Not So Comfortable After All

Turns out those gym guys are intimidating afterall.<br /><br />Monday I attempted a gym visit <i>solo </i>to do the NROLW.  I started out with 30 min on the elliptical to warm up.  Once I was finished with the warm up, I headed over to the area where Joel and I were working on Saturday.  As soon as I saw all the meat heads, I kept on walking.  I couldn't do it.  I already don't feel like I belong in a gym as it is, and to walk over to the weights section and attempt that with all those thick-necked, oversize armed men, I couldn't do it.<br /><br />I tried to tell myself to get it together as I walked around the gym, and that it was no big deal - those guys had to start from somewhere as well!  Still, I couldn't do it.<br /><br />Then I thought, "Ok, I'll try the all female side of the gym."  That's one cool thing about this Gold's (<i>perhaps this is the norm at all Gold's?</i>), it has a section of the gym just for women - it's closed off and everything.  This is for people like me who are intimidated by all the man meat.<br /><br />Actually, it's not for people like me. <br /><br />Because as soon as I walked into that side, I panicked again.  There were other women in there doing their thing - looking buff and fit as though they are professionals - and I couldn't do it there either.  Ugh...Hilary.<br /><br />So I left.  <br /><br />Last night, Joel and I planned to try that workout together at the gym, but I had a bad day at work and I couldn't bring myself to go (or do much of anything actually).<br /><br />Tonight, after my Weight Watcher meeting and Joel's doctor appointment, we're going to try again.  <br /><br />There should be no excuses tonight not to go.  Yes, I am still a little afraid to go and attempt these workouts again, but this time I'll have Joel by my side.<br /><br />For the lady readers, are you ever intimidated at the gym?  How do you handle it?  Please don't tell me you, too, panic and run out :).

New Rules of Lifting for Women Weight Loss Challenges Not So Comfortable After All

Turns out those gym guys are intimidating afterall. Monday I attempted a gym visit solo to do the NROLW.  I started out with 30 min on the e...

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The world map of social networks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Don't you just love these infographics? Facebook is just everywhere! Click on the picture to be taken to the original website. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20110228/162792394.html"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26f5fplDGpbA4IT2li4v6z_3GsAe7kwSbB7xz2oyNK4dAc0vYhhOIS0zSODh4Cxy6kcLXJHXUtPeRhBWUCCsYYm8Nhl6HTbTtT_wUpUxyD0fXAcZXelPWjwGtwJMGyq1NFDCAp21HNZg/s400/The+world+map+of+social+networks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>

Social networks The world map of social networks

Don't you just love these infographics? Facebook is just everywhere! Click on the picture to be taken to the original website.

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A purple cast this time

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. The doctor couldn't really see any healing in my scaphoid bone. When I looked at the x-ray it looked like it was actually worse than before. Of course, I'm not an orthopaedic surgeon, but even he said he didn't really see any improvement but he wanted to try another month of my wrist in a cast.<br /><br />I'm really disappointed. Even though my doctor had warned me my scaphoid probably wouldn't heal on it's own in a month, if ever, I was still hoping. This particular bone, the scaphoid, tends to not heal easily because it doesn't get a good supply of blood. My doctor told me this fact at my last appointment, and I had read about it on numerous websites in the last three weeks. Still, I thought with all my vitamins, supplements, healthy eating and regular exercise, there would be a miracle and it would heal. I was wrong.<br /><br />I'll keep up the exercise and healthy food, if not for my scaphoid bone, then for the rest of me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Getting the dirty, pink cast removed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4fVFRynsyjLoRlaz9n1n9z_wmKveumjKIEkiZ34ICpD53hJEwvyUNHGUKFRieC_pTv_-gplpz40nKBb-Xb4lQ7IArV5sCNegLvWym9v3x8f9XGTE6Gho2Qfj7hclKXsFxj0fnxtJamcY/s1600/old+cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4fVFRynsyjLoRlaz9n1n9z_wmKveumjKIEkiZ34ICpD53hJEwvyUNHGUKFRieC_pTv_-gplpz40nKBb-Xb4lQ7IArV5sCNegLvWym9v3x8f9XGTE6Gho2Qfj7hclKXsFxj0fnxtJamcY/s320/old+cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This wasn't a staged picture of pain. It hurt like heck after the cast was removed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ6A0VS0tQsT2auyoPx4NabWmYeQSYMfq_KyBcSkNIZk6kIT4WcFZnM8Hn98F3jtSwlmVF4DOL0kyWaSvtXOERqs5-2wDyTeOpUX63Vjlw4QxsmNg31g7dXz0FtYB1DlIIYAkm5NJQE-e/s1600/No+Cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ6A0VS0tQsT2auyoPx4NabWmYeQSYMfq_KyBcSkNIZk6kIT4WcFZnM8Hn98F3jtSwlmVF4DOL0kyWaSvtXOERqs5-2wDyTeOpUX63Vjlw4QxsmNg31g7dXz0FtYB1DlIIYAkm5NJQE-e/s320/No+Cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not happy (and I have bad posture!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pZT4lZxT8Ik6URE3EyvAtBurTuPsmidTM4VU_TOzZL3kT9kQAtsYZCbVBSp-CTg6TludGbLWopyN5qpmklLkPGKfqEh56XzVWz-V8SuMTPl9E8VdEsWvlvBWDQ6nND_EAkXwN3hzThDt/s1600/New+Cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pZT4lZxT8Ik6URE3EyvAtBurTuPsmidTM4VU_TOzZL3kT9kQAtsYZCbVBSp-CTg6TludGbLWopyN5qpmklLkPGKfqEh56XzVWz-V8SuMTPl9E8VdEsWvlvBWDQ6nND_EAkXwN3hzThDt/s320/New+Cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I guess I'll go for a walk now. I need to get my arm moving and hopefully get the blood flowing to my wrist. Even though it may not heal, and I'll wind up getting surgery on it anyway, I'll still need to be healthy for the surgery.

A purple cast this time

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. The doctor couldn't really see any healing in my scaphoid bone. When I looked at the x-r...

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Great videos about 21st century teaching and learning

In one of our pre-assignments before attending PIL Institute in Redmond, we were asked to discuss our views on 21st century teaching and learning, and also add artefacts, and place all of this in our Partners in Learning community site. Many of the attendees added video links as their artefacts, so I have listed them here for quick access. These videos capture what, I believe, best describes teaching and learning in the 21st Century. These videos focus on the skills that students need or what teachers see as vital skills for both teachers and learners. <br /><br />1. <strong><strong>A vision of K-12 today</strong></strong><br /><br /><object height="390" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_A-ZVCjfWf8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_A-ZVCjfWf8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>2. A vision of 21st century teachers</strong><br /><br /><object height="390" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4g5M06YyVw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4g5M06YyVw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>3. What teachers make by Taylor Mali</strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RxsOVK4syxU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><strong>4. Three steps</strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aPQlu5Vxm28" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><strong>5. Learning to change, changing to learn<br /></strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tahTKdEUAPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And then there is my favourite which was shown to us at the Schoolnet conference in Joburg in July. <br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/gel_gotta_share.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/gel_gotta_share.html</a>) .<br /><iframe width="420" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/soAk3F0wX9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Can you recommend any others?

videos Great videos about 21st century teaching and learning

In one of our pre-assignments before attending PIL Institute in Redmond, we were asked to discuss our views on 21st century teaching and lea...

