Skout Natural Protein Bars Review!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm6UDGevECtSYA8hxWcujnWsF56kU8s84HKYkExd5_VjIaAqcMrb-pnbMnSrtp6-kYKimB8gbHhne1jWIJ1-xlCxprjfMoidHhUVcVS_b75KtPX_0B0momSPHpoXDXVFuHg3Wm4U_E3U/s1600/Skout+Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm6UDGevECtSYA8hxWcujnWsF56kU8s84HKYkExd5_VjIaAqcMrb-pnbMnSrtp6-kYKimB8gbHhne1jWIJ1-xlCxprjfMoidHhUVcVS_b75KtPX_0B0momSPHpoXDXVFuHg3Wm4U_E3U/s320/Skout+Bars.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>When it comes to snack I don't know about you but I need something that will nourish my body especially after a workout.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I need something that's packed with protein and keeps me full throughout the day. I usually pack myself a snack when going to work or even when I'm going out all day so I bring a protein bar that's packed with nutrients such as fruits and nuts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I've tried many protein bars and some to me tasted like cardboard, ugh!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I am in love with these all natural protein bars that <a href="http://www.skoutnatural.com/">Skout Natural</a> sent me for review, they are made from all natural ingredients including fruits, and nuts!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I love that when eating them it satisfies my hunger and they work well with a side of fruit or even yogurt, giving myself and body the proper nutrients it needs. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Skout Facts:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Certified Gluten Free</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Certified Organic</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Dairy Free</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Soy Free</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>No refined sugars or filters</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Apple Cinnamon-</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>This is the first flavor that I tried and I am so glad I did because it offers a ton of flavor in each bite and tastes just like apple pie, and it held me till lunch time which was great!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Cherry Vanilla-</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>It was bursting with cherry flavor with a hint of vanilla, and would go great crumbled on some yogurt!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Blueberry Almond-</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Great blueberry flavor and reminded me of a blueberry muffin, it was so good and worked great as a mid morning snack along with some pecans. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I still have some other flavors to try, and I bet I will love them!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Who doesn't love chocolate?!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Be sure to check them out online and connect with them on their social media sites below!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Website:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><a href="http://www.skoutnatural.com/">http://www.skoutnatural.com/</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Face Book:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/skoutnatural">https://www.facebook.com/skoutnatural</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Twitter:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/skoutnatural">https://twitter.com/skoutnatural</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Pinterest:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/skoutnatural/"><i>http://pinterest.com/skoutnatural/</i></a></span></div>

Skout Natural Protein Bars Review!

When it comes to snack I don't know about you but I need something that will nourish my body especially after a workout. I need somethin...

Read more »

