I spent the night with Elvis

Okay, so it wasn't the whole night, only about ninety minutes. It wasn't the real Elvis, but this guy, Elvis impersonator Steve Sogura (who was incredibly and surprisingly good):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ntw8LnRQW2sHWHv5M9QvAaYU1n8KAgJA9c4X9MhHCO3hFnAmpTTKPPANRMOrgxyk0I8CJ2N_MQDg_MzEe3VqefjHmPKknjMBJCIFQ7TuIQXAA1c4QrfXyAMLGbtICHuckYASDmUgZ-Y/s1600/elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ntw8LnRQW2sHWHv5M9QvAaYU1n8KAgJA9c4X9MhHCO3hFnAmpTTKPPANRMOrgxyk0I8CJ2N_MQDg_MzEe3VqefjHmPKknjMBJCIFQ7TuIQXAA1c4QrfXyAMLGbtICHuckYASDmUgZ-Y/s400/elvis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It was our 23rd wedding anniversary yesterday. We usually try to do something different or special on our anniversary because it is a special day (Lord only knows how we made it this far).<br /><br />Since I can't travel (my flight benefits are suspended - which is fine), my husband wanted to go to the Muckleshoot Casino for their all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Personally, I'd almost rather have my eyes poked out with a sharp stick.<br /><br />a.) I hate casinos. The noise, the smoking, and watching people that you know can't afford it throwing away good money is all almost more than I can stand. I'm not a gambler and personally, I just do not understand the entertainment value. I've tried it a few times and thought it was boring and a waste of money (obviously Ive never won anything substantial).<br /><br />b.) All-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Need I say more?<br /><br />In an effort to be more fun, I agreed to go. A few weeks ago my husband told me that my constant diet and exercise really has had a negative impact on our lives all these years, and he was tired of it (not of me, I guess--just my relationship with food and how I often don't want to do food related activities). He doesn't get it.<br /><br />I could write a very long post on the previous paragraph but since I only have one good hand, I'll spare you for now.<br /><br />My review of the Muckleshoot Casino food -  yuk! Bad food. I didn't know it was peel your own shrimp and crack your own crab. With only one hand that is almost impossible. My husband offered to do it for me but I didn't like the shrimp (mushy and tasted funny) and the crab was super salty so after one bite I was done with the crab.<br /><br />My dinner was Northwest salmon (wild Alaskan Chinook is better), smoked salmon (too salty), a few shrimp, a big pile of perfectly steamed broccoli, and cantaloupe and honeydew melon for dessert.<br /><br />In spite of the food not quite being what we expected, we had a really good time. We decided to go to the free show, the Elvis impersonator, Steve Sogura (from Ravensdale, WA). It sounded a little cheesy and I didn't expect much. I was shocked at how much he sounded, looked and moved like a young Elvis. Especially the voice. He had it down perfectly. My husband, a rather harsh critic, loved the show. I'd highly recommend it (skip the buffet).<br /><br />Weight this morning, a new low (well, at least this time around): 183.4.<br /><br />By the way, you'll notice no pictures of me for a while. I had a hair catastrophe earlier this week. A bang trim that butchered my bangs. Almost an inch and a half above my eyebrows, and ash blond on my golden blond hair. I have an appointment to get the color fixed (with my regular color person). The bangs, well, I guess they'll grow. Long story on what happened. Anyway, I'm camera shy right now.<br /><br />Funny thing, two days after my bad hair experince, Jen, Prior Fat Girl, wrote this <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2011/08/i-am-not.html">post </a>with the video, " I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie. Made me smile.<br /><br /><br />

I spent the night with Elvis

Okay, so it wasn't the whole night, only about ninety minutes. It wasn't the real Elvis, but this guy, Elvis impersonator Steve Sogu...

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IF NOT THE ECONOMIC CRISES, THEN BE IT LA NIÑA….. SI NO LA CRISIS ECONÓMICA, ENTONCES SERA LA NIÑA ... ..

