HilJoe Competition - Week 1A + Prayer Request

As I was getting ready to post our weigh in this week, I received a text message from my mom informing me that my cousin's father passed away unexpectedly.  This is a cousin who was married in to our family, so I'm not related to her father.  Still, it is heartbreaking none the less.  Death has been such a lasting theme in my life over the last year that I am to the point where I fear answering my phone when my mom calls at odd times.  Just in 2010, I lost my uncle tragically, and my grandparents died within 1 month of each other in November and December.  *Sigh*<br /><br />I ask that you please pray for the Misurda family over the next several days - they will certainly need all they can get.<br /><br />That news took the wind out of my sails, so I'll just share the weigh in below.  We both lost this week, and I won.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel (6'): 239.6</b><br /><b> Hilary (5'8"): 257.6</b></div><br />I lost 3.6 pounds from last week, Joel lost 0.7.<br /><br />Enjoy your weekend!

HJ Competition Miscellaneous Success HilJoe Competition - Week 1A + Prayer Request

As I was getting ready to post our weigh in this week, I received a text message from my mom informing me that my cousin's father passed...

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LICENSE TO STATEHOOD

<div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/63hTOaRu7h4?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">PALESTINIAN SELF DETERMINATION THREAT </span></b></span></div><ul style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Palestinians seem to try to alter history and mandates in order to claim self determination</span></li></ul><ul style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">International media, in most cases seems bias when reporting the Palestine – Israeli confli</span></li></ul><ul style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">In view of most fellow Arabs, Palestinians are notorious when it comes to land ownership for they    are never satisfied with what they have. </span></li></ul><ul style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">A typical example for land claim was 1969 when ARAFAT attempted to over through king HUSSEIN of JORDAN in order to create a PALESTINE state on JORDANIAN soil.</span></li></ul><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>WINNING THE “PR WAR” OVER ISRAEL</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The PALESTINIANS, in past and presence have always managed to win the “PR war” over ISRAEL. They cleverly lured a vast majority of governments, politicians, intellectuals and mainstream public into believing that their claim for a souvenir state is legitimate and that ISRAEL is the evil power repressing them. Thus their proclaimed role of the “Victim” being victimized by ISRAEL has worked to their advantage. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> If however one looks into history, one will see that their claim is out of context. </span><span style="font-size: large;">                  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Details on which are portrayed on these links:</span><span style="font-size: large;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=3801">http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=3801</a>, <a href="http://jordanispalestine.blogspot.com/">http://jordanispalestine.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">   <a href="http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/palestine-israel-gaza-whose-land-is-it-really/">http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/palestine-israel-gaza-whose-land-is-it-really/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC2QJ828P_YFclNUZGxVyddYmOgTPjwwzH9saYsUQhZJkfEuaIeVtGTCBDse3d2r3O8uGljd2Tj_yx9tMkocFkyWsBNth1X9yZH28UuwlJDvc5gR4yEnNvq0zgJ9buAiX-7YqCi-l5zAW/s1600/truncatedmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC2QJ828P_YFclNUZGxVyddYmOgTPjwwzH9saYsUQhZJkfEuaIeVtGTCBDse3d2r3O8uGljd2Tj_yx9tMkocFkyWsBNth1X9yZH28UuwlJDvc5gR4yEnNvq0zgJ9buAiX-7YqCi-l5zAW/s200/truncatedmap.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>PAYING THE “VICTIM” GAME</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their “victim” role has progressed to such extend over the last couple of years that international media happily jump on the “PR” train when it comes to voice the PALESTINIAN view regarding the PALESTINIAN ISRAELI conflict which can hardly described as impartial journalism.                                   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See also: <a href="http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/05/31/news/world-news/pr-war-over-israel/">http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/05/31/news/world-news/pr-war-over-israel/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What no mains stream media ever reports are the opinion, citizens of other ARAB Nations, and tribes have of the PALESTINIANS. Ask for example SYRIAN, JORDANIAN or LEBANESE citizens,   and they will in most cases comment, that no Sunni ARAB tribe or nation really want PALESTINE Arabs in their country for PALESTINIAS are notorious when it comes to land ownership, for they never are satisfied with what they have. <b>"Thus it’s better to let the ISRAELIS struggle with them instead of us."  </b><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">An Arab – Israeli citizen once mentioned that if you give the Palestinians the entire West banks they will sooner or later claim Tel Aviv and Haifa and then entire ISRAEL. Once that is accomplished, they will once again claim JORDAN, as ARAFAT did in 1969 when he attempted to overthrow King Hussein of JORDAN in order to create a PALESTINE state on JORDANIAN land.   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BIAS MEDIA </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever action ISRAEL takes regarding Palestine’s, Palestinian PR machinery always manages to use it to their advantage in order to portray ISRAEL as the aggressor and evil force.  On the other hand Mainstream media hardly ever report that ISRAEL supplies GAZA and the West Banks with Water and Energy free of charge. See: <a href="http://honestreporting.com/hr-comment-media-crossing-the-line/">http://honestreporting.com/hr-comment-media-crossing-the-line/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXSvrAe5xEM?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

LICENSE TO STATEHOOD

PALESTINIAN SELF DETERMINATION THREAT Palestinians seem to try to alter history and mandates in order to claim self determination Internatio...

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IMF ADVICE TO EUROPE

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>FOOD FOR THOUGHT </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The IMF is recommending EUROPE the same measures that failed in ARGENTINA, which led to the subsequently defaulted of the country in 2002. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The IMF apparently ignores that this is not a financial, but a solvency crisis.  So what is the IMF’S true agenda?</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>See related link:  </b></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/754f49a0-2bb8-11df-a5c7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1RWy3YXjX">http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/754f49a0-2bb8-11df-a5c7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1RWy3YXjX </a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mediafreedominternational.org/2011/03/06/imf-the-real-dictator-in-tunisia">http://www.mediafreedominternational.org/2011/03/06/imf-the-real-dictator-in-tunisia</a>/</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div></div>

IMF ADVICE TO EUROPE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT The IMF is recommending EUROPE the same measures that failed in ARGENTINA, which led to the subsequently defaulted of the c...

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Europe declares war on rating agencies

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Rating agencies and the debt crisis</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reading the article at <a href="http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/Juni/Ratingagenturen-Eurokrise-Studie-FGN-HSG-29Juni2011.aspx">http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/Juni/Ratingagenturen-Eurokrise-Studie-FGN-HSG-29Juni2011.aspx</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(in English), confirms my previous analysis regarding US Rating Agencies, posted on this blog.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Europe declares war on rating agencies

Rating agencies and the debt crisis Reading the article at http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/...

