href="http://www.fionasnaturalfoods.com/">Fiona's Granola</a> they sent eight different kinds of granola, guess they heard I love granola? </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A bag of trail mix and the bars as well!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Whoa. these products are amazing!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Each product has it's own unique twist to them, and I will tell you all about them!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u>Sunflower Vanilla Coconut Granola-</u></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I absolutely love coconut flavored foods especially granola!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>This granola is surprisingly tasty, not too much of a coconut taste when you pop the clusters into your mouth but mixed in with some you guessed it yogurt, you can really taste it!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u>Cinnamon Almond Granola-</u></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxOhmGher982xuRc7Y0TuM7X1by8gQ7EAn4G-cdYQVpMaVGWMKUiRd4ZoqxKgYOQ7jGjiaGGBJnJX1DEJ8O4JeygEB_FK84_kDk9vNd1Tqe5QewVdrq6YTI4cd3H8LA6Nq6iBoJArV9s/s1600/fiona's+cinnamon+almond+granola+parfait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxOhmGher982xuRc7Y0TuM7X1by8gQ7EAn4G-cdYQVpMaVGWMKUiRd4ZoqxKgYOQ7jGjiaGGBJnJX1DEJ8O4JeygEB_FK84_kDk9vNd1Tqe5QewVdrq6YTI4cd3H8LA6Nq6iBoJArV9s/s320/fiona's+cinnamon+almond+granola+parfait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Bursting with phenomenal cinnamon flavor in every bite!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>You will love it, goes along great with apples too!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I mixed an apple in along with my yogurt this morning and it was heavenly!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89ZQEMF_F_RFVCMW54pjyyOZntnaJTCUWbNO9PchuKEABZtj9EodFnxRNR79as36DfWAFuM1wCLQz65t3RRx6UBYHyJqhh74v6EeVHLKaKkDMSgXrtB9xQuRFk78C-7RyQRKBM5CGexY/s1600/fiona's+cinnamon+almond+apple+parfait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89ZQEMF_F_RFVCMW54pjyyOZntnaJTCUWbNO9PchuKEABZtj9EodFnxRNR79as36DfWAFuM1wCLQz65t3RRx6UBYHyJqhh74v6EeVHLKaKkDMSgXrtB9xQuRFk78C-7RyQRKBM5CGexY/s320/fiona's+cinnamon+almond+apple+parfait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I mean wow, talk about flavorful!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Oops, in the photo above the bag isn't inside of the box.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Bag burst open when I opened it and had to put it into a container, yikes!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Not too sweet, the taste was just right and along with the sunflower seeds it made the perfect quick and easy go to breakfast or snack if you aren't a breakfast person!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psst, goes great with coffee too!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u>Orange Crunch Granola-</u></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Crispy orange granola infused with a citrus orange flavor and perfect for ice cream or yogurt!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>This will surely wake up your taste buds, time to pucker up baby it's breakfast time!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u>Cranberry Orange Granola Bar-</u></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Oh my what can I say about this tasty delicious granola bar?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>moistly baked to perfection, not an overwhelming and powerful orange taste what so ever and perfectly paired with the tartness of the plump and juicy cranberries. To me it tasted just like a cranberry orange muffin!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Still more delicious products to try!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It was so delicious!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Be sure to check them out on the sites below!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Website:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.fionasnaturalfoods.com/">http://www.fionasnaturalfoods.com/</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Face Book:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fionas-Granola/372016702865611">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fionas-Granola/372016702865611</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Twitter:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/FionasGranola">https://twitter.com/FionasGranola</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Google+ :</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/113950002939283768420/posts">https://plus.google.com/u/0/113950002939283768420/posts</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Fiona's Natural Foods Review

As you may know I eat yogurt daily for breakfast along with some fresh fruit and granola. I just love all the different tastes married toget...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 04/18/2013

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Math_Publishers_Criteria_HS_Spring%202013_FINAL.pdf">High School Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Last week a 20 page document was issued from the Common Core Math standards writers to make "more clearly visible" where materials faithfully reflect both the letter and spirit of the math standards... I read in this... just because it SAYS it is common core math aligned, doesn't mean it is. Read this before buying and tread with caution.</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/common">common</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/core">core</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math">math</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://commoncoreessentials.posterous.com">Common Core Essentials - Home</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Not sure where this blog will move, but if you're aligning with common core math, Darren Burris is your man. There are so many great resources on this website.</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/common">common</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/core">core</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math">math</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/skypershello/home">hello little world Skypers</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Love the HLW Skypers which has been founded by some of my favorite educators: Anne Mirtschin, Theresa Allen, Karen Lirenmen. Love what they are doing. There is information about how Mystery Skype works as well.</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/flatclass">flatclass</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flattening">flattening</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_trends">edu_trends</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/047-the-lost-art-of-note-taking-podcast.html">#047: The Lost Art of Note-Taking | Michael Hyatt</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">If you teach students about notetaking, this is one to listen to about modern notetaking. I love the tips and updates to the Cornell Notetaking system for evernote.