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">LATIN AMERICAS ECONOMY IS BOOMING, A FACT NOT MANY WANT TO ACCEPT……</span><br /><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: blue;">LA ECONOMÍA DE AMÉRICA LATINA ESTÁ EN AUGE, HECHO QUE NO MUCHOS QUIEREN ACEPTAR ... ...</span></span><br /> <br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UBaXM8elJb0?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>http://www.latameconomy.org/en/outlook/ </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is interesting to see how certain mainstream media, under the influence of lobbyists, try to anything to manipulate opinion of the reader by portraying certain topics in biased ways.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">One such example is “The Economist” a reputable weekly magazine based in the UK. Reputable only when <u>not</u> covering Latin America, for when it comes to eco – political topics regarding Latin America and especially Argentina it becomes evident that “The Economist” follows a certain agenda which clearly is bias and manipulated by other entities.</span></div><div style="color: blue;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Es interesante ver cómo algunos medios de comunicación, bajo la influencia de los grupos de presión, intentan cualquier cosa para manipular a la opinión del lector al presentar algunos temas de manera sesgada.<br /> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Un ejemplo es "The Economist", una revista semanal de buena reputación en el Reino Unido. Reputación intachable sólo cuando no cubre América Latina, por lo que se refiere a los temas eco políticos de América Latina y de Argentina en particular se hace evidente que "The Economist" sigue un programa determinado que claramente es sesgado y manipulado por otras entidades.</span><br style="color: orange;" /><span style="color: orange;"> </span><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLCZQFn8-JWV4hsfnlVe06ChaMS_HbY7ftef5OU5BQMsLX4X2GXb4LzWu0GV59EzW2o5lWrWqGMGJWZ4fAfxI_y-aVNKdyz4E5uYdpYQUa8w7UxO4NUoOMzQ8fFWtx2-234R3iLnCQ_YF/s1600/1313039624204.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/AVvXsEhgLCZQFn8-JWV4hsfnlVe06ChaMS_HbY7ftef5OU5BQMsLX4X2GXb4LzWu0GV59EzW2o5lWrWqGMGJWZ4fAfxI_y-aVNKdyz4E5uYdpYQUa8w7UxO4NUoOMzQ8fFWtx2-234R3iLnCQ_YF/s320/1313039624204.jpg" width="297" /></a>On August 13^th the magazine published an article on Latin Americas economy in which one realizes, even if one is not an economist, how the article is manipulative and bias, simply because certain entities clearly envy the economic progress the continent is experiencing.       </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the article the usual rhetoric’s about the threat of overheating economy and high inflation is dominating the story. According to The Economist, Brazil’s inflation is 6.9% above the target. What the article does not mention is that in comparison Europe faces similar high inflation numbers with the UK, “The Economists” home base, reaching 4.4%!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;">El 13 de agosto, la revista publicó un artículo sobre la economía de América Latina en la que uno se da cuenta, incluso si uno no es economista, que el artículo es manipulativo, simplemente porque algunas entidades claramente envidian, el progreso económico  que el continente está experimentando.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Este artículo está dominado por la retórica habitual sobre la amenaza del recalentamiento de la economía y la alta inflación. Según The Economist, la inflación de Brasil es de 6,9% por encima del objetivo. Lo que el artículo no menciona es que en comparación Europa enfrenta números similares de inflación alta en el Reino Unido,base de operación de  "los economistas", alcanzando el 4,4%!</span></div></div><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> <br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to Argentina and its economic growth, political and financial lobbyists of various political and corporate entities are clearly annoyed by the way the country is advancing, although being expelled from the INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS.  Argentina has refused to adhere to IMF doctrine and subsequently was able to grow economically and developed independent policies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="color: orange; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Cuando se trata de la Argentina y su crecimiento económico, los grupos de presión política y financiera de las distintas entidades políticas y corporativas están claramente molestos por la forma en que el país está avanzando, a pesar de ser expulsados </span><span lang="ES" style="color: orange; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">​​</span><span lang="ES" style="color: orange; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">de los mercados financieros</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> internacionales. Argentina se ha negado a adherirse a la doctrina del FMI y, posteriormente, fue capaz de crecer económicamente y desarrollar políticas independientes.</span><br style="color: orange;" /><span style="color: orange;"> </span><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reading the article it becomes imminent that “The Economist” promotes the views and stances of the IMF and mainstream economic models which cater for the “casino finance” markets and its speculators. This becomes evident when praising Chile, the only country in Latin America which adheres strictly to USA and IMF doctrines and subsequently is suffering its worst political and economic crisis in LATAM.</span><br /><div style="color: blue;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Leyendo el artículo se hace inminente que "The Economist" promueve las opiniones y posturas del FMI y principales modelos económicos que atienden al "casino financiero” de  los mercados y sus especuladores. Esto se hace evidente cuando alabando a Chile, el único país de América Latina, que se adhiere estrictamente a las doctrinas de EE.UU. y el FMI quien posteriormente, está sufriendo su peor crisis política y económica en LATAM. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The British magazine praises Chile for having gone furthest in <b>rising taxes</b> and cut its fiscal deficit to 1.8% of GDP this year. What they don’t mention is that part of the recent protest in Chile was not only about <b>budget cuts in education</b>, (</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">See my recent posting dated 13th August 2011)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> one of the main IMF demands from governments utilizing its grants, but also because the current government has done little to nothing in infrastructure improvements in the wake of last year’s earthquake. </span><br /><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">La revista británica elogia a Chile por haber llegado más lejos en el aumento de los impuestos y reducir su déficit fiscal a 1,8% del PIB este año. Lo que no mencionan es que parte de la reciente protesta en Chile no sólo fue generada por los recortes presupuestarios en educación, (ver la reciente publicación de fecha XXX) una de las principales demandas del FMI a los gobiernos que utilizan sus donaciones, sino también porque el actual gobierno ha hecho poco o nada en mejoras de infraestructura a raíz del terremoto del año pasado.</span><br /> <br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the wake of economic growth in the region and a stagnating economy in the USA and Europe, eco- political lobbyists and policy makers do their utmost to portray LATAM as unstable economic entity. Thus it becomes evident that the IMF utilizes media propaganda tactics to spread uncertainty regarding LATAM economy by forecasting a fall in LATAMS growth to 3.5% next year and just 3% in 2013, which in view of some LATAM economists seems somewhat exaggerated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Debido al crecimiento económico en la región y el estancamiento de la economía en los EE.UU. y Europa, los grupos de presión eco-políticos y los políticos hacen todo lo posible para retratar LATAM como entidad económica inestable. Así se pone de manifiesto que el FMI utiliza tácticas de los medios de propaganda para difundir la incertidumbre sobre la economía de LATAM en previsión de una caída en el crecimiento LATAMS al 3,5% el próximo año y sólo el 3% en 2013, que en opinión de algunos economistas LATAM parece algo exagerado.</span><br /> <br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reason for biased media coverage and distorted market predictions regarding LATAM are because most of the current governments in LATAM distance themselves from IMF and “Wall Street Casino Finance” doctrines thus denying the “big players of the establishment” a larger portion of the economic cake available in LATAM. </span><br /><div style="color: blue;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">La razón del sesgo de los medios de comunicación y las predicciones de distorsión del mercado con respecto a LATAM se deben a que la mayoría de los gobiernos de turno de LATAM se distancian de las doctrinas del FMI y del "Wall Street Casino Finanzas" negando así a los "grandes jugadores de la creación" una mayor porción de la tarta económica disponible en LATAM.<br /><br /> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">How desperate these entities are to portray a negative outlook for LATAM becomes evident when MercoPress, a Uruguayan based online newspaper published an article which claims that the “</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">La Niña</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">” weather pattern currently forming might threaten crops in Argentina and Brazil, reducing productivity and export, subsequently effecting economic growth in the region.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;">¿Qué tan desesperadas están estas entidades para retratar un panorama negativo para LATAM se hace evidente cuando MercoPress, un diario uruguayo online publicó un artículo que afirma que "La Niña", fenómeno climático que actualmente se está  formando puede poner en peligro las cosechas de Argentina y Brasil, reduciendo la productividad y las exportaciones, subsecuentemente afectando el crecimiento económico en la región.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Food for thought on IMF doctrines: </b></u> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpkGhy7BxXw?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Also see : </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/17/la-nina-threatens-brazil-and-argentina-crops-says-oil-world">http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/17/la-nina-threatens-brazil-and-argentina-crops-says-oil-world</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.economist.com/world/americas">http://www.economist.com/world/americas</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>

IF NOT THE ECONOMIC CRISES, THEN BE IT LA NIÑA….. SI NO LA CRISIS ECONÓMICA, ENTONCES SERA LA NIÑA ... ..

LATIN AMERICAS ECONOMY IS BOOMING, A FACT NOT MANY WANT TO ACCEPT…… LA ECONOMÍA DE AMÉRICA LATINA ESTÁ EN AUGE, HECHO QUE NO MUCHOS QUIEREN ...

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Starting the Weekend Off Right!

