News for today's 2018

PHARMAINDUSTRIE UND DAS GESCHÄFT MIT IMPFSTOFFEN

7:45 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjObj9wfeIFZs4237xGz230MUFUfFoOFM-OmvQ8CH8WXV4S9dDZsimogdEk9KcqVnseHb7UTN0a9p8FZk_1qYnrCbRZNHFzCg6lX2RTUnsO_hjt6iz-7rJ0V4c0uD3K1PSzcNsTI8XBqTT/s1600/narkolepsie_schlaf_420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjObj9wfeIFZs4237xGz230MUFUfFoOFM-OmvQ8CH8WXV4S9dDZsimogdEk9KcqVnseHb7UTN0a9p8FZk_1qYnrCbRZNHFzCg6lX2RTUnsO_hjt6iz-7rJ0V4c0uD3K1PSzcNsTI8XBqTT/s400/narkolepsie_schlaf_420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;"><strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #45818e; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: red; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">JUNGE LEBEN IN TRÜMMERN: NARKOLEPSIE DURCH SCHWEINEGRIPPE-IMPFUNG</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Von Gerhard Wisnewski</span></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Viele haben 2009 vor der Impfung gegen die so genannte Schweinegrippe gewarnt. Die offensichtlich korrupte Weltgesundheitsorganisation </span></strong><em><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">WHO</span></b></em><strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;"> schlug Alarm wegen einer angeblichen »PANDEMIE«, weltweit kauften die Regierungen »Schweinegrippe«-Impfstoff ein und drängten ihre Bürger zur Impfung. </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Siehe: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/manipulative-virus.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/manipulative-virus.html</a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Mit – wie sich jetzt herausstellt – verheerenden Folgen. Nicht nur, dass inzwischen abgelaufener Impfstoff im Wert von vielen Millionen Euro oder Dollar vernichtet werden musste – mittlerweile erkrankten in Skandinavien Hunderte geimpfter Kinder an der Schlafkrankheit Narkolepsie.</span></strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;"></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><strong><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">»Ein kriminelles Komplott aus Politik, Medien, Medizin und Pharmaindustrie treibt Millionen von Menschen zu einer Impfung mit unsicheren Impfstoffen«, konnte man vor drei Jahren auf Alternativ Medien lesen. Eine Warnung, die sich inzwischen auf schreckliche Weise bestätigt hat.</span></strong></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 16pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb3dSwjch3dclbAyI9lWNef99pRSpAecBmImFhVLOFKxxkZzDuvjOVO6m_IDL4wxXx9X0YakJeDkg8xueZNm8GzrfEcutn0UTFx2_9-H2WAA5aW71GR_XoqNsPjxnfIdRU3KwF9Cf5Zou/s1600/pandemrix-390x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb3dSwjch3dclbAyI9lWNef99pRSpAecBmImFhVLOFKxxkZzDuvjOVO6m_IDL4wxXx9X0YakJeDkg8xueZNm8GzrfEcutn0UTFx2_9-H2WAA5aW71GR_XoqNsPjxnfIdRU3KwF9Cf5Zou/s320/pandemrix-390x285.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">»Wachen Sie auf!«, hörte im Herbst 2010 plötzlich die 17jährige schwedische Schülerin Daniela Dahl ihren Englischlehrer rufen: »Als mich die anklagenden Blicke meines Lehrers trafen, war ich sprachlos und stumm, schließlich brach ich in Tränen aus. Ich war plötzlich ganz wach – und kaputt. Plötzlich wach? Allerdings: Mitten im Englischunterricht war Daniela eingeschlafen. Auch später machten sich immer wieder Klassenkameraden über sie lustig, weil Daniela plötzlich mitten im Unterricht in tiefen Schlaf fiel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">»Ich schlief selbst auf dem Rücksitz des Autos und im Bus. In der U-Bahn verschlief ich meine Haltestelle und bekam sogar beim Klavierspielen Schlafattacken. Wahrscheinlich war ich einfach nur müde, nahm ich an, und dachte nicht mehr so viel darüber nach.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: red; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">DIAGNOSE: NARKOLEPSIE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.75pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Erst im Frühjahr 2011 kam die schreckliche Diagnose: Narkolepsie, die »Schlafkrankheit«. Unheilbar. Und unnötig. Denn Daniela bekam die Krankheit erst nach einer Impfung gegen die so genannte Schweinegrippe. Und mit ihr weitere 168 Schweden und 121 Finnen, meistens Kinder. In beiden Ländern hatte man im Zuge der Pandemie-Panik von 2009 auf Massenimpfungen gesetzt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Das Leben von Kindern – zerstört durch die Pharmaindustrie? Dieser Zusammenhang gilt  in den beiden skandinavischen Ländern inzwischen als naheliegend. Ja, nicht nur das: Dass zwischen dem Impfstoff <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">»Pandemrix« (<em>GLAXO SMITH KLINE</em>)</b> und Narkolepsie »ein direkter Zusammenhang besteht«, sehe die finnische Gesundheitsbehörde sogar »als erwiesen an«, schreibt die österreichische Tageszeitung <em>Die Presse</em> (Online) vom 22. Februar 2012. Inzwischen liegen die Zahlen auf dem Tisch. Während ein Impfschutz »nicht nachweisbar« gewesen sei, sei in Finnland »ein mehr als zwölfmal höheres Narkolepsierisiko bei mit Pandemrix geimpften Kindern festgestellt« worden. </span><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://diepresse.com/home/panorama/welt/734690/Der-Preis-der-Panik_Folgenreiche-Impfung-gegen-Schweinegrippe" target="_blank"><em><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #0000cc; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Die Presse</span></em></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;"> hat einige herzzerreißende Kinderschicksale zusammengetragen. </span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 16pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPgvvy7LvKgT5fy6-AMunpMRcEEZaFjpmW-ybQKjT3JwG4cgUAci_SStiB_C5voZRDUEsInUGfjBMQ7KeJgvHJojuF7G_EbJjbqq_BJSFR4-pKXSLGohfDKkJ-VQWQc9PrGE2_IWK2aR-/s1600/GlaxoSmithKline50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPgvvy7LvKgT5fy6-AMunpMRcEEZaFjpmW-ybQKjT3JwG4cgUAci_SStiB_C5voZRDUEsInUGfjBMQ7KeJgvHJojuF7G_EbJjbqq_BJSFR4-pKXSLGohfDKkJ-VQWQc9PrGE2_IWK2aR-/s320/GlaxoSmithKline50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 16pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333;">Die jungen Leben lägen »in Trümmern«. Weil die Anfälle meistens im Zustand positiver oder negativer Erregung auftreten, können sich Kinder oft nicht mehr freuen, ohne durch die Narkolepsie bestraft zu werden: »Man darf nicht zu viel lachen«, sagt der neunjährige Nemo, »sonst fällt man zusammen.« – »Ich hatte nicht mal Kraft, die Weihnachtsgeschenke zu öffnen«, erzählt der 13-jährige Manfred. Sie wolle, »dass alles wieder wie früher« sei, sagt die fünfjährige Tindra, »dass mein Gehirn wieder gut wird oder dass ich ein neues bekomme«. »Ehe ich krank wurde, freute ich mich aufs Erwachsenwerden«, sagt die 17-jährige Elin. »Ich werde alles an meine Krankheit anpassen müssen«, befürchtet Filip (15).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><h3 style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: red; line-height: 16pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-size: 12pt;">»WIR WÜRDEN ES WIEDER TUN«...</span></h3><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdWYtCJKChoXl49WfbWAHaIStVIULXjbxqWmDuvUJBBvXtKqddbnAkz5RsD48ZiacU1IBjbs_xXeDonoIMJUYYfyShpFAKepS_DfqJRFEeS-RnCaQeXgvyfNGS8k0pdNKuje7j0lMGODK/s1600/WHO-Reports-Industry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdWYtCJKChoXl49WfbWAHaIStVIULXjbxqWmDuvUJBBvXtKqddbnAkz5RsD48ZiacU1IBjbs_xXeDonoIMJUYYfyShpFAKepS_DfqJRFEeS-RnCaQeXgvyfNGS8k0pdNKuje7j0lMGODK/s320/WHO-Reports-Industry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Wer nun bei den Verantwortlichen auf Reue oder Einsicht hofft, ist allerdings schief gewickelt: »Alle Arzneimittel haben Nebenwirkungen, und bei der Schweinegrippe hätten sie nur wenige getroffen«, zitiert <em>Die Presse</em> Anders Tegnell von Schwedens Sozialbehörde, die für die Durchführung der Massenimpfungen verantwortlich gewesen sei. »Es gebe also keinen Grund zu Angst, es wäre eine ›Katastrophe‹, wenn nun eine generelle Skepsis gegenüber Impfungen ausbräche.«</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Ganz im Gegenteil. In Wirklichkeit ist die so genannte Schweinegrippe ein Lehrstück über die kriminelle Zusammenarbeit von <em>WHO</em>, Politik, Pharmaindustrie und Medizin. Was bei der Schweinegrippe aufflog, dürfte auch auf anderen Gebieten funktionieren und war wohl nur die Spitze des Eisbergs. Gesundheitspolitiker sind sich natürlich keiner Schuld bewusst. So sagt die schwedische Familienministerin Maria Larsson laut <em>Die Presse:</em> »Wir haben richtig gehandelt und würden es wieder so tun«. Was man kaum anders denn als Drohung verstehen kann.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

