Jayman Can Suck It

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheers and allow me to say pedantically, <i>“Hola.”  Ohhh, that's clever!!</i><br /><i><br /></i> <i></i> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnR2JFc6yrIBjyr81H_S62w4YhCzyr9JNX5GiFKQu8gyv47ejYbLs_Ivt5RLeYSLb7vl5BiwacuyxKlBB0Kuhb4JpDNHb6OPHJzXxDRBiC481JQ_XnmeEa_6xxqQwIVGbsUSfP6MqPfk/s1600/Sally+Susman+Pfizer+Viagra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnR2JFc6yrIBjyr81H_S62w4YhCzyr9JNX5GiFKQu8gyv47ejYbLs_Ivt5RLeYSLb7vl5BiwacuyxKlBB0Kuhb4JpDNHb6OPHJzXxDRBiC481JQ_XnmeEa_6xxqQwIVGbsUSfP6MqPfk/s400/Sally+Susman+Pfizer+Viagra.jpg" width="303" /></a>Hola?  Really?  A white guy from Arkansas introduces and salutates to all by saying, “Hola?”<br /><br />That’s like Adolf Hitler greeting Castro by saying, <i>“Здравствуйте"</i><br /><br />Anyway…My name is Sally Susman and I am the VP of policy, external affairs, and communications for Pfizer®, which is of course….<br /><br />THE Big Pharma company that manufactures that magical man drug called, Viagra®.<br /><br />As one who monitors and controls our communications, let me tell you.  We were so close to offering IWS Radio a 150K/year sponsorship, and then yesterday?<br /><br />It seems that Jayman talked of <i><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/11/jayman-great.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">what he would do as a benevolent dictator </span></a></i>of this country, and you know what?<br /><br />Jayman said he would kill all TV advertising of male erection medicines because those ads are “creepy.”<br /><br />Well, we here at Pfizer® are largely proud of Viagra® and at this time have more than a bit of hard-on over Jayman’s comments.<br /><br />It was as though he was sticking his disdain for our right to free speech up our ass, which he could never do, unless of course, he used Viagara® manufactured by us, Pfizer®.<br /><br />We would like to partner with IWS Radio, however as our disclaimer states, <i>“Those having an erection for more than fours hours, should seek medical attention…”</i> which prevents us from doing so, because Jay and Matt have had erections for four <i>years</i>, and still can find anyone to relieve the pressure.<br /><br />Sad, but the truth be known…<br /><br />I am so glad that my company, Pfizer® has created Viagra®, because well…look at me.<br /><br />I am not the most attractive person in the world, but well, I am smart, and guys dig smart chicks, right?<br /><br />Ha…Yeah, on paper.  Dudes in their forties and fifties want nothing but a young looking piece of ass, and if they are going to get it up for someone like me, they need some Viagra® produced by Pfizer®.<br /><br />Tell you what…I am going to ask both Jay and Matt to screw me.  <i>And</i> screw me <i>without</i> the aid of Viagra® which is lovingly and inexpensively produced by Pfizer®.<br /><br />I think Jayman could do it and that would heal the wounds of his post from yesterday.<br /><br />As for Matt?<br /><br />He <i>might</i> be able to do it, but let me tell ya.  He may have imbibed some Wild Irish Rose which would crush his pecker strength, and seriously folks…As good as Viagra® is, there are some things that Pfizer® can’t fix.<br /><br /><i>Here’s to a Manufactured Hard-On,</i><br /><br /><i>Sally Susman</i><br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><i>@mattman_iws</i></a></div>

Jayman Can Suck It

Cheers and allow me to say pedantically, “Hola.”  Ohhh, that's clever!! Hola?  Really?  A white guy from Arkansas introduces and salut...

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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/2012/11/05/ku-lied-center-addition/">KU Lied Center Addition</a> in Lawrence, Kansas by Helix Architecture + Design:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/11/05/ku-lied-center-addition/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Nov12-05.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2007/10/half-dose-37-nerman-museum-of.html">Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art </a> in Overland Park, Kansas by Kyu Sung Woo Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2007/10/half-dose-37-nerman-museum-of.html"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/HD37a.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/2012/11/05/20th-century-world-architecture/"><i>20th-Century World Architecture: The Phaidon Atlas</i></a> by the Editors of Phaidon:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/11/05/20th-century-world-architecture/"><img alt="this week's book review" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/phaidon-atlas20.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" width="510" /></a><br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<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.world-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/38690_e_j_ourso_college_of_business">E.J. Ourso College of Business</a> in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by ikon.5 architects:<br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/38690_e_j_ourso_college_of_business"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://c214210.r10.cf3.rackcdn.com/files/projects/38690/images/900:w/LSU-02.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 KU Lied Center Addition in Lawrence, Kansas by Helix Architecture + D...