You saw me <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/lets-say-it-all-together-folks.html">complaining on Thursday</a> about my gain at the Weight Watchers meeting on Wednesday evening.  Well, even though I don't count that weigh in as my official weigh in, it still hurt.<br /><br />Friday's are my official weigh in days.  They have been for years.  Yes, years.  I've been a WW member for years folks (even though I'm 27, I've been doing it off and on since high school!).  So today is Friday.  Today was my weigh in.  Today I lost 1 pound!<br /><br /><b>I'm proud of myself for this.</b>  Now, my scale is slightly different from that of the WW scale so it's not comparing apples to apples.  Still, I'm just happy to have a loss of a pound.  If all I ever drop is a pound a week for a year, then that's 52 pounds gone at the end of a year and I'd be VERY okay with that!  <br /><br />I also wanted to share some updates on the 2 challenges I'm doing with some lovely ladies over at the <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/">Priorfatgirl.com</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/staying-on-track-with-august-goals.html">The first challenge is the New Rules of Lifting for Women</a>.  I just started my first week on this challenge, and so far so good!  Even though I'm a member at Gold's, I wanted to do these workouts in the comfort of my living room before I take my inexperienced and insecure booty to the gym to do them in front of the Meat Heads.  Even though I'd have Joel by my side the whole time, and he says he even feels insecure, I'm just not ready yet.  But I will be soon!  Did I mention Joel is doing this with me?  That is one reason why I love Joel so much.  He's not afraid that this book is specifically titled "for Women".  After all, the author states that women are fully capable of lifting the same amount of weight as men do (or something to that effect).  We've done 2 workouts so far and have gotten great results.  Great = sore.  Sore = muscle building.  Muscle building = success.  Go us!<br /><br />The second challenge is the Beck Diet Solution.  This isn't actually a diet, it's simply a cognitive behavioral therapy book that helps you become aware of your behaviors with food.  Each day you are asked to focus on one behavioral aspect.  For example, so far this week we've been asked to do the following:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7s8LIffcI7E5GRmuIrsVoI0NFs_vn-a0M6yCmrFZZ43YQMTzVCiQSnzUf-_Ihcw9mg_rrvG_DncC7qpeNjVVApKQm0cots1pXw2ldfhyphenhyphenzYHo0B1UAP1ysiIgyZ2t0AP4JKI60T3ZgyU/s1600/blog%2521+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7s8LIffcI7E5GRmuIrsVoI0NFs_vn-a0M6yCmrFZZ43YQMTzVCiQSnzUf-_Ihcw9mg_rrvG_DncC7qpeNjVVApKQm0cots1pXw2ldfhyphenhyphenzYHo0B1UAP1ysiIgyZ2t0AP4JKI60T3ZgyU/s400/blog%2521+004.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The supplies for the Beck challenge: post it's, 3x5 index cards, a notebook (not pictured) and the book itself.  Things not needed: the Halloween cat (also known as Charles).</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><br /><blockquote>1. <b>Write down the advantages of losing weight.</b>  This is clearly a subjective assignment.  What do <i>you </i>think are advantages for <i>you </i>for losing weight?<br /><br />2. <b>Pick 2 reasonable diets. </b>I've struggled with identifying a second diet.  My first pick is Weight Watchers.  I'm struggling between simple calorie counting, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/biggest-loser-diet">the Biggest Loser diet</a>, or this one I've been reading about from Elle at the Priorfatgirl, call <a href="http://www.cynthiasass.com/the-cinch-book.html">the Cinch diet</a>.  Any ideas?  I'm a very picky eater so not a lot of eating plans work for me.<br /><br />3. <b>Eat sitting down.</b>  Self explanatory.  The idea is that you're not shoving food in your mouth while you're making it.  Only enjoy eating the food when sitting down, which if you're sitting down it probably means the meal is ready to be eaten in its entirety, not just in bits and pieces while you're preparing it.  I actually don't struggle with this at all (unless I'm baking cookies!).<br /><br />4. <b>Give yourself credit.</b>  Were you able to resist the offer of take out from your favorite Korean restaurant when your boyfriend texted you saying he could <i>easily </i>swing buy and bring that home for dinner?  Yes, I was!  Well, I'm just gonna go ahead and pat myself on the back then Miss Thang.<br /><br />5. <b>Eat slowly and mindfully.</b>  If you're inhaling your food, chances are you're not really enjoying it and savoring the taste.  Not only that, but you may find yourself hungry an hour later because you practically swallowed that turkey breast roast whole in t-minus 5 minutes!  Try to have a sit down meal at your dinner table, without the TV on or without the computer sitting in front of you.  The gist is to minimize the distractions while eating.  Dr. Beck gives tips for those who have small children that need tending to during/after you as the parent have finished your meal. Again, not something I struggle with but it's still good to be mindful of it anyhow.</blockquote>I'm really enjoying both of these challenges so far.  If you are participating in either of these challenges, or have participated, how did they work for you?<br /><br />Best wishes to everyone for a lovely weekend! :)<br /><br />

New Rules of Lifting for Women The Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Challenges Weight Watchers Starting the Weekend Off Right!

You saw me complaining on Thursday about my gain at the Weight Watchers meeting on Wednesday evening.  Well, even though I don't count ...

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Wednesday's Cruise in pictures

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day was fun. Good people, good food, good weather..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ate as healthy as possible on the cruise considering we had to pre-order the food and no nutritional information available. I had salmon, mashed potatoes that were amazing but I ate only about 1/3 cup, and fresh asparagus. There was bread and a little salad before lunch and strawberry cheesecake afterwards that was the best cheesecake I've ever tasted (I had one very tiny bite). My best guesstimate using BodyMedia to log my food was 670 calories for that one meal. I had even left a lot of food on my plate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exercise lacking yesterday but I made up for it today (StairMaster). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Doctor appointment in the morning to review my lab results. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too tired to write anything else (with my one hand).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What we saw when we got off the chartered bus from our corporate office. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_zSOwMn8p3h970fW6ZMwG89N_Jeuor8lOnkcrW8rNQX0J9gq31uVkyeSCsWjqVnJoPBKsUgmEiUNVOTeF188hmnZdccRKkoSd5TLCviFJFE7zii_UIbpZ-0sM5e2nW3NFzCb3t0HBm6S/s1600/Argosy+cruises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_zSOwMn8p3h970fW6ZMwG89N_Jeuor8lOnkcrW8rNQX0J9gq31uVkyeSCsWjqVnJoPBKsUgmEiUNVOTeF188hmnZdccRKkoSd5TLCviFJFE7zii_UIbpZ-0sM5e2nW3NFzCb3t0HBm6S/s400/Argosy+cruises.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From onboard the boat from the dining room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuLDaX_dexLwarEP0eNGeJf7-6CItv2pl8hE_z3Ys5_BsU0DCb9yrZmHk_GzFIPzeAGO5A7FVYDaCSP5CezbWPUyAE4lEfIrUkuGjybY_4QbAGZPy2tArkECLFmFOuIm1NfE9h-6v7SsA/s1600/ferry+%2526+space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuLDaX_dexLwarEP0eNGeJf7-6CItv2pl8hE_z3Ys5_BsU0DCb9yrZmHk_GzFIPzeAGO5A7FVYDaCSP5CezbWPUyAE4lEfIrUkuGjybY_4QbAGZPy2tArkECLFmFOuIm1NfE9h-6v7SsA/s400/ferry+%2526+space.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From the top deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ab7EIrNfwLRZPaGGcLarRTa4sN-A-F8CT5sY2QNK1GV5PshGVHD_fkPSqvWYjMNqSs9psOfdOUQ5CiUGHarEMF2NqVNXr2dLCmtC3ppMk-WyrFGyS_XRsMO3oiytnCeaQlCdJTc_Kw0Y/s1600/mt+rainier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ab7EIrNfwLRZPaGGcLarRTa4sN-A-F8CT5sY2QNK1GV5PshGVHD_fkPSqvWYjMNqSs9psOfdOUQ5CiUGHarEMF2NqVNXr2dLCmtC3ppMk-WyrFGyS_XRsMO3oiytnCeaQlCdJTc_Kw0Y/s400/mt+rainier.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">More from the deck</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyBm2cVicVLJZNG539AC7cJv4hO-9LpSR-P8tdD5s6DzLM-cGoieJAr4-tGMxiFuLie2E51W0Ew-j288eddT_8h-x1bZtuhwCIGxxoAHshBEb_w9QniZh7VQuvzMwC_d4jEyExszMjQHN/s1600/ferry+%2526+space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyBm2cVicVLJZNG539AC7cJv4hO-9LpSR-P8tdD5s6DzLM-cGoieJAr4-tGMxiFuLie2E51W0Ew-j288eddT_8h-x1bZtuhwCIGxxoAHshBEb_w9QniZh7VQuvzMwC_d4jEyExszMjQHN/s400/ferry+%2526+space.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The top deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu4gQme0ikLdXfVYxTzJ6gZbO6vZmLMZXDFUiwdoFxdVVzy1w125Y0yHf_g0ltAz4i0pVQl9voD3SGxCaYvYddYaNXclHY5sO9v16ol_yWokT3lLhDOI4x3DUUTQsv163ZIwIL-VgmflD/s1600/deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu4gQme0ikLdXfVYxTzJ6gZbO6vZmLMZXDFUiwdoFxdVVzy1w125Y0yHf_g0ltAz4i0pVQl9voD3SGxCaYvYddYaNXclHY5sO9v16ol_yWokT3lLhDOI4x3DUUTQsv163ZIwIL-VgmflD/s400/deck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The 35-year lapel pin. There were company anniversaries from 20 to 40 years (starting with 20 every five years is a milestone with a celebration). Total years of experience of the people being honored was 990 years. My best friend got the most applause because to know her is to love her.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgXuQgiVCZmMJI_ijmcnKneex2k190sGl8Fvzd6GS4egBau7YbY1nWyo5L7pE8A3T3oOAyJLMTpkrLSEDZWUQ-jTD0lb5XWZRuT8zDUa6FK26NV6IXeJF7xfliZEHqbNP9WtolPJvEvj7/s1600/35+yrs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgXuQgiVCZmMJI_ijmcnKneex2k190sGl8Fvzd6GS4egBau7YbY1nWyo5L7pE8A3T3oOAyJLMTpkrLSEDZWUQ-jTD0lb5XWZRuT8zDUa6FK26NV6IXeJF7xfliZEHqbNP9WtolPJvEvj7/s320/35+yrs.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />

Wednesday's Cruise in pictures

The day was fun. Good people, good food, good weather.. I ate as healthy as possible on the cruise considering we had to pre-order the food ...

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SchoolNet's Adobe Youth Voices programme sends a team to California

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="132" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div closure_uid_gwx7rf="128"><span style="color: black;"><i><span closure_uid_gwx7rf="122" closure_uid_kzol4l="115" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is really worth participating in SchoolNet’s Adobe Youth Voices programme as Hlengiwe Mfeka discovered. Hlengiwe took part in the programme, and she and 2 of her learners from Mconjwana High School in rural KZN were selected to go to Santa Clara, California on the 2 August 2011 to attend the Adobe Youth Voices Summit where their very thought-provoking and moving movie on Street Children was screened. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span closure_uid_gwx7rf="124" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Let me tell you a bit about Hlengwie. She</span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span closure_uid_e3uywh="125" closure_uid_g9a3w6="129" closure_uid_gwx7rf="125" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is currently working for SchoolNet SA as an ICT Support Specialist who is responsible for mentoring educators taking part in the KZN Midlands SITA project.  She is also responsible for a range of ICT training initiatives of teachers in the province. In 2009 she won a Microsoft Innovative Teacher’s Award in South Africa for her project </span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">entitled My community, My Place, My Pride, and she </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>went on to</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><i><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="130" closure_uid_gwx7rf="126" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">represent South Africa at the Pan African Finals with her project. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="131" closure_uid_gwx7rf="127" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later in the same year Hlengiwe and two other SA educators along with one learner each were invited to participate in a live conferencing event with Nigerian educators which was attended by the Education Ministers of both South Africa and Nigeria in Microsoft’s Offices in Johannesburg. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2010, she was featured in Destiny Magazine February issue as one of the South African women on the move in the Education field.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Here is Hlengiwe’s guest post about her visit to California </span></i></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="132" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="background: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i>  <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">2011 AYV Summit</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="133" style="font-size: small;">Sadness was written on the face of the parents and friends when we left them at the international boarding gate of King Ushaka airport late on the 1^st of August 2011 Monday; of course they were happy for us but anxious. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand both Nontobeko and Mpumelelo were over the moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="134" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The duration of our flights from Durban to Dubai was almost 9hrs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>We waited for +2hrs to connect the next flight to San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We then left Dubai at 9h00am on Tuesday and arrived at San Francisco the following day at 13h30pm; amazingly it was Tuesday there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We discovered that California is behind South African time by 9hrs. </span></span></em></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/AVvXsEgn9eE2RyIXFrkJ2c_JuGSH1nOzD5901xUZq0fon9g0bI1ZnJfNl4u1FQtkXfo6kUzg0vP5hPFfmvd2f11xxAAu8m6LUyLY1_49v8CEEMbxlqODmG4MYsiQXzbk6XCnpLkZkDKeN0Iwb2k/s1600/depart+at+King+Ushaka+airport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9eE2RyIXFrkJ2c_JuGSH1nOzD5901xUZq0fon9g0bI1ZnJfNl4u1FQtkXfo6kUzg0vP5hPFfmvd2f11xxAAu8m6LUyLY1_49v8CEEMbxlqODmG4MYsiQXzbk6XCnpLkZkDKeN0Iwb2k/s400/depart+at+King+Ushaka+airport.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_g9a3w6="221" style="text-align: center;">Departing from King Ushaka Airport</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="134" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="134" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tuesday, August 2</span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="222" style="font-size: small;">We met the other team from Nigeria at the airport who were also Summit attendees; we then stick to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We arrived at Santa Clara University something to 5pm; it is about 45 min away from the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Kate Goddard who is a Summit Event Manager warm welcomed and assisted us with the registration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We thereafter check in to our rooms; teachers were allocated on the same block while students were allocated on a different block which was away from ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>It was dinner time already at 5h30pm to 6h30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We were instructed to assembly at Benson Center after dinner for Orientation and Welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When we arrived we thought we will have time to rest after a long travelling to our surprise there was no such.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were welcomed by EDC and Adobe staff members where they shared the slogan of the week which was ‘extraordinary’; saying each day of the week will be an extra ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Youth were introduced to their Media Mentors and counsellors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Media Mentors were to facilitate a collaborative project with Youth production crews while counsellors were to take care of each production group (act like boarding masters or matrons).</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span closure_uid_gwx7rf="133" style="font-size: small;">Youth production groups consisted the following: </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="132" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><div closure_uid_gwx7rf="132"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span closure_uid_gwx7rf="131" lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Human Rights (which South Africa team belonged to) </span></em></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Community</span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Environment</span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Education</span></em></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: #f0f0f0; border-top: #f0f0f0; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Identity </span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Culture</span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Relationships </span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Change</span></em></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Youth groups had to create a media project that represents the group’s diverse global perspective and inspires audience with a positive vision within two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>On the other hand Lead Educators (that is how educators were called) had their programme which included sharing of innovative curriculum ideas and ways to facilitate and encourage high quality Youth produced media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Our main task was to create a short instructional video on a given topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We were also divided into eight teams of four members each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span closure_uid_gwx7rf="134" style="font-size: small;">The teams were given their topics: </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="132" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="223" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the orientation we had an evening activity which aimed at attendees get to know each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each participant was given a paper with prompts where they had to find people who are able to do what is written on the prompt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This activity was led by Deidre Searcy, EDC Senior Associate who was also a Lead Educator Instructor or Facilitator for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>After the activity Youth and Educator met with their collaboration groups to create a motion or animated slogan of their group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>All groups thereafter shared their slogans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="223" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_gwx7rf="148"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday, August 3</span></span></b></em></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyday breakfast starts at 7h30 to 8h30am, Lunch at 12h00 to 1h00pm and Dinner at 5h30 to 6h30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Those were the only times I will get to see Nontobeko and Mpumelelo. </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="224" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the morning we all attended an opening session at the Recital Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We were addressed by Ms Laura Ling; an American journalist who is a correspondent for Current TV which is a political and youth-orientated channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>She is also a Vice President of Current TV Vanguard Journalisim Unit, which produces the Vanguard TV series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Laura shared her experiences where she was held a prisoner for twelve years hard labor for doing her work as a journalist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>She talked about what sustained her throughout that painful period and how she was able to maintain hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>She offered advice on how to create projects that are personally meaningful to youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I was deeply inspired and moved by her talk which motivated everyone to go back to their countries and speak out using media creation as an instrument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></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/AVvXsEgoBEMlFaQiy4F0iVHB5PIpTVjAqLv2lnqbpObCpDN2tMv8Pf4StVvNJIwX7wu20YMqGND3HnJu6Be98TVpEmYa-CjS5CGy_Heu3NjIENiKemthhW2m4iSXsIYZTgEV994cH3mQE2PLo64/s1600/Laura+Ling+a+political+journalist%252C++keynote+speaker+at+the+summit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBEMlFaQiy4F0iVHB5PIpTVjAqLv2lnqbpObCpDN2tMv8Pf4StVvNJIwX7wu20YMqGND3HnJu6Be98TVpEmYa-CjS5CGy_Heu3NjIENiKemthhW2m4iSXsIYZTgEV994cH3mQE2PLo64/s400/Laura+Ling+a+political+journalist%252C++keynote+speaker+at+the+summit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_g9a3w6="292" style="text-align: center;">Laura Ling a political journalist</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="224" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was a breakaway workshop for Youth Media Collaboration (Youth) and Lead Educator Training (Educators).