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Living Life, Making Friends

Since we moved back to the Old Dominion, one of my goals has been to try to make friends. One of my other goals has been to start attending Weight Watchers meetings. <br /><br />It's a sad but true fact blogger world - outside of work I am friend-less. Part of this is self-induced, and part of it is my lack of ability to find a good, quality friend outside of my office. Actually, most of it is self-induced. I hate living in this city - I want to leave it sooooooo badly! Therefore, I have never fully tried to put down roots here because I always anticipated leaving ASAP. Well, five years later and this train is still parked in the station and doesn't look like it's pulling out anytime soon... so really, let's stop delaying a fulfilling life just because of our living arrangement, and let's start changing something about it! Ugh... anyhow, I'm getting off track.... <br /><br />Uhh, so let's kill two birds with one stone, shall we? I thought, what better way to make some buddies than at Weight Watchers meetings? When I used to attend meetings previously, I made a friend who kept me wanting to go back each week. While she slowly quit attending the meetings, I kept going, but didn't have much to look forward to (the crew at the only meeting I was able to attend was a little nutty!). So eventually I left too, but I left the state, not just the meeting!<br /><br />As I walked through the doors of the meeting center last night, I couldn't help but be excited. Seeing all of the Weight Watchers memorabilia surrounding me, and just the overall aura in the place was just the motivation I needed. The thing I enjoy most about meetings is that we're all here for the same reason - to lose weight. No matter our age, sex, goal-weight, whatever - losing weight is the commonality that binds us together, and I love that. I love when you can find a common ground with people no matter what your background. <br /><br />I weighed in with our leader, Sharon, who was awesome from the get go. And while I was planning on attending meetings on Thursday nights, I'm going to stick to Wednesday's after all. There were a few young women in there, and it could not have worked out any better! I decided to stay after the meeting to get the face to face update on Points+, since I have been doing it strictly online since it's launch. When the meeting ended, a mother-daughter duo stayed after to discuss some challenges with Sharon. As they were leaving, Sharon informed me that Christina (the daughter) is her superstar member. She summoned Christina back in to the room to introduce us and it turns out that Christina has lost a total of 90 pounds so far! So awesome. So inspirational. Christina was friendly too, and was like "I come to this meeting time every week - I hope to see you next week." Perfect!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Weight Watchers Living Life, Making Friends

Since we moved back to the Old Dominion, one of my goals has been to try to make friends. One of my other goals has been to start attending...

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A Getting to Know Me Survey - Ha!

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not gonna lie - I love these surveys!  I thought it'd be a fun way for those of you who read my posts to get to know me a little better :).  Thanks to <a href="http://gettingnshape.blogspot.com/2011/07/11-layers-of-me-post.html">From Before to After: A Journey Through Weight Watchers</a> and <a href="http://spoonfulofme.blogspot.com/2011/07/11-layers-of-me-quiz.html">Spoonful of Me</a> for posting this!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's called the 11 Layers of Me:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>LAYER ONE: On the Outside--</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Full Name:</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Hilary Janelle</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Birthday:</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">April 4</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">School: 2006 graduate of Penn State University, enrolled for a second degree at College of Southern Maryland</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Major:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Management Information Systems (Penn State), Nursing (CSM)<br />Current Location: the Old Dominion (Virginia)<br />Eye Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blue<br />Hair Color: Brown/Blonde<br />Righty or Lefty:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Right<br />Zodiac Sign:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Aries<br /><br /><b>LAYER TWO: On the Inside</b><br /><br />Your Heritage: German<br />Your Fears:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Flying, Snakes, Heights<br />Weakness:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reese Peanut Butter Cups<br />Goal(s): To become a registered nurse in the near future, to hit my weight goal and maintain it for the rest of my life!<br />Relieve Stress: Reading, Boozin, Shopping<br /><br /><b>LAYER THREE: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow--</b><br /><br />Your thoughts<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>first waking up: Nooooooooo!<br />Your bedtime:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>10 PM<br />Your most missed memory:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>having close-knit friends - I miss the college days of having all my friends close by...<br /><br /><b>LAYER FOUR: You’re picking--</b><br /><br />Pepsi or Coke:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pepsi, but I do love me a diet Coke/cherry Coke split from Chick Fil A<br />McDonald's or Burger King:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mc donalds<br />Single or Group dates: Single<br />Lipton Tea or Nestea:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lipton<br />Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate<br />Cappuccino or Coffee:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Neither! Chai!<br /><br /><b>LAYER FIVE: Do You--</b><br /><br />Do Drugs:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No<br />Think you've been in love:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes - am currently!<br />Want to get married: Yes<br />Believe in yourself:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I try to<br /><br /><b>LAYER SIX: In the Past Month--</b><br /><br />Drank alcohol:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br />Gone to the mall:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<br />Eaten Sushi:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br />Gone skating:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>no<br />Colored your hair:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No<br />Done something exciting:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br /><br /><b>LAYER SEVEN: Have You Ever?--</b><br /><br />Changed who you were to fit in:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> No</span><br />Hid something from someone:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br /><br /><br /><b>LAYER EIGHT: Getting Old--</b><br />Age you're hoping to get married: I cannot foresee a marriage happening at age 27, but I would like to be married by the time I am 29.<br />Age you're hoping to have children: ehhhhhh... I like being the cool aunt!<br />Want to travel to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<br /><br /><b>LAYER NINE: Perfect Mate--</b><br />Best Eye Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blue<br />Best Hair Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blonde/Brown (Joel, honey, whatever hair color you have)<br />Short or Long Hair:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Shaved ;)<br /><b><br />LAYER TEN: What were you doing--</b><br /><br />5 MINUTES AGO:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Working<br />1 HOUR AGO: Waiting in line at Starbucks<br />1 DAY AGO: Working<br />1 YEAR AGO:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And most likely working<br /><b><br />LAYER ELEVEN: Finish the Sentence--</b><br /><br />I Love:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God, Joel, my family, reading, traveling, shopping<br />I Feel:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>sore in my shoulders<br />I Hate:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>where I live (the area, not the actual condo)<br />I Hide:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>how insecure I am about my weight<br />I Miss:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>college and having a a few great friends<br />I Need:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to figure out a way to keep taking classes for the fall semester even though my current school is not offering the classes I need online.</span></span></div>

Miscellaneous A Getting to Know Me Survey - Ha!

