News for today's 2018

ISRAEL’S DEFENSE STRATEGY OVERHAUL

8:47 AM Tukiyooo 0

ISRAEL’S DEFENSE STRATEGY OVERHAUL

ISRAEL REDEFINES VICTORY IN THE NEW MIDDLE EAST By Yaakov Lappin via GSI Senior ISRAELI officials have indicated this month that any rou...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 12/31/2012

1:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/the-best-teacher-blogs-of-2012.html?m=1">Educational Technology and Mobile Learning: The Best Teacher Blogs of 2012</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A list of the finalists for Best Teacher blog for 2012. I hate to say that the edublog award timing wasn't good for me, but school was so crazy and I had such  workload, I didn't mention it. I'm still very honored to be on the list of finalists - thank you to those of you readers who mentioned me and included me on the list - I really do appreciate it.More than that, it helps me help my family with this blogging that I do on the side. Thanks!</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 12/31/2012

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning: The Best Teacher Blogs of 2012 A list of the finalists f...

2012: A Year of Fail

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola y'all! Last year, as a part of our thrilling and hilarious <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search/label/MSJS" target="_blank">Matt Said Jay Said series</a>, Matt-Man and I posted our <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/matt-said-jay-said-xix-new-years.html" target="_blank">New Year’s Resolutions for 2012</a>.<br /><br />So let’s see how I did this year… <br /><br /><b>1. Be more organized and set deadlines for writing blog posts and stuff for the show.</b><br /><br /><i>Results are pretty mixed on this one. I did a little better for part of the year but kind of ran out of steam late in the year when nothing was going on and internets were kind of slow. </i><br /><br /><b>2. Cut back dramatically on the frozen pizzas, chips, soft drinks and alcohol. </b><br /><br /><i>*snort* Yeah, this one goes as a fail. Maybe I’ll try again in 2013</i><br /><br /><b>3. Develop an impressive, yet not too expensive, daily cocaine habit. </b><br /><br /><i>DONE BITCHES! </i><br /><br /><b>4. Double my Twitter followers, Facebook friends and triple Tumblr followers. </b><br /><br /><i>Well, I don’t know what my follower counts were on Jan 1, and even though it seems like I’m obsessed with them, I’m not.  I will say that it’s frustrating to keep hitting 200 “friends” on Facebook only to get defriended by a few people. It’s happened four times now. Anyway, probably a FAIL on this one too. </i><br /><br /><b>5. Learn to sing, play guitar and/or piano and tap dance. </b><br /><br /><i>I’ve only made progress on the tap dancing part of this one. </i><br /><br /><b>6. Run a marathon</b><br /><br /><i>Hahahaha … I must have been high when I wrote that. </i><br /><i><br /></i><b>7. Work harder and maintaining and improving relationships and actually interact more.</b><br /><br /><i>Honestly, I haven’t done too badly on this one. The big downside to doing this is having to deal with rejection, but I will continue to work on it in 2013. </i><br /><br /><b>8. Do at least one IWS podcast while in the same location as Matt-Man.</b><br /><br /><b>Completely failed. Will attempt again in 2013. </b><br /><br /><b>9. Master the art of ventriloquism. </b><br /><br /><i>I changed my mind on this one. I didn’t want to risk being associated with not-funny Jeff Dunham and his racist puppets. </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZJyduXjrRcrFWjhprd67r_hq8LI7ETp2JjWyKcSPybNJd2cZA0zem7rJxJZBO8VyA3-lE4Pl2Kf5axtlWD-Hmo8e5iCDVKTAB5LFU1_AKyk4QOR2181Vwb4Co0hXk1ugDlqjf-Hu5AI/s1600/Kimora+Lee+Simmons+Bikini+Nude+Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZJyduXjrRcrFWjhprd67r_hq8LI7ETp2JjWyKcSPybNJd2cZA0zem7rJxJZBO8VyA3-lE4Pl2Kf5axtlWD-Hmo8e5iCDVKTAB5LFU1_AKyk4QOR2181Vwb4Co0hXk1ugDlqjf-Hu5AI/s400/Kimora+Lee+Simmons+Bikini+Nude+Hot.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b>10. Get all restraining orders lifted. </b><br /><br /><i>Progress was made. Some have expired and no new ones were issued. I’m still able to follow both Miley Cyrus and Giada de Laurentiis on Twitter without having any legal action taken. Sure <a href="http://www.artmustdie.me/" target="_blank">Jo</a> might be considering talking to her lawyer, but as of right now, things appear good on the legal front. </i><br /><br /><b>11. Work on learning new and different writing styles.</b><br /><br /><i>Eh. I should put out a little more effort on this front. We’ll call this one a Mostly Failed. </i><br /><br /><b>12. Improve the technical aspects of the show by getting rid of the cheap headset and acquiring a good USB condenser mic with a filter and possibly a mixer. </b><br /><br /><i>I didn’t get a new mic because, well, they’re expensive, but considering that we’re using a landline, Google Talk and BTR’s system, I think the tech side of the show is actually fairly good right now for most shows. There are times when either GTalk or BTR cause problems, but I’m not sure there will ever be a way of avoiding that. </i><br /><br />So, as you can see I didn’t do so ba … oh jeez … I really sucked in 2012. What a fucking failure I am. Oh God! It’s definitely time to make some changes. I think I start with never being stupid enough to post my Resolutions online again. <br /><br />There! That makes me feel a lot better already. <br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS</a><br /><br />Also, in case you missed it Sunday’s <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2012/12/30/good-riddance-2012" target="_blank">Good Riddance to 2012</a> on I’m With Stupid was freaking hilarious. We got calls from <a href="https://twitter.com/_JustinHenry_/" target="_blank">Justin</a> in Kentucky, Missy in Ohio and <a href="http://mikenet707.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike</a> in St. Louis. We talked about dumpster fires, how much 2012 sucked, how 2013 isn’t looking any better, the Captain and Tennille and the possible impending death Daryl Dragon. All that and so, so much more. Check it out! <br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4194013&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4194013&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>