</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/notetaking">notetaking</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/evernote">evernote</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_news">edu_news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/048-the-5-characteristics-of-weak-leaders-podcast.html">#048: The 5 Characteristics of Weak Leaders [Podcast] | Michael Hyatt</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Michael Hyatt has one of my favorite podcasts on Intentional leadership. This FANTASTIC podcast on leadership takes the weaknesses of General McLellan and talks about what makes a great leader... or not. This is a must listen for anyone in school leadership.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/podcasts">podcasts</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/leadership">leadership</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-maiers/when-students-say-they-wa_b_3040042.html">Angela Maiers: When Students Say They Want to Change the World -- Listen to Them!</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Some great things will be happening with the Quest2Matter. The top 100 will be featured in an upcoming book and the top 5 that are selected will attend the BAMMY's  - follow this movement and involve your change makers at your school. It is just starting but I expect it will be a great thing for our students.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/choose2matter">choose2matter</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/quest2matter">quest2matter</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.timetoast.com">Create timelines, share them on the web | Timetoast timelines</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Timetoast is a very nice timeline maker. You can browse for timelines here as well.</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/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/timeline">timeline</a></p>                                <ul class="diigo-comments">                  </ul>                      </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://xtimeline.com/index.aspx">xtimeline - Explore and Create Free Timelines</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Another simple timeline maker.</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/timeline">timeline</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a></p>                                <ul class="diigo-comments">                  </ul>                      </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.capzles.com">Capzles Social Storytelling | Online Timeline Maker | Share Photos, Videos, Text, Music and Documents Easily</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This timeline maker that lets you add video, pictures, and text was highly recommended by the educational technology and mobile learning blog. It is a timeline maker with multimedia.Very cool.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eduapp">eduapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/timeline">timeline</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.ourstory.com/">OurStory.com - Capture your stories, save them permanently.</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This might be a neat approach to have children do with their familiy as they tell "our story." There are public and private ways to build stories. What a great way to document vacation or have students share about their summers.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/timeline">timeline</a>            <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/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edapp">edapp</a></p>                                <ul class="diigo-comments">                  </ul>                      </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://timeglider.com">Timeglider: web-based timeline software</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Another neat timeline maker.</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/edapp">edapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/timeline">timeline</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57579921-94/move-over-siri-sherpas-in-town/">Move over Siri, Sherpa's in town | Mobile - CNET News</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Sherpa is here. An android app is rolling out in the US on April 17 and then will come to iOS. It has been a top app in Spain and Latin America. </p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/apps">apps</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/android">android</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/droid">droid</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_newapp">edu_newapp</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57579749-94/samsung-probed-for-allegedly-bashing-rival-htc-online/">Samsung probed for allegedly bashing rival HTC online | Mobile - CNET News</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Sad to see organizations hire "student interns" to do their dirty work. Samsung hired students to praise Samsung smartphones and make fun of HTC. In Taiwan, they are calling this false advertising and I agree. There are those learning to game the social media system and sites like Facebook and Twitter need to wise up. Don't think education is immune, I've seen some strange stuff in those circles too. </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/social">social</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/media">media</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://breakups16.tumblr.com">Breakups16</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This is a tumblr blog from a student who is a very interesting person. She said people always come to her for relationship advice and so she's created a tumblr all about breakups, feeling good about yourself even if you're not in a relationship and -- she's taking questions about breakups like a dear Abby for teens. Surprisingly, she's getting many questions - some may be silly but I think it is going to make for some funny and entertaining content. With all of these, my students are required to note that no profanity is allowed. </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/passionbasedlearning">passionbasedlearning</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpMG7Lf-j7A">What Is a CAT/CT Scan Machine? - YouTube</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">One of my students is the daughter of a local pediatrician and wants to go into the field herself. She created her channel last year and is continuing