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Entry Level Software Algorithm Engineer (C++, .Net, Object Oriented, Algorithm, Image Processing) (#107287)

<!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Position</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">: Entry Level Software Algorithm Engineer<BR> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Location</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">: Milpitas, CA<BR> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Duration</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">: Full time<BR> <BR> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Job Description</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The EBeam algorithms group operates in the very challenging environment of the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. The group designs and develops cutting edge image processing and machine learning algorithms. The group also implements system level solutions to push the limits of sensitivity on these inspection & review systems. The designs and implementations are always constrained to operate with the boundaries of robustness and stability. Furthermore, the real time requirements pose additional challenges. The Ebeam algorithms group also works extensively on providing solutions to live customer problems in the field. This position is unique as it interfaces with several system level groups - Optics, mechanics, sensors, and applications among others. The opportunities are boundless in the technical areas as we are constantly pushing the envelope of leading edge technologies in algorithms and image computers. We are also constantly pursuing system level solutions for these complex automated inspection platforms. We are constantly innovating and releasing products every few months</FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Responsibilities include: </FONT></B></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">1) Background in image/signal processing algorithms, pattern recognition, and real time image processing on distributed computer systems. </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">2) Software skills: C/C++, Matlab/Mathematica/IDL, OOD/OOP. Windows and Linux. Optimization skills on SSE/AltiVec highly desirable. </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">3) Good verbal & written communication needed.</FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Basic Qualifications:</FONT></B></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience. </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OR </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Master's Level Degree with at least 2 years of experience. </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OR </FONT></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Doctorate (Academic)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><BR> </SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P> <P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Kindly send your resumes to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN></P>

Entry Level Software Algorithm Engineer (C++, .Net, Object Oriented, Algorithm, Image Processing) (#107287)

Position : Entry Level Software Algorithm Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : The EBeam ...

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Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 11/05/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://technology.mssd14.wikispaces.net/Flat+Classroom+12-2a+400">Manitou Technology - Flat Classroom 12-2a 400</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">A fantastic example of how a teacher takes his students through the video creation process for Flat Classroom along with some wonderful handouts. If you teach video, you will get some ideas here. Students will also benefit from it.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclassroom">flatclassroom</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 11/05/2012

Manitou Technology - Flat Classroom 12-2a 400 A fantastic example of how a teacher takes his student...

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Should you ramp up your job search now or wait until 2013?

