How to answer, "Tell me a little about yourself."

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/7t/ar5l0xq6szf88r05d47t.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:35%20pm" /></div><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b><br /></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To a painter, an untouched canvas holds unlimited possibility for a bold new creation. But for each artist, the potential for something great is counterweighed by the potential for unparalleled failure.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Similarly, excitement and anxiety loom over job interviews. When you present yourself to an employer, you hope all the right words come out and you woo them. You only practice the perfect responses to questions, never the wrong answers. But in the back of your mind you know that you might end up sounding like a terrible candidate who no employer will ever hire, even if you're actually the perfect person for the job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For a job seeker, the blank canvas is the open-ended question. When the right answer requires more than a yes or a no, job seekers need to take advantage of the freedom they have with their responses, not fear it. But perhaps no question intimidates job seekers more than "So, tell me a little about yourself."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You have many ways to answer, and the best response might depend on the stage of your career.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>David Copperfield you are not</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When Charles Dickens begins the tale of David Copperfield, the novel's namesake ruminates on his life. Where and when he was born and what he's to become. Leave that specificity and personal information to classic literature or your personal ads. Employers don't want to know about your childhood. They're concerned with your professional qualifications and any history that's relevant to the position.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here is some information you don't want to blurt out when asked to tell a little about yourself:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· A brief summary of your childhood</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Your dislike of your current boss and your desire to get a new job ASAP</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· The details of your current divorce proceedings</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Your passionate religious and political beliefs</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· The fact that you're probably moving in six months and are just look for a temporary job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Employers don't care that you're the youngest of three children and played the bassoon in junior high. This personal information might naturally come out during conversation, but it's not what you want to lead with. Wherever you are in your career, remember that employers want to know what skills you bring and how you will help their businesses.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>If you're in college...</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">College jobs can vary from part-time positions you take to earn extra cash or they can be entry-level positions you use as the basis for your desired career. Either way, you're at a stage where education is your most significant qualification. And if you have work experience, mention it as an example that you're responsible and have a track record as a good employee.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer shouldn't sound like:</b> "I don't have any 8 a.m. classes because I usually stay out late. And I'll need weekends off."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer should sound like:</b> "I'm a full-time student studying education. I worked as a barista for two years and then as a sales clerk at for the past two summers, so I have plenty of experience working with customers."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>If you're just out of school...</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When employers hire new graduates, they know they're not getting seasoned workers with decades of experience. They also know they're getting workers who might not stick around for very long but who are current on the latest technology and trends.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer shouldn't sound like:</b> "I just graduated last week and have a list of ideas on how to improve your operations. You're doing a lot of things wrong."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer should sound like:</b> "I just received my B.A. in marketing with a 3.9 GPA. My courses in account management give me a strong foundation to begin my career with XYZ company, and I'm excited to learn from the industry leaders here."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>If you're mid-career and looking to switch industries...</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Many workers who specialize in one field for several years begin to think about exploring other industries. Either they grow tired of their jobs or they realize their skills can be put to better use elsewhere. Whatever the reason, their focus should be repackaging their experience for the new industry they want.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer shouldn't sound like</b>: "Well, I've been a manufacturing supervisor for 15 years. I don't have any experience as a sales supervisor or in sales at all."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer should sound like</b>: "For the past 15 years I was a supervisor at ABC Manufacturing. You might wonder why I want to move into sales at this stage in my career, but much of my time has been spent negotiating with vendors and meeting with CEOs. Although the industries might be different, the skills are the same."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>If you're easing into retirement...</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Seasoned workers might not want to devote the majority of their week to working, but they aren't ready to leave the workforce entire. When interviewing for part-time or contract work, these workers want to play up their experience and commitment to the job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer shouldn't sound like:</b> "I've had enough 50-hour weeks. Let the young workers try to keep up with that pace. I'm ready to finally relax and earn some extra money so I can finally quit for good."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Your answer should sound like:</b> "I've seen the industry change over the past 40 years and am eager to see where it goes in the future. As consultant, I'm eager to share my vast knowledge with clients in order to help their business grow."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, </i><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Work Buzz</i></a><i>. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

How to answer, "Tell me a little about yourself."

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer To a painter, an untouched canvas holds unlimited possibility for a bold new creation. But for each...

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Still not back to normal

At least I'm sitting upright, and not in the bathroom. I ate breakfast about an hour ago and feel really nauseous and slightly dizzy. The room isn't spinning out of control, but I don't feel good.<br /><br />I'm staying home from work today. I tried to read a few work emails this morning and just scrolling through them made me feel nauseous.<br /><br />If you haven't figured it out by now, the one thing in this world I really hate is being dizzy and nauseous. Its one of the reasons I've never been a big drinker. I can't stand the feeling of drinking too much alchohol. That's exactly how I feel right now, like I drank I drank a lot of hard liquor. I've had maybe two glasses of wine in the last six months. <br /><br />I've been eating really healthy for months (or is that years), with a few Ambien-induced slips, but usually on healthy food (except that piece of cheesecake and potato chips last week - yuk, cheesecake - the thought makes me want to throw up!). <br /><br />I'm guessing this is just some stomach bug I picked up somewhere and not something I ate. I thought it might have been my fresh organic baby spinach in my blackberry smoothie yesterday morning, but I've been eating the same brand for months. It's pre-washed and I think it's safe. I don't cook it, but maybe I should steam it a little before I put it in my smoothie (that is, if I ever have a green monster smoothie again - that thought makes me want to hurl too).<br /><br />My plan for today is lots of water and very little food. Only because whenever I eat anything it makes me feel really sick. I'm thinking about going to the store and buying saltines. That's right, white flour and salt. I really don't care at this moment about healthy, whole-grains. I just want something to calm down my stomach.<br /><br />No gym yesterday, although Saturday was one of my best workouts ever. Somehow I managed 61 minutes of "vigorous" activity according to my BodyMedia. Getting even a minute of vigorous activity is difficult since it has to be 6 METS or more, which usually means at least jogging at 4.5 or higher on the treadmill.<br /><br />I was on the elliptical and I think it helped that a coworker and friend of mine was on the elliptical next to me. He's a guy and about 20 years younger than me. I was working super hard to keep my heart rate up in the 140 range (131 is my 80% HR).<br /><br />I still totally love my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Womens-Heart-Monitor-Purple/dp/B001F0PVNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316454127&sr=8-1">Polar FT60</a> (it was 50% off at Amazon and it's really magenta, not purple). I finally ordered the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-1307238-Flowlink/dp/B001EO6YS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316454097&sr=8-1">Flowlink </a>for it, which will enable me to download my workouts to my computer. I didn't think I needed that, but I've since changed my mind. I guess I'm sort of a gadget geek.  <br /><br />I also ordered a frozen yogurt maker at the same time (really need to go back to work and stay there so I stop buying stuff!). I tried making frozen Greek yogurt bars using Stevia (NuNaturals--the only brand I like). It tasted great, but the texture was weird.<br /><br />I was buying <a href="http://www.teamyasso.com/">Yasso </a>frozen Greek yogurt bars at Costco, but it was hit and miss on whether they had them in stock. Usually a miss. I love Costco, but if you find something you like, you're never guaranteed it'll be the the next time. The Yasso bars also didn't have any fiber because I'm sure they strain out the fruit pulp to make the bars creamy like ice cream. I liked the chunks of fruit in mine, but there wasn't anything creamy about them. The Yasso also contain a stabilizer with guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan,<i><span class="st"> </span></i>and soy lecithin. I looked all these items up and they're all plant based ingredients, not chemicals. I'd still prefer my own homemade bars, where I can control what's in them...Greek Yogurt, preferably Fage 0%( although I tried Costco's brand of Greek yogurt - didn't like it), fresh or frozen fruit and NuNaturals Stevia. Three ingredients.<br /><br />All this talk about food is making me feel sick. I looked at a few blogs this morning and the ones with pictures of food, I couldn't even look at them.<br /><br />My weight was 179.2, but I know that's just because I've been sick. Not eating much and living in the bathroom. I'm pretty sure one good meal will shoot it right back up to 181-182, where I've been sitting for a couple weeks. <br /><br />The sun is shining. I might try to go for a walk. I think the gym isn't a possibility today. The thought of the elliptical sort of makes me feel seasick.<br /><br />I'm sounding more and more like an old person. Constantly complaining about my aches and pains. I promise, my next post will be strictly about health and weight loss. I'm even getting bored with my health issues. <br /><br />

Still not back to normal

At least I'm sitting upright, and not in the bathroom. I ate breakfast about an hour ago and feel really nauseous and slightly dizzy. Th...

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Guilty Pleasures Movie Blogathon: "No down payment is the secret of prosperity..."