to add videos this year. She has a video What is the CAT/CT Scan machine that has over 53,000 views! She scans her little brother while her Dad (a pediatrician) runs the video camera. Her desire was to create videos that will help children be less afraid of the doctor and the equipment used. I think it is kind of funny the expressions her little brother has. ;-)</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/video">video</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/passionbasedlearning">passionbasedlearning</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/choose2matter">choose2matter</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/geniushour">geniushour</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://instagram.com/discoveringtheocean/">Discovering the Ocean</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Two of my students are sharing photos and a love of the ocean with their passion project. This is their instagram that they set up this week. They already have 76 followers. Love what they are doing.</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/passionbasedlearning">passionbasedlearning</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://music4motivation.tumblr.com">music4motivation</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A tumblr blog that 2 of my students are creating. featuring music that motivates.  They embed tumblrs and youtube videos and also share onto Twitter. If you like music, you might want to follow them. You can also submit your playlist of your favorite songs for them to share.</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/passionbasedlearning">passionbasedlearning</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/choose2matter">choose2matter</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_trends">edu_trends</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://choose2matter.org/general/students-we-need-you-to-help-manage-the-quest2matter">Students: We Need Your Help with the Quest2Matter - Choose 2 Matter</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Some of my students are signing up to join the Quest2matter as part of their passion projects. Here's a link to the website and the signup. If your child wants to make a difference in the world, you may want to mention this as something they want to do. Very exciting.  "The Quest2Matter is a five-week, student-focused initiative that seeks to inspire students to tackle problems that break their heart. This is an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the potential of students to think entrepreneurially and innovatively and use modern tools to solve problems that break their heart. To learn more about the Quest2Matter, read this post.  We are looking to recruit 225 students, and teachers to help facilitate them for our DREAM TEAM! They will be helping us launch the Quest2Matter and its parent movement, Choose2Matter. See the general information and qualifications below, followed by the specific duties of each team. At the very bottom of this post, you’ll find a link to the sign-up form."</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/quest2matter">quest2matter</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/choose2matter">choose2matter</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://geniushour.wikispaces.com">geniushour - home</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A transformational practice that is in the second year in my own classroom. This is as transformational and essential as adding global collaboration to your classroom.</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/geniushour">geniushour</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/passion">passion</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/passionbasedlearning">passionbasedlearning</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 04/18/2013

High School Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Last week a 20 ...

30 Days of Writing #3: A prompt a day from Plinky.com

1:44 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have access to 1:1 computers, or if your students have computers and Internet access at home, you could introduce them to daily writing exercise using a website called Plinky (</span><a href="http://www.plinky.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.plinky.com/</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaLxZXHkVCclARrTcd4QFWA3Lp6MCmYEcYeu_t1AGBXmEnTvwIvCib4URJnKridpOuPUd89hm0nO7hwc_5xuDxXkAuk1zdonFcGYVWq911TH0qAXby9l1GlBMjB4f0vDhPrxMkLmHMw8/?imgmax=800" title="image" width="244" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How does Plinky work?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what the website says:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Every day we provide a new prompt (like a question, or a challenge), and everyone gets a chance to answer. It's simple to add photos, maps, playlists and more. You can easily share your Plinky answers on Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, Tumblr, and most major blogging services. We know you've got something interesting to say. Plinky is here to help you say it in a fun and compelling way. Sign up below to get started!”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGY7GlKsbuws4osEHU9i_PnQM9eGH4EiAY1q_cBVWfEgMztDW2hs_fc9a7OasMWHnSuoWOow3ZQIaPsuthDTkcMkG5ZgYEpgqMCesAUhNmKYSA4ARmpCv8HW36ilQr9-5KtaL1l5ED_M/?imgmax=800" title="image" width="244" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What happens when you sign up?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a fairly lengthy form to fill in</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZHI5MBY_nCrmRhXruZXRhEJ99kSy4qN6K4SyrgiWnPJmTp6KjgbPv-mC8oMhSOe_uLL5rTUX-U1pcjFS9hp5FwxBP1VBzH2DpfpIGYWzW4hM1m8DOgWocbdgvmItDf0vGUFoCx08T9c/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="277" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whew! At last. This is quite a mission and it makes me wonder about involving younger primary school students. The daily prompt is shown as in my first illustration above, but there are a number of prompts to choose from if you don’t like the one displayed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzYkuScc2uc7bOaMqro9D8pzD6jPB73vp6yEzuCgUahXAZZowzT-RSQY4NaIuV2bTwOWIffd7v1CFU_Mvpf7fC7WKYqx-t6I4BLd0f_BgpNonbJLZATOh78GpLkTB1bUT_6aTDfd-6G4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="222" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My conclusion</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This could be a site for an older student. If one could get past the sign up process the site could be quite useful just for spontaneous writing. </span></div>

30 Days of Writing 30 Days of Writing #3: A prompt a day from Plinky.com

If you have access to 1:1 computers, or if your students have computers and Internet access at home, you could introduce them to daily writi...