<br /><div class="RXart" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-right: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="cbArticle_lblHeadline">Should you ramp up your job search now or wait until 2013?</span></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">By Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b><br /><div class="cb_share_more_wrapper"></div></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="media-image" src="http://art.icbdr.com/sites/all/files/styles/large/public/2012%20or%202013%20job%20search.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>During a sports game, no matter how a team is faring, its players rely on their coach to share a plan for winning the game. The same is true when it comes to your job search. Whether you've been making progress or you're in a rut, it's up to you -- the coach -- to determine your next move.<br />At this point in the year, you have two options in your playbook: ramp up your job search or take time off until 2013. Both moves have their payoffs, but only you know what's right for Team You.<br /><br /><strong>2012 game plan </strong><br />If you're not ready to call a timeout just yet, choose from several power plays that'll help you make progress throughout the rest of the year.<br />CareerBuilder's <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=7%2f5%2f2012&sc_cmp1=cb_pr706_&siteid=cbpr&id=pr706&ed=12%2f31%2f2012" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">midyear job forecast</a> surveyed more than 2,000 hiring managers and human-resource professionals across industries and company sizes about hiring plans for the latter half of 2012. According to the forecast, businesses are planning to hire in a number of functional areas, so they may be good positions to focus on during your search. These areas include:<br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/customer+service/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Customer service</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/information+technology/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Information technology</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/sales/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Sales</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/administrative/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Administrative</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/business+development/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Business development</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/accounting/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Accounting</a>/<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/finance/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">finance</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/marketing/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Marketing</a></li></ul>You may also want to research newly created positions within companies. According to the forecast, jobs that didn't exist five years ago are now growing to meet new technology demands, including positions tied to:<br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/social+media/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Social media</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/storing+and+managing+data/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Storing and managing data</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/cyber+security/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Cybersecurity</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/financial+regulation/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Financial regulation</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/diversity/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Promoting diversity inside and outside the organization</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/green+energy/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">"Green" energy and the environment</a></li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/global+relations/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Global relations</a></li></ul><strong>2013 game plan </strong><br />If you want to take the rest of the year off, use the time wisely. Prepare yourself for a quick start in 2013. Here are ways to fill your time productively until the new year begins:<br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><strong>Seasonal work.</strong> Companies that hire temporary workers for the upcoming holiday season begin looking for those employees as early as October. You can gain work experience, references and a paycheck with seasonal work. Also, seasonal positions can sometimes lead to permanent jobs.</li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><strong>Volunteer.</strong> Volunteering is a great way to gain experience, fill a résumé gap and meet others in your field.</li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><strong>Network.</strong> Attend industry or general networking events, or try online networking through social-media sites such as LinkedIn. Let your family and friends know what kind of position you're interested in, and connect with others who have similar interests.</li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><strong>Workshops, training or more education.</strong> There may not be enough time left in the year to earn a degree, but you can participate in short-term workshops or training programs. This is another way to avoid résumé gaps, and it also shows potential employers that you've stayed up-to-date on industry advancements.</li><li style="margin-left: 27pt;"><strong>Revamp your résumé.</strong> If you've been keeping yourself busy during the back half of the year, you'll have plenty of new material to include on your résumé. Add new roles, remove outdated activities and be sure to create a customized résumé for each position.</li></ul></div></div><div class="clear" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left;"><h2 style="color: #c7560a; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Related Articles</h2><ul style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li><a href="" id="mxsrRelatedArticles__ctl1_cbhlRelatedArticles" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">INFOGRAPHIC: How to make a resume shine</a></li><li><a href="" id="mxsrRelatedArticles__ctl2_cbhlRelatedArticles" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">5 career paths for retail workers</a></li><li><a href="" id="mxsrRelatedArticles__ctl3_cbhlRelatedArticles" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">Can you switch careers and remain financially stable?</a></li><li><a href="" id="mxsrRelatedArticles__ctl4_cbhlRelatedArticles" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">9 jobs that pay $95,000 a year</a></li></ul><iframe class="Ad" frameborder="0" height="240" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="NO" src="http://ads.adsonar.com/adserving/getAds.jsp?placementId=1266420&pid=617757&ps=-1&zw=326&zh=240&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.careerbuilder.com%2f%3flr%3dcbrockl%2fJobSeeker%2fcareerbytes%2fCBArticle.aspx%3flr%3dcbrockl%26ArticleID%3d3205%26%26strcrit%3dQID%3dA6659272956687%3bst%3da%3buse%3dALL%3bCID%3dUS%3bSID%3dCO%3bTID%3d0%3bENR%3dNO%3bDTP%3dDRNS%3bYDI%3dYES%3bIND%3dALL%3bPDQ%3dAll%3bPDQ%3dAll%3bPAYL%3d0%3bPAYH%3dgt120%3bPOY%3dNO%3bETD%3dALL%3bRE%3dALL%3bMGT%3dDC%3bSUP%3dDC%3bFRE%3d30%3bCHL%3dal%3bQS%3dsid_unknown%3bSS%3dNO%3bTITL%3d0%3bOB%3d-modifiedint%3bRAD%3d30%3bJQT%3dRAD%3bJDV%3dFalse%3bHost%3dUS%3bMaxLowExp%3d-1%3bRecsPerPage%3d25&v=5" vspace="0" width="326"></iframe></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;"><b>Article Reprints</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Permission must be obtained from CareerBuilder.com to reprint any of its articles. Please send a request to<a href="mailto:reprints@careerbuilder.com" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">reprints@careerbuilder.com</a>.</span>

Should you ramp up your job search now or wait until 2013?

Should you ramp up your job search now or wait until 2013? By Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer During a sports game, no matter how a team ...

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helping out

Thinking about my many friends and the thousands of others who are <i>still</i> without power and will be climbing an uphill battle for weeks due to that wench Sandy.<br /><br />Even if you are far away, you can still help by going to the <a href="http://www.redcross.org/templates/render/render.jsp?pageId=11400031&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=paiddonationsbrand&gclid=CND0_7-BuLMCFROnPAodXyAATw" target="_blank">Red Cross</a> and donating today.<br /><br /><br />

helping out

Thinking about my many friends and the thousands of others who are still without power and will be climbing an uphill battle for weeks due ...

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Take time to share and listen to classroom stories

