A HEMISFERIO SUR HISTORIA DE ÉXITO HETERODOXOS

<div class="MsoNormal"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="text-align: center;">  <span style="font-size: x-small;">Spanish version of: </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Southern Hemisphere Heterodox Success Story posted 8th of November</span></h3><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/southern-hemisphere-heterodox-success.html"></a></span><br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"></h3><div class="post-header"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">LECCIÓN</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">ARGENTINA</span> DE <span class="hps">ECONOMÍA PARA EUROPA</span></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Al contrario de</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> los <span class="hps">medios de comunicación argentinos,</span> <span class="hps">los medios de comunicación</span> <span class="hps">extranjeros</span> pintan <span class="hps">un panorama</span> <span class="hps">un tanto diferente</span> <span class="hps">de la situación</span> <span class="hps">eco-</span>política del país. <span class="hps">De hecho,</span> <span class="hps">la recuperación de Argentina</span> <span class="hps">tras su</span> <span class="hps">default</span> <span class="hps">se toma con frecuencia</span> <span class="hps">como</span> <span class="hps">ejemplo de cómo</span> <span class="hps">Europa</span>, en cierta medida, <span class="hps">podría</span> <span class="hps">superar su crisis económica</span>. <span class="hps">En</span> <span class="hps">la parte de habla</span> <span class="hps">alemana de</span> <span class="hps">Europa, muchos</span> shows de TV e<span class="hps">co</span>-politicos<span class="hps"> muestran</span> como <span class="hps">cada vez más</span> hay mas <span class="hps">políticos</span> <span class="hps">interesados </span> <span class="hps">en la recuperación de</span> <span class="hps">los argentinos</span> <span class="hps">y el crecimiento económico</span> <span class="hps">a pesar de que</span> <span class="hps">no se adhirió</span> <span class="hps">al Fondo Monetario Internacional</span>, <span class="hps">Banco Mundial</span> <span class="hps">y las doctrinas</span> <span class="hps">de Wall Street</span>, desafiando así a los <span class="hps">"</span>eurócratas" <span class="hps">a seguir su ejemplo</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAa3kUEbUuBshKJm2LzucaIBnQyi0WimxQ2os7UmtoOmg6naXWH5cIBVVvqJeASXjL60VK33v0cZ3yya0P6ePxUH09HbmkaBeoIrVnP8P5HBuAy7DTUH0dSgn9xTDY5yp81bLG0xJM8FI/s1600/EU-Economy-Stagnates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAa3kUEbUuBshKJm2LzucaIBnQyi0WimxQ2os7UmtoOmg6naXWH5cIBVVvqJeASXjL60VK33v0cZ3yya0P6ePxUH09HbmkaBeoIrVnP8P5HBuAy7DTUH0dSgn9xTDY5yp81bLG0xJM8FI/s1600/EU-Economy-Stagnates.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dado que el crecimiento en la Argentina continuó, los críticos en el Financial Times y el Wall Street Journal afirmaron que terminaría una vez que la  "capacidad no utilizada se agote". En lugar de agotarse el crecimiento de las ganancias finació la expansión del mercado interno y la capacidad de crear nuevas oportunidades para el crecimiento, sobre todo a nuevos mercados en Asia y Brasil.</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrariamente</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">a la tesis</span> <span class="hps">proclamada por</span> <span class="hps">los expertos económicos</span>, la Argentina <span class="hps">todavía tiene</span> <span class="hps">una gran cantidad de</span> <span class="hps">fondos disponibles</span> <span class="hps">y por lo tanto</span> <span class="hps">no está</span> <span class="hps">en peligro inminente</span> <span class="hps">de caer en</span> <span class="hps">problemas financieros.</span> <span class="hps">Argentina</span> <span class="hps">todavía</span> <span class="hps">se nutre de sus</span> <span class="hps">exportaciones</span> <span class="hps">de cultivos</span> <span class="hps">favorables.</span> <span class="hps">Incluso si los precios</span> <span class="hps">de la soja</span> <span class="hps">han bajado,</span> <span class="hps">la población</span> <span class="hps">cada vez mayor</span> <span class="hps">en todo el mundo</span> <span class="hps">aumenta la necesidad de</span> <span class="hps">alimentar a la gente</span>. <span class="hps">Por lo tanto</span> <span class="hps">el suministro de</span> <span class="hps">productos alimenticios</span> <span class="hps">no</span> <span class="hps">va a disminuir</span>, aunque <span class="hps">los especuladores</span> <span class="hps">manipular</span> <span class="hps">las tendencias de precios</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ARGENTINA</span></b></span><span class="shorttext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CONFUNDÍO A LOS</span></b></span><span class="shorttext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">PRESTIGIOSOS ECONOMISTAS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">La experiencia argentina</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">va en contra de</span> <span class="hps">todos los preceptos de</span> <span class="hps">los organismos financieros internacionales</span> <span class="hps">(FMI</span>, Banco Mundial), <span class="hps">sus patrocinadores políticos</span> <span class="hps">y publicistas</span> <span class="hps">en la prensa financiera</span>. <span class="hps">Desde el primer año</span> <span class="hps">(2003) de</span> <span class="hps">la recuperación de Argentina</span> <span class="hps">hasta la actualidad,</span> <span class="hps">los expertos económicos</span> <span class="hps">han</span> <span class="hps">"</span>predicho" <span class="hps">que su crecimiento</span> <span class="hps">no era "</span>sostenible" <span class="hps">-</span> <span class="hps">ha continuado</span> <span class="hps">con firmeza</span> <span class="hps">desde hace más de</span> <span class="hps">una década.</span> <span class="hps">Los escritores</span> <span class="hps">financieros anunciaron que el default</span> llevaría <span class="hps">a la Argentina</span> <span class="hps">a ser excluida</span> <span class="hps">de los mercados financieros</span> <span class="hps">y que su economía</span> <span class="hps">se vendría abajo</span>. <span class="hps">Argentina</span> <span class="hps">se basó</span> <span class="hps">en la auto-</span>financiación basado en <span class="hps">los ingresos de exportación</span> <span class="hps">y reactivación</span> <span class="hps">de la economía nacional</span> <span class="hps">y confundía a los</span> <span class="hps">economistas</span> <span class="hps">de prestigio.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">LA ALTERNATIVA ARGENTINA</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">A LA POBREZA</span> <span class="hps">Y LOS RESCATES</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Incluso tan tarde como 25 de octubre 2011, los columnistas del Financial Times todavía hablan sobre "la crisis que viene" a la manera de fundamentalistas mesiánicos que predicen el apocalipsis. Insisten en "alta inflación", "programas insostenibles social", "sobrevaluación de la moneda", y más predicciones del "fin de la prosperidad". Todas estas advertencias se producen en la cara del continuo crecimiento de 8% en 2011. Los escritores Anglo-Americanos  financiera deben centrarse en la caída de sus regímenes de libre mercado en Europa y América del Norte en vez de denigrar a una experiencia económica de la que puedan aprender.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ARGENTINA</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">NO ES TOTALMENTE DEPENDIENTE</span> <span class="hps">DE LAS EXPORTACIONES PRIMARIAS</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Refutando a los críticos de</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">Wall Street</span>, <span class="hps">Mark Weisbrot</span> <span class="hps">y su</span> <span class="hps">punto de salida</span> <span class="hps">asociados</span> <span class="hps">("</span>La historia del éxito <span class="hps">Argentina"</span>, <span class="hps">Centro de</span> <span class="hps">Investigaciones Económicas y Políticas</span>, <span class="hps">octubre 2011</span>) <span class="hps">que</span> <span class="hps">el crecimiento de Argentina</span> <span class="hps">se basó en</span> <span class="hps">la expansión del consumo</span> <span class="hps">interno, aumento</span> de <span class="hps">las exportaciones de manufacturas</span> <span class="hps">a</span> <span class="hps">socios comerciales regionales</span>, así como a <span class="hps">tradicionales</span> <span class="hps">exportaciones agro-minerales</span> <span class="hps">a</span> <span class="hps">Asia.