Typical Day at CNN for John King

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><b><i>*Dramatic Music* </i></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Announcer:</b> “This is Breaking News from CNN. We now go live to John King.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Vkr4cBbGVtnB0mpKOO7ngwtlnnuLJBoucvGYmv86cU8TRAg-9uRshVVJcaqoZSk4H4IBJvOsXKm0Kbeu99ile4CpR-6qS3svbdnahQAzOcmM2DaupsKAuF51HCk7whRVYOmhJrbGoc/s1600/John-King-Stupid-CNN-Handsome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Vkr4cBbGVtnB0mpKOO7ngwtlnnuLJBoucvGYmv86cU8TRAg-9uRshVVJcaqoZSk4H4IBJvOsXKm0Kbeu99ile4CpR-6qS3svbdnahQAzOcmM2DaupsKAuF51HCk7whRVYOmhJrbGoc/s320/John-King-Stupid-CNN-Handsome.jpg" width="212" /></a><b>John King:</b> “Thank you anonymous voice that creeps me out, this is John King and I have breaking news </div>that is sooooo breaking. Nobody has this news but me! Woo-Hoo! I got it first! Where’s Fox News? Where’s MSNBC? Nobody knows! Well, you better call them and have them gather around the TV to see how journalism is done bitches! <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">CNN and I, John King, the greatest journalist in the history of cable news and quite possibly the history of any and all news organizations the world over, have breaking news. My sources, which nobody else has because I’m charming and good-looking and TENATIOUS have told me and I can report that there has been an arrest in the Boston Marathon Bombing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">BOO-YEAH!!!! In your face Jim Miklaszewski! In YOUR face whoever the hell is responsible for breaking news over at Fox! I beat yoooooouuuuuuuu! I beat youuuuuuuuuuu! Ha Ha! Wooooooo! You suck! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Uh, anyway, as I reported … FIRST! … and CNN can confirm, an arrest has been made in the Boston Marathon Bombing Attack!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>My sources tell me that a ‘dark-skinned’ male has been taken into custody and will be brought to the courthouse here in Boston very soon to be arraigned. I know some of you won’t be happy about that ‘dark-skinned’ part, but hey, the truth is truth! All I can do is report the facts, right Chris Cuomo?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Chris Cuomo:</b> “Damn right John Boy!” *high five* “Way to be on it! That’s why I left ABC so I could work for a WINNER! How ‘bout you Fran Townsend? After all those years in the Bush admin, this must make you happy!” <br /><br /><b>Fran Townsend:</b> “God-DAMN right it does!” *high five* “Best of both worlds for me because they’ve got the towel head in custody and I STILL get to blame it all on Obama and remind everyone that GW Bush kept us all safe!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King and Chris Cuomo: </b>“Hey-OOOOOOOOOOO!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Anderson Cooper: </b>“Uh guys, we might have a slight problem here.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Fran Townsend: </b>“Oh God. Here we go. The gay guy is gonna remind us not to use words like ‘towel-head’ again.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King: </b>“Party pooper”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Chris Cuomo:</b> “Lighten up dude!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Anderson Cooper:</b> “Well, yeah that’s a problem, but more importantly the Justice Department says the story is false.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King: </b>“Oh bullshit! You’re just trying to piss on my parade fancy pants.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Anderson Cooper: </b>“No, I’m serious. Justice says no arrest, no one in custody and they don’t even have anyone ID’d from the photos or videos.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King: </b>“I … I …. I can’t believe this.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>*Chris Cuomo and Fran Townsend casually walk away leaving John King alone on set*</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King:</b> “Who would do this to me? This is so wrong. My sources are so good. I’m so good-looking! What the hell happened.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>*camera fades out from John King to Piers Morgan in studio* </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Piers Morgan:</b> “BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! WOOOOO! THAT WAS MY BEST CELL PHONE HACK EVER!!!! AAHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hey wait …. Is that camera on?? What the hell guys???!!!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><b>  </b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i>*Dramatic Music* </i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“This is Breaking News from CNN! We go now to CNN headquarters in Atlanta and Wolf Blitzer” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wolf Blitzer:</b> “Good afternoon folks, we have breaking news concerning the Boston Marathon Bomber. Let’s go immediately to senior political correspondent John King. John, what do you have for us ….” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John King: </b>“Thanks Wolf. Ladies and gentlemen, I can confirm that I, John King, have learned EXCLUSIVELY that there has been NO ARREST made so far today in the Boston Marathon Bombing investigation. There have been some rumors out there, repeated by some of our competitors that there had been an arrest, but I can confirm, absolutely that there hasn’t been one.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://facebook.com/jayman68">Facebook.com/jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Typical Day at CNN for John King

*Dramatic Music* Announcer: “This is Breaking News from CNN. We now go live to John King.” John King: “Thank you anonymous voice that cree...

