Mad Men Style

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>by guest contributor Christian Esquevin</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7TFEvUKdxfEp4ssieooaBSy4L-cGVk2o2DCokEZvxsDvywGrzRjpupU5QbUGAE4Iuizxy3Zuz1ZMTgHJ6uthAyj10JqeuE0SCrgLOYpRlokChmyHtd5Qwy6_TZvLHBo-Jvk-cNipGBW/s1600/Christian+falling+man.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7TFEvUKdxfEp4ssieooaBSy4L-cGVk2o2DCokEZvxsDvywGrzRjpupU5QbUGAE4Iuizxy3Zuz1ZMTgHJ6uthAyj10JqeuE0SCrgLOYpRlokChmyHtd5Qwy6_TZvLHBo-Jvk-cNipGBW/s1600/Christian+falling+man.png" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The thing that makes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men </i>such a perfect television series is its “all-of-a-piece” quality. It has all of its elements operating at a high level and fully integrated into a drama geared towards adults. This goes well beyond high production values, or even great writing – it is a seamless creation mixing fascinating characters, interesting plots, evocative sets and costumes, a down-to earth reality needing no gratuitous violence. It is a perfectly pegged recreation of the Zeitgeist - not just of the world of advertising - but of urban America at the turn of the 1960s. Despite its very real display of sexism in society and in the workplace, including the very negative consequences of that mindset, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men </i>is mainly the story of one man and his perilous perch high atop the hierarchy of a corporate ad agency. The series title is a play on “ad men” and Madison Avenue, where the big ad agencies were located.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-re1Rco3m_9wtgdqfrFqQoRG6bQ6JEnCweFAy0e3QWuj-p5hyIT2x8HPVGF9yEwXvHBkBuIUhxLZfX1BflIu-g5AkSE0rA0-97b-w5L8rsYDiJaPtSNNr_z0WabrHN0KBPiDhJK_Qipa/s1600/Christian+group+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-re1Rco3m_9wtgdqfrFqQoRG6bQ6JEnCweFAy0e3QWuj-p5hyIT2x8HPVGF9yEwXvHBkBuIUhxLZfX1BflIu-g5AkSE0rA0-97b-w5L8rsYDiJaPtSNNr_z0WabrHN0KBPiDhJK_Qipa/s1600/Christian+group+shot.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The opening title graphic and much of the show’s advertising uses the art and theme of a man falling from of a skyscraper. The new 5^th season advertising art of the falling man in New York was printed on reflective plastic so it would show the surrounding skyscrapers as backdrop – causing a bit of a controversy by recalling bad memories of scenes from the Twin Towers. Regardless, it is no accident that the show’s creator Matthew Weiner was influenced by the aesthetics of Alfred Hitchcock. The character Don Draper is very much living a dilemma like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vertigo’s </i>Scottie Ferguson, not because of a fear of heights like Jimmy Stewart, but rather of crumbling along with his stolen identity and the edifice he has constructed of his life. “Who is Don Draper” a reporter asked him in Season 4. Very few people know, and those characters have been mostly dying off, including the real Don Draper himself. In a rare display of self-analysis, Don took up a diary in a 4^th season episode titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer Man</i>: “When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him. If you listen, he'll tell you how he got there. How he forgot where he was going, and that he woke up. If you listen, he'll tell you about the time he thought he was an angel or dreamt of being perfect. And then he'll smile with wisdom, content that he realized the world isn't perfect. We're flawed, because we want so much more. We're ruined, because we get these things, and wish for what we had.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkP0_qtOV3nDhQ9fSTzfprLoTR9TCFbELj2iRm-mluav8Dqll2RbsjA-2luTuj4Mfztvi4ZDt4Riwb1EsWgt2YMy1No2w6UxwIjqhRfjJqsFkwI21NijAAECCIVOgl3DLp8LsNuyyuO0T/s1600/Christian+group+at+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkP0_qtOV3nDhQ9fSTzfprLoTR9TCFbELj2iRm-mluav8Dqll2RbsjA-2luTuj4Mfztvi4ZDt4Riwb1EsWgt2YMy1No2w6UxwIjqhRfjJqsFkwI21NijAAECCIVOgl3DLp8LsNuyyuO0T/s1600/Christian+group+at+bar.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men</i> is full of metaphors that enhance the theme of the show and add layers of meaning, but we are still trapped like voyeurs watching unfold a real life drama. One of those subtle metaphors is that Don seems to be the only person that carries keys. He can use them boldly when entering his domain, clumsily when he’s drunk, or nervously shaking them in his apartment door lock when he thinks the FBI is tailing him. At his low point, he forgets them completely and relies on his secretary to deliver them to his apartment, where she finds him asleep in the hallway. The show is all-of-a-piece because, in a story about how advertising creates images for products, the show creates images for the characters in the plot, and the characters are involved in creating their own images of themselves. As Don Draper says, “You are the product.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZMrZXzHlYbgDcKuc50GbLJE94rS6ck2GgqsUAnbEBofpfBdbb1h8fXuOJtlBMFS3XLwb7sFxKCwjRve3Rrs1qb8BqwSkwvZgqX6oUzRpqtWCKtqCrZNBu2wK-jpiY07myEigABuUy5Vo/s1600/Christian+don+at+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZMrZXzHlYbgDcKuc50GbLJE94rS6ck2GgqsUAnbEBofpfBdbb1h8fXuOJtlBMFS3XLwb7sFxKCwjRve3Rrs1qb8BqwSkwvZgqX6oUzRpqtWCKtqCrZNBu2wK-jpiY07myEigABuUy5Vo/s1600/Christian+don+at+desk.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Man with the voice - Jon Hamm as Don Draper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The show’s hallmark is its obsessive attention to visual detail. This provides the audience with a rich experience through the recreation of the early 1960s: the clothes people wore; the interior architecture of their offices and homes; and the sparkle of those material things that they crave. That re-creation of the era was taken so far by Matthew Weiner that he cast actors based on whether they had that late 1950s-early 1960s look. For example, Jom Hamm as Don Draper could not be a muscled actor, a rare trait in the early 1960s. Similarly, <span style="color: black;">Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris needed to have a full-figured, hour-glass silhouette (though helped by padding). But Jon Hamm as Don Draper was the perfect choice, not only does he have the looks that slays the ladies, but he has the voice – that smooth deep soothing voice that could sell snowballs in Alaska.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCokdLHej4czBBdA2w-lltFbvtZRERxILNcWtyNxwI-c8dDFzP-74f4n7QhLc2qxDOl29yOXscptU696aCiEcotr_gsBxBACNMi9zpr2WVjtIoyhD0Jy-5dz5SYoV-KgFBzbYHDQD2i3la/s1600/Christian+sec+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCokdLHej4czBBdA2w-lltFbvtZRERxILNcWtyNxwI-c8dDFzP-74f4n7QhLc2qxDOl29yOXscptU696aCiEcotr_gsBxBACNMi9zpr2WVjtIoyhD0Jy-5dz5SYoV-KgFBzbYHDQD2i3la/s1600/Christian+sec+pool.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The secretarial pool at Sterling Cooper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The set design recreates the world of the early 1960s when America had the world by its tail. The interior office architecture was planned not just for efficiency, but to show the benefits of modernity and the use of the same kinds of products the ad agency helps sell. The buildings were in the “International Style’ of modern architecture. The offices had wood paneling and Danish influenced furniture. The chairs and couches were streamlined and low to the ground. Windows had Venetian blinds with curtains, executive desks had pen sets, and whisky was in the drawer. The secretarial pool was in an open layout, and a plethora of IBM Selectric typewriters denoted a modern business. Abstract art hung on the walls. The firm may have re-organized in lesser quarters later in the series, but the mid-century style remained the same. Roger Sterling’s new office was designed by a “decorator” in various monochromatic shades of gray, leading him to quip that with his gray suits and gray hair he just disappeared in his surroundings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7alppTnB9plUZhyphenhyphenHnxEbK4B9Bc_SZymm2EAXC1LaZo0trEsKP3vq5BVrEObdSAp0E46cISVEOS6K3k-M3TeQ_78A1nzOtbESJxFdrEmAyuJHl0TqAziveNxslfcxBmZ0qAtbdJBCzYxy/s1600/Christian+dons+office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7alppTnB9plUZhyphenhyphenHnxEbK4B9Bc_SZymm2EAXC1LaZo0trEsKP3vq5BVrEObdSAp0E46cISVEOS6K3k-M3TeQ_78A1nzOtbESJxFdrEmAyuJHl0TqAziveNxslfcxBmZ0qAtbdJBCzYxy/s1600/Christian+dons+office.