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hsEhfLCCpC3JtoA_1ggHLyFtAmYPbyMIWrzsrC-_wAdMHm_oSoHysYKr6IvS1ZEx6-FY8tGOxwO_heGuhEzbMJsrhWNSZ9ndXO2hZqa-q-yksPBRWfxqvvSrXszafT4mCZG5ILxOV6g3/s1600/NDP+bordered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hsEhfLCCpC3JtoA_1ggHLyFtAmYPbyMIWrzsrC-_wAdMHm_oSoHysYKr6IvS1ZEx6-FY8tGOxwO_heGuhEzbMJsrhWNSZ9ndXO2hZqa-q-yksPBRWfxqvvSrXszafT4mCZG5ILxOV6g3/s1600/NDP+bordered.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s Los Angeles in the 1950s and the GI Bill-fueled migration from city to suburb is in high gear. An opening shot of a vast (but shockingly empty) freeway system sets the scene. A gorgeous young couple in a late-model Chrysler cruises out of town. They smile as they pass billboard after billboard trumpeting newly minted middle-class subdivisions: Fairview Ranchos, Enchanted Homes, Dutch Haven, Park Village Estates and, finally, Sunrise Hills (“a better place for better living”). They exit to the hills.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2LigSe0c9Lv12jam2hyyC9sHjarKdG-Hu5UIU0Abf_V1crJn18fgH5-Ta66cK_j6VeYD2KTvtGEfDflLNMJFWxs_uBXRsXITTxlVapWWXSTysDAmIoCBe7YpTo0Hw_IkZnOLWqdb4z7u/s1600/ndp+randall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2LigSe0c9Lv12jam2hyyC9sHjarKdG-Hu5UIU0Abf_V1crJn18fgH5-Ta66cK_j6VeYD2KTvtGEfDflLNMJFWxs_uBXRsXITTxlVapWWXSTysDAmIoCBe7YpTo0Hw_IkZnOLWqdb4z7u/s400/ndp+randall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flaggs: Sheree North and Tony Randall</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So begins Martin Ritt’s second feature film, <i>No Down Payment</i> (1957), a slice of suburban realism generously spiced with melodrama. An ensemble cast portrays four neighboring couples who’ve staked their claim to the American Dream in Sunrise Hills. Pat Hingle and Barbara Rush are the Kreitzers (Herm and Betty), an easygoing pair, he manages the local appliance store, she’s a housewife. Tony Randall and Sheree North are the Flaggs (Jerry and Isabelle), he’s a boozy car salesman with get-rich-quick fantasies and she’s a housewife. Cameron Mitchell and Joanne Woodward are the Boones (Troy and Leola), he runs a service station and aspires to be police chief – and she’s a housewife. Jeffrey Hunter and Patricia Owens are the Martins (David and Jean), the couple in the Chrysler, newlywed and new in Sunrise Hills, he’s an electronics engineer and, yes, she is a housewife.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEhvoi65IZx8L6M5YWdIumzX1cXvOtQ6jfiUAP_KLH7cN_4qQXKj88X8g3PaBRgcz7dHiK9-am-ElwFIJw0BqGfrBP-S-dQFej0Lfhg5PkxZdUjlb6V_RXIBjustobvxcq3kf_EVxznQIzRG/s1600/tract+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoi65IZx8L6M5YWdIumzX1cXvOtQ6jfiUAP_KLH7cN_4qQXKj88X8g3PaBRgcz7dHiK9-am-ElwFIJw0BqGfrBP-S-dQFej0Lfhg5PkxZdUjlb6V_RXIBjustobvxcq3kf_EVxznQIzRG/s320/tract+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid-century Southern California, a better home and garden</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ben Maddow’s adaptation (fronted by Philip Yordan) of John McPartland’s breakthrough 1957 novel is, under Ritt’s  direction, a combination of grit and soap that mostly works, sometimes doesn’t, but has always intrigued me. It’s a high-drama trip into a particular era in a place close to home.</span></span> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>No Down Payment</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> takes place north of my hometown, most certainly in that part of L.A. known as “The Valley,” aka/the San Fernando Valley, the city’s now enormous bedroom community.  On the heels of World War II production and the post-war boom with its VA/FHA home loans, The Valley experienced a population explosion so powerful that by 1960 its citizenry numbered more than a million.</span></div></div><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the Martins make their way through the streets of Sunrise Hills to their new home, we get a glimpse of the housing development. From the curb, the houses and yards appear identical. As the plot advances, we see that they are the same inside and out – stucco, wood, glass and brick ranch homes with high windows facing the street and floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors facing backyard and patio. Standard issue includes a fireplace, kitchen nook, bar - and a console TV with a young tot or two rooted in front of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEhwMb7qCw85sGknOMS0nO-Jq_IRF4cYW7ICYE0roAW31WFJ6IxpGc3_wzXWsVZGVJhFhp281EUaRTiNcQME-4CENUscoC9XVO4_-Rj8vf0uXOptEHvBsZHbhtYrqLIWjWXUm4GCKF1tHkAk/s1600/NDP+neighbors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMb7qCw85sGknOMS0nO-Jq_IRF4cYW7ICYE0roAW31WFJ6IxpGc3_wzXWsVZGVJhFhp281EUaRTiNcQME-4CENUscoC9XVO4_-Rj8vf0uXOptEHvBsZHbhtYrqLIWjWXUm4GCKF1tHkAk/s400/NDP+neighbors.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kreitzers & the Martins: Rush, Hingle, Owens and Hunter</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the Martins step into their house for the first time they kiss happily, then passionately. Surveying their patio and backyard they meet the Kreitzers, whose yard abuts theirs. “Hi...welcome to Sunrise Hills,” calls Betty. David and Jean are quickly invited to a backyard barbecue that night at the Kreitzers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just as Herm promised, there are “steaks on the fire” and, over stiff drinks, the new couple meets their other nearby neighbors, the Flaggs and the Boones. Isabelle Flagg is enthusiastic about the area, “Sunrise Hills is just the living end,” she chirps. Troy Boone mentions “saving green stamps.” But Jerry Flagg, several drinks ahead of the others and bursting with irony, observes that everyone in the subdivision is “only 25 years in debt.”  The men talk about the contrast between Depression era life and the present. Having endured World War II, the post-war age seems secure and comfortable and David Martin crows, “I think we were born at the right time…we’re here now and everybody’s doing great!” David served at Los Alamos during the war. Music drifts from the stereo and soon dancing begins. Lecherous Jerry makes moves on refined Jean as they dance, and David watches uneasily from the sidelines. Troy, a proud war hero, cuts in and saves her - after which Isabelle and Jerry argue and, as the group looks on, she slaps him across the face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEhMhmG4VYZV79xGkpJL-mlQLMFumA3w_R8FL7au8waDb-aPT826pqfxERJWil5Z80r-xYCJQOG6A0dCypBHTzSP6UvgDs7JHiA-S_OS3b04knwJ34Seddbex7hMY9b1ZxSYp5BoaSYmAL_v/s1600/50s+drinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhmG4VYZV79xGkpJL-mlQLMFumA3w_R8FL7au8waDb-aPT826pqfxERJWil5Z80r-xYCJQOG6A0dCypBHTzSP6UvgDs7JHiA-S_OS3b04knwJ34Seddbex7hMY9b1ZxSYp5BoaSYmAL_v/s320/50s+drinks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coping, '50s-style</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A night or so later the Flaggs, reconciled once more, throw a neighborhood cocktail party; Jerry has made a sale and insists on celebrating. It’s the same four couples, together again. By now we know that Troy and Leola are hicks from the Deep South (Jerry calls them “Daisy Mae and Li’l Abner”). Troy is ambitious and quick to anger, Leola is sweet but erratic. We’ve learned that Herm is the rock of the community and that he and Betty are a <i>simpatico </i>pair.  We’ve seen Jerry drink in nearly every scene – as Isabelle worries and frets either in a corner or in his face. David and Jean are deeply in honeymoon love – but she is pressing him to move into a better paying job.</span></div><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/AVvXsEgAYaXJdlscv9Aj0xJaRektfnvfBFO6UJUgtnOXcFNcGFGrCpiSVrmnegS3lp_nvqYI8tFaijt5tZ-wVsjnjQVXhAlwBP4nwNW6YEAzP0PYrOAaDsmwrr5TMXBYufIF-89OTHDjwsnW4fxX/s1600/ndp+white+trash3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYaXJdlscv9Aj0xJaRektfnvfBFO6UJUgtnOXcFNcGFGrCpiSVrmnegS3lp_nvqYI8tFaijt5tZ-wVsjnjQVXhAlwBP4nwNW6YEAzP0PYrOAaDsmwrr5TMXBYufIF-89OTHDjwsnW4fxX/s320/ndp+white+trash3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troy and Leola Boone: Cameron Mitchell and Joanne Woodward</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tension in this microcosmic enclave continues to build. Herm and Betty grapple with confronting discrimination; one of Herm’s key employees, a Japanese-American man, has asked him to challenge the whites-only imperative of the Sunrise Hills developers. Jerry, who bent the rules to make a sale, is out of a job and on the verge of being thrown out of his house by fed-up Isabelle (classic lines: Isabelle in a frustrating heart-to-heart with Jerry: “You’re the man, you’re supposed to know what to do!”; Jerry’s view, “All our troubles boil down to one thing – money – how to get a bundle of it!”). Troy and Leola have had a volatile life together from the start and things only gets worse when she drinks - and then, worse still, he doesn't get the job he's been counting on. David, responding to an implied ultimatum from Jean, goes on a sales trip; his timing couldn’t be worse. While he’s away, one neighbor’s bout with a bottle and a belly full of resentment turns ugly and violent.</span></div><br /><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/AVvXsEjYhwrKlJ-LQtd8PdeLg8daPCriq2DxYqjUMbtyEuTvWJGqgAJbFM_uz8uyAgh5L7a793Tt3jCtBoFoRuZNAKzy7TQvT2z5c0WSPSHijwJgfVX9-yOasM-kwPx-4Wyts0dqMTRrKmUEtujm/s1600/Leola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhwrKlJ-LQtd8PdeLg8daPCriq2DxYqjUMbtyEuTvWJGqgAJbFM_uz8uyAgh5L7a793Tt3jCtBoFoRuZNAKzy7TQvT2z5c0WSPSHijwJgfVX9-yOasM-kwPx-4Wyts0dqMTRrKmUEtujm/s1600/Leola.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Leola Boone'</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1957, Tony Randall wasn't yet completely typed as a comedic actor. His energetic turn as desperate Jerry Flagg, a man of extreme moods and desires, is an eye-opener. Cameron Mitchell oozes barely contained fury as Troy who yearns for the glory and respect that was his during the war. Pat Hingle is engaging as an honorable everyman, self-possessed but not immune to the pressure to march in step. Though top-billed Joanne Woodward offers tender and thoughtful moments of subtlety, she also overindulges in occasional histrionics (bringing to mind the high-strung heroines of Tennessee Williams).</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even with its excesses, <i>No Down Payment</i> is potent commentary on the suburban culture it dramatically depicts. To be honest, I'm not sure my pleasure in it is all that "guilty" anymore.</span><br /><br /></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/AVvXsEj5xlvyGX6VeQarC9EjEzy2YkcnpE4RYcC6GRrO35V_xKGIG65JZEzW2fxZMcVwLGCCqhPnL6bfXynCJmTfcwA5nzXif4mlYxeFi_qdWfziDxT4g91W1YKLl6_xMVpUhded-4cwJM5CSLI9/s1600/no+down+payment+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xlvyGX6VeQarC9EjEzy2YkcnpE4RYcC6GRrO35V_xKGIG65JZEzW2fxZMcVwLGCCqhPnL6bfXynCJmTfcwA5nzXif4mlYxeFi_qdWfziDxT4g91W1YKLl6_xMVpUhded-4cwJM5CSLI9/s1600/no+down+payment+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anxiety in suburbia<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://clamba.blogspot.com/2011/08/cmba-gulity-pleasures-movie-blogathon.html"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Click here</span></b></a> for a link to the full list of blogs participating in the Classic Movie Blog Association's Guilty Pleasures Movie Blogathon.<b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://evesreellife.wordpress.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">Click here</a></b> to learn more about forgotten writer John McPartland, the author of <i>No Down Payment</i>.</span></span><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