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53959233@N00/2996585650" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="elevator" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="160" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2996585650_d50e87292d_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center;">elevator (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53959233@N00/2996585650" target="_blank">Jose R. Borras</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>I listened to him talk for 10 or 20 minutes at least. Then, he asked me what I did and I was sharing a bit about <a href="http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/" target="_blank">Flat Classroom projects</a> and the incredible things that kids are doing. He interrupts me 1 minute in smiling and says, <br /><br /><blockquote>"So this is your elevator pitch?"</blockquote><br /><br />I said, <br /><br /><blockquote>"No, that implies I'm selling you something. I'm not. Either you get that students need to understand how to collaborate or you don't."</blockquote><br /><br />and then quietly went to reading over my notes for my speech again.<br /><br /><blockquote>"I'm so sorry, did I interrupt you?" He says.</blockquote><br /><blockquote>"No problem, it isn't for everyone, but it is transformational in the classroom."</blockquote><br /><br />We both went on reading and doing our own thing. But later, I pondered how often this happens.<br /><br />I was talking to a teacher who is doing FANTASTIC things in STEM while I was waiting for the plane in Tallahassee last Wednesday. (Hopefully he'll guest post here and share his story soon.) After listening about all the cool, amazing things he's doing, he stopped and said, <br /><br /><blockquote>"You know I've reached out to others about this but all I got was a sales pitch, a kind of feeling like I was invading their territory."</blockquote><br /><br />Like bulldogs in a junk yard, there are many who think their transformation is the only one happening and no one better dare invade their turf. Their collaboration is the only one. Their exciting classroom experience is the only thing. It isn't.<br /><br />There are exciting things happening around the world. It is great to share your story with your enthusiasm but when you become territorial and refuse to share great best practices or when you're so interested in your own elevator pitch that you cut people off, you're missing out.<br /><br />Get out there and read and find out what others are doing. There are some fantastic ideas and best practices happening NOW. Also realize that some things that started off viral have now gone very commercial and there are many trying to sell you things.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/" target="_blank">Flat Classroom Projects</a> has two arms - a for profit and a not for profit side. Different projects go into each depending upon what is happening. But if you're around us long you'll understand that part of what we do is celebrate excellence in global collaboration ANYWHERE it happens.<br /><br />We want to educate and inspire a new generation of global collaborative excellence from the classroom up as we train and teach Flat Classroom Certified Teachers. It is our goal that they will be the best in the world as they start their own projects. We want to help inspire a movement and we want our projects to be the pinnacle of what global collaborative excellence looks like with true Global Collaboration 3.0 (cocreation) excellence happening (see our book for more on that.) But we also celebrate excellence in global collaboration everywhere it happens. It means a lot to me that <a href="http://www.iearn.org/" target="_blank">iEARN</a> retweets our projects and we retweet theirs. <a href="http://www.takingitglobal.org/" target="_blank">Taking IT Global</a> and Flat Classroom has co-planned and created webinars together for Connected Educator month. Working together is what we do.<br /><br />Maybe it sounds like an elevator speech, but it is a passion. Some want to hear about it and others have no clue what is really happening - that we are merging classrooms to cocreate for 6-10 weeks at a time from kindergarten to college. It is powerful and exciting. <br /><br />But it is always the best strategy to work with the willing. You can't push anyone up a ladder. Yes, I'm completely passionate about Julie's and my book <a href="http://www.flatclassroombook.com/" target="_blank">Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds</a>. We wrote it to be a guidebook and manual for transforming yourself, your school, and your classroom in ways that prevent burnout and help you connect with the world in powerful, meaningful ways. <br /><br />We share more than 50 projects (besides our own) and stories and poured two years of our lives into making that book, what we believe, is the best book on global collaboration in education in the world. We're currently struggling with our publisher to make sure the book is as internationally syndicated as it needs to be - it is a lot harder to get in some countries than it should be -- but it is intended to be an international guidebook.<br /><br />So, yes, maybe I am over the top passionate.<br /><br />But<b> never let me be so passionate about my own classroom and projects that I'm blinded to the passion and excitement emerging from the classroom of another.</b><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>May we all be a willing listener and a positive encourager.</li><li>May we all build a network of friends who help each other move forward.</li><li>May we all be encouraged to be your best and share your story in your way and not cut off by those who think they have a monopoly on excellence.</li></ul><br /><br />Any time you are passionate about something, you (and I) will be accused of being in "sales." If that is what it takes to keep Flat Classroom going, then, I guess it will have to be some of that. But I also think you can tell a lot about a person if they can turn it off long enough to listen to, help, and encourage others.<br /><br />There are a lot of educators getting started out there and if the <b>silos of self promotion are already so entrenched</b>, who is going to be helpful?<br /><br />I believe with all of my heart that <b>unselfish listening</b>, <b>empathy</b>, and <b>encouragement </b>will help you do more to build up your passion than a single-minded, self-promotional diatribe about how you are God's gift to education. Education is much bigger than any of us and we are fortunate if we can play a small, humble part in moving things forward. <br /><br />Arrogance and ego are a big part of what many do in this field, but those things don't make many friends. But remember that even if you are humble and helpful, if you have anything to sell -- a speech or a book, you will be accused of "selling" in some way. <br /><br />Perhaps so many are so jaded that it is hard to believe that real people are trying to make a living being helpful. There is no glamour in being poor - having some money can help you do good things as well and is not a bad thing. I think that helpful people deserve to make some income, but sadly, most of that money, I'm finding, is squarely in the hand of publishers if it involves writing a book. <br /><br />So, onwards and upwards here in Camilla, back to my classroom, where airports will fade into memories -- at least for a while.<br /><br />Meanwhile, take time to listen to what others are doing in their classrooms this week AND share your story as well. The more current examples we have from the classroom, the better off we will all be.<br /><br />Each story written, blogged, and tweeted is a gift and I hope you'll take time to share...and to listen.<br /><br /><br />- Written on my iPad using Blog Press by Vicki Davis, author, Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds<br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=4ee5cdc3-8c75-457e-a6a3-818a54b6459e" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