PHARMAINDUSTRIE UND DAS GESCHÄFT MIT IMPFSTOFFEN

JUNGE LEBEN IN TRÜMMERN: NARKOLEPSIE DURCH SCHWEINEGRIPPE-IMPFUNG Von Gerhard Wisnewski Viele haben 2009 vor der Impfung gegen die so genan...

My body has been trying to tell me something

9:05 PM Tukiyooo 0

My body has been screaming at me for several weeks that something is wrong. I would not listen, so it did something to make me pay attention. In hindsight, this is kind of funny. <br /><br />A little over three weeks ago my body attacked itself. At the time, I thought it was some strange allergic reaction. I had no idea what made this happen and had never had anything like this happen before.<br /><br />I was sitting at my desk at work, 4:30pm on a Friday afternoon about three and a half weeks ago. I hadn't eaten anything since noon, and only had water to drink . Suddenly I had a tingling in my upper lip, on the inside, right in the middle of the lip. It was a sensation I'd never experienced before. My lip started to swell up, very quickly, but only on the upper left side. Then the hives started on my upper chest. Terrible welts appeared and they itched like crazy. I looked like a freak.<br /><br />I went home and took Benadryl. I just thought it was an allergic reaction. I must have touched something at work, then touched my lip. I'm allergic to peanuts, but this was different. Peanuts make my throat close up and I can't breathe. That didn't happen.<br /><br />The Benadryl I took had absolutely no affect on me. The swelling of my upper lip continued and so did the hives. By Saturday, the hives calmed down, but my lip remained swollen until Sunday. I refused to leave the house because I looked so hideous.  <br /><br />By Monday I looked normal and put the whole thing out of my mind. Too much other stuff to worry about, can't think about it now.<br /><br />Two weeks later, same thing, same time of day, at my desk, but it was my lower right lip that started swelling and my entire body itched, with hives.. Again, I thought it was some weird allergic reaction to something at work.<br /><br />Today, five days after the last episode, it happened again! This time I was at home, 5 a.m. I hadn't eaten or drank anything yet. I had just got out of bed to go to the gym. I promised myself that I would get back on track with the exercise. As I was dressing for the gym, I started thinking about the project I'm on at work, about a particular problem and how I'm going to fix it, realizing I don't know how. Boom! The tingling in my upper lip, left side, started again, and it started to swell up! Right on queue, I break out in terrible hives on my entire upper body. This time the hives are worse than the last two times.<br /><br />Okay, I've had enough. I make an appointment for the doctor, and took the day off from work. I took pictures of my lip and my hives with my cell phone to show the doctor. By the time I got there at 3pm, I looked normal again. I showed the doctor the pictures and he was impressed--he said "this is serious". Then he asked me the question I expected, has anything changed in my diet or my personal care products. No to both. Then he asked about my life. I told him a little about my crazy, stressed-filled life. And what does he say? He tells me he is 100% certain that my problem is stress induced. The swelling up of my lips, the hives, all from stress! The prescription, first Zyrtec twice a day to stop the hives and itching, second, I need to relax.<br /><br />Wow! If that's not a wake up call, I don't know what is. It's like my body said, "hey stupid, you need to slow down and take it easy. You're killing me.". I ignored my body. Again, "hey, YOU...listen to me!". Finally today, with the worst hives so far, "HEY, I'M TALKING TO YOU!". Okay, you got my attention. I hear you!<br /><br />I tried to think about what is so different in this last month from the previous five months. I handled much worse stress in those five months. I didn't get hives or a swollen lip. True, I almost had a complete mental breakdown several times, but I held it together. Then it hit me. The two things that have really changed in the last four weeks:  my diet and exercise. In spite of all the insanity during those first five months, I managed to stay pretty much on track with my eating and exercise. If I didn't go to the gym, I walked at lunch. I ate healthy foods, although sometimes too much. I got down to 173.<br /><br />Then I honestly don't know what happened, other than I felt like the worst of it was over and I had been to hell and back. Then I started eating junk, I barely exercised, maybe one or two times a week at the most. I even went a whole week a couple of times without going to the gym at all. <br /><br />My body has let me know that this is not a good thing. Eating poorly, not exercising, and my body revolted against me. It sure got my attention. My focus now, eight hours of sleep, good food, and daily exercise. These things are a must. They aren't optional. <br /><br />I can't help but wonder if this was what the outside of my body was doing, what is going on inside my body.<br /><br />I think it's kind of a miracle that our bodies are smart enough to do something like this to get our attention. I knew things were bad for me, that I wasn't handling the stress well, my eating was out of control, and my exercise was almost non-existent. I just didn't realize things were really that bad. I think I got the message loud and clear. <br /><br /><i>Postscript: I thought I'd look up the medicine they gave me for the hives before I took it. I thought the doctor said Zyrtec, which you can buy over the counter. I wasn't sure why I needed a prescription. They gave me a prescription for Ranitidine! Which is "Zantac"! Which is for heartburn, not hives. I don't have heartburn, I have hives. They gave me the wrong medicine! The script was sent in by the doctor on the computer (not my regular doctor). It wasn't a hand-written script. I just called the pharmacy and the doctor entered it in wrong. I guess hives...heartburn, Zyrtec...Zantac. Thank goodness this wasn't a serious condition or a dangerous medicine. Just makes you realize that you should always double check your prescriptions before you pop them in your mouth. </i><br /><br />

My body has been trying to tell me something

My body has been screaming at me for several weeks that something is wrong. I would not listen, so it did something to make me pay attention...