Barbara Rush Ben Maddow Cameron Mitchell Jeffrey Hunter Joanne Woodward Martin Ritt No Down Payment Pat Hingle Patricia Owens Sheree North The Lady Eve (author) Tony Randall Guilty Pleasures Movie Blogathon: "No down payment is the secret of prosperity..."

It’s Los Angeles in the 1950s and the GI Bill-fueled migration from city to suburb is in high gear. An opening shot of a vast (but shockingl...

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Ten creative writing sites you don’t want to miss

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Written by Fiona Beal</em><br />These days there are many wonderful,  free Web 2.0 interactive creative writing applications to use with your learners. What I like about these applications is the fact that even the reluctant writers get involved quite easily. The use of these Web 2 tools also open the door to many advantages. For example, stories can be shared with parents instead of being lost in a school classwork book or on a piece of paper.  They can also be shared with classes around the world if they are embedded on a blog or wiki. The writing process which is so important in writing can easily be incorporated into the lessons.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1. Write circle stories using Etherpad</strong> </span>(<a href="http://ietherpad.com/">http://ietherpad.com</a>) <br /><br />A circle story is a great way to use the writing process (write first draft – edit - write final draft) in class and it helps the reluctant writer or the writer lacking in confidence to feel part of the process.  A great application to use is Etherpad. Notice that the web address has an ‘i’ before <em>etherpad</em>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HF2L1ZjxMyPiT_4SNEC047lIOvn3ebCibePNw2U63gj1peNID0t1fsG7QOSqwK2jdX7ep2PWCCINFePykBLgEVOxyJ6srP1HdQJxjNUi6CuJ4q_sWVqs5RLnkuDgiEH_XqIY7nr3MVU/s1600-h/ether18.jpg"><img alt="ether1" border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53YUy78PyAi_C4CSxsDoKE_yisoXvvgvpwKRNrZYVmMmy0jUj7_6vhHsRPquFi8oIR6AVpTIRN7hH4rJsWI__5gdAFT6oSkQkbcOAn2cbqViSRb4lE6r3VflJC6IPYTnhDu3peE_4cqs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ether1" width="242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcUg76XX86YDCAj_el25wqNwMAmH-3rad-bUGWo7IcQZZRM0t4w7esw78URQyiCeVa3qZKmMS-zOGL6nhdqv445_yYo-a3ZZMK8TdL1WrEz3TJ1ofqy3WJH7vF5d9lTNUCWQHpPe3QbY/s1600-h/ether24.jpg"><img alt="ether2" border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6qhcWK8RC-UCG6LH2-_g1SwNi8pWR9cFDepjJfwlsfwPJd7QnB_Ywr3x6GZ00DOEoTKyIkXpP8hLTEusmgf8a-bwfCb3-vsUpuRKkzM965KEoNTSc5EIWj1GQ-lQbCo2QEqI_PePHi4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ether2" width="242" /></a><br /><br />When I do circle stories in my computer class I divide the class into groups of four with each person in the group starting their own story. You’ll notice that ‘pad’ in Etherpad is given a code. Before I start I create all the pad and write down these codes so that the students have easy access. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcr9IEAXfQjLkote0vCfrpxeA1kS9lr4WZbURZcEjDtBUq08F9Jg1-h8F7tKavecv5RQu5BeNC_xrdDt8yeehXpGnQZcuAzEcJYv5BkGXzV8K3-PQnqM0Lyrf9woZfBxA_SLZp4tHwFs/s1600-h/etherpad3.jpg"><img alt="etherpad" border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvNj_TokETOJFtOSY55MjIm1BymgdDLNZ8kD7GtVp3KIHma7uNtVV6d8dMVHNptRwO9sU80sVCiGMOhYOJcPz7Kv2ps6xYTKRrCxCtpk_2wwD6a2xkLDoYmL0PxBgQ7qOG6dk7T78k_s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="etherpad" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Please note that there are other Web 2.0 applications similar to Etherpad, such as Primary Pad.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrC2ScbFfLddfgR4zB7owmH_jpbnqlM4qVn-pl5tM2J0bbfWzlXXbcucLJOk_bHCJfFDwnSIKo2YjbhXq75K2UgNI1lw2v85FR71MhgZexAr11MONIJcr340RzSe3BAQDxe2Uwix0xDk/s1600-h/cr12.jpg"><img alt="cr1" border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUjiRP0FKzveCggaBzWse8N-19kp4VmR7ZBnQLZvMBw5vJdg1sx7m9Pp3K28im95gc3E67oylVdcPIDjUUQkvtiYt9aEt0HtZc8EREn0vgXdjFt9ReV_8vQVDmYdFJeTEEHjXUH0713k/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cr1" width="244" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>2. Story Jumper</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://www.storyjumper.com/">http://www.storyjumper.com</a>)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZkekm9jtLoCC-kcGpASNTZ8jJkMTy10MAGe9hjlSzl3x03dOjaPVqmBbReUtkTG7_t0Iuc42SS4hFeL3Bcgy0cCw398Y3g8I1jjNOwvWeLxq6eujAg3NnP6CjfJhVAZOhLImJkkTFyU/s1600-h/storyjumper14.jpg"><img alt="storyjumper1" border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6XmucCj_kiQWljfXLs4MRqt5kPykF7CCq1ToeCBsYbn6xWpOY4tF_mjFAh8Zrv5LDrMMDWuV_UTpp4mvDhOM2M6Au-NprxnhU_ktCAMaNuQhXuPrFabkjbqdMgv5fdpxYR1ekvRN4bs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyjumper1" width="242" /></a><br /><br />I love using Story Jumper in class because it enables you as a teacher to add your whole class and allocate them passwords and easy access. The application also provides a great selection of backgrounds, characters, props, text boxes and fonts for the students to choose from. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydD2atc7JIB9eUoeN3Y4R2pZz3f2D5k4WhLq8J85nnnX4dK6bdHrcDJs2qrRDfnJApE71kk6Pb__BAaYrHZ1gG_r8deZKPVaYLFRso_F2Z-JXDq0dSOqDD8A7INS2U4tX6L9bdMptwW0/s1600-h/storyj13.jpg"><img alt="storyj1" border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac6YFd05Xuwg33AsdcP9Z5CZtk6L8ttIf-Rrgn45AAukeO2Q498H3JkexVLQEw7v-CAoYODzN8oBFycKhnjo0Qafhe4-5fYGIK_sg1TYl54aHkCW8AUcTSBk00-Jg9tybT8LNpvCRQhw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyj1" width="242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8BA8tJwOsgvp5Cy-arpS430gqHSBXHSw98iv1RiEb3yBykCbZMZgL5ER6y8aYvnpQzEb8_XNZMhwRGQz_FJrjHdk53emPMdJNWXQUpjdGYnb8kTaV9fnklhMzbpqpSSQbnLlnwEwxAo/s1600-h/storyj23.jpg"><img alt="storyj2" border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRLgzxVXV_Al3gJjD8CANSIE_LUebpCv41i5xr4qzWTTyKxtsTk73ePEL2nJMKwC-RuMLqkWlAP1d0vD1v7jnIVH6lIrXaUtl9yuUL9bUhDs6H3OOLpPvXGh-9AmrMoHbWcPE_OBfpPw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyj2" width="242" /></a><br /><br />The final story is presented in a flip flap e-book format. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>3. Storybird</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://storybird.com/">http://storybird.com/</a>)<br /><br />This application has to be one of my favourites! Like Storyjumper it offers an on-line story book for students to create from scratch.  I found that even the students who are reluctant writer enjoy this programme because you start with the art. Once again you can create easy access for a whole class. The starting point is to choose a beautiful piece of art. Once that is done another batch of related art appears. Consequently the students are really helped to chose their story line from all the inspirational art.  <br /><br /><a href="http://storybird.com/books/no-ordinary-day-2/">No Ordinary Day</a> <span style="color: #666666;">on</span> <a href="http://storybird.com/">Storybird</a><br />  <br /><object height="274" width="436"><param name="align" value="lt" /><param name="scale" value="noScale" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="book_slug=no-ordinary-day-2&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /><param name="src" value="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf"><embed src="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="436" height="274" align="lt" scale="noScale" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="book_slug=no-ordinary-day-2&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /></object><br /><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://storybird.com/books/all-of-my-crazy-weird-stupid-at-times-annoying-lou/">All of my crazy, weird ,stupid, at times annoying , loud and caring friends</a> <span style="color: #666666;">by</span> <a href="http://storybird.com/members/ellvis7/">ellvis7</a> <span style="color: #666666;">on</span> <a href="http://storybird.com/">Storybird</a></span> <object height="274" width="436"><param name="align" value="lt" /><param name="scale" value="noScale" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="book_slug=all-of-my-crazy-weird-stupid-at-times-annoying-lou&size=xl&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /><param name="src" value="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf"><embed src="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="586" height="368" align="lt" scale="noScale" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="book_slug=all-of-my-crazy-weird-stupid-at-times-annoying-lou&size=xl&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /></object><br /><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://storybird.com/books/the-new-kid-39/">The new kid</a> <span style="color: #666666;">on</span> <a href="http://storybird.com/">Storybird</a></span> <object height="274" width="436"><param name="align" value="lt" /><param name="scale" value="noScale" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="book_slug=the-new-kid-39&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /><param name="src" value="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf"><embed src="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="436" height="274" align="lt" scale="noScale" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="book_slug=the-new-kid-39&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /></object><br /><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://storybird.com/books/the-pirate-ravenue/">The Pirate, Ravenue.</a> <span style="color: #666666;">on</span> <a href="http://storybird.com/">Storybird</a></span> <object height="274" width="436"><param name="align" value="lt" /><param name="scale" value="noScale" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="book_slug=the-pirate-ravenue&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /><param name="src" value="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf"><embed src="http://media.storybird.com/embedplayer/bin/StoryplayerEmbed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="436" height="274" align="lt" scale="noScale" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="book_slug=the-pirate-ravenue&size=large&configXML=http://storybird.com/storymaker/paths/" /></object><br /><span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,times new roman,serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"></span><span style="display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>4. Artisan’s picture books</strong> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><a href="http://artisancam.org.uk/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://artisancam.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">)</span><br /><br />This is a free online writing programme which is great for the younger learners. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m1-8QMLkVT-4ZD4Izj2ezIrI-bgo1wfV8YkpMRqlaMrmEoF4iy9y76SOfFTFt1KSNz1fEjg9dNb3-juRJA343nlk8j9VnQOzCXXrEmbhXr4u4AK8HzVOig5aBSnIrJaeNvHbA9O2sa4/s1600-h/artisan12.jpg"><img alt="artisan1" border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviJ5FKtRbjks48JJi_McGulvXfgl1Q26gCIWILdzXWB9De6XokeaQd6XWnc0OXaVlc4W2MzbK_i3DSJbBLc_pgtOoxlrtWpP04oLT_sbxBNt8D4yBz5n69NLUZQF6j3Cpjj2UcCk_ptQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="artisan1" width="244" /></a> <br /><br />The themes are fairly limited but the younger learner love wild animals so this is no deterrent. The end result is a e-book. The application allows you to send an email link to whoever you would like to read your book. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hhd65owGDvscwAl6TLgqMaxvkOrTuBOvC1H2liSzHFeTGe67BrTJskfVwY7d4xr1b0tB75lK93jjj9xCxou-yQSlU55MAFY1Hh-gAMM5uaQ2XZcm_eh2XC0-ruYD5gayIIMOfasPKHE/s1600-h/art22.jpg"><img alt="art2" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41wmJPouMJVYu1N4_sHL7PFAL9Al05yzJPOCg98moK2dfigu02bG200HIBgPhjvSVqcLHluo0BMZg0dwwIehEW5AEn2ifUqJqQnXsgGTFzfwwIGw8fFAPSd-_OfjdwKtPkv61nwdulgg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art2" width="244" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvo-tPiJ_GtIFtpnW4dV0LEi33HjmNEa3VVUHD03vSRGOhrmyEdK7q3sDwuKs6TN1ngUlgPpb6JeyB_81r1uYq0NMIWIv0qWySkHZGHnVPhnhACW_P-enXSKBkQy3nmWJOG_f83yipa0/s1600-h/art32.jpg"><img alt="art3" border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExjcWdbQDZonGCMB7dRz1_eywGr7piQUudhVAz7iuBTJuxcKUjBcxM9U0aj7XpnI4XOIYkYd9BHBb-HKOKyBmCmSUpm_KOoAkIxJIhs1C0tOyEiv0GezTSzzkdH4hZBQL3iH-NnqK_Dk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art3" width="244" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AO1moEGXy2W9JYWqKSkKTjn7dll02BY8D5DaFr8odGvcgBxIxvx8Rm-nzJ6cghbMNgGhzh1eG8lCPzfECGcv8KJ8e-0EyRAPbqS0rRYTFBTLfYzfU5yVelLsTWKBMnkoX3UvOpPHirA/s1600-h/art43.jpg"><img alt="art4" border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Y7bZhd_DFNghlrlNZgknnC0NAT1Wk-HesBQ9GNln2Pb65jzMoHiPAaxf0KXrJIGwfmaRJwomXJIc8EiOswAA0lSIthQ8rPAf4ez5WHAeOJ_p3SSn50apiDhh-7Uudkn1XvjJZ3U0D8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art4" width="242" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg168RL2VRfU0xttXmaXhH52ATc1OOgGwfANZRVxk7KotLxbNkTZEkiPmObr0py6S8gr9lOxtWfiUetuwmtgVVIXeu39GfgHKLB0pG6lZWZ3ZYwFVR28DTaDSlJ7Du-SHfMJEydcstP2KM/s1600-h/art53.jpg"><img alt="art5" border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4-goRlrwZ3vKFHp78Sk0gzrixdlQvDwGAHiORnS2yGLwkrmJ-wmIXxE0S6kwG6PsL4p1K8m3sTqsDCwqSRCrLa4AlPY-usreAxIKneUokKTCNyfxTYJutcYidsrEx38y-tlC82TU2HY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art5" width="242" /></a><br />  <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCQ5hx_oybh6XASLyP9gflcSb_dT2qTNxHwpfxSySrQA7iVSEPLKkuoN7De-MEQX-GAcfvtHwvnoZP-w9oietsUgzrxvsG4uxB8wZnhC_OfvG_ieoue7pKc7jJ6gDHSxbp9dEhwGNWCo/s1600-h/art63.jpg"><img alt="art6" border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQWWNRyKDChB8zQlkgsgvnS2S22o5bMhEyHLrDT4kUoLnekhXRwNfbV-H8fyQ90c0V0W9cWLmGD8xn5qut4pC06kF8HzQrzrvk71yUTC4JvHWIHOJY_rEBY1KjWXYQ7fdEvUxzd8SDfc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art6" width="242" /></a><br />  <br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>5. Kerpoof Studio</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://www.kerpoof.com/" title="http://www.kerpoof.com/">http://www.kerpoof.com/</a>)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j_ZytTylxYpmToTHeWgpzCclpAvScA-kMGFNANgaNvYB4ezdi3dyYYjkj3WM-aYBaZu1C-hAOdU-3aCfGgSx4H5xwoYhGW-UWJBJIFUDoXIU_i81fg3V0FUk_aRljJuw_U4FYmJH-VE/s1600-h/kerpoof3.jpg"><img alt="kerpoof" border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGWGpQPHa8y1kSdu-bgTIESR-AIHqV6r0Vvx-R6bW-VEx5tWFO0bVdqUPfq5px2yESMkTefrlw7eDRs5fQN7ThVq4PEzATSLTxMPl9nObLpP4kjo1huMJg9JBqF1KubcB1bWCZQyHcZM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="kerpoof" width="242" /></a><br /><br />This a kid-friendly, intuitive application where students can create fairy tales, realistic fiction etc. using illustrations  and writing for characters, setting, and plot. I haven’t yet used this application but I would love to try it out. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs7azZDS0NyOLlamiqExs0KYcPSGw9462LPWRVnNrMj1UxSBbeGnOwBXzT-v9gNUj6WBUNwQL8heVBoGJAFLQzfBFAEE8qQtijJ4UO2w3ULb01c0urOG7sEL2-v5Vf5EhlR3J6XT7BWA/s1600-h/kerfoof2.jpg"><img alt="kerfoof" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVf4qhQXSMI_DWPdsMNrFBjey7wplfVMzVvDJAo17n2JMyxp3MTRsBBwp7QGHlpls6zDg0AObDmBG3ddWZyUEO2ckxRDkdZPQSy5qv76k4KlziQQ3ClvQ68hry9AFlM1rFx2s1ndrgV0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="kerfoof" width="244" /></a> <br /><br />The books can be printed, too. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Sites using photos in a fun way</strong></span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Photofunia</span> </strong><br />(<a href="http://photofunia.com/">http://photofunia.com</a>) <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzstUuA7Xe6Lzrpxz2-GlCPhHbjvy8ueGfsUO2oFLK2STpRFrjtEYL9oqTG05GxqW147uap-PO4maJ_JTvqo4r5VuYRvuzor3aWxE3kCCbKIP3DCR0PdnNHpb3DNq-lz9T4yzqHv1Ue0/s1600-h/photofunia2.jpg"><img alt="photofunia" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E2LJ0pMkzILho5Jsrdu5trewmNvG_wojOqq2G6AZvGmrutcUCfMsIYvTUq_2pUWTCJX6PQBkF9OXagn0ZRuLy-eNDnfYljVXqDq2eka6sCwxM3DjVqo8Mc0R50hhxq0cYZYaBX3h2YY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="photofunia" width="244" /></a> <br />  <br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>7. Picjoke</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://www.picjoke.com/">http://www.picjoke.com</a>)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA6FS1eW7uWIFGm5Aa3w3jEsGY2UCBs4c07m_4WQhQQLrMIO5gdXlxgTHeT5BFcY_ck3N0p30VfulC42TQvi1nly3RSNSfMeFUhGb3DWMTOf-CibXZb9ALtAY_zNIN43k3P8RKMLs980/s1600-h/picjoke12.jpg"><img alt="picjoke1" border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OlyILiy8t1t1fK-96j25LRNFHXAJE3-r69uH8o4D61O5kRxGt5pizeZAqfHyeyC9Seu1x6sWfP1Bw2TrlPvXxpRzI9bWOVgFWVsxoFQGI7XAHDj2MjNePXhQNY-UUhQSI7gHLBX5b-Y/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="picjoke1" width="244" /></a> <br /><br />I have discovered that the older students love using sites that can include a photo of themselves. In these photo fun sites they can choose pictures that can tell a story, and then write about the picture. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNrVVyYpxajksdWWgBCiRavMBW9zvRKqKC9Hm5GnsHxVyGp6cMyrR5BhSE4z2MX1ezQmvCyrhTNMdCBTDW53mA3P5z6Jvoxhdqt-JXS4Pnevvdvs6_ouKha7EOpiBUSj4ib8CEJUW88o/s1600-h/Picture12.png"><img alt="Picture1" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LtgFZhYDVFxkrvdVqo5XrmdRcpNJ-OTELnNc0yjW7pawZM5ViX3Rq675P7Z2nOdzVSUdyPQIbXwzihhHv_b4ddYkmwxmKvMAGvyP0kDaFZb53K8Kc102W7iyuunysyHg4Vq6_Sf2VqI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Picture1" width="189" /></a> <br />  <br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>8. Piclits</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://piclits.com/">http://piclits.com</a>) <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38Wt3_98x5LzZxviIoQ9AG5ZJevKbjVJP67mwncbsYJ_hmNjmhckBZAnyHiqIxZcb5obJHwMPjBDV0Ct9fifWDg4F9KyjCAaNf9ZkZL27dxFVLOeuH8f2OUGO_NO2F-5jmKLqO9hHBGY/s1600-h/piclits3.jpg"><img alt="piclits" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOJtCHyXZhVao4NCN2FgDd-WfAZ8JL2hqTnnZ-Z2Cr64_1hEf1HC8pproEv6dneHxhNGGt-B6VGStbqRnG3LBqzF-IcsZ-10iSFNBbIgqVsUjqOE-A2lt9wjzG10xqmXuvcV3su2YiP0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="piclits" width="230" /></a> <br /><br />What I like about this site is the way it provides a drag-n-drop feature which lists words that can be used. This helps the reluctant writers a great deal.The enthusiastic writers can choose the freestyle section. A selection of photos are provided for the background.  I usually ask the students to create poems when using piclits.com <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dBRIuk09HYXWNACjBb9b28DkPnMKXHbX4A67x6r1aFB-QN1pYOB1irEbAe4CVCuQJRqkNchpDuvLt7A1lYlTbwmsYTIvovg6GgFvsp5dCAOAC2NhyphenhyphenN82c1ExJcFYgzpppeWQArUXt0A/s1600-h/Picture23.png"><img alt="Picture2" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawbO9tK-rHFblCOb3Wr17Oox0E-Nctg8MqqVX4ZnlstdKbRtephKi_-Svgf9b43wUX7ZOX-w0kYtmuCpA1v_9H6dNh2lDZyzHpYfihd3n7NtQkOXvmufl6pgDo-n6QpB3KC0wWfFIxFo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Picture2" width="242" /></a> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>9. Young novelists’s workbook</strong></span> <br />(<a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/workbooks" title="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/workbooks">http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/workbooks</a>)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2-Cs7iS56Lk2P8F36QghyphenhyphenXciDgleLMNo74-jfFHU8AjyrFHdbczSthHfn_3NNk7XbK80cp_KbE_gjE8ROkemCKdhmjYb8JO31FrwGyaKRIBWbqh2BvF_BIbCntHCLyz_eeQfbfRrENE/s1600-h/novelist3.jpg"><img alt="novelist" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo66caSQRqmrjPETbluHTapBZlDTZqitW5b1lXG25rh2FVWK8HQqy3A6jZIus8cTiZm0Tr7kO8iByNsfeBoqdbb4Ly1qpGSF2a-Li-5XVDkEYm7Z6fw-DvjrAwoX7uO5knBLIroG94DA4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="novelist" width="221" /></a><br /><br />If you are wanting your students to create a novel this site offers potential. It has workbooks that one can download for the students to use.  The opening blurb says, “Inside each workbook, you'll find worksheets and activities that will spark your imagination and guide you through your novelling…” <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. Write a script with Script Frenzy’s young writer’s programme</span>:</strong> <br /><a href="http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org/educators" title="http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org/educators">(http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org/educators</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPBHDx6G2iuffMlcHupff97o7-v53wjDPAJgmchF40s3Wq9RcVTxY4y5HSrE1miJ4gVnp9eBEIU_mg87fk-d_ZH-IYhsXTnSCvnAfQJF5UNc4yUMPuvfYO0Xh4Y4prUXeX620sC0Qz8E/s1600-h/scriptfrenzy2.jpg"><img alt="scriptfrenzy" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUuynF9J358FOook7j97cwTU6cRJlei9lzuhV7VEp2fKZXkjHNAI1Q0sCGP2KoF0gGRRRD5dbJmyraPDwA8aBN6Y_SrnzYbXuj25JpZTVcSbxM-qcdyPTa2vBfa3OcA-uEGmcmlkujFI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="scriptfrenzy" width="207" /></a><br /><br />This site provides you with free workbooks for the students to use (<a href="http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org/files/scriptfrenzy-ywp/SF_Workbook_Elementary1.10.pdf">http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org/files/scriptfrenzy-ywp/SF_Workbook_Elementary1.10.pdf</a>)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryKo0C8Q8R9syrZEEQXQfpWD8qJdYtXbYUX7cQwCej5iZMD5FME-xfTu61QXqnqpA2KkTu5NZxr11ytBY_P-MelmUpmLdWvpMMlrQXtkmLlS-y2WTl-MvtutRvZW0_TlI-AnKwbrb30Q/s1600-h/scripyt2.jpg"><img alt="scripyt" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeg44kV4z3RH-uHWvdVzfs1QOqgVFQBFeDP6glMB9l_IOEFL7EqofyOu6yJvNP4MDDCqoSBLv_lgn6BsAa9-pK4rDaLkLmHiTmu6JjUjiMNBskTeACBxaNU2OLej37-Y3kt6gV2Kds0I/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="scripyt" width="222" /></a><br /><br />With all these lovely sites available to educators and students great writing can be accomplished even when budgets are very tight. </div>