</span> <span class="hps">En otras palabras,</span> <span class="hps">la Argentina no</span> <span class="hps">es totalmente dependiente</span> <span class="hps">de las exportaciones primarias</span>, sino que tiene <span class="hps">un intercambio comercial equilibrado</span> <span class="hps">y no es</span> <span class="hps">más</span> <span class="hps">dependiente de los precios</span> <span class="hps">de los productos básicos</span>. <span class="hps">En</span> <span class="hps">lo que respecta a</span> <span class="hps">la alta inflación</span>, <span class="hps">Weisbrot</span> <span class="hps">señala que "</span>la inflación <span class="hps">puede ser alta</span> <span class="hps">en la Argentina</span>, pero es <span class="hps">el crecimiento real y</span> <span class="hps">la distribución del ingreso</span> lo que importa <span class="hps">en relación con</span> <span class="hps">el bienestar</span> <span class="hps">de la inmensa mayoría</span> <span class="hps">de la población</span>".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Argentina creó</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">un estado más</span> <span class="hps">acomodaticia</span> <span class="hps">a su proyecto político</span> <span class="hps">de la financiación de</span> <span class="hps">la competitividad económica,</span> <span class="hps">nuevos mercados y</span> <span class="hps">programas sociales.</span> <span class="hps">Argentina</span> <span class="hps">aseguró</span> <span class="hps">que el sector bancario</span> <span class="hps">financió el crecimiento</span> <span class="hps">del sector exportador</span>, las manufacturas <span class="hps">y el consumo interno</span>. <span class="hps">Argentina impuso un</span> <span class="hps">75%</span> <span class="hps">"recorte"</span> <span class="hps">de</span> <span class="hps">los tenedores de bonos</span> <span class="hps">para</span> <span class="hps">financiar el gasto</span> <span class="hps">social.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyNUzqlDNeA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">En Argentina, las</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">catástrofes económicas</span> <span class="hps">siempre</span> ha dado a  <span class="hps">los argentinos</span> <span class="hps">la oportunidad de</span> <span class="hps">llevar a cabo</span> <span class="hps">un cambio básico</span> <span class="hps">del saqueo</span> <span class="hps">especulativo</span> <span class="hps">de</span> <span class="hps">los programas sociales</span> <span class="hps">y el crecimiento</span> <span class="hps">económico sostenido.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">El gobierno</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">actual es un reflejo</span> <span class="hps">de su éxito en</span> <span class="hps">la creación de un</span> <span class="hps">estado "normal"</span> <span class="hps">del bienestar capitalista</span>. <span class="hps">Después de 30</span> <span class="hps">años de que</span> <span class="hps">EE.UU. respaldara a los depredadores</span> <span class="hps">regímenes neo-liberales</span>, este movimiento <span class="hps">estimula</span> <span class="hps">un cambio positivo</span> <span class="hps">grande.</span> <span class="hps">Desde</span> <span class="hps">1983 a</span> <span class="hps">1989 Argentina</span> <span class="hps">sufrió</span> <span class="hps">bajo un régimen</span> <span class="hps">neo-</span><span class="atn">liberal (</span>Raúl Alfonsín) <span class="hps">que no pudo</span> <span class="hps">lidiar con</span> <span class="hps">el legado</span> <span class="hps">dictatorial</span> <span class="hps">y que</span> <span class="hps">presidió</span> <span class="hps">una</span> <span class="hps">hiperinflación de tres dígitos.</span> <span class="hps">Desde</span> <span class="hps">1989 - 1999</span> <span class="hps">bajo la presidencia de</span> <span class="hps">Carlos</span> <span class="hps">Menem</span> <span class="hps">Argentina</span> <span class="hps">fue testigo de</span> <span class="hps">la mayor</span> <span class="hps">venta masiva</span> <span class="hps">de sus empresas</span> <span class="hps">públicas</span> <span class="hps">más rentables</span>, los recursos naturales <span class="hps">(petróleo</span> <span class="hps">incluido)</span>, <span class="hps">los bancos</span>, las carreteras, <span class="hps">a los inversionistas extranjeros</span> <span class="hps">y compinches</span> <span class="hps">cleptocrático</span> <span class="hps">a precios de ganga</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Por último</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, <span class="hps">Fernando de la Rúa</span> <span class="hps">(2000 - 2001)</span>, <span class="hps">prometió el cambio</span> <span class="hps">y procedió</span> <span class="hps">a profundizar la recesión</span> <span class="hps">que llevó a la</span> <span class="hps">caída</span> <span class="hps">catastrófica de</span> <span class="hps">final de</span> <span class="hps">diciembre de 2001 y</span> <span class="hps">el</span> <span class="hps">cierre de los bancos</span>, la quiebra de <span class="hps">10.000 empresas</span> <span class="hps">y</span> <span class="hps">la caída de la</span> <span class="hps">la economía</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">En este contexto de fracaso total y absoluto y el desastre humano de los EE.UU. - el FMI promovió "libre mercado" las políticas, Kirchner / Fernández de pagar la deuda externa, re-nacionalización de varias empresas privatizadas y los fondos de pensiones, intervino los bancos y se duplicó el gasto social, una mayor inversión pública en la producción y el aumento del consumo popular, en el camino hacia la recuperación económica. A finales de 2003 Argentina pasó de negativo a 8% de crecimiento.</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">DERECHOS HUMANOS,</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">PROGRAMAS SOCIALES Y</span> <span class="hps">POLÍTICA ECONÓMICA EXTERIOR</span> <span class="hps">INDEPENDIENTE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">La economía de Argentina ha crecido más del 90% desde 2003 hasta 2011, más de tres veces que la de los Estados Unidos. Su recuperación ha sido acompañada por una triplicación del gasto social, especialmente en los programas de reducción de la pobreza. El porcentaje de pobres argentinos se ha reducido de más del 50% en 2001 a menos del 15% en 2011. A diferencia de EE.UU donde  la pobreza ha aumentado en la misma década del 12% al 17% y está en una trayectoria ascendente durante el mismo período.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Los EE.UU. se ha convertido en el país con las mayores desigualdades en la OCDE donde un 1% controla el 40% de la riqueza del país, (frente al 30% en menos de una década). Por el contrario, las desigualdades de la Argentina han reducido a la mitad. La economía de EE.UU. no ha logrado recuperarse de la profunda recesión de 2008-2009, durante el cual se redujo en más del 8%. A diferencia de Argentina se redujo a menos de 1% en 2009, y ha estado creciendo a un saludable 8% (2010-2011). Argentina ha nacionalizado los fondos de pensiones, duplicó las pensiones básicas y presentó un programa de bienestar infantil universal a la lucha contra la malnutrición y garantía de la asistencia a la escuela.</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">En contraste con el 20% de los niños que en los EE.UU. están sufriendo de la mala alimentación, las tasas de abandono escolares van en aumento en los adolescentes y la desnutrición afecta a más del 25% de los niños de las minorías. En Argentina el ingreso de los trabajadores asalariados ha aumentado en más del 50% durante la década en términos reales, mientras que en los EE.UU. han disminuido en casi un 10%.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Dinámica de crecimiento del PIB de Argentina ha sido impulsado por el creciente del consumo interno y los ingresos de exportación dinámica. Argentina tiene un superávit comercial grande consistentes con la base de los precios favorables del mercado y mayor competitividad. En cambio el consumo interno se ha estancado en los EE.UU., el déficit comercial es cercano a los $ 1,5 billones de dólares y los ingresos se malgastan en gastos no productivos militar de más de $ 900 millones al año.</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lea</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="hps">también los artículos</span> <span class="hps">relacionados</span> <span class="hps">a</span> <span class="hps">historia heterodoxa</span> <span class="hps">de éxito económico de los ciudadanos argentinos</span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications">http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9">http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534453">http://issuu.com/washdiplomat/docs/diplomat.november2011</a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span class="hps"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Extractos</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="hps">del artículo</span> <span class="hps">anterior</span> <span class="hps">han sido adaptados</span> <span class="hps">por el Prof.</span> <span class="hps">James Petras</span> <span class="hps">artículo:</span> <span class="hps">"La Argentina</span> <span class="hps">de las crisis</span> <span class="hps">de</span> <span class="hps">crecimiento dinámico</span>"</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>

A HEMISFERIO SUR HISTORIA DE ÉXITO HETERODOXOS

  Spanish version of:  A Southern Hemisphere Heterodox Success Story posted 8th of November LECCIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECONOMÍA PARA EUROPA Al c...

