August Goals

<h5><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">Hopefully you saw the recap of my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2012/08/july-goals-recap.html">July goals recap last week</a>. I know that those monthly goals are a key part of my success and my overall goal, so I plan to continue to set goals each month. </font></h5> <p>Check out what I’m shooting for in the month of August!</p> <p align="center"><strong><u>August Goals</u></strong></p> <p><font size="3">1. workout 5 days/week </font> <p><font size="3">2. attend every WW meeting </font> <p><font size="3">3. sign up for a 5k race</font> <p><font size="3">4. track <strong><u>ALL</u></strong> eats everyday</font> <p><font size="3">5. weigh 162 by 8.31.12 {lose 6.6 lbs}</font> <p><font size="3"></font><img alt="Pinned Image" height="240" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/117586240241262378_oH4LEGKw_c.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="400"> <p align="right"><strong><font size="1"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/37999190576897413/">{source: pinterest}</a></font></strong> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>Do you set goals for yourself? If so, how often?</strong></font>

August Goals

Hopefully you saw the recap of my July goals recap last week . I know that those monthly goals are a key part of my success and my overall g...

Read more »

Monday, Monday

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/s%C3%B8lvgade-school/">Sølvgade School</a> in Copenhagen, Denmark by C. F. Møller Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/s%C3%B8lvgade-school/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Aug12-13.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/dose.html">Tietgen Residence Hall</a> in Copenhagen, Denmark by Lundgaard & Tranberg:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/dose.html"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/image01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/the-shape-of-green/"><i>The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology, and Design</i></a> by Lance Hosey (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/the-shape-of-green/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/hosey.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a>   <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2010/11/01/cities-for-people/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/gehl2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2010/11/01/cities-for-people/"><i>Cities for People</i></a> by Jan Gehl.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World-Architects.com U.S. <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/projects/reviews/41">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/37705_cotillion_pavilion">Cotillion Pavilion</a> in Dallas, Texas by Mell Lawrence Architects:<br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/37705_cotillion_pavilion"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://files3.world-architects.com/projects/37705/images/900:w/Cotillionpavilion3.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features Sølvgade School in Copenhagen, Denmark by C. F. Møller Architects: Th...

Read more »

Connected Educator Month - Tuesday August 14th schedule

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is today's schedule for Connected Educator's month. The full official and regularly-updated calendar can be found at <a href="http://connectededucators.org/cem.">http://connectededucators.org/cem.</a> Please consider participating in some of these superb wenbinars. Please note that the times are Eastern Daylight Time, so you will need to refer to the Time Zone Converter to work out the times in your region. Don't forget that the times are Eastern Daylight Time, so you will need to refer to the <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html">Time Zone Converter</a> to work out the times in your region. <br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2O0lV7YnSW7s19xqpUt5Dq-OCd5XZHTB0KUp3fqQumg__ZuE8i-vnd3OAITCJz8up1DLtw-e3Ei1ooQ5jBkZmIT4AQ5YoBpEqM4OuyFSNwVpR7cHhT4oc-om_FOpT5kPAEKZxsIzzVA/s1600/connected+educators.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2O0lV7YnSW7s19xqpUt5Dq-OCd5XZHTB0KUp3fqQumg__ZuE8i-vnd3OAITCJz8up1DLtw-e3Ei1ooQ5jBkZmIT4AQ5YoBpEqM4OuyFSNwVpR7cHhT4oc-om_FOpT5kPAEKZxsIzzVA/s320/connected+educators.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3> 9:00am</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_3"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/ff5916860b8775bc4d0c3d40ea5c54d4?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="ff5916860b8775bc4d0c3d40ea5c54d4">Innov8: Twitter + History = TwHistory </a></span></div></div><h3>12:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/e5cb52441e7fe1f1e50085d509ce570a?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="e5cb52441e7fe1f1e50085d509ce570a">Webinar: Peek inside the life of a connected learner </a></span></div></div><h3> 1:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_2"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/94370a298d80975f170bc3306ef8edc7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="94370a298d80975f170bc3306ef8edc7">Welcome to the iCollaboratory </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/47906a8541d2d17e5010da8706e682f2?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="47906a8541d2d17e5010da8706e682f2">Connected Learning Webinar: Elyse Eidman-Aadahl </a></span></div></div><h3> 1:30pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_15"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/dbbd84544733225cd92a9478a833f4e0?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="dbbd84544733225cd92a9478a833f4e0">Taking Classrooms Global </a></span></div></div><h3> 2:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/247b0eabd617e3512e257e261e4db4e7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="247b0eabd617e3512e257e261e4db4e7">#globallit chat with Primary Source </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/e9a1a500d91bd519237aed78470f58e6?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="e9a1a500d91bd519237aed78470f58e6">Research-based Technology Implementation: Project RED Webinar </a></span></div></div><h3> 3:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/b0cdc1f29b0c5b9dc99fa949ec315cd7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="b0cdc1f29b0c5b9dc99fa949ec315cd7">ASCD Webinar: Ask Dr Judy -- How can resisting immediate gratification and long-term goal development be developed in students? </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/5744911771ec22c5fde4f0cde5c836d8?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="5744911771ec22c5fde4f0cde5c836d8">Blended Learning: What Is It and How Is It Changing Our Schools? </a></span></div></div><h3> 7:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/00e580fb790a14e04458f6c258130f4c?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="00e580fb790a14e04458f6c258130f4c">Energizing Math: ideas, resources, and collaboration for K-8 math teachers </a></span></div></div><h3> 8:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/ac271a6d38dd02b9e092b8691d7c5429?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="ac271a6d38dd02b9e092b8691d7c5429">Intel® Teach Elements: A Series of 21st Century Short Courses </a></span></div></div><h3> 9:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/c64a57192a85a6a4c872a801d529bdca?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="c64a57192a85a6a4c872a801d529bdca">#PBLChat </a></span> </div></div><h3>12:00am</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/19521a7620b5d922081523c7ccce26cf?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="19521a7620b5d922081523c7ccce26cf">#BBugs (Start) </a></span><span class="event ev_15"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/23dda77bb44639cc73e0cf4c42d90924?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="23dda77bb44639cc73e0cf4c42d90924">Academic Partnerships Faculty Commons (End) </a></span></div></div><div class="sched-container-bottom"></div><div class="sched-container-header" id="2012-08-15"><div class="sched-container-dates"><b></b> </div></div></div></div>

conferences Connected Educator Month - Tuesday August 14th schedule

Here is today's schedule for Connected Educator's month. The full official and regularly-updated calendar can be found at http://con...

Read more »

30 Days of webtools #19: Picasa, Photopeach and other photo sharing sites

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays there are so many different and amazing things you can do with your photographs online. You can store them, create gorgous slideshows, among other things. In this post I am going to outline sites for the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Sites for uploading photos to the Internet for storage </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) A search engine for royalty free photos </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) A talking photo site </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) A site for making large classroom posters </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) Sites for creating lovely slideshows</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a look at this Slideshare for ideas:</span><br /><br /><br />  <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/13961829" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/have-fun-with-your-photos-using-some-of-these-photosharing-sites" target="_blank" title="Have fun with your photos using some of these photosharing sites ">Have fun with your photos using some of these photosharing sites </a> </b> from <b><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></b> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Classroom uses for photos </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(ideas taken from the Photopeach website)</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Library: Introduce new upcoming books with the image of the covers by a librarian; promote library actions; create book trailers</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For second language class / ESL class: Vocabulary with pictures / vocabulary quiz; Storytelling / story creation; Work with grammar content</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assistive technology class: Support reading and writing for students with disabilities</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology class: Show students and staff how to use computer applications</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kindergarten: Mothers day and Fathers day slideshow to share with the parents; travels of "Billy Shakesbear"</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutorial for students / Introduction of the curriculum content</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">End of year slideshow</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an assessment tool</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“20 things about me”</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slideshow about the rights for the children</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International exchange between schools</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers’ training</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For presentations at conference</span></li></ul><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Further reading</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><a href="http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images">http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images</a></div></div>

30 days of web tools photo-tools Web tools 30 Days of webtools #19: Picasa, Photopeach and other photo sharing sites

Nowadays there are so many different and amazing things you can do with your photographs online. You can store them, create gorgous slidesho...