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A Very Active Saturday

On Saturday, Joel and I did our first NROLW workout in the gym.  I enjoyed this SO much better.  <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Rules%20of%20Lifting%20for%20Women">You might remember</a> how I was scared to go to the gym to do these workouts because of all the super buff gym guys.  Well, we did great - steadily making our way through the workouts. <br /><br />Though Joel did get a little self conscious about me toting around a book about lifting for women.  I guess it's okay to be doing these workouts privately in our own home, but he was none to pleased with me "flashing the book around" on Saturday "like a tourist".  Hehe... sorry J-J.  Next time we'll be taking pics of the gym workouts and referencing our cell phones instead of the book :).  Problem solved!<br /><br />We both started out with 30 min on the elliptical, followed by Workout B (Stage 1).   After the gym, Joel and his cousin decided they wanted to meet up to go fishing at a nearby state park.  I decided to go along, since we would be kayaking, and I figured it was a great way to add more activity to my day while still having fun with Joel and his cousin.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3ZDcPTyePnH8ivssIGFeUR8IGsPOYbQHdzNJvo2_13B7qeFHQajI0FlYTvAdZi6H5bJ8-UlPgkm7dzi0uoqkkIIPARkZ5AGsir9qJjVMSIQdiaEJJSO777fOb7vZrIlrlQpBM8ybFg/s1600/Hil+Kayaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3ZDcPTyePnH8ivssIGFeUR8IGsPOYbQHdzNJvo2_13B7qeFHQajI0FlYTvAdZi6H5bJ8-UlPgkm7dzi0uoqkkIIPARkZ5AGsir9qJjVMSIQdiaEJJSO777fOb7vZrIlrlQpBM8ybFg/s400/Hil+Kayaking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was rather humid out on the water</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW1PWeDniqIzHE0lOwTP7G-dxd5yxLmj4HZWyKLlkUMcGrxDrpoVB_Xn5YTD0hJW8jpb_Lj__OSdmcZJwQGGN3rfMYUwgxcEPeiC76E9oyKMTjclablTeeLLqJEzioJRPZjON7C3DGgU/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW1PWeDniqIzHE0lOwTP7G-dxd5yxLmj4HZWyKLlkUMcGrxDrpoVB_Xn5YTD0hJW8jpb_Lj__OSdmcZJwQGGN3rfMYUwgxcEPeiC76E9oyKMTjclablTeeLLqJEzioJRPZjON7C3DGgU/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Joel and his cousin, Jonathan, both have Hobie kayaks.  They are geared toward fishermen, and as you can see, you sit on top of it, rather than down inside.  They have these really neat foot pedals and a rudder to guide you around.  I love Joel's kayak - you have the option of either paddling the traditional way, or pedaling, and both are a great workout.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZRJ96egOG9GBXFwZI0uweTaby3Kwox48H7QpZpxPwwSGSiVfwllZ7JLcqy2Vx4qO8CaxLMYQ4IKDWbbfgqnciSU50208fEXNimTPy9aHdkyK3OzFG015t-PGJ5c9rpWEpNp0sHLbeg/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZRJ96egOG9GBXFwZI0uweTaby3Kwox48H7QpZpxPwwSGSiVfwllZ7JLcqy2Vx4qO8CaxLMYQ4IKDWbbfgqnciSU50208fEXNimTPy9aHdkyK3OzFG015t-PGJ5c9rpWEpNp0sHLbeg/s400/026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many large mouth bass caught that day by both him and his cousin</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/AVvXsEgv24yD8dRn-Q429WdhBHgaExFLvl4cA6YrJLwa513qKrrA0qIKGOZ4HMj8vT_51CVHOMscE2FNBj_RflraK96s9UKsIgg_pVCrd_6dlwpUpoOdeLX1ERgrmyJPmK0AjNZzm_yj6F0jnfs/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv24yD8dRn-Q429WdhBHgaExFLvl4cA6YrJLwa513qKrrA0qIKGOZ4HMj8vT_51CVHOMscE2FNBj_RflraK96s9UKsIgg_pVCrd_6dlwpUpoOdeLX1ERgrmyJPmK0AjNZzm_yj6F0jnfs/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan is Joel's 5th "brother" - they are the best of friends</td></tr></tbody></table>What did you do this weekend?  Were you able to incorporate any activity AND fun into your plans?

Exercise New Rules of Lifting for Women Success A Very Active Saturday

On Saturday, Joel and I did our first NROLW workout in the gym.  I enjoyed this SO much better.  You might remember how I was scared to go ...

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Why not try using Live Writer for blog posts?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">With Windows Live Writer you can write your posts offline and then publish them when you are finished. This will be a great help to me as I usually write my posts in Word - and the HTML code is very complicated behind the scenes. Correcting the formatting in the published post is also a headache! I am using Live Writer now for the first time so I’ll be able to comment on how easy it is to use in a minute. To install Live Writer this is what you need to do:<br /><br />1. Go to the Internet and search for <a href="http://explore.live.com/windows-live-writer">Windows Live Writer</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeq9OY3GClNW0Bk15CxNMhKbKdg7cUOYrJl0ZRpxcZNhuFu_b97hZhcd91GcintevQGLwKZtRptFvo1nQUgqLkCMPnUPcVQssdve2YOYmHFoqJmS_fikYX8IENYe97S-Ti0akTjqndEc/s1600-h/windows-live-writer3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="windows live writer" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ybtnrwn6hmXC7khhjyCzm_gplxyvK2u7LT0JjjpVwswJE5FO68P72SU3ZqRawwH8GQ8dH-D7GrVDpC1Ch7omFfkw5CPmeEHsynuGMsL3PvwV-UnduoONyjAVB_PhJC8LYD_tmD-3ceI/?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 3px auto;" title="windows live writer" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />2. Click on <em>Download now</em>. It will give you an option to download the whole Live Essentials pack. Untick the blocks that you don’t require.<br /><br />3. Install Live Writer.<br /><br />4. Choose your blog type and follow the instruction. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BvyF3jx_y8X3uLwUEsAv4dHmhgZcjFvjZu2ki7qRlcCXbuSZZU3Kf8vTlHd126zI3_fbtbgtnX337zxpGt-8nXrGP0tbrA2izvLCAawY6CXAc6zRbZCq5FvDuDaAH_UTNASUuV6lwAg/s1600-h/live-writer2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="live writer" border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQC7IsTyKJz9CFyq2uVEov9EcDte9IbWtdq53xnJdvH3ZomEL-ZkEYLUOyr_apZZNvni6xxz_Q6MWOd0pFCAJpe2TZHdMBN8mURkbTiJCvswLrnGDfQ4MKM3UplFeYLG6zKOjtoC_0qg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 3px 10px 3px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="live writer" width="400" /></a></div><br />5. Once everything is ready and you have restarted your computer you can start writing your post offline, and then publish it. <br /><br />6. Just to recap, here is a short video from the Partners in Learning UK site giving the instructions for using Live Writer.<br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EqDtrKr619w" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Well, I have taken a look at my published post and wow! I love the formatting! If I look behind the scenes to the HTML code it is very neat and straightforward. I might be doing all my posts like this in future!</div>

Live Writer Web tools Why not try using Live Writer for blog posts?

With Windows Live Writer you can write your posts offline and then publish them when you are finished. This will be a great help to me as I ...