The Odd POPS at 33 Maiden Lane

About five days a week I walk on John Street past the Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) at <a href="http://apops.mas.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/106.png">33 Maiden Lane</a> in Lower Manhattan, never venturing inside. The "two-level open-air covered pedestrian space," as <a href="http://apops.mas.org/pops/106/">Jerold Kayden calls it</a>, is frankly an oddity, a fairly large space that is always dark and empty. Further, its dramatic barrel vault does not extend to John Street; instead a small rectangular portal gives a glimpse and access to both the pedestrian space and subway below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817888692/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8559/8817888692_ba874436e1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />[All photographs by John Hill, unless noted otherwise.]<br /><br />But where else do the stairs and escalators beyond lead, besides the subway? And what's with the postmodern design? On Friday I decided to trek through the POPS and do a little research on it to finally get the story behind this oddity.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817889458/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8278/8817889458_aa882b5d94_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Before heading into the space, lets walk around to the Maiden Lane side from the above views from John Street on the north. Below are two portals that provide access from Nassau Street on the west. The large column, rounded brick piers, and arched openings all fit into the theme of the building's design.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817889200/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8417/8817889200_d73453338b_c.jpg" width="573" /></a><br /><br />Those three elements can also be found on the Maiden Lane side (below), which faces the <a href="http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/about_the_building.html">Federal Reserve Bank</a>. Actually, the 1924 building is the driving force for Philip Johnson and John Burgee's design of 33 Maiden Lane (aka <a href="http://www.emporis.com/building/2federalreserveplaza-newyorkcity-ny-usa">2 Federal Reserve Plaza</a>), completed 60 years later. That inspiration can be seen in the arches, barrel vaults, rounded corners, and brick color, as well as the <a href="http://untappedcities.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/33-Maiden-Lane_John-Shmerykowsky_Philip-Johnson.jpg">turrets that top the tower's corners and piers</a>. That the Federal Reserve leased space in 33 Maiden Lane and then <a href="http://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news/aboutthefed/2012/an120228.html">purchased the building</a> outright last year cements the connection between the two structures.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817926376/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8817926376_8733a26815_c.jpg" width="627" /></a><br /><br />The design for the POPS can be seen as an inexpensive version of the ideas Johnson put into practice during his postmodern phase, especially the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorcasino/8140700642/">lobby of the AT&T (now Sony) Building</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gold_Leafed_Ceiling_of_190_S_LaSalle_Lobby.jpg">lobby of 190 South LaSalle</a> in Chicago, both completed around the same time as 33 Maiden Lane. Compared to other POPS in the city—be it covered pedestrian spaces, plazas, or some other type of space—the design is decent, if dated. But if the rhythm, texture, and scale of the space has merit, it disappears when amenities are considered; outside of connecting to the subway, making for a covered shortcut from Maiden to Nassau, and providing one newsstand, there's nothing going on here, hence it always being pretty empty.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807306461/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/8807306461_0aa156712a_z.jpg" width="572" /></a><br /><br />The end of the passageway near John Street (below) is the most boggling part of the design. Escalators from the south and steps from John Street on the north provide access to the Fulton Street Subway Station, but also to a checkerboard-tiled space flanked by doors on two sides.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807306119/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8273/8807306119_b212cee645_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />This space (below) looks like it serves a purpose, and it fact it did. As <a href="http://apops.mas.org/pops/106/">Jerold Kayden explains</a>, "Years ago, this level also housed a satellite branch of uptown’s Whitney Museum of American Art." The Downtown Branch was <a href="http://www.twbta.com/index.php?p=wc&flashid=2515">designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects</a> and was completed in 1987; a few years later they exhibited their "Domestic Arrangements" installation <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2008/11/tod-billie-musing-4.html">in a gallery of their own making</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807305827/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8539/8807305827_8d5f94040b_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Entrance to the Whitney was through double doors (in the screenshot below, and just out of frame-right in the above photo) and down more steps to the gallery two levels below grade. The subterranean location was hardly ideal for the branch of an institution as respectable as the Whitney, but Williams and Tsien overcame this by adding a 20-foot-high pylon near the base of the escalator that was visible even from the vantage of the photo at the top of this post.