Lesotho’s teachers bridging digital divide at the Lesotho PIL Forum finals

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Recently Lesotho also held their Partners in Learning Forum, and since SchoolNet partnered with Microsoft in organising this event as well, I am adding a press release of their finals. It is always interesting to read about the types of projects that teachers enter for these competitions. (Unfortunately no photos have been provided.) Furtherdown, in another post you can read about the very recent <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/04/tech-savvy-teachers-shine-in-durban-at.html" target="_blank">South African finals</a> of this competition. </i></span><br /><i> </i> <br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Maseru, Lesotho – 15 March 2012 – </i>Teachers in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho are overcoming massive resource shortages in their schools by finding innovative ways of using technology to improve teaching and learning outcomes. </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;">Just ask Lucille Kabelo Mahlatsi of Leqele High School who walked away with top honours at the Lesotho leg of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Awards in Maseru with a project called “Literature at our fingertips”. In this project learners became familiar with the language and background of Shakespearian play “Julius Caesar” through a number of activities. One group of artists created portraits of complex scenes from the play. The researcher group compared Julius Caesar and Moshoeshoe. The third group conducted a debate and the fourth group modernized and simplified the play whilst the actor group performed the play and made a video of this. </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;">Khutlang Leshuta from Tsolo Government Primary was one of 12 finalists at the awards, which are sponsored by Microsoft, the Lesotho College of Education and the Lesotho School Technology Innovation Centre in an attempt to stimulate the use of technology in schools. He will represent Lesotho the regional finals of the competition in Morocco in June as the second place winner. His learners investigated the causes of juvenile delinquency by interviewing street children, probation officers, chief, parents, and Juvenile Training Centre officers. Learners then gave their suggestions for combatting juvenile delinquency and these contributions were forwarded to the Tony Pandy College in Wales where the lifestyles of street children are being investigated. </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;">“Although the majority of Lesotho’s citizens have little or no access to technology, the quality of the entries demonstrated that even the slightest change in how teachers use the technology tools they already have – like a cell phone or laptop – can impact the way teachers teach and learners learn,” said Microsoft South Africa’s Education Lead, Reza Bardien. </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;">Emmanuel Ekoe Gyasi from Phethahatso English Medium Community School won third place at the Awards. In his project learners investigated soil as a habitat whilst creating an AutoCollage and Photostory to demonstrate what they have learnt. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“My learners were so excited about having an opportunity to make a movie of Julius Caesar rather than just reading the play. They were able to relate to the story by comparing Caesar to one of their own past leaders, Moshoeshoe” says Mahlatsi. </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;">Partners in Learning not only recognises innovative teachers who are using technology to enhance learning. It also offers a platform for teachers to network and share their ideas and projects with peers on a national, regional and global scale. </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;">A 2011 Microsoft-commissioned Innovative Teaching and Learning study revealed that sharing new teaching methods as part of professional development is most effective when the sharing is direct and active, which makes the Partners in Learning Forum “such a brilliant platform”, said Bardien. </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;">Dr John Oliphant, Rector of Lesotho College of Education echoes this: “Each year the Forum recognises our most innovative teachers at this occasion and we are proud to have them represent Lesotho education and share their ideas and projects with peers on a global scale.” </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2012 Lesotho Partners in Learning Forum – Project Overviews</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span> </div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Khutlang Leshuta<br />Tsolo Government Primary</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Juvenile Delinquency</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In this project, learners investigated the causes of juvenile delinquency by interviewing street children, probation officers, chief, parents, and Juvenile Training Centre officers. Learners then gave their suggestions for combatting juvenile delinquency and these contributions were forwarded to the Tony Pandy College in Wales where the lifestyles of street children are being investigated. </span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Emmanuel Ekoe Gyasi<br />Phethahatso English Medium Community School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Our Soil, Our Soul </b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In this project learners investigated soil as a habitat whilst also creating an Auto Collage and Photostory to demonstrate what they have learnt. Different learners played different roles in this project – for example being planners, problem-solvers or programmers. The learners were especially concerned about the dongas near their school and asked the village chief to address a school assembly about this topic.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Moeketsi Hlazi<br />Lebohang Leketa<br />Masite Primary School and <br />Theressa James</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I do and I understand</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">An old Chinese adage says “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; but I do and I understand”. In this project, teachers from neighbouring schools collaborated to improve Maths, Science and English results through a series of hands-on activities including building houses out of boxes and electrifying these models. Learners are also working together to produce a school magazine on a DVD. </span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Makhahiso Kanetsi<br />Thetsane High School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Conserving Water</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">This project is about affordable methods of saving water including using less water per toilet flush; designing a simple purifying system and replacing tress which use too much water. Learners have gathered information about these methods of saving water through research and have shared their findings at parent meetings and through brochures. They have also collaborated with the school bursar and Minister of Agriculture.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Makara ‘Maabiele<br />Thetsane High School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From trash to treasure</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In order to reduce littering and the burning of waste, learners aimed to educate their communities about managing litter effectively. They have done this though a range of activities including making and distributing pamphlets, showing people how to sort waste, and learning more about bio-gas production.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Lucille Kabelo Mahlatsi<br />Leqele High School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Literature at our fingertips</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In this project learners became familiar with the language and background of Shakespearian play “Julius Caesar” through a number of activities. One group of artists created portraits of complex scenes from the play. The researcher group compared Julius Caesar and Moshoeshoe. The third group conducted a debate and the fourth group modernized and simplified the play whilst the actor group performed the play.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Mapalesa Bridget Maimane<br />Thetsane High School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>An African Mosotho Child versus Development</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">At initiation school, Mosotho children learn traditional values and respect, yet drug abuse, prostitution, Aids and suicide continue to plague communities in Lesotho. In this project, learners research these topics to establish whether these phenomena occur in other communities. The learners also network with other learners to find ways of overcoming a range of community problems.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Mathaabe Majara<br />Thetsane High School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Turning a lemon into lemonade</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">The community in which this school is situated is littered with many plastic bags. The learners sought to overcome this problem by finding useful items that could be made from the litter. The learners visited villagers who make plastic products as well as craft industries. Here they took photos and honed their communication skills by conducting interviews. </span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Relebohile Mosoloane<br />Thuto ICT Club</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thuto ICT Club</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">The Thuto ICT Club was formed by the Basotho Youth in 2011 in the Maseru District. The club currently has thirty nine members who aim to develop and use ICT skills for planning and helping community and rural schools. Club members enjoy sharing their experiences through social networking and participate in field trips and community projects. </span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Sekhobo Motlohi<br />Mamotlohi Matholi<br />Thuto-ke-leseli and Toloane Primary school</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bad Dirt</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In this project, learners from two schools collaborated to find out the causes of pollution in their area and to find ways of addressing this. Activities included poetry and song competitions and debate. In addition to raising awareness of the community about the causes and effects of water pollution, the project encouraged teamwork between learners and teachers of a range of subjects. </span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Mpho Phakisi<br />Phethahatso English Medium Community School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Not just adults - but also children</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In this project learners researched the topic of human trafficking and collaborated with Freedom Link and the Child Protection Unit to raise awareness through a fun walk. Some of the tasks undertaken as part of this project included designing a poster, developing a questionnaire, conducting interviews and sharing findings using Facebook.</span></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="226"><span style="font-size: small;">Thabiso Shobane<br />Mokhokhong Primary School</span></td> <td valign="top" width="544"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Clay: A means to an end</b></span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">This school lacks adequate learning materials and teaching aids as these are expensive. To overcome this challenge learners have modelled teaching resources out of clay – for example three dimensional shapes and figurines of animals. Photographs of these shapes have been included in PowerPoint presentations. Learners have also interviewed a traditional potter and recorded the interview using cell phones and digital cameras.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div>