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Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes

This was my breakfast for last week.  These are easy-to-make standard buttermilk pancakes, with a bit of a healthier kick to them.  I ate them plain with an 1/8 cup light syrup, but you could certainly add some fresh fruit (blueberries please!) and/or preserves and they would be just as delicious.<br /><br />These are brought to you by Eat What You Love.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><u><b>Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes</b></u><b>-4 Points+</b><br />(Makes 6 servings)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1pCZbbEYjCUY4XLO9iaCgdIcsw0ACjSQr87jg4nye7J_SN4TgyyPuZaiOOVHlL8qums53OitoS5EBIh3OdWMkLloJb-UMlMMVqnr7NndilZ7hThTOVHkIY6pujxm2vaV3W6DEaPCI_M/s1600/blog+pancakes.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/AVvXsEiQ1pCZbbEYjCUY4XLO9iaCgdIcsw0ACjSQr87jg4nye7J_SN4TgyyPuZaiOOVHlL8qums53OitoS5EBIh3OdWMkLloJb-UMlMMVqnr7NndilZ7hThTOVHkIY6pujxm2vaV3W6DEaPCI_M/s400/blog+pancakes.jpg" width="300" /></a><i>Ingredients:</i><br /><ul><li>3/4 c. all purpose flour</li><li>3/4 c. whole wheat flour</li><li>2 Packets of Sweet 'n Low</li><li>1 tsp baking powder</li><li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li><li>1 egg</li><li>2 egg whites</li><li>1 1/2 c buttermilk</li><li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li></ul><br /><i>Directions:</i><br />1. Combine the flours, sweetener, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl.<br /><br />2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.  Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.  Make sure not to over-mix the batter.<br /><br />3. Spray a nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium heat.  Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto skillet and spread into a 4" circle.  Cook the pancake for 3 or 4 minutes on the first side, or until golden on the bottom.  Flip the pancake just once more and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.  Serve hot. Serving size is 2 pancakes.

Eat What You Love Weight Watcher Recipes Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes

This was my breakfast for last week.  These are easy-to-make standard buttermilk pancakes, with a bit of a healthier kick to them.  I ate th...

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Argentina

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Election Times Equals Crime Time</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday 10 July 2011 I wrote in my article <b>Election Times Equals Crime Time</b>: “Mark my words”, public security debate will increase as Election Day in Argentina is getting closer.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">(see:  <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/07/election-time-equals-crime-time-on.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/07/election-time-equals-crime-time-on.html</a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here we are, Argentine political opposition and its supporters, demoralized by their monumental defeat of last month primaries are not missing a chance to utilize the public security debate even if it means to exploit a tragic crime of an 11 year old girl which was brutally murdered under suspicious circumstances after being kidnapped for more than a week. A crime that has shocked the nation and now is being politically exploited by the opposition to question Argentine public security policies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As tragic as this homicide is, it has nothing to do with public security as such, and in no other parts of the world would it be politically exploited by political opposition to such extent as is the case in Argentina. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the crime became high profile case with large media interest it did not take long for De Social Development Union’s (UDESO) candidate for Buenos Aires province governor, Francisco De Narváez and other opposition politicians and supporters to jump onto the “bandwagon”, and quickly exploit this crime by pointing fingers and stirring the public security debate for purely political reasons and not having real solutions at hand on how to solve the so called “public insecurity”. What they forget is that Argentina is still the 2^nd safest country among 16 Latin American countries and statistically on the same level as the USA regarding public security. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See:(<a href="http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/77686/public-security-policies-are-a-complete-failure-de-narv%C3%A1ez-">http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/77686/public-security-policies-are-a-complete-failure-de-narv%C3%A1ez-)</a></span><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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jwzhl4xrVTbNlmprKBYmO0VPEX0I2tSaiPVHtW9xsd-gbxtXOQmhI_2p1SUO-utfhxNWr4utwspKObTlzfVNa2PmEG2BRFzod5NlZaAX1WXrr155_Rfjx2wV4-KGUjQBZeDB1SEIF3Gk/s1600/homicide_world_rates_700px.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jwzhl4xrVTbNlmprKBYmO0VPEX0I2tSaiPVHtW9xsd-gbxtXOQmhI_2p1SUO-utfhxNWr4utwspKObTlzfVNa2PmEG2BRFzod5NlZaAX1WXrr155_Rfjx2wV4-KGUjQBZeDB1SEIF3Gk/s320/homicide_world_rates_700px.gif" width="320" /> </a></span></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Homicide-world.png">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate#cite_note-67</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Curbing in poverty and providing social security not only to the middle class but also to the lower class is the key to success in fighting crime, something it seems  none of the opposition are willing to admit but which has worked in Europe's favor for last 60 years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only 2 years ago in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires, usually referred to as the rich neighborhood, Gated Communities with large mansions and numerous “Villas” (Slums) bordered next to each other, displaying the strong contrast between rich and poor and thus steering envy and hate which subsequently leads to crime .  Driving through the same neighborhoods nowadays, most “Villas” have disappeared and Slum inhabitants received social welfare and housing plans which enabled them to live in decency as well as giving them the opportunity to work, thus refraining in most cases from criminal activities. Something most of the political opposition in Argentina simply turn a blind eye on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In regards to the current high profile homicide case, everything in relation to the 11 year old girl’s murder appears to be premeditated. Furthermore the family surrounding of the victim seems to be not that of a crime free environment (The father of the murdered girl is currently serving a prison sentence and the current partner of the mother has also served jail time), </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">thus claiming the government to be responsible seems somewhat farfetched and exploiting such tragic event politically, only displays political immaturity.   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The only proven way of curbing in crime is to provide economic growth and social security for everyone, something Argentina is currently successful in implementing. </span></div>

Argentina

Election Times Equals Crime Time On Sunday 10 July 2011 I wrote in my article Election Times Equals Crime Time : “Mark my words”, public sec...

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BRICS support SYRIA

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-23bc9cfa2e41d42f-13447" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRty88bQjsVKDfNZtUKJvlotpVmToy7pvSf6525zPzLTXJSAIDS3WMR964aLIcz_caTPAITkzYTrHyyVyG_w0LxI2ywrKGbJgacLlUvVrOBCsf-wGmHnI7e8N62fBGjiykbtX3" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in support of Syria, as broadcast by Russian TV. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> BRICS nations support Syria one way or the other in order to create a counterbalance to USA and EU political agenda and strategies in the region and thus help the Syrian regime in most likelihood to survive the uprising, something I have mentioned all along in my previous articles on this Blog. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

BRICS support SYRIA

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in support of Syria, as broadcast by Russian TV.  BRICS nations support Syria one way ...

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Bishop Felled In Comstock Shootout

After celebrating Ozzie Whittaker (1st bishop of the missionary district of Nevada & Arizona) Day, I hung around Virginia City which was thronged with tourists for Labor Day Weekend. Half the town was in Old West costume. I met up with Ken who plays the good guy Marshall in the gunfight show and we hatched a plot against one if the other actors. It went like this:<br /><br /><br /><br />A volunteer is always called from the audience. Marshall Ken helps her shoot the bad guy Kyle. But another actor, Lefty, falls and Ken tells her she has missed the bad guy and shot innocent Lefty instead. Unbeknownst to anyone but Lefty and Ken we arranged that Lefty would not fall.<br /><br /><br /><br />I was sitting in the front row. When the shot was fired I clutched my chest and fell splayed into the hay. Ken exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! You not only missed the bad guy! You shot Bishop Dan! He's the bishop of the Episcopal Churchall all over Nevada! You are in deep do-do!" I couldn't see the reactions because I was technically dead lying prostrate and slack-jawed across a hay bale. Reports are the volunteer from the audience handled it well enough but bad guy Kyle was pretty surprised.<br /><br /><br /><br />It was a great day at St Paul the Prospector. We commissioned one of the flock, Christy Anne Strange, to serve as lay chaplain to the Sheriff's Department. After the service, we dedicated the Western Missionary Museum. They have quite the collection of artifacts and records there. The museum now has a docent and a gift shop. "The scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven brings out of his treasure that which is old and that which is new." A new museumm does both at once. Quite a way to mark their 150th anniversary!<br /><br /><br /><br />For those who may not be Nevada church history buffs: it was important for me to get shot on Ozzie Whittaker Day. When Ozzie was elected Bishop of Pennsylvania, somebody took a shot at him during his installation service in Philadelphia. He survived and had a good long episcopacy back east to balance out his long years in the saddle between Virginia City and Tombstone. "Whistle back a memory. Whistle back where I wanna be ... To Tombstone Territory."