Read more »

Sr. Product Development Engineer (Optics | Laser | troubleshooting) (# 108535)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Position: Sr. Product Development Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Location: Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Duration: Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Responsible for engineering activities on next generation of existing product. These activities will include the development and release of new options, features or cost reduction improvements that provide more value to our customers (external or internal). Integral to this role is an understanding of the customers use-case and successfully working in conjunction with other groups to define the requirements. Must have the ability to follow through and release / support these product enhancements effectively. Train service and manufacturing employees. Maybe required to travel to customer sites to efficiently and effectively resolve technical issues (Fly and Fix) during and after product release, as well as to support existing systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">PhD degree preferred.  Experience in the area of mechanical, optical, electrical or systems design, overseeing subsystem project, troubleshooting of systems issues, creating and executing test plans is highly desirable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 0 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Sr. Product Development Engineer (Optics | Laser | troubleshooting) (# 108535)

Position: Sr. Product Development Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: Responsible for engineering activitie...

Read more »

Technical Programs Director (# 108444)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Technical Programs Director<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Job Description: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Director of GSS Technical Programs is responsible for driving programs spanning all K-T products focused on advanced diagnostics and guided trouble-shooting.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Specific responsibilities include:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Lead cross-functional product life-cycle (PLC) team with representatives from each product support group, marketing, engineering, and IT, to develop roadmaps, define projects, and drive product development and release.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Work with the new product introduction teams to ensure that diagnostic and trouble-shooting capabilities are built into all new K-T inspection and metrology tools, and are leveraged to accelerate learning on new tools.  Ensure that best-known methods are developed and used across all product lines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Work closely with Service Marketing to develop diagnostic and trouble-shooting solutions to help both our customers and our service engineers more efficiently service K-T inspection and metrology tools, while protecting core K-T intellectual property.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Use data gathering and analysis tools to provide value-added capability, in terms of both service metrics (i.e. uptime, MTTR) as well as tool performance (e.g. capture rate or measurement precision) to our customers, and leverage to add to the company’s service revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Stay abreast of industry and academic trends in the area of intelligent maintenance systems and be able to lead developing of our 5-year architectural roadmap.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Demonstrated results driving product development or technical programs in semiconductor capital equipment or similar industry required. Familiarity with K-T’s PLC process or similar process for product development. Service experience on cutting edge, capital equipment products desired. Experience with turning large quantities of data into an action plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindly send your resume to raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com  <o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Technical Programs Director (# 108444)

Position: Technical Programs Director Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: The Director of GSS Technical Programs ...

Read more »

Let Me Elaborate

Thank you to those who left great suggestions and words of encouragement on last week's <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/burned-out.html" target="_blank">post</a>!<br /><br />I do want to elaborate a little further after one reader said:<br /> <i> </i><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"Reading your post, I wasn't sure if you're tired of the food planning itself, or the actual sticking to the plan part."</i></blockquote><br />That's a great observation, and it got me thinking. <br /><br />Right now, today, in this moment, I am burnt out of most everything related to healthy living.  I know this will pass, but I just need a short break from it all. <br /><br />It has all become rather overwhelming - the constant grind of trying to plan my meals each day/week, feeble attempts at living the Plan day in and day out (<i>not to mention the constant guilt each time I mess up</i>), getting in the exercise and <i>then </i>trying to blog about it all <i>(and more guilt when I fail at this too</i>).  I'm surprised (<i>and proud!</i>) to admit that the only thing that has remained consistent throughout the last year and a half is the rate at which I exercise.  I've maintained my average of 2-3 days per week for a year and a half.  Exercise is not something I'm giving up on because I don't want to.<br /><br />I'm also weary of having plans for every single scenario:  plans on how to eat when we travel out of town, or hang out with friends, or when I don't feel like cooking when I get home from work, or daily generic meal plans to get me through a "normal" week.  I'm tired of all the planning, especially when it just fails me in the end anyhow! (<i>Yes, Joel - even </i>I<i> hate planning after awhile :)</i>!). <br /><br />Life as a Weight Watcher (<i>or anyone trying to watch their weight</i>) is <i>filled </i>with spontaneity.  Some people thrive at the challenge of staying On Plan when dining out or being on vacation or visiting friends/family or whatever scenario you can think of.  You could argue that if I planned accordingly for each of these scenarios, I could set myself up for success.  I would argue back that I always have a plan, but apparently my plans suck or the execution of them is extremely poor! <br /><br />I despise spontaneity.  I don't like when life throws unexpected situations into my weight watching day.  I'm talking about little things, like when a coworker asks me if I want to join him/her at Chick Fil A for lunch, and I'm already starving/dreading what I brought and so I cave and go along for the fried food.  I have a real problem saying 'no' to stuff like that.<br /><br />But getting back to the reader's observation:  I am tired of food planning for sure.  It's also more that I'm tired/annoyed/frustrated with TRYING to stay On Plan - not so much of being on the Plan itself (<i>since, if I was following it perfectly, I wouldn't even be sitting here writing this - I'd probably be celebrating loss after loss instead!</i>).  While I don't like spontaneity, I do enjoy eating different foods week to week.  I cannot always eat oatmeal for breakfast and turkey sandwiches for lunch and salads for dinner.  I enjoy cooking and variety with my meals - and that's both a benefit and huge downfall of mine.  Years ago when I was most successful on WW, having lost 50 lbs, meal planning was no issue for me!  That's because I ate the same few things day in and day out for about a year - easy peezy.  Today, I cannot stand the sight of a Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice frozen entree/Smart Ones meal.  But because I tout my love for meal variety, it also comes with a few consequences: time and planning.  <br /><br />I enjoy preparing my own food, but that takes time (<i>as a sidenote, if I can barely handle my own life plus Joel's, I would never be able to be a parent - I have no idea how they/you do it ALL!</i>).  I try to do as much as I can on the weekends, but again - I'm tired of spending my entire Sunday cooking for the upcoming week.  I want to have the luxury/joy of just having a weekend where I don't have a plan in place related to Weight Watchers!     <br /><br />As Ryan so assuredly stated: <i> </i><br /><i> </i><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"No need to give up, just learn, shift, grow, and you can get what you want!"</i></blockquote>And that's exactly what I'm doing.<i><br /></i><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />

Lacking Motivation Weight Loss Weight Watchers Let Me Elaborate

Thank you to those who left great suggestions and words of encouragement on last week's post ! I do want to elaborate a little further a...