I'm not gonna lie - I love these surveys!  I thought it'd be a fun way for those of you who read my posts to get to know me a little...

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The Benefits of Meal Planning

I've been so proud of myself this week! <br /><br />Actually, for the last two weeks I completely stuck to my menu plans.  "Menu plan" to me means that every weekend I pick out 3 dinner dishes and 1 breakfast dish to make for the upcoming week.  The breakfasts are the only meal I make ahead.  The rest gets made the same day.  For the past two weeks, I have selected meals that I have stuck to and actually made.  The norm had been that I'd make 2 out of the 3 dinners or 1of the 3.   Sometimes I wouldn't make any. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mesotheliomaz.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/todaysmenu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://mesotheliomaz.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/todaysmenu.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I found this happening more times that I care to admit while living at Joel's 'ex-house' (not his ex's house, his EX-house!).  I also found this happening a lot just last year whenever my commute was an hour and 40 minutes at night - we ate out A LOT during that time.  I know that the eating out was the reason for this huge weight gain.  I had been easily maintaining at 220 pounds until I moved to that apartment and endured that lengthy commute.  And during that year plus the 8 months living at Joel's ex-house, I put on an additional 40+ pounds.  </div><div><br /></div><div>The meals I've been making over the past two weeks have been so delicious too!  Some I've shared on here already, and I have upcoming posts to share even more of them.  This week's breakfast was <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/566">Hungry Girl's Apple Pie Pockets</a> for a whopping 3 Points+ (calculated using the recipe builder and my own ingredients)!  Do you realize that this Apple Pie Pocket is very similar in taste to that of the McDonald's apple pie (7 Points+), but with far better stats?  It's been so delicious this week, and a great way for me to get in some fruits.  </div><div><br /></div><div>I also made fish covered in dill and a lemon butter sauce (sounds scary but was, again, only 3 Points+!).  I <3 fish!  </div><div><br /></div><div>Last night we had this sausage rigatoni soup dish with spinach and cannellini beans - again - amazing!</div><div><br /></div><div>When enough time passes where I've stayed on plan really well and I haven't been eating out, or indulging in fast food, I start to crave french fries and Chick Fil A and all those things that are only good in moderation.  However, over that entire year and 8 months of mainly eating out, etc... there comes a point where you're just sick of it.  <i>No<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>fast food sounds appealing,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>no<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>chain restaurant sounds appetizing.   </div><div></div><div>The foods I've made over the last two weeks are not high in calories and have proven very filling and delicious - but I've found that preparing those foods takes work and organization and time, and that's not always something I care to do or want to do.  </div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christophercleary.com/images/boredom_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://www.christophercleary.com/images/boredom_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sometimes I'm bored and/or lazy and don't want to go to all the effort.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div>Yet if I want to maintain a healthier lifestyle, and believe me - <u>I do</u>, then cooking and meal planning needs to remain a priority in my life!    </div>

Hungry Girl Inspiration Random Weight Loss Thoughts Success Weight Watcher Recipes Weight Watchers The Benefits of Meal Planning

I've been so proud of myself this week! Actually, for the last two weeks I completely stuck to my menu plans.  "Menu plan" to ...

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Exercise My Freedom To Run!