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Greece

<div class="MsoNormal"><b>How convenient </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JHhs2Vl9IOptV-VyIDP9xHZOksoFeJAm3y2bqvBGFKHNkmVZwESk7EooVu0seAa5RcHQOGoORiep1-Gqwgf1BZ-0T7DAn9akCkB9hvhAVOALdw7446d8sjv38e6TDQmrT2MQcqicODUW/s1600/sarkozy-merkel-greece-bailout-deal.preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="st">Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou </span>had the courage to stand up against the “establishment”, invoking democracy via a popular referendum on Euro zone bailout, but was viciously reprimanded by the entire Euro Zone Technocrats, for Merkoyz (Merkel and Sarkozy) could not allow Greece to oppose the bailout Merkoyz (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a term created by Pepe Escoba, a journalist from Asian Times</i>) and their Franco – German banks intend to impose on Greece. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Should Papandreou go ahead with the referendum, Greece was threatened to be expelled from the EU, which de facto results in blackmailing Greece into submission, for who cares about the Greek people living under a de facto protectorate and losing over 50% of their standard of living, so foreign banks can be repaid? Who cares about Greece still buried under an - unsustainable - debt of 120% of their gross domestic product still by 2021?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPHfuxj9Xi1_TpGH4Z9qYDRL_n1rsNEfwC-PU0jeqN30Mj_sAt0_Txcbs8uPn8elcv3rKam3ww5WBuLFHB96sbZtI_xZDX0kuTDrke8II0MZdFrlPiCdjDgsQnPTDvIp2u2-K7BShJ_LB/s1600/saupload_100406_greece_bailout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So in the end Papandreou had to give in to the bureaucratic vultures at the European Commission, reject the popular referendum and resign in order for the financial establishment to push for “one of their own” to take over the reins in Greece, namely former deputy head of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos. How convenient? Now the “banksters” interests are protected and the banks can be bailed out. Where are we heading in Europe?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Feeling the pulse of the People</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Below are some comments made by “common people” from the German speaking part of Europe regarding the apparent appointment of former deputy head of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos as next Prime Minister of Greece.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN">……..Former</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN"> <span class="hps">IMF staff</span>, former <span class="hps">ECB staff</span>, former staff member <span class="hps">of the Boston</span> <span class="hps">Fed,</span> <span class="hps">a member of</span> <span class="hps">the</span> <span class="hps">"</span>Trilateral <span class="hps">Commission</span>" <span class="hps">- a perfect</span> <span class="hps">Globalist pack</span>. <span class="hps">World Government</span> <span class="hps">FTW………</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i><span lang="EN">Not even a protest from Papandreou helps</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN">: <span class="hps">state and people</span> <span class="hps">are</span> <span class="hps">disempowered</span>. <span class="hps">Solely</span> <span class="hps">the banksters</span> <span class="hps">are</span> <span class="hps">now</span> <span class="hps">calling the shots</span>. <span class="hps">This is a</span> <span class="hps">very</span> <span class="hps">worrying development</span> away from<span class="hps"> democracy!</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i><span lang="EN">In that case even Samaras </span></i></span><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN"> is better</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN"> <span class="hps">as</span> <span class="hps">prime minister</span> <span class="hps">than this</span> <span class="hps">puppet</span> Papademos who is another marionette of the<span class="hps"> IMF</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN">Former</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN"> <span class="hps">President</span> of <span class="hps">the</span> <span class="hps">ECB ...</span> <span class="hps">this indicates how “public friendly:” he will govern.</span> <span class="hps">Usually</span> <span class="hps">it's</span> <span class="hps">vice</span> <span class="hps">versa</span>, <span class="hps">policy-makers first</span> <span class="hps">serve</span> <span class="hps">a bank (Merkel for Deutsche Bank</span>) <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">then change</span> into<span class="hps"> the bank.</span> <span class="hps">Here</span> <span class="hps">we</span> <span class="hps">have a</span> <span class="hps">banker, who</span> <span class="hps">goes</span> <span class="hps">into politics, what interest will he defend, those</span> <span class="hps">of</span> <span class="hps">banks</span> <span class="hps">or</span> those of <span class="hps">the people??</span> You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer, <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">we</span> <span class="hps">put up with</span> <span class="hps">all</span> this!!! It’s pure <span class="hps">Madness</span>. <span class="hps">We can</span> <span class="hps">already</span> prepare ourselves for <span class="hps">record</span> <span class="hps">payments to Greece</span> <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">finally</span> <span class="hps">write off</span> <span class="hps">our education</span> <span class="hps">system</span> <span class="hps">due to</span> <span class="hps">lack of money</span> <span class="hps">for</span> <span class="hps">interest payments to the</span> <span class="hps">German bank. </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i><span lang="EN">In regards to last comment see related links: </span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /><span class="hps"></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fjzWwnvOHJA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjzWwnvOHJA&feature=player_embedded"><span lang="DE-AT"><br /></span></a></span></i></span><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT"></span></i></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Banking institutions are more dangerous than standing armies</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dateline Greece: Goldman, Just Pay Up</span></b><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="hps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/10/banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous.html"><span lang="EN-US">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/10/banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous.html</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Greece

How convenient  Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou had the courage to stand up against the “establishment”, invoking democracy vi...

