News for today's 2018

GOLD RUSH

1:20 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnGvTi1MqVOxTSsz-tc6DFzV3OoEsMRjtm4ci02AI8DZffG3nGdXb_O6Lw4xD3u8Ge245GcmwgQNmxePD2EnnHbobrK7z-pQBSMqTy1AU-sXEHHrAkNdsdmqVGHuyAEVphFzYaVt3GOrq/s1600/800px-alexanderiiiathenaandnike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnGvTi1MqVOxTSsz-tc6DFzV3OoEsMRjtm4ci02AI8DZffG3nGdXb_O6Lw4xD3u8Ge245GcmwgQNmxePD2EnnHbobrK7z-pQBSMqTy1AU-sXEHHrAkNdsdmqVGHuyAEVphFzYaVt3GOrq/s400/800px-alexanderiiiathenaandnike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>PROJECTED PIIGS PILLAGE: 3233.5 TONS OF GOLD TO BE CONFISCATED BY INSOLVENT EUROPEAN BANKS </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">… in the small print of the Greek deal lies the nasty side for Greece. There lies a <strong>heavy penalty clause</strong>; Greece’s lenders will have the <strong>right to seize the gold reserves in the Bank of Greece</strong> under the terms of the new deal. Greece has 111 tonnes of gold. <strong>In other words Greece has given up on its “money in extremis”, gold. If they default they will have nowhere else to go.</strong> Its international assets will be seized and it will not be able to trade internationally at all…  </span><em><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></em></span><br />  <div style="color: blue;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">While hardly discussed broadly in the mainstream media, is that in addition to losing its fiscal sovereignty, and numerous other things, the Greek population is <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/negative-salaries-negative-bailout-and-now-negative-gold-greece-just-became-banksters-paradise"><strong>about to lose its gold</strong></a> in a perfectly legitimate fashion, following amendments to the country’s constitution by unelected banker technocrats, who will make it legal for Greek creditors – read insolvent European banks – to plunder the Greek gold which at last check amounts to 111.6 tones according to the WGC.</span><br /><br />  <span style="font-size: large;">And so we come full circle to what the ultimate goal of banker intervention in the European periphery is – nothing short of full gold confiscation. So just how much gold will be pillaged by the banker oligarchy (it is amusing how many websites believe said gold is sacrosanct by regional national banks, and thus the EUR is such a stronger currency as it has all this ‘gold backing’ – hint: it doesn’t, as all the gold is about to be transferred to non-extradition countries)?</span><br /><br />  <span style="font-size: large;">As the <a href="http://www.gold.org/government_affairs/gold_reserves/">World Gold Council </a>shows in its latest update, between all the PIIGS, who will with 100% certainty suffer the same fate as Greece (which has shown that unlike during World War 2, it is perfectly willing to turn over and do nothing) there is 3234 tons of gold to be plundered. And likely more as further constitutional amendments will likely make the confiscation of private gold the next big step.</span><br /><br />  <span style="font-size: large;">How much does this amount to? At today’s prices this is just shy of $185 billion. Of course by the time the market grasps what is going on the spot price of the yellow metal will be far, far higher. Or, potentially far, far lower and totally fixed as the open gold market is eventually done away with entirely in a reversion to FDR gold confiscation and price fixing days.</span><br />  <span style="font-size: large;">The chart below shows total gold holdings for the top 40 countries. Little Ireland is off the chart with just 6 tons of gold.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCiqTiw6vTJdheD-x-ma36RMccl1Ot5S6IHjbNh7NpY3GQ99mnM9jrfvq14f7C7Ohzr7JsR_doSEYoCy_7jS3ctns6WxxyP3U1ktVPx5ucI9JsJmwSHqKRB0TxPoveN77N3pJE02Ik1L8/s1600/PIIGS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCiqTiw6vTJdheD-x-ma36RMccl1Ot5S6IHjbNh7NpY3GQ99mnM9jrfvq14f7C7Ohzr7JsR_doSEYoCy_7jS3ctns6WxxyP3U1ktVPx5ucI9JsJmwSHqKRB0TxPoveN77N3pJE02Ik1L8/s1600/PIIGS.jpg" /></a></div><br />  <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

GOLD RUSH

PROJECTED PIIGS PILLAGE: 3233.5 TONS OF GOLD TO BE CONFISCATED BY INSOLVENT EUROPEAN BANKS … in the small print of the Greek deal lies...