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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-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Posted amongst this blog post is my playlist for my race run. These songs are very inspiring to run a good race! If you’ve been following since the last race, you’ll notice that there aren’t many repeat songs between the two. This is some great music!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Young Blood – The Naked and Famous</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>  </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">After the success of the Jingle Bell 5KRun in December, I felt a surge of energy for running. Although I wasn’t pushing myself for pace and time anymore, I was still getting out and running for 30 minutes or more.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This was especially good for winter, since usually many runners decide to hibernate. I bundled up my warm weather clothes and tried to find the routes that were shoveled. To prevent running in the dark, I would bring my running clothes to school and change at 4, then run around that area instead of around home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moth’s Wings – Passion Pit</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I took advantage of the warmer days and also ran more during the weekends, when I could run in the warmest part of the day. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The first time I actually ran after the Jingle Bell was in January, and to my shock I ran four miles straight! Some days I was feeling great, and other times the cold couldn’t allow me to breathe. But I was proud of my winter running accomplishments.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once the weather started to warm up, it was a wonderful change of pace. I didn’t have to fear slipping in unshoveled snow. I could still feel my face at the end of a run. And the bulky clothes (shorts, tights, sweatpants, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, hat, gloves) started to be shed, and it felt like I had thrown off five pounds and could really move again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, that meant I could really challenge myself again in distance. I wasn’t really caring about time as much as before; I knew my pace was average (not stellar in the slightest, but good enough for me). My ultimate goal is to run the Princess Half-Marathon at Walt Disney World, and in order to complete that 13.1 mile race you need to keep a 15-minute pace. When I am having a good day I can run a 13-minute mile, so I’m trying to keep that pace right now. The idea of increasing my pace isn’t really on my radar at the moment; perhaps when I am able to run that Half-Marathon I will try increasing my pace. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You Are A Tourist – Death Cab for Cutie</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was just going about my normal running business a few weeks ago when my friend asked me about my Fourth of July plans. I didn’t have any, and she said she was doing a parade and fireworks on Sunday evening, followed by a 4-mile race on Monday morning. Did I want to come and run?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Usually I’m able to weasel my way out of these races she runs, stating that “I like to run my own pace” and “it costs less to run by myself” and “I really don’t need another t-shirt.” But this race only cost $18 and was early enough in the morning that the heat of the day wouldn’t be a big problem – especially since the forecast for that day was low to mid 80s. So I agreed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1901 - Phoenix</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now I was stuck figuring out if I was physically ready to run four miles – in the heat! The last time I did a race, the temperature was 20 degrees. This was going to be about a 55 degree difference! I would need some new equipment.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the first things I looked for was a good pair of running shorts…okay, that wasn’t what I was looking for. I was actually looking for a pair of black Spandex shorts to wear under a skirt I’d be wearing for a fancy dinner. I did find a pair at Kohl’s, and they were really great. Then I realized I’d be able to wear them running, too! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Light and Day – The Polyphonic Spree</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I also was interested in how to stay hydrated during my longer runs. I did some research on water bottles with my friends, and found that the little ones on belts were too bulky. But a larger handheld one seemed to fit pretty well. I managed to find one on Amazon.com relatively cheap, and aside from minor leaking, it does the job. Plus it has a pocket for my keys!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The days before the race I decided to run 4 miles and get myself mentally ready for it. I’d go out early in the morning to avoid the excessive heat that was coming (the temperature was going to hit 95 degrees in the afternoon). The problem was, as soon as I got outside, I saw black clouds to the northwest. Great – storms were going to ruin my long run. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Time to Pretend - MGMT</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of doing the route I intended, I started out doing a smaller loop – while listening to thunder off in the distance and praying that the thunderstorm would stay out of town – and then got back to my house. I decided to just run the block around my house until the weather came. Then I’d be close enough to home to just run inside. Who knew? Maybe I’d be lucky enough to fit my 4 miles in.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I do not own a GPS watch, so I just kept running. I ran and ran until I thought I’d gotten in enough mileage. I was exhausted, and when I went inside I realized I’d been out for over an hour. The rain had stayed away – actually, the severe weather that I’d seen in the distance had broken up before it hit my town! We barely got any rain. Usually this would irk me, but in this case I was grateful.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crawling in the Dark - Hoobastank</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How many miles did I ran? Actually, I ran over 5 miles – almost enough for a 10k! I was impressed. I felt ready for the race on Monday.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The night before I got six hours of sleep and felt pretty exhausted in the morning. I only had one drink early in the evening, and then nursed a bottle of water for the rest of the night. The parade and fireworks were a lot of fun!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We arrived at the race a little close – we grabbed our packets, and didn’t have that much time to take them back to the car. I’d filled up my water bottle with ice, and my iTunes playlist was ready. We settled in the back of the pack and I got ready to run!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There were over 1100 runners for this race. I made sure most of them were in front of me. As we began to run I just told myself, “Run your pace. Don’t be fooled by the other runners. Don’t try to keep pace with someone else!” So I got into my trot and watched people pass me by – including my friends, who are much more experienced runners than I am.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poker Face – Lady GaGa</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We raced through very nice neighborhoods, and there were many people in their lawn chairs cheering us on. Many were dressed in their red, white, and blue finest, watching the sweaty runners go past their house. A few kids had squirt guns and hoses and would spray the runners. (Of course, only if the runners indicted they wanted to get wet.) I made sure to say thank you, even though I think it’s not a good idea to get wet for a run (something to do with the humidity or your body temp or something). There were also many sprinklers set up around the course. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This had been advertised as a “mainly flat course,” and I’d have to agree. Compared to the Jingle Bell in December, this was nothing. I could sense the inclines and declines, but it wasn’t anything too bad. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race – Fall Out Boy</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There were three water stops, and I didn’t stop running. My motto is “Slow and steady wins the race.” Emphasis on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">steady</i>. I am not big into stopping to walk, and sometimes it annoys me when people do it around me. There was a lady in a green shirt who’d run ahead of me, then walk so I’d catch up or pass her, and then she’d run past me again, and we did that about five times. It got annoying. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My water bottle was a huge help at the water stops – I’d open the top, dump the cup of water onto the ice, and keep going. The ice stayed in my bottle for half the race, so the first two water stops I had cold water! I finally figured out how to open it with my teeth too.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Club Can’t Handle Me – Flo Rida</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">After two miles I was feeling good. I’d been running with the same group of people, so I decided to pick up my pace a little bit. So I increased my speed, and started passing the people in my group…and not seeing them again. Then I started catching up to the people that started out too fast and were now walking to the finish. Then I started passing a few runners who were taking a walking break! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I was passing people! </i>It felt very odd. But because I’d kept my slow pace at the beginning, I was benefitting at the end! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When I hit the last quarter mile, which took place in the park, I really turned on the jets. I was determined not to wipe out on the trail or on the grass the finish line was on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">California Love – 2Pac</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Right before the final stretch, I saw a dad with his 2-year old son ahead of me. The dad let the kid start running toward the finish, and that kid was fast for being two years old! In my head I was going <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh no! This kid is going to cross the finish line before me and ruin my great race!</i> But then he stopped and turned around and headed back for his dad, so I had the final 100 meters ahead of me to sprint to the finish!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t feel as dead at the finish as I had in December, and that was great. I immediately went over to the snack table and grabbed three cookies and apple slices and found my friends. We sat on the grass and ate and talked until the results were posted. I hadn’t kept track of my time, but the chip timer on my shoe recorded that I’d finished in 49 minutes and 25 seconds – 4 miles in less than 50 minutes! My pace was an astounding 12.22 minutes per mile, which was great for the heat!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shiny Happy People – R.E.M.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was very excited for my race, and felt I’d done it well. I know now that I can push my pace a little more and still have enough at the end. I don’t know when my next race will be, but I’ll keep you posted! </div>

Exercise My Freedom To Run!

Posted amongst this blog post is my playlist for my race run. These songs are very inspiring to run a good race! If you’ve been following ...

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EUROPEAN UNION POLITICIANS INCREASINGLY OPPOSE INFLUENCE OF US RATING AGENCIES

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GPTP66s4ttc?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">US RATING AGENCIES EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO THEIR “CLIENTS” – BE THEY CORPORATIONS OR COUNTRIES </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><b>Today’s European media reported what GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS AND MONITORING BLOG posted on 4^th of July</b>, namely that US RATING AGENCIES are not impartial, their influences to powerful, and that it is time to create a EUROPEAN rating agency.  The fact that the USA still is AAA rated, despite being almost in the same boat as GREECE, show that </span><span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">they are</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">extremely</span></span> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">vulnerable to</span></span> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">their "</span></span><span title="Click for alternate translations">clients</span><span title="Click for alternate translations">"</span> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">-</span></span> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">be they</span></span> <span title="Click for alternate translations"><span class="hps">companies or countries</span><span title="Click for alternate translations">. Thus impartial ratings and evaluations are almost impossible.</span></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN"> LACK OF COSMOPOLITAN INSIGHT AND GEO POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Furthermore its seems that US Rating Agencies  lack cosmopolitan insight in order to understand different societies and display ignorance when it comes to consider multicultural behaviors.  </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">In the not too distant past for example US Rating agencies intended to downgrade AUSTRIA’S AAA rating, because of the countries bank involvement in EASTERN EUROPE, distorting the facts in order to pave the way for US investment. (AUSTRIA is one of the 12 richest countries in terms of GDP) After harm was done by spreading the new about downgrading, they corrected their evaluation.  </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">CALL FOR A EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT TO US RATING AGENCY - ON THE INCREASE</span></span></b></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">It is common knowledge that in the view of many minds, rating agencies are the secret cause of the financial crisis. Their profit - oriented behavior has harmed the markets and obscured the true risk. But state agencies are not the alternative. the dominance of AMERICAN rating agencies is destructive for EUROPE. Thus it is of vital importance to create EUROPEAN rating agencies, which should represent EUROPEAN interests, for US rating agencies hardly are genuine when it comes to represent foreign interests, other the those which benefit their own country. Such equilibrium would create more impartial ratings.</span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span class="hps" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Increasingly EUROPEAN politicians voice their concern over US rating agencies "uncontrolled development" in which rating agencies assessments have greater importance and impacts then political parliamentary decisions. They also stated that it is important that EUROPE does not depend on those agencies that seem to determine over EUROPE.</span></span></h1><span lang="EN"><br /></span>