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unpainted arizona

I'm a sucker for a good estate sale. Saturday mornings I'm granted a few hours to run away, thanks husband, and quietly walk thru people's homes and look thru their stuff. Totally normal and not the least bit freaky, right? Not only can you find great stuff (sometimes) but the people watching is just...wow.<br /><br />My expectations are always low so I'm giddy when I find something. Nothing I'm taking to the Antique Roadshow, but some fun stuff.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OXbY4UrBGhT-8RjWljBkbKjXzVWUK7dXB258t9OER1Om2HztY0f3yn430JtXIc8HSI6_8vYaSpwtzoRHxsThRacOXfdgDnusebj_1eap0fDBxY7ckcaTYHI5pLRp_Dhs1wQaoDY71pt/s1600/PB080838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OXbY4UrBGhT-8RjWljBkbKjXzVWUK7dXB258t9OER1Om2HztY0f3yn430JtXIc8HSI6_8vYaSpwtzoRHxsThRacOXfdgDnusebj_1eap0fDBxY7ckcaTYHI5pLRp_Dhs1wQaoDY71pt/s320/PB080838.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />I've been on the lookout for a side table for the living room that wasn't round, apparently I have a round table fetish, so I was happy to snag this one up for $15. And no, that isn't dust on that table, its someones sad attempt at sanding.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohQ9MRPWjfEYqfzCKmz4KGQIvm96tJDlTQ_EcyBffMT3taJ8dOLoCbGC2lv7phD-j2sBGK7ocSz4RSPpprm3ynjP_WDQEiOIA61i4YIxVhSepCerzy_mjOQgN8ewK0SoL-Jyhq8gE7c/s1600/PB080837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohQ9MRPWjfEYqfzCKmz4KGQIvm96tJDlTQ_EcyBffMT3taJ8dOLoCbGC2lv7phD-j2sBGK7ocSz4RSPpprm3ynjP_WDQEiOIA61i4YIxVhSepCerzy_mjOQgN8ewK0SoL-Jyhq8gE7c/s320/PB080837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />They got a bit further on the top of the table, but luckily for me, they gave up. Since this isn't some fab piece of craftsmanship (I would not be allowed in my parent's home if I painted a 'good' piece of furniture) I'm thinking I might do something fun like this.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeBUBo9j0JIu7nSwKJXjXTAgpJdL59Pnh3HvaN90X2gyxnHNvIF8s4dtmRPMOJpoKC_PxMXGSzFdn2Bbt4UbhnXxmvEEDOauN4hCk1WBs9wSlsKAYT07VS65FIBd9WnzSamVkpb04LRI/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518990726379625986" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/717695/8542295/_OwN4Pij9ra4/TJdk0ySIXgI/AAAAAAAACSc/zEInUlHl43Q/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great table top by <a href="http://www.hannahkateflora.com/imported-20101115054656/2010/9/20/street-merch-monday-wip-ba.html" target="_blank">Hannah Kate Flora</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Or maybe this.<br /><span id="1761938319729073564"></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPW2fRRR1fpz3p7lk3_j58ZGAKhc4LeEGmlvTp6adWTDT9XMMOl06rPaJPmWO154AsV_6MOlgOvbt1438duCtNQB2AJCU4HNKNprBnX1Up-OBwUL2S5BFjcNKRmSnQZK5M-pb3cBDTRc5/s640/bedroom-nickolsen4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPW2fRRR1fpz3p7lk3_j58ZGAKhc4LeEGmlvTp6adWTDT9XMMOl06rPaJPmWO154AsV_6MOlgOvbt1438duCtNQB2AJCU4HNKNprBnX1Up-OBwUL2S5BFjcNKRmSnQZK5M-pb3cBDTRc5/s640/bedroom-nickolsen4.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome dresser by <a href="http://nickolsenstyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/house-beautiful-small-spaces.html" target="_blank">Nick Olsen</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Or even something like this.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sydneybarton.com/2010/08/orange-retro-chest.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/308697298_mc1QYH30_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via Pinterest</td></tr></tbody></table>I keep you posted on what I decide.<br /><br /><div class="ImgLink" id="PinImage"></div><div>I also scored some great little trays and two Hermes boxes. All for $8. "What cha gonna do with those old boxes?" said the old man when I handed over my money. Good question old man. Good question.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMun59Tg3YJxopC4vh9UDwwHrHVqZpCXJjtbC3G9wtWnaF5kMiSo0xzm536OHTcglfw9CNDc3p_bPJ3T4BiwhTjTf3AcVsPPYRnuGyhRN6oUbzfuoOPN3c04ZdWHCifBizaDQHiPC4tdwv/s1600/PB080843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMun59Tg3YJxopC4vh9UDwwHrHVqZpCXJjtbC3G9wtWnaF5kMiSo0xzm536OHTcglfw9CNDc3p_bPJ3T4BiwhTjTf3AcVsPPYRnuGyhRN6oUbzfuoOPN3c04ZdWHCifBizaDQHiPC4tdwv/s320/PB080843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yIyOfp6JSZaVu2dcVChF3-jprvLvUyR-NgrJ_VmP5dv0sPqbkbRTj-t-TifCs4D26TGA_W2h1pF7TKt-eOjI9IM4mB16OhJY929tSpEboiBdkR9VMh-UEL5d9Z9y7GaoQ478gwRDUpX/s1600/PB080845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yIyOfp6JSZaVu2dcVChF3-jprvLvUyR-NgrJ_VmP5dv0sPqbkbRTj-t-TifCs4D26TGA_W2h1pF7TKt-eOjI9IM4mB16OhJY929tSpEboiBdkR9VMh-UEL5d9Z9y7GaoQ478gwRDUpX/s320/PB080845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2WwaILNm_-8gyvpfbuEJDxP-zTxgbCiGj4_la3K9KdGLeRG4LAoKPjLxJcwn7mAp16ltRVua1RHpmNhG6EV7Klrl3sZnTpwPnuNw0lv7kzgw9Zbs3Jx8VggeQ37yYt9rziTwN9YxkGa1/s1600/PB080846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2WwaILNm_-8gyvpfbuEJDxP-zTxgbCiGj4_la3K9KdGLeRG4LAoKPjLxJcwn7mAp16ltRVua1RHpmNhG6EV7Klrl3sZnTpwPnuNw0lv7kzgw9Zbs3Jx8VggeQ37yYt9rziTwN9YxkGa1/s320/PB080846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And a disclaimer regarding the post title. Not a day passes that I don't link at least a dozen thoughts in my head to movies. And I cannot think of painting furniture without thinking of Raising Arizona.  So you will often find references to movies in odd places when talking with me. I can't help it. It is just part of my <strike>problem </strike>charm.<br /><br />So have you had any luck at garage sales lately? Any ideas on good paint color/options for my table? You can't answer me because you are off to rent Raising Arizona at Red Box aren't you? I thought so.</div>

unpainted arizona

I'm a sucker for a good estate sale. Saturday mornings I'm granted a few hours to run away, thanks husband, and quietly walk thru pe...

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What Do You Do?

Today's post will be short and sweet.<br /><br />I want to know from you: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Do you tell people that you're on Weight Watchers? </i></b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(or, insert whatever eating plan you follow)</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>If "Yes"</u>:</div>If you do share your eating plan publicly, why do you choose to do it?  How do people react when you tell them?  Do you feel judged when you tell others that you're trying to eat more healthfully? <br /><br /><u>If "No"</u>: <br />If you don't share it, why do you choose not to share it with others?<br /><br />I would LOVE your feedback on this question!

Weight Loss Weight Watchers What Do You Do?

Today's post will be short and sweet. I want to know from you: Do you tell people that you're on Weight Watchers?   (or, insert what...

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Companies hiring in large volume

<br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px;"><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;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder</span></b></span></h1></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/9r/ar5l0b46yz93bz1lpy9r.gif?time=9/8/2011%2010:51:04%20am" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/9r/ar5l0b46yz93bz1lpy9r.gif?time=9/8/2011%2010:51:04%20am" /></a></div><div class="cbmsnArticleImage">There's an interesting dynamic going on in the job market right now. Despite the fact that millions of people can't find jobs, millions of employers can't seem to find the right employees, either.</div></div><div class="ArticleContent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In case you missed it, last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy created no jobs in August, and that the unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the same time, however, the BLS also reported that nearly 2.7 million jobs went unfilled in August, and, according to CareerBuilder's 2011 Q3 hiring forecast, 26 percent of employers report having difficulties filling open positions -- a 4 percent increase over 2010.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To help close this employment gap, and match job seekers in need of work with companies in need of their services, we've put together a list of employers that are hiring in large volume right now.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The following 14 companies have a combined total of nearly 10,000 job openings -- and they need employees as badly as you need a job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>1. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/PNC/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PNC</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available: </strong>1,000+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Mortgage loan officer, bank branch manager, software engineer, part-time teller, relationship manager and financial advisor</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>2. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/AON/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">AON</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available: </strong>1,390+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Risk management, insurance brokerage services, benefits outsourcing, human capital consulting and actuarial</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>3. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/u-haul/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">U-Haul</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 1,575+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: General manager and trainees, shop manager, customer care representative, programmer, web designer, traffic control manager, storage team manager, structural engineer, production manager and transfer driver</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>4. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/yellowbook/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Yellowbook</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 1,000+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: New media specialist, client service representative, entry-level customer service, finance, it- engineering, developer, programmer, entry-level production and entry-level field distribution management</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>5. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/comfort+keepers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Comfort Keepers</a></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/comfort+keepers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 900+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Caregiver, home health aide, LPN, personal care aide, registered nurse, community relations and marketing director</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>6. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/motorola+solutions/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Motorola Solutions</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 600+ globally</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Various IT and engineering roles: product manager, systems engineer, information security specialist and software engineer</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>7. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/red+ventures/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Red Ventures</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Inside sales, web developer, online marketing, sales trainer, corporate recruiter, php developer, sales recruiter, human resources and copywriter</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>8. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/bridgestone/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bridgestone Retail Operations</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Retail management trainee, retail sales (full-time and part-time), automotive technician (full-time and part-time) and automotive maintenance technician (full-time and part-time)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>9. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/earthlink/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Earthlink</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 300+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Account executive, major account executive, national account executive, system sales, channel sales, sales engineer, field technician, NOC technician and branch manager</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>10. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/unitek/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">UniTek Global Services</a></strong><strong></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>umber of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Cable installer, satellite installer and wireless installation project manager and foreman</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>11. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/certified+payment+processing/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Certified Payment Processing</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Outside sales</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>12. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/pilot+flying+j/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pilot Flying J</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Retail and restaurant managers</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>13. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/senior+helpers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Senior Helpers</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Certified nursing assistant, caregiver, scheduling coordinator, marketing manager, client services manager, community relations coordinator</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>14. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/harbor+freight+tools/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Harbor Freight Tools</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Field positions at all level within our stores, nationwide. Corporate positions in all functions: finance, legal, marketing, sourcing, category management, etc.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">See a job you're interested in? Check out these articles before you submit your application:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2532-Job-Search-Strategies-What-hiring-managers-really-want-to-see/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">What hiring managers really want to see</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2267-Job-Search-Strategies-3-things-that-make-you-irresistible-to-employers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3 things that make you irresistable to employers</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2379-Resumes-Cover-Letters-10-useless-r%c3%a9sum%c3%a9-words-and-10-eye-catching-ones/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10 useless resume words (and 10 eye-catching ones)</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2415-Job-Search-Strategies-Getting-results-10-strategies-for-job-search-success/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting results: 10 strategies for job search success</a></div></div>