1 Year Anniversary

12:44 PM Tukiyooo 0

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary since I have officially been tracking my weight on this little lady, The Big Weight.<br /><br />I definitely got off to a rocky start.  A year ago, my dedication to hitting the gym and being active was impeccable.  However, the weight loss itself was hardly a reflection of all the time I spent hitting the gym or doing <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/another-5k.html" target="_blank">all</a> of <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/1st-annual-peter-mahon-memorial-trail.html" target="_blank">those</a> <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/setting-goals-for-2011.html" target="_blank">5Ks</a>!   <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/lets-say-it-all-together-folks.html" target="_blank">At one point</a> I was even worried that something might be wrong with me.<br /><br />I mean, just look at the first part of the graph {click for a larger view} - I was barely moving!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_xIJsMdqNvqC-WfmzNjfr1PIj8pB90xh_NXL6hyZNgHQVTq4JUrFHIGFojafLFrkgBOLwCLGimsdNa6MLdoZc8DwKoJIhtKrKKlJhSxzukIq8t2yE7R8475YCsQoGyxzD8roEdyYd8/s1600/weight+loss+chart+03052012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_xIJsMdqNvqC-WfmzNjfr1PIj8pB90xh_NXL6hyZNgHQVTq4JUrFHIGFojafLFrkgBOLwCLGimsdNa6MLdoZc8DwKoJIhtKrKKlJhSxzukIq8t2yE7R8475YCsQoGyxzD8roEdyYd8/s400/weight+loss+chart+03052012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thankfully I continued to persevere through the lack of significant losses, and finally started to find my losing streak late in the summer, and since then it's been a fairly steady downhill battle. <br /><br />What I think was holding me back was definitely my eating habits.  For starters, I had a pretty hard time staying within my Daily PointsPlus Target and Weekly PointsPlus Allowance.  I almost daily/weekly went over both.  Perhaps even more importantly, I was still eating a ton of fast food.  By fast food, I mean just generally going out to eat and eating things that weren't PointsPlus friendly. <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/AVvXsEgi-1sNHL_2TNoQcdZlQ3xS2osvAvb6jCYNLgYHHsJ9kxLUujgBosN7R2AUZXgy5N0hJ8ya1kULTM1RXiaYd2ERqiG0-4vZ9qwHdlNzVntq4dlvsr7ZMUX7NL7dG59UZpqqxbYpwrRDg-c/s1600/february+blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-1sNHL_2TNoQcdZlQ3xS2osvAvb6jCYNLgYHHsJ9kxLUujgBosN7R2AUZXgy5N0hJ8ya1kULTM1RXiaYd2ERqiG0-4vZ9qwHdlNzVntq4dlvsr7ZMUX7NL7dG59UZpqqxbYpwrRDg-c/s400/february+blog+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE these purple carnations from Giant!</td></tr></tbody></table>The bottom line is that I wasn't planning.  And guess what?  I'm still not super great at planning each day out, but I have gotten better at coming up with meal ideas for the week that I can throw together.  I try to do a lot of cooking on Sunday's so that the 3 main meals are in the fridge/freezer and ready for the taking as the week progresses.  <br /><br />The mini goals have also helped me significantly.  Who doesn't love working for a new piece of jewelry plus whatever other item I've been wanting to get myself?  Even the mini goals each week in terms of activity have really helped me keep a positive mindset about exercise.  I'd rather do 2 days of activity a week (working up to 3 here soon), than do none at all!<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/AVvXsEgSMFqgoDW2H0Us4errnllRJz0rl9vEUzQAIpWVxKseCysF5Wi4uNAlwgCXoCmWKYSDebvCdeAbv_oi7E7nU6taRp09iS2HQFijm6JmyHHYNqCDrSho6bYqBSiNP9vzvuzu64OkMX5pjgQ/s1600/march+tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMFqgoDW2H0Us4errnllRJz0rl9vEUzQAIpWVxKseCysF5Wi4uNAlwgCXoCmWKYSDebvCdeAbv_oi7E7nU6taRp09iS2HQFijm6JmyHHYNqCDrSho6bYqBSiNP9vzvuzu64OkMX5pjgQ/s400/march+tulips.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tulips I just bought - aren't they pretty?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So in one year's time I have managed to lose just over 30 lbs and I am THRILLED with those numbers.  Do I wish it was more?  Yes, of course.  However,  a negative 30 lbs is better than sitting where I was a year ago, or even worse - weighing more than the 263.8 lbs I started with.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWigxpjToifNRUB0OyMJCRyknaNhCro-MZnqjFymOHD8G3WBAKA0UX6uYd_jBLjK7eXzXAI3mAsCC4NPWyVNjgfevi0yyRIY-8vdJlna6mi_YBsitFpK3hawr5GR16ujMELUzvN74wGs/s1600/march+tulips2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWigxpjToifNRUB0OyMJCRyknaNhCro-MZnqjFymOHD8G3WBAKA0UX6uYd_jBLjK7eXzXAI3mAsCC4NPWyVNjgfevi0yyRIY-8vdJlna6mi_YBsitFpK3hawr5GR16ujMELUzvN74wGs/s400/march+tulips2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It is my goal to have lost <i>at least</i> another 30 lbs by this time next year.  It doesn't sound like much, but just 30 lbs off of my body already feels so amazing, I know another 30 lbs removed will feel even better!   <br /><br /><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">This week I have some pictures to share of those recipe links I posted last week, as well as an itty bitty giveaway that will come to you tomorrow.  Weight Watchers sent me another duplicate magazine (I really need to call them to find out what's up with this!), but you are going to benefit from it... stay tuned!</span></i>

Anniversary 1 Year Anniversary

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary since I have officially been tracking my weight on this little lady, The Big Weight. I def...

Information Literacy Program Internship Fall 2012 - Fairfield University

12:37 PM Anonymous 0

<b>Information Literacy Program Internship Fall 2012</b> - DiMenna-Nyselius Library, <span style="color: #48286d;"><b>Fairfield University</b></span>.  Description of Program: In concert with the mission of Fairfield  University, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library Instruction Program seeks to  develop information-literate lifelong learners. We define information  literacy as the ability to recognize when information is needed; to  effectively locate and organize information while considering the myriad  of information sources and formats available; to logically and  critically evaluate and assimilate information while seeking objective  truth and personal meaning; to synthesize and use information to  communicate conclusions persuasively; and to apply these skills  ethically and legally throughout life, with a sense of social  responsibility. Description of Internship: The Intern will play an  active role in our Information Literacy Program. The Intern will: Work  closely with the Instruction Coordinator to design and deliver  approximately 8-10 library instruction classes.  The exact number and  types of classes will be determined through careful review of the  Intern’s experience and interests, as well as our Program’s needs. Have  the opportunity to observe seasoned instruction librarians, and receive  substantive feedback on content and delivery of instruction. Work  collaboratively with faculty on lesson plans. Depending on experience,  career interests, and need, the Intern could also produce a project  related to our instruction program. The Intern would work closely with  the Instruction Coordinator on such a project. Meet regularly with the  Instruction Coordinator for ongoing feedback and discussion.  Depending  on experience, previous coursework, and interest, readings and  discussions of information literacy related readings may be included.  This internship is an excellent opportunity for any graduate level  Library and Information Science or School Media student to work in an  academic environment, learn about Information Literacy Standards in  theory and in practice, and gain valuable instruction experience. This internship is for the Fall 2012 semester, from August through December.  Contact: To apply, send a brief letter of interest and availability to  Jessica McCullough, Senior Reference and Instruction Librarian, at <a href="mailto:jmccullough@fairfield.edu">jmccullough@fairfield.edu</a>.