2012: A Year of Fail

Hola y'all! Last year, as a part of our thrilling and hilarious Matt Said Jay Said series , Matt-Man and I posted our New Year’s Resolut...

Goose is on the loose!

2:41 PM Tukiyooo 0

<p>Check out this giant bottle of Grey Goose!  It's 1.75ml!!!</p><p>To combat a hangover I drink Coconut Water. Delish! ;-)</p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ngQliDhfhaL9SJX7rjHqCOskO70wO0DQYPYwfiQzqiehkxxmlesoZYEbtKJFxU4PnLhsHRadze1Wn7mEPVoudSWsGX2DbYmMdqXL_-3cq4I3HtI1YKzWZ_zWYxkaryPFq8csWItESpz/s1600/20121230_223539.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ngQliDhfhaL9SJX7rjHqCOskO70wO0DQYPYwfiQzqiehkxxmlesoZYEbtKJFxU4PnLhsHRadze1Wn7mEPVoudSWsGX2DbYmMdqXL_-3cq4I3HtI1YKzWZ_zWYxkaryPFq8csWItESpz/s400/20121230_223539.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ksicX7oC_SY-D5K1pXHs2_u4OHZkNvIErIjbZtMNCuZi1aQBjGnT476WrbJfv_3sM87lduvAm8CSygpWKT-BzcxwDcTdM1-YKtcNAbi6AB7j7Oxf00iUMim3doXBGMm3h3v9dvhykYyQ/s1600/20121230_223358.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ksicX7oC_SY-D5K1pXHs2_u4OHZkNvIErIjbZtMNCuZi1aQBjGnT476WrbJfv_3sM87lduvAm8CSygpWKT-BzcxwDcTdM1-YKtcNAbi6AB7j7Oxf00iUMim3doXBGMm3h3v9dvhykYyQ/s400/20121230_223358.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Goose is on the loose!

Check out this giant bottle of Grey Goose! It's 1.75ml!!! To combat a hangover I drink Coconut Water. Delish! ;-)

KOSOVO: NATURAL RESOURCES JACKPOT?

1:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><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="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt6he-wOSiqT5S-tT7Wdn1zxmMDt7MuOWLSHj0QGlYmc5AuycWy25Ean2iDV_6vyxmE1iddLdpaIqg9xma_lRc9Ym7LWdtvAQ5aInWn8rTBJ5T1ltjzP3MQKBXilVAV5PR-iNzatRLmza/s1600/rs-ks@al.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt6he-wOSiqT5S-tT7Wdn1zxmMDt7MuOWLSHj0QGlYmc5AuycWy25Ean2iDV_6vyxmE1iddLdpaIqg9xma_lRc9Ym7LWdtvAQ5aInWn8rTBJ5T1ltjzP3MQKBXilVAV5PR-iNzatRLmza/s320/rs-ks@al.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><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: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FIRE SALE: “PRIVATIZING” KOSOVO, THE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WAY</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><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: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Source: GSI</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Balkan states of ALBANIA and KOSOVO are, without doubt, the most pro-AMERICAN Muslim-majority countries in the world.</span> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to a new census including religious affiliation – the first since 1930 – ALBANIA now counts 57% of its total population of 2.8 million as Muslim, down from 70% eighty-two years ago. Its Catholic population has remained stable at 10%, and ALBANIAN citizens identifying themselves as Orthodox Christians have fallen from 20% in 1930 to about 7%.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although KOSOVO does not tally figures for religious communities, the Muslim share of the population is thought to be larger, at around 80%. Both republics are secular.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH PRESSURE ON ALBANIA TO VOTE “YES” FOR PALESTINIAN OBSERVER SEAT IN THE UNITED NATIONS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AMERICANS are beloved in ALBANIA thanks to a significant history of ALBANIAN immigration and success in AMERICA, and early contributions by ALBANIANS in the U.S. to the national movement for freedom from the OTTOMAN EMPIRE. At the end of November, the ALBANIAN government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha was prepared to vote with the U.S. against a Palestinian observer seat in the United Nations, and, following unsuccessful pressure to vote “yes,” from the TURKISH Islamist prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ALBANIA became the sole Muslim-majority UN member to abstain on the Palestinian issue.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">KOSOVO does not belong to the UN, although if it did, it might likely have followed the AMERICAN lead and voted against the Palestinian bid, which was supported, among the ex-YUGOSLAV successor states, only by SERBIA. The ALBANIANS of KOSOVO have expressed undiluted appreciation for the actions of the Clinton administration, represented by then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former General Wesley Clark as Supreme Allied Commander for Europe at NATO, in the 1998-99 military intervention that rescued the KOSOVAR ALBANIANS from SERBIAN repression.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Its pro-AMERICAN stance has caused the KOSOVO Republic to be denied diplomatic recognition by most of the Arab states. The late LIBYAN dictator Mu’ammar Al-Qadhdhafi dismissed the KOSOVARS contemptuously as “AMERICAN lapdogs.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ENERGY QUEST: KOSOVO</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Recently, however, Albright and others have commenced new efforts at involvement in KOSOVO that left local people concerned about the intentions of their benefactors of more than a decade past. In <i>The New York Times</i> on December 12, Matthew Brunwasser wrote under a page-one headline, “That Crush at KOSOVO’S Business Door? The Return of U.S. Heroes.” The <i>Times</i> account described Albright and James W. Pardew, a special envoy sent to the Balkans by President Bill Clinton, offering competing bids for privatization of the KOSOVO state postal and telecommunications agency, known as PTK (from its ALBANIAN and SERBIAN initials).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">KOSOVO COAL MINES: POTENTIAL FOR SYNTHETIC FUEL PRODUCTION</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT8QSUslH33rD9UP2lUPJtE3tYdN6HdT8tyqx1hPWCvHWBfe6BVJnEdE7dZteymv7v99kqOBBrswedpdt3bKDbSWjwZDvVCPy4gLiboAtn2tSg9QA72GmQMRNWJDF_PZJ3AohOCxVd3UO/s1600/Outcrop_Showing_Layering_of_Lignite_and_Consolidated_Calcareous_Mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT8QSUslH33rD9UP2lUPJtE3tYdN6HdT8tyqx1hPWCvHWBfe6BVJnEdE7dZteymv7v99kqOBBrswedpdt3bKDbSWjwZDvVCPy4gLiboAtn2tSg9QA72GmQMRNWJDF_PZJ3AohOCxVd3UO/s1600/Outcrop_Showing_Layering_of_Lignite_and_Consolidated_Calcareous_Mud.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal mining in Kosovo</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">General Wesley Clark, chairman of Envidity, a CANADIAN firm interested in KOSOVO’S coal mines and potential for synthetic fuel production, has also gone to KOSOVO in search of financial advantage. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But Albright’s involvement has given her the highest profile in the discussion of KOSOVO’S economic future. According to the <i>Times</i>, “Albright Capital Management, founded by Ms. Albright, has been shortlisted in the bidding for a 75 % share in PTK.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The<i>Times</i> estimates the probable payout to KOSOVO political leaders for PTK, if a deal is consummated, at “between $400 million and $800 million.” Officials of another Albright entity, Albright Stonebridge Group, have a minor share in PTK’s only competitor, the private company IPKO, based in SLOVENIA. <i>Times</i> correspondent Brunwasser wrote that the situation could “threaten… market competition if Ms. Albright’s consortium wins the bid” for PTK.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Privatization in post-Communist economies often presents multiple problems: State enterprises may be handed over to individuals or groups favored by the prior dictatorial authorities, as has allegedly occurred in SLOVAKIA, previously a part of CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Government-owned companies may also be privatized, turned profitable, and then re-nationalized by authoritarian rulers. In RUSSIA, the Yukos oil company was branded an example of “oligarchic privatization” and taken over by the government of Vladimir Putin, only to be bankrupted between 2003-2007.