Read more »

elephants and eggs

One of my living room challenges is the layout. I believe, in fact, it is number 3 on <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/08/and-your-time-startsnow.html" target="_blank">my list</a>. Now normally I have no problems with layouts. In fact, that's usually how I put myself to sleep at night (instead of counting sheep I move furniture).<br /><br />But this time, I've got an elephant in the room. She is big and bossy and I love her.<br /><br />The 'egg piano'.<br /><br />For years my grandmother saved the money she earned selling eggs each week (from her chickens. on the farm. not <i>her</i> eggs.) to buy this piano. It was her pride and joy. It was later passed on to my parents and was the piano I took lessons on. Then, a few years ago my parents downsized and the piano came to live at my house.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9PY-EnE-OGGENYihtwtNX3FnljZeAzV7dFFAtrAWxloSO16ef_rK7muhf_DP_u897ptRrdEpOf1XfGPau0udb1VdfmZY3DsZ5SZuntvfScWNLNX083tB2JnirOcRdA1Cpb-4oMtLdIKW/s1600/LBDpiano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9PY-EnE-OGGENYihtwtNX3FnljZeAzV7dFFAtrAWxloSO16ef_rK7muhf_DP_u897ptRrdEpOf1XfGPau0udb1VdfmZY3DsZ5SZuntvfScWNLNX083tB2JnirOcRdA1Cpb-4oMtLdIKW/s640/LBDpiano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Wahoo!<br /><br />But that wahoo comes with a however.<br /><br />This baby is big. And there are very few places she will fit. And after finding her spot, there is the even bigger issue of how to treat her. For whatever reason, styling a piano seems daunting to me. Even Pinterest didn't have many examples. (bite my tongue, I know)<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/AVvXsEg5YHligFF9f2KjaoLOzsw3G3FQxFqOUG74serR4MaMeZ6y9YSROAycvSCSTiECU-GBbSk1cGKtr-21UXy7hDyyxGvVnCSFbL1LTuQoPwfrE-fKSoScraQtYn_ldCMG-pVWwRJWePPjsT7z/s1600/7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YHligFF9f2KjaoLOzsw3G3FQxFqOUG74serR4MaMeZ6y9YSROAycvSCSTiECU-GBbSk1cGKtr-21UXy7hDyyxGvVnCSFbL1LTuQoPwfrE-fKSoScraQtYn_ldCMG-pVWwRJWePPjsT7z/s640/7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/215469163391537477/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8wGTLIqzW9qKJMvC-xdgqCE_8-byRqD3qSMUx0uQVQFyFQgoPrRl3NgJtTc3PjMJY5PUt4zqBdMnE-AHyNUW42xdU1Ro3WFsqqpaubMQWH2D50s7NidtzLIULJsaR2JQE-XLBpayyTTu/s1600/3_16_10_SeanMacpherson18245.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8wGTLIqzW9qKJMvC-xdgqCE_8-byRqD3qSMUx0uQVQFyFQgoPrRl3NgJtTc3PjMJY5PUt4zqBdMnE-AHyNUW42xdU1Ro3WFsqqpaubMQWH2D50s7NidtzLIULJsaR2JQE-XLBpayyTTu/s640/3_16_10_SeanMacpherson18245.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theselby.com/galleries/sean-macpherson/" target="_blank">The Selby</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPfBYe7957J29eKt1nEw6eH5GaWQuqnfD3Av6u_97WN3G2ys9H6UNj7yl_Lf2Q-F6NnGE_KLkf7WyjKW2YCT49aG6UMCUYPdo6C4yEZL5FATWxWn0NYK3AUXRBS_1kDKYyGbPh3Ej_prz/s1600/dsc_3417-copy-800x530.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPfBYe7957J29eKt1nEw6eH5GaWQuqnfD3Av6u_97WN3G2ys9H6UNj7yl_Lf2Q-F6NnGE_KLkf7WyjKW2YCT49aG6UMCUYPdo6C4yEZL5FATWxWn0NYK3AUXRBS_1kDKYyGbPh3Ej_prz/s640/dsc_3417-copy-800x530.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://missmustardseed.com/" target="_blank">Miss Mustard Seed</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiVgPMERAy3MhyrzK3mFNRcKPz5LNvJHmnArp8IYxVrCPjAuytd3DmXhUlx8BWbWWuoCh1z3FQF3z6KyHZD-ol-rYJRyu_fhn2QOqA6AJCP4hMaFC3sd8Qq-nd_JGfMU_rK_zY9eobRNh/s1600/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiVgPMERAy3MhyrzK3mFNRcKPz5LNvJHmnArp8IYxVrCPjAuytd3DmXhUlx8BWbWWuoCh1z3FQF3z6KyHZD-ol-rYJRyu_fhn2QOqA6AJCP4hMaFC3sd8Qq-nd_JGfMU_rK_zY9eobRNh/s640/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133.jpeg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133?pos=4#top" target="_blank">Home Life</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMifgO0bTl85vXTIVkIqE07JWDt3zJZlixQhgDZxzNX9vxdkLhMJ73AArYaNr8zD7kwIrTY69tq6yJQBTS9pi5y_xNfzjYMmkaxZEM_-INRqEyy5bbPvgZvK1_krDWF8VtrdHrfhML4ln/s1600/tove-mauritzson_12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMifgO0bTl85vXTIVkIqE07JWDt3zJZlixQhgDZxzNX9vxdkLhMJ73AArYaNr8zD7kwIrTY69tq6yJQBTS9pi5y_xNfzjYMmkaxZEM_-INRqEyy5bbPvgZvK1_krDWF8VtrdHrfhML4ln/s640/tove-mauritzson_12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://residencemagazine.se/" style="background-color: white; color: #909090; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Residence</a> via<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span><a href="http://www.scandinavianchic.com/2011/02/at-home-with-swedish-artist-tove.html#" style="background-color: white; color: #909090; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Scandinavian Chic </a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So what say you? Have you ever worked with a piano? Any ideas on how to integrate it? What would you buy with your egg money?

elephants and eggs

One of my living room challenges is the layout. I believe, in fact, it is number 3 on my list . Now normally I have no problems with layouts...

Read more »