Information Literacy Program Internship Fall 2012 - Fairfield University

Information Literacy Program Internship Fall 2012 - DiMenna-Nyselius Library, Fairfield University . Description of Program: In concert wi...

MIDDLE EAST

7:52 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhnbryb6FCiLYZuOJLsTQ8kQ-fZjK7spvfUFDdGc-TVhLztbDzoXBI3p9UDLsiPnCRXwwy3KXc5E5P1DBJRx3Z5a1CpoZsldmjnU8C2rz0K2DpvwKAmPauKMVW-D5c0eaKU4a9cvEhezo/s1600/iranmissiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhnbryb6FCiLYZuOJLsTQ8kQ-fZjK7spvfUFDdGc-TVhLztbDzoXBI3p9UDLsiPnCRXwwy3KXc5E5P1DBJRx3Z5a1CpoZsldmjnU8C2rz0K2DpvwKAmPauKMVW-D5c0eaKU4a9cvEhezo/s400/iranmissiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL & IRAN - A DIFFERENT SCENARIO </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Consider this: Common believe is that if ISRAEL conducts an airstrike on IRAN, the consequences for ISRAEL will be chaos, bloodshed and a high casualty rate after hundreds of missiles strike ISRAEL. </span></span></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="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Strategic analysts however speculate with a different outcome, they claim that the problem is not that IRAN would fire 300 missiles at ISRAEL in two days, but rather, that they would do the opposite – fire only 5 or 6 missiles each month, but keep doing it for 2 years.</span></span></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="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The results of such scenario would be rather devastating. ISRAEL’S airspace would be closed down. As a result of which Airplanes would not be taking off, ships carrying goods would not be arriving at ISRAEL’S ports, life would come to a basic standstill, and the economy would be paralyzed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; 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: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOOD FOR THOUGHT </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM_di68TOJc2Yz7WGtMhR9uDIPxOgShzzjwgxskljnTqJT1shW6gOiEffiz8vSJholazKp4KhvIRq_diPivYLoDSpPPzr3lwKplfiv6rwBHDLZNqRNls7xsqhUTX-OkS1siTB-SR9nbfS/s1600/uav_2_BffC3_69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM_di68TOJc2Yz7WGtMhR9uDIPxOgShzzjwgxskljnTqJT1shW6gOiEffiz8vSJholazKp4KhvIRq_diPivYLoDSpPPzr3lwKplfiv6rwBHDLZNqRNls7xsqhUTX-OkS1siTB-SR9nbfS/s400/uav_2_BffC3_69.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV OR DRONE) </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ATTACK VERSUS CONVENTIONAL AIR ATTACK</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is interesting that mainstream media speculations regarding ISRAEL’S alleged airstrike on IRAN in the not too distant future; refrain from mentioning the option of UAV usage instead of high numbers of manned fighter bombers. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">UAV’S would probably do the job more efficient, under stealth and without risking pilot’s lives and in case of capture, being used as a political bargain chip for IRAN. </span></span></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="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Could it be that the alleged downing of a US UAV by IRAN was a strategic move by the US in order to portray UAV’S as vulnerable so as to distract from a possible large scale drone attack on IRAN instead of conventional air force operations?</span></span></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="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Mainstream media obediently focuses on information provided to them, claiming that ISRAEL would needing at least 100 fighter bombers to achieve and efficient airstrike on IRAN and at the same time question ISRAEL’S ability to conduct such large-scale operation. That way the public is diverted from a much more realistic and efficient option of a large scale UAV attack on IRAN.</span></span></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="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Comment:</span></b></span></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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybK3Q2gcikJDhaKNIVL4Dvnii2SQ9q0JasJCE9G4S2_1OmtMatKwjeg77rSpqISMD5KY6nNrVyZz0o3sTgI2Kf8f4Oq5e-E1UzTnBJTW-Z0US-VYyMC4wI571ev8wg0l3igl6kBgcSzQ3/s1600/2005-08-25-webb-missile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybK3Q2gcikJDhaKNIVL4Dvnii2SQ9q0JasJCE9G4S2_1OmtMatKwjeg77rSpqISMD5KY6nNrVyZz0o3sTgI2Kf8f4Oq5e-E1UzTnBJTW-Z0US-VYyMC4wI571ev8wg0l3igl6kBgcSzQ3/s400/2005-08-25-webb-missile.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Despite current media hype evolving around an alleged ISRAELI attack on IRAN, it is the opinion of the author that such attack will not occur. Such rhetoric’s are part of a complex strategic bargaining game, played in order to establish the new sets of rules for a “reformed” Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.</span></span></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;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div>

MIDDLE EAST

ISRAEL & IRAN - A DIFFERENT SCENARIO Consider this: Common believe is that if ISRAEL conducts an airstrike on IRAN, the consequences fo...

Am I okay?