Microsoft Lesotho’s teachers bridging digital divide at the Lesotho PIL Forum finals

Recently Lesotho also held their Partners in Learning Forum, and since SchoolNet partnered with Microsoft in organising this event as well, ...

Read more »

treat yourself friday

I try to do a little something fun for myself on Fridays - get a tea at Starbucks, buy a new magazine, etc. (I know, I live on the edge.)<br /><br />One of my favorite things to do is get my nails done. However, I often find myself without the time to go to the nail salon, aka 'mommy's special place'. And as a result, I have more bottles of nail polish at home than I care to count.<br /><br />Last Friday I was feeling particularly cheap but still wanted my Friday treat, so I picked up a bottle of Sinful Colors at Target for $1.99. Can't get any cheaper than that.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg3Cgd5QtZXSl5wcHsV19ZKLPsLmCWAVR0T6B_OEzra08dKg4CRk-PwLANA5Srrh-CCkyjxmiC9UaWeIfOrsjxjhapSgv1MYjoKKbK2Eec6VVFaEhlqlQ5-3UFz-t3JDwQYekPg1Ws3V5/s1600/09950000067_220x220_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg3Cgd5QtZXSl5wcHsV19ZKLPsLmCWAVR0T6B_OEzra08dKg4CRk-PwLANA5Srrh-CCkyjxmiC9UaWeIfOrsjxjhapSgv1MYjoKKbK2Eec6VVFaEhlqlQ5-3UFz-t3JDwQYekPg1Ws3V5/s200/09950000067_220x220_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioA4p1VZFZxGNNlI_LG6xQfz15v8D7UrWaWweY0Aj6ovoU5Rv12UOMgiye6GF2Yjs7v9HZxxdby189aCzpQ8qpOXq7QspU5gn2SI6N2b-7Rle3CFl0o8PrjE6rNt6ewHlNYQ5rPxLjF6u/s1600/09950000045_220x220_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioA4p1VZFZxGNNlI_LG6xQfz15v8D7UrWaWweY0Aj6ovoU5Rv12UOMgiye6GF2Yjs7v9HZxxdby189aCzpQ8qpOXq7QspU5gn2SI6N2b-7Rle3CFl0o8PrjE6rNt6ewHlNYQ5rPxLjF6u/s200/09950000045_220x220_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-miKtIKAAqcgS60fL3SJ0n3EYJZioi7F1V25A77C_I6bBqgWwFANs1nG3XERKd7FgNDjxMzY7YF4LboQ3EtVXpwwfA4Taev-JQht9__3-L9P-m2cNclmOFSGrGVmfJHksWmV9nA3z0_VC/s1600/09460000005_220x220_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-miKtIKAAqcgS60fL3SJ0n3EYJZioi7F1V25A77C_I6bBqgWwFANs1nG3XERKd7FgNDjxMzY7YF4LboQ3EtVXpwwfA4Taev-JQht9__3-L9P-m2cNclmOFSGrGVmfJHksWmV9nA3z0_VC/s200/09460000005_220x220_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw95PXasTiCaRecGEeuWEfgbi2bAfYtq0eJL1sf4mRk84WDYgy6DmbQ_X1paGf6_rx0w8ARW7D5IjbEhFAm_H8S6O4WVk2bvdl1VKZj3Q1VCxEczjDeN8RcBibLKAo7jTjBlW135zqCsF/s1600/09950000038_220x220_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw95PXasTiCaRecGEeuWEfgbi2bAfYtq0eJL1sf4mRk84WDYgy6DmbQ_X1paGf6_rx0w8ARW7D5IjbEhFAm_H8S6O4WVk2bvdl1VKZj3Q1VCxEczjDeN8RcBibLKAo7jTjBlW135zqCsF/s200/09950000038_220x220_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><br />Turns out this is the BEST nail polish I've ever used (with the exception of my Chanel). This stuff stays on longer than a RHOOC marathon. No chipping. Bright colors. So much fun.<br /><br />Treat yourself this Friday and pick some up.