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Groups brainstorming, planning pre-production and taking photo shoots for their videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In our Lead Educator Training; educators introduced themselves and I was happy to meet two of my mentors from my AYV online course – Ivo and Svetlana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I also met in person with Lisa from IEARN who was also happy to meet me, she is very humble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Communication was a bit of a problem as some of the educators had difficulties with speaking English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There were interpreters organized for other teachers and learners to sit next to them e.g. Columbia, Japan etc. </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my group I had teachers from San Francisco – Jorge Goncalves, New York – Sarah Moore and Argentina – Federico Waisbaum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I felt that our skills complimented as we were working together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There was a lot to do in a short space of time as we were only given two days to complete our video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nontobeko and Mpumelelo seemed to cope well in their groups from the conversations that we had during breaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They appreciated their group members whom they say were very welcoming and warm but crazy (very noisy, talk their minds, hyper active etc) out of all the participants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing Mpumelelo as a shy person; I was surprised to observe him slowly adapting to their craziness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When their group learned that his second name is Gladman they said he is indeed a glad man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday, August 4</span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The morning started with an opening session where participants were given an opportunity to share key learning experiences from the previous day.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Youth Collaborative Media Project and Lead Educator Training continued where everyone was working under pressure to finish the video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Educators groups were to showcase their videos other educators at 14h00pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As we were chasing time it was not easy to learn new advanced media skills from team mates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Nevertheless I had an opportunity to explore more techniques in premier elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I enjoyed the showcasing time; videos created by educators were dynamic.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="294" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="293" style="font-size: small;">Late in the evening students were finalizing their projects as they were to be showcased on Saturday morning before Youth Live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Nontobeko told me that together with Mpume were tasked to edit their group video; she mentioned that they were managing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I was relieved but anxious since editing is very challenging stage.</span></span></em></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/AVvXsEhGm4AqxIDiZavYumibbXgAk2-leqFqfpfe9eFituhSEjLeZQjUUW1iylUyQ_b995K20DPtK-UPbyxituI_TJ-OhqVtFvXDU0Nni5DjXJj71hHVIc7hyphenhyphenuWCnmZQG6oaA3hOQvR_FD2HyQE/s1600/Left-Temitope%2528Nigeria%2529%252C+Tanga+%2528India%2529+%2526+Hlengi+%2528SA%2529+at+the+theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm4AqxIDiZavYumibbXgAk2-leqFqfpfe9eFituhSEjLeZQjUUW1iylUyQ_b995K20DPtK-UPbyxituI_TJ-OhqVtFvXDU0Nni5DjXJj71hHVIc7hyphenhyphenuWCnmZQG6oaA3hOQvR_FD2HyQE/s400/Left-Temitope%2528Nigeria%2529%252C+Tanga+%2528India%2529+%2526+Hlengi+%2528SA%2529+at+the+theatre.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_g9a3w6="361" style="text-align: center;">Temitopi (Nigeria), Tanga (India) and helngiwe (South Africa)</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="294" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Friday, August 5 </span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tour to Adobe Headquarters at San Jose, Carlifornia</span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakout sessions were planned for educators to take place at Adobe Headquarters as follows:</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Motion Graphics with After Effects:</span></b></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Learn to incorporate motion graphics titles or animations for video projects.</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photoshop and Design:</span></b></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Learn the design, layout and create composite collages that can be incorporated into AYV program.</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Connect, Captivate, and Presenter:</span></b></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Learn how to create tutorials to collaborate more easily with youth and educators globally with Adobe Captivate, Connect and Presenter.</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">My first choice was to attend After Effects session but it was already full then I attended Photoshop and Design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I found the workshop interesting and it refreshed my skills in using Photoshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We only had two hours session which was not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I wished we had more workshops of that kind spread over the days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>After the workshop we explored Adobe building, different departments and cool features of the building which includes: gym, laundry, massages room, inside restaurants, diet health advisors, computer labs, tennis ground and lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>All these facilities are available to staff for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Adobe has 2000 staff in total.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Youth gathered together at one common venue where they participated on planned activities for them.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="362" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">After lunch we visited San Francisco attractions to name a few; Beach, Golden Gate Famous Bridge, Museum, Botanic Gardens etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This time educators were united with their youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We had 2hrs of our own at Pier 39; a very long street in San Francisco. This was a more relaxed day for all of us.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_gwx7rf="149"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday, August 6</span></span></b></em></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="363" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">This day was spent on exhibition of work created by both educators and youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>All eight videos created by educators were screened for everyone to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Youth videos were specially screened at the main hall where youth had to first present how they created their piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Nontobeko and Mpumelelo well presented their piece and further answered questions from the audience which were specifically directed to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They were very confidence on stage such that other teachers commented that they seem to be familiar with public speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They made South Africa proud especially that when we came I was uncomfortable with the fact that educators seemed to be highly skilled and most of them teach media in their schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I felt like I don’t fit in and it was a mistake for us to be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That was cleared though on day two of our arrival during discussions and media creation.</span></span></em></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/AVvXsEgIcim926ALNBtPcIAGQJcH5qvFIWoe-4dSEmgIym_aF4QMy2CgllKyW1pn4QhzLOwQTSsrIia6vE2fkhYxcKZzlQTkcmD6HN9q-luKJzse1ihZT5CIyaJ_X-Z46EXHwt1DdvWkEiTqNr8/s1600/Mpume+responding+to+a+question+from+the+audience+as+they+were+presenting+their+collaborative+video.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcim926ALNBtPcIAGQJcH5qvFIWoe-4dSEmgIym_aF4QMy2CgllKyW1pn4QhzLOwQTSsrIia6vE2fkhYxcKZzlQTkcmD6HN9q-luKJzse1ihZT5CIyaJ_X-Z46EXHwt1DdvWkEiTqNr8/s400/Mpume+responding+to+a+question+from+the+audience+as+they+were+presenting+their+collaborative+video.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_g9a3w6="393" style="text-align: center;">Mpumi responding to a question from the audience</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="363" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adobe Youth Voices Live </span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the afternoon we went to San Jose Theatre to attend Youth Voices Live which was also attended by local residents and other people of high profile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Black Eyed Peas was one of the prestigious guest who both entertained and motivated the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Youth Collaborative Videos were to be screened at this event including other selected videos from AYV Media Jam.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Highlight </span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nontobeko shared a talk with all Summit Attendees about their experiences when creating their own video and the impact that it had on their lives personally and other people who had viewed it.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our video, Children’s Rights in South Africa was one of the seven videos selected to be screened at the theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We didn’t know about this until we were sat at the theatre browsing the programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That was a WOW moment and great honour for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>After the show we were ‘celebrities’ interviewed by local people and media crew about our video and experience at the Summit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>South Africa was on the spot light again! </span></span></em></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/AVvXsEi6lrry8tFNHjZWK9Ve5_5XPcoBCEejlL1ju9WIv79OpqM6T3SDKg8jcimM77MujRAwObKol6MArybpQ58p8rbXBhuYQeYKtHbA7vFNCTFO_DAC5BDVNvRCjzaBSAnSO2BoJy1H49HDKYs/s1600/Nontobeko+interviewed+by+a+media+crew+after+a+Youth+Live+show+at+San+Francisco+theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lrry8tFNHjZWK9Ve5_5XPcoBCEejlL1ju9WIv79OpqM6T3SDKg8jcimM77MujRAwObKol6MArybpQ58p8rbXBhuYQeYKtHbA7vFNCTFO_DAC5BDVNvRCjzaBSAnSO2BoJy1H49HDKYs/s400/Nontobeko+interviewed+by+a+media+crew+after+a+Youth+Live+show+at+San+Francisco+theatre.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nontobeko being interviewed by a media crew</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="394" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">General</span></span></b></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a phenomenal week; lots of collaboration, exploring, sharing, Innovation etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It was indeed an extraordinary week.</span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have learnt that in other countries educators actively work with youth to produce lots of media projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They also organize exhibition where educators and youth are invited to share their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I am inspired to work with teachers in South Africa to create media projects and to also conduct face to face trainings for them when necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The software that is used is challenging and one can easily give up if there is no strong support or assistance on how to use it. </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="445" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to SchoolNet. </span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="447" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_g9a3w6="446" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here is the movie on streetchildren called 'Children's Rights in South Africa'.  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="448" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gQJuBMfYo4Q" width="420"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_g9a3w6="132" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></div>