11:35 PM Tukiyooo 0

Am I okay? That's a hard to question to answer. I guess you'd have to define "okay".<br /><br />Life is hard. Lately, my life has been harder than it should be, or at least, harder than I'm use to experiencing.<br /><br />Since my last post:<br /><br />I thought my sweet 8-year old kitty, Tommy, a gorgeous black and white short hair, was battling a bad case of pneumonia for the last three months. After five vets and many office visits and tests, two weeks ago he was diagnosed with Stage V Lymphoma. The fifth vet I took him to finally figure why all the antibiotics weren't working for the pneumonia. He told me Tommy only had a few days left. Within twelve hours Tommy had a seizure at 3am as I was petting him. I had to take him to the emergency vet in the middle of night and say my final goodbyes to him. It was horrible.<br /><br />Last week I was granted permanent guardianship for my sister by the state of Alaska. Sounds like a good thing, right? My sister consumes me. Trying to take care of her financial situation she left behind in Alaska, which is extraordinary, is like having a part-time job. Making sure my sister's physical needs are met, checking on her during the week, talking to her caregivers (occupational therapist, physical therapist, the owner of her home, etc. etc. etc.) is time consuming. Because of the guardianship, I have to document every move I make regarding my sister, every decision I make for her, account for every penny I spend of her money on her many expenses. I have to keep detailed records which I update every day. Some weeks there are as many as 50 tasks I handle on her behalf The Excel spreadsheets I've been keeping are ridiculous. This is required by the state, and it takes a lot of time. <br /><br />I love my sister, I want her to be happy and well-taken care of, but even though she's in a beautiful adult family home with wonderful care-givers, there are still a lot of tasks to attend to for her. I have no choice in this matter. I couldn't live with myself if I let her become a ward of the state, which was the only other option. <br /><br />The Vulnerable Adult Order of Protection was awarded by the court last week, against my niece. I knew I had to do this, but you can't imagine how awful it makes me feel, to keep my niece away from her mother. It's necessary, but heart-breaking at the same time.<br /><br />Work is more stressful than normal. I have a deadline that is set by a government mandate, which means there can't be a delay on this project. It's a very complicated project, and frankly, I'm not sure I can complete my part of it in time to meet the deadline. That scares me.<br /><br />My eating had been horrible for two weeks. I got up to 197.2. I was terrified and angry with myself. I finally got back on track about two weeks ago and actually was able to cut out sweets completely, started eating fresh fruit and vegetables again. I was feeling great. <br /><br />Then I came down with a horrible cold a week ago. I stayed home two days, sneezing and coughing. It was just a cold, but I was miserable. I didn't exercise at all last week until Thursday, and again Friday. Then the weekend came and again, my sister came first, I came last. I just didn't have time for the gym.<br /><br />I spent several hours with my sister on Saturday, dealing with a problem she was having with the new splints she has to wear on her paralyzed arm and leg. It was quite the ordeal, with her crying and screaming. She was extremely upset. I finally figured out the problem, but it took hours. Remember, she talks all the time, but no one can understand her. When she has a problem, she lets me know it, but figuring it out is something else. It requires a lot of time and a lot of patience.<br /><br />Then again today, we spent several hours together as I took her on a little car trip, just me and her. It was her first car trip since the stroke, almost six months ago. We had frozen yogurt at Gibson's in Tacoma, and then went down to the waterfront for a while, just watching the people. Next, we drove by her new dentist's office (where' we'll be going on Thursday). It was a really good day for both of us. I like doing this stuff with her, but it just takes a lot of time out of my life.<br /><br />So, what's the verdict. Am I okay? Not really. I'm tired. Worn out. Not exactly feeling "okay". At least not by my definition of okay.<br /><br />It will get better, I guess. Someday, I'll be okay again.

Am I okay?

Am I okay? That's a hard to question to answer. I guess you'd have to define "okay". Life is hard. Lately, my life has bee...