treat yourself friday

I try to do a little something fun for myself on Fridays - get a tea at Starbucks, buy a new magazine, etc. (I know, I live on the edge.) On...

Read more »

INTEL OUTSOURCING

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">WAS STRATFOR SEIN WILL</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Via Civitas Libertatis</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkLm9C7E8sQN32E808xD0hLTviDBO4uEEvMpBEN76UV05Mvtya5u0sIBZkaK6k-MEpwa08zF58mx4AQfBac9uyAHSECO9_B8_j8Ca1nq5IhgPJIWvppgnzByN1E3dkzZo1g_bFYPlomi1/s1600/intelligence_gathering.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkLm9C7E8sQN32E808xD0hLTviDBO4uEEvMpBEN76UV05Mvtya5u0sIBZkaK6k-MEpwa08zF58mx4AQfBac9uyAHSECO9_B8_j8Ca1nq5IhgPJIWvppgnzByN1E3dkzZo1g_bFYPlomi1/s320/intelligence_gathering.png" width="249" /></a></div><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Der neueste Coup der Enthüllungsplattform WikiLeaks richtet sich gegen den privaten US-Geheimdienst Stratfor. So sollen in den kommenden Wochen und Monaten 5,5 Mio. E-Mails veröffentlicht werden, von denen </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://wikileaks.org/the-gifiles.html" target="_blank"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue;">die ersten bereits zugänglich</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> sind.  Was genau die Aufgabenfelder dieser Firma sind, wird in </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/84934_re-the-business-of-stratfor-.html" target="_blank"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue;">einer der erbeuteten Mails</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> mit einer unüberhörbaren Freude an den wilden Spekulationen umrissen:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The media refers to us as a think tank, a political risk consultancy, a security company and worse–academics. The Russian media calls us part of the CIA. Arab countries say we are Israelis. It’s wild. The only things we haven’t been called is a hardware store or Druids.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Stratfor, so wird in dem Dokument erklärt, sammelt mit Geheimdienstmethoden Informationen, um sie zahlenden Kunden zu verkaufen. Dabei liegt der Schwerpunkt auf geopolitischen Analysen. Zusammenfassend heißt das:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So think of us as a publishing company that produces news using  intelligence rather than journalistic methods.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dass Stratfor sich in Konkurrenz zu den staatlichen Geheimdiensten sieht, insbesondere dem Auslandsgeheimdienst CIA, kommt mit der firmeneigenen gepflegten Selbstgewissheit in einer </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/3438302_fw-cia-head-of-analysis-fired-.html" target="_blank"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue;">anderen Mail</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">  aus dem Jahr 2004 zum Ausdruck. Dort freut sich CEO George Friedman über die Entlassung von Jamie Miscik, die Deputy Director of Intelligence bei der CIA war. Sie sei gefeuert worden, weil sie den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht gesehen habe. Soll heißen, sie habe zu viel Mühe darauf verwendet, Informationen über Politiker zu sammeln anstatt die umfassenden Entwicklungen zu erfassen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Friedman sieht die Stunde von Stratfor gekommen, denn was die CIA nicht kann, das könne seine Firma den großen Konkurrenten lehren.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The CIA model of analysis has been invalidated. The ponderous, process driven machine that could only manage the small things now needs to be replaced by a robust, visionary, courageous analytic system. Stratfor has the opportunity to show the way. In fact, we are showing the way. Everyone in Langley knows that we do things they have never been able to do with a small fraction of their resources. They have always asked how we did it. We can now show them and maybe they can learn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Verweisend auf den umstrittenen CIA-Chef der 50er Jahre </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Welsh_Dulles#CIA" target="_blank"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue;">Allen Dulles</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> betont Friedman, dass geheimdienstliche Maßnahmen ein Handwerk, keine Massenproduktion seien. Und dieses Handwerk habe die CIA verlernt, so dass Stratfor nun bereit sei, zugleich Geheimdienstgeschichte zu schreiben und ein wichtiges Geschäftsmodell zu etablieren.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dieser kleine Einblick in das Selbstverständnis der Firma Stratfor lässt den Schluss zu, dass die Privatisierung von Geschäftsfeldern, die sich bisher in staatlicher Hand befanden, z.B. milit</span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ä</span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">rische</span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Aufgaben </span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, nun verstärkt auf den Tätigkeitsbereich von Geheimdiensten übergreift. Umso spannender werden die Veröffentlichungen sein, die uns WikiLeaks präsentieren wird.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