TURKEY’S BALKAN POLICY UNDER AKP

8:02 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GcXtVqG9cD0YcN7Y1NK59ROgqCHzXieNIU2DY0Rd1KUyJh2VyIMhbMUojv_2YZoDAFgObCNwKNCTpYHxBuN3SBZoXpXxh2WjFUilHs5SI6jlBa_npau0wD1x2dy2UACRa-BZPcFfXtUZ/s1600/260px-Presidential_Seal_of_the_Republic_of_Turkey.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GcXtVqG9cD0YcN7Y1NK59ROgqCHzXieNIU2DY0Rd1KUyJh2VyIMhbMUojv_2YZoDAFgObCNwKNCTpYHxBuN3SBZoXpXxh2WjFUilHs5SI6jlBa_npau0wD1x2dy2UACRa-BZPcFfXtUZ/s1600/260px-Presidential_Seal_of_the_Republic_of_Turkey.svg.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkish Presidential Seal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“TURKOISLAMIC” SYNTHESIS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><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";">After AKP and Erdogan rose to power back in 2002, TURKEY was on the verge of a severe financial crisis that led to a deal with the IMF and a haircut of 62% on its deposits. However, TURKEY – facilitated by its political system which allows for more authoritarian policies to be implemented- is now ranked among the countries with the highest rates of development (8.5%) and claims for a more influential role in the regional arena. Its comeback provided it with the opportunity to pursue a more extrovert foreign policy, seeking to exploit current tensions and long standing divisions. Such a case are the BALKANS where TURKEY tries to gain access and promote its geopolitical interests by means of economy, diplomacy and religion, all under the concept of neo-Ottomanism. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article: </span></u></b></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TURKEY <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">GROWS FASTER THAN EUROZONE'S MAJOR ECONOMIES</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> at </span></i></span></div><i> </i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/turkey.html"><span lang="DE-AT" style="mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/turkey.html</span></a><span lang="DE-AT" style="mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;"> an </span></i></div><i> </i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/turkey-always-force-to-reckon-with.html"><span lang="DE-AT" style="mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/turkey-always-force-to-reckon-with.html</span></a></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";">This proactive policy is neither an innovation of Erdogan’s government nor of its Minister of Foreign Affairs Davutoglou. The founder is considered to be Turgut Ozal who introduced the concept of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turkoislamic</b>synthesis as a means to extend TURKEY’S sphere of influence. Later on, when Ismail Cem was minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002), he too opted for a multidimensional pro-active foreign policy yet with a firm Western orientation. </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: #134f5c;"><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";">TURKEY’S SHORT-TERM AND MEDIUM-TERM FOREIGN POLICY IN THE REGION ARE THE STRENGTHENING OF BOSNIA AND ALBANIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In both these cases but also under Erdogan, TURKEY longed to take advantage of current instabilities in order to redefine its position in the new world order following the end of the Cold War. When referring to Turkish Foreign Policy under the AKP, one cannot but refer to Ahmet Davutoglu -chief advisor at the Prime Minister’s Office during the period 2002-2009 and from 2009 on, Minister of Foreign Affairs-who seems to be the most crucial figure. The so -called “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Davutoglu’s Doctrine</b>” which is described in his famous book “The strategic depth” seems to find a literal application in AKP’s policies. With regard to the BALKANS, the two most important short-term and medium-term goals of TURKISH foreign policy in the region are the strengthening of BOSNIA and ALBANIA and the creation of an international legal framework that could set the minorities of TURKISH origin under the protection of the TURKISH state. Under this legal framework, TURKEY should seek to ensure such provisions that would provide it with the pretext to intervene in issues related with the Muslim minorities in the BALKANS. </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";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AS3_J1RHVPaIKvB_PVcNq1tk6h94A-XSNWEbwEHyyGS_xGj1hLR0nrmKgzAg83dNzl-hpaFznc4SB3DL2rIZ6BhP7mQ9hhBwyxnOt6VNa3dqvQ1-nNWNE2Wd9TnaHoqPBGcGJgtEUZhm/s1600/Turkish+Islamic+Union+-+Harun+Yahya+Wallpaper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AS3_J1RHVPaIKvB_PVcNq1tk6h94A-XSNWEbwEHyyGS_xGj1hLR0nrmKgzAg83dNzl-hpaFznc4SB3DL2rIZ6BhP7mQ9hhBwyxnOt6VNa3dqvQ1-nNWNE2Wd9TnaHoqPBGcGJgtEUZhm/s320/Turkish+Islamic+Union+-+Harun+Yahya+Wallpaper.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />  <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 order to promote TURKISH foreign policy’s interests, he proposes as a guideline the use of intra-and extra-regional balances in order to prevent the formation of a BALKAN coalition. Recognizing the existence of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">three historical fields of influence – the Holy Roman Empire of the GERMAN Nation, the Orthodox-Slavic heritage and the Ottoman Empire, he suggests that the U.S. will choose to support the Islamic factor in the area to prevent the increase of influence of GERMANY or RUSSIA.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article</span></u></b><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";">: GREATER ALBANIA at </span></b></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><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/2013/01/greater-albania-united-states-project.