Bishop Felled In Comstock Shootout

After celebrating Ozzie Whittaker (1st bishop of the missionary district of Nevada & Arizona) Day, I hung around Virginia City which was...

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Listening to our inner voice

We all have that little voice in our head telling us the right thing to do. It's the voice that told you it's time to buckle down and get serious about your health. It's the voice that cares about you, even when you don't think you care for yourself. It's the cheerleader, the voice that constantly tells you to exercise and eat healthy. <br /><br />My inner voice told me yesterday that my goals for my weight loss were too aggressive. They were doing me more harm than good. Every day was a challenge to meet them and almost every day I failed. On the rare day I did meet my exercise goals, I was practically dead from fatigue.<br /><br />Even though I'd love to consider myself "Very Active", it was a path to failure. I wanted to stay on a two-pound a week loss schedule, but if I moved less, that meant I'd have to eat less. 1,500 calories consumed and 2,500 calories burned daily are my new customized goals. I set attainable exercise too, 90 minutes of moderate exercise daily (not all of this has to be gym time), and 10,000 steps.<br /><br />Last night at 8:30 p.m. I realized I only had 8,500 steps. Not happy. Food had been perfect, and I had almost two hours of moderate exercise, which included gym time and some housework. My inner voice said, well, what can you do to fix this? Too late to go for a walk. The gym is closed so I couldn't go there (I wouldn't anyway that late at night).<br /><br />We were watching The King's speech on DVD (great movie) when I decided to walk in place and watch the movie. In about 15 minutes I made my 10,000 steps. My husband thought I was a nut, but nothing new there. My kitty was annoyed because he couldn't sit on my lap, but he got over it.<br /><br />When it was time for bed, I couldn't sleep. Exercise that close to bedtime is never a good idea for me. After tossing and turning for about an hour, I finally got up and took an Ambien. I hadn't taken one for three nights. I'd sworn off Ambien because of some bad night eating experiences where I thought it was a dream, but it was real (strawberries and hummus).<br /><br />Before I took the Ambien I had a conversation with myself. I realize this sounds a little crazy, but I told myself that the Ambien couldn't make me do anything that I didn't want to do, and I did NOT want to get up later and eat. I'd eaten almost 1,300 calories of healthy, nutritious food. I wasn't hungry, so there wasn't a need to eat more. I would use the Ambien as a sleep aid and not an excuse to eat mindlessly. I was in control of my actions, not the drug.<br /><br />I woke up at 5 a.m. feeling rested and hungry. My first thought was "Did I eat anything last night while I was asleep?". From my hunger pains I was pretty sure that was a  no, but I went to the kitchen just to make sure. During my sleep walking episodes I always left evidence, like dirty dishes in the sink or strawberries strewn about the floor (which became cat toys and I'm still finding strawberries in the oddest paces, all rotten and gross now). There was no evidence of sleep walking and eating. The kitchen was spotless, just like how I left it last night.<br /><br />Maybe I am in control of my own destiny. At least last night I listened to my inner voice for once. Perhaps I will do that more often. <br /><br />

Listening to our inner voice

We all have that little voice in our head telling us the right thing to do. It's the voice that told you it's time to buckle down an...

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Modifying my goals

<br />Just returned from the gym (45 minutes cardio, 40 minutes right-handed weights). I'm sitting here hooked up to my vacuum cleaner with my <a href="http://castcooler.com/index_c.html">CastCooler</a>. Greatest invention ever! Sucks the sweat out of my cast in about 15 minutes. Also worked when I didn't get the cast cover pulled up all the way and the shower shot full blast down the inside of my cast. Nothing like feeling a puddle of water on my fingers inside the water-proof cast cover. The CastCooler was worth every penny.<br /><br />New weight loss plan<br />I originally set up my BodyMedia  for Very Active, 60 minutes of moderate exercise and 30 minutes of vigorous (like jogging or StairMaster). Burn 2900 calories a day, eat 1900. This was before my broken wrist and cast. It was difficult to attain, but doable.<br /><br />With the cast, it takes a herculean effort to make these goals. I've made it a couple of times, but I've failed many more times. Failure to meet a specified goal is damaging to my spirit.<br /><br />I customized my goals today and this sounds much easier, but still challenging:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGpCUltljPrbCq0fmYZRwbWNhiVPwrX9M4nL02-t5eYhb703dAComZTtNzHJBBXN9ngwpXQAu5V6sObII8xa0TIa6mw92AAwBxfQWcXj1jErX0RK9ZsBFbrrNdGBwyiFmafdM6cxlSLZO/s1600/bm+goals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGpCUltljPrbCq0fmYZRwbWNhiVPwrX9M4nL02-t5eYhb703dAComZTtNzHJBBXN9ngwpXQAu5V6sObII8xa0TIa6mw92AAwBxfQWcXj1jErX0RK9ZsBFbrrNdGBwyiFmafdM6cxlSLZO/s400/bm+goals.png" width="400" /></a></div>I have to face the reality of having a cast. Vigorous activity isn't advisable. I can still do the StairMaster and elliptical, but I just have to go a little slower. A heart rate of 140+ shouldn't happen. It's really hard for me to accept this, but it's just the way it has to be for now. I feel a little bad for myself (and stupid) that it took me almost 4 weeks to figure this out. Guess I'm a little stubborn.<br /><br />No real plans for the rest of today. Just take it easy and enjoy the incredible weather we're having here in the Northwest. Sunshine and 78 degrees.

Modifying my goals

Just returned from the gym (45 minutes cardio, 40 minutes right-handed weights). I'm sitting here hooked up to my vacuum cleaner with my...

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The Blurb: Track and Field Worlds