INTEL OUTSOURCING

WAS STRATFOR SEIN WILL   Via Civitas Libertatis Der neueste Coup der Enthüllungsplattform WikiLeaks richtet sich gegen den privaten US-Gehe...

Read more »

THE CROWN Part 4

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25PVnXY7LHDyCrvHG3tYuMcN_QdCcP9nFqsKvHE5-8niH9SfRkvLpIs3Rynv0XRqo5MFpaNow0EBrVk8wsx6T3oZJTxyIMCLVC3SCgf2uiNQDku6cL0Tr5H3kgdm_Abr7qcQ5LSwRp9pu/s1600/220px-ImperialCrownOfIndia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25PVnXY7LHDyCrvHG3tYuMcN_QdCcP9nFqsKvHE5-8niH9SfRkvLpIs3Rynv0XRqo5MFpaNow0EBrVk8wsx6T3oZJTxyIMCLVC3SCgf2uiNQDku6cL0Tr5H3kgdm_Abr7qcQ5LSwRp9pu/s1600/220px-ImperialCrownOfIndia2.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Elephant","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Elephant","serif";">Neo-British Empire of the Crown -- 500 Year Chronology</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By James Daugherty</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HYPOTHESIS OR REALITY? – FOOD FOR THOUGHT</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: red;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Drive for World Domination - 1694 to 1815.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Queen Ann 1702-1714,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> a non-Catholic Stuart, fights War of Spanish Succession to oppose French claim to the Spanish Throne. England leads Holland, Hanover, Prussia, and Austria against France. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1707 Scotland united to England.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1703 General Marlborough,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> after many victories, is ready to march on Paris to install a Constitutional Monarchy on the British Model. Support for war wanes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1713 Peace of Utrech</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> gives Britain tremendous commercial and colonial gains at the expense of France.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">King George I (1714-172), of Hanover, assumes British Throne</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when Stuarts refuse to convert to Protestantism. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1715 Stuart-Catholic rebellion crushed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1717 Masons purged of Stuart-Catholic influences</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> which had temporarily gained influence for the "Jacobite" cause. Masonry established as a covert intelligence agency with its familiar occult "cover". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Triple Alliance against Spain to secure succession Hanover to the British Throne</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and the House of Orleans to the French Throne should Louis XV die. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1718 Quadruple alliance vs. Spain to uphold the Treaty cf Utrecht.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">King George II (1727-1760), of Hanover, fights War of Austrian Succession (1743-1748), </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">lining-up England with Hanover against France, Prussia, and Bavaria.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1745 Jacobite (Stuart) rebellion in Scotland crushed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1748 Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Prussia's Frederick the Great allowed to keep Austria's Silesia. France recognizes Hanoverian succession in England.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1756 Seven Years War.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Austria lines-up France, Russia, and Saxony to recover Silesia from Prussia. Balance of power geopolitics dictate that England support Prussia's Frederick the Great.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "Co-incidentally" Frederick develops an interest in Britain's "Speculative Masonry". Later Frederick is rumored to have been a member or even leader of the Illuminati.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1759 British, with capture of Quebec, end French Empire in NorthAmerica.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1760 Britain drives French out of India, achieves superiority.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">King George III (1760-1820), of Hanover, assumes the British Throne.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1763 First Treaty of Paris ends Seven Years War.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Vast British gains ratified.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1764 Quarrel with American Colonists begin.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1776 Weishaupt's Illuminati formed. American Declaration of Independence.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Britain puts up token resistance to "American Revolution"</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">while fighting a World War against Russia, France, Holland, French Canadians, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia: The League of Armed Neutrality.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1781 British momentarily lose control of the sea to the French</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">which requires Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. According to British historians "this provides the new nation at its birth with a myth to sustain it." (!!!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Masons install Constitutional Government in America with "checks and balances"</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> designed to make it permanently subservient to the Money Power of the Bank of England and its agents: Peabody, Morgan, Brown, Belmont, etc. America becomes "covert" colony of Britain. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1789 Illuninist/Masonic forces</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> with Prussian support and complicit Orleanists bring down the French Monarchy for the benefit of Britain. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1792 Austria and Prussia invade France</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to restore order at the invitation of Bourbons. Enraged mobs massacre Royalty and Nobility. Louis XVI taken prisoner.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1793 War with the French Republic.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> England against France, Holland, and Spain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1795 England cracks down on Jacobin extremists in England to safeguard the throne. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1798 First War with Napoleon Bonaparte.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1802 Peace of Aniens<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">                </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span>                          </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1805 Second War with Napoleon.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> England supports Austria, Russia, and Spain against France.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">King George IV (1820-1830), of Hanover, assumes British Throne.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1814 Napoleon retires in defeat to Elba.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1815 Napoleon escapes from Elba,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> raises an army, but is defeated at Waterloo. Britain's power enormous world-wide.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1815 Holy Alliance formed.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Pope, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Spain to stamp-out democracy and individual rights. Britain refuses to join. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Britain refuses to abandon its main weapon, "world revolution", conducted under the color of liberty, in its war with its major competing "international power organism" the Vatican's Catholic Church (and to a lesser extent, the Czar's Orthodox Church). </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rothschilds and other "continental" Bankers rewarded for their financial services to the "Crown" with positions in "the City".</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Rothschilds helped the Elector of Hesse hide his enormous wealth from Napoleon. House of Hesse related/allied to House of Hanover. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>To be continued  </b></span></div>