<br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxMNLCE8PI0-PmD5V5Of4x3VT0gc0u6dSFzTcCxERdkadtq3eJT7k_DRqNlJ5G5SAd8EQSMuGIwZo7AfjiEj4y2m-cyiks670jo118naB9vUB-zXeglDdFL6yyCF7KOiPMRdjFDPFQOHU/" width="640" /><br />[Screenshot from <a href="http://sma.sciarc.edu/video/billie-tsien/">Billie Tsien lecture at SCI-Arc</a> (44:17), November 15, 1989]<br /><br />Even in the lo-fi photo of this space above, it's clear that for a short time (until the 1992 closing of the Whitney, at least) the POPS provided an amenity, a destination on the lower level. Now (photo below) this level is barren, even more so than the space above.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807305669/" title="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="POPS at 33 Maiden Lane" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/8807305669_f3e6af1972_c.jpg" width="587" /></a><br /><br />It's worth discussing a couple adjacent open spaces. If one ventures farther east on John Street, a very narrow—and equally boggling—space with astroturf at its rear can be glimpsed: <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807384671/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8269/8807384671_c729a1aa1e_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />The sign on the left in the above photo reads: "Open to the public dawn to dusk" and is accompanied by a tree logo that looks just like the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/gif/priv/privlogo.gif">official POPS logo</a>. But this narrow space is not documented in Jerold Kayden's book or <a href="http://apops.mas.org/find-a-pops/">website</a>, nor on the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/priv/mndist1.shtml">city's list of POPS</a>, so what is it?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817968158/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="800" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/8817968158_ce49b58834_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />The space belongs to the <a href="http://www.gcah.org/site/pp.aspx?c=ghKJI0PHIoE&b=3523681">John Street United Methodist Church</a> (left in photo above, right in photo below), the oldest Methodist congregation in North America (dating to 1766) and the third church on the site.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8807383759/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="800" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/8807383759_b0be8544a9_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />The church is hemmed in by much taller buildings on three sides. Looking skyward in the below photo, we can see the church, 33 Maiden Lane, and the back of <a href="http://www.emporis.com/building/homeinsuranceplaza-newyorkcity-ny-usa">59 Maiden Lane</a>. This fact makes the narrow open spaces on both the east and west sides of the church particularly uninviting; the blank walls facing the spaces don't help either.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817967846/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/8817967846_a04f88f294_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Below are a couple photos of the space on the east side, about the same scale as the one on the west, but in place of the astroturf are some steps leading to a statue and seating area. It's clear from the paving, wall painting, light stanchions, and plantings that this space is more important to the church than the other. Nevertheless it's only marginally more inviting than the space next to 33 Maiden Lane.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817967424/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/8817967424_429c6f2d6b_z.jpg" width="569" /></a><br /><br />The spaces described above are three of four semi-public spaces on the block bounded by John Street, Nassau Street, Maiden Lane, and William Street. The fourth is at <a href="http://apops.mas.org/pops/140/">59 Maiden Lane</a>, which Kayden describes in his POPS book as "originally a barren plaza" that was "voluntarily upgraded by its owner in the late 1980s...the result is a substantial improvement." So there is some hope for the other three spaces on the block, given the right attention. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8817967092/" title="Narrow Public Space by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Narrow Public Space" height="800" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/8817967092_188a81cb3d_c.jpg" width="600" /></a>