EUROPEAN UNION POLITICIANS INCREASINGLY OPPOSE INFLUENCE OF US RATING AGENCIES

US RATING AGENCIES EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO THEIR “CLIENTS” – BE THEY CORPORATIONS OR COUNTRIES Today’s European media reported what GEOP...

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Blog Giveaways!

Just wanted to share with you 2 giveaways happening at 2 of my favorite blogs....<br /><br />1. <a href="http://honeyishrunkthegretchen.com/2011/07/01/beach-countdown-1-week-giveaway/">Honey I Shrunk the Gretchen</a> - I love her posts - they're funny and light hearted and full of pics of her doggies... and she's local to the DC area so if you're in that vicinity I'd recommend checking her out!  Gretchen is giving away an EatSmart Precision Plus scale.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://coffeewithsabrina.com/2011/07/05/i-am-giving-it-away/#comment-1079">Coffee with Sabrina (Sabrina is on the Move)</a> - Sabrina is giving away a customized Starbucks gift box!  Scoot over and check her out!<br /><br />Good luck!

giveaways Blog Giveaways!

Just wanted to share with you 2 giveaways happening at 2 of my favorite blogs.... 1. Honey I Shrunk the Gretchen - I love her posts - they&...

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Jean Cocteau...born July 5, 1889...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf9cinSC3AVrC_Wt73Im6EK8dZMWM-okdqAATkLuiev9Ebyf0rxn2oc2KiCbNhd_xVkqJcBhjHyXZYPXjcqVHNF4pEp88g566ULLd6kFwnCFjBniALKp8BBtUpBZyFyPHjOajXiHfjF6L/s1600/Cocteau+portrait+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf9cinSC3AVrC_Wt73Im6EK8dZMWM-okdqAATkLuiev9Ebyf0rxn2oc2KiCbNhd_xVkqJcBhjHyXZYPXjcqVHNF4pEp88g566ULLd6kFwnCFjBniALKp8BBtUpBZyFyPHjOajXiHfjF6L/s320/Cocteau+portrait+2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jean Cocteau, French filmmaker/poet/writer/artist and more (dramatist, boxing manager...), was born July on 5, 1889, into a prominent and bourgeois family in Maissones-Lafitte - a village not far from Paris. His father, an attorney and amateur artist, took his own life when the boy was just nine; young Cocteau was soon enrolled in a private school. After he was expelled in 1904, he ran off to Marseilles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ujFXXf1hyphenhyphenQ0OK8pbnNfSBUUxeQJos_hfu9tMpd1pChNLcj5wlI0Kb8COn1-lF-y8DvW1e8nR67FA8VPVeGEGfmUhyfX1NYEa0UEKlv-9dv_YKY3H-iSxgznB6cbV11rUSW5GoCzAwH31/s1600/Anna+Pavlova+Vaslav+Nijinsky+Armida+n+slave+in+Armida%2527s+Pavilion+1907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ujFXXf1hyphenhyphenQ0OK8pbnNfSBUUxeQJos_hfu9tMpd1pChNLcj5wlI0Kb8COn1-lF-y8DvW1e8nR67FA8VPVeGEGfmUhyfX1NYEa0UEKlv-9dv_YKY3H-iSxgznB6cbV11rUSW5GoCzAwH31/s320/Anna+Pavlova+Vaslav+Nijinsky+Armida+n+slave+in+Armida%2527s+Pavilion+1907.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pavlova and Nijinsky</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 1909, Cocteau met Sergei Diaghilev, the Russian impresario who launched the Ballets Russes, a company whose principal dancers then were Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky. Diaghilev encouraged Cocteau to write for the ballet and it was he who famously challenged Cocteau, "Ettonne-moi!" (Astonish me!). Cocteau responded with the libretto for the ballet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Le Dieu Bleu</i>. Cocteau also first encountered Igor Stravinsky around this time. The composer was in the process of writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Rite of Spring</i> when the two met and, while visiting Stravinsky in Switzerland in 1914, Cocteau completed his first novel, <u>Le Potomak</u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 1917 Cocteau met Pablo Picasso. Together they traveled to Rome and met with Diaghilev.  The two were soon involved in Diaghilev's production of the ballet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Parade</i>. Picasso designed its sets, Erik Satie wrote the music, L</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">onide Massine (Ljubov in <i>The Red Shoes</i>) choreographed and Cocteau wrote the one-act scenario. Although the Paris opening was a disaster, the ballet</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> went on to become successful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In another post-World War I venture, Cocteau founded a publishing house, <i>Editions de la Sirene</i>. The company published Cocteau's own work as well as scores by Stravinsky, Satie and a group of composers known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Les Six</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jean Cocteau's first film was the surrealistic <i>Le Sang d'un po</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>te</i> (The Blood of a Poet). Released in 1930, it was an early experimental reflection of his personal mythology. Cocteau also wrote what some consider his greatest play, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Machine Infernal</i>, in the early ‘30s. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 1946, Cocteau directed his sublime and bewitching film adaptation of the fairytale, <i>La Belle et la B</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ê</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">te</i> (Beauty and the Beast) starring Jean Marais and Josette Day. Director Ren</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Cl</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ment provided technical assistance, illustrator/designer Christian B</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">rard served as costume and production designer (with the exteriors evoking the<span style="color: #990000;"> </span>illustrations of Gustave Dor</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and the interior of Belle's family home echoing Vermeer) and composer Georges Auric (<i>Roman Holiday</i>, John Huston's <i>Moulin Rouge</i>) created the Impressionistic score.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2N6Nmf-tVDo" width="425"></iframe><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Marlene Dietrich reportedly was with Cocteau when the film was first screened at a studio in Paris and, at the end, after the beast had transformed into a prince, she called out to the screen, "Where is my beautiful beast?" (I felt the same the first time I saw </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>La Belle et la B</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ê</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">te</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">). </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">  </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 1950, Cocteau directed another of his great film works, </span><i><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Orphée</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Orpheus)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. A contemporary reading of the myth of Orpheus imbued with Cocteau's pet motifs, Jean Marais starred as modern-day poet Orpheus who descends into the Underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice. No subtitles are necessary for the following scene..</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KCYcWpMDWLQ" width="425"></iframe></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1960 brought Cocteau's last film and the final installment in his 'Orphic Trilogy' (along with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Blood of a Poet </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orpheus)</i>: <i>Le Testament d'Orph</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>e</i> (The Testament of Orpheus). An intricate 'home movie,' the film starred Cocteau as an 18th-century poet seeking divine wisdom and included cameos by everyone from Pablo Picasso and Yul Brynner to Jean Marais, Mar</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">í</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a Casares, Jean-Pierre Leaud and Fran</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ç</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">oise Sagan.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-69nCOxM52BWkyOCWBRfb5D2P9PEYj1aUaAAqTAdnGrQErk8kyCnldN1POc6azLusfqdYu_pFrbLD4A3ReuskwbNi_EtHYVM3ya1lkNyyRKQ0syCN0dtpRl6Gp7Orv15R2ifjFt_fyse/s1600/Piaf+le+bel+indifferent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-69nCOxM52BWkyOCWBRfb5D2P9PEYj1aUaAAqTAdnGrQErk8kyCnldN1POc6azLusfqdYu_pFrbLD4A3ReuskwbNi_EtHYVM3ya1lkNyyRKQ0syCN0dtpRl6Gp7Orv15R2ifjFt_fyse/s1600/Piaf+le+bel+indifferent.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cocteau led a high profile life all his adult years. Friend and collaborator of Picasso, Stravinsky, Satie and Diaghilev, he was also an intimate of French icons Collette and </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">É</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">dith Piaf. In 1940, Cocteau had written a hit play for Piaf, <i>Le Bel Indiff</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">è</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>rent</i>, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and in the early '50s he wrote an article that was instrumental in reviving her career. It was Cocteau who, in 1948, introduced American <i>wunderkind</i> Truman Capote to Collette. Cocteau had told Collette about Capote, "Don't be fooled...he looks like a ten-year-old angel. But he's ageless, and has a very wicked mind." Collette and Capote bonded and he cherished the gift she gave him that day for the rest of his life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jean Cocteau died at age 74 at his chateau in Milly-la-Foret, France, on October 11, 1963 after learning of the death of </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">É</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">dith Piaf. Legend has it that Cocteau heard the news, remarked, "Ah, la Piaf est morte. Je peux mourir aussi..." (Ah, Piaf is dead. I can die, too) and suffered a fatal heart attack.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David Thomson has aptly described Cocteau as "a comet passing over French cinema, throwing a vivid light on the landscape..." </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_oWSDLLZO0I5j2PRdkaXE-6B4NFpIBaf3IvjOwPCEItsUxVafKeZUIh3JjYXvfHOjVyv948X73z8EbJ2UueIkNtOWTnkifTvQTmlbD9Q8xudEC4ak067yk7c1efIVoRJ4hAYWNMOl7Io/s1600/Testament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_oWSDLLZO0I5j2PRdkaXE-6B4NFpIBaf3IvjOwPCEItsUxVafKeZUIh3JjYXvfHOjVyv948X73z8EbJ2UueIkNtOWTnkifTvQTmlbD9Q8xudEC4ak067yk7c1efIVoRJ4hAYWNMOl7Io/s320/Testament.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Le Testament d'Orph</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">è</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>e </i>(1960)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>