flatclassroom Teaching Take time to share and listen to classroom stories

elevator (Photo credit: Jose R. Borras ) I listened to him talk for 10 or 20 minutes at least. Then, he asked me what I did and I was sharin...

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Jayman the Great

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola voters! The 2012 presidential election is almost over! And not a minute too soon either. I don’t think I can stand to see another political ad for or against anyone or anything. It’s all just too much. In fact, someday when I become benevolent dictator, the first thing I’m going to do is outlaw all political and advocacy ads except the ones reminding everyone what a great leader I am.</div><br />Just for the hell of it, here are some other things I would do …<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDS5Wl2ldiFetgbWajyotgoI3i9XSIVFJ_WfiZnMfQ0uFyovgm0bk1uwsAJ6prIZldKHEFm7e_br9NhNbA_Su-457NmMUfrlfxGJqAIRH2HzGL58snWz4Q74jqgv3krrY1vGX8yp7-Ps/s1600/Miley+Cyrus+Daisy+Dukes+Bad+Haircut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDS5Wl2ldiFetgbWajyotgoI3i9XSIVFJ_WfiZnMfQ0uFyovgm0bk1uwsAJ6prIZldKHEFm7e_br9NhNbA_Su-457NmMUfrlfxGJqAIRH2HzGL58snWz4Q74jqgv3krrY1vGX8yp7-Ps/s400/Miley+Cyrus+Daisy+Dukes+Bad+Haircut.JPG" width="170" /></a></div>- I would guarantee government subsidies for men trying to meet Asian chicks. <br /><br />- I would name Miley Cyrus the Secretary of Fashion.<br /><br />- I would outlaw all left turns unless you have a turn lane or a protection light. <br /><br />- I would lower the drinking age to 18, but raise the legal driving age to 21 to avoid teen drunk driving problems. <br /><br />- I would extend the base paths in baseball from 90 to 95 feet to eliminate all close plays. <br /><br />- I would outlaw all reality TV shows except Swamp People and that new show about the day to day lives of strippers that VH1 is supposedly doing. <br /><br />- I would outlaw all feminine hygiene ads, erectile dysfunction ads and ads where people talk about having gas or diarrhea.<br /><br />- I would also make whatever a person pays for lap dances a charitable deduction on his taxes. <br /><br />- I would require BTR to rank more than one episode if multiple shows are still getting plays. <br /><br />- I would ban Celine Dion songs from being played on any radio station in the country. I will allow her to continue to perform in Vegas, but nowhere else! <br /><br />- I would also ban all sideline reporters in both NFL and College Football. Compete wastes of time. <br /><br />- I would also bad that Goddam prevent defense crap that coaches always do late in game when they have a precarious lead. It almost always leads to a loss. <br /><br />- I would move the presidential retreat from Camp David to a small fishing village in Mexico.<br /><br />- I would get rid of that bullshit tax exempt status that churches enjoy. <br /><br />- I would shut down the WNBA.<br /><br />- Cut two dollars in aid to Israel for every one dollar the republicans cut in social programs aimed at children. <br /><br />- Make it felony for people living in upstairs apartments to crank up their music to ridiculous volumes punishable by 37 years in prison. <br /><br />- Throw a big-ass blogger and podcaster party in Las Vegas that would be free for everyone. <br /><br />- Ban the McRib cause that’s some nasty shit man.<br /><br />- Gather all the world’s most brilliant scientists and have them find a way to make Pepperoni Lover’s Pizza with extra sauce, Mexican food, cheeseburgers and Pepsi totally healthy without losing the great taste. This will go down as my greatest contribution to humanity. <br /><br />- Oh and I guess I would make sure everyone had equal access to decent healthcare and all that kind of shit. Whatever. <br /><br />- Make kids go to school year round with only two weeks off around July 4th and Christmas. <br /><br />- Make any adjustments to any laws to improve my happiness and comfort level whenever necessary. I mean the happiness and comfort level of my loyal followers! Yeah, that’s it. <br /><br />As you can see, I would be a great benevolent dictator and I would make the world a much better place. I think we should all get busy making this happen as soon as possible. Thanks. <br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><br /><br />In other news, Sunday’s episode of <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid" target="_blank">I’m With Stupid </a>was absolutely fucking hilarious. Well, it was to Matt and Jay at least. We talked about the upcoming Presidential election, made some predictions about what might happen we one side or the other loses, had lots and lots of fun at Dick Morris’ expense and generally mocked all these pretentious political pundits that we’re all sick and tired of seeing and hearing from all the time. It was a seriously funny show so check it out! <br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D3971677&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D3971677&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div><br /></div>

Jayman the Great

Hola voters! The 2012 presidential election is almost over! And not a minute too soon either. I don’t think I can stand to see another polit...