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/greater-albania-united-states-project.html</a></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TURKEY gains foothold in the BALKANS on the grounds of common history, the presence of approximately 1,000,000 people of TURKISH origin in these countries, the geographical proximity, its growing economic presence and a foreign policy that aims to secure allies in TURKEY’S integration to the EU through the establishment of friendly relations with BALKAN countries. Given the volatile situation in the BALKANS where national fermentations have not been completed, combined with US political disengagement in the region, accompanied with reluctance or failure to foster institutions that will ensure the sustainability of the state to whose creation they contributed, a stabilizing actor is considered essential for the region. Such a role was agreeably taken over by TURKEY. The main target of TURKEY’S BALKAN policy, as shaped by the AKP, is to prove to the EUROPEANS that it has western features. To alleviate fears of establishing a zone of influence in the area, it assures that it wishes the integration of these countries to NATO and the EU. </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";"></span><i><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article: </span></u></b> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TURKEY INVESTING HEAVILY IN BIH at</span></b><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></i></div><i><span style="color: blue;"> </span></i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><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/2011/07/bosnia-european-unions-stepchild.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/07/bosnia-european-unions-stepchild.html</a></span></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";">As Özden Zeynep Oktav aptly notes: “Seen in retrospect, it can be said that TURKISH activism in the BALKANS has always been nourished by the crisis situation in the region. TURKEY started to become active in the region due to the crises in BOSNIA – HERZEGOVINA & KOSOVO. However, the important issue is that during both crises TURKEY has acted within the framework of NATO, the EU and the West in general. </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: #134f5c;"><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";">TURKEYS GEOPOLITICAL TACTICS IN THE BALKANS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The cornerstone of TURKEY’S BALKAN policy is to secure influence in BOSNIA – HERZEGOVINA, which seems to include three levels: at a local level by encouraging dialogue among peoples constitutionally recognized in the country, at a regional level, with pressure on BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, SERBIA and CROATIA to develop stronger links between them and thus overcome the conflict, at an international level by undertaking diplomatic initiatives promoting the territorial integrity of the country and its integration to the Euro-Atlantic institutions. President Abdulah Gul’ visit back in October 2009 in Belgrade – the first TURKISH officer’s visit after 29 years- marked the resumption of relations between SERBIA and TURKEY. On the 24<sup>th</sup> of April 2010, the presidents of TURKEY, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA and SERBIA signed the Istanbul Declaration on Peace and Stability in the BALKANS which guarantees the territorial integrity of BOSNIA and commits the signatories to improve cooperation and to ensure mutual commitment to the path towards EUROPEAN integration. (This initiative is part of the rationale for multilateral agreements in the BALKANS in which TURKEY will participate in order to ensure diplomatic footholds). Furthermore, in February 2008 TURKEY recognized KOSOVO’S independence and has committed itself to promote its interests internationally. Finally, TURKEY strongly supports the efforts of “MACEDONIA” -which has been recognized under its constitutional name since 1991- for achieving full membership in NATO and the EU, before finding a solution to the name dispute with Athens. In December 2010, the Ministers of Defence of Turkey and “Macedonia” signed an agreement on economic and military cooperation. At a NATO summit in Chicago (20 – 21 May 2012), although the issue of enlargement of the Alliance was not officially in the agenda, TURKEY did not miss the opportunity to move diplomatically to promote the nominations of FYROM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, MONTENEGRO and GEORGIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article:</span></u></b></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TURKEY...... EMERGING POWER at</span></b><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";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html</a>and</span></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NEW EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS POSE A THREAT TO STABILITY IN THE REGION?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/the-balkans.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/the-balkans.html</a>and</span></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">EXTREMISTS ESTABLISH FOOTHOLD IN THE BALKANS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><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/2012/10/kosovo.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/kosovo.html</a></span></i></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";">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><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";">COLLAPSE OF COMMUNIST REGIMES PROMPTED ISLAMIC NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE ARAB GULF STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA TO PROMOTE WAHHABISM</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another important issue that has risen after the collapse of the communist regimes and the consequent lifting of prohibitions related to religious practices, is the redefinition of the role of religion. Islam was used as a differentiating factor to ethnic groups, especially in KOSOVO and MACEDONIA. The traditional elite and the rural populations were reluctant to be identified as Muslims, preferring to highlight their national origin. For instance, the ALBANIAN Muslim community perceives itself as a cultural minority in EUROPE and gradually adopted its own national myth, based on the rejection of the religious divisions among ethnic ALBANIANS. The vacuum created by