Christian Berard Edith Piaf Erik Satie Georges Auric Igor Stravinsky Jean Cocteau Jean Marais La belle et le bete Orphee Pablo Picasso Rene Clement Sergei Diaghilev Jean Cocteau...born July 5, 1889...

Jean Cocteau, French filmmaker/poet/writer/artist and more (dramatist, boxing manager...), was born July on 5, 1889, into a prominent and bo...

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July Goals

<span style="color: black;">It's time to check in on how I did with meeting (or not meeting!) my goals for June, and outline my goals for July.</span><b style="color: #660000;"> </b><br /><br /><b style="color: #660000;">My goals for June</b>:<br /><br />1. <b>Pass Anatomy/Physiology:</b>  <i>Pending</i>. Both professors said the grades should be posted this weekend, so I'm still waiting on that yet.  I will definitely share the outcome as soon as I know!<br /><br />2. <b>Plan Meals:</b> <i>Fail</i>. One nice thing about writing your goals down is that you can go back and reassess them after the time has passed for which you wanted to meet them.  I love how naive I was to think that the month of June would be so laid back that I could actually plan my meals each day!  I was not home a single weekend during this month, which is when I do my menu planning!  Not to mention a move and school - this just didn't happen.<br /><br />3. <b>Find a New Gym:</b> <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/06/weigh-in-new-gym.html"><i>Check!</i> We are the proud members of Gold's Gym!</a><br /><br />4. <b>Meet My First Weight Loss Goal:</b> <i>Fail</i>. I'll save the excuses I've already used up above, but this goal WILL be met for July because there will be no reason NOT to meet this goal!<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>My goals for July</u>:</span></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.e-acai.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Weight-Loss-Goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.e-acai.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Weight-Loss-Goals.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.e-acai.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Weight-Loss-Goals.jpg">Courtesy</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />1. <b>Go to the gym 5 days a week.</b>  This will consist of 40 minutes of cardio and 1 day per week of weight lifting.<br /><br />2. <b>Meet my first 10lb goal. </b>I can do this.  I'm 7 pounds away.  I. will. do. this.<br /><br />3. <b>Plan my meals.  </b>By doing this, it will help me stay within my daily Points+ range.  Also, it will help me start going through my cookbooks, as is <a href="http://prittygoodbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/hungry-girl-cooking-eggamuffin-101.html">another goal of mine</a>. <br /><br />4. <b>Take my lunch to work every day.</b><br /><br />5. <b>Divvy up my Points+ balance for each meal and stick to it.</b>  I have a tendency to just eat whatever I want when I want, regardless of the Points+ value.  Sometimes this works to my benefit, most times it does not.  I plan to use a variation of <a href="http://gettingnshape.blogspot.com/">Christina's</a> method and see how that works for me:<br /><br /><blockquote><blockquote>I get a total of <b>41 Points+</b> per day.  They will be divided out as follows:<br /><ul><li><i>Breakfast</i>: 10 Points+</li><li><i>A.M. Snack</i>: 5 Points+</li><li><i>Lunch</i>: 10 Points+</li><li><i>P.M</i>. Snack: 5 Points+</li><li><i>Dinner</i>: 11 Points+</li></ul></blockquote></blockquote>Wish me success!!

goals Success July Goals

It's time to check in on how I did with meeting (or not meeting!) my goals for June, and outline my goals for July. My goals for June :...