THE CROWN Part 4

Neo-British Empire of the Crown -- 500 Year Chronology By James Daugherty HYPOTHESIS OR REALITY? – FOOD FOR THOUGHT The Drive for World Dom...

Read more »

Principal Research Scientist - Big Data Architecture ( Hadoop | storage | Cloud Computing ) (#107899)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Position</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Principal Research Scientist - Big Data Architecture<br /></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Location</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Austin, TX / Milpitas, CA<br /></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Duration</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Full time<br /><br /></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Job Description</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<br />KLA-Tencor's Process Control Information Division (PCID) provides leading edge data analysis and simulation software solutions to the semiconductor industry that enable the industry to continue pushing the device manufacturing capabilities for current and future design nodes.<br /><br />Seeking a researcher for Big Data initiatives at KLA-Tencor. Big Data methods are characterized by data volumes, rates, and complexity that are too large for conventional database management tools including capture, storage, search, sharing, analytics, and visualization of data.  Responsibilities include research and development in data management, machine learning, data mining, and advanced statistical analytics required in the semiconductor manufacturing and related industries.  Candidate will drive Big Data research projects including strategies, technical and financial feasibility, development of intellectual property, prototype evaluation, and report generation.  Candidate will work with diverse technical and management teams including both internal and external researchers, customers, academics, and upper management.  Candidate must be goal oriented, organized, highly self motivated, and must have excellent written and oral communication skills.<br /><br /></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Qualifications/Education Desired</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<br />Ph.D. in statistics, mathematics, computer science, physics, or a related field.<br />Motivated self starter, with a high level of energy. Willingness to learn. Ability to drive projects to conclusion and provide compelling reports.<br />Excellent written and oral communication skills.<br />Able to work with a diverse team within KLA-Tencor and external customers, including academics, engineers, researchers, and management.<br />Experience with Big Data methods and practices including: capture, storage, search, sharing, analytics, and visualization of data. Familiarity with one or more big data products (e.g. Hadoop) is desirable.<br />Experience with current semiconductor manufacturing, process control, data management, and/or information technology practices.<br /><br /></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Basic Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 6 years of experience.<br />Or</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Master's Level Degree with at least 8 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Or</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 10 years of experience.<br /><br />Kindly send your resume to</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><span lang="en-us"><u><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</span></u></span></a></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span></div></div>

Principal Research Scientist - Big Data Architecture ( Hadoop | storage | Cloud Computing ) (#107899)

Position : Principal Research Scientist - Big Data Architecture Location : Austin, TX / Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : ...

Read more »