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don's first office at Sterling Cooper: manly but modern</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As for the ladies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men, </i>they provide the sizzle that makes the show such fun to watch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Although it’s also a guilty pleasure to see how much bad behavior they think they can get away with, or how long it is before one of them screws up. The show is anchored by January Jones as Betty Draper (later Betty Francis), shown below, Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris, and Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson. Betty is always the classy, if somewhat immature, woman – and a not very good mother. Her wardrobe is always stylish; she’s a Grace Kelly in the suburbs. She wears bouffant skirts in single piece dresses, all in cheerful colors and floral prints. She is always, “put together” wearing jewelry, matching purses and shoes (as was de rigueur in the day), gloves, and red lipstick. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4guL_KkHnaaAilLFndmmKe6HWLIzXHgCaQKpXrG3ITgAngd9_BWVJyuNh4cIkHlNhtqEFB75v3FxpXIRzfQnisNX7MPvoFxCJR6SA_purwYleG_3jVzuqZpnzSJmu9U83XdSpqtrFywYL/s1600/Christian+Betty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4guL_KkHnaaAilLFndmmKe6HWLIzXHgCaQKpXrG3ITgAngd9_BWVJyuNh4cIkHlNhtqEFB75v3FxpXIRzfQnisNX7MPvoFxCJR6SA_purwYleG_3jVzuqZpnzSJmu9U83XdSpqtrFywYL/s1600/Christian+Betty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January Jones as Betty Draper </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Joan Harris is the red-headed and curvaceous bombshell. She wears tightly-fitted dresses in bright jewel colors. Her costumes are made with fitted foundation undergarments, which was how they were made for the Hollywood movies at the time, though ladies of the day achieved the same effect with girdle/bra combinations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTDZb3G4sp5aGSBzVvR0E5FlUh5qPHGHaulpgV01vC8Gem0G2K51jXnqD4gb2ju0LrIAmLFybBYLcVt7b7e6kNa18292OQIa6qDeDMzmQaojarmN044zhCqOYiXUwwxAbJTfdnqXLARBC/s1600/Christian+Joan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTDZb3G4sp5aGSBzVvR0E5FlUh5qPHGHaulpgV01vC8Gem0G2K51jXnqD4gb2ju0LrIAmLFybBYLcVt7b7e6kNa18292OQIa6qDeDMzmQaojarmN044zhCqOYiXUwwxAbJTfdnqXLARBC/s1600/Christian+Joan.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBQwBNV6E8cs3uwVgusu44vfOiNXdXEstuKm23JHIf7oqy16g5Yzy7yAX96Qw3BLWeHNSMIMavpFvS-Tlkp3Q_FOwJ3go_RLQL1D9yaYMJvYGMuvww9Xw9vRnGMYJ7W8XaF1ika2cArTP/s1600/Christian+mad+men+cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBQwBNV6E8cs3uwVgusu44vfOiNXdXEstuKm23JHIf7oqy16g5Yzy7yAX96Qw3BLWeHNSMIMavpFvS-Tlkp3Q_FOwJ3go_RLQL1D9yaYMJvYGMuvww9Xw9vRnGMYJ7W8XaF1ika2cArTP/s1600/Christian+mad+men+cast.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>Mad Men </i>cast</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">During most of the series Peggy Olson’s wardrobe was still influenced by her former Catholic School uniforms.  She dresses very plainly and unattractively, and she is often dressed in plaids and stripes. As she advances in her career and matures, her clothes become more sophisticated and becoming. In the photo below she is wearing a dress seemingly inspired by vintage Metlox California ceramic dinnerware.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeRGS6RUXzwgS2lRZDd5grd6YGRDMs7RPduBiwC2Js48psF-XSc-XpykyOPBDQH69iOS09xTT5jgYzim2BYSpeKPf7dhgrF7j8UNloX3nxfVY2W17NjL2aEebfpMBM00RXMU2EYAvNNgO/s1600/Christian+Peggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeRGS6RUXzwgS2lRZDd5grd6YGRDMs7RPduBiwC2Js48psF-XSc-XpykyOPBDQH69iOS09xTT5jgYzim2BYSpeKPf7dhgrF7j8UNloX3nxfVY2W17NjL2aEebfpMBM00RXMU2EYAvNNgO/s1600/Christian+Peggy.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.7pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Janie Bryant is the show’s excellent costume designer. She designs many of the items for the show’s large wardrobe, although vintage clothing and accessories are also used. Like other costume designers, she must design the costumes to define character. Subtle changes have marked the advancing years of the early 60s. As we make our way into the mod-influenced and youth movement fashions of the later 60s, significant changes will be shown in the women’s wardrobes. Skirts will go up, and clothes will increasingly define personality in a more forceful and even rebellious manner.    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.7pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.7pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.7pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">As for the men, the business suit is the most prevailing costume, which is making a comeback thanks to the show. In the case of Don, it’s his armor, and he seems vulnerable during the times he dresses casually. Gray flannel suits were the preferred dress for business men of the era. For <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men, </i>Janie Bryant had to find distinguishing features for the various mad men and others. Don always wears a white dress shirt with French cuffs, with slim ties then fashionable. The suits were slim with narrow profiles Don’s accessories are the tie clip and the white pocket square worn flush. He keeps his bills neat in a money clip. Roger tends to wear three-piece suits with vests, often in light gray to complement his hair. Pete wears darker suit colors. When tough times rock the firm and Don in particular, his suits also become darker. Lane Pryce is English. He is usually dressed in a suit with an unmatched vest. To be more accurate, his suit jackets should feature side vents rather than a center vent, as was preferred in England, but we won’t quibble.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -2.7pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYfNY_yXDVnilGzL0A3DBpNiSqA4m92erhyphenhyphendpv0GCTG_WIwd3Wl44RBDoxdoOV1drhPldu0fi91PZkz6YPDJqX00aWnwhoQTvlxD5znPJV2oePCOQYiOITLxGKfrLL0UYnBFlvCpHEu1W/s1600/Christian+Roger+and+Don.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYfNY_yXDVnilGzL0A3DBpNiSqA4m92erhyphenhyphendpv0GCTG_WIwd3Wl44RBDoxdoOV1drhPldu0fi91PZkz6YPDJqX00aWnwhoQTvlxD5znPJV2oePCOQYiOITLxGKfrLL0UYnBFlvCpHEu1W/s1600/Christian+Roger+and+Don.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Slattery as Roger Sterling and Jon Hamm as Don Draper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The men’s fashions in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men </i>have also influenced current trends. As mentioned, the suit is back. Skinny pants have been common for a number of years, but the skinny ties and tie clip are one influence of the show. It is hoped that that the current style of wearing dress pants 3 or 4 inches too long will disappear as a result, and maybe even the single jacket button fastened high above the waist.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN5kBivBIfoohk66ojXzJjfC-kV1s37PJfp7V2rZquY-nQnYtA5XN-q_QL643LRpq4Ou9EBKN1xY5_Oqfz6wz126S8sljj08xNFA_SjYTnYYDIbgQObQZCjbBrXCz21PPA65z51YujHJI/s1600/Christian+Betty+and+Don.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN5kBivBIfoohk66ojXzJjfC-kV1s37PJfp7V2rZquY-nQnYtA5XN-q_QL643LRpq4Ou9EBKN1xY5_Oqfz6wz126S8sljj08xNFA_SjYTnYYDIbgQObQZCjbBrXCz21PPA65z51YujHJI/s1600/Christian+Betty+and+Don.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January Jones and Jon Hamm as Betty and Don </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don and Betty are now divorced, and at the end of last season Don fell in love with his new secretary Megan and they became engaged. It remains to be seen in the new season what their fates will be. Jessica Pare plays Megan. She’s beautiful and ambitious, but also caring and nurturing. She’s perfect for Don – perhaps too perfect. She doesn’t know much about him, but who does? Whatever happens to the couple, we will be smack in the middle of the turbulent years of the 60s. Everyone is sure to get buffeted. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another reason the show is all-of–piece is the embedded themes and currents that influenced the era of the early 60s. These include such iconic books as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sex and the Single Girl </i>by Helen Gurley Brown from 1962, <span style="color: black;">David Ogilvy’s 1963 tell-all, <i>Confessions of an Advertising Man</i>, and the earlier </span><i>The Hidden Persuaders</i>, written by Vance Packard and first published in 1957. The latter explained the new techniques of using psychological research and subliminal messages in advertising. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men </i>is also amazing because it can deliver nostalgia while simultaneously setting the show during the most tumultuous period in modern American history, when the influence of the past was questioned and the present was crumbling. Now that’s what makes a great show. We’ll see if Don’s motto of “live in the present,” while escaping from his past and adjusting to his surroundings like a chameleon will serve him well.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christian Esquevin's blog is <a href="http://www.silverscreenmodiste.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Silver Screen Modiste</span></a> and he's the author of <i>Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label</i>. </div></div></div>