"The Misfits" and Me - by Christian Esquevin

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiIwo8gIUjDDFDjX7SfDjk0XgeN20nQZVO_DJRcpnnoBZ0Wbp5lT9IcNepoyXiuwQkVARIHSyEGT5r9_g6sOTm-7fUt9ECXluaOQ8gVyYca3GU6H7lRaCZ49_Ron822aYrZwgOVbue50j/s1600/Misfits+Title+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiIwo8gIUjDDFDjX7SfDjk0XgeN20nQZVO_DJRcpnnoBZ0Wbp5lT9IcNepoyXiuwQkVARIHSyEGT5r9_g6sOTm-7fUt9ECXluaOQ8gVyYca3GU6H7lRaCZ49_Ron822aYrZwgOVbue50j/s320/Misfits+Title+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span id="goog_2054845030"></span><span id="goog_2054845031"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where does the first step begin on a journey to fate? For me it was sometime in August of 1960, just a kid on a camping trip with his parents and their friends. Lake Tahoe was the destination, with side trips to Squaw Valley, Reno, Carson City, and Virginia City, Nevada. Little did I know, nor anyone else in our little party, that we would run into the production of <i>The Misfits</i>, starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Montgomery Clift, as directed by John Huston. It was clear from the entourage around Gable and Marilyn that this was a very big deal. And my father reinforced this message with his excited exclamation, “there’s Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable!” although he probably uttered this in French, my parents’ and their friends’ native language. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My recollections of this event are from the mists of time, and likely distorted by accretions of images and later reflections on the significance of the occasion, and the powerful warping auras of the stars themselves. As a kid turning twelve I was already highly aware of the significance of stardom. We did after all live very close to Hollywood, and in those days before paparazzi, seeing stars was not uncommon. But seeing Marilyn and Clark Gable at work was like entering the stratosphere. My best recollection of the scene was that it was taking place in a casino in Reno, likely Harrah’s Club. Production personnel were orbiting around the magic couple.  An aura emanated from Marilyn. In spite of the effects on her of nerves or drugs, which I wouldn’t have known anything about, she was glowing from the lights and the sheen of her platinum blonde hair. I don’t believe a scene was being filmed at the moment, since she seemed to be smiling and basking in the rapt attention of the small audience that was there, of which we were a part. Clark Gable was smiling too, though in a sort of cool, smirky way, aging, but still the king of the jungle. I couldn’t see their figures very well, and I was old enough to know that Marilyn’s figure was very special. But with the big stars, then and now, “we had faces” was all-important, and with these two in particular, their very unique faces reverberated in the room.  I had a particular affinity to Clark Gable. I grew up with prominent ears, the cause of a childhood complex, and my father would always tell me that this physical feature was what made Clark Gable famous. I believed him, and as a chubby kid with a funny name, I believed in the possibility that there was hope for me yet. Seeing Clark Gable in person might just provide that twist of fate that would correct my negative self-image. “See what I mean,” my father said to reinforce his message. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That perception of Clark Gable, directly seen and experienced, provided me the kind of connection that seems magically possible to children; a more direct connection than just seeing him on the screen, as I had done, during a re-release of <i>Gone with the Wind</i>.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEiItYQGtuLczgMlZ7q53mi1i-LIJMdZpt1U_nNeVUgL0sFM4ALiQyXc-AgXr8OKQnMW4zkJtNbHmwBjEt_76H4VgK5OKBGE5WLuIYLPxDHw5GoVxY-jPUHxr4pdV3igEMJ9qa3oGCFArTZy/s1600/Misfits++Gable+Monroe+Clift+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItYQGtuLczgMlZ7q53mi1i-LIJMdZpt1U_nNeVUgL0sFM4ALiQyXc-AgXr8OKQnMW4zkJtNbHmwBjEt_76H4VgK5OKBGE5WLuIYLPxDHw5GoVxY-jPUHxr4pdV3igEMJ9qa3oGCFArTZy/s400/Misfits++Gable+Monroe+Clift+2.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marilyn seemed even more magical. Here in real life and in plain sight she still seemed ethereal. Perhaps it was that very quality that made people, especially men, want to possess her, and somehow to hold onto a cloud. She was the embodiment of contradiction, an ethereal, almost angelic image that was hotly desired for her earthly body, and that most famous of movie stars, capable of moving mountains, yet unable to control her own life or emotions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally we moved away from all the action, onward to seeing other sights, me looking backward at the marvel just beheld. Alas, the whole scene was destined to be an ethereal vision. Clark Gable, “the King” died of a heart attack three months later in November 1960. <i>The Misfits </i>premiered in February 1961, to mixed reviews.  Then my father died on June 5, 1962 and Marilyn Monroe died two months after that on August 5, 1962, now fifty years ago.  How could these giants just disappear? My own fate had indeed led me to <i>The Misfits</i>, a rendezvous with the realization that I too might become one.  Marilyn’s star now shines ever more brightly, a testament to film and the power of image. We continue to try to hold onto a cloud.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Misfits</i><b><i> </i></b>was not a hit in 1961. No one then knew, of course, that it would be the last film that both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe would ever star in, nor that Montgomery Clift would also die five years later. The audience wasn’t ready for this modern, existential film in 1961. Its reputation, because of all its baggage, doomed it to the “missed opportunity,” or “underrated film” category. Today it is being rediscovered. <i>The Misfits </i>is not a fun film to watch, its barren landscape parallels its wounded characters. But it is a true reflection of the human condition, and for film buffs, a unique view into the life of several movie legends. For me, it was a rendezvous with destiny – an opportunity to see those legendary stars before they faded, and the passion to now write about them and the world they lived in, a world I briefly transited.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrbS6lbklQqeH6FactUhHt8figZNXA07rIkyqTFNuWdaPJuaRdQjNSZVNqGCvizjUqrkuZwW3yBWo6mQfvYmGwYkC2AnlYNIDaLgAnuiIPrHc1GMPkbh1X27rR2EnyMJj6SwdLziJWg_a/s1600/Misfits+Marilyn+and+Gable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrbS6lbklQqeH6FactUhHt8figZNXA07rIkyqTFNuWdaPJuaRdQjNSZVNqGCvizjUqrkuZwW3yBWo6mQfvYmGwYkC2AnlYNIDaLgAnuiIPrHc1GMPkbh1X27rR2EnyMJj6SwdLziJWg_a/s320/Misfits+Marilyn+and+Gable.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Christian Esquevin</b> is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adrian-Silver-Screen-Custom-Label/dp/1580931936/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325219252&sr=8-1" style="color: #990000;">Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label</a>, published by the Monacelli Press in 2008. The book is about the life and career of MGM’s famed Golden Age costume designer Gilbert Adrian and his subsequent fashion business. Christian also produces his <a href="http://www.silverscreenmodiste.com/" style="color: #990000;">Silver Screen Modiste</a> blog covering classic film fashion. This is Christian's third guest contribution to this blog, and for each piece I am eternally grateful...</i></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">TLE</span></span></i></div>

Christian Esquevin Clark Gable John Huston Marilyn Monroe Montgomery Clift Silver Screen Modiste "The Misfits" and Me - by Christian Esquevin

Where does the first step begin on a journey to fate? For me it was sometime in August of 1960, just a kid on a camping trip with his parent...

Read more »