The Odd POPS at 33 Maiden Lane

About five days a week I walk on John Street past the Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) at 33 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan, never ventu...

Read more »

Maple Grove Farms Review!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt28Tedwch80WMuiW4DC2JMiCZDBjf6DSrBpMDjP3AHdj2sW8fK8bF0W8m0bL2IxDgHAFf28xw26yxbfy198OwQe8O7JSX7lVKWRCoZ9FL8XlyVUgdi0n_jC8Ctk_O_M6aO0WK7aes-PU/s1600/maple+grove+farms+parfait+in+the+making.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt28Tedwch80WMuiW4DC2JMiCZDBjf6DSrBpMDjP3AHdj2sW8fK8bF0W8m0bL2IxDgHAFf28xw26yxbfy198OwQe8O7JSX7lVKWRCoZ9FL8XlyVUgdi0n_jC8Ctk_O_M6aO0WK7aes-PU/s320/maple+grove+farms+parfait+in+the+making.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was sent a coupon for a free product of my choice from <a href="http://www.maplegrove.com/">Maple grove Farms</a> for review who has been making the finest maple syrup since 1915 in Vermont!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I wasn't sure of what to select since they had so many choices to choose from at the grocery store that I went to.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>You could choose from maple syrup, pancake mix, salad dressings etc, and to me it was sure a tough choice to only choose one product.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Since sometimes when I have a salad I don't use dressings I decided to go with maple syrup because you can use it on pretty much anything!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I don't eat pancakes or waffles much but you could drizzle the maple syrup on ice cream, chicken, or even on yogurt and that's just what I did!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I am obsessed with eating yogurt daily since I don't drink milk much.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>So this morning I made a parfait for breakfast and thought to myself hmm what can I try that's a little different from my normal morning parfait consisting of yogurt, granola and fruit? </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKEXX18Z71dmNScvFCZHg8NHNHrvPnAwzEsbS4UPreD4ci9hRqOn1bciDqnYKuI2xPfVnSPot2JjRDo7f2O7PyU8EVTjnYTMay1QV8G2f1iJ-Y49sqb9iTnJhh7kgVAiT6g5hUmAV5jI/s1600/Maple+Grove+Farms+parait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKEXX18Z71dmNScvFCZHg8NHNHrvPnAwzEsbS4UPreD4ci9hRqOn1bciDqnYKuI2xPfVnSPot2JjRDo7f2O7PyU8EVTjnYTMay1QV8G2f1iJ-Y49sqb9iTnJhh7kgVAiT6g5hUmAV5jI/s320/Maple+Grove+Farms+parait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Then I thought oh yeah, I've got maple syrup and what better way to eat some healthy granola and yogurt with some added flavor by maple syrup!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I layered all of the contents together and then before I could eat it I drizzled a tiny bit of maple syrup on the top to finish it off, and it tasted phenomenal! </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It wasn't too sweet which I liked because the granola was already sweet enough but with the added touch of the maple syrup wow it sure dressed up breakfast time!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Be sure to check out their website here!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Website:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.maplegrove.com/">http://www.maplegrove.com/</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Connect with them on their Social Media sites here as well!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Face Book:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MapleGroveFarms">https://www.facebook.com/MapleGroveFarms</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Twitter:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/maplegrovefarms"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>https://twitter.com/maplegrovefarms</i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pinterest:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/maplegrovesyrup/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>http://pinterest.com/maplegrovesyrup/</i></span></a></div>