Christian Esquevin Mad Men Mad Men Style

by guest contributor Christian Esquevin The thing that makes Mad Men such a perfect television series is its “all-of-a-piece” quality. It ha...

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A CURE FOR GREECE?

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H_3UpQfKNKidpDfpIFQhbRxpraQKsoLUomm_huLG9qH8AQiHIG2ncgCJTUI-UUaBeld1IQRXl2Ps-n5scHO7a9cc9gWlfynoXEcf45UWyjmsrVeGn1NQZbjG_TRyGWyndSWmxqQ-uVKV/s1600/images+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H_3UpQfKNKidpDfpIFQhbRxpraQKsoLUomm_huLG9qH8AQiHIG2ncgCJTUI-UUaBeld1IQRXl2Ps-n5scHO7a9cc9gWlfynoXEcf45UWyjmsrVeGn1NQZbjG_TRyGWyndSWmxqQ-uVKV/s320/images+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: yellow; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GREECE: DEFAULT, DEMOCRACY, EXIT FROM THE EURO</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: yellow; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The only solution for GREECE remains a debtor-led default and exit from the euro-zone under the leadership of a democratic elected political movement. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When EUROPE’S finance ministers agreed last month to the second GREEK bailout of 130 billion EUROS, they knew very well what to expect. They prolonged the country’s creditor-led default by re-capitalising the banks, while pushing for PSI (private sector involvement) in GREECE’S debt restructuring. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GREECE’S PROFOUND FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL DEPENDENCY ON BERLIN AND THE ECB</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The deal confirmed GREECE’S profound financial and political dependency on BERLIN and the ECB, which ensures that even if the current discredited cabinet, or a similar successor, achieves a primary budget surplus, it may not be able to declare bankruptcy because the new bonds will be subject to <b>English jurisdiction</b>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HOW THE ECB AND BONDHOLDERS SOCIALIZED THEIR DEBT </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9nIIwn4u3Eal54_MQmc0oDDS6R-fIKwr7OvO5QYROVN15AJ1W7YhY0EYYCXz19VXAUdXx4F15CEre4FFbZH1m4bH8u4xPipu0cy2CJ9Sjf4fn8HmurnA-65yrgq1JoS2f6DSWTdU-cSt/s1600/pigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9nIIwn4u3Eal54_MQmc0oDDS6R-fIKwr7OvO5QYROVN15AJ1W7YhY0EYYCXz19VXAUdXx4F15CEre4FFbZH1m4bH8u4xPipu0cy2CJ9Sjf4fn8HmurnA-65yrgq1JoS2f6DSWTdU-cSt/s400/pigs.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The deal with the PSI was only procured by the 130 billion EUROS promised by the official sector – basically the so-called ‘troika’: the EU, the ECB and the IMF. Some 30 billion EUROS went directly into the pockets of the bondholders as a ‘sweetener’ to convert their old paper into new bonds, swapping them with new GREEK futures and paper, while generating some further action from CDS (credit default swaps – insurance taken out by the bondholders for protection against default). The rest of the money, linked to mathematical estimates and prognoses of how much debt the GREEK economy can sustain by 2020 without collapsing, went directly into re-capitalising banks. Precisely through this re-capitalisation, the famous ‘haircut’ the PSI took is transferred onto the official lenders/sector. In this way, the debt held by the PSI has been socialised almost in its entirety. It will be the GREEK and the EUROPEAN taxpayer paying for it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As a result of this boost to the banks, the above estimates and prognoses bring the debt/GDP ratio of GREECE to 120% by 2020. Note that this may still be unsustainable. Note also, that there has been no suggestion that a single penny in all this paper will go into investment, boosting real economic growth. In other words, all these efforts are pointless exercises designed to benefit the bond-dealers. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TOTAL LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Have growth prospects for GREECE improved? At present GREECE’S GDP is undergoing a contraction of more than 6% and, due to its deteriorating competitiveness, this contraction is likely to continue. Youth unemployment has surpassed 50% and overall official unemployment is now well over 20%. The country, moreover, borrows at 4.5%-6%, something that renders rather surreal the aforementioned estimate of a 120% debt/GDP ratio by 2020. The disintegration of the productive base of the country over the last two decades due to the competition it faced from the countries of the EUROPEAN core and, above all, GERMANY, make any futurologist betting on a substantial GREEK recovery within the euro-zone sound ridiculous.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some argue that the austerity measures that have led one-third of GREECE’S society into pauperization may yet bring forth some fruits for the political class currently in power. By the end of the next budgetary year, the discredited party system of the post-1974 era may be in a position to enjoy a primary surplus, thus increasing its degree of independence vis-à-vis the ‘troika’. At that point, the argument goes, GREECE could declare a partial default on its debt obligations, refusing to pay part of its debt. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This might have been a valid argument if the current GREEK negotiators had either wanted or known how to make capital out of their problem. But they did not. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">EUROPEAN ‘COMMISSION OF EXPERTS’ WILL BE PERMANENTLY SETTLED IN ATHENS OVERSEEING GREEK FINANCES AND BUDGETARY DISCIPLINE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The degree of economic and, even more so, political dependency of the GREEK vassal state on external imperial agencies and structures runs so deep that the current political oligarchy negotiating the second bailout failed to achieve even this prospect of budgetary independence. A <b>EUROPEAN ‘commission of experts’ will be permanently settled in ATHENS overseeing GREEK finances and budgetary discipline</b>. More to the point, the law governing the <b>new bonds issued will not be subject to GREEK law but to ENGLISH law</b>. This means, for instance, that the GREEK parliament can neither review the legal terms of the deal nor sue in an ENGLISH court, as this is both complicated and expensive. More to the point, and this is the crux of the matter, at least in theory it has been made impossible for GREECE, under some future hypothetical radical democratic government, to leave the euro-zone, refusing to pay its debt obligations, or even re-denominating its debt into new drachma. No legislation could be passed by them, because this deal makes the role of the GREEK parliament, that is, the role of formal liberal democracy in one country, redundant. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION GREEK PEOPLE NOW LIVE AT RISK OF POVERTY OR SOCIAL EXCLUSION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7flIV_jfvC0Br2pAaFcbszYNwT5L6yJY4S4pq20i8vFD5D31Ef9436P-BB7y5Cie3Uh9TVy1Jfe3CCV-rCeVHmvSShyphenhyphenz1PyoDWFTeE9WQa0ZQS3mYiOFGIdIaDpmTAYkuFVkFrQ-H8SH8/s1600/ancient-greek-money-greek-coinage-3-300x297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7flIV_jfvC0Br2pAaFcbszYNwT5L6yJY4S4pq20i8vFD5D31Ef9436P-BB7y5Cie3Uh9TVy1Jfe3CCV-rCeVHmvSShyphenhyphenz1PyoDWFTeE9WQa0ZQS3mYiOFGIdIaDpmTAYkuFVkFrQ-H8SH8/s320/ancient-greek-money-greek-coinage-3-300x297.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Those discredited parties and leaders currently in power in GREECE herald the events of the last month or so as a triumph. Nothing can be more misleading. Once the deal with the PSI was close to completion on Friday evening, 9 March 2012, the euro slipped 1.3% against the dollar, whereas BRITISH sterling gained 0.4% against the euro. This is an indicator ‘from above’, so to speak. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The indicators ‘from below’ are, nevertheless, those that count most. More than 3.5 million GREEK people now live at risk of poverty or social exclusion (data from Eurostat). There are hundreds of soup kitchens operating across the country; barter is widespread; and street clinics are visible in ATHENS and other urban centres, as hospitals cannot cope with emergencies. Mass lay-offs and wage and pension cuts continue and will continue with no end in sight as long as growth is elusive. If you visit the country you feel that ‘nothing is moving’. Suicide rates have increased dramatically. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There is a sharp devaluation of assets (property, land, etc.), yet price inflation remains as high as 3%. GREECE is still an expensive country for the average tourist. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Having said this, the truth of the matter is quite the opposite of what has been envisaged by the bankers and their political representatives in GREECE and EUROPE: by 2020 the private bondholder and the banks will be richer, whereas the GREEK and, for that matter, the average EUROPEAN taxpayer will be poorer. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div>

A CURE FOR GREECE?

  GREECE: DEFAULT, DEMOCRACY, EXIT FROM THE EURO The only solution for GREECE remains a debtor-led default and exit from the euro-zone under...