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TURKEY IN THE MIST

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><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></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0tvSlOEX5kNe9JzBlJWF_DyoPAkles9uU-oDMLEPfottRK_q4vx3Ys2QovRtoO37yLtxo0HNNhyNWXWF32trrFMCo974uC7iVGtrfkGw_DheqCskz9cOqD6vsUnn6RJqH8aWxj4GKclW/s1600/MIST-Countries.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0tvSlOEX5kNe9JzBlJWF_DyoPAkles9uU-oDMLEPfottRK_q4vx3Ys2QovRtoO37yLtxo0HNNhyNWXWF32trrFMCo974uC7iVGtrfkGw_DheqCskz9cOqD6vsUnn6RJqH8aWxj4GKclW/s400/MIST-Countries.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><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></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><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></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY ENJOYS A DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION THAT IS EXTREMELY FAVORABLE TO GROWTH</span></b></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">plus Bac<span style="font-size: x-large;">kgrounder</span> </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ten years after coining the famous ‘BRIC’ acronym, Jim O’Neil has done it again. This time it’s the MIST countries: MEXICO, INDONESIA, SOUTH KOREA, and TURKEY.  And with its robust balance sheet of economic fundamentals, it should come as no surprise that TURKEY has officially been penned into the next round of global economic debutantes.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY’S position as one of the world’s next big emerging economies has become unassailable in the past fifteen years. Unlike the aging populations that characterize other economic powers in the region, TURKEY enjoys a demographic distribution that is extremely favorable to growth, (see: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html</a>) and it will soon be benefitting from the ‘demographic dividend’ of a young population in much of the same way that countries like CHINA and BRAZIL are at present. And TURKEY’S population is not just young; at around 72 million it represents a sizable domestic market in itself. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY HAS THE METRICS OF AN ECONOMIC POWER IN WAITING</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">.</span><br /><br />Another critical difference between TURKEY and other regional powers is its relatively small debt-to-GDP ratio, currently hovering at around 40 percent. All of these factors combined to generate a record $22 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the lead up to the 2008 global financial crisis. This impressive level of FDI was no anomaly: TURKEY has the metrics of an economic power in waiting.  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget2pF5d_X6wTmUgiE-7AylC8i7Bqe9HaLzmYsWfZkALmj3-n3Q2EhPSBeK4KO-PgvtDmzkZwEDSJtPVlyCb7Cv7MAQidieOXnSGTGweymnBtoUJO1o1vKLTry9BvcBtB3BLXIrGzx1do5/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget2pF5d_X6wTmUgiE-7AylC8i7Bqe9HaLzmYsWfZkALmj3-n3Q2EhPSBeK4KO-PgvtDmzkZwEDSJtPVlyCb7Cv7MAQidieOXnSGTGweymnBtoUJO1o1vKLTry9BvcBtB3BLXIrGzx1do5/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But will membership in a MIST grouping have any real influence on TURKEY’S geopolitical outlook? The answer depends on several variables, and first and foremost there’s the question of MIST itself. Currently, MIST is just a figment of our collective imaginations, lacking even the most preliminary institutional foundations that the BRIC countries have.<br /><br />Yet this relative immaturity makes the MIST countries grouping more pliable, and this may end up playing to TURKEY’S advantage. If Istanbul finds itself spurned in its entry into the EU, it will have to look elsewhere for economic partners, (see: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html</a>) and it is here that MIST could end up playing an important role. Much like the BRIC countries built up their brand as a way to promote a multipolar international system, in style if not substance, MIST countries could use this brand to promote their own economic importance to private investors and drive real economic integration in their corresponding regions.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“MIST” DERIVED MUCH OF ITS IMPORTANCE FROM A POLITICAL MESSAGE, NOT AN ECONOMIC ONE</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of what might happen, governments across Mexico City, Istanbul, Seoul, and Jakarta are all interpreting the somewhat arbitrary birth of MIST as an outright blessing, if only because it helps build economic confidence via its indirect association with the BRIC countries.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">After all, economic branding is about the best that MIST countries can hope for with a membership spread across three continents, say nothing of the burning question of whether South Korea should even be considered as an emerging market at all (the OECD disagrees).</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Moreover, observers should think twice before predicting MIST to follow a similar track as the BRICS countries. The latter group derived much of its importance from a political message, not an economic one. And while there is no substantive economic or political integration occurring between the BRICS countries ( S stands for SOUTH AFRICA), the acronym gained traction because it came to symbolize the end of the post-Cold War ‘unipolar moment’ of the UNITED STATES.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgTong2zIV88midHEKA6BQ9IF1dILsyF7SIa5LM7Kxd0N4XNx3GVaYyywQnub1l14RTUSjbxcV2D0b7FubZzeZmlUFlwLXIxATb9VeaPzjY4wojgQWGK2upPHyFpz8CDLDPXRew7NtEHL/s1600/58Modern+Istanbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgTong2zIV88midHEKA6BQ9IF1dILsyF7SIa5LM7Kxd0N4XNx3GVaYyywQnub1l14RTUSjbxcV2D0b7FubZzeZmlUFlwLXIxATb9VeaPzjY4wojgQWGK2upPHyFpz8CDLDPXRew7NtEHL/s320/58Modern+Istanbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Istanbul</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus, TURKEY’S membership in MIST is a powerful symbol, though it’s one of a safe economic investment in a stable middle power for the private investor and not the next big alliance in international society.