I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you didn’t just tune in for the basketball game and then delete the rest of the recording. Because that was a brilliant gold medal volleyball match played by the Russians. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To get you up to speed, the Russian men’s team was playing Brazil in the match. Brazil, whose women’s team had already won gold the day before, quickly went up two sets to none. As a matter of fact, Brazil had Gold Medal Match Point <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">twice</i>! But the Russians wouldn’t quit. Their coach changed up all of their positions, and the Brazilians weren’t prepared for that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Russia made it a late set, but won the third set. Now they were down two sets to one. Brazil just had to win the fourth set and they’d be champions. Did they do it? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No!</i> They lost the fourth set! Giant player Dmitriy Muserskiy – who could be the younger brother of Noah Emmerich – was crushing the ball, and the one-named Brazilians (one of which – Murilo – is a cross between Alan Tudyk and Josh Hutcherson) couldn’t handle it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The fifth set is a shorter set – they only play to 15. And even then, the Brazilians were crushed. They couldn’t do anything. The Russians – who had already come back from match point in round-robin play against the Americans to win – knew how to play the match, and they conquered. I was really in awe of that match – it was probably the best volleyball I saw all Olympics!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did watch the entire US-Spain basketball game, and at the end I really didn’t know who was going to win it! I fully believe that the US may not win the gold medal next time around. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I also watched the entire marathon. I was disappointed that Mebrahtom Keflezighi<span style="color: black;">, who had</span> been a silver medalist in 2004 for the US, placed in a distant fourth place. The other two Americans dropped out. Don’t they condition themselves to run in those conditions? They’re marathoners, aren’t they? I could have ran the marathon and dropped out after a few miles! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I got to see some team rhythmic gymnastics, and there were some high flying equipment going around! One of the teams laid out the three ribbons, put them through a hoop, and the gymnast kicked the hoop into the air, causing the three ribbons to fly up…into the hands of the three gymnasts who knew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> where the ends were going to land! Unbelievable! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of Where’s Kobe? The past couple of days it’s been Where’s Becks? On Friday David Beckham was spotted watching BMX, and on Saturday he was at the Olympic Stadium for the men’s 5000m and at the Aquatics Centre for diving. And in other celebrity news, Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the gold medal baskeball game today. Why? Beats me! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Small side note: I purchased the Opening Ceremony music on iTunes, and the entire second disc is the music that was played when the athletes marched into the stadium that night. It’s 1 hour and 20 minutes of awesome remixed music. I could see myself walking into the Olympic Stadium with that kind of music. Usually I am turned off to that kind of music (“club” music), but I like this mix. I think you should check it out! If I ever need to pull an all-nighter (kind of what I’m doing right now trying to finish this blog!), I will put on that disc to keep me awake. And it will make me think of the Olympics, which is always great.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did enjoy the Closing Ceremonies this evening. There was lots of variety, and I liked all the British music they chose. The Brazilian contingency was a little odd, but it always is a little jarring to have a bright culture like that thrust upon you after two weeks of Brit culture. I remember feeling that way during the Closing Ceremony in Beijing. When the Brits did their little thing, it was a culture-180 in a very short amount of time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know Prince Harry’s formal title is HRH Prince <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Henry</i> of Wales? Because I sure didn’t! It was cool to see him as the leading royal figure in the Closing Ceremony. But I’ve always been a Prince Harry kind of gal, so...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And how about Boris Johnson? The London mayor was caught by the camera really boogieing to The Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony. He’s quite a character, that one. (To be fair, who wasn't boogieing to The Spice Girls? The girl group of my grade school years!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So the Olympic Anthem was sung once again, and the Olympic flag was taken down. That always chokes me up. But then they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to play “The John Dunbar Theme” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dances with Wolves</i> as the flame was extinguished. And I was a royal mess, because that single trumpet melody gets to me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyway</i>, and in these special circumstances I was a goner. Ugh, it’s always so sad to see that flame go out. Britain chose to use a phoenix and ballerinas and precede the actual dousing of the torch with large fanfare. Personally, my favorite extinguishing of the flame was in 2010, when all they did was have Neil Young sing “Long May You Run” with his guitar and his harmonica and the flame just went out. Very simple, and very effective. Though this was effective, too. I was crying, so whatever they did worked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, then NBC had to ruin my tear-fest and barely had Bob Costas wrap things up before launching into one of their terrible new shows, “Animal Practice.” I wasn’t expecting that, so I never got to see The Who perform (one of my favorite bands) and see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actual </i>ending of the Olympics. And way long ago I remember NBC doing some really great closing montages to the song “Titans Spirit” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember the Titans</i>. But nothing here! They blew it AGAIN – I remember complaining in 2010 when they did the same thing. Don’t they ever learn?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I really hope that NBC can brush up its coverage and show a more worldly coverage next time around. They are so American-driven most of the time that we miss out on so much. If you can, watch BBC or Canadian television for your Olympics. I wish that I could.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summer Blurb: The End</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And just like that, two weeks have ended. The hype is done – now we celebrate the athletes that actually came out and won their events. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe we just spent two whole weeks talking completely about sports? I pretty much ignored every other news story going on and maintained my blissful ignorance. Sports is really the glue that keeps us all together. It brings in nations from every corner of the world, and for a brief moment we can set aside our political and cultural differences and just play sports together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Sports! Occasionally revered way too much, but sometimes just the right thing to set us all back in our place. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As a matter of fact, the Olympics have really soured me on a few things here in the States. Take football, for example. Every year the football hype train comes earlier and earlier. I can’t find any magazines that talk about the Olympics, but I can find fifteen fantasy football magazines. Not just football magazines – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FANTASY </i>football magazines! Preseason games that get ratings equal to that of normal games. Media covering football camp like it’s the Super Bowl. (I’m talking about you, ESPN.) Every busted thumb gets fifteen minutes in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sportscenter</i>. Can’t we wait for the real season to start before we all start freaking out? It’s probably the Olympics-buzz in me, but I am really sick of it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So as I turn from gleeful Olympics lover to pessimist American sports hater, I guess that means I need to step back and take a break for a little bit. I need to get my bearings again, so I can return to normal American sports and not feel so lethargic about them. But I can strive to keep the good Olympics buzz going, because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Winter Olympics are only 18 months away!!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Winter Blurb: Countdown to Sochi 2014</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe it? In a year-and-a-half, we can return to this Blurb page and get our daily fix of the Olympics again! NBC already was talking about it today, and for once I was excited that they were! Think about it: figure skating, hockey, skiing, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">curling</i>, and twelve – yes, twelve! – new events! Snowboarding and extreme skiing are adding new events, which can only be a good thing! Plus, SCOTT HAMILTON!!! Because let’s face it: Rowdy Gaines and Tim Daggett are just Scott Hamilton wannabes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Put it on your calendar, folks: The Blurb will reconvene on Friday, February 7, 2014 to celebrate the opening of the Winter Olympics! Only 542 days, 19 hours, 41 minutes, and 44 seconds!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for reading the past couple of weeks. I have gotten so much traffic from my Olympics posts, and hopefully I can keep posting weekly so you can come back for a different perspective on sports... and other stuff!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

The Main Blurb Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you d...

Read more »

Today's archidose #607

Here are some photos of the Apartments at the end of Borneo Island in Amsterdam, the Netherlands by <a href="http://www.dickvangameren.nl/">Dick van Gameren</a> and <a href="http://www.search.nl/">Bjarne Mastenbroek</a> (1999). Photographs are by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/">asli aydin</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/7751039790/" title="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam" height="494" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7751039790_e93e8bf0fd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/7751039530/" title="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam" height="571" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7751039530_28bf6d17c4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/7748509438/" title="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7748509438_a397aed1c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/7748510298/" title="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Apartment at the end of Borneo Island, Amsterdam" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7748510298_3e055fe3ca_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #607

Here are some photos of the Apartments at the end of Borneo Island in Amsterdam, the Netherlands by Dick van Gameren and Bjarne Mastenbroek...

Read more »