Adobe Youth voices Collaboration Guest post Project-based learning SchoolNet's Adobe Youth Voices programme sends a team to California

It is really worth participating in SchoolNet’s Adobe Youth Voices programme as Hlengiwe Mfeka discovered. Hlengiwe took part in the program...

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Food for thought

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>SYRIA, the totalitarian regime permits cell phones to document the upraise, Face book and Twitter but no foreign media………</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">See video below:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4DT0FN6b8Ts?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The totalitarian SYRIAN regime that only permitted internet and mobile phones in recent past, (2002) and that under strict censorship, monitors fax transitions (See my article “The Assad Dilemma “, posted on 12 June 2011),  expelled all foreign press at the beginning of the upraise suddenly  permits protesters to use freely  cell phones to shoot videos portraying  anti regime protests  and distributing them via face book and the internet without censorship? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Certainly the regime has means to block the internet and mobile phone services in order to stop postings? Nevertheless it seems that protesters have unlimited access to these medias. Furthermore one also has to question how it is possible that such a large amount of Syrian citizens are able to own cell phones, given the fact that cell phones and mobile phone services are extremely  expensive in Syria, the purpose of which is intentional, in order to favor the upper and middle class of Syria who so far have refrained from participated in the upraising. Thus one has to question how the poor of the country are able to afford them?</div>

Food for thought

SYRIA, the totalitarian regime permits cell phones to document the upraise, Face book and Twitter but no foreign media……… See video below: T...

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Rockford, IL and Chicago Burbs Opportunity

<span lang="EN"> What we need:<br /><br />Energetic, confident, commission driven sales professionals who want to work for a National Organization that rewards performance and offers unlimited earnings potential of $35 per hour or more! Persistent, independent, persuasive communicators that thrive in environments where you are face-to-face with a potential customer.<br /><br />There is no ceiling on your success - you will get out what you put in!<br /><br />If this is you, bring your:<br /><br />Superior communication skills, an insatiable desire to succeed, creative imagination, solid presentation skills, and comfort to having direct access to a potential sale! Desire to be part of a high energy and fun sales<br />environment, this is your chance!<br /><br />Position Overview:<br /><br />-You must be motivated and able to connect with up to hundreds of customers<br />in major retail locations each day.<br />-Professional demeanor with highly developed skills to sell a high value<br />product for an extremely discounted price.<br />-You need reliable transportation- you will be selling between multiple<br />large retail locations in a close proximity.<br />-You must be persistent and aggressive, unafraid of hearing NO, but great at<br />getting to "Yes".<br />-You will have a flexible work schedule and a diverse selling atmosphere!<br />Requirements:<br />-2-3 years of experience in either outside or inside sales or customer<br />service related field where communication with the public was necessary<br />(telephone/call center). Sales experience a plus, but not a necessity.<br />-Experience working with clients on a daily basis via phone or in person.<br />-Computer/Internet experience required<br />-Self-motivated and disciplined<br />-Excellent communication skills<br />-Outgoing personality and take pleasure in presenting yourself in a<br />professional manner<br />-Strong work ethic and good attendance history<br /><br />To apply, send a resume to Caity at <a href="mailto:PicMeRockford@gmail.com">PicMeRockford@gmail.com</a> </span>

Rockford, IL and Chicago Burbs Opportunity

What we need: Energetic, confident, commission driven sales professionals who want to work for a National Organization that rewards perform...

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Let's Say It All Together Folks..... FRUSTRATION!