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HOSTILE TAKEOVER

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">LOOMING ENERGY TSUNAMI IN EURASIA?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmR4TD_RJFcauAJwpjNFBXyLcr2yJ204T6QJXCqUVqMFvun-YKMk0QxeE66iC2rz3FjAAOyomctAy2uVkgB3E9Tzw38C5zQg4ky-o9KLJGA7x4z3eFD5UM2KJHg2uQ4916NUUfEPep7Ls/s1600/RUSSIA+EXPORT+BLEND+CRUDE+OIL_0_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmR4TD_RJFcauAJwpjNFBXyLcr2yJ204T6QJXCqUVqMFvun-YKMk0QxeE66iC2rz3FjAAOyomctAy2uVkgB3E9Tzw38C5zQg4ky-o9KLJGA7x4z3eFD5UM2KJHg2uQ4916NUUfEPep7Ls/s320/RUSSIA+EXPORT+BLEND+CRUDE+OIL_0_detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RECENT AEGEAN OIL AND GAS FINDINGS COULD BLOT OUT GREECE’S ENTIRE DEPT </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Since the beginning of the financial crisis in GREECE the country has faced some rather unorthodox political developments. One of them, shaking the “cradle of democracy” rather fiercely when a technocrat and footman of International Financial Institutions in particular Goldman Sachs, </span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">LUCAS PAPADEMOS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> seized control over the country with the pretence of new democratic election calls in 2013. Then, midst fierce financial rescue negotiations with the EU, GREECE apparently hit the “jackpot” when recent EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN oil and gas findings stretched further into the AEGEAN SEAS, revealing that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">the entire eastern MEDITERRANEAN is swimming in huge untapped oil and gas reserves. According to recent researches, the new-found reserves could potentially blot out GREECE’S entire debt, and possibly have even averted it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">EU</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">’S<b> RACE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajihSvnymi0X05Jl4S7S_Px0ydiQUr_CSSwBDQ4DYlCZiDcnyq4MMRhIKQLmpZDcLappgMv6wTWRT-qxCUAhhunnZiQNGrDK85RJs-wSYP6MLDSXUqXhwJ2wAaZnaoQCBkflkdXu4TtwD/s1600/1-s2.0-S0264817200000210-gr24.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajihSvnymi0X05Jl4S7S_Px0ydiQUr_CSSwBDQ4DYlCZiDcnyq4MMRhIKQLmpZDcLappgMv6wTWRT-qxCUAhhunnZiQNGrDK85RJs-wSYP6MLDSXUqXhwJ2wAaZnaoQCBkflkdXu4TtwD/s400/1-s2.0-S0264817200000210-gr24.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The minute the potential gas and oil findings in the AEGEAN SEA were confirmed, GERMANY, EUROPE’S key player, in particular changed its political rhetoric’s towards GREECE, demanding that a <b>EUROPEAN ‘commission of experts’ should permanently settled in ATHENS in order to overseeing GREEK finances and budgetary discipline and that the EU should be</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>given veto power over tax and spend plans'</b>, a move that basically would undermine GREECE’S sovereignty.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In view of these facts it seems that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">EU’S</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> key players are ready to push GREECE into the abbeys in exchange for total control of its natural resources. When looking at the numbers of recent oil gas findings one will understand why suddenly large “storm clouds” are looming over GREECE and the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">OIL: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Preliminary estimates now are that total offshore oil in GREEK waters exceeds 22 billion barrels in the IONIAN SEA off WESTERN GREECE and some 4 billion barrels in the NORTHERN AEGEAN SEA. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GAS: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Recent natural gas surveys conducted in the area will generate an estimate of some <b>nine trillion dollars</b> in revenues, which would transform the finances of GREECE and the entire region.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Oil traders and experts estimate that GREECE could potentially solve its entire public debt crisis through development of its new-found gas and oil. Conservative estimates indicate that exploitation of the reserves already discovered could bring the country more than €302 billion over 25 years.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">THE AUSTERITY PLOT </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The GREEK government instead has just been forced to agree to huge government layoffs, wage cuts and pension cuts to get access to EU and IMF loans that will only drive the country deeper into an economic decline.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IMF AND GERMANY DEMAND SELL-OFF OF GREECE’S STATE OIL COMPANIES!!! </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The IMF and EU governments, in particularly GERMANY, demand that GREECE sell off its valuable ports and public companies, among them of course, GREEK STATE OIL companies, to reduce state debt. Under the best of conditions the asset selloffs would bring the country perhaps €50 billion. Furthermore plans call for the GREEK state-owned natural gas company, DEPA, to privatize 65% of its shares to reduce debt.  Buyers would likely come from outside the country, as few GREEK companies are in a position in the crisis to take it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In principal this reflects common IMF strategy; used in ARGENTINA and resulted in the countries default. ARGENTINES state assets were privatized and bought by US and European corporations with close ties to the IMF. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(See Argentine Water </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_privatization_in_Argentina"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_privatization_in_Argentina</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> )</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">WHO WILL CONTROL AND ULTIMATELY BENEFIT FROM THE HUGE RESOURCE DISCOVERIES?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">One significant problem, aside from the fact the IMF demands GREECE selloff its public oil interests, is the fact that GREECE has not declared a deeper exclusive economic zone like most other countries which drill for oil. There was seen little need until now. An EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) gives states special mineral rights in its declared waters under the THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in November 1994. (See </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> EEZ </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> )</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYkxGqWM6zNuP_wqJrPTGrf2Bc2kdl-aRNX-V914ugjQMfBU5aOSDmWvtEFSz29o0UxTfSO8qGJSn9roChbxpyPgGJ7fB3eF0a-0dHEjpwdvy8k2X_dGZYTynE2gKxW3PyKnxCbLK0B-2/s1600/loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYkxGqWM6zNuP_wqJrPTGrf2Bc2kdl-aRNX-V914ugjQMfBU5aOSDmWvtEFSz29o0UxTfSO8qGJSn9roChbxpyPgGJ7fB3eF0a-0dHEjpwdvy8k2X_dGZYTynE2gKxW3PyKnxCbLK0B-2/s400/loop.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Greece’s EEZ issue thus could trigger a new conflict with TURKEY which already is at odds with almost every country bordering the MEDITERRANEAN SEA for it fears of losing the prospect of becoming a major regional energy hub which would increase its geo – political influence in the region and make it a key player in future energy deals, thus eliminating certain “dependence” on EUROPE and last but not least abolish EU membership talks and at the same time pursue its NEO –OTTOMAN EMPIRE ambitions.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">(See: </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">(See </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY reiterated that it would consider it an act of war if GREECE drilled further into the AEGEAN. Until now that did not seem to have serious economic consequences, as no oil or gas reserves were known. With these findings however the situation changed significantly. GREECE could cover “50% of its needs with the oil to be found in offshore fields in the AEGEAN SEA. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">POISONOUS COCKTAIL </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">To add another ingredient to the already poisoned cocktail is that the US also wants a share of the cake and thus is becoming increasingly nervous and manipulative when it comes to natural resources dealings in the region, which the USA considers its turf in the first place.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thus it</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> comes as no surprise that in</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> July 2011 WASHINGTON seriously stepped in to join the GREEK energy game. Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON flew to ATHENS with energy on her mind. That was clear by the fact she brought with her her Special Envoy for EURASIAN ENERGY, Richard Morningstar. MORNINGSTAR was husband BILL CLINTON’S SPECIAL ADVISOR to the President on CASPIAN BASIN ENERGY DIPLOMACY. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Allegedly MORNINGSTAR has been the key WASHINGTON architects of WASHINGTON’S geopolitically-motivated oil and gas pipeline projects that would isolate RUSSIA and its GAZPROM gas resources from the EU. MORNINGSTAR and his aid are open opponents of RUSSIAN GAZPROM’S SOUTH STREAM gas pipeline that would transit the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN states. It seems that the current Administration is not at all neutral about the New Greek oil and gas discoveries, for three days after Hillary left ATHENS the GREEK government proposed the creation of a new government agency to run tenders for oil and gas surveys and ultimate drilling bids. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">US OUTWITS THE EU </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Allegedly Morningstar was instrumental in backing the controversial B-T-C oil pipeline from BAKU through TBILISI in GEORGIA across to the TURKISH MEDITERRANEAN port of CEYHAN, a costly enterprise designed solely to bypass RUSSIAN oil pipeline transit. He has openly proposed that <b>GREECE and TURKEY drop all historic differences over CYPRUS, over numerous other historic issues and agree to jointly pool all their oil and gas reserves in the AEGEAN SEA</b>. He also has told the GREEK government it should forget cooperation with MOSCOW on the SOUTH STREAM and BOURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS gas pipeline projects. (See </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/middle-east-energy-wars.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/middle-east-energy-wars.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> and </span><a href="http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/russia-seeks-to-play-a-leading-role-in-eastern-mediterranean-gas-development-5216"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/russia-seeks-to-play-a-leading-role-in-eastern-mediterranean-gas-development-5216</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> ) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgas%E2%80%93Alexandroupoli_pipeline">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgas%E2%80%93Alexandroupoli_pipeline</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Such proposal clearly shows that he lacks profound knowledge of the regional conflict between CYPRUS and TURKEY as well as GREECE’S stance on TURKEY and last but not least RUSSIA’S and CYPRUS’S relations and mentality of these cultures.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to a report from GREEK political analyst Aristotle Vassilakis published in July 2011, WASHINGTON’S motive for pushing GREECE to join forces with TURKEY on oil and gas is to force a formula to divide resulting oil and gas revenues. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to his report, WASHINGTON proposes that GREECE get 20% of revenues, TURKEY another 20% and the US-backed <b>NOBLE ENERGY Company of HOUSTON TEXAS, the company successfully drilling in the ISRAELI and GREEK offshore waters, would get the lion’s share of 60%</b>. Among other issues it seems obvious that the EU, with all means, wants to achieve a “hostile takeover” of GREECE in order to stop US advances in the region. Worthwhile to mention is that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s husband, Bill, is a Washington lobbyist for NOBLE ENERGY. Thus the circle starts to close.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS, TURKEY, ISRAEL, LEBANON, SYRIA AND NOW ROMANIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As if these geopolitical complications were not enough, NOBLE ENERGY has also discovered huge volumes of gas off the waters of the REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS. In December 2011 NOBLE announced a successful well offshore CYPRUS in a field estimated to hold at least 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. According to NOBLE ENERGY the latest discovery in CYPRUS further highlight the quality and significance of this world-class basin.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS is a complicated piece of real estate. In the 1970’s as declassified US Government documents recently revealed, then-US Secretary of State HENRY KISSINGER actively encouraged and facilitated arms to the TURKISH regime of KISSINGER’S former Harvard student and then- Prime Minister BULENT ECEVIT, to stage a military invasion of CYPRUS in 1974, in effect partitioning the island between an ethnically TURKISH north and an ethnically GREEK REPUBLIC of CYPRUS in the south, a division which remains. The KISSINGER strategy, backed by the BRITISH was believed intended to create a pretext for a permanent US and BRITISH military listening post in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN during the Cold War. (See </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> )</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today the ethnically GREEK south, where NOBLE has discovered large gas deposits, is a member of the EU. Its President, DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS, is the only national leader in the EUROPEAN UNION who is a communist. He is also a close friend of ISRAEL, and of RUSSIA. In addition, he is a major critic of AMERICAN foreign policy, as well as of TURKEY. Thus CYPRUS is financially heavily supported by RUSSIA for RUSSIA holds a large amount of off shore accounts on the islands banks and provided CYPRUS a “bailout” credit to avoid default. See: </span><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/655a3fd2-de31-11e0-9fb7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1pOl6qaog"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/655a3fd2-de31-11e0-9fb7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1pOl6qaog</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> and </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now ISRAEL is planning to build an underwater gas pipeline from the ISRAELI LEVANTINE fields across CYPRUS waters onto the GREEK mainland where it would be sold on the EU market. The CYPRUS and ISRAEL governments have mutually agreed on delimitation of their respective ECONOMIC ZONES, leaving TURKEY in the cold. TURKEY openly threatened CYPRUS for signing the agreement with NOBLE ENERGY. That led to a RUSSIAN statement that it would not tolerate TURKISH threats against CYPRUS, further complicating TURKISH-RUSSIAN relations. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH-ISRAELI relations, once quite friendly, have become increasingly strained in recent years under ERDOGAN foreign policies. ANKARA has expressed concern about ISRAEL’S recent ties with its historic antagonists, GREECE and the GREEK side of CYPRUS. TURKEY’S ally the “TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS” (not a internationally recognized entity), fears it could miss out on its fair share of the gas after ISRAEL and NICOSIA signed an agreement to divide the 250 kilometers of sea that separate them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It becomes evident, especially when we glance at a map of the eastern Mediterranean, that the oil and gas prospective bonanza there is a rapidly unfolding conflict zone of tectonic magnitude involving strategic US, RUSSIAN, EU, ISRAELI and TURKISH, SYRIAN and LEBANESE interests. (See TAPA pipeline </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> )</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Parts of above article incorporate </span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">F. WILLIAM ENGDAHL article : </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rising energy tensions in the Aegean—Greece, Turkey, Cyprus</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ROMANIA, THE LATEST TO JOIN THE RECENT ENERGY HYPE   </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By <b><i>Dr</i></b><i><b>Robert M Cutler</b></i> (<a href="http://www.robertcutler.org/">http://www.robertcutler.org</a>),</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With all its complexity mentioned above, ROMANIA joining the energy hype in the region and one can assume that the latest BLACK SEA offshore sector gas findings will have potential ramifications for the entire EURO-CASPIAN energy complex from CENTRAL ASIA to CENTRAL EUROPE. This find will re-jig calculations around the EUROPEAN UNION'S SOUTHERN GAS CORRIDOR while providing potential new sources of energy for EAST CENTRAL and especially SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. <br /><br />In that context, the potential for ROMANIA to become a natural gas exporter to SOUTHEASTERN and even EAST CENTRAL EUROPE comes into focus. The significance of the ROMANIAN strike concerns the eventual choice by the consortium developing AZERBAIJAN'S offshore SHAH DENIZ natural gas deposit, between the "western" (through GREECE to ITALY) route for its 10 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/y) gas and the "northern" (through BULGARIA to SOUTHEASTERN Europe) route. Interesting to note in this context is the fact that ISRAEL and AZERBAIJAN hold strong economic ties with emphasis on energy related projects as well as defense.See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan%E2%80%93Israel_relations">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan%E2%80%93Israel_relations</a>and <a href="http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/west-asia-africa/32445-israel-inks-arms-deal-azerbejain-azerbaijan-iran-relations-detoriate.html">http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/west-asia-africa/32445-israel-inks-arms-deal-azerbejain-azerbaijan-iran-relations-detoriate.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE PLAYERS: US EXXON, AUSTRIA’S OMV ( PETROM), BULGARIA’S BULGARTRANSGAZ</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ROMANIAN President TRAIAN BASESCU announced last week that a consortium comprising the US major EXXON MOBIL and the ROMANIAN company PETROM (a subsidiary of the AUSTRIAN OMV) has struck over 100 bcm of gas in ROMANIA'S first deep-water offshore exploration. He said this figure was subject to revision upwards, since there were five other geological formations in the area with characteristics similar to the successful find. If they all proved out the same way, the result would give ROMANIA over a half a trillion cubic meters of offshore natural gas - equivalent to 25-30 years of total ROMANIAN gas consumption at the present rate, or 75-90 years worth of its gas imports. <br /><br />Separately in BULGARIA a week ago it was announced that, in conformance with a February 2011 decision by the EU's EUROPEAN COUNCIL that every EU member state should have at least two sources of natural gas and electricity, the BULGARIAN company BULGARTRANSGAZ will cooperate to build the transborder Interconnector BULGARIA-ROMANIA (IBR). BULGARIA imports most of its gas from RUSSIA, which cut off supplies for three weeks in January 2009 and is thought to be maneuvering within the BULGARIAN political environment to maintain its hegemonic position in the BULGARIAN gas market. <br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHEVRON AND NOVINITE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />Thus while according to the BULGARIAN press agency NOVINITE the US company CHEVRON will soon start drilling for shale gas in the northeastern ROMANIA around BARLAD, the BULGARIAN cabinet recently made it impossible for CHEVRON to develop shale gas in BULGARIA by revoking an earlier awarded permit for hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). BULGARIAN environmental activists are now seeking legislation to make that ban permanent. <br /><br />In response, an organization called Movement for Energy Independence (DEN) has formed in BULGARIA calling for the fracking moratorium to be cancelled and for the until now dilatory work on all interconnectors to be accelerated, including the ITB, the IBR, and also the INTERCONNECTOR GREECE-BULGARIA (IGB). <br /><br />DEN also criticizes the current government for enforcing BULGARIA'S gas dependence upon RUSSIA by favoring the MOSCOW-based SOUTH STREAM GAS PIPELINE PROJECT (MOSCOW to BULGARIA under the BLACK SEA) and seeking to help exempt GAZPROM from oncoming EU antitrust rules by accelerating the pipeline's timetable. <br /><br />The IBR, on the other hand, if constructed to be bi directionally reversible, would make it possible not only for BULGARIA to import ROMANIAN gas directly from ROMANIA, but also to transit to ROMANIA the gas that BULGARIA might receive from AZERBAIJAN'S offshore SHAH DENIZ deposit via GEORGIA, TURKEY, and the Interconnector TURKEY-BULGARIA (ITB) still under construction. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /><b>COMPLEX ENERGY PUZZLE IN AN EVEN MORE COMPLEX REGION</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b> </b> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">An Interconnector TURKEY-GREECE (ITG) is already operating, but the SHAH DENIZ consortium has ruled out its extension into the Interconnector TURKEY-GREECE-ITALY (ITGI) to SOUTHERN EUROPE via the Interconnector GREECE-ITALY (IGI) across GREECE and under the IONIAN SEA to ITALY'S geographical boot. (The undersea segment by itself is called the Poseidon pipeline.) <br /><br />However, this does not mean that the SHAH DENIZ consortium has ruled out either the ITG or the separate Interconnector TURKEY-BULGARIA (ITB), should it choose a northern rather than a western route for its gas. Given the newly announced interconnector between BULGARIA and ROMANIA, either the ITG-IGB duo or the ITB by itself would be able to hook up into ROMANIAN national pipeline system via the IBR. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />The SHAH DENIZ consortium has yet to choose between the BP-proposed South East European Pipeline (SEEP) or a reconfiguration of the NABUCCO pipeline project for the possible northern route. After choosing one of those, it will then choose between it and the designated western-route pipeline, the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is set to cross GREECE, ALBANIA, and go underneath the ADRIATIC SEA to ITALY'S boot. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Indeed, earlier this week, the BULGARIAN cabinet approved the agreement between the BULGARIAN company NABUCCO Gas Pipeline BULGARIA and the international consortium NABUCCO Gas Pipeline International, signed in June 2011. The next step is for the BULGARIAN Parliament to ratify the contract, following which the stages for implementation of the NABUCCO project in BULGARIA may be further specified. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />However, none of this means that the ITGI or the IGI is dead. As a consequence of the debt crisis in GREECE, the GREEK principal in the IGI consortium, the public gas company DEPA, is a candidate for privatization; and RUSSIA'S GAZPROM has shown an interest. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />The possibility of the IGI segment transiting gas later in the decade from MOSCOW'S SOUTH STREAM natural gas pipeline has been discussed in the GREEK press now for some time. Sourcing problems, however, continue to plague the SOUTH STREAM project; RUSSIA has never said where any of its gas will come from. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></div>