I got cable back. This was quite the wonderful happening for me. I called my large cable conglomerate (who shall remain nameless) to see about getting my Internet and phone moved. When they inquired about my cable, I told them I couldn't afford it. But they said they could get me the basic channels at no extra charge to my bill! So I decided to get it back.<br /><br />Because I have those core channels back, I get my weekend sports back. College football, the NFL, MLB on Fox, golf, and tennis. Sure, I don't get the 24-hour sports channels, but most of the important events are aired on one of the four major networks.<br /><br />One of the events that I was fortunate to view was the World Track and Field Championships on NBC. Usually, when NBC airs Olympic events, most people tend to ignore it. After all, it's not an Olympic year. Why should anybody care?<br /><br />Well, considering I had a boring weekend ahead of me, I cared. The Championships aired from Friday August 26 through Sunday September 4. NBC only aired the Saturday and Sunday events from the two weekends, and only for 1 1/2 hours in the early afternoon, but I was in front of my TV.<br /><br />I got to watch athletes that I remembered from the Olympics in 2008. A few of those athletes were not here this year - Jeremy Wariner, Lolo Jones, Stephanie Brown Trafton. But I did see a lot of familiar faces.<br /><br />Allyson Felix, who ran the 200 in Beijing, ran the 200 (and got bronze) <i>and</i> she also ran the 400 this year and got silver! I hope she doubles again next year in London. Sanya Richards, who is now married and runs as Sanya Richards-Ross, competed in the 400 but did not medal this time around. Walter Dix is a speed runner who is probably our best bet for silver in London. I say <i>silver</i> because unless Usain Bolt of Jamaica gets disqualified (like he did this year in the 100m final), there really is no chance for anyone else to win the 100 or 200 meters.<br /><br />While there were many familiar faces who repeated in their feats, I recognized many athletes from previous championships that won this year! Lashinda Demus competed in Berlin in 2009, but this year she won the 400m hurdles! Carmelita Jeter also competed in 2009 and won the 100m this year. Trey Hardee repeated as world champion in the decathlon.<br /><br />And some new athletes who I saw this week made statements for themselves to be the frontrunners for London. Ashton Eaton won silver in the decathlon. Jenny Simpson won the 1500 meters. Jesse Williams won the men's high jump event.<br /><br />If you're reading this and say, "I don't care," well, next year you'll come back and read this Blurb and go, "Hey, she mentioned this winner last year!" I'm keeping an eye out for the stars (and busts, too) of London, just for you!

The Blurb: Track and Field Worlds

I got cable back. This was quite the wonderful happening for me. I called my large cable conglomerate (who shall remain nameless) to see abo...

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“SEISMIC SHIFT” IN THE MIDDLE EAST

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TURKEY...... EMERGING POWER</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></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/Mr03VJ6Elag?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">GAZA flotilla fiasco last year, relations between TURKEY and ISRAEL have become rather chilly.  Tensions between the two countries deteriorated after TURKEY expelled Israel’s ambassador. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Triggering the move by TURKEY was the release of the UN report on the GAZA Flotilla incident which stipulated that ISRAEL’S actions were legitimate.    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Looking closer at the current rift between TURKEY and ISRAEL, it becomes clear that TURKEY among the GAZA Flotilla incident more prominent reasons for the current “warmongering” with ISRAEL. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">By distancing itself from the Jewish State it has more bargaining power among fellow Muslim countries, which eases its expansionism strategy towards the East. Assertive TURKEY over the past couple of years has been steadily increasing its influence in the BALKANS, thanks to aimless and indifferent EU strategies in the region and focuses intensely towards the East. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb5lbkrI4t8f3I_OpW5ywA4bFeVnST5EEzYoz_UnxIoUGBJoaYZ0uzZXrAgw-k0KSPPZZ1fqHBlbeJx-kzlwIcIHIP2PFMh2d_NnguZjvz00ONJriPgt3U1lCNL-WkkUn7umtQIJhXDfZ/s1600/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb5lbkrI4t8f3I_OpW5ywA4bFeVnST5EEzYoz_UnxIoUGBJoaYZ0uzZXrAgw-k0KSPPZZ1fqHBlbeJx-kzlwIcIHIP2PFMh2d_NnguZjvz00ONJriPgt3U1lCNL-WkkUn7umtQIJhXDfZ/s200/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Furthermore TURKEY wittily uses its economic growth to strategically invest in regions which could benefit the country. Thus it becomes imminent that TURKEY is rather annoyed about ISRAEL which has joined forces with TURKEYS arch enemies, CYPRUS and GREECE to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">TURKEY claims that hydrocarbon resources also belong to Northern CYPRUS, which has been under TURKISH occupations since 1974. According to TURKEY, CYPRUS has no right to exploit resources belonging to TURKISH CYPRIOTS and therefore threatened to intervene, for clearly the “joint venture” between ISRAEL, GREECE and CYPRUS is a hindering stone in TURKEY’S expansionism ambitions, both economically and politically. As for CYPRUS and GREECE, cooperating with ISRAEL provides a prosperous opportunity to counteract the realignment of regional powers which are currently taking place in the Middle East, with an increasingly assertive TURKEY.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The expelling of ISRAEL’S ambassador also comes precisely in September, the month in which the United Nations referendum on the recognition of a PALESTINE ARAB STATE is due for debate, an issue which is of vital interest to TURKEY and its self-imposed role as moderate Islamic power broker in the region and its stance on IRAN. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Thus a seismic shift in the region is currently underway, where new political cards are currently being reshuffled, leaving TURKEY and SAUDI ARABIA (both Sunni dominated countries) and the USA on the one side, GREECE, ISRAEL, RUSSIA and to some extend CHINA on the other side. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiABJAxE8UPpSyPzujH9axw07IUL87chrQIlQXhoqNKaN5UOuSBepLi3QYQ3h49qkyTIi5oae-8DakZ1u8W60ko_AszS2KxRnTxqYsGZNkKaBvVfJkoodDp4AJxthanVGOkJsznxvx_YOo/s1600/Islam-by-country-smooth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiABJAxE8UPpSyPzujH9axw07IUL87chrQIlQXhoqNKaN5UOuSBepLi3QYQ3h49qkyTIi5oae-8DakZ1u8W60ko_AszS2KxRnTxqYsGZNkKaBvVfJkoodDp4AJxthanVGOkJsznxvx_YOo/s320/Islam-by-country-smooth.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Map from Wikipedia Commons</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Green:  Sunni</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Blue: Shiite</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">See also:  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://iwpr.net/report-news/syria-becomes-focus-iranian-turkish-rivalry">http://iwpr.net/report-news/syria-becomes-focus-iranian-turkish-rivalry</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/turkey-boom-most-since-ataturk-lets-erdogan-take-up-masterpiece.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/turkey-boom-most-since-ataturk-lets-erdogan-take-up-masterpiece.html</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV92xAd274A&feature=relmfu">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV92xAd274A&feature=relmfu</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

“SEISMIC SHIFT” IN THE MIDDLE EAST

TURKEY...... EMERGING POWER Since the GAZA flotilla fiasco last year, relations between TURKEY and ISRAEL have become rather chilly.  Tens...

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Website review - The Teaching Library