Companies hiring in large volume

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder There's an interesting dynamic going on in the job market right now. Despite the fact that millions of peo...

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A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HETERODOX SUCCESS STORY

<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINE ECONOMY LESSON FOR EUROPE</b></span></div></div><div style="color: yellow; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to Argentine local main stream media, foreign media paint a somewhat different picture of the Eco-political situation of the country. In fact Argentina’s recovery after its default is frequently taken as the example on how Europe, to some extent, could overcome its economic crisis. In the German speaking part of Europe many Eco – political TV shows increasingly show interest in Argentines recovery and economic growth even though it did not adhere to IMF, World Bank and Wall Street doctrines, thus challenging “EUROCRATS” to follow suit. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As growth in Argentina continued, the critics in the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal claimed it would end once “unused capacity was exhausted”. Instead growth earnings financed the expansion of the domestic market and created new capacity for growth, especially to new markets in Asia and Brazil. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to thesis proclaimed by economic experts, Argentina still has a substantial amount of funds available and thus is not in immediate danger of running into financial problems. Argentina still draws from its favorable crop exports. Even if prices of soya are down, the ever increasing worldwide population increases the need to feed the people. Thus supply of food commodities will not subside, even if speculators manipulate price trends. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA CONFOUNDED THE PRESTIGIOUS ECONOMISTS </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Argentine experience goes counter to all the precepts of the international financial agencies (the IMF, World Bank), their political backers, and publicists in the financial press. From the first year (2003) of Argentina’s recovery to the present, the economic experts have “predicted” that its growth was “not sustainable” – it has continued robustly for over a decade. The financial writers claimed the default would lead to Argentina being shut out of financial markets and that its economy would collapse. Argentina relied on self-financing based on export earnings and re-activation of the domestic economy and confounded the prestigious economists.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE ARGENTINE ALTERNATIVE TO BAILOUTS AND POVERTY </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even as late as October 25, 2011, Financial Times columnists still prattle about “the coming crises” in the manner of messianic fundamentalists who predict the pending apocalypse. They harp on “high inflation”, “unsustainable social programs”, “overvalued currency”, and more predictions of “the end of prosperity”. All these dire warnings occur in the face of continued growth of 8% in 2011. Anglo-American financial scribes should focus on the demise of their free market regimes in Europe and North America instead of denigrating an economic experience from which they might learn. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(See: Food for Thought, the Anglo – Saxon Quest<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534439"> </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534439">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html</a><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html%20">)</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA IS NOT TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON PRIMARY EXPORTS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In refutation of the Wall Street critics, Mark Weisbrot and his associates point out (“The Argentina Success Story”, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Oct. 2011) that Argentina’s growth was based on the expansion of domestic consumption increased manufacturing exports to regional trading partners as well as traditional agro-mineral exports to Asia. In other words Argentina is not totally dependent on primary exports; it has balanced trade and is not over dependent on commodity prices. In regard to high inflation, Weisbrot points out that “inflation may be high in Argentina but it is real growth and income distribution that matter with regard to the well-being of the vast majority of population”. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyNUzqlDNeA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina created a state more accommodative to its political project of financing economic competitiveness, new markets and social programs. Argentina ensured that the banking sector financed the growth of the export sector, manufactures and domestic consumption. Argentina imposed a 75% “haircut” on bondholders in order to finance social spending. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Argentina the economic catastrophe provided Argentines with an opportunity to bring about a basic shift from speculative pillage to social programs and sustained economic growth. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The current government reflects its success in creating a ‘normal’ capitalist welfare state. After 30 years of US backed predator neo-liberal regimes, this move stimulated great positive change. From 1983to 1989 Argentina’s suffered under a neo-liberal regime (Raul Alfonsin) which failed to deal with the dictatorial legacy and which presided over triple digit hyper-inflation. From 1989 – 1999 under President Carlos Menem Argentina witnessed the biggest sell-off of its most lucrative public firms, natural resources (petrol included), banks, highways, to foreign investors and kleptocratic cronies for bargain basement prices. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least, Fernando De la Rua (2000 – 2001), promised change and proceeded to deepen the recession that led to the final catastrophic crash of December 2001 and the closing of the banks, the bankruptcy of 10,000 firms and the collapse of the economy. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Against this background of total and unmitigated failure and the human disaster of US – IMF promoted “free-market” policies, Kirchner/Fernandez defaulted on the external debt, re-nationalized several privatized firms and the pension funds, intervened the banks and doubled social spending, expanded public investment in production and increased popular consumption, on the road to economic recovery. By the end of 2003 Argentina turned from negative to 8% growth. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND INDEPENDENT FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b> </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina’s economy has grown over 90% from 2003 – 2011, over three times that of the United States. Its recovery has been accompanied by a tripling of social spending, especially on programs reducing poverty. The percentage of poor Argentines has declined from over 50% in 2001 to less than 15% in 2011. In contrast US poverty has risen over the same decade from 12% to 17% and is on an upward trajectory over the same period. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The US has become the country with the greatest inequalities in the OECD with 1% controlling 40% of the country’s wealth, (up from 30% in less than a decade). In contrast, Argentina’s inequalities have shrunken by half. The US economy has failed to recover from the deep recession of 2008-2009, during which it declined by over 8%. In contrast Argentina declined less than 1% in 2009, and has been growing at a healthy 8% (2010-2011). Argentina has nationalized pension funds, doubled basic pensions and introduced a universal child welfare program to counter malnutrition and guarantee school attendance. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In contrast 20% of children in the US are now suffering from poor diets, drop-out rates are increasing for adolescents and malnutrition affects over 25% of minority children. In Argentina the income of wage and salaried workers has increased over 50% over the decade in real terms, while in the US they have declined by nearly 10%. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina’s dynamic growth of GNP has been fueled by growing domestic consumption and dynamic export earnings. Argentina has a consistent large trade surplus based on favorable market prices and increased competitiveness. In contrast domestic consumption has stagnated in the US, the trade deficit is close to $1.5 trillion dollars and revenues are wasted on non-productive military expenditures of over $900 billion a year. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Read also related articles on Argentines heterodox economic success story</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications">http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9">http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534453">http://issuu.com/washdiplomat/docs/diplomat.november2011</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Extracts of </span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: small;">Prof.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b style="color: black;">James PETRAS</b> </span>article: “Argentina, from crises to dynamic growth” have been adapted into this article.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HETERODOX SUCCESS STORY

ARGENTINE ECONOMY LESSON FOR EUROPE Contrary to Argentine local main stream media, foreign media paint a somewhat different picture of the ...