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Zachary Fillingham via Geopoliticalmonitor </span><br 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BACKGROUNDER: MIST COUNTRIES</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Back in 2001, Goldman Sachs analyst Jim O’Neill put his permanent stamp on the English language by grouping the four emerging economies of BRAZIL, RUSSIA, INDIA, and CHINA into one handy acronym- ‘BRIC.’ Ten years later, with economic signs abound that growth within the BRIC countries was about to come down to earth, Jim went back to the drawing board to recapture some of his old magic. The result: MIST countries, the newest emerging market club that boasts a membership of MEXICO, INDONESIA, SOUTH KOREA, and TURKEY.<br /><br />With the clarity of hindsight, we can now say that the BRIC countries   label has been significant. What began as a purely theoretical construct meant to move investment products ended up as a self-fulfilling prophecy after the BRIC countries seized upon the label and the global importance that it implied.<br /><br />But will the same eventually be said of the MIST countries? At this point it’s anyone’s guess, particularly since the cultural and political disparity that exists between the MIST countries makes the BRIC countries look like a cohesive bloc.<br /><br />The BRIC countries <span> </span>undoubtedly share a great deal of economic potential however, and this backgrounder will explain why.</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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MEXICO</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></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";"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html"><span style="color: blue;">Population</span></a>: 114,975,406</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Age Structure:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0-14 years: 27.8%</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15-64 years: 65.5% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">65 years and over: 6.7%</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP: $1.155 trillion</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP Composition: Agriculture: 3.8% / Industry: 34.2% / Services: 62%</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Major Exports: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee and cotton.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Transparency.Org Corruption Ranking: 100th (globally)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MEXICO has a strong demographic foundation for future economic growth; something it shares with many of the other MIST countries. With a population of over 112 million, Mexico has a sizable pool of labor to draw on, and critically, this labor pool is overwhelmingly young. Currently, there are <a href="http://csis.org/program/demographics-and-human-capital-development-mexico"><span style="color: blue;">nine children for every elderly person in MEXICO</span></a>. And unlike most of the developed world, MEXICO’S population is still growing. It reported a population growth rate of over one percent last year.<br /><br />MEXICO is also uniquely placed to pick up the slack in global manufacturing as wages in CHINA rise and reduce its competitiveness in the field of low value-added production. The average manufacturing wage in CHINA <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444318104577587191288101170.html"><span style="color: blue;">surpassed that of MEXICO</span></a> earlier this year, and MEXICO also benefits from reduced shipping costs to the critical US market owing to its geographic position and NATO membership. These manufacturing advantages have translated into MEXICO claiming an ever-larger slice of the US overall imports pie- MEXICAN imports amounted to 12% of US total imports last year, up from 10% in 2009.<br /><br />This doesn’t mean that MEXICO has supplanted CHINA as the motor of the global economy. CHINA, of course, still has its own sizable economic advantages. Rather, the numbers indicate that MEXICO is well-situated to eat into CHINA’S dominance of global low-cost manufacturing; a transition that CHINA itself is encouraging in order to boost domestic wages and consumption.<br /><br />The roadblocks threatening to keep MEXICO from realizing the economic potential implied by the MIST counties label are well-documented: a raging drug war and <a href="http://www.grailresearch.com/pdf/ContenPodsPdf/Grail-Research-MIST.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">persistent corruption.</span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">INDONESIA</span></b></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";"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/id.html"><span style="color: blue;">Population</span></a>: 248,645,008</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Age Structure:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0-14 years: 27% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15-64 years: 66.6% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">65 years and over: 6.4% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP: $845.7 billion </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 14.7% / Industry: 47.2% / Services: 38.1% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Major Exports: oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Transparency.Org Corruption Ranking: 100th (globally)</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";">Like MEXICO, INDONESIA has a demographic distribution that is conducive to rapid economic growth. It will experience a ‘demographic dividend’ over the next few decades, when its working-age population far exceeds elderly dependants.<br /><br />INDONESIA also benefits from its geography. As SOUTHEAST ASIA’S largest economy, it is well placed to take advantage of the ASEAN-CHINA Free Trade Area, and it has done just that- recording three consecutive years of GDP growth over 6 percent from 2009-2012.