Maple Grove Farms Review!

I was sent a coupon for a free product of my choice from  Maple grove Farms  for review who has been making the finest maple syrup since 191...

Read more »

EUROPE'S ISLAMIC FUTURE

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEfaufBoaESdGXExsx0ooCf27tLt27_XCpu3jFOJDNhVai7zK_SG0wVVE8ZWUPvqktulgN7s3S9GRL0jfOvqXx7rd8xJ7pvIiY8BQzjGuhs2sIjbgm0AmqzBt5cMs4pgz1jE-UYGyGeS2/s1600/eurabia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEfaufBoaESdGXExsx0ooCf27tLt27_XCpu3jFOJDNhVai7zK_SG0wVVE8ZWUPvqktulgN7s3S9GRL0jfOvqXx7rd8xJ7pvIiY8BQzjGuhs2sIjbgm0AmqzBt5cMs4pgz1jE-UYGyGeS2/s320/eurabia.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IF CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS PERSIST, EUROPE WILL BE MUSLIM BY CENTURY’S END </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">originally published on this blog 18 Dec 2011</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Islam is on its way to become the most practiced religion in EUROPE. In a book published by the University of Leuven, “The Iris and the Crescent,” sociologist Felice Dassetto says that Muslims will comprise the majority of the population of Brussels by 2030. The title of the book refers to the yellow flower symbol of Brussels’ region and to the Islamic emblem: While the first is decaying, the second is growing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MUSLIMS NOW MAKE UP ONE-QUARTER OF THE POPULATION OF THE CAPITAL OF THE ENLIGHTENED EUROPE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and they are asking to use the empty churches for Islamic prayers. Since 2008, the top seven baby boys’ names in Brussels were Mohammed, Adam, Rayan, Ayoub, Mehdi, Amine and Hamza. Mohammed is also the most popular name for baby boys in Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp, where an estimated 40% of elementary school children are Muslim. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Antwerp is also home to BELGIUM’S first Islamic Sharia law court.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet BELGIUM is not an isolate case in fact there are warning signs looming on the horizon that Europe risks being “overrun” by Islam. According to a recent report of the US Pew Center, Islam is already “the fastest-growing religion in EUROPE,” where the number of Muslims has tripled over the past 30 years. One third of all EUROPEAN children will be born to Muslim families by 2025. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISLAM IS THE MOST PRACTICED RELIGION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thus the UK government anti ISRAEL stance comes as no surprise, as well as the tremendous support for arming the SYRIAN rebels.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In London, more Muslims attend mosques on Friday than do Christians church on Sunday. The Oude Kerk, the oldest church in the city of Amsterdam, where the kings of HOLLAND were crowned, is now a museum. The only “church” in the largest DUTCH city that is crowded is the church of Scientology, a six-story building in the thick of the city center. Only 7% of DUTCH Catholics now go to Sunday Mass and 16% of children are baptized. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EURABIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In AUSTRIA, which was 90% Catholic in the 20th Century, Islam will be the majority religion among AUSTRIANS aged under 15 by 2050. The FRENCH case also shows that the often exaggerated “EURABIA” threat is more a quality phenomenon of religious attendance than of demographic takeover. In FRANCE, there are now more Islamic mosques being build - and more frequently so - than Catholic churches, and there are more practicing Muslims than practicing Catholics in the country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2hGw-MTZNMDplXNQHk0dPI4JNO03-ko34kn16-mzqwWGrN4l8_17L3-3mn_8RCs3awK8bwgj4m_quiXMkR97qH3zbAgi_fehjvu9amNZFhOIEmBwz_1SvrcF3KuILwSyhGaFb4U4F3P1/s1600/20110720_EuropeIslam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2hGw-MTZNMDplXNQHk0dPI4JNO03-ko34kn16-mzqwWGrN4l8_17L3-3mn_8RCs3awK8bwgj4m_quiXMkR97qH3zbAgi_fehjvu9amNZFhOIEmBwz_1SvrcF3KuILwSyhGaFb4U4F3P1/s320/20110720_EuropeIslam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 300px;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><br /></td> </tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overall, the total number of mosques in FRANCE has already doubled to more than 2,000 in the last 10 years. The best known FRENCH Islamic leader, Dalil Boubakeur, Rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, recently suggested that the total number of mosques should double yet again, to 4,000, to meet the growing demand. </span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in FRANCE had only 20 new churches built in the last 10 years, and formally closed more than 60 churches, many of which became mosques, according to research conducted by the FRENCH Catholic daily La Croix. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Princeton University’s Bernard Lewis once told the GERMAN daily Die Welt that “EUROPE will be Islamic by the end of the century.” At the time, Brussels’ political and cultural elites expressed outrage at the alarmist prediction. Yet if the current trends persist, Mr. Lewis may yet be proven right. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Article written by Giulio Meotti </span></div>