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today I would like to point you to a fascinating reading website: <a href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/</a>. <br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="135"><br /></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="135">This is a site where teachers can find books to read to their class as well as some free lesson ideas on the books listed on the site. Each book has a list of activities spanning a few subjects. I came across this site through <a href="http://cyber-kap.blogspot.com/">Technology Tidbits</a>.</div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="174"></div><br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="250">This post is actually going to be taken verbatim out of the teaching library website so that you can see its potential. It is taken from the page: <a closure_uid_5ucf2e="249" href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/the-true-story-of-the-three-little-pigs/">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/the-true-story-of-the-three-little-pigs/</a> (The books are linked to Amazon.com). What fascinated me about this page is the idea of telling a story from a different character’s point of view</div><div></div><br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="140"><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="254"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The true story of the three little pigs</strong></span></div></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="186"><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="292"><em><span closure_uid_5ucf2e="291" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Author:</span> <span style="color: blue;">Jon Scieszka</span></span></em></div></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="190"><br /><div class="separator" closure_uid_5ucf2e="248" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP7OMLAP7MWZlu86f-2lIeG9_y1eMQtXLpLPodnwwStl6FALy55TVaJkKOCOOyG4MS2yYeOPM-5PNkPTQfRwA-UbyQTiM1WC0sNB3etl9iV5_3gIWageA82Jy20yjhK7l8Owb0C88oCY/s1600/3+little+pigs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP7OMLAP7MWZlu86f-2lIeG9_y1eMQtXLpLPodnwwStl6FALy55TVaJkKOCOOyG4MS2yYeOPM-5PNkPTQfRwA-UbyQTiM1WC0sNB3etl9iV5_3gIWageA82Jy20yjhK7l8Owb0C88oCY/s400/3+little+pigs.JPG" width="315" xaa="true" /></a></div><br /><br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="255"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140540563/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=teachinglibrary-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0140540563">BUY THIS BOOK</a></span></div></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="197"><br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="290"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Book Description…</strong></span></div></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="141"><br /></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="142">"You may think you know the story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf – but only one person knows the real story, and that person is A. T. Wolf. His tale starts with a birthday cake for his dear old granny, a bad head cold and a bad reputation. The rest (as they say) is history.</div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="143"><br /></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="143"><span closure_uid_5ucf2e="201" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Teaching Ideas</strong></span>…</div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="144"><br /></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="144"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Literacy</u></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Write another well know story from a different character’s point of view… Could you write Peter Pan from Captain Hook’s point of view… or the Three Billy Goat’s Gruff from the Troll’s point of view</li><li closure_uid_5ucf2e="154">Alexander T. Wolf became know as the Big Bad Wolf. Can you write a story which explains how he got this nickname? Did he do something big and bad, or was somebody trying to get him into trouble?</li><li><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="147">Write the recipe that the wolf used for his granny’s birthday cake.</div></li><li><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="148">Write the newspaper article which reports on the Wolf’s activities that day.</div></li><li closure_uid_5ucf2e="153">The wolf complains about being ‘framed’. Can you explain what this means? Could you write a story about another bad character who was ‘framed’ and didn’t really do the bad things that they are well known for?</li><li><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="152">Compare this version of the story with this cartoon video:</div></li></ul><br /><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="173"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e4Lx5Bmpojw" width="420"></iframe></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="159"><em>The Big Bad Wolf - A silly Symphony made by the Walt Disney Studio</em></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="158"><br /></div><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="158"><span closure_uid_5ucf2e="202" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u closure_uid_5ucf2e="203">Science</u></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="160"><div closure_uid_4rnjsv="115">Explore the types of food that different animals eat. This could lead on to discussions about food chains and habitats.</div></div></li><li><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="161">Think about different materials. Which would be the best to build a house with? Could you design an experiment which tests the strength / ‘huff and puff’ (wind) resistance of different materials?</div></li><li>Why might the wolf have a sneezing cold? Explore how he can keep himself fit and healthy in future.</li></ul><div closure_uid_5ucf2e="162"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Life Orientation</u></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li closure_uid_5ucf2e="163">The pigs are very rude to Alexander. Can you think of reasons why this might be? How should they have behaved?</li><li closure_uid_5ucf2e="164">The wolf gets very angry at the end of the story. What strategies could he have used to control his anger?"</li></ul><div><div><div></div></div></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the other books</span></b>...<br /><div></div><br /><a href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory</a>/ (Raold Dahl)</div><div><a href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/the-twits">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/the-twits</a>/  (Raold Dahl)</div><div><a href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/double-act/">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/double-act/</a> (Jacqueline Wilson)</div><div><a href="http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/owl-babies">http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/book/owl-babies</a>/ (Martin Waddell)</div></div><div><br /></div>If you are a Language teacher I think you will enjoy looking around this site. <br /><div></div></div>

Literacy Reading Website review Website review - The Teaching Library

Today I would like to point you to a fascinating reading website: http://www.teachinglibrary.co.uk/ . This is a site where teachers can find...

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TIGF!

<p>Howdy friends and happy Friday!!!</p> <p>Wednesday I headed out to continue on with my couch to 5K training. If you didn’t happen to see my <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/darcibangert">tweet</a>, this is how I was feeling about it:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjtLQS9F89ZKPEJ9RLSdsdbqeiEcrZrXeC-QSien7uEXXHYUeBMlfESdMWmiDZ722psXo1YTEAhycMgMYrHIoU2PECOyiEWYCY4uP3Sxt7zxShfRTdHxTPiQMG8Ybnp6-MEr7MwN_CamD/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwzvd0V4Bwd99Ghtd4bBVZz90VtpHnKsf-iiV301Tk8RyjqeA5TQpMBs1_Qv6ygu_sXDKVHGWnSbLsoVM0XXnBsWFFmJhok5KOe-fJDWiNuN40jsLzi1scyOgEhyk8wd6JrPl7nq4WI5C/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404"></a></p> <p>And this is how I felt afterwards! Pretty sure I conquered that run! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCJAsACgvSPPQFeLxg3uxHjJ0tTKl2Mi_RVna30VjyCcSA6jbWo4T3x3JC3PAR1wFT1wxfCC3oJuSkLb4cke1rCAflny-WI2H-616EX-dz7Ec98XL7WnAwb7T2NO8q0jPqAgMAL3OwsNh/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JPcVpbNDwKqKIjDx8C7gJTgr112aZB_VrNbkjs6B1rqcVy1JDbRcSx0CdiTHpC6st_lpzgcFaKMDr-ps8gKL2QFQKFR8v6fxZr6a5ggiS3LNzUZZWqJbwVNxxVN1Iah7I-dX3tCeI_ji/s1600-h/DSC00718%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC00718" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRI9x-684J6iVx0JQAlh-sqRFKNmiyOghVMIABgwp4NtCPbaP1XBz10QMLCSC4gIwRNza5WN_dKKfvlKNeZFMOSmjGT30mTSZQj5ZY-C4Htlo0Dh7A0RBFzuZIUbTaEgmrNGvXrbllb8o/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00718" width="404"></a></p> <p>On to other things…</p> <p>I’m sure you are all up to date with <a href="www.pinterest.com">Pinterest</a>…well it’s pretty addicting if you  haven’t checked it out. So don’t say I didn’t warn ya! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCJAsACgvSPPQFeLxg3uxHjJ0tTKl2Mi_RVna30VjyCcSA6jbWo4T3x3JC3PAR1wFT1wxfCC3oJuSkLb4cke1rCAflny-WI2H-616EX-dz7Ec98XL7WnAwb7T2NO8q0jPqAgMAL3OwsNh/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none"> I found this Weight Watchers recipe on there the other day, it looked super simple & very delicious, I couldn’t wait to try it. </p> <p align="center"><strong>Bubble Up Enchiladas</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KOgOdef9PNY8rMdPXV8-QGl8dMol_icP57W5SskKZ1avO2cTrSXQkKAoFLpUoAzzyVghFCAGH52RVBkGMh69CT6KW4syzrsnlCrNtqroGlb2hXd9Ca9oBSH0IxYs5uHwu4peTlhY8vic/s1600-h/DSC00720%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC00720" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFb3Qxl2fdCk2dFD6zypg6NW0GmWa6zYOH9QoCtajFJjYDfN_2y0sjJsla1s4NXp_5VcKJpKqQVkQ8jdxltPH7TC_gkNXm_YpQPht2yk5TslqFsdhYMB3hCDTU8T2vomD30MNa1FNX26s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00720" width="404"></a></p> <p><em>Nutrition  Info: Calories 390 | Fat 11.5g | Carbohydrate 36g | Fiber 2g | Protein 33g<br>Serves 6 - 6 points/serving (old points)</em> <ul> <li><em>1 pound ground turkey</em> <li><em>1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce</em> <li><em>1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce</em> <li><em>1 can reduced fat refrigerator biscuits</em> <li><em>1 ¼ cups shredded low fat Mexican Cheese</em></li></ul> <p><em>Preheat oven to 350 F</em> <p><em>Brown Turkey and drain juices if needed. Pour and mix enchilada and tomato sauce over browned turkey. Cut refrigerated biscuits into fourths and stir into meat mixture. Dump into a greased 9X13 casserole pan and bake for 25 minutes.Take out of oven and sprinkle cheese on top.  Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Enjoy!</em> <p>I also did a lot of other cooking in the kitchen this week. I got 8 frozen meals (weight watcher friendly ones too!) in my freezer in preparation for going to back to work. I think I’ve been subconsciously not thinking about it hoping maybe it won’t happen, but it’s going to come whether I like it or not. After Labor Day I’m working 3 half days and then going back full time on the 12th. I know Adelyn will be fine at daycare, but I just can’t imagine not spending my days with her. The past 11 weeks at home with my baby girl have been amazing! <p>Well friends that’s all I have to share today. I hope everyone has an enjoyable, long, relaxing weekend! Ta ta for now! <p>PS You should head on over to our <a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/">family blog</a> to see <a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/2011/09/adelyns-newborn-pictures.html">Adelyn’s newborn pictures</a>! They’re beautiful (obviously I’m biased!). </p>