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“VOUCHER” PRIVATIZATION</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The abolition of statist “command” economics has most often been considered a positive outcome in any context. Some observers have advocated “voucher” privatization, through which shares in government-controlled companies are distributed to all the citizens of a country, either free or at a low cost. “Voucher” privatization succeeded most notably in the CZECH Republic.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">KOSOVO is among the poorest countries in EUROPE, with the growth of its economy hampered by the failure of the “supervising” international authorities, with titles like the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in KOSOVO (UNMIK) and the EUROPEAN Union Rule of Law Mission in KOSOVO (EULEX). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">They have imposed all of KOSOVO’S most important political decisions, but these have left the country in a calculated stasis since the end of the 1998-99 war. They have interfered with media, elections, and border relations with SERBIA, but have neglected to reform KOSOVO’S financial regulations or even to settle who owns various industries, such as the large-scale Trepca mining complex in northern KOSOVO. Trepca, which produced lead, zinc, gold, silver, and rare minerals, is the object of opposing claims of proprietorship by SERBIA and KOSOVO; it also owes about 40 million Euros to FRENCH, GREEK, and BULGARIAN companies. Similar state assets are KEK, the KOSOVO Energy Corporation, and its subsidiary KEDS, or KOSOVO Electricity Distribution.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH STRONGHOLD IN KOSOVO</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In June 2012, KEDS was sold by the KOSOVO government to a TURKISH consortium, Limak Yatirim Enerji and Calik Enerji Sanayi. <b>Limak owns KOSOVO’S only international airport. Limak also purchased KEDS for 26 million Euros</b>, although its capitalization totaled 180 million Euros. Economic analysts criticized a lack of transparency in the transfer to TURKISH control. KOSOVO still suffers frequent electrical power outages.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Unemployment in KOSOVO is estimated officially at around 50%, although local reporting suggests it is closer to 60%.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When Albright and other humanitarian liberators appear in KOSOVO as “privatizers,” questions are bound to be asked. Although “entrepreneurship” usually means investment and expansion of commerce, in the absence of a secure domestic financial system and other guarantees for legitimate and desirable foreign ventures, KOSOVO’S economy continues to shrink. As a prominent Democrat and Clinton administration figure, Albright is associated with that party’s strident rhetoric against the free market in the 2012 AMERICAN presidential election, including allegations of Republican corporate looting and similar “heartless” practices.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmdeO5X-Gpz_AsjaUeSsiMLtNTCv7OhPqWx-j6dS18UhMUErll7qzC1hp6YUXh0K54x4dYnnNS_gYzXo2NQQbrZSBe8BZC8cwUOGg456sKJo97tQ1Uk4oUl_VgnoI5ZzDlLfBAtpqaaeh/s1600/kos_UNMIKmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmdeO5X-Gpz_AsjaUeSsiMLtNTCv7OhPqWx-j6dS18UhMUErll7qzC1hp6YUXh0K54x4dYnnNS_gYzXo2NQQbrZSBe8BZC8cwUOGg456sKJo97tQ1Uk4oUl_VgnoI5ZzDlLfBAtpqaaeh/s640/kos_UNMIKmine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is difficult for some KOSOVAR political leaders to imagine that Albright’s leap into their economy would create jobs, greater efficiency, and modernization of infrastructure. The KOSOVO “Self-Determination” movement, which is represented in the republic’s parliamentary opposition and which stands for a maximum standard of independence for the country, issued an open letter to the KOSOVAR public. It appealed for e-mails to be sent to prospective bidders for privatization of PTK, criticizing the project for the sell-off of the post and telecoms agency. “Self-Determination” warned that properties were being offered for sale as if they were the private holdings of politicians, rather than resources of all KOSOVO residents.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The “Self-Determination” representatives argued that Kosovo’s leaders aim to drive down the value of the state assets, so that they may be expropriated and sold. “Privatization is a name behind which these officials hide,” the opposition advocates declared. The call by leaders of “Self-Determination” for protests against privatization behind the backs of the populace led to accusations that “Self-Determination” is a violent, anti-American movement.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Albin Kurti, a young philosopher and the articulate founder of “Self-Determination,” refuted in late December charges by U.S. ambassador Tracey-Anne Jacobson that he and his colleagues threatened Madeleine Albright. The leaders of “Self-Determination” pointed out that after they published their letter in September against a distorted privatization, they met with Albright in Kosovo in November. “Self-Determination” did not oppose her visit, or threaten her as Ambassador Jacobson alleged. Kurti has insisted that he and his colleagues respect American principles of freedom, independence, and public responsibility.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The friendship of Kosovo, as a Muslim-majority state, is a major benefit for American foreign policy. The Balkan republic has resisted Islamist radicalization, excluded religion from public education, and acted to protect women’s rights.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">: See <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/kosovo.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/kosovo.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Comment by <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><b>GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS AND MONITORING</b></span>:</span>  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">PART OF THE KOSOVO PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN NATURAL RESOURCES</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Though not admitted officially……….</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The vast amounts of Mineral deposits in KOSOVO have and still are part of the problems the small country faces, asides of ethnic and religious differences. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">KOSOVO POSSESSES THE WORLD'S FIFTH-LARGEST PROVEN RESERVES OF LIGNITE;</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: blue;">KOSOVO also has substantial amounts of other natural resources such as </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">lead, zinc, gold, silver, rare minerals and allegedly uranium. See Mineral Deposits <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Kosovo">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Kosovo</a>. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">It is alleged that the USA built Balkans largest army base, <b>Camp Bondsteel</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bondsteel">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bondsteel</a>deliberately on top of a large uranium ore basin in KOSOVO.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">In view of these facts it becomes obvious that the northern SERBIAN enclaves of KOSOVO, Mitrovica <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovska_Mitrovica">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovska_Mitrovica</a>etc. where the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Trepca mining complex is located insist on “reuniting” with SERBIA and that certain USA entities once again want to make sure to keep a foothold in the region in case, rare minerals, lignite and uranium indeed are available in quantities worthwhile to extract, pending increased market demands for afore mentioned minerals. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><b>CONTROVERSIAL OPPOSITION FIGURE: ALBIN KURTI </b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Albin Kurti</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albin_Kurti">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albin_Kurti</a>, has been and still is a controversial figure in KOSOVO. According to known sources Kurti allegedly fosters ties to certain radical UCK </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_Liberation_Army">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_Liberation_Army</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">entities that still are active today and who envision a GREATER ALBANIA  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Albania">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Albania</a>as well as having alleged ties to organized crime groups that terrorize communities, and ties to radical Islamic factions in KOSOVO as well as the notorious </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">SANDŽAK</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> region in MONTENEGRO. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kCUFbJzWriy9RE62mRi4zscjevuECi1hk1LzL1GnmHMPpMkTuf2rqGuoDw94Yqxcv6BhE2cm5zLmQj_V_cgcm2f1pmajf2LzEPu5Z7KO9tYqNszU8idNOj3HER1r1Q1EQZkYW0DlwB6e/s1600/Ethnic_albania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kCUFbJzWriy9RE62mRi4zscjevuECi1hk1LzL1GnmHMPpMkTuf2rqGuoDw94Yqxcv6BhE2cm5zLmQj_V_cgcm2f1pmajf2LzEPu5Z7KO9tYqNszU8idNOj3HER1r1Q1EQZkYW0DlwB6e/s400/Ethnic_albania.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vision of <span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span>Greater Albania"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">See </span><cite><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/crime_omero.pdf"><span style="font-style: normal;">www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/</span><b><span style="font-style: normal;">crime</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;">_omero.pdf</span></a>and </span></cite><cite><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">S</span></b></cite><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">andžak region, not only the gateway for Balkans organized crime syndicates, but also for spreading Wahhbism to Europe?</span></b><cite><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina-part-4.html"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina-part-4.html</span></a></span></cite></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">SANDŽAK IS AN IMPOVERISHED REGION IN SOUTHERN SERBIA</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aHFZ2Tz_ExFQSQx53XsHveJLknmlV-V7M8YkWwF8-_129x6M4YzAkZTEBrcNvgGk9UfOnAi9o6IERhWnwceJDV5FiqAGUrjiuRe5b2MlFcn7FNEk8feMKNr-1FMmi3L_spsDAKMajeZ4/s1600/sandzakregion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aHFZ2Tz_ExFQSQx53XsHveJLknmlV-V7M8YkWwF8-_129x6M4YzAkZTEBrcNvgGk9UfOnAi9o6IERhWnwceJDV5FiqAGUrjiuRe5b2MlFcn7FNEk8feMKNr-1FMmi3L_spsDAKMajeZ4/s400/sandzakregion.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">that is predominantly occupied with ethnic Bosniaks, (Bosnian Muslims)with the region technically extending into the northeastern part of MONTENEGRO as well. SANDŽAK is also populated with ALBANIANS within the Preševo Valley region. The citizens of SANDŽAK are fairly content with remaining a part of SERBIA, but have highlighted the dearth of economic activity, lack of political representation, and social woes (<b>mainly organized crime and drug use amongst the youth</b>) as primary obstacles for their communities. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">SLOW GROWING WAHHABI MOVEMENT </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">These two factors are also targeted as being a reason that various frustrated youth been drawn by the small Wahhabi movement that’s steadily growing in the region. SANDŽAK was treated as a special interest region during the BOSNIAN war, where (SERBIAN military) General Mladić was strictly forbidden from killing Muslims on SERBIAN territory. The bulk of the terror reigned on SANDŽAK’S citizens included harassment and humiliation techniques. But this didn’t stop many SANDŽAK locals from being forcibly bussed across the BOSNIAN border to be killed. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The pre-war census in 1991 stated that approximately 224,000 BOSNIAKS were living in SANDŽAK, with between 60-80,000 SANDŽAK refugees leaving the region in 1992 to WESTERN EUROPEAN countries, according to UN sources. It is a tell-tale sign of the devastation that the region experienced less than 20 years ago. The region has experienced significant trauma, and growing poverty and perceived discrimination have aggravated existing inter-ethnic tensions in the country. These tensions are simmering, and while they are not an imminent threat to SERBIA and the regions’ stability, the region’s BOSNIAKS must have their overall standard of living improved to enhance other integration mechanisms.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