this regime change provided an opportunity for Islamic Non-Governmental Organizations, closely associated with the ARAB GULF states and SAUDI ARABIA, to promote the extreme version of Islam as proposed by Wahhabism – the religious fundamentalist movement within Islam that advocates the return to the teachings of the basic texts of Islam (Koran, Hadith, Igkma). Given Islam’s radicalization, the prevalence of extreme religious tendencies in the Islamic world, and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">proven connection of Islamic NGO’s with Al-Qaeda</b>, the U.S. saw TURKEY as a country that </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQQrGSPw75uoH6GvxXkCaDa0_NEhCWw8dFFLeV8scvG90ZgVkZK_gaJVTZY-obtog5F_dbN-PDhWJ_91MQXvnWKpkSJblZvHzNOCl4OM7boA2IAHx6dp6iiGBNLvFSG681aZCRlgEnLKN/s1600/TIKA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQQrGSPw75uoH6GvxXkCaDa0_NEhCWw8dFFLeV8scvG90ZgVkZK_gaJVTZY-obtog5F_dbN-PDhWJ_91MQXvnWKpkSJblZvHzNOCl4OM7boA2IAHx6dp6iiGBNLvFSG681aZCRlgEnLKN/s1600/TIKA.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">could act as a counterbalance. It is important to remark that TURKEY was presented as a moderate Islamic actor rather than a secular Islamic state. This verbal change bears more than a simple symbolism. Instead, it emphasizes moderation as a means to secure network communication with the countries where Muslim populations inhabit and alleviate the pressure toward secularism and the imposition of a Western-style democracy. However, despite the initial fear of the radicalization of the BALKANS, the upgrade of the role of religion did not put into question the relationship between religion and the state and the social structures of those countries. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article: </span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6 PART DOSSIER ON WAHHABISM IN BIH at</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></u></b></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><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/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html</a>and</span></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><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/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html</a></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><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";">TURKEYS INFLUENTIAL SECRETARIAT FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS (SRA)</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In terms of TURKISH penetration in the BALKANS with Islam as a starting point, AKP’s government uses the TURKISH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (TIKA) and the Secretariat for Religious Affairs, while government involvement is recorded in religious and parastatal organizations in the region. TIKA was an organization founded during Turgut Ozal’s presidency as a means of an active foreign policy within the concept of TURKOISLAMIC synthesis. TIKA as an international relief agency can act only in States which are officially classified as “developing”. Therefore, the actions have been limited to the Western Balkans and could not penetrate in GREECE and BULGARIA. TIKA takes up symbolic actions such as rebuilding mosques or programs such as assisting in rural development and providing health care. Rebuilding mosques is considered important in order to raise the morale of the Muslim communities. Also, it takes a symbolic character of the restoration and rehabilitation of the Ottoman heritage and a reaffirmation of the role of TURKEY as a protector of Muslims in the region. The Secretariat for Religious Affairs is under the Prime Minister’s Office and is therefore independent of the Foreign Ministry and its action goes beyond the limits imposed by traditional diplomacy, thus allowing it to work with Islamic organizations. Since 1995, it organizes the “EUROPEAN Islamic Council”, in which participants are the heads of the Islamic directorates from 38 countries (Central ASIA and the BALKANS). Since 2007, the Presidency of the Council decided to hold an annual meeting of the Heads of the BALKAN Muslim communities. </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";"><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/AVvXsEjEdRPowmtd0oC2-EKFaCecFr4V0lq7KGJ_j1h2HnJHsl9ENOYGtB6Kah-0H0k0juoEIGCOugDl0VpsbuhgIhYVDwmzMumWFXVc6IyNb-r8EbsA1BFAloAIo0fm3NL1CnI6hW8UGyia5Wt0/s1600/resize.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdRPowmtd0oC2-EKFaCecFr4V0lq7KGJ_j1h2HnJHsl9ENOYGtB6Kah-0H0k0juoEIGCOugDl0VpsbuhgIhYVDwmzMumWFXVc6IyNb-r8EbsA1BFAloAIo0fm3NL1CnI6hW8UGyia5Wt0/s400/resize.aspx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Abdullah Gül received Bosnia and Herzegovina's  Reis-ul-Ulema (Grand Mufti), Hussein Kavazovic, and his accompanying  delegation at the Çankaya Presidential Palace. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><strong></strong></div><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red;">Read related article on Husein Effendi Kavazovic at: </span></span></b></span><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/bosnias-dangerous-tango.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/bosnias-dangerous-tango.html </a><br />and<br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN BOSNIA</span></b></span></span></span><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html</a><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><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";">SRA’S RESPONSIBILITY AND INFLUENCE GOES BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE BORDERS WITHIN THE NATIONAL TERRITORY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><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";"><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/AVvXsEgLm2s8e0ybn-psy19iaRLLUY38iRYfosbXLL3gnQGehXQHGsjANY0fabLONcUzWYOVcGFeVsCCqg985XKAIcoWfwBAhoPvZzInhs0KqQxqIUrzG9Wo88TzuzxA8qjMvBsowL_kSGwGcsUe/s1600/erdogan-gulen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm2s8e0ybn-psy19iaRLLUY38iRYfosbXLL3gnQGehXQHGsjANY0fabLONcUzWYOVcGFeVsCCqg985XKAIcoWfwBAhoPvZzInhs0KqQxqIUrzG9Wo88TzuzxA8qjMvBsowL_kSGwGcsUe/s320/erdogan-gulen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The