Creative writing Ten creative writing sites you don’t want to miss

Written by Fiona Beal These days there are many wonderful,  free Web 2.0 interactive creative writing applications to use with your learners...

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Knocked down and out

I'm finally feeling human after a really bad bout of either a stomach bug or something I ate.<br /><br />I haven't been that ill since I drank rum and cokes at college party, and never touched them again. It makes me gag to even think about it, and it was over forty years ago.<br /><br />It hit me suddenly at 11 a.m., starting with the room spinning out of control and me throwing up almost non-stop for three hours. Which was really awful because the only thing in my stomach was a nectarine. I drank water just to avoid the dry heaves, which just about killed me.<br /><br />I even thought about having my husband take me to the emergency room, but I couldn't stand the thought of getting in a car or sitting in the ER for hours. <br /><br />That was an awful experience. It seems like lately it's always something with me. Broken wrist,sleep issues, and now a stomach thing. For someone that tries to be healthy, I'm sure sick a lot. I'm getting kind of tired of it.

Knocked down and out

I'm finally feeling human after a really bad bout of either a stomach bug or something I ate. I haven't been that ill since I drank ...

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Live From Quito 3

Denver is 5,200 ft above sea level. Visitors to Denver are warned to take various precautions about the altitude. Quito is 9,200 ft above sea level -- 4,000 ft farther into the sky. That takes a little getting used to. I am over my illness now and have moved on to the altitude issue.<br /><br />Given my marginal health, I did not go on the field trip to the Colombia border on Saturday. It was 11.5 hrs on a bus. The people in Tucan were grateful for the visit of those bishops and spouses who made the journey. But I passed.<br /><br />My Saturday began congenially. I had breakfast with the music leader for the House of Bishops, Dent Davison. He is at the Cathedral in Chicago these days, but it turns out he grew up in Hawaii. We talked about our plans in Nevada for Filipino/ Pacific Islander Ministries, and he told me about a wonderful resource of traditional Christian music from the Pacific. The day ended with a dinner outing of the Province 8 bishops and spouses/partners. As providence would have it, I sat across the table from the bishop of Hawaii, who serves all the way to Guam. So we did more brainstorming about how to connect with our new mission field, Pacific Islanders living in the desert. In between, I caught up on paper work and church e mails. A very productive day! <br /><br />This morning was the most important thing we have done so far. We went to Church! That is always the most important thing to do, but today it was even more so. The Diocese of Ecuador Central has a history of big time trouble. In March, the Standing Committee in one fell swoop ousted the bishop. Since then there have been threats of violence -- conflict like we do not see in USA church life. Bishop Katharine and her staff have been negotiating a resolution to the crisis. Today both sides celebrated Holy Communion together. Bishop Katharine preached a wise, calm, faithful sermon directly into the conflict. The antagonists met at the same altar because we were here. What Woody Allen said about life is definitely true about episcopacy. "90 per cent is just showing up."

Live From Quito 3

Denver is 5,200 ft above sea level. Visitors to Denver are warned to take various precautions about the altitude. Quito is 9,200 ft above se...

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – QUEST FOR NATURAL RESOURCES

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE “ORTHODOX” CONNECTION</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;">Aside of the US, EU eco - financial crises, which is about to reshuffle the geopolitical landscape profoundly in</span><span style="font-size: large;">  the not too distant future, there seems to be increase in activities around the globe in search for natural resource, which trigger tension between countries that usually live in peaceful coexistence.</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;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The current dispute between TURKEY and ISRAEL in reality is about gas and possible oil extraction in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. What is interesting in this dispute is the constellation of the key players. On the one hand there is CYPRUS and GREECE who have strong ties to RUSSIA, not on only because of their common CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX faith, but also because of economic ties. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">ISRAEL on the other hand has a large number of RUSSIAN immigrants, which subsequently lead to stronger economic ties with RUSSIA. Subsequently ISRAEL and CYPRUS agreed to cooperate in gas and oil exploration activities which angered TURKEY that increasingly strengthens its ties with ARAB countries such as oil giant, SAUDI ARABIA which is facing its own share of problems when it comes to natural resources, namely that of water, or for the </span><span style="font-size: large;"> lack of it.</span><span style="font-size: large;">  </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;">SAUDI ARABIA’S water needs are eating into oil wealth. See <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-saudi-water-idUSTRE7885ZX20110909">http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-saudi-water-idUSTRE7885ZX20110909</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>WATER, GOLD OF THE FUTURE</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;">Thus growing demand for water in the region could trigger further tension in an already fragile political environment. Not so long ago TURKEY and SYRIA were at the brink of war because of a water dispute over the Tigris and Euphrates River water distribution. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> The pending GOLAN HEIGHT (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_heights">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_heights</a> ) dispute between SYRIA and ISRAEL is not only about strategic advantages but to a large extend about water. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><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;"> Looking at all these aspects and the current natural resource dispute in the region it becomes imminent that TURKEY wants to increase its stakes in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and maybe even provide SAUDI ARABIA with water from the Tigris and Euphrates River <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates</a>, which could cause a further rift between SYRIA and TURKEY.</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;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oil and Gas findings in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, water shortage in the entire region and</span><span style="font-size: large;">  complex geopolitical constellations of TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA,</span><span style="font-size: large;">  and other</span><span style="font-size: large;">  SUNNI ARAB STATES</span><span style="font-size: large;">  on the one side and</span><span style="font-size: large;">  GREECE, CYPRUS, ISRAEL and in a supportive role RUSSIA and CHINA, on the other side, with the USA and EUROPE unable to mediate due to their precarious eco - political situation. </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>POLITICAL CHESS</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;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The significance of the recent gas and oil findings in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin are showcased in the intense political activities between GREECE, ISRAEL, CYPRUS and RUSSIA. For the first time in decades a GREEK Defense Minister visited his Israeli counterpart to sign a Cooperation Memorandum in the security sector between GREECE and ISRAEL. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SOUTHERN CONE</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;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2sbT99golENgdkTWtZK_0_JZJ_WxCh5YZQD76x7UvIscigGQ1DxnaNep3Ar-LVnNUvCmL-rUkD_e8GtkAWmMw_A0dbEZKac8HjSie5Ux2C6xkUKWjS-GOmAmgA-SM92zG8_yWMk9akni/s1600/FalklandFOGL1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2sbT99golENgdkTWtZK_0_JZJ_WxCh5YZQD76x7UvIscigGQ1DxnaNep3Ar-LVnNUvCmL-rUkD_e8GtkAWmMw_A0dbEZKac8HjSie5Ux2C6xkUKWjS-GOmAmgA-SM92zG8_yWMk9akni/s320/FalklandFOGL1.gif" width="320" /></a>Not only on the northern hemisphere are natural resources disputes looming. The conflict between ARGENTINA and the UNITED KINGDOM regarding the MALVINAS (Falklands) Islands is about to take up momentum after oil exploration along the eastern part of the southern cone indicated the possibility of large oil reserve findings, which prompted the UK to conduct drilling activities in the disputed area. This prompted ARGENTINA to step up its claim over the legitimate sovereignty of the islands.</span><span style="font-size: large;">    CHINA, in response to its close economic ties with ARGENTINA immediately reiterated its position in support for ARGENTINES legitimate sovereignty claim over the MALVINAS Islands. </span></div>

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – QUEST FOR NATURAL RESOURCES

THE “ORTHODOX” CONNECTION Aside of the US, EU eco - financial crises, which is about to reshuffle the geopolitical landscape profoundly in  ...