My Life In Kenya: A Musungu Memoir -- Part 2

10:41 AM Tukiyooo 0

Cathedrals And House Churches -- Lessons Learned.<br /><br />Our week in Kenya began with worship at All Saints Cathedral where I was to give the sermon for Sunday worship. At this point you may be expecting me to marvel at the joy and enthusiasm of African worship. Actually not so much. The service was clearly designed with that in mind. At times a worship leader tried mightily to get the group energized, but frankly it fell flat. The music was intended to be lively, but the people just didn’t feel it. My sermon was well-enough-received by those who stayed awake, but some dozed on the front row. It seemed altogether like a frozen chosen assembly.<br /><br />Only later did I find out what was really afoot. It was the first day that the new Provost (similar to a Dean) was at the Cathedral. He is appointed by the Bishop – not called by the congregation. So it was his first day and he wasn’t preaching. I was. In addition, they normally worship in a quaint old English style church building – one that had been Whites-only until 1962 when the Whites exited in the wake of independence and the present congregation moved in. But now they are constructing a large modern Cathedral that will hold hundreds more people than the old building. It is far from complete. Beams and rafters are still exposed. The windows have no panes. This was their first day in the new building and they had not been warned in advance that they would be worshiping in there that day. They just arrived at Church and were directed into the new intimidatingly large unfinished structure. So: surprise! New Provost. New building. Musungu preacher. (They may have thougth I was the new Provost!) <br /><br />What I had taken for boredom was a state of shock. How many Anglicans does it take to change a diaper? You can’t change that diaper. It was given in memory of my grandfather. Same thing would have happened here. Still I felt privileged to give the inaugural sermon in the new All Souls Cathedral and the people, though discombobulated, were gracious and devout.<br /><br />After the Eucharist, we went to the Bishop’s house for Home Bible Church. This is one of the main things Fr. Lloyd had wanted me to see. It was like a house church or a cell group. It was a Bible Study with prayer and songs. The topic was the role of Godparents. People were challenged to find scriptures that informed the question of how to be a good Godparent. Generally, Kenyans have the same challenges we do in choosing and preparing Godparents. The discussion was intelligent and their ability to connect scriptures to the topic was impressive. <br /><br />This is what I took away from Home Bible Church: We need our Sunday morning worship services alright. We need public worship in God’s house, a sacred space. I could not disagree more with the Emergent Church Movement more on that point. We need that basic gathering to publicly constitute us as a community of faith. Most of us will not go deeper than what happens there. But the large scale public worship of the Church draws its life from those who do go deeper in small groups meeting to study and pray in more intimate settings, especially homes. That is where the spiritual bonds are forged; the heart of the church, strengthened. <br /><br />If a Church is medium to large, it needs several small church groups gathering at other times in other places to sustain its intimacy. But what if a congregation is already small – say 12 people gathered for Sunday morning worship? I believe even small churches need that gathering of a few to go deeper. Maybe it will only be two or three meeting to pray and study, but their gathering will provide the energy that will sustain and perhaps grow the larger group. Look back on my previous blog post about 80/20 rule in which I argue that we cannot build the church by extending its circumference; we have to grow the core within and the circumference will expand to keep the balance. Home Bible Church is a way to grow the core.<br /><br />Each church could create its own format. It can be a spiritual book club meeting at an Indian restaurant, or a Bible and Brew class engaging scripture at a bar, or it can be a meeting for contemplative prayer and spiritual story telling. The key is the small group gathering – somewhere away from the church property – to connect with each other on the basis of our common bond in Christ.

My Life In Kenya: A Musungu Memoir -- Part 2

Cathedrals And House Churches -- Lessons Learned. Our week in Kenya began with worship at All Saints Cathedral where I was to give the sermo...

Invisible Ink-a guest blog by Herb Broda

6:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ja8AbQgYa6_o91TPyXXRHTO03Phv8CCJep2aNdSwwv2g9yvOxS4c3AMR7VL3j0_Pw1Z9sny9wZS32oaQFgVGyg0SYDPB_CeSjv7rfDrG6OZkesllpfn4FRPFFYgosQZJkMxgE4pwMZoK/s1600/GirlReadingOutside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ja8AbQgYa6_o91TPyXXRHTO03Phv8CCJep2aNdSwwv2g9yvOxS4c3AMR7VL3j0_Pw1Z9sny9wZS32oaQFgVGyg0SYDPB_CeSjv7rfDrG6OZkesllpfn4FRPFFYgosQZJkMxgE4pwMZoK/s200/GirlReadingOutside.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from the Appalachian Mountain Club's <a href="http://greatkids.outdoors.org/2012/02/outdoorsy-kids-still-have-better.html" target="_blank">Web Site</a></td></tr></tbody></table> I will often reference other blogs that are relevent to the topic of outdoor, environmental and/or wildlife education here.  It's my pleasure today to reference one of my favorite people, Herb Broda with Ashland University, and his recent post on the Children and Nature Network's Blog.  Herb looks at how changes in children's literature are unfortunately a reflection of the decline in time spent outdoors by today's youth.  Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Herbert%20W.%20Broda%20is%20a%20professor%20of%20education%20at%20Ashland%20University%20in%20Ohio.%20He%20is%20the%20author%20of%20%22Schoolyard-Enhanced%20Learning:%20Using%20the%20Outdoors%20as%20an%20Instructional%20Tool%22%20and%20%22Moving%20the%20Classroom%20Outdoors:%20Schoolyard-Enhanced%20Learning%20in%20Action.%22%20He%20is%20also%20a%20leader%20of%20the%20Children%20&%20Nature%20Network's%20Natural%20Teachers%20Initiative." target="_blank">Invisible Ink: Is the Natural World Disappearing from Children's Books and Education?</a><br /><br /><br /><em>Herbert W. Broda is a professor of education at Ashland University in Ohio. He is the author of "Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning: Using the Outdoors as an Instructional Tool" and "Moving the Classroom Outdoors: Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning in Action." He is also a leader of the Children & Nature Network's Natural Teachers Initiative.</em>

Invisible Ink-a guest blog by Herb Broda

Photo from the Appalachian Mountain Club's Web Site I will often reference other blogs that are relevent to the topic of outdoor, en...