<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you all for your feedback on the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-do-you-track.html">How Do You Track post</a> from yesterday.... you gave great options and incite :).</span> </span> <br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One thing I wanted to include in yesterday's post, but forgot, was about a scenario I read in one of Hungry Girl's newsletters.  <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/askhg/show/2063">A person wrote to HG</a> about a time when she went to Ruby Tuesday's and had a turkey burger, thinking that was a very smart option.  It turns out, the turkey burger was loaded with calories (700!) and fat (40!).  I understand that this TB could have had mayo on it or a buttered bun or whatever else, but you pick this option thinking you're making a smart choice.  Fortunately, this person was able to acquire the nutrition stats for this after the fact, but what if you can't?  I do realize that you can certainly order it without the mayo or the bun or have it prepared in some other way, but the bottom line is, when you're not preparing something yourself or knowing exactly how the other person is preparing it, just because something "looks healthy" doesn't mean it is, and that is what I struggle with.  You think you've done so well by choosing these better menu options, when, in fact, that turkey burger might have had just as many calories/fat as a chargrilled chicken sandwich from Chick Fil A! </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB34XTshz6XCFYxIk0-pIYcDkBKV004TnGQ8pLkTZRvvlfJC9TabefmNXmResfKDQKj2ldh5iZnBTwegRl396GtYNGTEIZLf1j0Os5c2XpWi0eejLWmtFp8zo3atF33ZAx0yzIwbk7ttc/s1600/chickfila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB34XTshz6XCFYxIk0-pIYcDkBKV004TnGQ8pLkTZRvvlfJC9TabefmNXmResfKDQKj2ldh5iZnBTwegRl396GtYNGTEIZLf1j0Os5c2XpWi0eejLWmtFp8zo3atF33ZAx0yzIwbk7ttc/s400/chickfila.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>And to be perfectly honest with you, if I want a chicken sandwich and I have to nix the bun and any toppings that come with it that I thought were healthy picks but are not, then I'm not going to eat it at all. What is the point of going out for dinner?  To me, going out for dinner is having the opportunity to not only have a meal prepared for you, but to also enjoy a dish that you otherwise would not make at home.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on :)</div><div><br /></div><div>This past week has been one of the best weeks I've had in a long time on Weight Watchers.  Since I started attending meetings again, one thing the leader suggested was to slowly incorporate each of the Good Health Guidelines into your plan rather than just stressing over trying to do everything perfectly all at once (<i>*cough cough* Perfection problem? Nah. :)</i> ).  One of <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-goals.html">my goals for the month of August</a> was to incorporate 2 servings of fruits/veggies in to my day (ideally 1 fruit and 1 veg... but, baby steps, I'll take what I can get!).  This method has been working really well for me!  Not only that, but I have been tracking diligently all week.  And friends, I'm so proud of myself!</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you know what's coming?  I think you do.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got on the scale yesterday at that meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>And.</div><div><br />I gained 2 lbs.  </div><div><br /></div><div>ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!  </div><div><br /></div><div>I just don't get it.  Not only did I do all that I stated up above but how can your body not recognize that "Hey, you're not eating erratically like you normally would be - and so now we can start burning off that fat supply you've accumulated instead of adding to it!"  </div><div></div><div>Honestly friends, you can see (on the left) that I've been hovering around 260 for MONTHS.  Granted, this is in large part, no doubt, to my eating habits and living situation I had going on for 8 months.  However, I have still been faithfully exercising since November 2010, on average, of 4 days per week.  And I have what I would consider a STELLAR week, and I gain?!  </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not a cryer. And I certainly don't EVER cry over weight issues.  It is what it is.  I don't cry about it and have pity parties.  But yesterday I definitely teared up when the receptionist told me I had a gain.  </div><div><br /></div><div>And while I was just tested for diabetes and thyroid issues a year ago (all were in the clear), I am definitely going to schedule an appointment for a checkup just to make sure nothing has happened in that year's time.  I'm not a hypochondriac by any means, I really don't feel like something is wrong with me, but I want to be sure.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that, I'm just going to keep on keeping on.  <b>I'm not giving up.</b>  After all, as Joel reminded me: "It was only after 1 week of perfection Hilary.  I'm sure once you have many consecutive weeks like this, then the weight will start coming off. And if not, that is when you can start to consider that something medically might be off."</div><div><br /></div><div>Have you ever experienced this crap?!</div>

Gain Weight Loss Challenges Weight Watchers Let's Say It All Together Folks..... FRUSTRATION!

Thank you all for your feedback on the How Do You Track post from yesterday.... you gave great options and incite :).   One thing I wanted...