AKP<span style="font-size: x-small;"> and the G<span style="font-size: x-small;">ulen Movement </span></span></span></span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table></span></b></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 Secretariat was also established after an Ozal’s initiative to restore the faith to traditional Islam. Its responsibilities include the appointment of imams, the payment of their salaries, the organization of religious activities; it acts as the highest religious authority in matters of doctrine and faith. After the 1980 coup, it began to assume responsibilities that went beyond the traditional administrative borders within the national territory and began to operate in countries where there were TURKISH immigrants. Parastatal organizations acting in accordance with the TURKISH government also play an important role, acting through networks that are difficult to detect and control. The most outstanding example of all is Gulen’s Movement, (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BClen_movement">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BClen_movement</a>) which has founded a significant number of colleges and universities in the BALKANS (indicatively, the University of Burch in Sarajevo and the Epoca University in Tirana). Also, the reconstitution re-recorded and re-Islamic brotherhoods adjacent to the tradition of Naksibendi.(</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandi">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandi</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: #134f5c;"><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";">TURKEYS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE BALKANS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With regard to the economic promotion of TURKEY in the region, we see investment in strategic sectors such as Tele-communications, infrastructure and banking sectors. Regarding trade relations between TURKEY and the BALKAN countries, a 6.7% of the total export product of the country is directed to them. The further expansion of TURKISH exports is stalled by the law quality of its products, the transparency of the trade process and the working conditions. Analysts foresee the possibility of a further penetration of TURKISH products if the economic crises continues, causing GERMAN and FRENCH companies, AUSTRIAN and ITALIAN banks to withdraw from the area and GREEK investments to decline.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article:</span></u></b></span></i></div><i><span style="color: blue;"> </span></i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WESTERN ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE LED TO UNDERESTIMATE TURKEY at </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a></span></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;"><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 style="color: #134f5c;">EU BALKAN POLICIES FOSTER TURKISH KEY - LEADER POSITION IN THE BALKANS</span> </span></b></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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aVizNp5CvyTYVqw-g5O496ZzWAQiDRQ-fQZjTTZTc4KM5YMa1ERBanzbhupUsr0i3rPajsNo-14IU0pgpo0LSECanhEAI26pj6mGL-QucmIFKtOiOrkxAogiMcXLN2frqsVodnttfElu/s1600/european_union.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aVizNp5CvyTYVqw-g5O496ZzWAQiDRQ-fQZjTTZTc4KM5YMa1ERBanzbhupUsr0i3rPajsNo-14IU0pgpo0LSECanhEAI26pj6mGL-QucmIFKtOiOrkxAogiMcXLN2frqsVodnttfElu/s320/european_union.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><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";">Since TURKEY’S integration process to the EU delays, it seems no longer willing to abandon a multifaceted field of action in order to join the lengthy and collaborative processes of EU. Nonetheless, the integration of friendly-allied countries in EU can provide support to the TURKISH integration’s efforts. For TURKEY, to exert political influence in the grade that it will secure regional domination, a mix of continuous economic crisis and a long-term blockade of the BALKAN countries from the EU are considered to be the only two factors that will allow such a development. Brussels’ declining leverage has in turn opened opportunity for other players such as TURKEY, RUSSIA and CHINA to fill in the gaps.</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: blue;"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DOES TURKEY REALLY NEED THE EU?</b> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html</a>and</span></i></span></div><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><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/turkeys-interest-in-eu-membership.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/turkeys-interest-in-eu-membership.html</a></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Liountri Christianna</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="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More articles related to TURKEY</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkey-iran-great-silk-gold-road.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkey-iran-great-silk-gold-road.html</a></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/for-turkey-as-model-in-middle-east.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/for-turkey-as-model-in-middle-east.html</a></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkeys-foreign-policy-poker-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkeys-foreign-policy-poker-game.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkey-and-russia.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkey-and-russia.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkey-and-central-asia.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkey-and-central-asia.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/warmongerning-between-israel-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/warmongerning-between-israel-and-turkey.html</a></div>

TURKEY’S BALKAN POLICY UNDER AKP

Turkish Presidential Seal “TURKOISLAMIC” SYNTHESIS After AKP and Erdogan rose to power back in 2002, TURKEY was on the verge of a severe fi...