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THE HCG PROTOCOL IS NOT FOR SISSIES

<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever considered what it would emotionally feel like to be limited to less than 500 calories of food, while living amongst gluttons? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For most, when considering the benefits versus the risks of the hCG protocol, emotional hardship isn’t well thought-out. Instead, the biggest influence when deciding to do the protocol, is potential weight-loss.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They’re tired of battling with weight, and frustrated with the diet industry’s failure to make a difference. They think, “If what thousands of people proclaim on the Internet is true-- eating such a small amount of food must be worth it.” There’s no hunger, the food is simple, and if the weight is lost as fast as everyone says, how could the protocol be difficult?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This mentality is naive. The hCG protocol requires the participant eat 500 calories in food for about a month, and when done correctly, hunger may limit eating to even less. Take a step back and observe this amount of food. Compare it against the backdrop of our normal cultural eating behavior. Notice the difference? Our culture is the most gluttonous and dysfunctional culture with food --in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Universe</u></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on food, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and what’s ironic is that we spend billions, <em>trying not to eat it</em>. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><em></em><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hCG protocol is the extreme opposite.</span>The naivety is in thinking that weight-loss will perpetually motivate us to eat less, even amongst friends, family, and coworkers who eat significantly more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to believe that without hunger you’ll be emotionally resilient-- is crazy! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">How many of you eat without hunger? When you’re bored, when you’re celebrating, when you’re drunk, have the munchies, when you’ve had a difficult day at work, to suppress negative feelings about someone, or to avoid having to talk to strangers in social settings? Anybody who thinks that hunger is why American’s eat too much, needs a reality check.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you ask anybody who is obese how often they’re hungry (I’m talking true physical hunger), they will tell you they’re not hungry that often. However, for reasons I’m not going to explain in this blog, their hunger occurs more rapidly than others who have less fat. In general, they’re not hungry for breakfast; they could wait hours and hours before feeling that physical irritation and urgency to eat, and they don’t need as much food to reduce hunger. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This makes sense, considering the science that has proven the more fat a person has, the higher (exponentially) their blood leptin levels are. Leptin, in the brain, reduces hunger. So it makes sense that if you have more leptin, you’re going to experience hunger less often. But does lack of hunger and weight loss keep you from continually eating with the rest of our gluttonous culture? Probably not. Otherwise the first diet you ever attempted would have worked long term.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hCG protocol is not as easy as you think. It requires you eat less than what small children eat, and for over a month. If you live in America, that means you’re going to be constantly surrounded by food commercials, surrounded by restaurants and fast food joints on every corner, and will have invitations to eat all the time-- for any reason.  Our culture is defined by eating and food, so to think any amount of fat loss would completely overhaul your desires to eat is naïve.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before considering the hCG protocol, take into account the desire and emotional strength you’re going to have to develop to let go of excessive emotional eating. And to keep from gaining fat back, you'll have to let go of emotional eating forever. Are you ready to divorce this gluttonous way of life? Do you really want to let go of food emotionally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Are you seeking an intrinsic desire to eat less, whether you lose weight or not? If so, the hCG protocol will change your life. Your body will heal and your relationship with food will too. With freedom from emotional eating as your goal, consider yourself anything but a sissy, and ready to take on the hCG protocol challenge.</span></div>

THE HCG PROTOCOL IS NOT FOR SISSIES

Have you ever considered what it would emotionally feel like to be limited to less than 500 calories of food, while living amongst gluttons?...

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Today is the day

I haven't discussed the real reason I'm in Fairbanks because it was kind of top secret. Since all involved parties now know why I'm here, and the court hearing is at 11 a.m. today, I can talk about it.<br /><br />On Tuesday of last week I received two very disturbing phone calls. I'd only been home for three days, having returned from a three-week stay in Fairbanks to help care for my sister in her home (two weeks) and then help her transition to an assisted living home (another week).<br /><br />The first phone call was from the owner of the assisted living home where my sister resides. She was very upset regarding my crazy niece's last two visits to my sister on October 30 and 31. The first visit involved my niece and four teenage boys she brought with her (two children were my niece's sons and two were another niece's grandsons). There was a lot of disruption, with my niece screaming at the boys to behave and then demanding the staff make lunch for the four boys. Not only was my sister upset, but so was the staff and the other residents of the home. The owner was very upset, but there was more.<br /><br />The second visit involved the Alaska State Protective Services (APS), which were called by the owner of the home during the second visit on Oct. 31. My niece became verbally abusive to both women when they discussed the previous day's visit. She screamed at them that she wanted her mother moved out of the home to the Pioneers Home (an institution-like setting), and furthermore, all her mother's money was gone (there was $50,000 cash in my sister's bank accounts five weeks ago, my niece had me look at the accounts online). She stated she wasn't paying next month's fee of $7,500. All of this was said (screamed) in front of my sister.<br /><br />APS called me next, and reiterated everything the owner of the home had told me. <br /><br />Both the owner of the home and APS requested I immediately file for emergency full guardianship of my sister. This had been discussed at length during the previous weeks. Even though my sister has three daughters, none of them are capable of handling her medical and financial affairs.<br /><br />I discussed this with my other niece, the one that's clinically depressed and has been for seventeen years. She's on a lot of medications for her mental condition and is barely holding on. Both her and her husband (the saint that helped care for my sister during the two weeks after her release from the hospital), agreed I was the best choice. This niece doesn't feel like she can handle it, and I understand. She's extremely close to her mother and she's best at sitting by my sister's bed and holding her hand. Paperwork, paying bills and handling tough decisions isn't something she's capable of doing.<br /><br />Of course I didn't talk to my other niece, the one that has caused extreme mental distress for this entire family, and especially for my sister. She's already proven she can't handle the responsibility.<br /><br />There's a third niece that I've only seen twice since my sister's stroke. She lives here (for free in one of the apartments that my sister owns, about 1/2 mile from he home where my sister resides). She's caused a lot of problems for my sister since she was adopted at six years old (she's the only adopted daughter). She came from a home with two alcoholic parents that were charged with abandonment. She came with a lot of emotional and mental issues. She was basically written out of the trust by my sister, so she's really not even in the picture when it comes to the care of my sister.<br /><br />In the past three days, I would awake every morning at 3:30 a.m., get up and work on a document I was writing for the court. It outlined the series of events that led me to the decision to apply for full guardianship. I would work on it for three hours each morning. The document only touched on a few of the things my niece has done over the last seven weeks, since my sister's stroke. I was preparing it for the Court Visitor, who makes the final decision in the guardianship, both the emergency hearing (which is today) and the final decision for permanent guardianship (which will be in February). Even though it was just a snapshot of some of the horrors that have happened, it was eight pages long. Fortunately, the Court Visitor told me more information is better than less. She was glad I'd written such a lengthy document, to help her with her decision.<br /><br />I met with the Court Visitor yesterday, and we discussed for an hour the reasons I was applying for guardianship. She almost couldn't believe some of the things I told her about my niece. She told me it was almost a slam-dunk that I would be awarded guardianship. The big gun for me is that the State of Alaska Attorney General's office has filed the petition on my behalf, along with APS (they even waived the fees since they were filing). They both recommend me as guardian for my sister. In addition, they'll have a lawyer from the Attorney General's office in court today to represent me. <br /><br />It's sort of odd how things work out. The Court Visitor told me she'd stop by and visit my sister yesterday afternoon. I headed over to see my sister at 11 a.m., and brought my sister a bouquet of fresh flowers, a new makeup mirror to put on her beside table so she can learn how to apply her own makeup (something she hasn't even tried yet and I've been doing for her every day), and a new picture to put on one of her walls. At the same time I was arriving, there was Carrie Ann, the Court Visitor. How odd that she actually came in the morning when she said she was coming in the afternoon, and that I was arriving at the exact same time. <br /><br />She talked with my sister about the guardianship, and my sister indicated she understood. Both my brother and I had already explained it to her, and why I was taking control away from her daughter. As the Court Visitor talked to my sister, she started to cry, but I expected she would cry. The entire issue with her daughter has been very upsetting to her. It breaks my heart that I can't fix her daughter for her, but at least I can protect my sister from her craziness. My sister indicated to the Court Visitor that she was okay with the change. I know my sister never expected that with having four children (her son committed suicide 20 years ago), that her baby sister (me - 17 years younger than my sister) would have to take over her affairs some day.<br /><br />Another odd event, I've been staying at the Westmark Hotel here in Fairbanks. I love this hotel. It's where our crew stays (I work for an airline that flies into Fairbanks) and I get a really good rate. They upgraded me to a suite this time for the same price (so I don't have to eat out!). It's also only two blocks from my sister's assisted living home. I feel safe in this hotel, and it's very comfortable (with awesome staff).<br /><br />When I asked to extend my stay through Friday they told me I'd have to move out for 10/7 and 10/8. I pleaded and begged to stay, they said there was a convention and 14 people ahead of me on a wait list. The timing was all wrong for me to have to move (I needed my internet connection to remain unbroken...court documents, emails, etc.). Every day I'd check with the front desk (they all know me). I asked about their no-show factor (there are 400 rooms here - there must be no-shows). They said they rarely have even one no-show, and sorry, but I'd have to leave for those two days. Guess what? Yesterday morning as I was reluctantly looking online for another hotel the front desk called my room. There were 25 no-shows and I could stay here for the rest of my stay through Friday.<br /><br />It's so weird how so many things have fallen into place for me throughout this entire ordeal. Just odd little things that have made things much easier to deal with.<br /><br />One tiny thing happened two nights ago that annoyed the hell out of me. Someone stole my extension cord that I used to plug in my rental car. I have to park in back of the hotel where they have deadbolt heaters and yesterday morning, the extension cord was missing. It belongs to the rental car agency, and I'm going to have to buy another one in case the temperature plunges below zero. It's been hovering above zero (like + 5 or +10 degrees), but tomorrow it's suppose to get down to -12 degrees. <br /><br />It's been non-stop snowing since I got here and the roads are beyond horrible. I had two really close call car accidents yesterday. Both by giant pickup trucks that practically ran me over, through no fault of my own. They act like they own the freaking road, whipping through parking lots, not paying attention to anyone else. I have a tiny Ford Focus. It must be the world's smallest car. Maybe they don't see me because it's so tiny, but my heart practically stopped twice yesterday when I had two near misses with pickup trucks. Fortunately, no accidents so far, but it's sure scary driving around here. The car stops really well, it just can't take off very well on the ice. It doesn't have studded snow tires which I find really strange. I also often can't tell where the road is, or if it's two lanes or one because there's so much ice and snow packed on the roads. Hopefully I'll make it through the rest of the week accident free.<br /><br />It's almost 6 a.m. so I'm going to get dressed and head over to the gym (they call it "the club" here, it's kind of a nice gym). I'm not sure if I mentioned it but I spoke to the salesperson at the gym where my sister has gone five days a week for almost four years, and asked for a week long free pass. I told them why I was here, and that I live in Seattle and wasn't going to join their gym. I indicated that my sister is still paying for her membership, and she can't use it since she had a stroke, so could I get a pass to go with my niece to water aerobics. They said yes (although I hate water aerobics but I'll go if she goes...she's not going today...this is my good niece).<br /><br />I'm going to do some cardio and weights, to get myself prepared for the battle of my  life today. I expect fireworks if my crazy niece shows up, and I'm pretty sure she'll be there. My other niece, her husband and my brother will all be there to support me. It should be interesting. :)<br /><br />