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THE UNLIMITED AND MANIPULATIVE POWER OF RATING AGENCIES

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">GREEK DOWNGRADING BY </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">STANDARD & POOR’S, DESPITE EU FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As mentioned in my previous blog, date 29 June 2011, USA rating agencies are far too influential, especially when it comes to US based agencies. Today STANDARD & POOR’S proved how they are manipulating the “FINANCIAL MONOPOLY GAME” and how the entire EUROPEAN UNION is hostage of these agencies who are jeopardizing the bailout plan for GREECE.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It seems as if RATING AGENCIES are treated like the Holy Grail. Everyone in EUROPE seems to adhere to their doctrines despite the fact that EU law inexplicably states that the EU can divert from these agencies, especially if there are doubts regarding their impartial evaluations.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/business/global/05iht-euro05.html?_r=1&hp">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/business/global/05iht-euro05.html?_r=1&hp</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

THE UNLIMITED AND MANIPULATIVE POWER OF RATING AGENCIES

GREEK DOWNGRADING BY  STANDARD & POOR’S, DESPITE EU FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE  As mentioned in my previous blog, date 29 June 2011, USA ratin...

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Hello from Alaska!

I'm at my sister's house in Alaska and loving it! She lives 30 miles outside of Fairbanks, near Moose Creek. Very aptly named because there are moose everywhere here! I've seen four moose in two days. Sorry, I'd post pictures but I can't figure out how to do it on this stupid Apple computer. <br /><br />I love the summers here, except for the mosquitoes, which just about ate us alive yesterday. This is a very bad year for mosquitoes. They were so bad last night that I almost freaked out about it...and I'm from here!<br /><br />It was like we were being swarmed by mosquitoes, it was something out of a horror movie. Hundreds of them landing on any spot of bare skin they could find for a feeding frenzy. It was really awful. Then immediately afterward there was a huge rainstorm, so I'm wondering if that had something to do with it. I've never seen mosquitoes swarm like that and considering I grew up on a homestead up here, that's pretty amazing.<br /><br />Anyway, I love visiting with family. Today everyone is coming over, including all my nieces and their husbands, my brother and his wife, the grandkids and great-grandkids.<br /><br />Tomorrow my niece from New Jersey and her family will be arriving (on a 1:37am flight--yuk). I'm really excited about seeing them. We haven't seen them in over 20 years. We've been talking non-stop on the phone for two weeks, after reconnecting. They're super nice and really fun people.<br /><br />My brother has a big camping trip planned for some of us (my sister refuses to go--she's more of a RV kind of camper). We'll be going to a place called Ken's Pond, by Donnelly Dome (about 100 miles south of Fairbanks). Here's a video he took of it last year. It's remote with only one public use cabin that he's reserved for us, right on a lake. We have to use the 4-wheelers to get back to it. Hopefully, I'll have my own pictures of it when I get back.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2W1xLvykhU?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><br />Diet is going okay, but it could be better (I had three cookies last night). Exercise is non-existent since we sit around and visit all day, but I plan on walking down to the Tanana River today, about two miles down the road, if I can talk someone in to it. I might even go by myself. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm happy to be here. It's so relaxing, and I don't miss work at all. I finally feel myself letting go of the stresses of my job and that's a really good feeling.<br /><br />Happy 4th of July weekend!

Hello from Alaska!

I'm at my sister's house in Alaska and loving it! She lives 30 miles outside of Fairbanks, near Moose Creek. Very aptly named becaus...

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Money makes the World go round …… and Politics