HOSTILE TAKEOVER

LOOMING ENERGY TSUNAMI IN EURASIA? RECENT AEGEAN OIL AND GAS FINDINGS COULD BLOT OUT GREECE’S ENTIRE DEPT  Since the beginning of the financ...

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March Madness Has Gone Wild!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-E0HehOsoRMIoXmmpqmo2tU60cymRmDRaddondyP_vCYm6vACwGQYI5jAU_Kw8p6xCDUx7A32knByqWphAPKLfffxgbgrx_Q5YyLCLar2QolUQIcd5rqyAweDIW1DUGOLApAl9ODo4L2/s1600/bobca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-E0HehOsoRMIoXmmpqmo2tU60cymRmDRaddondyP_vCYm6vACwGQYI5jAU_Kw8p6xCDUx7A32knByqWphAPKLfffxgbgrx_Q5YyLCLar2QolUQIcd5rqyAweDIW1DUGOLApAl9ODo4L2/s200/bobca.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>My husband and I are big NCAA basketball fans, him more so than me.  He keeps track of all the teams, fills out his brackets, and is at one of the tournament games as I write this.  I get to go with him on Sunday and I'm very excited.  <br /><br />I didn't get a chance to fill out a bracket this year, but as we were discussing some of the match ups and potential match ups for Sunday, I noticed a theme.  There are a huge number of teams in the tournament this year that have wildlife-related mascots.  Now, I realize that if you're not a wildlife geek like me, you may not have picked up on this. But I did and, after some investigating today, here's what I found.  Out of the 64 teams in the tournament, almost half (30) have a wildlife-related mascot.  Here's a more specific breakdown of those 30*: <br /><ul><li>9 are characterized as some type of non-domesticated feline, aka Wildcats (3), Cougars, Bobcats, Tigers (2), or Catamounts. And throw in the Bearcats too if you want, I'm not sure where to put them.</li><li>5 are characterized as some type of raptor, aka Golden Eagles (2), Mountain Hawks, Owls, and if you want, you can put the Jayhawks in there too.</li><li>3 are characterized as some type of bear, aka Bruins, Grizzlies and, uh, Bears.</li><li>3 are characterized as some type of songbird, aka Cardinals, Blackbirds, and Bluejays.</li><li>2 are characterized as some type of wolf, aka Lobos (Spanish for wolf) and Wolfpack.</li><li>2 are the Rams with mascots that look like Big Horn Sheep.</li><li>2 are in the Mustelid Family with the Wolverines and the Badgers (as a Buckeye graduate, that was really hard to type.)</li><li>Finally, there are 1 of each of the following wild critters to cheer for: Jackrabbits, Gators, and Buffalos.</li></ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl5E6N0qbM2JMKxVXx0WrMGEi8NMU76fX3ydFKRj50Wk7Yb2Bjxy7Bz95JeoJirw3dmNYDYWKzRal7LB5gN_vB84yMqy1JnobSCAhyd14Ac4nGQ36XffNY_kLLBloKM8bMLMC18E6Aoxf/s1600/badger112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl5E6N0qbM2JMKxVXx0WrMGEi8NMU76fX3ydFKRj50Wk7Yb2Bjxy7Bz95JeoJirw3dmNYDYWKzRal7LB5gN_vB84yMqy1JnobSCAhyd14Ac4nGQ36XffNY_kLLBloKM8bMLMC18E6Aoxf/s200/badger112.jpg" width="150" /></a>Why would I take the time to add all of this up?  It's because I think, culturally speaking, it shows the value and the esteem with which we, as a society, hold these animals.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think that the Kentucky Wildcats are going to go the whole nine yards simply because of their name.  But, if you're going to pick something to be a mascot, what kinds of characteristics do you want your mascot to embody?  Strength, fearlessness, beauty, courage, etc.  We tend to apply these anthropomorphic characteristics to wild animals because as we learn about their habits, we learn to respect them and maybe even fear them a little bit.  But, regardless of how you feel about an animal, picking it as a mascot can be a sign of respect and admiration.  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzQRlTIiVadRhpodrNv-XixbyaR-AdpMZeTAPET8midkLuWrPyObijFu_0BI6PJwIX5b9Ho8Wtb14izk4tJSDscQqZNrp9poF3Mzww4EGAxpLsGfm_Y3O7W6CXINwNWLkwIH3svwyk_qW/s1600/Cardinal+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzQRlTIiVadRhpodrNv-XixbyaR-AdpMZeTAPET8midkLuWrPyObijFu_0BI6PJwIX5b9Ho8Wtb14izk4tJSDscQqZNrp9poF3Mzww4EGAxpLsGfm_Y3O7W6CXINwNWLkwIH3svwyk_qW/s200/Cardinal+(6).jpg" width="194" /></a></div>By the way, if you're sitting there wondering what is so powerful and intimidating about a cardinal, ask the caterpillar that it was trying to eat this morning.  Or ask the wildlife rehabilitator that is nursing a bite from its powerful beak.<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As we move forward in the tournament, there have been some match ups that mimic real life, and some that do not.  For example, a Badger could never defeat a Grizzly in real life.  And a Golden Eagle probably couldn't whip a Couger.  However, a Bear could definitely take it to a Jackrabbit and a Golden Eagle would have its talons full with trying to take down a Wildcat.  So here's to the excitement and drama that is wildlife both on the court and out in the field.  And may the best critter win!  </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbmlH5ttn9UfYhZrNAan-fD1IAsUfqhW3zGa-H0hxyOWyas8hrpOzaN7oje2qnlSWg6Ski7dSb89FhgnO_7igW0kRKXHFkUfQuSVKrOQPrsQHu6M41J_vCRKM7XykocwCk6N9Ife-ppFK/s1600/ee23pfg91xeioyrppayw.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbmlH5ttn9UfYhZrNAan-fD1IAsUfqhW3zGa-H0hxyOWyas8hrpOzaN7oje2qnlSWg6Ski7dSb89FhgnO_7igW0kRKXHFkUfQuSVKrOQPrsQHu6M41J_vCRKM7XykocwCk6N9Ife-ppFK/s200/ee23pfg91xeioyrppayw.gif" width="134" /></a>Personally, tonight I'm hoping that the Memphis Tigers beat up the St. Louis University Billikens because WHAT THE HECK IS A BILLIKEN? <a href="http://billikens.com/billiken" target="_blank">Look it up!</a> I did, and no offense to any of you Billikens out there, but if your mascot requires a full page definition, you might want to think about picking a new mascot.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>Have fun everyone and Go Bucks!<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br />(*If you're doing the math and you find I've only counted 29, that's because I threw in the Buckeyes because they can take out anything as a poisonous nut. ;-p)

March Madness Has Gone Wild!

My husband and I are big NCAA basketball fans, him more so than me.  He keeps track of all the teams, fills out his brackets, and is at one ...