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Live From Quito 2 (Part B)

We had a panel of Liberation Theologians on Friday afternoon. They were ok but mostly stating the obvious. I rarely speak at HOB meetings, but this time I asked what I considered to be a provocative question. Their replies were totally non-responsive. So while I did not like their answer I still like my question. Maybe you can do better with it:<br /><br />The U.S. context for church, mission, and theology differs from Latin America in that the U.S. has had a large, strong, prosperous middle class. The Episcopal Church is overwhelmingly a middle class church. But the middle class has been declining and shrinking for years. Wealth disparity is on the persistent rise. The recession has shrunk the middle class further. Economists predict that the recovery will continue the tend. New jobs will be very high or low paying, not much in the middle. We are becoming an hour glass economy and society -- all haves and have nots -- not many have somes. Our way of being church, the people we evangelize, our liturgy and music is all shaped by being the church of a class that is ceasing to exist. Who is God calling is to become, what is God calling us to do in this shifting context?<br /><br />After the panel, Prince Singh (Rochester) invited me to join him in a search for hats in Quto. We had a great time. I got a black wool South American cowboy hat. Prince wanted a leather hat. We asked some friends the Spanish word for leather but it turned out they gave us the word for skin. Fortunately we discovered the mistake before asking directions to a skin shop. After our purchases, we ate Ecuadoran food al fresco under an awning during a heavy rain storm. He and I are about as different as can be. Rochester and Nevada are about as different as can be. But we love comparing our experiences. So different in every way on the surface but with the same gosspel in our hearts. <br /><br />We hurried back through the drenching rain to an Indaba conversation about the draft proposal for rites of same sex blessings and the supporting theological statement. There were 35 of us gathered for this special discipline of honest gentle sharing. What people said is confidential. But there are several noteworthy things that marked the meeting. 1. There were not two positions. There were at least 35 distinct viewpoints. Some will vote yes and some no. But their positions are all complex, nuanced, and intelligent. 2. I was surprised to hear some of the opinions coming out of the particular mouths expressing them. People had changed and grown as they struggled with hard and subtle issues. 3. I was impressed by the intelligence, wisdom, and compassion of every single person in the room without exception. 4, I continue to be amazed at the ability of these people to express strong feelings which put them at odds with each other but to treat each other with the utmost respect as they strive to understand the differences. It is as if they really mean their Baptismal vows!

Live From Quito 2 (Part B)

We had a panel of Liberation Theologians on Friday afternoon. They were ok but mostly stating the obvious. I rarely speak at HOB meetings, b...

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Live From Quito 2 (Part A)

After a mostly sleepless night, I headed down to the hotel cafe. By God's good providence I ran into Kee Sloan there. Kee is suffragan bishop of Alabama and was recently elected in a landslide to become the next diocesan bishop. He and I were College for Bishops classmates and both have the awkward position of being moderates in a church that supposedly espouses moderation but has a hard time living into that identity in a polarized society. There is no one in the church I respect more than Kee for his kindness, courage, and honesty.<br /><br />Morning Prayer was followed by Bible Study. We worked with how to follow Jesus' clear and emphatic teachings about social justice in our context. Jesus' teachings run contrary to the Spencerian political ideologies so popular in many of our congregations and many of our members trust Darwin and Spencer more than Christ and Moses in the public square. <br /><br />I then bailed on the teaching session. It was on Scriptural Foundations of Liberation Theology. I have read quite a bit of that already and was unable to stay awake. Actually, I think the Latin American Liberation Theologians do a pretty good job with Scripture but Walter Brueggemann does it better. As you may have gathered we are focussing on Liberation Theology since it is so important here in Ecuador and throughout the continent. In short, I took a morning nap.<br /><br />Over lunch, I joined about 10 bishops from wildly different diocese to discuss how best to do the ordination discernment process. There are plenty of good ideas around. This was interesting to me as we are working on refining our discernment process in Nevada. One thing we all agreed on today: we need a process that opens hearts and minds to find God's will. That means processes that generate wisdom and insight -- not yes or no judgments on people.<br /><br />After lunch I met with Chaplain Simon who prayed for my healing and gave me good pointers on a healthier lifestyle. He is in D.C. now but hails from the Dominican Republic. He seems to have real ties to Haiti as well. At Morning Prayer he taught is the Haitian Creole liberation song O Bodye.

Live From Quito 2 (Part A)

After a mostly sleepless night, I headed down to the hotel cafe. By God's good providence I ran into Kee Sloan there. Kee is suffragan b...

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Social media not your thing? It could hurt your job search

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/lf/ar5l88r75zpy5xpv6nlf.gif?time=8/21/2011%2012:00:00%20pm" /></div><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b><br /></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Allie McCormick left her full-time <a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/public+relations/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">public relations</a>position to be a stay-at-home mom. Once she was ready to get back to work, she posted to Facebook that she was looking for a job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"I believe my status was something along the lines of 'Allie McCormick is officially job hunting. I have over 10 years of experience in <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/pr/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">PR</a> and <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/marketing/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">marketing</a> and am overall awesome [smiley face],'" she recalls.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">McCormick says she received several messages instantly. "Within four weeks, I had interviewed formally with three companies and had two offers on the table," says McCormick, now a PR<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/consultant/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">consultant</a> with Innography, an <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/intellectual+property/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">intellectual property</a> <a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/software/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">software</a> company.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/social+media/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Social media</a>, also referred to as social recruiting, is on the rise. And if you're not familiar with it, you had better get to know it soon.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"</b>Social media is where the employers are and where they're investing," says Adriana Llames, Career Coach and author of "Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In a recent study by Jobvite, an online recruiting website, 55 percent of employers said they plan to increase their investment in social recruiting. Eighty-seven percent of them are already using LinkedIn for recruiting and 95 percent hired a new employee from their LinkedIn recruiting efforts alone, not to mention Facebook or Twitter.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that up to 85 percent of career opportunities go unadvertised, which means that you have to use your network.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Word of mouth and friend referrals are huge [in a job search]. The new word of mouth is through social media," says Sarah Cullins, president of Finesse Staffing, a <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/recruiting+firm/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">recruiting firm</a> based in<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/California/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Southern California</a>. "It is often still who you know, not what you know, and social media helps you to know a lot more people."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Echoes Llames, "If you know of a company or a job you want to land, get your network working for you. With 350 friends, they know 350 friends who know 350 friends. You've just reached more than 1,000 people, and the likelihood is someone knows a hiring authority at your target company."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In fact, not having an online presence will hurt job seekers, says Morgan McKean, a consultant and<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/writer/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">writer</a> who specializes in recommending "<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/green/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">green</a>" fashions, beauty products and home décor for women.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"These days, any business that doesn't have a Web presence isn't taken seriously. What job seekers have to understand is that their career is their business. They must have a place to send potential employers to see their background. The product or brand they are selling is their skill set. They need to have a place to showcase their features and the benefits to working with them. Without these things, they lack credibility in this new job market," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you don't already have a social networking or social media profile, the first thing to do is get one. Then follow these steps:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. Be clear on what you want.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Candidates need to have a clear focus of what they're looking for in a position. If you want your network, online or offline, to help you, you need to know what you're asking for first," Llames says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Saying that you are looking for a job isn't clear enough, Cullins says. "People won't take that seriously," she says. "If you clearly define what you want and what you can do and ask your network to actively help you, you will get led or pushed in the right direction."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. Give help first.</b> "When someone asks if you know of a good mechanic or if they paid too much to the plumber, help them out. Be sincere and helpful. Refer your social media contacts to others and they will reciprocate," Cullins says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. Consistent branding</b>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"There are a plethora of candidates and job seekers I see that have one profile on Facebook that says 'restaurateur,' another one on LinkedIn that says 'social media marketer' and yet a third on Twitter that says 'food blogger.' Who are you?" Llames says. "Create a consistent, clear and precise brand across all the social networks and on your résumé so hiring managers and companies know what you do and that you're an expert in your industry."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. Protect yourself.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">More often than not, employers will do a search for you before or after an interview, in a search engine or on a social network.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"To avoid giving away too much information, keep your profiles private. Only accept Facebook friend requests from people you know, and while keeping your LinkedIn profile public is recommended, you can chose to publish on certain aspects of your public profile on LinkedIn," Llames says. "Avoid those summer beer-guzzling Facebook profile shots; your profile picture is always public."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. Be social.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Social media is not just about blasting your opinion or your accomplishments to the world. Social media is an online party," McKean says. "If you engage people in conversations, compliment them on their work, ask questions and acknowledge their expertise, they are more likely to respond."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ultimately, if you don't have a presence on social media, you look outdated and will get left behind.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

Social media not your thing? It could hurt your job search

Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder Allie McCormick left her full-time  public relations position to be a stay-at-home mom. Once she wa...

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Starbucks Giveaway Winner!

Drum roll.... the results are in!  <a href="http://biggerthanababyelephant.blogspot.com/">Jodie from Bigger Than a Baby Elephant</a> has won the $10 Starbucks giftcard! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOnxi8qxdaqDCZZq4WF7uq7u-d7E0VccSlh6acWPYCJE0hfSiXuEASbgDHGSOn9CbFLM7FqS9C3PztkUvh4FipmQ_V9zlwRMnap65ezCCWjUGt-KqAAJp7iukVDWQw24l-n6reG0FxBw/s1600/jodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOnxi8qxdaqDCZZq4WF7uq7u-d7E0VccSlh6acWPYCJE0hfSiXuEASbgDHGSOn9CbFLM7FqS9C3PztkUvh4FipmQ_V9zlwRMnap65ezCCWjUGt-KqAAJp7iukVDWQw24l-n6reG0FxBw/s400/jodie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Congratulations Jodie and Happy Birthday!<br /><br />This week, I have non-scale victories to celebrate, because I certainly don't have scale victories to celebrate (thanks to <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-oa-meeting.html">many cookies</a> and lots of beer this week - I'm not surprised). <br /><br />I stuck to the NROLFW workout this week - and have been progressing well with the amount of weight I've been lifting each time.  And last night, I made my first trip to the gym without Joel where I actually lifted weights!  I kept putting it off all evening because I figured the longer I waited, the more likely it would be that the big men would be mostly gone for the night.  Also, to be honest, I didn't want to go.  I knew this week on the scale was going to bring bad numbers and I felt like "What does it matter now?".<br /><br />Still, I went and I'm glad I did.  I'm just not happy with myself.  I now have to re-lose those 2.2 pounds that just 7 days ago were not apart of me.  Of course it's my fault.  I get it.  And I'm <i>obviously </i>not good at resisting temptation. <br /><br />Hopefully this Septathalon this weekend will help me out. 