dressed beds

5:19 AM Anonymous 0

Let's talk about your bed.<br /><br />Now don't blush. I know we haven't known each other that long. But I'm interested.<br /><br />Are you a white bed person?<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1W_Gfk9Udjd6UxVh0eFVjpD8JLJS8F9LB2ghNn3EYcRNqIDY9Gl4BXBXtifN4ui1Aet_WtsWhO59jknYAV-XfIoShwtIGypc0AePDAEjYkPtNNy3JtdeFR4VRYa6EVt_VT9mgPMqIcYe/s1600/p_101201717.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1W_Gfk9Udjd6UxVh0eFVjpD8JLJS8F9LB2ghNn3EYcRNqIDY9Gl4BXBXtifN4ui1Aet_WtsWhO59jknYAV-XfIoShwtIGypc0AePDAEjYkPtNNy3JtdeFR4VRYa6EVt_VT9mgPMqIcYe/s640/p_101201717.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.bhg.com/rooms/bedroom/makeovers/editors-picks-our-favorite-bedroom-makeovers/#page=9" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Or do you like a little color while you sleep?<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PFSOOfYgTGnY4e06nQ35Lbzag5NZ6_egAiurvvmGyZHPyGdSnZmoVpj1wmcCuPZoS41waZufxMpfkgwKo_IBvDUo183c3snCxghwiBs3yMV-5DKpHolbsszGp-2NWJGQIs58ecHoKnK3/s1600/editors-picks-our-favorite-bedroom-makeovers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PFSOOfYgTGnY4e06nQ35Lbzag5NZ6_egAiurvvmGyZHPyGdSnZmoVpj1wmcCuPZoS41waZufxMpfkgwKo_IBvDUo183c3snCxghwiBs3yMV-5DKpHolbsszGp-2NWJGQIs58ecHoKnK3/s640/editors-picks-our-favorite-bedroom-makeovers.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.bhg.com/rooms/bedroom/makeovers/editors-picks-our-favorite-bedroom-makeovers/#page=9" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In pictures, I always seem to be drawn to a crisp, white fluffy bed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9WSYLZ5zqeEHqazClX5wIEOpzyPXVvR_hfjmcA24H4NBcHw0ZlUhr_IdtYKKjQejeQtwOmS1R4PIYVPC_k81U6Ie0isoFxaCYgzTInDEQN2_lvkSaf6mKOnmpdM1u6wcG4myVI9OCoh4/s1600/room-of-week-all-or-nothing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9WSYLZ5zqeEHqazClX5wIEOpzyPXVvR_hfjmcA24H4NBcHw0ZlUhr_IdtYKKjQejeQtwOmS1R4PIYVPC_k81U6Ie0isoFxaCYgzTInDEQN2_lvkSaf6mKOnmpdM1u6wcG4myVI9OCoh4/s640/room-of-week-all-or-nothing.jpeg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEhRTAqQB82BbEOYNQ_947bmDG_wZbkZ5S-uwRuDpnCg6OC5iLIxsuNEkmW2x7z_wqP8vr2fbuDmOBxMLMHFBzcFsLJBNjKK7_SAjfP6X2foHr5BsER_Vxmarx3oBsqXEVZHexDSDUV6UFaM/s1600/193692-9-07%2520copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTAqQB82BbEOYNQ_947bmDG_wZbkZ5S-uwRuDpnCg6OC5iLIxsuNEkmW2x7z_wqP8vr2fbuDmOBxMLMHFBzcFsLJBNjKK7_SAjfP6X2foHr5BsER_Vxmarx3oBsqXEVZHexDSDUV6UFaM/s640/193692-9-07%2520copy.jpeg" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://lonnymag.com/decorate/bedrooms" target="_blank">Lonny Magazine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; 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/AVvXsEiQaKMhXRprDikQzuX6GpI1_DNbsSO368Nz6NaizJkAXEO3f4ISGyUYW1ER8SkuYTxQyYiDT66lDVpvJPBc4g0GQXFFJVMLEtmFkCIMTgioO0MeP6JSVdoyqWP24X9D2kRcjHeJ4kkp-Wvj/s1600/Default.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaKMhXRprDikQzuX6GpI1_DNbsSO368Nz6NaizJkAXEO3f4ISGyUYW1ER8SkuYTxQyYiDT66lDVpvJPBc4g0GQXFFJVMLEtmFkCIMTgioO0MeP6JSVdoyqWP24X9D2kRcjHeJ4kkp-Wvj/s640/Default.jpeg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.somersetbayhome.com/Default.aspx?PageID=55&catid=&m=d&pID=132&page=&IsBed=Y" target="_blank">Somerset Bay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But in reality, I most often go for a bit of color (no surprise) when I pick out bedding. That<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> of course might be influenced by the reality factor. Having a dog that spends much of her day in our bed makes me think twice about investing in any luscious white bedding. (especially during the rainy spring months when I often find muddy paw prints)</span> </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/AVvXsEiz3szqvyHx3p27bPTfaCmMDDlYT98QQveEdeduaiFWwYtGo5iF-6pi5WZYbUjRjn2evl2lx18Y4cwVMNp-jD2G_VQJ4-l-fGHkV3z8i1HMswhgFXEeZgX0xZ7mrao_rHVC2rhvAl6WHR7L/s1600/interiors-to-inspire-timeless-and.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3szqvyHx3p27bPTfaCmMDDlYT98QQveEdeduaiFWwYtGo5iF-6pi5WZYbUjRjn2evl2lx18Y4cwVMNp-jD2G_VQJ4-l-fGHkV3z8i1HMswhgFXEeZgX0xZ7mrao_rHVC2rhvAl6WHR7L/s640/interiors-to-inspire-timeless-and.jpeg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://lookbook.elledecor.com/Bedroom-Eclectic-A-Harlem-Brownstone's-Vivid-Transformation/id15627" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYuLXVPibjvzq1A_LvVOkDEpSviXSRu7ebEa2SEXfqWjeOVvGyQJt7a88N0-Ua5pp0t-q4EAsPsiC6q6EX-YUvF-WnKysA-Kp9XqhhfOtVtsrUSsT37awyrb8LgMCNousa5Zu-P9juRKq/s1600/search.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYuLXVPibjvzq1A_LvVOkDEpSviXSRu7ebEa2SEXfqWjeOVvGyQJt7a88N0-Ua5pp0t-q4EAsPsiC6q6EX-YUvF-WnKysA-Kp9XqhhfOtVtsrUSsT37awyrb8LgMCNousa5Zu-P9juRKq/s640/search.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.gusandlula.com/" target="_blank">Gus and Lula</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-97FrK7bxXnpOhg7mTUJ9ofHXHwmqsrr4KfnwkyNfCIrZtrFezP1rRTiqHbcD4IKFVafYQiCpSnQE6PBKj4edMHlKZOiKscZVZ5N3EJbeyqQWRjkl_x06KT4ov7JJUJC2Eo5jMk9oSjuC/s1600/Bedroom-Design.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-97FrK7bxXnpOhg7mTUJ9ofHXHwmqsrr4KfnwkyNfCIrZtrFezP1rRTiqHbcD4IKFVafYQiCpSnQE6PBKj4edMHlKZOiKscZVZ5N3EJbeyqQWRjkl_x06KT4ov7JJUJC2Eo5jMk9oSjuC/s640/Bedroom-Design.jpeg" width="558" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via Domino Magazine</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;">So which do you prefer? All white? Color and pattern? Or maybe a mix of both?</span>

dressed beds

Let's talk about your bed. Now don't blush. I know we haven't known each other that long. But I'm interested. Are you a whit...

My Life In Kenya: A Musungu Memoir -- Part 1

9:12 AM Tukiyooo 0

“Musungu” is the Bantu word for a white person. It comes from a longer word meaning someone who travels around.<br /><br />First Surprises and Learnings.<br /><br />Thanks to the moral encouragement and financial support of Fr. Lloyd Rupp and the hospitality of Melvin Stringer (St. Tim’s/ Kenya Keep) who squired us around the country and the fellowship and grace of the Rt. Rev. Joseph Kanuku, 2nd Bishop of Machakos, we have experienced an eye-opener of an African sojourn.<br /><br /> After an arduous flight – Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Amsterdam to Nairobi – and a drive from Nairobi to Machakos, we met Bishop Kanuku and his wife Josephine. That is when the surprises began.<br /><br />Relations with Islam. <br /><br />The first surprise was the relationship between Anglicans and Muslims in Kenya. Interfaith hostility is at the heart of violence and discord along the 10th Parallel to the North – running through Nigeria in West Africa and dividing Northern and Southern Sudan in the East. (See Griswold, The 10th Parallel) Things I had heard here and there led me to believe similar tensions beset Kenya.