SUNNI VERSUS SHIITES

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR41L80478xpKT4ktQUjYPMfXV6Rm_MnCHip1VJRrXBSC3oNyWUT1LesBwC6wVIj3nxRoYd5f5_HZH_gDpuinuRgwfdNHTK7VzkI7cPJQ32lQGKAr33_agphI4DNqHVBDlhQWY1wU59iQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR41L80478xpKT4ktQUjYPMfXV6Rm_MnCHip1VJRrXBSC3oNyWUT1LesBwC6wVIj3nxRoYd5f5_HZH_gDpuinuRgwfdNHTK7VzkI7cPJQ32lQGKAr33_agphI4DNqHVBDlhQWY1wU59iQ/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WE WANT WAR, AND WE WANT IT NOW</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Pepe Escobar <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>via Asia Times</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>ASIA Times wrote: </i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>It was deep into the night, somewhere over Siberia, in a Moscow to Beijing flight (BRIC to BRIC?) when the thought, like a lightning bolt, began to take hold. <br /><br />What the hell is wrong with those Arabs? <br /><br />Maybe it was the narcotic effect of that perennially dreadful Terminal F at Sheremetyevo airport - straight out of a Brejnev gulag. Maybe it was the anticipation of finding more about the Russia-China joint naval exercise scheduled for late April. <br /><br />Or it was simply another case of "you can take the boy out of the Middle East, but you can't take the Middle East out of the boy". <br /><br /><b>With friends like these ...</b> It all had to do with that Friends of Syria (fools for war?) meeting in Istanbul. Picture Saudi Foreign</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Minister Saud al-Faisal - who seems to have a knack for sending US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton into rapture - feverishly arguing that the House of Saud, those paragons of democracy, had "a duty" to weaponize the Syrian "revolutionary" opposition. <br /><br />And picture al-Faisal ordering an immediate ceasefire by the Bashar al-Assad government, guilty - according to the House of Saud - not only of cruel repression but crimes against humanity. <br /><br />No; this was not a Monty Python sketch. <br /><br />To make sure he was milking the right cow, al-Faisal also said that the Gulf Counter-revolution Club (GCC), also known as Gulf Cooperation Council, wanted to get further into bed with the United States. Translation, if any was needed; the US-GCC tag team, as expressed by the weaponization of the Syrian "rebels", is meant to body slam Iran. <br /><br />For both the House of Saud and Qatar (the other GCCs are just extras), what's goin' on in Syria is not about Syria; it's always been about Iran. <br /><br />This especially applies to the Saudi pledge to flood the global oil market with a spare oil production capacity that any self-respecting oil analyst knows they don't have - or rather wouldn't use; after all, the House of Saud badly needs high oil prices to bribe its restive eastern province population into not even thinking about that Arab Spring nonsense. <br /><br />Clinton got the pledge from the House of Saud in person, before landing in Istanbul. Washington's return gift was of the Pentagon kind; the GCC soon will be protected from "evil" Iran by a US-supplied missile shield. That implies that an attack on Iran may have been discarded for 2012 - but it's certainly "on the table" for 2013. <br /><br />Asian nations - especially BRICS members China and India - will keep buying oil from Iran; the problem is what the European poodles will do. Other real problems are that the Kurds in northern Iraq are taking their oil off the market until Baghdad pays them the share they had agreed upon. And then there are Syria's 400,000 barrels a day, which have been dwindling over the past few months. <br /><br />Still, the Saudis will keep playing the make-believe oil scenario as a gift to Washington - as the US pressures compliant European Union poodle economies and extremely wary Asians they have no reason to keep buying Iranian oil. <br /><br />But then into this mess in Istanbul Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki - whose power is a direct consequence of Washington's invasion and destruction of Iraq - steps in with quite a bang. <br /><br />Here it is, in his own words: </span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We reject any arming [of Syrian rebels] and the process to overthrow the [Assad] regime, because this will leave a greater crisis in the region ... The stance of these two states [Qatar and Saudi Arabia] is very strange ... They are calling for sending arms instead of working on putting out the fire, and they will hear our voice, that we are against arming and against foreign interference ... We are against the interference of some countries in Syria's internal affairs, and those countries that are interfering in Syria's internal affairs will interfere in the internal affairs of any country ... It has been one year and the regime did not fall, and it will not fall, and why should it fall?"