Mad Men: Now and Then and Back Again

6:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>by guest contributor FlickChick</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-7gbtwicmWjvHoN2SB6vrkFmAShw5sZ_c6bDyf-ckCqjo4m7Bx7JmNrWv70u62M28gH9w9lUAlToYRUcdMs_x01WZBGGvxrWJQt_NjxuvznUfnPl76Dja_1SFzb4oHBLmiGKv-d42Nf5/s1600/mad+men+clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-7gbtwicmWjvHoN2SB6vrkFmAShw5sZ_c6bDyf-ckCqjo4m7Bx7JmNrWv70u62M28gH9w9lUAlToYRUcdMs_x01WZBGGvxrWJQt_NjxuvznUfnPl76Dja_1SFzb4oHBLmiGKv-d42Nf5/s400/mad+men+clock.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Watching <i>Mad Men</i> is a bit like time traveling with one foot dipped in the past and one firmly planted in the present. Viewing the actions of the "then", we can't help but measure them against the "now." The fact that things were like that in the past usually means things are not like that in the present. We judge if those things are better or worse now as the story of the Sterling Cooper (Draper Pryce) gang unfolds. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i>Mad Men</i> is famous for Matthew Weiner’s meticulous attention to detail. For those who did not live through the <i>Mad Men</i> times, the authenticity is akin to watching a well-researched Victorian drama. Yes, we know they dressed like that and spoke like that because we have seen the pictures and read the books. For those of us who actually lived through those times (though I was a mere child, I assure you), the details are like little jolts of electrodes to the brain.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i>Mad Men</i> is a great "water cooler" show. While workers might not literally congregate around that proverbial watering hole for discussions any more (like they do at Sterling Cooper), one aspect of the morning-after dish on the show is always an "I had one of those!" or "my mother had one just like that!" Somebody we knew wore that dress, had that drinking glass or drove that car. Somewhere in the back of our mind we remember seeing that hat, those keys, that hairdo.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Do you remember:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Silver-rimmed roly poly high-ball glasses?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__OzaQSuK7OsGiyyIhY2u_ao3UQ4BsArrN9xingcNkuT2rXPBRz6Y0lkVKGdjufJ7aeKFBz4OHuo1ZNdqcz_xRGISymwGfl5ONj_20z7NJ3TTPeH5JfamOEpj49h8P-HFwmSRgqt7E1Ow/s1600/cocktail+tumblers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__OzaQSuK7OsGiyyIhY2u_ao3UQ4BsArrN9xingcNkuT2rXPBRz6Y0lkVKGdjufJ7aeKFBz4OHuo1ZNdqcz_xRGISymwGfl5ONj_20z7NJ3TTPeH5JfamOEpj49h8P-HFwmSRgqt7E1Ow/s320/cocktail+tumblers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i>Mad Men</i> uses authentic Dorothy Thorpe (a popular 60s glass maker) tumblers when the gang throws back a quart or two.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Remote Controls that looked like they were in control?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbPnXWyjtIM48TtpH4Oojx96FRZaNaXC6PtuCbQQmQpGf08AVNCM6V36K_ZWWm4ZB6kQ2f4hupEM6s6_W2c_zr4dmIAjvCeJuozgG9uP6wFiMgep65rE46uf5Ddb-0zV14zm7SAJgdkjA/s1600/zenith+remote+control.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbPnXWyjtIM48TtpH4Oojx96FRZaNaXC6PtuCbQQmQpGf08AVNCM6V36K_ZWWm4ZB6kQ2f4hupEM6s6_W2c_zr4dmIAjvCeJuozgG9uP6wFiMgep65rE46uf5Ddb-0zV14zm7SAJgdkjA/s200/zenith+remote+control.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Zenith Space Commander 400 at the Draper household was the first remote control for the home.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Typewriters?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nv2t5ghATrQlbt_DwMC86EKynrDoAmOOmYhUXoWtDTOXPB5RPUAi75kXxC1und7bXIPtzen9-4xE62TXHjrKjb3r89DFxPdzcLIfJ5PbgnRsQvfPJMaL6lCFWL1IcczC99fRVKyuFgfd/s1600/typing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nv2t5ghATrQlbt_DwMC86EKynrDoAmOOmYhUXoWtDTOXPB5RPUAi75kXxC1und7bXIPtzen9-4xE62TXHjrKjb3r89DFxPdzcLIfJ5PbgnRsQvfPJMaL6lCFWL1IcczC99fRVKyuFgfd/s400/typing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The steno pool gals at the firm proudly use their IBM golf ball typewriters. All typewriters used on the show are operational and all have identical covers.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">One of my favorite little <i>Mad Men</i> vignettes shows the Draper family on an idyllic family picnic. Betty’s crinolines cover a blanket spread over a meadow-like space of grass. The children are there and so is Don. It is all so wholesome, so idyllic and all so American. When they are done, Ma and Pa Draper pack their picnic basket and the kids into the family station wagon and head home, their trash left behind to litter the beautiful landscape. And that’s really how it was until the word “litter bug” (no doubt dreamt up by a real life Mad Man) entered our consciousness. Before it became socially unacceptable to litter, respectable people scattered their garbage to the 4 winds thinking, perhaps, that elves or convicts came and cleaned it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5sz65i0WCkZ66_kWkczhuIq6NkF-uL8Gm9X2JYfO7m4oby2_DZiY-CyXp26910TkTyYd9ZkNVNniOz2o-tw-zugXAvDULMe0i9PV3UcsrlLTJ0_OUv4Ive3wkg5N66Uc-Cg_dwz-j0C7/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5sz65i0WCkZ66_kWkczhuIq6NkF-uL8Gm9X2JYfO7m4oby2_DZiY-CyXp26910TkTyYd9ZkNVNniOz2o-tw-zugXAvDULMe0i9PV3UcsrlLTJ0_OUv4Ive3wkg5N66Uc-Cg_dwz-j0C7/s200/bird.jpg" width="86" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The episode that featured the dipping or dunking bird also brought back great memories. How fascinated we all were by this little novelty item that ever so gingerly stuck its beak in a cup of water and mimicked a drinking bird. How did it do that? Seeing the employees of Sterling Cooper so intrigued by this silly toy tugged at a thread of memory that is attached to the heart.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kYj46f285o8Pwr7pzWLNbFcMi0TJl07Ot9f872vYb9PVnguaaxjp_fCVI8DT2y4Xb4-iknNr9wPqvR2G6ZzyZHuYs1BL2ILl8XyOSNq9MTh9rf-uCGAAGXEQKBNW-DTT-z5D5EfReejq/s1600/Robert+Morse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kYj46f285o8Pwr7pzWLNbFcMi0TJl07Ot9f872vYb9PVnguaaxjp_fCVI8DT2y4Xb4-iknNr9wPqvR2G6ZzyZHuYs1BL2ILl8XyOSNq9MTh9rf-uCGAAGXEQKBNW-DTT-z5D5EfReejq/s400/Robert+Morse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And what a wow stroke of now and then to cast Robert Morse as the elder statesman of the firm. When first we – of a certain age – saw Mr. Morse, he was one of those eager young Madison Avenue men – namely J. Pierpont Finch of 1961’s Broadways Production of <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i>. Climbing the ladder of success at the World Wide Wicket Company is not unlike getting ahead at Sterling Cooper. Then, in fact, is so “now,” that a revival of the show is currently running on Broadway (Nick Jonas as J. Pierpont Finch) and has been going strong since March 2011.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It’s fun to see your mother’s plaid kitchen wallpaper and your father’s car. It’s fun to remember favorite TV shows and the shared behavior of a safer time. And so we watch Don, Betty, Peggy, Roger, and the entire gang knowing full well that, as their story unfolds, they will never, ever feel that safe again. Unlike them, we know what happens. Peggy’s struggle as the lone creative woman of the firm is one that makes many women today bristle. But Peggy doesn’t bristle, she just plows forward, because she only has an unknown future to draw upon. She does not drive looking through a rearview mirror. To look back is to see Joan and all of the other <i>Best of Everything</i> girls who either marry the boss or just sleep with him.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Those who didn't live through those times may long for its glamour. Those who did probably have mixed feelings. From the vantage point of our living room, <i>Mad Men</i> disturbs and delights and never fails to cause us to measure our present against our past. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Guest contributor FlickChick has a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/FlickChick/155690437779073" style="color: #990000;">Facebook page</a> of the same name and her popular blog is<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><a href="http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/" style="color: #990000;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Person in the Dark</i></a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/p/from-around-blogosphere-more-on-mad-men.html"><span style="color: #990000;">Click here</span></a> for more on <i>Mad Men</i>...from around the blogosphere. </div></div></div>