TIGF!

Howdy friends and happy Friday!!! Wednesday I headed out to continue on with my couch to 5K training. If you didn’t happen to see my tweet ...

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September Goals and a Chai Tea Recipe

3 weeks in a row of losses! Yay!!<br /><br />Oh hey - notice something a little different?  :)  While my old layout wasn't bad, black wasn't exactly the most chipper color.  I <3 purple, and so I present to you a new layout.  I hope you find it a little more refreshing/inviting.<br /><br />It's time for me to think about what I want to work on for the month of September.<br /><br /><ol><li>Have an average of 4 days of activity per week instead of the 3 that I had for August.</li><li>Track what I did for activity, how often I did it, and for how long.</li><li>Track the days that I've stayed On Plan.</li><li>Add 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables into my daily menu.  <i>This is up from August's goal of just 1 serving of fruit and vegetables per day.</i></li><li>Continue on with the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/staying-on-track-with-august-goals.html">New Rules of Lifting for Women</a>.<i> </i></li><li>Continue reading <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/staying-on-track-with-august-goals.html">The Beck Diet Solution</a>.</li><li>Set a weekly goal for myself that I will determine on Monday's.  Thanks <a href="http://www.1year100pounds.com/">Ryan</a>!</li></ol>These goals are all similar to that of August with a few tweaks.  Since I had success with this in August, losing a total of 3.6 pounds, I want to keep setting attainable goals for September.  <br /><br />I am a lover of tea.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, my favorite tea variety is the chai.  I particularly like the spiced chai flavor.  Now, I frequent Starbucks a lot, and they serve a chai that is a liquid version.  I love this chai, but I don't love the 7 Points+ value for a venti skim.  While I can almost afford those Points+ now, I know I won't be able to as time goes on.  Still, I like the liquid chai for it's creaminess, a consistency I cannot seem to achieve using just half and half and chai tea bags.  Until now!<br /><br />Enter: Coffeehouse Chai Latte.  This is yet another recipe from <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/search/label/Eat%20What%20You%20Love">Eat What You Love</a>.  I'm not sure how/why this tea tastes so great but perhaps you can figure it out by the ingredients:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkcgZttoiBKDsCqSU4XkP6Mk_QqcRhUpQrZsdw-3NoAtKRSZLapfl7PT6A8NTgjV1RDnVJosW3j3n0Sg4noqhvb9pzD0RJLaWaf39ILD2La08DcIiF7nBjUPHQqL7uoB-Z4UUvz0upbE/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkcgZttoiBKDsCqSU4XkP6Mk_QqcRhUpQrZsdw-3NoAtKRSZLapfl7PT6A8NTgjV1RDnVJosW3j3n0Sg4noqhvb9pzD0RJLaWaf39ILD2La08DcIiF7nBjUPHQqL7uoB-Z4UUvz0upbE/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><ul><li>1/2 c. fat free evaporated milk</li><li>1 1/2 c. water</li><li>3 packets of Sweet 'n Low</li><li>2 individual chai tea bags</li><li>1 tsp honey</li></ul><blockquote>Combine the evaporated milk, water and Sweet 'n Low packets together in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.  Stir frequently, so as not to scorch the milk.  As the liquid begins to simmer, add the tea bags and allow to steep for 3 minutes.  Remove pan from heat.  Remove tea bags from liquid.  Add the honey.  </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9ZRZ-foyl1611OBXxos5qhah2TtsvBSgVnGcj-WkabV0WkrXwq3IMiHyS02y2SeG98x5kmpeBUHOPfyxssG2ok8-1L_TD7aMr-tgTLA3aTAewY4lmiFivuK_D3uoug4PhVSsJZ3djUw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9ZRZ-foyl1611OBXxos5qhah2TtsvBSgVnGcj-WkabV0WkrXwq3IMiHyS02y2SeG98x5kmpeBUHOPfyxssG2ok8-1L_TD7aMr-tgTLA3aTAewY4lmiFivuK_D3uoug4PhVSsJZ3djUw/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is supposed to make 2 servings at 1 cup each.  This entire concoction makes just 1 for me :).  This delicious chai only costs me 4 Points+, as opposed to the 7 from the Starbucks version.  Winning!<br /><br />Do you have any beverages that you cannot go without on your weight loss journey?

Eat What You Love goals Loss New Rules of Lifting for Women The Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Challenges Weight Watcher Recipes Weight Watchers September Goals and a Chai Tea Recipe

3 weeks in a row of losses! Yay!! Oh hey - notice something a little different?  :)  While my old layout wasn't bad, black wasn't ex...

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How I Did on August Goals

At last! A month where I've actually met most of my goals :).<br /><br />This is what I said I'd do for August:<br /><br />1. <b>Print out and post my goals on my desk at work and on the fridge.</b> <i> I did do this at my desk at work.  I never remembered to print them out for my fridge.</i><br /><br />2.  <b>Begin the <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2011/07/new-rules-of-lifting-for-women-as-a-group.html">New Rules of Lifting for Women Challenge offered by Jen at the Priorfatgirl.com</a></b>.  <i>Joel and I both started this near the beginning of August and we're still going!</i><br /><br />3.  <b>Incorporate 1 fruit and 1 vegetable into each meal every single day, and keep track of how often I meet this goal.</b>  <i>Of the 31 days in August, 21 of those days were spent eating at least 1 serving of fruits and/or vegetables.  I'm happy with this!  I'm not good at eating my fruits/veggies at all.</i><br /><br />4. <b>Keep track of how many days I attended the gym, for how long, and what I did while there</b>.  <i>I did 15 days of activity for an average of 38.9 minutes at a time.  This was mainly  a combo of the weight training and Wii activity.</i><br /><br />5. <b>Track and stay on plan at least 5 days per week</b> <b>- and actually keep track of whether or not I've done this</b>. <i>I tracked for 18 of the 31 days.  </i><br /><br />I'm really satisfied with how I did on these goals for August.  I definitely plan to keep up my worksheets on how often I achieve #'s 3-5 for September. <br /><br />I'll post the September goals tomorrow!

goals New Rules of Lifting for Women Weight Loss Weight Loss Challenges How I Did on August Goals

At last! A month where I've actually met most of my goals :). This is what I said I'd do for August: 1. Print out and post my goals ...