<br /><br />So we were quite surprised to learn that Josephine Kanuku (the Bishop’s wife) teaches Christian Education as a faculty member at the Islamic School in Machakos. It turns out Bishop Kanuku and the local Imam are good friends. During times of drought, the Anglicans have come to the aid of Muslims. When I sent money for crop seed during a drought, the Anglicans shared the seed with the Muslims. Bishop Kanuku and the Imam talk about the “fundamentalist” Muslims and Christians who are each other’s enemies, each disavowing the hostility of either brand of religious intolerance. The Anglicans and most Muslims are friends. Since building bridges across the religious divide is essential to peace and prosperity in Africa (and in much of the world), I was just delighted to find that our Anglican Communion partners are at work for harmony and understanding. Well done Diocese of Machakos.<br /><br />Status of Women. <br /><br />I came away from Lambeth Conference (2008) with the impression that women are not doing well in Africa. I still know that is often true. The struggle for equality has not yet been completed in Kenya as it has not been completed here. But I was quite surprised to find how much Kenyan women have achieved both inside and outside the Church.<br /><br />Understanding the place of women in Kenyan society has to begin with Wangari Muta Mary Jo Maathai who won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.” A member of the Kikuyu tribe, Mrs. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement and linked women’s rights to environmental sustainability. <br /><br />It took me awhile to figure out why Bishop Kanuku is obsessed with planting trees. He goes about doing it himself all the time. And when he meets with his clergy, he wants to know “how many trees have you planted?” The answer had better be in the thousands! I cannot count how many trees he showed me that he had planted with his own hands. He and I each planted a tree at the second school we visited. It turns out planting trees was Maathai’s signature symbolic political act as weaving cloth was Gandhi’s. So as not to sugar coat the truth, Maathai’s efforts were vehemently resisted by the single party government of Jomo Kenyata and even her own family. But her courage has opened doors to Kenyan women in politics and the economy.<br /><br />The Diocese of Machakos has been ordaining women since 1998. We met a good number of women clergy and other women in the ordination process. At meals and other times in the home and church, women often lead the prayers. Women are active participants and sometimes leaders in Bible Study. Many a school or community service project traces its beginnings to The Mothers Union.<br /><br />As important as the status of women in the Church may be, what matters more is what the Church is doing about the status of women in society. Problem one: female genital mutilation and forced marriage. In traditional Kenyan culture, girls of 12 or 13 are “circumcised” and married off to older men. The government now opposes this practice, but people still do it. I saw no evidence of Child Protective Services stepping in to protect these girls. But the church funded schools do. They operate “Rescue Houses” on the school campuses where the girls receive sanctuary. It was my privilege to dedicate the cornerstone of the ACK (Anglican Church of Kenya) Kyandote Bulwa Girls’ Hostel in a remote mountain area – where there are no foster placements, group homes, or other government facilities to protect girls from FGM and forced marriage or other abuse – but the Diocese of Machakos is building a home where they will be safe, nourished, and educated. We met rescue girls sponsored by Kenya Keep and saw several rescue houses on school campuses. Yes, we have decided to sponsor a rescue girl ourselves. It cost $250 per year and can be easily arranged through Kenya Keep in Henderson.<br /><br />Problem two: economic independence. Those engaged in economic development as part of the Millenium Development Goals have learned through experience that the key is equipping women to operate small businesses to support their families. In Kenya, 80% of the population subsists on less than $1 per day (that is in actual buying power). So this is where the rubber meets the road for MDGs. The gender factor exacerbates poverty everywhere, but it is most obvious with the Masai tribe. The Masai are the cowboys of Kenya – only they are on foot, not horseback. They are nomadic herders of sheep, goats, and cattle. But changes in agriculture and the climate have compelled Masai families to settle. The problem is that the family settles, but the dad doesn’t. Men tend to marry, father children, then just wander off on a walk-about that could be a year or a lifetime – and they do not mail back a child support check. Equipping women to earn a living for themselves and their children is essential to alleviating poverty. More on this later. For now, let me just say, the Church is in that struggle up to its elbows.<br /><br />More than anything else we did in Kenya, we visited schools. I spoke to lots of children, but the lights really turned on when Linda spoke to them. The girls were transfixed by the sight of a woman who is a lawyer, a professor, and an author. It was amazing to see how excited they were by her example. The church women were pretty taken with her as well. One young transitional deacon couldn’t get a word in edgewise in the clergy conversations – the Church is doing better than I expected, but it does have a way to go. I tried to open up space for her to speak, but it was Linda who really brought out her smile and her voice.<br /><br />Security and Stability. <br />Our trip to Kenya had been planned for last November but was delayed by a terrorist threat. So a number of folks were worried about us going now. I don’t mean to say there was nothing to worry about. The day we arrived, there was a fatal grenade incident in Nairobi. And the crime rate in the slums is bad; hence, the local habit of referring to the capital as “Nairobbery.” But on the whole, I felt safer in Kenya than in any developing nation I have visited. Kenya is the anchor of political stability in East Africa. That is why it got so much press and caused so much international concern when there were riots and ethnic violence after the contested elections in 2008. That is not the norm in Kenya. There is corruption and the politics are not what the people would hope. The rich few live behind barbed wire crowned fences protecting them from the poor. But Kenya is not a violent place. There are neighborhoods in Nairobi that it is better not to go. But outside those neighborhoods, there is not much risk from criminals – and more importantly, not much risk from the police or military who are sometimes the more serious danger in some developing nations.<br /><br />The threat in Kenya is not homegrown. It is a spill-over from the failed government in Somalia. Just as there are Somali pirates on the seas, there are gangs that adopt a political pretext for what is really just lawless hooliganism. Operating out of Somalia, they cause problems in Kenya and other neighboring countries as well. The military of several East African states is at work fighting the gang known as Al Shebab. The people in Kenya hope to see a stable government in Somalia so that the whole region can experience security.