A Diving Final that Deserved its Primetime Spot

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb</b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Diving is Chinese. The Chinese are diving. When you watch diving, you hear about the latest Chinese phenom. And more than likely, that Chinese phenom takes the gold medal. There are eight diving events. In Beijing, the Chinese delegation won seven of those golds. The only non-Chinese gold was won by Australian Matt Mitcham in the men’s 10m platform, the Olympics’ final diving event. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This Olympics was slightly different. The Chinese dominated in the golds again, but before the 10m platform, another non-Chinese Olympian took gold. Ilya Zakharov of Russia won the men’s 3m springboard with a huge amount of difficult dives.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And – finally! – in the diving Olympics, the divers to watch in the 10m platform were not Chinese. Well, there was one Chinese diver in contention – Qin Bo. But the other two divers in the spotlight – Great Britain’s Tom Daley and USA’s David Boudia – were able to step up and make this final the most exciting final in diving that I’d seen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I mentioned yesterday, diving was usually the opening hour of NBC’s primetime coverage. I don’t really know why; it usually had the same result: we’d watch the Americans do decent dives, miss the final or place low in the rankings, and see a Chinese person take the gold. I felt that there were so many other events that they could have shown in that first hour instead of diving. Do that many people in America care that much about diving? Is it like the gymnastics of water events that I just don’t know about? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was glad to see that tonight’s diving event actually was interesting. Entering the final round of dives, the top three divers (who I’ve already mentioned) were only separated by less than two tenths of a point. Scoring in diving almost seems as confusing as scoring in the decathlon, but I trusted the judges tonight that they knew how to do it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tom Daley came first. Tom Daley, Team GB’s sweetheart. He was in the lead entering the sixth round. But because his dive had a lesser degree of difficulty, his score would total less than Qin’s or Boudia’s dive totals. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Boudia came next. He was favored to be the States’ greatest bet for a medal in diving (before the Americans took silver in women’s synchro springboard and bronze in men’s synchro springboard), and the fact that he was diving so well this evening was just Boudia living up to the expectations. His final dive was superb. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Qin Bo was last, with a lot to live up to. He needed to have the perfect dive in order to win the gold. Unfortunately for him, his dive came up just short. He passed Daley but couldn’t beat Boudia, who took the first diving gold for the States since 2000 and the first in the men’s platform since 1988! The top three divers were separated by three tenths of a point. Incredible.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m really hoping that American diving can improve just as much as in all the diving events and challenge the Chinese in every event. We did pretty well this time around (especially tonight), and hopefully we can carry the success onward to 2016.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Speaking of improvements…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Blurb’s Presentations of American Athletes that Need to Step Up Next Time Around (TBPAANSUNTA, for short)</b></u><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>All men’s team events. This includes water polo, volleyball, beach volleyball, and why don’t we throw in handball and field hockey, too. Hopefully the basketball team will deliver tomorrow.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Men’s gymnastics, which could technically be included as a team event. But they do compete individually too. I’m especially looking for improvements in the rings and parallel bars (which no American male qualified in their event finals) and the POMMEL HORSE. Never have I seen such shoddy pommeling before! </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Women’s volleyball. Now, I know that they got a medal, but it was another silver after letting a one-set lead slip away tonight against Brazil. It’s going to be even tougher next time, because the Olympics are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in </i>Brazil. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Boxing. One gold medal? Really?</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Men’s 400 meter running. I’ve explained this one already.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>All distance running – especially the ladies. (They’ve got the sprinting thing down.)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Chevy Malibu commercials (not athletes, but “That’s hippy talk!” is really getting on my nerves)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Lesser-Known-In-America events, like table tennis and badminton. And I really think we can train them really well here!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Throwing field events, like javelin and hammer throw and discus and shot put. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>Synchronized Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics…maybe we’ll just concede those.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">          </span></span></span>BMX! For a country that hosts the X Games and seems to have lots of teenagers on tiny bikes, we should really make a better appearance at this than what we did.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Where was Kobe Bryant today? Well, first he was being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest – apparently there were others besides me that realized how many events he had attended as a spectator. And he gave a great interview about it. He was curious about how other athletes prepare for their events, and he was honored to be present at so many American victories, because he knew they were all a team together as Team USA and they were all bringing their best forward to honor their country. (Well said, sir. Please tell that to Mark Cuban.) Then he was watching the US ladies beat France in basketball. (They made it close at the half, but pulled away to win by 36.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Alyson Felix is incredible. One DAY after winning gold in the women’s 4x100m relay, she ran in the 4x400m relay and helped them win gold! Outstanding!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I watched mountain cycling today and assumed it was new to the Olympics, because I hadn’t heard of it before. But apparently it’s been contested since 1996! Biking on stones? Too much for me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This was the first night I really noticed the Olympic mascot out on the track. Apparently he’s been pretty visible, but I saw him cheering on the 5000m runners near the long jump pit.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Czech Republic Gold Medal Watch: </b>Another one today! David Svoboda took gold in the modern pentathlon, which consists of fencing, swimming, showjumping, running, and shooting. (It’s celebrating its 100^th anniversary in the Olympic games, created by the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin.) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today’s roundup is a little wonky, since I was catching up on a few events from yesterday as well: synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, wrestling, canoe, kayak, running events, javelin, high jump, hammer throw, BMX, mountain cycling, diving, volleyball, basketball, open water swimming.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow is the last day of the Olympics. I have to admit that I am exhausted, and I only have one person to blame: me, for making myself watch so many sports in so little time. But it's been awesome, and I thank you in advance for making this Blurb series so successful!  </div>

A Diving Final that Deserved its Primetime Spot

The Main Blurb Diving is Chinese. The Chinese are diving. When you watch diving, you hear about the latest Chinese phenom. And more than lik...

Read more »

THE DANGEROUS GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES OF A SYRIA INTERVENTION

<div style="text-align: center;"><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/ns-wuZhCZ2Q?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />To view the entire series see:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=904">http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=904</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

THE DANGEROUS GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES OF A SYRIA INTERVENTION

To view the entire series see: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=904

Read more »