</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Maliki knows very well that the ongoing and already escalating weaponizing of Sunni Syrians - many of the Salafi and jihadi kind - will inevitably spill over into Iraq itself, and threaten his Shi'ite-majority government. And that irrespective of the fact that his administration supports the close Iran-Syria relationship. <br /><br />Maliki, by the way, was back in power in the autumn of 2010 because Tehran deftly intervened to make sure the Sadrists would support him. To add to Maliki's anger, Qatar is refusing to extradite Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, accused of masterminding a pro-Sunni coup d'etat in Baghdad. <br /><br /><b>How green was my jihad valley</b> <br />So Washington is now merrily embarking in a remix of the 1980s Afghan jihad - which, as every grain of sand from the Hindu Kush to Mesopotamia knows, led to that ghostly entity, al-Qaeda, and the subsequent, transformer "war on terror". <br /><br />The House of Saud and Qatar have institutionalized that motley crew known as the Free Syrian Army as a mercenary outfit; they are now on their payroll, to the tune of $100 million (and counting). Isn't democracy wonderful - when US-allied Persian Gulf monarchies can buy a mercenary army for peanuts? Isn't it great to be a revolutionary with an assured paycheck? <br /><br />Not missing a beat, Washington has set up its own fund as well, for "humanitarian" assistance to Syria and "non-lethal" aid to the "rebels"; "non-lethal" as in ultra battle-ready satellite communications equipment, plus night-vision goggles. Clinton's silky spin was that the equipment would allow the "rebels" to "evade" attacks by the Syrian government. No mention that now they have access to actionable US intelligence via a swarm of drones deployed all over Syria. <br /><br />Maliki can clearly see the writing on the (Sunni) wall. The House of Saud invaded Shi'ite-majority Bahrain to protect the extremely unpopular Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty in power - their "cousins". Maliki knows that a post-Assad Syria would mean Muslim Brotherhood Sunnis in power - sprinkled with Salafi-jihadis. In his worst nightmare, Maliki sees this possible dystopian future as an al-Qaeda in Iraq remix on steroids. <br /><br />So this is what the Istanbul-based "Friends of Syria" bash turned into; a shameless legitimizing - by Arabs allied with the US - of civil war in yet another Arab country. The victims will be average Syrians caught in the crossfire. <br /><br />This US-GCC weaponizing entirely dissolves the United Nations Syria envoy and former secretary general Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan. The plan calls for a ceasefire; for the Syrian government to "cease troop movements" and "begin pullback of military concentrations"; and for a negotiated political settlement. <br /><br />There will be no ceasefire. The Assad government accepted the plan. The weaponized "rebels" rejected it. Imagine the Syrian government beginning the "pullback of military concentrations" while swarms of weaponized "rebels" and assorted mercenaries (from Libya, Lebanon and Iraq) keep deploying their torture tactics and launching a barrage of improvised explosive devices. <br /><br />I landed in Beijing eager to learn more about the upcoming joint Russia-China naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, but instead I was stuck with a Henry Kissinger op-ed in the Washington Post. [1] Here it is, in Dr K's own words: </span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Arab Spring is widely presented as a regional, youth-led revolution on behalf of liberal democratic principles. Yet Libya is not ruled by such forces; it hardly continues as a state. Neither is Egypt, whose electoral majority (possibly permanent) is overwhelmingly Islamist. Nor do democrats seem to predominate in the Syrian opposition. <br /><br />The Arab League consensus on Syria is not shaped by countries previously distinguished by the practice or advocacy of democracy. Rather, it largely reflects the millennium-old conflict between Shi'ite and Sunni and an attempt to reclaim Sunni dominance from a Shi'ite minority. It is also precisely why so many minority groups, such as Druzes, Kurds and Christians, are uneasy about regime change in Syria.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Well, China scholar Dr K at least got this one right (and in total agreement with Maliki, no less). A full-fledged mercenary army paid for by autocrat Arabs to overthrow an Arab government is pure and simple regime change - US rhetoric about "democracy" and "freedom" notwithstanding. It's all about classic, imperial divide and rule, profiting from pitting Sunnis against Shi'ites. <br /><br />And then my divine roasted duck revealed to me that realpolitik stalwart Dr K is not getting much traction in Washington these days.</span></i></span></div>