My Life In Kenya: A Musungu Memoir -- Part 1

“Musungu” is the Bantu word for a white person. It comes from a longer word meaning someone who travels around. First Surprises and Learning...

SYRIAN MISSILES WILL PRE-EMPT ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION

8:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvDWAFBrdbZskVRzsLT7ScPQOzwwEh-8ACKNTY1MTsCbr-T3k_xUgoUK0uSJdCoVtoDgNrupf8qxdqBdfZlhtt_4WBwE7GoRpAhtR67cllIQa7LvT1oSKidzv-L3Z5jW_YNWRYak6qPwl/s1600/hoffman88090543resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvDWAFBrdbZskVRzsLT7ScPQOzwwEh-8ACKNTY1MTsCbr-T3k_xUgoUK0uSJdCoVtoDgNrupf8qxdqBdfZlhtt_4WBwE7GoRpAhtR67cllIQa7LvT1oSKidzv-L3Z5jW_YNWRYak6qPwl/s400/hoffman88090543resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">ASSAD TO ANAN: SYRIAN MISSILES WILL PRE-EMPT ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION </span></b></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">via DEBKA<i>file</i> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TALKING ABOUT WAR</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">   </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The MIDDLE EAST has unknowingly been living for ten days under threat of a regional war, which debkafile’s military sources disclose was delivered by SYRIAN president BASHAR ASSAD to UN-ARAB LEAGUE peace envoy KOFI ANNAN when they first met Saturday, March 10. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SYRIA THREATENS TO UNLEASH MISSILES AGAINST ANY COUNTRY PREPARING FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN SYRIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvli6tmJKk478k9JHlcE0iigk5MHduVXABL7274uYsnMXFzmRx-ilbxMolLlGBXhkBauqWnMY5J6tTLK875npnOuvbydxtUA1m4STWrzQGEASdiiw7HlRBqGt04tInU2TEJOnbGq1iV8mC/s1600/mid-annan&assad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvli6tmJKk478k9JHlcE0iigk5MHduVXABL7274uYsnMXFzmRx-ilbxMolLlGBXhkBauqWnMY5J6tTLK875npnOuvbydxtUA1m4STWrzQGEASdiiw7HlRBqGt04tInU2TEJOnbGq1iV8mC/s400/mid-annan&assad.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ASSAD warned him in no uncertain terms that SYRIA was ready to unleash its missiles against any country preparing for military intervention in SYRIA before they moved.<br />While not mentioning them by name, the SYRIAN ruler was referring to BRITAIN, FRANCE, NORWAY, HOLLAND AND ITALY whose navies and air forces were last week drawn up ready for action in positions in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and bases in the MIDDLE EAST, including the Royal Air Force AKROTIRI facility in CYPRUS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A Western military source reported to debkafile Monday night, March 19 that those EUROPEAN FORCES were standing ready to cordon off certain SYRIAN regions and cities as “security zones” off limits to SYRIAN units including its air force.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cruising opposite the SYRIAN coast are the USS ENTERPRISE and the FRENCH CHARLES DE GAULLE, both aircraft carriers. They are part of the combat disposition the WEST has arrayed against IRAN and from their MEDITERRANEAN posts would take part in a military confrontation erupting in the PERSIAN GULF.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SWIFT BLOCKAGE FOR IRAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIxC4P5x4TOtRT1bFHxhEzI7XxnhTyUoLQEd1UP9WqsxfQ0iomrlo_Gw63yP8IByjK6TUqGjZ8mXZ-NDjdD0Tmq3r3S-eia87miUEjnyqHig88uGQ5yDmZJ8-GEsQYP6qomQls2s34XN8/s1600/swift_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIxC4P5x4TOtRT1bFHxhEzI7XxnhTyUoLQEd1UP9WqsxfQ0iomrlo_Gw63yP8IByjK6TUqGjZ8mXZ-NDjdD0Tmq3r3S-eia87miUEjnyqHig88uGQ5yDmZJ8-GEsQYP6qomQls2s34XN8/s400/swift_logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Recently IRAN threatened to block the STRAIT OF HORMUZ in response for being cut off from </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SWIFT, (</span></b><i><b>Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication</b></i><span class="st"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">supplying secure messaging services and interface software to wholesale financial entities)</span></b></span><span class="st"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">which caused a serious blow to its financial sector and which IRAN considers almost an act of war.</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SYRIA WILL NOT HESITATE TO ATTACK TURKEY</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">In his conversation with ANNAN, TURKEY was the only foe ASSAD named specifically as his first target for a pre-emptive missile assault. He stressed he would have no qualms about attacking TURKEY.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH Prime Minister TAYYEP ERDOGAN is due to set out next week on a visit to SEOUL where he will rendezvous with US President BARACK OBAMA, possibly on March 28,  for policy alignment on the IRANIAN nuclear threat and the year-old SYRIAN crisis. Our Washington sources report that OBAMA has set aside six hours for his conversation with ERDOGAN.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEY: MEDIATOR OR WARMONGER  </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">From the SOUTH KOREAN capital, the TURKISH leader is scheduled to fly straight to TEHRAN. The primary MIDDLE EAST issues, a nuclear IRAN and the SYRIAN impasse are therefore destined to reach a critical point in the coming days.<br />This may partly explain the announcement from, RUSSIAN BLACK SEA headquarters at SEVASTOPOL Monday that two RUSSIAN naval vessels had put into the SYRIAN port of TARTUS. The vessels’ mission and names were not disclosed, excepting that one carried a unit of “anti-terrorist marines” and the other was a military tanker which joined a RUSSIAN naval reconnaissance and surveillance ship already tied up in TARTUS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SYRIA COULD LAUNCH MISSILES WITH BIOCHEMICAL WARHEADS </b></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWAe08FiQ-ot96i9JMj6zxosHn3uLX7_sIpM3u2H-6J0uTxOR_Q0EvqOq_dlJaUzzacsAsVlBXex3w3IBf-Z2Y0u0TI8s-T0492M_EXDjvSjyB9g7oSnDCdTeTNIjQFBrDcJ8wllSLbMG/s1600/pg39.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWAe08FiQ-ot96i9JMj6zxosHn3uLX7_sIpM3u2H-6J0uTxOR_Q0EvqOq_dlJaUzzacsAsVlBXex3w3IBf-Z2Y0u0TI8s-T0492M_EXDjvSjyB9g7oSnDCdTeTNIjQFBrDcJ8wllSLbMG/s1600/pg39.gif" width="361" /></a></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As mentioned on 08 March 2012 in this blog , prior to KOFI ANNAN’S visit to SYRIA on the 10 March 2012, is the fact that SYRIA does possesses not only advanced missiles systems but also  a lethal arsenal of chemical and biological warheads. Thus the prospect of Syria actually launching such biochemical warheads, if pushed further into the corner, becomes increasingly likely. </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Use of biochemical weapons obviously bear certain risks for the country  launching such warheads, but since ASSAD has nothing to lose he and his military echelons will most likely see no repercussion if launching them, be it chemical and biological contamination on their own territory due to unfavorable wind conditions, or from counter NATO missile attacks. From Assad’s point of view it is collateral damage. Interesting in this development is that ASSAD apparently did not mention ISRAEL as his prime missile target but TURKEY. </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/strait-of-hormuz-and-syria.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/strait-of-hormuz-and-syria.html</a></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/given-fact-syria-does-possess-chemical.html"><b><i>http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/given-fact-syria-does-possess-chemical.html</i></b></a></span></div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TURKEY, ISRAEL, CYPRUS, SYRIA: COMPLEX REGIONAL PLAYERS </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In view of the looming standoff between either SYRIA and the WEST or IRAN, CYPRUS once again will play a key role for NATO forces which will use AKROTIRI ROYAL AIR FORCE Base as a forward logistic and operational base for its missions in the MIDDLE EAST and PERSIAN GULF region as well as a “host” for ISRAEL’S strategic needs and as a mediator between the ARAB world and WESTERN entities. As mentioned in a previous article on this blog, BRITAIN maintains two SOVEREIGN BASES in CYPRUS as part of the islands independence deal. </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">(See:<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a>) </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What adds to the complex situation in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN is that CYPRUS-ISRAELI relations are influenced by developments in the region. It is of interest, therefore, to take them into account. The gradual strategic withdrawal of the UNITED STATES from the region (IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN in 2014), combined with what is happening in the ARAB world, after the changes brought about by the ARAB SPRING, is offering the two main players of the region, TURKEY and ISRAEL, more independence in their actions. TURKEY, seeking to strengthen her influence in the MIDDLE EAST and the ARAB world sided with the WEST and the ARAB LEAGUE against SYRIA’S President ASSAD, thus provoking the reaction of IRAN, whose only ally in the region is SYRIA. ISRAEL on the other hand, feeling that 2012 is a crucial year for its security, if IRAN acquires nuclear weapons, is seriously considering attacking IRAN’S nuclear sites. Whatever occurs in the region, be it armed interventions or energy related topics it will certainly have an impact on the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and the MIDDLE EAST, including CYPRUS, TURKEY and ISRAEL. (See:<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a>)</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Within this framework, the improvement of relations between TURKEY and ISRAEL, proposed by some,(See: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html</a> and <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html</a>read chapter: “US outwits the EU”) is a distant possibility, especially if we take into account ISRAEL’S mistrust of TURKEY and her ambitions, as well as the instability which prevails in the region. If it happens, however, it will match the traditional friendly relations CYPRUS has with the ARAB world, which do not bother ISRAEL. What matters is that at this moment ISRAEL needs strategic depth and CYPRUS can offer it. What strengthens the relations between CYPRUS and ISRAEL is the fact that both countries have common security and energy interests which can develop into a mutually beneficial partnership of outmost importance and magnitude. </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Parts of above article have been adopted from Dr Andrestinos Papadopoulos article “Netanyahus landmark visit to Cyprus”, published in the Cyprus Mail </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">See also http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In view of Israel’s concerns expressed in the article below one has to raise the question over and over again as-to why Israel suddenly changed its decade long doctrine on Syria in favor of supporting the toppling of the Syrian regime? </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">See: </span></b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/syrias-destiny-sealed.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/syrias-destiny-sealed.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>SYRIA "CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL" WEAPONS CONCERN ISRAEL </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Via Montreal Gazette Agence France-Presse</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceHyzwOGob8zXJbvr9TeiQblHaY0Us_tLykHlk6tMhTzrHEAoNH5ydHf8kXP3xPkROYUASviVJlMH6HNJaXp8-uZsoTESITe4SPBVeCYLQMwuh8tllDhTWogMspx_wGeX9NlncH0EdtSv/s1600/patriot-missiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceHyzwOGob8zXJbvr9TeiQblHaY0Us_tLykHlk6tMhTzrHEAoNH5ydHf8kXP3xPkROYUASviVJlMH6HNJaXp8-uZsoTESITe4SPBVeCYLQMwuh8tllDhTWogMspx_wGeX9NlncH0EdtSv/s400/patriot-missiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL has serious concerns about what will happen to "huge stockpiles" of chemical and biological weapons in SYRIA when the ASSAD regime collapses, a senior military official said on Tuesday.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Major-General Amir Eshel, head of the ISRAELI military's planning division, said the working assumption was the regime of President BASHAR AL-ASSAD would eventually fall.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"The question is when, not if. And the big question is what's going to come the day after," he said.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"The immediate concern is the huge stockpiles of chemicals, biologicals (weapons), strategic capabilities that are still going into Syria, mainly from EASTERN EUROPE," Eshel said.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"That's a major concern because I don't know who is going to own those the day after. Up till now, what has been transferred to HEZBOLLAH? What will be transferred to HEZBOLLAH? What will be divided between those factions inside SYRIA? What is that going to create?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"We are talking about huge stockpiles," he said.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The regime has spearheaded a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists seeking to overthrow ASSAD, who has vowed to remain in power, raising the spectre of civil war between SYRIA'S many religious sects if he steps down.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eshel said the threat of civil war was a real possibility if ASSAD clung to power.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"If ASSAD will adopt this Yemenite model and leave, it might prevent a civil war," he said, referring to an agreement that saw Yemen's former president ALI ABDULLAH SALEH agree in November to leave power.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"But if he won't leave of his own will, we might get into civil war," he said. "If there will be a civil war, it might be a disaster."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eshel also warned that SYRIA faces bankruptcy, which could create new instability.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"I think the major challenge the SYRIANS will face in a few months, is bankruptcy. The reserves will be zero, and this is going to create, I think, internal turmoil. We can expect refugees in many countries."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On January 10, Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz told MPs that the military was preparing for the possibility of an influx of SYRIAN refugees, particularly on the occupied GOLAN HEIGHTS.</span></span></div>

SYRIAN MISSILES WILL PRE-EMPT ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION

ASSAD TO ANAN: SYRIAN MISSILES WILL PRE-EMPT ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION via DEBKA file TALKING ABOUT WAR The MIDDLE EAST has unknowingl...