by guest contributor FlickChick Watching Mad Men is a bit like time traveling with one foot dipped in the past and one firmly planted in th...

Dine Like a Mad Man - Book Giveaway...and a Sweepstakes

9:58 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQET0qe516pvDS8uQilDUT8HUqTkU7GuVBnUebNmzbplWJ5B-MTW7uuMcEFp4ASOneYWvVjWUPfgsJkjgIVBhDshCtZQK3LZsQVFpMTTN1fPSDVCDYt7-H3iUtgcomIrrMHgyIskR8N5t4/s1600/Aroundthe+World+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQET0qe516pvDS8uQilDUT8HUqTkU7GuVBnUebNmzbplWJ5B-MTW7uuMcEFp4ASOneYWvVjWUPfgsJkjgIVBhDshCtZQK3LZsQVFpMTTN1fPSDVCDYt7-H3iUtgcomIrrMHgyIskR8N5t4/s1600/Aroundthe+World+Dinner.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Betty's "Around the World" dinner</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>ith many thanks to veteran cookbook author Judy Gelman and SmartPop/BenBella books, Eve's Reel Life will give away a copy of Gelman's new book (co-authored with Peter Zheutlin), </span><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Unofficial Man Men Cookbook: Inside the Kitchens, Bars and Restaurants of </i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Mad Men</i>.</span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqrZDqw0t5Bva7-wVA75L-RqiHbSQy2-fMMhbcgeqS_0L1rMeJ1Ud2JZ8V2ePcN4KyjcmKnVxQlY7Cvy_HpgYkwDyQLD14DSVx1kzh9nI_3-5ym0jHD7zx7aNNdZr5p8rxPwImY6Io3bP/s1600/savoy+don+and+betty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqrZDqw0t5Bva7-wVA75L-RqiHbSQy2-fMMhbcgeqS_0L1rMeJ1Ud2JZ8V2ePcN4KyjcmKnVxQlY7Cvy_HpgYkwDyQLD14DSVx1kzh9nI_3-5ym0jHD7zx7aNNdZr5p8rxPwImY6Io3bP/s320/savoy+don+and+betty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don and Betty at the Savoy Plaza</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The book provides a fascinating mix of history and culture, tips on throwing a '60s-style cocktail party and a guide to the still-in-business Manhattan haunts featured in <i>Mad Men</i>. The heart and soul of any cookbook, of course, is its recipes, and <i>The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook </i>offers more than 70 recipes for and commentary on the food and drink featured in the series. Included are Betty's Around the World Dinner: Gazpacho and Rumaki, Palm Springs Chile Rellenos, The Forum of the Twelve Caesars Golden Eggs of Crassus and Marinated Olives, Trudy's Rib Eye in the Pan, plus classic recipes of the era like California Dip, Waldorf Salad, Chicken Kiev, and Beef Wellington. On the drinks side, Don's Old Fashioned and Roger's Martini are featured along with Joan's Blue Hawaii and a host of other mid-century cocktail staples.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_X64OGjo94hRJQYGRWSbG-2Mq4oVvXkyi9l-62xns_8AHdKAvd-7Tlt4as3QkNkajv-DiZJgdnmlccMLy4R-ncH7EVvdWrCymL6k5HYik-QD1gBFKm1BXoFLvTb-TMyvLLm4OyosyE_s/s1600/waldorf+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_X64OGjo94hRJQYGRWSbG-2Mq4oVvXkyi9l-62xns_8AHdKAvd-7Tlt4as3QkNkajv-DiZJgdnmlccMLy4R-ncH7EVvdWrCymL6k5HYik-QD1gBFKm1BXoFLvTb-TMyvLLm4OyosyE_s/s200/waldorf+salad.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waldorf Salad</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/AVvXsEgEZYHKI9wee2WHZgSp5S5dU7pNFyzKHlot9PzPJEJnAU4ToM6BRWv4GfXfJ2ER7QHElrWh3VgYVJhcj4lXG3BEMr1WjW79nFTEhOkNLx5cEPXxpEOBDcBO7tWU2AWceSCEtqMRvKCh8G_g/s1600/Chicken+Kiev+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZYHKI9wee2WHZgSp5S5dU7pNFyzKHlot9PzPJEJnAU4ToM6BRWv4GfXfJ2ER7QHElrWh3VgYVJhcj4lXG3BEMr1WjW79nFTEhOkNLx5cEPXxpEOBDcBO7tWU2AWceSCEtqMRvKCh8G_g/s320/Chicken+Kiev+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Kiev</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For a chance to win <i>The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook</i>, enter now by sending your name and mailing address to <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com" style="color: #990000;">ladyevesidwich@gmail.com</a>. A random drawing will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2012. U.S. residents only, please! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">U<span style="font-size: small;">pdate...we have a winner, Terry Towles Canote aka/@mercurie on Twitter. Congratulations, Terry!</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9-7iIRmYYvBlR7BRbG5u3qvt2brqD_Vt8tX2PSowo-Y5vPx3EW0XClaUYc038U_MVAtYz3weVCt3QwANo9QtdJz8nJZveUGOpXI555y1nOihM_w7IfO6zDRz-CtHkm8wWx3PfSUq5jH_/s1600/book-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9-7iIRmYYvBlR7BRbG5u3qvt2brqD_Vt8tX2PSowo-Y5vPx3EW0XClaUYc038U_MVAtYz3weVCt3QwANo9QtdJz8nJZveUGOpXI555y1nOihM_w7IfO6zDRz-CtHkm8wWx3PfSUq5jH_/s320/book-cover.png" width="224" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>