<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">US COURT RULING ON ARGENTINE BOND DEFAULT</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Paris Club, USA Agriculture Companies, and International Financial Speculators “grab” onto ARGENTINA</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Foreign interests on Argentina are increasing for its natural resources and farmland.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">New York’s highest court insists that ARGENTINA has to keep on paying interest rates on some bonds <u>even after they mature or investors demand their principal back earlier.</u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">US court ruling on ARGENTINE bond default and 101% annual interest rate payment allegedly influenced by THE PARIS CLUB and the IMF.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite being band from International Financial Markets ARGENTINES economy is growing tremendously.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The majority of large Agriculture Companies in ARGENTINA are from the USA and own vast pieces of fertile farmland, boosting their profits.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In view of the agriculture commodity boom, WALL STREET Speculators and brokers as well as US Rating Agencies try to manipulate politics and lobbyists in order to gain influence in ARGENTINE and LATIN AMERINCAN economy. </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Being banned from International “Casino Financial Markets” does not necessarily have to mean it is bad for the country. </span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">AFTER DEFAULTING IN 2002, ARGENTINA</span></b> has turned its back on the IMF by paying off its debt with the fond in order to be able to free itself from restrictive terms, the IMF tired to impose on the country, in order to gain political as well as economic influence in the region.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">USA COURT RULING ON ARGENTINE BOND DEFAULT – RULING INFLUENCED BY LOBBIES OF US AGRICULTURE COMPANIES, THE PARIS CLUB and IMF?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>The PARIS CLUB originally formed in 1956 because of the PERONIST UNREST in ARGENTINA also stepped in during ARGENTINA’S 2002 default, and since then is negotiation ARGENTINA’S bond default.<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Is it a coincident that suddenly the New York’s highest court, despite progress in negotiations between the PARIS CLUB and ARGENTINA, insists that ARGENTINA has to keep on paying interest rates on some bonds even after they mature or investors demand their principal back earlier? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The USA court ruling also indicated that interest rates as high as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">101% a year</b> on defaulted ARGENTINA dept were not unreasonable given the countries need for capital and default history. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTp0EUgVR9kuY70Mb4yRg81QJS4OV7y5xZFW8L59UdY_7cBv87xy-HE57Snh-Oa9nrXAFvpSuI3bKXg6GlBo7CsR8blZddCMWHqxd24DgZAzxzvitgGXJDlvDds27JxOZd4-KbZKzL-Vl/s1600/parisclub2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTp0EUgVR9kuY70Mb4yRg81QJS4OV7y5xZFW8L59UdY_7cBv87xy-HE57Snh-Oa9nrXAFvpSuI3bKXg6GlBo7CsR8blZddCMWHqxd24DgZAzxzvitgGXJDlvDds27JxOZd4-KbZKzL-Vl/s320/parisclub2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Could it be that this US court ruling is the response to a recent remark made by the ARGENTINE minister of economy, Amado BOUDOUs, emphasizing that ARGENTINA will not accept any deal with the PARIS CLUB which would harm its interest?  </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38hbQVFJwn8jiswU8Gq4FhGhp5hrGQM0dID4K6Koh3VunNDuGzJcU_VsAxQDF7k0zsUj0QlFoO69FKOVIpqJKLXLKstd5dOex93jj8H4vhf79n8H70_0zSMFx5Ya6R9DWUbp6QO1FCov0/s1600/222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Given the fact that the majority of foreign agriculture companies based in ARGENTINA are from the USA, with prominent names such as CARGILL, GENERAL MILLS, ADECOAGRO (George SOROS) to name but a few, which own vast amount of fertile farmland and who profit immensely from the current commodity boom, it becomes imminent that WALL STREET speculators, brokers and US RATING AGENCIES, closely related to THE PARIS CLUB and the IMF  try to protect and enlarge their interest in ARGENTINA by lobbing for a common cause.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">See <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/argentina-backs-bill-to-limit-foreign-land-owners-2011-04-27">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/argentina-backs-bill-to-limit-foreign-land-owners-2011-04-27</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Thus the comment, made by a Federal court in the USA comes as no surprise and one can assume that the PARIS CLUB and the IMF collaborate on this issue, thus threatening ARGENTINA with legal challenges if it tries to return to the international capital markets and refuse to “dance to their music”. The question is, is it really necessary for ARGENTINA to return to the International “CASINO Finance” markets? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THINKING ”IN THE BOX” versus THINKING “OUT OF THE BOX”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Following traditional economic doctrine or in other words thinking “IN THE BOX”, economists and so-called financial experts will claim that there is no way a country will survive economically, if secluded from the international capital markets. Thinking however “OUTSIDE THE BOX”, in other words neglecting the doctrines laid upon us by the “WALL STREET establishment” one might come to the conclusion, that there is life and prosperity outside financial market doctrines. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ARGENTINA’S economy, which is band from international financial markets, is currently growing at 7.5 %. (See <a href="http://www.indexmundi.com/argentina/gdp_real_growth_rate.html"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.indexmundi.com/argentina/gdp_real_growth_rate.html</span></a>) Critics might argue that this is solely because of the agricultural commodity boom. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ARGENTINA will continue to grow economically because of its vast amount of farmland and water and natural resources which are necessary to feed an increasing global population. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><b>THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX </b></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Your task: Link all 9 dots using four straight lines or less, without lifting the pen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyBEen_S5QHtQnvX54eR22pwpQiJtU4Ol7pwC8eIyRpkicWjkE7qGljcTCAquoW9n4Q5CpQ1uVynUOJrxKNVCRTCDYXGM1PSQPq3RN-fyd3Iq0aIGKKgH-ETIZLYDzqUM-DcxfTVKGwzw/s1600/Ninedots-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyBEen_S5QHtQnvX54eR22pwpQiJtU4Ol7pwC8eIyRpkicWjkE7qGljcTCAquoW9n4Q5CpQ1uVynUOJrxKNVCRTCDYXGM1PSQPq3RN-fyd3Iq0aIGKKgH-ETIZLYDzqUM-DcxfTVKGwzw/s200/Ninedots-1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pEji-aZDqDL-U0E0i0O5JcU9mCFlWdXsh8TkF5_9CUQLjqwWpWREI2Ct1xNdykOMc9GejVt4dtX-bAixlg2MAyAVJXMk1RGzywJK_Pg1VQUIah3HurG1rXTYGawen8_X_mV3Ls2_9PGF/s1600/270px-Ninedots.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pEji-aZDqDL-U0E0i0O5JcU9mCFlWdXsh8TkF5_9CUQLjqwWpWREI2Ct1xNdykOMc9GejVt4dtX-bAixlg2MAyAVJXMk1RGzywJK_Pg1VQUIah3HurG1rXTYGawen8_X_mV3Ls2_9PGF/s200/270px-Ninedots.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Money makes the World go round …… and Politics

US COURT RULING ON ARGENTINE BOND DEFAULT The Paris Club, USA Agriculture Companies, and International Financial Speculators “grab” onto A...

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The HilJoe Competition - Revitalized!

If you've been following along with my weight loss journey, you know that a few weeks ago Joel and I started a <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/little-competition-never-hurt-anybody.html">weight loss competition between us</a>.  And while our intentions were good, at the end of the day, our living arrangement at the time was preventing Joel from really committing to it.  And it wasn't just him, I tried hard during those 8 months of living with his mom to lose weight as well, and it simply wasn't happening, despite my awesome attendance at the gym 4-5 days/week.  There's a whole slew of excuses that I will save you from.<br /><br />So, now that we're out on our own again, and he has been able to join a gym now, the competition is back on track!  Below are our stats.  We weighed in on Friday, July 1 and this is what we're working with:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel (6'): 240.3</b><br /><b> Hilary (5'8"): 261.2</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You'll notice that I gained 4 pounds since last week.  One explanation for this is definitely due to TOM.  Sure, it's not the reason for all 4 pounds gained, but I did hop back on the scale Saturday morning to find that I was 259.8.  I've been feeling super bloated over the last 2 days due to TOM and I'm not too concerned about the gain.  Yeah, I'm not pleased with it, but I literally just got myself back on track after the move.  I'm not worried - I know that the weight will start coming back off soon enough!<b> </b></div></div>

Gain HJ Competition The HilJoe Competition - Revitalized!

If you've been following along with my weight loss journey, you know that a few weeks ago Joel and I started a weight loss competition b...

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