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I need a miracle

Next Tuesday the cast comes off. The orthopedic surgeon said there will be one of two outcomes of my four weeks in a cast:<br /><br />1. Scaphoid bone looks like it's healing, which is unlikely but possible. If it's healing, then they'll put on a new cast for two more months.<br /><br />2. If it's not healing, then I'll need surgery with screws to make it grow back together.<br /><br />I wanted an option three where it magically grows back together and on Tuesday I get my left hand and arm back. Surgery horrifies me even more than two more months in a cast. The doctors told me it wouldn't completely heal in a month. They were sorry, but it was a severe fracture, almost completely broken. <br /><br />I was reading more about the scaphoid bone today and came across this article. My scaphoid is broken near the forearm, and my cast includes my thumb extends almost to my shoulder. <br /><br /><i><b>Fracture Near the Forearm</b><br /><br />If the scaphoid is broken in the middle of the bone (waist) or closer to the forearm (proximal pole), healing is more difficult. These areas of the scaphoid do not have a very good blood supply.<br /><br />If your doctor treats this type of fracture with a cast, the cast will probably include the thumb. It may extend above the elbow, as well.</i><br /><br />Source:  http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00012 <br /><br />I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post, but the doctors told me my scaphoid bone showed an old fracture that hadn't healed properly, and the new fracture was right next to it. Sort of sounds like I'm screwed....pun intended. <br /><br />No plans for today. Yesterday was exhausting. I spent an hour and a half at the gym. An hour of cardio and almost a half hour of lower body workouts. I can still do lunges and still hate them as much as ever. Same with crunches, they still make me nauseous.<br /><br />I can do the elliptical one-handed too. Just figured that out yesterday. I thought it would be too hard, but if I don't do my normal hill routine and stick with levels 6 - 8, Im fine. I had a fear of falling off at first, but I didnt. I like it a lot better than the stationary bike which isn't my favorite.<br /><br />The sun is out today so I'm heading out to pick more blackberries, then either the gym or a walk. I haven't decided for sure. My life sure isn't very exciting these days (not that it's a thrill a minute normally).<br /><br />I tried the Natural Bliss Coffee-mate creamer this morning. I'm not a fan. It's great that the ingredients are natural:  non-fat milk, heavy cream, and sugar. I appreciate natural versus artificial ingredients and corn syrup that they use in their regular creamers. It's just that the one tablespoon at 35 calories didn't really make my coffee taste that much better. Probably because my mug is 12 ounces, so it wasn't really enough. I'm certainly not going to spend 70 calories (2  tbsps.) on a cup of coffee. I can have a piece of fruit or a cup of blackberries for that price.<br /><br />Question for anyone that's had a cast. Can a cast cause swelling three weeks after it was put on? I noticed my upper left arm, the one with the cast looks bigger than my upper right arm. I measured my left arm, right where the cast ends on the upper part and compared it to my non-casted arm. It's a full inch bigger! I measured it three times to be sure. The cast is super tight around my wrist, but at the top there's a lot of of room between the cast and my skin. Just seems odd to me that the cast would cause swelling after three weeks. Maybe it's always been like this and I just never noticed. <br /><br />The eating has been pretty good without the Ambien, although I ate a piece of pizza last night. My husband ordered it. I finally caved around 11pm and ate a piece. It had extra cheese on it and pepperoni and sausage. I was able to stop after one piece. I was completely aware of my actions, unlike the hummus and strawberries from Monday night during an Ambien induced sleep walking incident that my husband witnessed. <br /><br />I guess I'd better get going on my walk and blackberry picking. Perfect September weather for a walk, sunny and 66 degrees.

I need a miracle

Next Tuesday the cast comes off. The orthopedic surgeon said there will be one of two outcomes of my four weeks in a cast: 1. Scaphoid bone ...

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Even The Help Bleaches Reality: We Are In The Room

Let me say this up front and clearly. The Help is a great movie. What it says about race relations in the South is not only true about 1963; it is still true in only slightly subtler form in pockets of society today. Viola Davis was brilliant and deserves an Oscar. If you haven’t seen The Help, do so right away.<br /><br /><br /><br />But something bothered me. The book is about a Black perspective on White culture. The movie includes that. But, compared to the book, the movie is about a White perspective on Black people and their perspective on White culture. The author, Skeeter, becomes a principal character instead of the teller of the tale. They did not adapt the book into a screenplay; so much as they wrote a screenplay about the white person writing the book. As one who loved the movie – but loved the book more – I just wonder what that is about. Was the book, The Help, too Black for an American audience, in the opinion of Hollywood – despite being a best seller?<br /><br /><br /><br />The Entertainment Industry, more than the news media, tells us who we are. We see ourselves reflected in their eyes. What they think we will pay to see has a powerful influence on who we become. That’s what makes the change from the book to the screenplay troubling. The screenplay was good – but bleached.<br /><br /><br /><br />I recently heard an NPR interview with the man who adapted the book Soul Surfer for the screen. The book is the memoir of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Bethany tells the story of how her Christian faith empowered her to get back on the surfboard and become a professional champion surfer.<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, that is a great story but a bit too Christian for the big screen. So what to do? Change the story of course. Her Christianity is acknowledged this way: The devastating injury causes her to doubt the existence of God. Her youth group sponsor shows up and tells her God had a purpose for sending the shark to chomp off her limb. (Not the most appealing of theologies – God using sharks as Manchurian candidates to cripple young people.) But her vague faith in something – influenced by Native Hawaiian animist religion – gives her the courage to make a comeback. They want to show that she had faith – but do not want to say what she believed or who she had faith in.<br /><br /><br /><br />The screenwriter was amazingly candid in acknowledging his cynicism. There is a “faith based market.” So they wanted enough spirituality to appeal to that market – but did not want to be so Christian as to offend the secular audiences. Bethany could be spiritual, but not too religious.<br /><br /><br /><br />I have two concerns: First, I am troubled by the censorship of my own beliefs. Second, the movie just isn’t true. I understand society is rather secular – but it is not as secular as Hollywood portrays it. For instance, Bethany Hamilton is a Christian, but Hollywood will acknowledge that truth only in hushed whispers. They would feel so much more at ease with her as a neo-pagan animist.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thinking back over classic television series, there have been a few explicitly religious ones – very few. But did you ever wonder if Magnum P. I. went to church? How about the Partridge family? This isn’t new. There is no acknowlegement that faith is part of the lives of normal/ normative people. The Entertainment Industry has been portraying life as secular for a long time. They tell us who we are. We believe it. Then we become it.<br /><br /><br /><br />I don’t necessarily want screenwriters to be our evangelists. It’s just that we are in the room. I am troubled that they are so embarrassed by our presence that they pretend we aren’t here. Do they think that if they ignore us long enough we will just go away? Do they think that Black voices cannot speak for themselves, but must be mediated through White translators or at least have a White person standing there giving them permission to speak? Only on occasion does the Entertainment Industry dare to hold a mirror up to the world. Most of the time they paint a picture of us instead – and the picture is a bleached, monochrome, religionless, raceless, political convictionless, generic American -- far less engaging and less human than the truth.<br /><br /><br /><br />But for those who are offended by my criticism of The Help, let me reiterate: The Help is a great movie. What it says about race relations in the South is not only true about 1963; it is still true in only slightly subtler form in pockets of society today. Viola Davis was brilliant and deserves an Oscar. If you haven’t seen The Help, do so right away.<br /><br />

Even The Help Bleaches Reality: We Are In The Room

Let me say this up front and clearly. The Help is a great movie. What it says about race relations in the South is not only true about 1963;...

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