SUNNI VERSUS SHIITES

WE WANT WAR, AND WE WANT IT NOW By Pepe Escobar   via Asia Times ASIA Times wrote: It was deep into the night, somewhere over Siberia, in ...

Read more »

Happy 28th Birthday!

Yesterday I celebrated my 28th birthday.  Overall, the day itself was great.  While I did work, I was able to work at home and that helped make the day a little more enjoyable.  I'm trying to conserve my vacation time for an upcoming trip.....one of the wedding-sorts.  To an island.  In the Caribbean.  I cannot wait!<br /><br />Anyhow, the day started off great from the get-go.  Joel arrived home from work that morning with Starbucks in hand.  He also presented me with my birthday gift right away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMZOcVCXg8m5tsRRrsHH3lbWIJn6O8xjUfChmS2964VGfLDRrnpqiQBYwmyGEWHmIE_-tKUOMV8UHGxWaXMbRhBtPOJierT5NnEB5fKRW6Su7TGpjqx0z_aJrsl_2yKZQ5829YwJqcZU/s1600/watch+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMZOcVCXg8m5tsRRrsHH3lbWIJn6O8xjUfChmS2964VGfLDRrnpqiQBYwmyGEWHmIE_-tKUOMV8UHGxWaXMbRhBtPOJierT5NnEB5fKRW6Su7TGpjqx0z_aJrsl_2yKZQ5829YwJqcZU/s400/watch+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs1yTbYgNAj2GT7LRVKhSF9-oJAQUKHDPpFLAHPdkdSSR8A6c_y7fGXk375lajEKNhRTW3FP6ROZ8mbrKWJEAICQtfkq6amP1gjFOZ5SStUZrguv7cGkqPDT9sVYlmbdbYrMjxAzQKlA/s1600/watch+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs1yTbYgNAj2GT7LRVKhSF9-oJAQUKHDPpFLAHPdkdSSR8A6c_y7fGXk375lajEKNhRTW3FP6ROZ8mbrKWJEAICQtfkq6amP1gjFOZ5SStUZrguv7cGkqPDT9sVYlmbdbYrMjxAzQKlA/s400/watch+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />It looks just like regular yellow gold, but it's actually rose gold.  I love rose gold now more than ever, especially because my engagement ring is rose gold, and so are two other pieces of special jewelry I have.  This very same watch was going to be a weight loss reward, so I'll just have to figure out something else to get for that goal instead.  Shouldn't be a problem! :)  <br /><br />And even though I already met my minimum exercise for the week, I decided to take my lunch hour and do 40 minutes on the elliptical.  Why not start off year 28 with one of the best things I can do for my body and soul?  I'm a member at Gold's, and they sent me a birthday email with a coupon for 25% off an item in their shop and a free bottle of water.  When I signed in yesterday, the computer told me Happy Birthday, which made my day... it truly is all about the little things in life!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ar40Qxfvlj3Z3O7Zzayv2x5p8vB2iYWmRStZOuyZ64JFwsUY-B6eMXVpN-wgMRQzBYH0iNCMtmaRcM3HI_hRNymXtVLJReYPe0Cm2lRK42TEKGhe3V6SPWvaVWhmpfg24FTP9cvtSyI/s1600/gym.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ar40Qxfvlj3Z3O7Zzayv2x5p8vB2iYWmRStZOuyZ64JFwsUY-B6eMXVpN-wgMRQzBYH0iNCMtmaRcM3HI_hRNymXtVLJReYPe0Cm2lRK42TEKGhe3V6SPWvaVWhmpfg24FTP9cvtSyI/s400/gym.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blurry pics are the result of taking them while<br />on the elliptical!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not to mention, I need all the exercise I can get.  Last week was a great week for me.  This week.....I've consumed so much sugar it's a wonder I haven't had digestive issues as a result.  I'll just leave it at that... I'm sure no one needs an in-depth account of what goes on there! <br /><br />Sometimes my self control amazes me.  I could bake batches of cookies, or be around my most favorite foods, and it doesn't bother me one bit.  Other times, this week being one of them, I cannot stop myself from eating.  Why can't just a taste be enough?  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzq_tv2tr_NeFKa9zJN8X5I6G1_aPmIOqHm6Qzd_NrxuE8hox2w8rWwPfSDO0-iyG4FUtjUqIPH35H2jd4EIjwD7emgl_EMVpQfWbD_ZGJzYp-9BB_eTdA7pmakXOS52f8JkFUxo_76M/s1600/bday+cookies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzq_tv2tr_NeFKa9zJN8X5I6G1_aPmIOqHm6Qzd_NrxuE8hox2w8rWwPfSDO0-iyG4FUtjUqIPH35H2jd4EIjwD7emgl_EMVpQfWbD_ZGJzYp-9BB_eTdA7pmakXOS52f8JkFUxo_76M/s400/bday+cookies.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday/Easter cookies I made for work this week</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Birthday week also means lots of eating out.  People at work kindly want to take me to lunch, and Joel & I had dinner at our <a href="http://kodorirestaurant.com/" target="_blank">favorite Japanese/Korean</a> restaurant last night.  I'm taking it one meal at a time at this point.  Just because I've been afforded all of these opportunities to eat out, doesn't mean I need to fully indulge and blow it.     <br /><br />At Chick Fil A the other day, I got a kid's meal. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvCrG8n_ss5lPt7Dz-vvanZKb-WGEoLUtrE5b5ULLB84R5MfLWs1_Kzp2tL06ulhmfY3Qda52k-5DSDObtvffj99EjeES6l1_xlD7icg_2lavw-Y4T-5vlrpabwSXjpINGJIhG7cEwtE/s1600/chickfila.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvCrG8n_ss5lPt7Dz-vvanZKb-WGEoLUtrE5b5ULLB84R5MfLWs1_Kzp2tL06ulhmfY3Qda52k-5DSDObtvffj99EjeES6l1_xlD7icg_2lavw-Y4T-5vlrpabwSXjpINGJIhG7cEwtE/s400/chickfila.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />This was JUST the right amount of Chick Fil A to satisfy my chicken desires.  A special thank-you to my friend <a href="http://cheerfulchatter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Meghan</a> who shared this strategy with me.  I just assumed if a kid wasn't present, a restaurant would not serve you a kid's meal.  Not the case with our local Chick Fil A, and I'm so grateful that they allow it!<br /><br />I used to be able to consume the entire spicy chicken meal from our favorite restaurant (mentioned earlier).  However, now I can only eat about half of it.  That's a plus!  So while I haven't been eating the best things this week per se, I'm also not completely blowing it by eating <i>all </i>of it.<br /><br />The rest of the week will involve even more birthday celebrations: going to see my favorite movie of all time in 3D (Titanic!), shoe shopping with my friend Margie, and a weekend getaway to tour a somewhat-local brewery.  This is going to end up being an awesome week! <br /><br /><b style="color: #351c75;">Do you know of any other restaurants that allow the purchase of a kid's meal in lieu of the full adult version?  </b>

birthday Weight Loss Challenges Happy 28th Birthday!

Yesterday I celebrated my 28th birthday.  Overall, the day itself was great.  While I did work, I was able to work at home and that helped m...

Read more »