Judy Gelman Mad Men The Lady Eve (author) The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook Dine Like a Mad Man - Book Giveaway...and a Sweepstakes

Betty's "Around the World" dinner W ith many thanks to veteran cookbook author Judy Gelman and SmartPop/BenBella books, Eve...

Why not become a ‘curator’ with Scoop.it and create your own online magazine?

10:51 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">You have probably heard the word ‘curator’ being bandied around? ‘Curating’ is one of the latest buzzwords and that is what Scoop.it does. (I haven’t yet investigated Paper.li but it could be similar). So, what happens is you join Scoop.it (<a href="http://www.scoopit.com/">http://www.scoopit.com</a>) and choose a topic you would like information about. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd3YR5o1KcUutzS0KdO5KwaitdkwdETQXj2ywfhOdk0uf55AlUUMRiqURrkWukZnPeD8p5fNQdpErIm2-WL6DYYzwt8sX1v9SwRwEwtFjKDgEFlMuzh_tVSx2kifcf8Z7fY8MA6cudOA/s1600-h/what%252520is%252520scoopit%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="what is scoopit" border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf663az7R1PKnB4fAI7UzGhe_f7m0vm_ZLH7OIfot9ZqUxjaLaU1uYr92XZimvwkfXdgv9xfLNAHQHPaXy4ME9EOZ5dhNH4AlmxErDYKO3frJq8rhNDDm4EulWry7qU9QnSlu4x1-LEY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="what is scoopit" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span>  <br /><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scoop.it then crawls the Internet searching for articles based on the keywords you have given to your search topic.  You then curate by choosing which articles you would like to use in your magazine, and Scoop.it forms it into an attractive easy-to-read online magazine. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">What I LOVE about Scoop.it is that you can also follow topics that interest you. I follow 34 topics that interest me and Scoop.it keeps me informed in much the same way – a magazine type format for me to page through at leisure. Marvelous! When reading a Scoop.it all you do is click on a block and  it takes you to the original artecle. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So for example… this is how Scoop.it keeps me informed about the latest on my topics of choice. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>  </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzOhWAFxY-KxPQiV28GHdvxqU8uMUrb7W4Ygd_EC_KexjMaukD2LqADixVSBrSmhNHGq-FrBCLgyjTg-Ju-D-5A_w18I-xy8n7uYELfz6oFYiRozOHs1u2jCLv5lnPIqok2170AxXNmI/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDWveT2pqVpF1KVMbO6VMGqHjWYh3cRgiLIuVbXW4_USqDXNS0Kx0iOFeaMcUrcwAG-UBzrw0bCdPAnF_BDkcmMkOlPDGzET04f7PIL-oeW8oE1ZY3AWecbKaN_KhuRSfCT2S9aJuC5g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="271" /> </a></div><div align="left" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In case you would like to know all the steps on how to work with Scoop.it please view my Slideshare. </span></div><div id="__ss_11835738" style="width: 425px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/come-scoop-with-me-fiona-beal" title="Come 'Scoop' with me - Fiona Beal">Come 'Scoop' with me - Fiona Beal</a></b><object height="355" id="__sse11835738" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=comescoopwithme-fionabeal-120302112437-phpapp01&stripped_title=come-scoop-with-me-fiona-beal&userName=fionabeal" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="__sse11835738" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=comescoopwithme-fionabeal-120302112437-phpapp01&stripped_title=come-scoop-with-me-fiona-beal&userName=fionabeal" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal">fionabeal</a>.</div></div></div>

Slideshare Technology integration Tutorials Web tools Why not become a ‘curator’ with Scoop.it and create your own online magazine?

You have probably heard the word ‘curator’ being bandied around? ‘Curating’ is one of the latest buzzwords and that is what Scoop.it does. (...

guest posting at Living Savvy

4:40 AM Anonymous 0

I'm guest posting over at <a href="http://www.savvydesignwest.com/2012/03/spray-painters-anonymous-little-black.html" target="_blank">Living Savvy</a> today, talking about some of my favorite spray painting projects. Tiffany is one of my all time favorites, so I'm pretty excited. Head over and <a href="http://www.savvydesignwest.com/2012/03/spray-painters-anonymous-little-black.html" target="_blank">check it out</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9paha45Updc3KdWMzDSq5dR9SP_1JcYYvkP3IuvhLUGaSkOMzr5AYMzjRsQrVtk0y7iNxshLNZSXe1M3aAmxXhwSQRAmkUlBwsbQvHaM0HNwGpnHw2O7KUldVtQ8sGf6lwc8BjWbftHm/s1600/SP+series+Header-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9paha45Updc3KdWMzDSq5dR9SP_1JcYYvkP3IuvhLUGaSkOMzr5AYMzjRsQrVtk0y7iNxshLNZSXe1M3aAmxXhwSQRAmkUlBwsbQvHaM0HNwGpnHw2O7KUldVtQ8sGf6lwc8BjWbftHm/s640/SP+series+Header-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Happy Weekend!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

guest posting at Living Savvy

I'm guest posting over at Living Savvy today, talking about some of my favorite spray painting projects. Tiffany is one of my all time ...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