KOSOVO: NATURAL RESOURCES JACKPOT?

FIRE SALE: “PRIVATIZING” KOSOVO, THE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WAY Source: GSI The Balkan states of ALBANIA and KOSOVO are, without doubt, the mos...

12 Favorite Projects of 2012

12:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

For this last post of 2012, here are my dozen <b>favorite projects</b> from the 60 that were featured on my <a href="http://www.archidose.org/past.html">weekly</a> and <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/search/label/half%20dose">daily</a> pages in the last 12 months, listed in chronological order.<br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/01/16/pier-15/">Pier 15</a> in New York City by SHoP Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/01/16/pier-15/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jan12-16.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/02/20/childcare-center-maria-enzersdorf/">Childcare Center</a> in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria, by MAGK and illiz architektur:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/02/20/childcare-center-maria-enzersdorf/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Feb12/20/image01.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/03/20/la-lira/">La Lira</a> in Ripoll, Spain, by RCR Arquitectes:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/03/20/la-lira/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mar12-19.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/03/26/coverage-of-archaeological-ruins-of-the-abbey-of-st-maurice/">Coverage of Archaeological Ruins of the Abbey of St. Maurice</a> in St. Maurice, Switzerland, by Savioz Fabrizze Architectes:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/03/26/coverage-of-archaeological-ruins-of-the-abbey-of-st-maurice/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Mar12/26/image02.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/04/02/alesia-museum-interpretive-center/">Alésia Archaelogical Museum</a> in Alise-Sainte-Reine, France, by Bernard Tschumi Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/04/02/alesia-museum-interpretive-center/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Apr12/02/image02.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/04/09/viewing-tower/">Viewing Tower</a> in Reusel, the Netherlands, by Ateliereen architecten:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/04/09/viewing-tower/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Apr12/09/image01.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/05/29/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center/">Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center</a> in Brooklyn, New York, by WEISS/MANFREDI:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/05/29/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/May12/29/image07.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/02/via-verde/">Via Verde</a> in the Bronx, New York, by Dattner Architects and Grimshaw:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/02/via-verde/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Jul12-02.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/16/arts-and-creative-platform/">Arts and Creative Platform</a> in Guimarães, Portugal, by Pitágoras Arquitectos:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/16/arts-and-creative-platform/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Jul12-16.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/30/butaro-hospital/">Butaro Hospital</a> in Butaro, Rwanda, by MASS Design Group:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/07/30/butaro-hospital/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Jul12/30/image01.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/10/15/francis-a-gregory-neighborhood-library/">Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library</a> in Washington, D.C., by Adjaye Associates:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/10/15/francis-a-gregory-neighborhood-library/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Oct12-15.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/12/10/poetry-foundation/">Poetry Foundation</a> in Chicago, Illinois, by John Ronan Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/12/10/poetry-foundation/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Dec12-10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a>

12 Favorite Projects of 2012

For this last post of 2012, here are my dozen favorite projects from the 60 that were featured on my weekly and daily pages in the last 1...