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take a seat part 2

Happy Friday everyone!<br /><br />When we last left our <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/03/take-seat-part-1.html" target="_blank">sad little settee</a> she was moping in the garage, trying to suck in her gut and look a bit more attractive in the poor garage light. However I have no sympathy. I'm hard as nails I tell you. Someone needs to be honest - Sette, you are ugly.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi0tDwyMVu1Obf70KQQOFDY3vuzD7gcbLsuHFFzeAwX_-dCWF44zyNHw7xBvowDqAqGDdjElXBhohleeyyi7d9_ejq1x98-0oTmmRDbZuslInm9PboV35nvCpULh-QhZvV764pPIOubx5/s1600/P2254635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi0tDwyMVu1Obf70KQQOFDY3vuzD7gcbLsuHFFzeAwX_-dCWF44zyNHw7xBvowDqAqGDdjElXBhohleeyyi7d9_ejq1x98-0oTmmRDbZuslInm9PboV35nvCpULh-QhZvV764pPIOubx5/s640/P2254635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />But she's got a good personality (aka comfortable). And as anyone who has watched Can't Buy Me Love, She's Out Of Control or any o80s ugly duckling movie knows, settee's looks are nothing a day at the spa and a shopping spree montage can't fix.  Cue the montage music!<br /><br />First spa treatment is piping removal (pretty similar to an eyebrow wax). This proved really easy as there were already a few spots that were frayed and just begging to be pulled. If only the whole project were this easy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86yt4_QfMN5EgZ0MXnXqXnsO4QnaAu0M8aYgM57lXmmVT_4GrJXO6GHZB21ECFe2aQRqIdxHquyM-uumM5f_brgfIlVre-GVs5fLFvesoWUQ-W1G4Rgv0uIPdIuvtUnkRx4pZGX1hlWGN/s1600/P2254642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86yt4_QfMN5EgZ0MXnXqXnsO4QnaAu0M8aYgM57lXmmVT_4GrJXO6GHZB21ECFe2aQRqIdxHquyM-uumM5f_brgfIlVre-GVs5fLFvesoWUQ-W1G4Rgv0uIPdIuvtUnkRx4pZGX1hlWGN/s640/P2254642.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next I dove into removing the fabric, and no fewer than 8,000 staples. Too bad there aren't any DIY projects on Pinterest using old upholstery staples. I'd rock that project out with my extensive supplies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYbXfjLJ5d9l93lDV_5mzb_tKbsPyvw4DtsN_Q0yKZLfDtE152gHey4gKaWwBQU4ZdNq5imcKGDOX6OUQycRx3W4eajK4_XLUEWiVPup6zfWmksH1bqj5aX3uZvmVaA8iBbqV5jmLK35d/s1600/P2254643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYbXfjLJ5d9l93lDV_5mzb_tKbsPyvw4DtsN_Q0yKZLfDtE152gHey4gKaWwBQU4ZdNq5imcKGDOX6OUQycRx3W4eajK4_XLUEWiVPup6zfWmksH1bqj5aX3uZvmVaA8iBbqV5jmLK35d/s640/P2254643.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Even though I'm still on the fence about upholstering this myself or sending it out to a professional, I've read enough tutorials to know that its in my best interest to keep all pieces of fabric in tact so they can be used to make templates for the new fabric.<br /><br />So we were very careful to keep all pieces in one piece<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXJ86ixR4jb8x4Lb8Nz7V7bxS3p0k464sYactyQkObOjF85J3jq1EEgUJMDqKCUll6vi67Liz1fpklU2t9UNPq0QL54DJK2n05gBa7ND_bv4CBE7sTvBvYaEEAUuG2q5LNf3PHezwbF8N/s1600/P3165213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXJ86ixR4jb8x4Lb8Nz7V7bxS3p0k464sYactyQkObOjF85J3jq1EEgUJMDqKCUll6vi67Liz1fpklU2t9UNPq0QL54DJK2n05gBa7ND_bv4CBE7sTvBvYaEEAUuG2q5LNf3PHezwbF8N/s640/P3165213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />and label each piece so we (or the upholster) would know what goes were.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xU0KI1diwmY00qiafQpMn5g1HCsUYyKhIJDxTrs10G4Vr4Oo5TF6ElB5H-DKN2JkXksHPmGX4OApnE_2CgEKfuwoVX6a6j_0v2SSJfMME9Euz78FoidKJC-oTYXq-uOPoLGCYx25ex1M/s1600/P3165215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xU0KI1diwmY00qiafQpMn5g1HCsUYyKhIJDxTrs10G4Vr4Oo5TF6ElB5H-DKN2JkXksHPmGX4OApnE_2CgEKfuwoVX6a6j_0v2SSJfMME9Euz78FoidKJC-oTYXq-uOPoLGCYx25ex1M/s640/P3165215.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally I removed all the fabric and batting from the back and then took a shower. I knew this couch was old but...yuck. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK9_Aag73P7VyeamDxNiB1hLgWQCPMMHt-UHW0ju-82kHhJBHEUfGqqhmN2z_ECuKCMw5TX_bBnFx3-rJQYgd_4d8vewtfGE06Jqw4KDloO4KCzj3o_XuSMM5AGj25D5J7QlLTZrNy9AO/s1600/P2254644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK9_Aag73P7VyeamDxNiB1hLgWQCPMMHt-UHW0ju-82kHhJBHEUfGqqhmN2z_ECuKCMw5TX_bBnFx3-rJQYgd_4d8vewtfGE06Jqw4KDloO4KCzj3o_XuSMM5AGj25D5J7QlLTZrNy9AO/s640/P2254644.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Proof of how gross we're talking here - these lovely treasures were found in the back behind the batting.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNBJbiYOVGo0-CRVvElETb0tJIJA-_r9t1pPaJrdPBzVr7cJemggDYuuZUsQ99rB9hkkkeCh3a3hGxJcgWlmOne-tJ34B8T0-q0lD45qv_i9gmvKmumhPwOvB3-NtpIg80At_jQoI9FDc/s1600/P3105042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNBJbiYOVGo0-CRVvElETb0tJIJA-_r9t1pPaJrdPBzVr7cJemggDYuuZUsQ99rB9hkkkeCh3a3hGxJcgWlmOne-tJ34B8T0-q0lD45qv_i9gmvKmumhPwOvB3-NtpIg80At_jQoI9FDc/s640/P3105042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, that is a cigarette and vintage lip smackers</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So now she is several pounds lighter, and her horrible nehru jacket is safe in a bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWczlu6fKDynga62Kn1EuO86hRR8AHUTBXqbGNu6Cfj3Ey9inTRzJAxSPDMX_HDLMGMjGWzj53YHwI7IkmX9P8HSul6oa7aj1DdG2OZCq7AIrsQ4ZYNDGo_8ir4DZJ0qzoXoM1qkxhwhI/s1600/P2254645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWczlu6fKDynga62Kn1EuO86hRR8AHUTBXqbGNu6Cfj3Ey9inTRzJAxSPDMX_HDLMGMjGWzj53YHwI7IkmX9P8HSul6oa7aj1DdG2OZCq7AIrsQ4ZYNDGo_8ir4DZJ0qzoXoM1qkxhwhI/s640/P2254645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Settee, you already look better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXlKPHGmzgQpj1lfQcou4vL0khlq5dMBk1RD4P5rsMAmezJDxfVo4GBk-UXrkiIMTVB1w7OLAl63ozo-gdFSO06Y5gZ0G9f5BxUofF1t0L_jLcvYjgueywK0reGZqRXGvJT9Tr2PKRzfn/s1600/P2264812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXlKPHGmzgQpj1lfQcou4vL0khlq5dMBk1RD4P5rsMAmezJDxfVo4GBk-UXrkiIMTVB1w7OLAl63ozo-gdFSO06Y5gZ0G9f5BxUofF1t0L_jLcvYjgueywK0reGZqRXGvJT9Tr2PKRzfn/s640/P2264812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Next up - sanding and refinishing/painting. I think that's going to be an 11th hour decision.<br /><br />What do you guys think - do you think I can tackle this upholstery job myself? Keep in mind, I've never upholstered anything. Ever. (But when has that stopped me before?) Anyone need some old school Lip Smacker for your collection?

take a seat part 2

Happy Friday everyone! When we last left our sad little settee  she was moping in the garage, trying to suck in her gut and look a bit more ...