EUROPE'S ISLAMIC FUTURE

IF CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS PERSIST, EUROPE WILL BE MUSLIM BY CENTURY’S END  originally published on this blog 18 Dec 2011 Islam is on i...

Read more »

Matt Said, Jay Said...Memorial Day 2013

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHiVnx0gRZMk4VIjci3tP7c-4UU2DaVVCmQqq8BFVH_p_g7KeotB1zXcZUKmHZvZPYt7ore-7nQqWo_j1VgjuiC01sKud7PMIt3wfPeRfID5iJUsrhtBFoYgJ4DdfeLK_ddnkp-hJSuY/s1600/G.I.+Jane+Demi+Moore+Naked+Sexy.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/AVvXsEjiHiVnx0gRZMk4VIjci3tP7c-4UU2DaVVCmQqq8BFVH_p_g7KeotB1zXcZUKmHZvZPYt7ore-7nQqWo_j1VgjuiC01sKud7PMIt3wfPeRfID5iJUsrhtBFoYgJ4DdfeLK_ddnkp-hJSuY/s400/G.I.+Jane+Demi+Moore+Naked+Sexy.jpg" width="286" /></a>Matt bugles…Jay trumpets…You sing, Taps.<br /><br />Matt:  Bagwine residence, lady of the house speaking.<br />Jay:  Helloooo?  Helloooo?<br />Matt:  Helloooo?  Is this Jayman, the famous international internet radio star?<br />Jay:  You know it…Is this Matt-Man, the guy who prances around in Schmoop’s underwear?<br />Matt:  You had to go there, didn’t you?<br />Jay:  Of course, because not only is it funny…it’s HOT!!<br />Matt:  Word.<br /><br />Jay:  So…Memorial Day weekend, what should we talk about?<br />Matt:  The Joy of Mayonnaise.<br />Jay:  Y’know…I love how you are so damn topical. Maybe this Christmas we can talk about Labor Day. <br />Matt:  I’m kidding.  I’m kidding.<br />Jay:  Alright then.  Can we be serious here?<br />Matt:  Yes we can.  Memorial Day <i>HAS</i> to be the topic.<br />Jay:  I know, because if we don’t honor the military early and often, we are sub-par radio hosts.<br />Matt:  And Communists<br />Jay:  And Troglodytes<br />Matt:  Don’t you mean, Trotskyites?<br />Jay:  Of course, that too.<br />Matt:  Uh-huh.<br /><br />Jay:  So I was thinking we could honor those who gave all for our country.<br />Matt:  Sounds great, and as we should.<br />Jay:  But of course, do it in the light-hearted and jocular fashion that only IWS Radio can.<br />Matt:  Damn right.  Sometimes people take a person dying in defense of this country far too seriously.<br />Jay:  IKR?  It’s not like the fallen soldiers didn’t want to.  They were patriots and heroes; it’s in their blood.<br />Matt:  It’s in their DNA!!<br />Jay:  Exactly!!<br /><br />Matt:  This show sounds as though it truly needs comforting words of prose from Paul Piatt.<br />Jay:  And the calming tones of Bobby Kraft speaking on wars and heroes gone unnoticed.<br />Matt:  And perhaps a weather report from Kirk Douglas so Americans can plan their cook-out schedules.<br />Jay:  Kirk will soooooo be there.<br /><br />Matt:  We picked up a new sponsor for this week as well.<br />Jay:  Oh really?  Who?<br />Matt:  <span style="background-color: black;">Incestry.Com</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqlf62MhzERG_cLGisBG7Yy6_6dotuWturwOUBjmpYnVee5PkGEORTV38_hkj9GIlQBftiwJw3pGpAxbMuprfYTZy-MrfM9-tjdcjwM1Isc20c03BhnsCP8EsrGlo-1VB3Roj1tLEwLU/s1600/Memorial+Day+Graves+Flags+Decoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqlf62MhzERG_cLGisBG7Yy6_6dotuWturwOUBjmpYnVee5PkGEORTV38_hkj9GIlQBftiwJw3pGpAxbMuprfYTZy-MrfM9-tjdcjwM1Isc20c03BhnsCP8EsrGlo-1VB3Roj1tLEwLU/s400/Memorial+Day+Graves+Flags+Decoration.jpg" width="400" /></a>Jay:  That’s fucking funny!!  That adds a smile to the bittersweet and heartfelt solemnity of our show.<br />Matt:  That’s what I thought as well, I mean…<br />Jay:  You mean, it is right and dutiful to grieve for our fallen soldiers, but…<br />Matt:  But man?  Two hours of that shit?<br />Jay:  Exactly!!<br /><br />Matt:  And speaking of fallen soldiers, we should also touch on exactly what Memorial Day is.<br />Jay:  Damn right.<br />Matt:  A day to honor those who died in battle.<br />Jay:  Yep.  Not those who came home alive…They have Veterans' Day.<br />Matt:  Nope, and not those currently serving.<br />Jay:  Oh hell no…Last Saturday was<i> their</i> day.  Armed Forces Day.<br /><br />Matt:  And certainly not a day to honor those who design tree looking clothing for the soldiers to wear.<br />Jay:  Oh hell no, we celebrate those people on Arbor Day!!<br />Matt:  Word.<br /><br />Jay:  So…I think we are ready for this week’s<span style="color: blue;"> <i>I<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/05/26/some-gave-all" target="_blank">WS Radio Memorial Day Show</a></i>.</span><br />Matt:  Damn right.  We may even go, <i>A Bridge Too Far</i>!!<br />Jay:  Or end up cutting ourselves off, <i>Midway</i> through!!<br />Matt and Jay:  Oh Hell Yeah Baby, we’ll be talking war movies as well!!<br />Matt:  See you on the radio Sunday from Noon-2 PM ET LIVE.<br />Jay:  You know it big boy.<br /><br />To catch this Sunday’s moving, yet hilarious IWS Radio show LIVE from Noon-2 PM ET, click <i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/05/26/some-gave-all" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE!!</span></a></i></div><br /></div>

Matt Said, Jay Said...Memorial Day 2013

Matt bugles…Jay trumpets…You sing, Taps. Matt:  Bagwine residence, lady of the house speaking. Jay:  Helloooo?  Helloooo? Matt:  Helloooo?  ...

Read more »