I continue to struggle

9:39 PM Tukiyooo 0

A favorite blogger of mine has been writing posts recently that I could have written myself during the past few weeks. It's odd because over the past four years of blogging, <a href="http://www.escapefromobesity.net/" target="_blank">Lyn </a>and I are often on the same phase of weight loss or weight gain at the same time, weighing the same weight.<br /><br />I sure don't have any solutions for our situation. I just know that losing weight is hard. Keeping the weight off is harder. <br /><br />My weight last Friday was 196. I have no idea what I weigh right now because I didn't step on the scale over the weekend or today. I just can't bear to see it. <br /><br />Life is a struggle for me lately, in all areas.<br /><br />Work - I'm on a project with a tight deadline. I had to move out of my cubicle into an area where the team can work together, along with the project manager making sure we're staying on track. I've never worked on such an intense project. A lot of it is new for me, with a huge learning curve. It means long hours and short lunches. It's a lot of pressure.<br /><br />My sister - I don't really need to say a whole lot here because I've said it all before. Being a guardian is a lot of work, and it's job that never stops. My sister had a complicated life. Now it's my complicated life.<br /><br />My marriage - continues to be hard work. I often wonder, is every marriage this much work? Is it worth it? I've been married 24 years and this isn't the first time I've had this thought.<br /><br />Then there's the diet and exercise plan that have literally been placed on the back burner of my life. Now I understand when people say they are too busy to count calories or go to the gym or track their food. I feel like I'm on the run all the time. It's a constant barrage of things that need to be done.<br /><br />I am last on my list, but really, it can't be any other way right now.<br /><br />Well, this is one depressing post, isn't it? I know lots of people have stress-filled, difficult and complicated lives. I'm just not use to it, and I'm not handling it well.<br /><br />I had big plans to take a yin yoga/meditation class last week, but I didn't have time. Seems to be my theme lately, I just don't have time.<br /><br />I'm really tired right now, so I probably shouldn't even post this tonight. I just re-read it and it sounds horrible. A real woe-is-me post, but if I wait until I'm in a happier, better frame of mind before I post, I may just never post again.<br /><br />

I continue to struggle

A favorite blogger of mine has been writing posts recently that I could have written myself during the past few weeks. It's odd because ...

How to shorten those long web addresses using bit.ly

1:14 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are many url shortening online programmes around, and I could never quite understand the need for them until I started sharing and networking! For example when using Twitter a long web address will use nearly all your 140 characters! The application I have tended to use is Bit.ly.com, so I thought I would do a quick share on how it all works. Below is a screenshot of the Bit.ly interface.   </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY6MwHdtphrLVgsdpnZJjUSNccBEPB402ySPycZbiiUB8nxJoVIlPTNMhJ95GaUVNfJ6Qv3bR6yPBEj8mYHNmqUrM6RaKMzKCEW1kTJTyEmDlC1i2Lyda0nx2cjKjjZ_-qVopZF6461U/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWskXbOSuVS5CGCs-BeRkT-tyhhR1nN6_9FEFrwBDTDDWVCFam9EdCGY7qpVGR2KuSkXRpQ34lZfzXq2xDtxG88QaUQuFFco9VhjZ3jewVtj5_jQICV2lRHlgiOYbbc6wj9BOCnB8QqUk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whenever I start communicating with my PLN using Twitter, the first thing I do is open <a href="https://bitly.com/">Bit.ly</a>  So let me explain how it all works. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Open <a href="https://bitly.com/">https://bitly.com/</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> and join as a member. </span><span style="font-size: small;">You don’t have to join, but if you do you’ll find a record of everything you have shortened! </span><span style="font-size: small;">When Bit.ly starts you’ll get this empty blue box at the top. That s where you will paste your web addresses. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRrE0uiz_pe6zBdb-HCvefvRCklimRYrfLpbJ15a5tq2Z04vsnTbwd6vRgn7cku7R57pI1ifkuQKijQe56pD878ZRC77tLLCIRwHBBBZX9XrW1nuXLx0vyngwLvmFut7SuJuu6OkAOJ8/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clip_image002" border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9JaHEIjlwJN-r0OkAsybhueWQytlO6Z4456ANE8jQvl5g-s3Sl8gcptkhtFlpVHuw5-cvleNv2raq9d7RhzXKmvrSVZkGmu3idWW11nOOeTGXkftIjRUiFDwu5IzJ8t3d2LhRigMq0M/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image002" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Copy the web address you wish to shorten and paste the long address into the blue piece. It will immediately shorten it to a new short address. From this...</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWfegk8aIb8YuyY3VVr65eewY0km9Q62n6BodCZCWkJdApaNSmlU5e1yKa8Szzlx1WywUJnrT4OZLU-ituOGLlT2yZbHxOrOkr2OjKxoUGzNAxKQraut06wlTKMhNzeFjIcHhnL-FF4c/s1600-h/clip_image004%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clip_image004" border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHZUDlWTRR-NY69Lnu5SnA_EGdMjJcAlwcl17jdgNYwFLaxuaFUVnqoZ3mKXZYMih4RdlfKd43loh20fWFLsVWvCDOldFrDtfgPMp1OyOlWEpP3xeaE_WVK_V6JJPLUu4jnYqNsSRvhI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image004" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36LQgdD7nKBt1JpqAkBTV3TfEMzY4XjPRi4L0qrqk-xhgixha6-9zwUCSw5pBbKsJvjNAvLKnJoHL9dXAlwmhKbsudxlqauvCCj18u0P5ofv-keO8yviFlG60pYiFEvx3o1AbKywhY_I/s1600-h/clip_image004%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> <br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. ...to this! The new shortened address happens almost immediately! All you do now is copy it and use it!</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV6CSPmVmkj5o8TBNr2AGx8SZCvnwEiCp_LbBwDjmqTsTn7Gm0CPkg1wGatFvAIFRvcIFwkkDq6Pv9-O6ZAAYD1QAiKorI5BtII7-rJvsNdotGVAbWYXgplNaOMoH-SpLEDeQgtDVpEg/s1600-h/clip_image006%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clip_image006" border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaXlZArQcc9vsr5phjwIVKDLKpgkIWRpQrCi74lwEnBdYKsDDeSWqFtzLW6LHwvPWDCkWf6b3mJ5rWOCNq8qskFaN6Y9dSo6VlDqopws8d1fCHbnC_OM2DTla3iRtDqSkHjn2Cm1H1QQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image006" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, to summarise. Join Bit.ly and it will keep a record of your shortened addresses for you. The shortened address is easier for people to click on and it works especially well with Twitter and Facebook where you have a restricted number of characters.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why not give it a go!</span>  </div></div>

Tutorials Twitter Web tools How to shorten those long web addresses using bit.ly

There are many url shortening online programmes around, and I could never quite understand the need for them until I started sharing and net...

Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction - Milford Public Schools

8:27 AM Anonymous 0

<strong>Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction</strong> - <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Milford Public Schools</strong></span>.  This newly developed, key position will provide leadership, direction,  evaluation, program development and supervision in the areas of MEDIA  SERVICES and TECHNOLOGY within the district. The individual in this  position will promote and advocate for the learning of their  disciplines, strengthen the instructional core by assisting with  alignment of teacher, student and curricular needs and lead teachers in  the development of effective teaching practices. Examples of Performance  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:  Co-develop, coordinate and evaluate K-12 programs in terms of curriculum  and instruction; Conduct analyses of instructional programs and  materials; Assist teachers with understanding and delivery of school  curriculum and support new teachers; Provide modeling, coaching and  support to teachers in the use of successful, research-based  instructional strategies; Chair curriculum committees, conduct  departmental meetings and staff development programs; Promote  articulation of curriculum between grade levels; Collaborate with  classroom teachers through co-planning, co-teaching and coaching; Assist  building principals with supervision and evaluation of teachers; Assist  with the recruitment, hiring and placement of instructional personnel  within the specified subject areas. This individual will spend  approximately 75% of his/her time in the classroom and/or directly with  teachers and will uphold/implement all Board of Education policies,  rules, goals and objectives. This position requires an individual with a  valid 092 CT Certification, 5+ years teaching experience and excellent  communication skills. Preference will be given to those candidates also  possessing a certification in MEDIA SERVICES or TECHNOLOGY related  endorsements. This position is a 12-month position reporting to the  Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning and is part of the  Administration union (MASA). Salary and benefits per contract. Minimum  salary is $120,213 for the 2012-2013 year. **Interested applicants must  apply online in order to be considered.** Visit <a href="http://www.schoolspring.com/jobs/job.cfm?jid=67187" target="_blank">www.schoolspring.com/jobs/job.cfm?jid=67187</a> for information and online application. **No phone calls please.**

Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction - Milford Public Schools

Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction - Milford Public Schools . This newly developed, key position will provide leadership, direction,...