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What about getting involved in SchoolNet's Adobe Youth Voices programme?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_xnwjbj="167"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="576"><span closure_uid_1y7c86="171" closure_uid_e15aav="106" closure_uid_e4bohe="106" closure_uid_xnwjbj="166" style="font-size: 10pt;">Submitted by Warren Sparrow</span><br /><em><span closure_uid_1y7c86="171" closure_uid_e15aav="106" closure_uid_e4bohe="106" closure_uid_xnwjbj="166" style="font-size: 10pt;">SchoolNetSA offers the Adobe Youth Voices programme to interested teachers. This is an exciting way of using video meaningfully with your learners to highlight issues in society. If you are accepted into the programme Adobe (via SchoolNet) sends you Adobe Premier and Adobe Photoshop Essentials with enough licenses for the group of learners you will use. They offer  free online training in a group setting along with educators from around the world, and then require a project in the form of a movie. Warren Sparrow's movie is entitled Super Veggie Man and was selected to represent South Africa at the recent Adobe Youth Media Conference in Taiwan. Warren writes this guest post about his experience in Taiwan. Just to tell you a little more about Warren, he teaches at </span></em><span class="apple-style-span"><i closure_uid_xnwjbj="154"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Rondebosch Prep,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.rondebosch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.rondebosch.com</span></a>,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span closure_uid_e4bohe="575" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">where he is the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> H</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span closure_uid_e15aav="120" closure_uid_xnwjbj="170" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">ead of Information Technology. He</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span closure_uid_e15aav="121" closure_uid_xnwjbj="169" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> was a winner of the Microsoft Innovative Teacher competition in 2010 in South Africa and in Pan Africa and participated in the World Finals event in Cape Town with his project "Who wants to be a millionaire” <span closure_uid_e4bohe="108" closure_uid_xnwjbj="165">which can be found at</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i closure_uid_xnwjbj="171"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a closure_uid_xnwjbj="157" href="http://www.wsparrow.co.za/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.wsparrow.co.za</span></a></span>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">This year</span></i></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">he won</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span closure_uid_xnwjbj="174" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">the 21st century classroom project of the year, for the most  innovative use  of technology for enhancing learning in schools in South Africa.  His school has recently been admitted into the Microsoft Innovative Schools programme - the third South African school to receive this distinction.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span closure_uid_xnwjbj="175" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">He is currently working on a mathematics outreach program called “Maths is Fun” which can be found at</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.wsparrow.co.za/maths" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.wsparrow.co.za/maths</span></a>.</span></i></span></i></span></div></div><div closure_uid_xnwjbj="167">  </div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_xnwjbj="176" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_xnwjbj="177" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I have written a brief synopsis of the conference below:</span></span></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/AVvXsEik7oLMDptoxywuAvzrDyYmorYq_585mar3vdYTI2NY7QcWW4uQZd9DKoo0s5AkSUjPt-a14Ql4NQEmIre8o-SneIqTD0z1UOrZa3foE50a6hUn6_ANe8iITfj2Xo7J-j4PbxKUtrXY_lc/s1600/The+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7oLMDptoxywuAvzrDyYmorYq_585mar3vdYTI2NY7QcWW4uQZd9DKoo0s5AkSUjPt-a14Ql4NQEmIre8o-SneIqTD0z1UOrZa3foE50a6hUn6_ANe8iITfj2Xo7J-j4PbxKUtrXY_lc/s400/The+group.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_xnwjbj="176" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_xnwjbj="178" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">From the Opening ceremony I was immediately impressed with the vision of how important collaboration is between both other teachers, as well as other learners from different countries.   This was one of the underlying themes through the conference.  Although there were many other themes, like peace, etc, I think this is what sets it apart from many of the other conferences that I have attended.</span></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4e1qQa4n-FDQKY8iQXXVvy4BuDeJKJwAJRNxIFmyhMaAMRrCqxRhZwCTiZTNM7YdOJ3M2HVMlofyzN3SmNz2lfupItZiLeAuoiJJBddCuLUMsaUEeQFO1M3swo8h7V6yPPI1EdgH0B4/s1600/everyone+at+conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4e1qQa4n-FDQKY8iQXXVvy4BuDeJKJwAJRNxIFmyhMaAMRrCqxRhZwCTiZTNM7YdOJ3M2HVMlofyzN3SmNz2lfupItZiLeAuoiJJBddCuLUMsaUEeQFO1M3swo8h7V6yPPI1EdgH0B4/s400/everyone+at+conference.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone at Conference</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_xnwjbj="176" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="110"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_e4bohe="109" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I found the workshops most worthwhile.  I was v</span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">ery happy to attend the learning – circles workshop that gave me an overview of the entire project approach.  They also explained how each project was divided into 6 categories and went through the phases of each learning circle which would stretch over a period of 16 weeks. </span></span></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="110"><br /></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_e4bohe="165" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWrW27NlTvVFgnIn5eQm3Lf6PgFpw3BgMITa-XVkPS4LSGdsWMfB1udoPJ4Dt2hyGNOZmKmX3-nQjZxJdXBWZQrXIj-UJU_XfUArap2OGoS-A4rXz9TigniWpPVsU1Jm3zc87GBzuyTI/s1600/opening+cermony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWrW27NlTvVFgnIn5eQm3Lf6PgFpw3BgMITa-XVkPS4LSGdsWMfB1udoPJ4Dt2hyGNOZmKmX3-nQjZxJdXBWZQrXIj-UJU_XfUArap2OGoS-A4rXz9TigniWpPVsU1Jm3zc87GBzuyTI/s400/opening+cermony.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="110"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="166"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The  talk by Lara Nietzer covered some of the same content, but she gave very good examples of some of the projects have been integrated into their school curriculum.</span></span></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="166"><br /></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="166"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The workshop that Rowena ran was one of my favourite.  Her passion and knowledge of her subject was very evident in her talk and she had very good ideas on how to implement different things that I found very worthwhile.  I was amazed at her knowledge across the different topics that she discussed.  I will be implementing the solar cooking project with the learners at my school and her talk on the vegetable garden was obviously a topic very close to my heart.  She also dazzled us with the UV beads and gave us lesson notes on how we could implement this into our class.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="253"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="476"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The talk by Sergi and Ramon from Spain where they linked everything that they have been doing with Web 2.0 tools with the growing and producing of wine was very entertaining.  They emphasised how important it was to have a whole school approach and not just an individual that runs the program.</span></span></div></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="253"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_e4bohe="540" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><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/AVvXsEigX4ffm4MqbFyWnSjBzpGsUzuYoEPreIM1RC0DxthbIAXszet-kHnL6fxoCtvIplKd5FI1UUBpH6sdFN1kAbxblXWof2Zd5maxpghoJAGHgTuXske7NGD_6U1uQZOxrhRo59pLwOgQpGM/s1600/Some+workshops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX4ffm4MqbFyWnSjBzpGsUzuYoEPreIM1RC0DxthbIAXszet-kHnL6fxoCtvIplKd5FI1UUBpH6sdFN1kAbxblXWof2Zd5maxpghoJAGHgTuXske7NGD_6U1uQZOxrhRo59pLwOgQpGM/s400/Some+workshops.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the workshops</td></tr></tbody></table><div closure_uid_e4bohe="474"></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The My Hero Project that was presented by the facilitator and 2 learners from Iraq was very good and they gave a very detailed presentation of the different videos that the learners had created, which allowed us to see the finished product and how the project was developed.  I was so impressed with this project that I immediately e-mailed a member of staff at my school and asked her to download the manual and go through it and she has agreed to run this project later on during the year.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="197" style="border: currentColor;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I was blown away by Toni Casserrrass’ OpenSims talk.  Although I think that I might be a little way off doing something similar and it is also more suited to high school learners, I would really like for my learners to experience this.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /><div style="border: currentColor;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The  Film festival was another favourite of mine.  It was very enjoyable seeing what other learners had created and what their messages were.    I was amazed at some of the levels of proficiency of  the videos that were created.  </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="574" style="border: currentColor;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="542"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">There was also a very good cultural stand and exhibition which gave us the opportunity to talk to other teachers and talk to them about their project or country.</span></span></div><div closure_uid_e4bohe="542"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWegAOyDQOv4mngjipxyhYkmFM95YunhTZraxcqIlsCrvR4UouUYEeJaCqsQMevBRC3FQjDwoZGb0sYkPxqtiTwC2_9xulR0hKa6_Dc-J8CkRYQcuqmrAMaRXIQglvkJT3keGRqb67PM/s1600/Taiwan+city+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWegAOyDQOv4mngjipxyhYkmFM95YunhTZraxcqIlsCrvR4UouUYEeJaCqsQMevBRC3FQjDwoZGb0sYkPxqtiTwC2_9xulR0hKa6_Dc-J8CkRYQcuqmrAMaRXIQglvkJT3keGRqb67PM/s400/Taiwan+city+life.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_e4bohe="573" style="text-align: center;">Tapai city life</td></tr></tbody></table><div closure_uid_e4bohe="542"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border: currentColor;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_e4bohe="541" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Our outing to Taipei on the speed train, going to the night markets , seeing the largest Buddist temple in Taiwan, as well as going to a few museums was incredible.  It was a surreal experience and it was amazing seeing the hustle and bustle of the city life.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /><div style="border: currentColor;"><div closure_uid_e4bohe="495"><div closure_uid_fon4xb="108"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span closure_uid_fon4xb="109" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I must admit that I had a great time and I thought it was an incredible experience.  I have come back with so many ideas that I am using in the school and showing other staff members.  It will take me a little while to go through all the projects from website and manuals.  I am starting by giving short feedback sessions over 3 days every week to the staff and hopefully this will continue for the rest of the year!</span></span></div></div></div></div><div closure_uid_1y7c86="158" closure_uid_xnwjbj="167" style="border: currentColor;"></div><div closure_uid_xnwjbj="167" style="border: currentColor;"><div closure_uid_1y7c86="159"><div closure_uid_fon4xb="117">Here is Warren's movie entitled Super Veggie Man</div></div></div><div closure_uid_eqn44c="136"><iframe frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://www.schooltube.com/embed/58be1f70e1973c694fad" width="500"></iframe></div><div closure_uid_eqn44c="125"><div closure_uid_fon4xb="106"><a href="http://got.im/4Lm6">http://got.im/4Lm6</a></div></div></div>

Adobe Youth voices Collaboration Guest post profiles Project-based learning What about getting involved in SchoolNet's Adobe Youth Voices programme?

Submitted by Warren Sparrow SchoolNetSA offers the Adobe Youth Voices programme to interested teachers. This is an exciting way of using vid...

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