<br /><br />The INDONESIAN economy stands out among the MIST countries because of its high levels of domestic consumption. INDONESIAN consumers account for over <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19144786"><span style="color: blue;">60 percent</span></a> of the INDONESIAN GDP (<a href="http://www.tradingfloor.com/posts/asia-macro-is-3-years-of-6-growth-a-dream-no-its-indonesia-205803285"><span style="color: blue;">in CHINA, it’s 35 percent</span></a>). Robust domestic consumption has allowed INDONESIA to weather the brunt of the Great Recession and continue to grow at a steady clip.<br /><br />Yet the INDONESIAN economy is still connected to the wax and wane of the global economy. Its exports are dominated by commodities and natural resources, primarily heading to CHINA, so it stands to reason that the INDONESIAN economy would suffer in the event of any CHINESE slowdown. Like MEXICO, INDONESIA also has a problem with corruption.</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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></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";"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html"><span style="color: blue;">Population</span></a>: 79,749,461</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Age structure: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0-14 years: 26.2% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15-64 years: 67.4% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">65 years and over: 6.4% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP: $778.1 billion</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 9.3% / Industry: 28.1% / Services: 62.6% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Major Exports: apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Transparency.Org Corruption Ranking: 61st (globally)</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";">TURKEY’S position as one of the world’s next big emerging economies has become unassailable in the past fifteen years. Unlike the aging populations that characterize other economic powers in the region, TURKEY enjoys a demographic distribution that is extremely favorable to growth, and it will soon be benefitting from the ‘demographic dividend’ of a young population in much of the same way that countries like CHINA and BRAZIL are at present. And TURKEY’S population is not just young; at around 79 million it represents a sizable domestic market in itself.   <br /><br />Another critical difference between TURKEY and other regional powers is its relatively small debt-to-GDP ratio, currently hovering at around 40 percent. All of these factors combined to generate a record $22 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the lead up to the 2008 global financial crisis. This impressive level of FDI was no anomaly: TURKEY has the metrics of an economic power in waiting.  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOUTH KOREA</span></b></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";"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html"><span style="color: blue;">Population</span></a>: 48,860,500 </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Age Structure:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0-14 years: 15.1% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15-64 years: 73% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">65 years and over: 11.9% </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP: $1.116 trillion</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GDP Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 2.6% / Industry: 39.2% / Services: 58.2%</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Major Exports: semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Transparency.Org Corruption Ranking: 43rd (globally)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOUTH KOREA is somewhat of an exception within the MIST countries, but not for any lack of economic dynamism. It stands apart because it can, in many respects, already be considered a developed economy, and it is often classified as such by everyone from the lowly student to the massive bureaucracy like the OECD.<br /><br />By most indications, SOUTH KOREA is a developed economy: it boasts a per-capita income of US $27,000, its economy is export-driven and powered by high value-added manufacturing, and it has mature political institutions that help reduce corruption.<br /><br />SOUTH KOREA’S advanced position on the economic development arc means that its population is also substantively different than other MIST countries. It is the smallest population in the club and thus represents the smallest domestic market, and in terms of age distribution it is markedly older than the other MISTs. It should also be noted that the rapid ‘graying’ that historically follows a demographic dividend will be more pronounced in SOUTH KOREA. It has a population growth rate of just 0.2% (176th in the world) and is known for having some of the strictest immigration laws within the OECD.  </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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Conclusion</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /><br />The MIST acronym was born of one singular desire: to move Goldman Sachs investment products (particularly the N-11 Equity Fund). Yet that doesn’t mean it can’t teach us something. There is a solid economic argument to be made for any member of the MIST countries being the next big launch pad for global economic growth (except for SOUTH KOREA, which arguably has already launched). But grouping the four of them together and implying that they’re a cohesive bloc should be avoided at all costs. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Zachary Fillingham via Geopoliticalmonitor </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

TURKEY IN THE MIST

TURKEY ENJOYS A DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION THAT IS EXTREMELY FAVORABLE TO GROWTH plus Bac kgrounder Ten years after coining the famous ‘BRIC...

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