5:04 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYrfk9LtfzoPQTFXelc8zoos0i9fqGgQrEOGTeNqepROkdrWsnZk88z5U6-yiRBfcVTt4FFVRUTfKMIwdUIalf77ukjjGD_yrHZyOdrtX1eo5SRjxbWXhaGeh4bLV0yjPiQpc2pKA_z9i/s1600/0428117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYrfk9LtfzoPQTFXelc8zoos0i9fqGgQrEOGTeNqepROkdrWsnZk88z5U6-yiRBfcVTt4FFVRUTfKMIwdUIalf77ukjjGD_yrHZyOdrtX1eo5SRjxbWXhaGeh4bLV0yjPiQpc2pKA_z9i/s320/0428117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">ALTERNATIVE MEDIA on Argentine topics</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">Argentina – Stretching Bonds with China</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina’s relationship with China is currently deepening due to larger interest by the Asiatic giant in soy and agro-food.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Both countries have just signed reciprocal agreements in order to increase economic exchange last week. A delegation of Chinese businessmen and officials were welcomed by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the President so as to reinforce the commitment and find different others industries to develop in conjunction.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">According to data released by the Pekin’s custom, Argentina exported 461,000 tons of soybeans to China in January 2012 – five times the amount in January 2011 –.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Both countries also signed a sanitary protocol which will allow the Argentina to export of maize products to the Asian nation.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: blue;">CORPORATE MAINSTREAM MEDIA on Argentine topics</span></span></b></div><div style="color: red;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">Argentina spending more than it produces; “default situation” can’t be discarded</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By Diana Mondino  </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";">Argentina currently consumes more than it produces and only with strong growth can it avoid another default situation since liabilities continue to increase, warns economist Diana Mondino.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> “Argentina has already consumed its assets in energy, agriculture, pension funds, central bank and expenditure continues to expand” points out Mondino adding that government spending has ballooned in the last decade but particularly in the last two years, “well above the production and growth capacity of the economy”.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Social Security, Anses, already consumes almost a third of GDP, leaving aside law and order, education, health, which means the fiscal load must be particularly burdensome to meet those expenditures, 40% tax pressure, one of the highest in the world, except for Scandinavian countries.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“And in spite of the taxing pressure the government had to appeal to some of the ‘jewels of the crown’, such as energy, agriculture, pension funds, Central bank reserves, and yes what we managed was a consumers’ boom”.</span><br /><h1>  <span style="font-size: large;">Diana Mondino at S&P Argentina!!!</span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In the first 18 months after Diana Mondino and Viviana Zocco had sold their credit rating firm to <b>Standard & Poor's (S&P)</b>, business had soared. The young entrepreneurs had not only received a decent sum for their company, they had also received considerable support to grow their business and their own talents. All of the analysts, including the two managing directors, were participating regularly in S&P's <b>highly regarded educational programs</b>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Comment:</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">T</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">o be associated with Standard & Poor's means the author of above article promotes international financial and economic institution doctrines which in many cases have proven devastating for countries applying such measures. These international vulcher financial institutions are trying everything to force Argentina into adhering to their doctrines. </span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Since Argentina has been defying these doctrines successfully, powerful international financial institutions use every possible means to combat Argentines’ resistance and thus use mainstream media and finance lackeys, reporting and distorting humbly what Corporate Media and the power elite tell them to do. </span></i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Predicting” the possibility of Argentina defaulting once more is pure tactics and manipulative journalism, initiated by above mentioned institutions in order to create panic and cause economy turmoil.</span></i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Just for the records, the so famed soya commodity prices are soaring once again and will continue to do so, not to mention the rest of Argentina's agriculture commodities......</span></i></span></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Argentina expects higher crop output for 2012</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Via Agriculture News</span></i></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";">Argentina is on track to produce about 21.3 million metric tons of corn and 46.2 million of soybean during the 2011-12 seasons, based on surveys conducted by <span style="font-size: x-small;">AGROCOM</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";">Argentina is the world's third-largest soybean exporter and ranks No.2 in corn exports.</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";">Exports of grains, soybeans and related products are a significant source of government tax revenue and a major contributor to Argentina's <b>trade surplus, which totaled $10.35 billion last year</b>.</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";">The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said that rains in recent weeks have helped the soy crop to recover from drought conditions in December and January that damaged corn fields.</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";">Estimates for Argentina's 2011-12 crop production in million of metric tons. Sunseed area is measured in million hectares (HA). One hectare equals 2.47 acres.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">                     </span>Wheat<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">      </span>Soy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>Corn<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>Sunseed </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B.A. Cereals Exch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>14.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>46.2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>21.3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>3.5 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ag Ministry<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">          </span>13.4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>43.5-45.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>20.5-22.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>3.7 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">USDA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">                 </span>14.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>48.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>22.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>3.2 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rosario Grain Exch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>13.7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>44.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>19.8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </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";">Argentina's historical production in millions of metric tons, according to the USDA:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wheat<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">      </span>Soy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Corn<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>Sunseed </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2010-11<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>15.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>49<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">          </span>22.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>3.6 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2009-10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>9.6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>54.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>22.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>2.3 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2008-09<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>10.1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>32.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>15.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>2.9 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2007-08<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>18.6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>46.2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>22.0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>4.65 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2006-07<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>16.3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>48.8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">        </span>22.5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>--</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA on Argentine topics Argentina – Stretching Bonds with China Argentina’s relationship with China is currently deepening due...