Fast & Furious 6: Still accelerating

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Fast & Furious 6</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/fastfurious6/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, and somewhat generously, for intense and relentless violence, action and mayhem, along with occasional profanity and sensuality</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a> • </b></span>Originally published in <i><a href="http://www.davisenterprise.com/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">The Davis Enterprise</a></i>, 5.24.13</b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Longest...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...airport...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...runway...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...<i>ever</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>Fast & Furious</i> series has long been known for physics-defying stunts that strain credibility, while nonetheless inspiring well-deserved admiration for the way so many of these crazy chases and assorted skirmishes look (somewhat) authentic, as opposed to the obvious fakery of computer-enhanced sweetening. (Make no mistake: CGI plays an important role in these films, but much of the driving is real.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEgsUB1dlpuAXRAVDE9dCBQwb3p9pMvRLiaSs10cCVnCXKcFDQLVUdiVXNqZ0WPoui-9Q5p-oZqMnNlPToBCtUWOMzS050ULMxAKgEeLysqd-k0cDVW1u_eJBSZCL0MgaPsqqGgYv-NG0lY/s1600/Fast+&+Furious+6+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUB1dlpuAXRAVDE9dCBQwb3p9pMvRLiaSs10cCVnCXKcFDQLVUdiVXNqZ0WPoui-9Q5p-oZqMnNlPToBCtUWOMzS050ULMxAKgEeLysqd-k0cDVW1u_eJBSZCL0MgaPsqqGgYv-NG0lY/s400/Fast+&+Furious+6+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">When a high-speed pursuit veers badly out of control, thanks to the bad guys wielding<br />a vehicle-crushing tank, Dom (Vin Diesel) realizes that one of his team is seconds<br />away from certain death. The only possible solution? An insane leap from his speeding<br />car, of course!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even by those standards, however, <i>Fast & Furious 6</i> boasts audacious, jaw-dropping set-pieces that are just plain nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they’re also tautly edited, reasonably suspenseful and quite entertaining. As comic book movies go, this series delivers ingenious thrills ... even if they <i>are</i> guaranteed to make mechanical and aerospace engineers snort with laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan deserve considerable credit. They’ve collaborated on four of these films now — all but the first two — and they have the formula down cold. Take an ever-expanding “family” of familiar characters, grant them plenty of interactive banter, season with vehicular chases every 15 minutes or so, and blend with aggressive punching matches between good guys and bad guys, usually one on one, but sometimes two on two. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toss in a James Bondian “head villain” with an equally malevolent sidekick, spice with babe shots — because under-dressed women are <i>such</i> an essential part of street-racing — and call it a movie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yes, before you ask: Morgan already is scripting <i>Fast & Furious 7</i> for new director James Wan (<i>Saw</i>, <i>Insidious</i>), which will add Jason Statham to the mix when it roars into theaters next summer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s all absolute and utter nonsense, but thrilling and adrenaline-pumping nonetheless. No doubt responding to demands for bigger and better, Lin and Morgan have customized <i>6</i> with road-rage chases involving all manner of souped-up cars, not to mention a tank and a massive Antonov 124 cargo plane (!). And yes, the latter eye-widening melee, during which half a dozen four-wheeled vehicles try to prevent said plane from lifting off, occupies 15 climactic minutes, during which the accelerating plane magically never runs out of runway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck, even allowing for the cross-cutting needed to show simultaneous action on the ground and inside the plane, I figure that runway must’ve stretched at least 20 miles. Land must be cheap in Spain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lin gets plenty of capable help from cinematographer Stephen F. Windon and editors Christian Wagner and Kelly Matsumoto, all series veterans; they definitely make a winning team. One also has to smile at the massive <i>thunk</i> sound designer Peter Brown inserts, every time a racing driver shifts up or down. This may be popcorn nonsense, but it’s slickly made nonsense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With previous entries having exhausted locations in Los Angeles, Miami, Tokyo, Mexico and Rio de Janeiro, this time the action is based in the UK — London, Liverpool and Glasgow — with a few supposed visits to Spain (actually studio work). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following their successful heist in <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2011/04/fast-five-over-revved.html">5</a></i>, our crew of anti-heroes has settled around the world. Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) are new parents in the Canary Islands, with Dom (Vin Diesel) and Elena (Elsa Pataky) living close by. Han (Sung Kang) and Gisele (Gal Gadot) are enjoying Hong Kong; Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is in Costa Rica; and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) jets to exotic locales when the mood strikes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All concerned are saved from succumbing to boredom when tough-as-nails federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) confronts Dom with an assignment he literally cannot refuse. A paramilitary-trained criminal mastermind — Luke Evans, as Shaw — has been committing high-profile thefts throughout Europe, aided by a most unlikely sidekick: Dom’s former main squeeze, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But wait, I hear you cry: Didn’t Letty die two films back?