Today is the day

I haven't discussed the real reason I'm in Fairbanks because it was kind of top secret. Since all involved parties now know why I...

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Pandora Bracelet

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I picked up my new Pandora bracelet on Saturday in lieu of <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/11/4th-weigh-in-results-sickness-update.html">achieving another weight loss goal</a>.  This bracelet has been a long time coming, and I'm so excited to have finally purchased it.  My original plan was to get a charm for every 5 lbs goal I meet, starting with the most recent one.  However, there are two other 5 lbs goals I met and I would love a charm to represent those first two achievements as well - as a clear reminder as to how far I've come.  I'll be on the lookout for two more charms in the coming weeks for sure.<br /><br />What do you think of these?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSbnhfZNi5_kTrHv5rOYCDEozuclRAvjkSDC-GYtXUdrq577xk9weMj9RNDEP8W_GxzAHfG6DiLKMXxC_fOchULz_X7XosAbve5vOfZ4qTnYZ-UcwmSv-VLEPXmTS3uPSQYE_zJyEmBw/s1600/charm+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSbnhfZNi5_kTrHv5rOYCDEozuclRAvjkSDC-GYtXUdrq577xk9weMj9RNDEP8W_GxzAHfG6DiLKMXxC_fOchULz_X7XosAbve5vOfZ4qTnYZ-UcwmSv-VLEPXmTS3uPSQYE_zJyEmBw/s1600/charm+1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1> <a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/003527.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bead Cross W And Cz</span></a></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBDlLtklniBBncFVp-bwZ6juWrhiBnZBr2YB5uwOIHpI0CHCtp16_UY8qywFAYA0vJmEWxnGf_U9tIE1y5UYYfj5PcKJPJVNA7pd8baKD37hNWCiBrqdst_M5do9RcM-nCnOy9mueHII/s1600/charm+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBDlLtklniBBncFVp-bwZ6juWrhiBnZBr2YB5uwOIHpI0CHCtp16_UY8qywFAYA0vJmEWxnGf_U9tIE1y5UYYfj5PcKJPJVNA7pd8baKD37hNWCiBrqdst_M5do9RcM-nCnOy9mueHII/s1600/charm+3.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/000365.html">Bead Tea Pot</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/012715.html">Inner Strength</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I will probably go with the first 2, but I'll have to see them in person to make the decision!<br /><br />After selecting the specific Pandora bracelet style (a sterling silver one with the Pandora clasp), I moved on to the decision of what to get for my very first charm.  This charm was going to be very meaningful for me on so many levels.  Not only would this represent my having lost over 15 lbs so far, but it was going to serve as a reminder to me as to why I'm doing this journey.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi23fRk94cXSv-Eu83diHA6oaKuoq0p6rX2cGvW6rbzDfEfZyX1Kua9gM-KX1sKTOzA4186MVnXFSU3ggyaJ1HSmMziFySBiCGXi5CpZ1gfG75hWCXlZdQXky_5_QWR56_5XU3oNFp-Y/s1600/bracelet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi23fRk94cXSv-Eu83diHA6oaKuoq0p6rX2cGvW6rbzDfEfZyX1Kua9gM-KX1sKTOzA4186MVnXFSU3ggyaJ1HSmMziFySBiCGXi5CpZ1gfG75hWCXlZdQXky_5_QWR56_5XU3oNFp-Y/s400/bracelet+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "Pandora" clasp</td></tr></tbody></table>You see, on Wednesday, November 9, my family and I will be honoring the life of my grandmother, Clara Mabel, as we mark the one year anniversary since her death.  Earlier this year, <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/drawing-inspiration-from-places-other.html">I shared</a> how seeing her in the hospital last November, suffering from cancer and a host of other illnesses, made it abundantly clear to me that I needed to make a life change now while I was fully capable.  The same week my grandmother passed away, I joined the local gym. <br /><br />Now, almost a year later, I am happy to say that I haven't given up on this journey, despite the slow rate of weight loss I've experienced.     <br /><br />It was my grandmother who inspired me to do this once and for all, and I know she would be especially proud of me today for removing these 16 lbs.  It's not an easy journey.  She knew that just as well as the rest of us Weight Watchers. <br /><br />And so my first charm had to be representative of her.  Something that I could glance at and immediately know, "Yes, that is the first charm I bought on this weight loss journey.  That is the one that honors Grandma."<br /><br />I chose a sterling silver flower with a purple amethyst stone in the center.  Purple was her favorite color.  The charm is perfect!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxJb_4KgW75219uJe9z67mdTcwPXv_2MSYaF0Ho7cTgL9NXbq7gaVXrFinkKSZzpMbwrm7DfVvHUIe3XwznoXEfixdXdgtWJ6cQxrMROs05pSqKtsfcctw3ESw4vGo5_Y2dlEIZZZOSc/s1600/bracelet+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxJb_4KgW75219uJe9z67mdTcwPXv_2MSYaF0Ho7cTgL9NXbq7gaVXrFinkKSZzpMbwrm7DfVvHUIe3XwznoXEfixdXdgtWJ6cQxrMROs05pSqKtsfcctw3ESw4vGo5_Y2dlEIZZZOSc/s400/bracelet+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And while we were in the store, Joel liked the idea of the bracelet so much that he also bought me a charm.  I know not many of you know Joel personally, but if you do, you can imagine which one he picked :). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8bZvaEj0o3yVX8mbpr2kKNTgacfL6y-EQN3Maw3AWJ-ibp9xmgxayObmrwyHbhjKjUxGjdZ6IGuGj7aXikPqCsf7f0ID5BE76grFezRGMgGLyHpdQ4WaxZWBl5rnXH1T7zaLE2LeMF0/s1600/bracelet+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8bZvaEj0o3yVX8mbpr2kKNTgacfL6y-EQN3Maw3AWJ-ibp9xmgxayObmrwyHbhjKjUxGjdZ6IGuGj7aXikPqCsf7f0ID5BE76grFezRGMgGLyHpdQ4WaxZWBl5rnXH1T7zaLE2LeMF0/s400/bracelet+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm so pleased with my Pandora bracelet, and would strongly recommend it as a great tool to showcase your weight loss, if to no one else but yourself!  It is a constant visual reminder as to how far I've come (and will be even more so once I add those two additional charms).  Not only that, but I don't want to reverse the progress I've made, and so when I'm craving a snack size Reese Peanut Butter pumpkin, all I have to do is glance down at the bracelet and it forces me to ask myself, "Is it really worth it?". It is quite a large investment up front (the bracelet itself was $65, the flower charm $75, and the 2 clips were $35 each), but after that initial upfront cost, charms vary in price enough that they can be (somewhat) affordable (as low as $30 that I've seen).  <br /><br />How do you put your weight loss efforts into perspective?