Library/Media Specialist - Nathan Hale-Ray High School, East Haddam

8:25 AM Anonymous 0

Library/Media Specialist - Nathan Hale-Ray High School, East Haddam

Library/Media Specialist - Nathan Hale-Ray High School . AVAILABLE: 2012-13 School Year. SALARY: Per EHEA Contract. CLOSING DATE: Open Un...

Children's LIbrarian - Town of Granby

8:24 AM Anonymous 0

<strong>Children's LIbrarian</strong> - The <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Town of Granby</strong></span> seeks a dynamic individual for the position of Children's Librarian.   The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the  management and administration of the collections, programming and  services for the Children's Department of the Main Library.  Must  demonstrate knowledge of the mission of the public library in the 21st  century, have knowledge of children's literature and storytelling  experience, and the ability to create community linkages.  An MLS degree  and 3 years of library experience in children's services or equivalent  combination of education and work experience is preferred. The salary  range is $54,747-$66,608, dependent upon qualifications and experience,  with an excellent benefits package.  Applications and position  descriptions may be obtained at <a href="http://www.granby-ct.gov/" target="_blank">www.granby-ct.gov</a> or from the Office of the Town Manager, Monday-Wednesday, 8am-4pm,  Thursday, 8am-6:30pm and Friday, 8am-12:30pm.  Send cover letter,  application and resume by 12:30pm, <span style="color: red;">March 30, 2012</span>,  to Town of Granby, Town Manager's Office, 15 North Granby Road, Granby,  CT 06035.  For more information, contact Ms. KerryAnn Kielbasa,  Director of Human Services at <a href="mailto:kkielbasa@granby-ct.gov">kkielbasa@granby-ct.gov</a> or 860.844.5351.  The Town of Granby is an EOE/AA/Equal Access Employer.

Children's LIbrarian - Town of Granby

Children's LIbrarian - The Town of Granby seeks a dynamic individual for the position of Children's Librarian. The successful ca...

Take a look at our weekly Diigo bookmarks

1:27 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every week our bookmarks from Diigo arrive on the SchoolNet blog as a draft, posted by Diigo; and I normally just leave them there. But today I thought I would start to publish them weekly.<br /></span><br /><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Podcasting </span></strong><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://podcasting-in-education.wikispaces.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">podcasting-in-education – home</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: a lovely wiki full of ideas about podcasting</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/03/checking-out-podcasting-in-education">Checking out Podcasting in Education | Emerging Education Technology</a>: A blogpost about the uses of podcasting. </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Social Sciences</strong></span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.enigeo.org/en">enigeo</a>: Enigeo is a great way to learn countries, capitals and flags around the world in a fun way.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Twitter</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/whats-a-tweetchat-doing-it">What’s a “TweetChat” and Why Should You Be Doing It?:</a> Tweetchats are a very popular development in Twitter</span></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/03/is-twitter-the-driving-force-behind-upcoming-educational-change">Is Twitter the Driving Force Behind Upcoming Educational Change? | Online Universities</a>: The power of Twitter</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Virtual tours</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/interactive-tour">White House Interactive Tour | The White House</a>: Visit the whitehouse without paying a cent</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Presentations and brochures</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.labnol.org/software/embed-web-videos-in-powerpoint/11119">Embed Web Videos in PowerPoint Presentations</a>: This is a way to show your videos straight from Powerpoint</span></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://simplebooklet.com/index-sb.php">simplebooklet.com</a>: a delightful way to make brochures online </span></li><li> <a href="http://www.emergingedtech.com/2012/01/teachers-recommendations-for-academic-uses-of-5-fun-free-presentation-tools"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teacher’s recommendations for academic uses of 5 fun free presentation tools | Emerging Education Technology</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Videos</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDEducation">TED Education's Channel – YouTube</a>: This is useful for educators – everything in one place</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Web 2.0 technologies</span></strong> </span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="http://21stcenturylearningwithedmodo.wikispaces.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21stcenturylearningwithedmodo - home</span></a></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.emergingedtech.com/2011/09/10-internet-technologies-educators-should-be-informed-about-2011-update">10 Internet Technologies Educators Should Be Informed About – 2011 Update | Emerging Education Technology</a> </span></li><li><a href="http://www.atrixware.com/blog/wp/4-useful-free-e-learning-tools-to-try-this-year" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atrixware E-Learning Solutions » Blog Archive » 4 Useful Free E-Learning Tools to Try This Year</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li><li><a href="http://phslib2point0.pbworks.com/w/page/31281003/FrontPage?utm_source=Technology+Tidbits+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c3f1e6744c-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PHSlib 2.0 / FrontPage</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> : </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a lovely wiki called tools2create4schools. it takes 10 Web 2.0 tools and gives tutorials on how to teach them.</span> </li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Science</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/prism.php?id=20"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History of Newton's Papers (1727-1872) | Newton Project</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Project-based learning</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://catlintucker.com/2011/12/5-student-driven-projects-that-engage-higher-level-thinking-skills/">5 Student-Driven Projects That Engage Higher-Level Thinking Skills | Catlin Tucker, Honors English Teacher</a></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Writing</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://catlintucker.com/2012/01/8-web-tools-that-make-writing-fun"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 Web Tools That Make Writing Fun! | Catlin Tucker, Honors English Teacher</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Cell phones</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://englishvirtualcommunity.blogspot.com/2012/02/students-using-their-cellphones-to.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">English Virtual Community: Students using their cellphones to learn</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Curating the web</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=3933"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top 10 Sites for Curating the Web</span></a></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-not-become-curator-with-scoopit-and.html">Why not become a curator with Scoop.it:</a> A tutorial on how to become a curator of the web using Scoop.it</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Blogs as educational tools</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blog.simplek12.com/education/15-awesome-ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classrooms">15 Awesome Ways To Use Blogs in Your Classrooms – SimpleK12</a></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sites for Foundation Phase teacher</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/TaxonomySearchResults.aspx?parametrics=40002,40003,40006&event=23&mode=browse"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early Years Foundation Stage: Communication, Language and Literacy: Games teaching resources - TES</span></a></li><li> <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Spelling-Handbook-6039545/s_cid/regcamp_ID=2025038"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spelling Handbook - Resources - TES</span></a></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ncara.edublogs.org/2012/03/15/leadership-communication-tools">Leadership Communication Tools | Techconnects</a> </span></li><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Really-FANTASTIC-teaching-websites-6032054/event/22">Really FANTASTIC teaching websites. - Resources – TES<span style="color: #4d4d4d;">:</span></a> These are sites for Foundation Phase teachers</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">QR Codes</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <a href="http://knolannotummigration.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/what-are-qr-codes"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What are</strong> QR-Codes? –</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Free audio books</span></strong> </span><br /><ul><li> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://missnoor.visibli.com/share/L2fFo6">http://missnoor.visibli.com/share/L2fFo6</a>: This is a marvelous collection of free audio books</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Posted from <a href="http://www.diigo.com/">Diigo</a>. The rest of <strong>SchoolNetSA</strong> <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/school_net_sa">group favourite links</a> are here.</span></div>

Diigo bookmarks Take a look at our weekly Diigo bookmarks

Every week our bookmarks from Diigo arrive on the SchoolNet blog as a draft, posted by Diigo; and I normally just leave them there. But toda...