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, yes, but this series has a comic book habit of reviving characters deemed too popular to abandon. Sung Kang’s Han already enjoyed such a revival; he perished in the third installment (<i>Tokyo Drift</i>) but has reappeared in each of the subsequent films, a seeming impossibility explained by the fact that <i>4</i>, <i>5</i> and this new film take place before the events in <i>Tokyo Drift</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, similarly, we may have <i>thought</i> Letty got killed in <i>4</i>, but it ain’t necessarily so ... as folks who watched the post-credits tag scene at the very end of <i>5</i> already knew, based on a photograph handed to Hobbs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The so-called plot here is incidental and perfunctory: Shaw needs to steal a whatzis — in order to combine it with other whatzises (whatzi?) he stole earlier, before this movie started — so that he can build a vile thingamajig capable of knocking out the electrical and computer grids of an entire <i>country</i>, which obviously would be a valuable item to have, were a neighboring hostile government planning to invade.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because Shaw has accomplished his earlier heists with a team of skilled drivers, Hobbs decides to fight turbo-charged fire with more of the same, and hence our team is reassembled once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One must take attempts at “serious dialogue” with a grain of salt, as when Mia “understands” that Brian must join the gang, despite his earlier promise to settle down and be a sedentary doting father. Morgan fills such moments with howler lines such as “This is what we do,” and of course that’s all the explanation we get.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some women are apt to scoff, however, when Elena generously insists that Dom has to find and confront Letty: certainly the most unselfish lover <i>I've</i> ever encountered in fiction. But, then, we don’t watch these films for credible relationship dynamics; we really just want sight gags, droll one-liners and wry double-takes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But only in between action shots starring a Who’s Who of new and old American and European muscle cars: a 1969 Dodge Daytona (Dom) a 1971 Mark 1 Ford Escort (Brian), a 1970 Jensen Interceptor (Letty), a 2002 Enzo Ferrari (Tej) ... not to mention a few motorcycles — a Harley (Han) and a Ducati Monster (Gisele) — not to mention a lethal “flip car” and even a 2012 Aston Martin DB9 (Shaw, who apparently stole it from James Bond).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The highest-profile human newcomer is mixed martial arts fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano, who turns up as Riley, Hobbs’ second-in-command. Carano might be remembered from her starring turn in director Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 spy thriller, <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2012/01/haywire-trust-nobody.html">Haywire</a></i>, but I must note that, two years further along, the term “actress” remains generous. Carano gets her lines out, but she hasn’t a shred of the easy, jocular presence displayed so effortlessly by everybody else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that’s what it comes down to. Even the best-choreographed car chases would pale, if we weren’t enjoying the characters. Bridges and Gibson are a hoot as Tej and Roman, and I still chuckle at the veiled-brow, don’t-mess-with-me intensity that Diesel gives even an innocuous line, such as “Pass the salt.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Johnson continues his equally engaging, action-hero ascent, and his scenes with Diesel — Dom and Hobbs have a prickly relationship, at best — are quite droll. Rodriguez remains the baddest girl on the planet, with a sneer that could freeze blood at 50 yards, and Gadot is a spunky, perky yin to the yang of Kang’s more serious Han.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walker has the white bread contingent covered, while poor Brewster continues to play the token gal in distress ... but only sometimes. Push come to shove, Mia gets to drive just as aggressively as Letty and all the boys.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 130 minutes, <i>Fast & Furious 6</i> is one car chase too long; the third act, in particular, flirts with overkill. And speaking of that, I didn’t appreciate the casual collateral damage inflicted on scores innocent civilians who get crushed — inside their cars — during the tank sequence. That’s needlessly, unpleasantly callous for this sort of lighthearted fare, and certainly not funny, although Lin obviously stages the scene as if expecting laughs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the <i>Fast & Furious</i> flicks probably qualify as guilty pleasures, at best, but I can’t ignore the formula that keeps me coming back for more ... particularly now that Morgan’s post-credit bit in <i>this</i> film seems to have “caught up” with <i>Tokyo Drift</i>, therefore granting Dom & Co. the opportunity, in next summer’s <i>7</i>, to seek some anger-fueled vengeance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, <i>6</i> is guaranteed several victory laps at the box office.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->

2013 action Dwayne Johnson Gal Gadot Gina Carano Jordana Brewster Luke Evans Michelle Rodriguez Paul Walker Sequel Series Sung Kang Tyrese Gibson Vin Diesel Fast & Furious 6: Still accelerating

Fast & Furious 6   (2013) •  View trailer   3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, and somewhat generously, for intense and relentless violence, acti...

Read more »