goals Weight Loss Weight Watchers Pandora Bracelet

I picked up my new Pandora bracelet on Saturday in lieu of achieving another weight loss goal .  This bracelet has been a long time coming, ...

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8 important tips for Skype interviews

<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/fr/ar5l22n5yp17k2n5mcfr.gif?time=6/17/2011%206:24:10%20pm" /></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b> </div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With video interviews becoming more common during hiring, not being prepared can easily keep you out of the running. While meeting via video is time saver, getting past the technological barriers of not speaking face-to-face can be difficult. Be sure you're prepared and use Skype to your advantage, experts say. For one, use your computer screen to refer hiring managers to your achievements or provide explanations. "Prepare a digital portfolio that you can link to during the interview or show the interviewer your screen, which has a sample of your work," says <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> expert Marian Schembari, who adds that you can also send relevant links through the chat function.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Looking for more ways to impress? Here's how to handle a Skype or video interview:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. Look at the camera, not the screen</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It can be confusing, but when you're looking at your monitor it actually makes the interviewer feel as if you're looking away. Instead, look directly at the video camera you're using for your interview. And although you're not making eye contact in the traditional sense, this is the way that the interviewer perceives that you're looking straight ahead.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. Be aware of interruptions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Since you're used to living in the house, it can be easy to forget to turn off a phone or not warn family members to give you some privacy, Schembari says. Have a plan for whatever distractions you have in your house, including children and dogs. "Too many people don't take [Skype interviews] as seriously as in-person interviews, but you need to be just as professional here," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. Practice in front of a mirror</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During the interview, you can see yourself in the video camera, which can be startling if you've never seen yourself speak. "It's important to get familiar with your own facial expressions when you talk," says Colleen Aylward, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/CEO/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">chief executive</a> of InterviewStudio Inc., a company that offers video interview capabilities. "It also gets rid of some of the camera shyness."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. Mind the background</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Your surroundings can say a lot about how you've prepared for the interview, so it's important to put your best foot forward. "Shoot your video against a blank wall or a warm one-color background," Aylward suggests. "Clear off your desk, or have only awards and certificates in the background."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. Avoid patterned clothing</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wear a shirt that's business casual and complimentary to your skin tone. Avoid patterns that come across as too loud on screen, such as anything floral or bright stripes. Clothing can distract the interviewer from the information conveyed during the conversation, so it's important to plan your outfit carefully.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>6. Conduct a mock interview</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Being comfortable with the technology prevents the added stress from a tech malfunction. Find a person you trust and use Skype or other video conferencing software to conduct a mock interview. You're bound to make mistakes, so it's best to practice with someone who can provide honest feedback.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>7. Test audio and video</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just because your laptop has a built-in video camera and microphone doesn't mean the quality is up to par. Instead, test out the video and audio capabilities on your computer and decide whether you need to buy a headset with a microphone or an attachable video camera. Before the interview, some companies may send their own video devices to applicants.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>8. Add extra enthusiasm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Any news announcer will tell that your reactions translate differently when on-screen, so it's important to compensate with extra enthusiasm and concise answers. Additionally, speak succinctly and remember that speed is important, Aylward says. "Practice speaking more quickly than you normally do," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Alina Dizik 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>

8 important tips for Skype interviews

Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder   With video interviews becoming more common during hiring, not being prepared can easily keep you out...

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Don't forget to document your day on 11.11.11 with iEARN.org

Here is a message from Omashani our Projects Manager at SchoolNetSA:<br /><br />"On Friday 11 November 2011, students and teachers from around the world will document parts of their day using video, photography, writing, and other media. We hope you and your students can join us! For this special event, we are teaming up with filmmakers at <a href="http://www.onedayonearth.org">http://www.onedayonearth.org</a> who worked with us last year on 10.10.10. Keep in mind that this event is not a video-only event. It is also part of our regular iEARN One Day in the Life project, so we will soon be setting up special discussion areas for 11/11/11, including places for students to publish text posts and other media. (Even if your students use video, we ask that you post a link to it in the iEARN forums, so that the younger students and the non-video-making students can view, enjoy, and respond to them.) This project is facilitated by Marta Garcia Lorea (Argentina) and Chris Baer (USA). Learn more about the project, and connect, on the One Day in the Life Project Page."<br /><br />Watch this video about 10.10.10 (last year)<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18910284?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="/18910284">One Day on Earth Video Map Trailer</a> from <a href="/onedayonearth">One Day On Earth</a> on <a href="/">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Collaboration Project-based learning Don't forget to document your day on 11.11.11 with iEARN.org

Here is a message from Omashani our Projects Manager at SchoolNetSA: "On Friday 11 November 2011, students and teachers from around the...

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EUROPEAN STABILITY MECHANISM (ESM) - A NEW DICTATORSHIP

<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is this the end to the sovereign democracies in Europe?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gls3pO-94b4?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

EUROPEAN STABILITY MECHANISM (ESM) - A NEW DICTATORSHIP

Is this the end to the sovereign democracies in Europe?

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Set up a group email account using Gmail

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of Google's great offerings is Gmail. You can do so much with a Gmail email account. Have you ever wondered how to set up a group email in Gmail? I have been wondering about this and today I set myself up to learn how to do it.  It is really not as difficult as I thought. Here is a video explanation from YouTube:<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3oYFrIK_7Zg" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />This type of account is useful to teachers to possibly set up a Gmail group account for homework help for example. <br /><br />Other interesting posts relating to Gmail are as follows:<br />1) Some Gmail tips worth knowing about:<br /><a href="http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/08/awesome-gmail-tips-gmail-as-you-have.html">http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/08/awesome-gmail-tips-gmail-as-you-have.html</a><br /><br />2) This Gmail trick is very useful for teachers who want to add safe email accounts for students <br /><a href="http://www.markbrumley.com/2010/02/18/the-gmail-trick-once-and-for-all/">http://www.markbrumley.com/2010/02/18/the-gmail-trick-once-and-for-all/</a></div>

Gmail google Set up a group email account using Gmail

One of Google's great offerings is Gmail. You can do so much with a Gmail email account. Have you ever wondered how to set up a group em...

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