SAUDI ARABIA - ORIGIN OF WAHHABISM

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6R36hdRjp2UBHV0ZyRA0_APmIsTcYHFRGQdJp2S6ID-rVRq4w3w6-PZQnTF4hLIxNFuCSaqYR_OFLoGTi2paQvfxI7ZCaOeRgQedCE8m-l7O-31Hx39zWqRfP0moZEv3rJNJEijYaq-P/s1600/ikhwan_4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6R36hdRjp2UBHV0ZyRA0_APmIsTcYHFRGQdJp2S6ID-rVRq4w3w6-PZQnTF4hLIxNFuCSaqYR_OFLoGTi2paQvfxI7ZCaOeRgQedCE8m-l7O-31Hx39zWqRfP0moZEv3rJNJEijYaq-P/s400/ikhwan_4-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: red;"><br /></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"NEW MOVEMENT"</b></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Al-Qaeda represents Wahhabism in its purest form – a violent fundamentalist doctrine that rejects all non-Wahhabi Islam, especially the spiritual forms of Islam. Wahhabism is an expansionist sect intolerant of Shi‘ite Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism; in fact, Wahhabists seek to challenge and destroy these faiths. The SAUDI-Wahhabi threat must not be underestimated; it requires our grave attention.</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE</strong></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to prevalent Western beliefs, Wahhabism is not an old Islamic tradition and the House of SAUD does not enjoy a credible historic claim to rule over Arabia. Indeed, Wahhabism emerged only 250 years ago under the guidance of an obscure fanatic known as Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab who later formed an alliance with a group of desert bandits, the SAUDS. From the time they established their covenant to the creation of the modern SAUDI state, the SAUDI-Wahhabi movement spread across the peninsula brutally defeating and enslaving non-Wahhabi elements.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">A substantial body of nineteenth century scholarship does exist to confirm the bloody rise of the SAUDI-Wahhabi state. Thomas Hope, a BRITISH author, wrote extensively about the Wahhabi spread from his travels throughout the MIDDLE EAST. In his novel <em>Anastasius</em>, he described Wahhabi agents in words that will be strikingly familiar to modern readers: as extremist puritans bent on dominating the Muslim world by adopting tactics reminiscent of Al-Qaeda’s calculated savagery.</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE THEOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL PACT BETWEEN THE SAUD CLAN AND THE WAHHABISTS,</b></span> </div><span style="font-size: large;">resulted in the fall of Mecca for the second and last time in 1924, solidifying their grip on power. After the conquest of Mecca, the vast oil wealth of the kingdom would be used to export a radical Wahhabist ideology across the globe.</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>SAUDI ARABIA - NERVE CENTER OF ISLAMIC EXTREMISM</strong></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Even after September 11, the Wahhabi bureaucracy in SAUDI ARABIA continues to foster religious extremism. When bombs go off in ISRAEL, KENYA, INDONESIA, and elsewhere, SAUDI ARABIA is still the main source of the terrorist money. The kingdom is an unwavering nerve center of ideological indoctrination, incitement, and terrorist financing.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">From time to time, the SAUDI elite attempts to confuse WESTERN opinion by claiming that it too is the target of Islamic terror, a rather hollow gesture to hide its complicity in terrorism. SAUDI ARABIA, being a police state, the monarchy long ago could have ridded itself of extremist elements. But the sobering reality is that international terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda are directly impelled by SAUDI clerics. To recover their credibility in the eyes of more reactionary factions after years of excess, the SAUDI family has embarked on an ambitious global campaign to support incubators of violence and extremism from ALGERIA to the PHILIPPINEs. In sum, Al-Qaeda would not exist absent SAUDI money and membership.</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>FALSE ARGUMENTS</strong><b>: ISLAMIC TERROR IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF ISLAM ENDURING WESTERN HUMILIATION</b></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Washington needs to end its delusion that the SAUDI royal family is a moderating force within SAUDI politics when the reality is that it has produced a well-funded launch pad for a fascist ideology. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of SAUDI apologists. The so-called specialists and academics continue to argue that Islamic terror is the consequence of Islam enduring WESTERN humiliation. But in fact, SAUDI ARABIA has never been subjugated by the WEST, instead it has only been cuddled and bribed to ridiculous extremes. And in turn the WEST has received a torrent of violence and hateful venom.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Equally as erroneous is the contention that an accommodation of non-Wahhabi religions is somehow a break with traditional Islam. This absurd notion is blatantly untrue. QATAR, another Wahhabi state, has actually authorized the establishment of churches. Even, neighboring BAHRAIN seems to be “open” towards accommodating non Islamic faiths .</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>SUPPRESSED YOUTH: THE KEY TO MODERN SOCIETY IN SAUDI ARABIA</strong></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">After decades of theocratic oppression, the vast majority of the SAUDI people are restive for the following reasons: </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">1.) The Shiite minority, in the southern and eastern provinces are tired of the violent persecution they have suffered at the hands of the Wahhabist clergy. </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">2.) The youth of SAUDI ARABIA want to live in a modern society where they can utilize their enterprising talents and energies to build a prosperous future. </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">3.) Allegedly, non-Wahhabi scholars are already calling on the royal family to reject the officially sanctioned intolerant state religion and replace it with pluralistic Ottoman-Islamic traditions. Remarkably, thousands of young people are turning to Sufism as an expression of protest against the entrenched religious establishment.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-size: large;">The transition to a reasonably open MALAYSIAN parliamentary model from its current medieval state need not be catastrophic. The SAUDI monarchy could remain as a symbolic body with power concentrated in a representative legislature. Indeed, the position that a more strict Islamic system might emerge if the House of SAUD is brushed aside is ludicrous. Proponents of this view often cite the emergence of an IRANIAN-style regime as a possible consequence. However, this is a specious historical analogy since the IRANIAN people never experienced the harsh strictures of Islamic law prior to the ascension of the Islamic Republic. </span><br /> <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by Zachary Constantino</span></em><br />

SAUDI ARABIA - ORIGIN OF WAHHABISM

"NEW MOVEMENT" Al-Qaeda represents Wahhabism in its purest form – a violent fundamentalist doctrine that rejects all non-Wahha...

Read more »

What a difference an hour made

I went to spinning class and stayed for the entire hour. . I was sure I was going to have a heart attack and die on the spot!<br /><br />It was really hard, but the instructor was awesome. She kept saying things like "if you don't challenge yourself, you won't make a difference in your body". Almost every song she played is on my current iPod playlist, so the music was great.<br /><br />I love my new cycling shoes with the SPD cleats. I got to class early and the instructor showed me how to attach my shoes to the pedals. The first few tries was a lot harder than it looked in the video, but it's really easy once you do it a few times. I think it really does make a difference in how I worked my leg muscles. When I got home, a six-minute drive, I could barely get out of the car. <br /><br />My attitude did a 180 after the class. It's true about the endorphins. I walked out of the gym and into the warm sunshine, with a slight breeze, and thought...LIFE IS GOOD!<br /><br />There's sadness all around me right now, but that's life. Into every life a little rain must fall, right?  I've certainly had my share of sadness this past year, but we all do. No one has a perfect life. It just makes me appreciate the good things even more.<br /><br />Regarding my weight, I don't even know what it is right now. I haven't weighed in a week, but I'm sure I'm up several pounds. This past week was harder than most. I didn't exercise or eat right last week, but starting this morning I'm back on track.<br /><br />Life is hard sometimes, no doubt about it.

What a difference an hour made

I went to spinning class and stayed for the entire hour. . I was sure I was going to have a heart attack and die on the spot! It was really ...

Read more »

WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - Part 5

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WAHHABISM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF EUROPE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><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/AVvXsEgCq5yMu2MPTRe3TUfPBfI1qyWuKdFATOBA9X0N6B_8EsqHGMotpIykbOUZc41_-hmomCFhEEK4Tem8QimbA2DHoaDmkrFcnOl9iGuAvm08gd75M9VypSJf7rrxjfwLnCrjsI5iMquyqOL0/s1600/26sep06-saff_ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCq5yMu2MPTRe3TUfPBfI1qyWuKdFATOBA9X0N6B_8EsqHGMotpIykbOUZc41_-hmomCFhEEK4Tem8QimbA2DHoaDmkrFcnOl9iGuAvm08gd75M9VypSJf7rrxjfwLnCrjsI5iMquyqOL0/s400/26sep06-saff_ba.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Aktivna Islamnka Omladina (Active Islamic Youth, or AIO) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">weekly print and on line publication SAFF Magazine</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">WAHHABI LINKS TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. </span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By Juan Carlos Antúnez</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The potential threat of terrorism in BIH is totally linked to the spread of extremist religious ideas in the country. Despite the fact that Wahhabism and Terrorism must not be merged, most people detained in BIH because of suspected terrorist activities have also been linked to Wahhabi groups. Wahhabi communities are used by terrorist networks to recruit new members, to provide logistic bases for transient terrorists and as a front to cover their activities.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Different articles appearing in local and international mass media have commented about the role of BIH in different issues related with international terrorist networks. Most of this information is unconfirmed. The substance of follow-on media coverage is variously both true and false. Terrorist cells are no less likely to be present in BIH than in any other state. BOSNIAN Serb and Serbian media outlets regularly misappropriate such reporting, and the information is generalized to the point of suggesting that BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA  (BIH) is a significant threat to ethno-national security because it allegedly harbours foreign Islamic terrorists. This is nationalist propaganda that deliberately obscures the facts in two areas: first, the symptoms of global security threats are confused with the causes of BOSNIAN state weakness; and second, deliberate state-level support to terrorism rather than the weak state’s inability to police itself. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">POTENTIAL FOR INSTABILITY EXISTS IN BIH, FOSTER BY CERTAIN NGOS, RADICAL COMMUNITIES AND THE CITIZENSHIP ISSUE.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQOJ2ZE6vS9zG6yjY9qjTmZs45yaTlZPawcDbvlBIobGzPfFnxD4uo0OD2Kqgj8yoor8s01N5r7iobcCCfj78FD5ub-87_s9hYHduQYGDz0xTNB-w8jXldUGZIv2QKYj_4YdiFyzeHr5r/s1600/3sector.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQOJ2ZE6vS9zG6yjY9qjTmZs45yaTlZPawcDbvlBIobGzPfFnxD4uo0OD2Kqgj8yoor8s01N5r7iobcCCfj78FD5ub-87_s9hYHduQYGDz0xTNB-w8jXldUGZIv2QKYj_4YdiFyzeHr5r/s400/3sector.gif" width="308" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The terrorist phenomenon in BIH is no more developed, and the risk of a terrorist attack is not higher than in other parts of the world. It is possible to assess that the international presence in BIH, the growing interest of local and foreign police agencies in this issue, especially after September 11th, and the special characteristics of the Muslim population have reduced the possibility of the establishment of a Jihadi base in BIH. But it is necessary to remark that the potential for instability exists in BIH, for example, the presence of some NGOs, some radical communities, the citizenship issue, the historical links between BIH and some suspicious countries and the problem of a weak border control, may provide an environment suitable for such establishment to occur, in a significant and widespread way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Though Islamic terrorist acts cannot be excluded from BIH, it is assessed that they are very unlikely. Until now there has never been a direct threat against the International Community (IC) in BIH. Taking into account the reported long-term goal of the major ‘Islamic players’ to turn BIH into an Islamic society, it is considered that a terrorist attack in BIH could have a negative impact on achieving this goal. The predicted reaction of the IC might change the now favorable environment significantly.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to different sources BIH is used by international terrorist organizations mainly for the following purposes:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Islamic bridgehead in to Europe,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Logistic base,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Recruiting base,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Rest and recuperation area</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Transit country.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">REPORTS IN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA KEEP PERSISTENTLY EMERGING OF ALLEGED PRESENCE OF TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS IN BIH.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Various analysts and commentators have offered wildly differing opinions on the implications of individual foreign terrorists being present in BIH, while local authorities have denied that there are any terrorist training facilities operating in BIH. Because extremely limited international and domestic collection assets and capabilities, there is insufficient information available to confirm or deny the presence of paramilitary training camps in BIH. The focus on ‘training camps’ however is, in part, a red herring. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RUGGED TERRAIN OF BIH NOT NECESSARILY THE GATEWAY FOR CLANDESTINE TRAINING CAMPS.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although BOSNIAN terrain is extremely rugged and suitable to clandestine insurgent-style operations, known extremists have also conducted training in classrooms, prison cells, sporting clubs, and via the Internet. Such approaches to training do not require open-air facilities, cleared fields, firing ranges, tented camps, or sites otherwise identifiable in military terms. Summer youth camps are often reported as terrorist training camps. Although the potential for indoctrination exists at such locations, they are not the same as paramilitary facilities used for training in terrorist methods and equipment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to 2006 Country Reports on Terrorism, released by the Office of the US Coordinator for Counterterrorism:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">‘BIH’s Law enforcements organizations cooperated with the UNITED STATES on international counterterrorism. BIH remained a weak state, however, with multiple semi-autonomous centres of power, vulnerable to exploitation as a terrorist safe haven or a potential staging ground for terrorist operations in EUROPE. Nevertheless, there were notable signs of increased local operational capability to combat terrorism and terrorism finance’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The reports also states that</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- ‘BOSNIAN authorities continued to strengthen existing counterterrorism mechanisms and develop new ones. The Inter-Ministerial Counterterrorism Task Force (IMCTF), formed in December 2004, and currently responsible for coordinating all State level institutions with counterterrorism responsibilities, directed two successful terrorism-related deportations in 2006. Despite these successes the Task Force’s operational effectiveness was generally hampered by insufficient coordination, such as infrequent communication and a lack of clear divisions of labour among the agencies’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Is also reported the work of the Citizenship Review Commission (CRC).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- The only reported terrorist activity in BIH during 2006 is ‘the trial against the three individuals that were arrested in October 2005 and charged with terrorism, and two others charged with illegal possession of explosives. The charged people were supposedly preparing to attack unspecified European targets’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- ‘The BOSNIAN organization <b>Aktivna Islamnka Omladina (Active Islamic Youth, or AIO)</b> spread extremist and anti-American rhetoric through its weekly print and on line publication SAFF Magazine.There were indications that AIO conducted youth outreach in BIH during the year and maintained a presence in Western Europe’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to this report, it is possible to assess that:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- BIH’s Law enforcements organizations cooperate on international counterterrorism. There are notable signs of increased local operational capability to combat terrorism.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- BOSNIAN authorities continue to strengthen existing counterterrorism mechanisms and develop new ones, although coordination among the different agencies has to be increased.</span></span></div>

WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - Part 5

WAHHABISM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF EUROPE Aktivna Islamnka Omladina (Active Islamic Youth, or AIO) weekly print and on line publication SAFF Maga...

Read more »

Ticket(s) Giveaway: "Singin' in the Rain" on the Big Screen

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9pkmeFR1-XZyfl3Q1tZ_5F1i8W8Wk5I1JCDTpk2lylw109vXFA2dxU9dkJbSyQxi61e-RXs3EV60CFgwLxNABXsdw23Iv9IKykcqcwmA_HbCTL5CQnHGW7qM1F9KZPlhOY_MN2nZ0ys1/s1600/singin'_in_the_rain_1952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9pkmeFR1-XZyfl3Q1tZ_5F1i8W8Wk5I1JCDTpk2lylw109vXFA2dxU9dkJbSyQxi61e-RXs3EV60CFgwLxNABXsdw23Iv9IKykcqcwmA_HbCTL5CQnHGW7qM1F9KZPlhOY_MN2nZ0ys1/s400/singin'_in_the_rain_1952.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Singin' in the Rain </i>returns to theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 22, for an encore presentation of a stunning new print of the film.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll be giving away <i>three pairs of tickets</i> for the event. <a href="http://www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/alllocations.aspx?eventid=1107" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a listing of all participating theaters.  Please send your entry, including your <b>name</b>,  <b>mailing address</b> and <b><i>theater selection</i></b> (I need <i>all three</i>), to: <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com"><span style="color: #cc0000;">l</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">adyevesidwich@gmail.com</span></a>. </span><span style="font-size: small;">A random drawing will be held on August 13 and winners will be contacted immediately. Tickets will be sent directly from the the event coordinator.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Update: Congratulations to winners Lindsay, Barry and Dawn - and thanks to Melanie of Pure Brand Communications for providing tickets for this drawing.</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This event, a celebration of the film's 60th anniversary, is sponsored by Turner Classic Movies, NCM Fathom Events and Warner Home Video. Along with the film, a special TCM original production hosted by Robert Osborne will screen. This featurette includes </span><span style="font-size: small;">behind-the-scenes footage and an interview with Debbie Reynolds, who starred in the film with Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't miss your chance to see Stanley Donen's iconic musical, the film that ranks #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of the “<a href="http://www.afi.com/100years/musicals.aspx" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">25 Greatest Movie Musicals</a>,” on the big screen. Enter now!</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/08/09/158489285/60-years-later-still-singin-in-the-rain" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">Click here</a> for Pulitzer Prize winning critic Lloyd Schwartz's August 9 review of <i>Singin' in the Rain </i>on NPR's <i>Fresh Air</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ec2beAQ3W6U" width="560"></iframe>  </div>

Debbie Reynolds Donald O'Connor Gene Kelly Singin' in the Rain TCM The Lady Eve (author) Turner Classic Movies Ticket(s) Giveaway: "Singin' in the Rain" on the Big Screen

Singin' in the Rain returns to theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 22, for an encore presentation of a stunning new print of the fi...

Read more »