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Have you been to a TeachMeet or iPadMeet in South Africa yet?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49iXLpBW-ioYm6jrVs8W_IAm187883hppHhFoM2vRkIVEiF8_yhyEsiAaNk1fX4H0yPVjVsk7-UtUZWC2PtexJZGWmgs5vOU8w99yEKxUD7r9ElMqtcLniFaGojw_OGXNLXkSVdi90RY/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk469MrqOFbHHEBnAkzmVlza0f8S2VFj2li49t43ic14qZoKugp35FpQetEdRvFEywoteq3Q6RWrYINuLHzM8Veu7SRttLSH-GEuOp-OorpNaZ-7_2cRVfB43aFWNWTrEuF4csdAwauto/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="200" /></a></div><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-weight: normal;"><i>Recently I attended another of Elkanah House's TeachMeets (Elkanah House is a school in Tableview, Cape Town), and I asked Linda Foulkes if I could use her blog post as a guest post. Linda is responsible for the training and testing of Grade 8 to 10 students on the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification. She is a Microsoft Office Expert and ICDL Advanced Trainer. In addition to her role as Staff Trainer and High School ICT Integration support (ICT Department), she also belongs to the Academic Department as Grade 8 Tutor Teacher. Linda absolutely loves spending her time researching social media and relevant technologies with connections on Twitter (@folklind) and Facebook, as well as her blog at </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-weight: normal;"><i><a href="http://folklind.wordpress.com/">http://folklind.wordpress.com</a>;</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and she enjoys imparting this knowledge as professional development, enhancing teaching experience for teachers/students or simply just to boost efficiency in the workplace. Apart from that Linda is the person who is running with the TeachMeet idea at Elkanah House. </span></i></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Saturday 25 February 2012, Elkanah House hosted its </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">third</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TeachMeet</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, as well as its </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">second</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">iPadMeet</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. The response and attendance to both meets were extremely rewarding. Forty six dedicated people interested in sharing, presenting and soaking in ways to use ICT in the classroom joined the TeachMeet. During second session, fifty four participants, passionate about using the iPad as a classroom device, attended the iPadMeet. The events were run one after the other to allow participants to enjoy both meets or collaborate with others during the short break between events</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span></span></h4><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_1310" border="0" height="244" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1310_thumb.jpg?w=312&h=238" title="IMG_1310" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_1308" border="0" height="243" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1308_thumb.jpg?w=310&h=236" title="IMG_1308" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is what happened at the Meets?</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The meet kicked off with a “welcome housekeeping” presentation, which can be viewed <a href="http://%3Cdiv%20style%3D%22width:425px%22%20id%3D%22__ss_11742723%22%3E%20%3Cstrong%20style%3D%22display:block%3Bmargin:12px%200%204px%22%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22http//www.slideshare.net/folklind/teachmeet-welcome%22%20title=%22TeachMeet%20Welcome%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3ETeachMeet%20Welcome%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%20%3Cobject%20id=%22__sse11742723%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22355%22%3E%20%3Cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=teachmeetwelcome-120225002315-phpapp02&stripped_title=teachmeet-welcome&userName=folklind%22%20/%3E%20%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22/%3E%20%3Cparam%20name=%22allowScriptAccess%22%20value=%22always%22/%3E%20%3Cparam%20name=%22wmode%22%20value=%22transparent%22/%3E%20%3Cembed%20name=%22__sse11742723%22%20src=%22http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=teachmeetwelcome-120225002315-phpapp02&stripped_title=teachmeet-welcome&userName=folklind%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20wmode=%22transparent%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22355%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%20%3C/object%3E%20%3Cdiv%20style=%22padding:5px%200%2012px%22%3E%20View%20more%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.slideshare.net/%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3Epresentations%3C/a%3E%20from%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.slideshare.net/folklind%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3ETeachMeets%20@%20Elkanah%3C/a%3E%20%3C/div%3E%20%3C/div%3E">here</a> for those who are not sure how a TeachMeet event is run. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Essentially, on signup one would choose one of the following options:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Keen Bean</b> – a presenter who shares an idea, lesson, a tool in a timesl<a href="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1314.jpg"><img align="right" alt="IMG_1314" border="0" height="96" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1314_thumb.jpg?w=192&h=96" title="IMG_1314" width="192" /></a>ot of 3-5 minutes – presenters receive a gift of jelly beans<br /></span></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Enthusiastic Lurker</b> – just there to soak up the environment and enjoy the day!</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Di de Villiers from Somerset House seemed to have managed to get a reserved seat! She has attended every Meet we have had so far and always sits on the couch in the same spot…so I decided to reserve it for her!</span> <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_0664.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_0664" border="0" height="240" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_0664_thumb.jpg?w=244&h=184" title="IMG_0664" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_1302" border="0" height="252" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_1302_thumb.jpg?w=231&h=183" title="IMG_1302" width="320" /></a></div><img alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://folklind.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wlemoticon-openmouthedsmile.png?w=645" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Keen Beans shared a huge range of resources and the number of presenters doubled since the last meet! A huge thank you to Nicole Masureik of Pinelands High as well as Mnr Maree of Bishops who were unable to attend but contributed by sending a virtual presentation for me to share with the audience. So if you are unable to attend a meet…you are always able to contribute and share with others…video yourself or a presentation and send to me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well done to those who presented on the day – more information about these presentations, as well as photographs, videos and resources can be found on the TeachMeet wiki – </span><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> – continue reading this post to see what was presented!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Presentations</b></span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Carolynn Bruton [ex Springfield] – presented twice, once on Organising you iPad and iPhone and then Transferring your Pics between Devices.<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51355740/Organising%20iPad%20TeachMeet.pdf">Organising iPad TeachMeet.pdf</a>; <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51356547/Transferring%20pics.pdf">Transferring pics.pdf</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fiona Beal [SchoolNet] presented on Google Forms – So Easy to Use: <br />See this post on the <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/02/experimenting-with-slideshare-playlist.html">SchoolNet blog</a><br />See this as a Slideshare - <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/google-forms-so-easy-to-use">http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/google-forms-so-easy-to-use</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jenny Martin [Somerset House] on Using Triptico in the Primary School Maths Class <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51294489/Word%20Magnets.pptx">Word Magnets.pptx</a>;<a href="http://www.triptico.co.uk/">http://www.triptico.co.uk</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Karen Stadler [Elkanah House] took us on a wonderful tour through Epic Citadel during the iPadMeet–<a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51294589/KStadler_epic.pps">KStadler_epic.pps</a> – visit Karen’s blog at <a href="http://karenstadler.wordpress.com/">http://karenstadler.wordpress.com</a> or ipad wiki: <a href="http://just-ipadding-along.posterous.com/">http://just-ipadding-along.posterous.com</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nicole Masureik [Pinelands] – presented on Using Screencast-o-matic<br /><a href="http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/">www.screencast-o-matic.com</a>. This video demonstrated the recording of on screen annotations in PowerPoint for Teacher Professional Development.<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281158/Screencasting.mp4">Screencasting.mp4</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mnr Maree [Bishops] – took audience through Using Tumblr in the Afrikaans Classroom<br /><a href="http://bishopsafrikaans.tumblr.com/">http://bishopsafrikaans.tumblr.com</a><br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281213/tumblr%20in%20afrikaans.mp4">tumblr in afrikaans.mp4</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Siobhan Louw [Somersert House] – presented her Term Long ICT Project – Planning a Virtual International Holiday<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51313475/S%20Louw%20TeachMeetFeb2012.pptx">S Louw TeachMeetFeb2012.pptx</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Siobhan Louw [Somersert House] – Shared an App called Boxee during the iPadMeet session<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51357461/S%20Louw%20boxee.ppsx">S Louw boxee.ppsx</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cheryl Douglas [Bishops] – presented on Using OneNote to produce Biology Notes on the Endocrine System<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281150/Endocrine%20system.one">Endocrine system.one</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fiona Beal – [SchoolNet] – showed us How to make a Protopage<br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/02/wondering-what-internet-start-page-is.html" target="_blank">How to make a protopage</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Louise Leigh [Herzlia] – shared her Integrated ICT Tasks in Mathematics – Google Docs Grade 9 Data Handling Research Project<br />The Environment – Research Topic and Introduction; Design of a Survey/Questionnaire, Administering a Survey, Organizing Data by making tally tables, Double bar graph, calculating averages, writing a report on results and report features of graphs, writing a conclusion with informed opinion and findings, a Bibliography, and finally to present. <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281124/ICT%20Integrated%20Tasks.pptx">ICT Integrated Tasks.pptx</a>; <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281120/9-Recycling%20Herzlia%202009-2012.pdf">ycling Herzlia 2009-2012.pdf;</a><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281119/9-Recycling%20Double%20Bar%20Graph%202012.xlsx">9-Recycling Double Bar Graph 2012.xlsx</a>; <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51281114/9-Graph%20Project%202012.pdf">9-Graph Project 2012.pdf</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Peter Schutte [Wynberg Girls] – presented on using Edmodo in the Maths Class<br /><a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51280761/Edmodo_Teacher_Training_Presentation.pptx">Edmodo_Teacher_Training_Presentation.pptx</a>; <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51280754/Edmodo__a_student_quick_start_guide.pdf">Edmodo__a_student_quick_start_guide.pdf</a>; <a href="http://elkteachmeet.pbworks.com/w/file/51280762/UsesforEdmodoAllgradelevels.pdf">UsesforEdmodoAllgradelevels.pdf</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gilmour Gordon [Elkanah House] – shared his Music with Audacity, Movies with Sound project with the audience<br />[email <a href="mailto:teachmeet@elkanah.co.za">teachmeet@elkanah.co.za</a> for access to dropbox folder if you would like to view / download this presentation due to size limitations<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alan Goldberg [Digicape] – presented on iBook format / Author, Popplet Lite,and the use of a science iPad app and gadget during the iPadMeet.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jak Tangkuampien [Elkanah House] presented on Marking with the iPad. </span></li></ol><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Without the above Keen Beans as well as the Enthusiastic Lurkers the 2 hour sessions would not be possible. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I encourage everyone to continue sharing and collaborating amongst each other, to visit the wiki, interact with others and mail </span><a href="mailto:teachmeet@elkanah.co.za" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">teachmeet@elkanah.co.za</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> should you have something to share at the next meet. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A special thank you to:<br /></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Christiaan Vlok – Elkanah student for video footage and photos </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Arthur Preston – Elkanah House Senior Primary Principal for twitter backchannel </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Karen Stadler – Elkanah House ICT Integrator for the twitter backchannel </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Gareth Davies – Business of Teaching – for the donation of magazine prizes </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Bongi Damane – Elkanah staff member for organising the refreshments </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Fiona Beal – SchoolNet for her continued support and encouragement</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Continue the collaboration on twitter : #elkteachmeet and #SAipaded</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Photographs of our Meets</span></b><br /><div id="__ss_11845117" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/folklind/teachmeetphoto25feb2012" target="_blank" title="TeachMeet-Photo25feb2012">TeachMeet-Photo25feb2012</a><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/11845117" width="425"></iframe></b><br /><div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-powerpoint" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/folklind" target="_blank">TeachMeets @ Elkanah</a> </div></div><span style="display: inline ! important; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><br /><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/folklind/teachmeet-photos-25feb2012" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" title="TeachMeet Photos 25feb2012">TeachMeet Photos 25feb2012</a><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/11891684" width="425"></iframe> </span><br /><div id="__ss_11891684" style="width: 425px;"><div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-powerpoint" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/folklind" target="_blank">TeachMeets @ Elkanah</a> </div></div><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">TeachMeets in other parts of the world!</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></b> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Ireland joins TeachMeets – visit the wiki on <a href="http://tmbelfast.wikispaces.com/">http://tmbelfast.wikispaces.com/</a>) </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Australia is having a huge one this Friday evening where they are trying to beat a world record for TeachMeets. Check out the ustream here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sydney-teachmeet">http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sydney-teachmeet</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*This Saturday, a big virtual International Teachmeet with 32 presenters from 20 countries (Fiona Beal of SchoolNet is one of the volunteers…go Fiona!) was held. Visit <a href="http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/">http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf</a> Do you listen to blogtalkradio? Lots of great discussions happening here!</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON @ AN ELKANAH TEACHMEET OR IPADMEET!</span></b> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

teachmeets Have you been to a TeachMeet or iPadMeet in South Africa yet?

Recently I attended another of Elkanah House's TeachMeets (Elkanah House is a school in Tableview, Cape Town), and I asked Linda Foulkes...

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