Gain giveaways Starbucks Giveaway Winner!

Drum roll.... the results are in!  Jodie from Bigger Than a Baby Elephant has won the $10 Starbucks giftcard!  Congratulations Jodie and Ha...

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TURKEYS MIDDLE EAST CHESS GAME

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-0133e2e4896cf571-9109" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzN6qAOQu8loKsYpAsj4zyCK_qlWInBxN-P-GjR-1SS_khQOhzTndA8jlNzxFWnIjZeB2UQHiqi85q5XjhtVEUxqJeA7MQbhH-EW8YYIVv_PyqYTbkgBzCmuto0DyPmCU6f504" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TURKISH DÉJÀ VU , NEO OTTOMANISM</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>  </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">TURKEY cleverly utilized the ARAB SPRING for its own political agenda, namely that of expansionism and spreading its political model in order to gain greater geopolitical influence and subsequently obtain a stronger stance on the world stage. </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;">Under pretence of the GAZA FLOTILLA incident, ERDOGAN used the excuse to distance himself from ISRAEL in order to gain acceptance of MUSLIM countries and the ARAB LEAGUE and promote TURKEY as a model for ARAB STATES. His populist warmongering rhetoric against ISRAEL are well received among Arab states, what he neglects however to mention is the true cause of his rift with Israel, namely that of an ongoing natural resources dispute which involves GREECE, CYPRUS and ISRAEL. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE NATURAL RESOURCES CHESS GAME IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN BASIN  </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wdkCCVftpmaqt4q46p6MHtWxol9tm-43DP9sRBARP2AEvCTowQl08H6lFKATyhbZXP8bciGGD6vqvtpStuaeP8Y4hKofhsAnOjnkIYe60S7Y5vNHYwnIHu_a-xTIe0RE3549RXRPm9Zy/s1600/cypriot-turkey-conflict-nationalturk-19876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wdkCCVftpmaqt4q46p6MHtWxol9tm-43DP9sRBARP2AEvCTowQl08H6lFKATyhbZXP8bciGGD6vqvtpStuaeP8Y4hKofhsAnOjnkIYe60S7Y5vNHYwnIHu_a-xTIe0RE3549RXRPm9Zy/s200/cypriot-turkey-conflict-nationalturk-19876.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(See CYPRUS conflict <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus</a>) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned in my previous article posted Friday the 9^th of September on this blog,  ISRAEL and CYPRUS, in a joint venture,   are about to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean, which TURKEY claims a share of.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">By using warmongering rhetoric’s TURKEY not only drew attention of the ARAB world but also GREECE, its  archenemy and close ally of CYPRUS who responded equally harsh by <b>threatening with war</b> if TURKEY hinders CYPRUS’S gas exploration, a calculated move of GREECE to distract from its looming default, a tactic which has proven a success in recent past under Thatcher’s government in order to distract from the problem the government faced in the UK and subsequently led to the MALVINAS (Falklands) war with ARGENTINA and a political resurrection for Thatcher. ( <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2akoKQvD5mUAtKcr8JO3FkDs45yCbbeNdpQPrvloTUb6DqDhXRvUm9zUkxNsjF5BQ2PMs3OLpJqqLcTbI0OY0oZztpQ68dQRHG6cTZ36Wn2j4mllCWWkT6QQJz4vUr4InN3KeIzVjs80k/s1600/8216don8217t-sacrifice-talks-in-cyprus-for-natural-gas8217-2011-08-14_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2akoKQvD5mUAtKcr8JO3FkDs45yCbbeNdpQPrvloTUb6DqDhXRvUm9zUkxNsjF5BQ2PMs3OLpJqqLcTbI0OY0oZztpQ68dQRHG6cTZ36Wn2j4mllCWWkT6QQJz4vUr4InN3KeIzVjs80k/s400/8216don8217t-sacrifice-talks-in-cyprus-for-natural-gas8217-2011-08-14_l.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">CYPRUS MAIL Newspaper Article </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/turkey-watchful-oil-rig-moved-position/20110916">http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/turkey-watchful-oil-rig-moved-position/20110916</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>DRAWING SYMPATHY FROM ARAB COUNTRIES</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>  </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">CYPRUS only recently reiterated that it will not halt exploration activities despite warnings from TURKEY who obviously does not want to miss out on the prospects of huge oil and gas extraction in the EASTER MEDITERRANEAN basin. Due to the geographic position of these fields it becomes imminent that TURKEY needs ARAB countries as allies in order to isolate CYPRUS and ISRAEL. Thus it also becomes evident why ERODGAN emphasized Israel’s so-called increased isolation in the region during his “public relation trip” in ARAB MIDDLE EAST countries and at the same time promoting the upcoming PALESTINE statehood bid, for it plays in TURKEY’S long-term geopolitical strategic favor.  What ERDOGAN neglects though is that ISRAEL has always been isolated in the region, despite its peace treaty with JORDAN and EGYPT. ISRAEL never was naïve to believe that it will have an everlasting peace with those two countries and subsequently has adjusted its politics and policies accordingly.   </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;">What mainstream media also neglect to mention is that CHINA supports ISRAEL in the PALESTINE statehood issue and that Israel has signed a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR, of which BRAZIL is also part of,  (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercosur">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercosur</a>), a move that could prove to be essential, especially since MERCOSUR countries are gaining economic and political influence on the world stage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>WESTERN ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE LED TO UNDERESTIMATE TURKEY </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><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlPAUzM_U7k5R7joJUfkswxYyvPjbvEWikc2M0rqI5EB0zBHTn_5ADsBmfyi9TOl7LuBg6D9-JGe6eWbcEORwhsD7UWW0G6LsgTdeFT-h-HDi1iIB46-8dqKTOFqyfKCC5Ak-GpCO6ya3/s1600/800px-Map_of_countries_by_number_of_active_troops.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlPAUzM_U7k5R7joJUfkswxYyvPjbvEWikc2M0rqI5EB0zBHTn_5ADsBmfyi9TOl7LuBg6D9-JGe6eWbcEORwhsD7UWW0G6LsgTdeFT-h-HDi1iIB46-8dqKTOFqyfKCC5Ak-GpCO6ya3/s320/800px-Map_of_countries_by_number_of_active_troops.PNG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Map of countries by number of active troops</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand EUROPE has always underestimated TURKEY’S political wittiness in expanding its influence in the BALKAN and indeed the political world stage. Over the years TURKEY has become the 2^nd largest NATO army in EUROPE and the 8^th largest army of the world.  Despite its current warmongering tactics, TURKEY is still a close ally of the USA which on the other hand is an ally of ISRAEL.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TACTICS – TURKEY PERMITS NATO ANTI MISSILE RADAR TO BE INSTALLED ON ITS EASTERN BORDER </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;">Thus ANKARA’S recent decision to permit the installation of an anti missile radar on its border as part of a defense shield against RUSSIAN and IRANIAN missile threats, indirectly provides additional security for ISRAEL. On the other hand the NATO radar site also showcases the link between the USA, TURKEY and SAUDI ARABIA in the quest to oppose IRAN, RUSSIA and to some extend CHINA.  With TURKEY permitting the NATO radar shield it covers two issues at one stroke.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">One is that it maintains the support of the SUNNI ARAB states in the quest against SHIITES and at the same time satisfies the USA and its Western allies, strengthening TURKEY’S reputation among WESTERN as well as EASTERN countries, making it a key player on the political as well as economic world stage.   </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNHWVgfgoL8zlTuhrB_nOz2Pp-ILHxPiToT5HkEs9kilX0bOJJVBuLW_0PjbRjfOupFaFJrO_m5WjcYAMDvicRLklqIKnbW4ZsOT3h7tM7cRzqe03vfjPnvOKmXnK0O7RrRCz1FZS-bZn/s1600/Islam-by-country-smooth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNHWVgfgoL8zlTuhrB_nOz2Pp-ILHxPiToT5HkEs9kilX0bOJJVBuLW_0PjbRjfOupFaFJrO_m5WjcYAMDvicRLklqIKnbW4ZsOT3h7tM7cRzqe03vfjPnvOKmXnK0O7RrRCz1FZS-bZn/s320/Islam-by-country-smooth.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Map from Wikipedia Commons</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Green:  Sunni</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Blue: Shiite</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><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="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

TURKEYS MIDDLE EAST CHESS GAME

THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL  TURKISH DÉJÀ VU , NEO OTTOMANISM   TURKEY cleverly utilized the ARAB SPRING for ...

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