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 12/30/2012

11:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 12/30/2012

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning: The Best Teacher Blogs of 2012 A list of the finalists f...

A Noir Year Begins...

6:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b1DDB1Rj6ryDm8pJT9N1a0z7gbynqtKfxLDY_CVXhzSB3gRgChu5i8TkvdOnndcItqBk-2swsLOJwR20N8YNw7fDIHqbHCfC2JSUdEKSWldo1I84xOg6Wz7iIuab_qra8GjMVcPn_Rk/s1600/Noir+City+XI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b1DDB1Rj6ryDm8pJT9N1a0z7gbynqtKfxLDY_CVXhzSB3gRgChu5i8TkvdOnndcItqBk-2swsLOJwR20N8YNw7fDIHqbHCfC2JSUdEKSWldo1I84xOg6Wz7iIuab_qra8GjMVcPn_Rk/s400/Noir+City+XI.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">January 2013 brings, at last, the much-anticipated Noir City XI, San Francisco's 11<sup>th</sup> annual film noir festival. Presented by the Film Noir Foundation at the city’s landmark movie palace, the Castro Theatre, the festival runs from January 25 – February 3 and will showcase 27 films!</span></span><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehayca4cPbOQIFjNMSaCn0wUgcajvj3Kum_zyT-FOh06P2MyfOuGhpvtyMAidl9RpwJ0D6deEKmwcomgBote3khou4VQih7wYasYACxz1FDKmFinQbobZBIM4mKX4WUXXBYGRrS6DYHc/s1600/Noir+City+Schedule.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehayca4cPbOQIFjNMSaCn0wUgcajvj3Kum_zyT-FOh06P2MyfOuGhpvtyMAidl9RpwJ0D6deEKmwcomgBote3khou4VQih7wYasYACxz1FDKmFinQbobZBIM4mKX4WUXXBYGRrS6DYHc/s400/Noir+City+Schedule.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Noir City XI begins with an opening night tribute to genre legend Peggy Cummins. Following Film Noir Foundation founder/<a href="http://www.eddiemuller.com/inprint.html"><b><span style="color: red;">author</span></b></a>/film historian Eddie Muller’s onstage interview with Miss Cummins, <i>Gun Crazy</i> (1950), the noir classic that made her an icon, will screen. Other festival highlights include three world premiere restorations along with the U.S. premiere of 4K digital restorations of <i>Sunset Blvd. </i>(1950) and <i>Experiment in Terror </i>(1962). Also premiering will be 4K digital restorations of two of 1953’s first 3-D films, <i>Inferno </i>and <i>Man in the Dark</i><i>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">But wait, there’s more…</span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROtlqPsoNY8Zo4G0O15zbZ2iwovG3eMRnY8nzM31UI9wzcFhMI6nez-y8ViJd_SfzVh4HmD3QNVfdqkjJaqYdAudDgWQgVeVodKQh7ntpOj9xsl2Sd_GhFA8QpL99yNRQekuyWYuBsNw/s1600/Noir+City+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROtlqPsoNY8Zo4G0O15zbZ2iwovG3eMRnY8nzM31UI9wzcFhMI6nez-y8ViJd_SfzVh4HmD3QNVfdqkjJaqYdAudDgWQgVeVodKQh7ntpOj9xsl2Sd_GhFA8QpL99yNRQekuyWYuBsNw/s320/Noir+City+Party.jpg" width="102" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Returning with the 2013 festival will be the Noir City Nightclub event, set for Saturday night, February 2, at San Francisco's Regency Lodge. There'll be music - from jazz to noir-pop to the torch stylings of songstress Laura Ellis - and dancing and cocktails <i>and</i> a walk on the wild side courtesy of "international striptease sensation" Evie Lovelle.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Czar of Noir</i> Eddie Muller, who not only founded the FNF in 2002 but also emcees the San Francisco festival (and nightclub), is <span style="font-size: small;">also about to</span> appear on Turner Classic Movies. Beginning at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific on Thursday, January 17, Muller will co-host "A Night in Noir City" with Robert Osborne. On the schedule are five films: <i>Cry Danger</i> (1951) starring Dick Powell and Rhonda Fleming,<i> </i>Phil Karlson's <i>99 River Street </i>(1953) with John Payne and Evelyn Keyes, <i>Tomorrow is Another Day </i>(1951) with Steve Cochran and Ruth Roman, Michael Curtiz's <i>The Breaking Point</i> (1950) starring John Garfield and Patricia Neal and <i>The Prowler </i>(1951), directed by Joseph Losey and starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes.</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBp5s8G66WUUtR9kr_5EqLM9eXKXipU_WQ4zgXBBoZLXxXhFpSMsVdQ9JmQp5-oHxmMXrnAB5UTQzjky9NlXQMw4ueNTKZRHOMhCtNxSdKxN1dDbZrxz3BWTy8id3pfMMC3zGbMtjxac/s1600/Osborne+and+Muller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBp5s8G66WUUtR9kr_5EqLM9eXKXipU_WQ4zgXBBoZLXxXhFpSMsVdQ9JmQp5-oHxmMXrnAB5UTQzjky9NlXQMw4ueNTKZRHOMhCtNxSdKxN1dDbZrxz3BWTy8id3pfMMC3zGbMtjxac/s400/Osborne+and+Muller.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Robert Osborne and Eddie Muller, <i>A Night in Noir City</i>, January 17</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">In his 1998 book <u>Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir</u>, Muller contended that among the many <span style="font-size: small;">film </span>varieties<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>to come out of the studio era, film noir held up best: "Film noir pointed toward the black core of corruption in our "civilized" society and our primitive essence. The struggle of the individual to transcend or escape provided the emotional tension. That's the theme that makes noir so compelling for the contemporary crowd." Muller was onto something, for over time film noir has proven to be a genre of lasting appeal. With each successive year, the popularity of Noir City has grown, its program schedule has expanded and the Film Noir Foundation has been able to restore ever more films. Today, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">San Francisco's noir-fest is the kick off point for other film noir festivals around the country,  with Noir City events following in Seattle in February, Los Angeles in  April, Chicago in August and Washington, DC, in October.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.noircity.com/index.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Click here</b></span></span></a></span></span></span></span> <span style="color: black;">to learn more about Noir City</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.noircity.com/foundation.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Click here</b></span></span></a> <span style="color: black;">to learn more about the Film Noir Foundation</span></span></span></span></span><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;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlTjWLl_WHVr178XvMV4daAWTjFf0nSNF944Jt99yyWUcGtODvax1uh6VvREyRce2qscg84oiXpqXVQtuD0Q6AUmTeKXuo4m646QaFCsXHSa97zSIAghyphenhyphenXV0CO9oxbZXVgGvZlTwidhc/s1600/Eddie-Muller-Gun-Crazy-star-Peggy-Cummins-485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlTjWLl_WHVr178XvMV4daAWTjFf0nSNF944Jt99yyWUcGtODvax1uh6VvREyRce2qscg84oiXpqXVQtuD0Q6AUmTeKXuo4m646QaFCsXHSa97zSIAghyphenhyphenXV0CO9oxbZXVgGvZlTwidhc/s320/Eddie-Muller-Gun-Crazy-star-Peggy-Cummins-485.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Peggy Cummins and Eddie Muller backstage at TCM's 2012 Classic Film Festival</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span> </span></div>

January 2013 brings, at last, the much-anticipated Noir City XI, San Francisco's 11 th annual film noir festival. Presented by the Film...

IWS Babe of the Week...Year's End and Rear Ends

5:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As we quickly approach year's end, now is the perfect time to celebrate some really sweet looking...rear ends...<br /><br />Many people today, when they think of ass, naturally think of Kim Kardashian...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HhRIwaz6It7_IS7NEa1HCkdr_G52WX1tnjbbmdfn7RkNJjlo4MbavmlbGuW9JqMEAYi1VyWWLfsuy9sjNnufzfFdOljz6x6_-ITtvkFE5YLB-hxD1e-PGdypr-bWl7foj14tZWUewug/s1600/Kim+Kardashian+Sexy+Nude+Ass.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HhRIwaz6It7_IS7NEa1HCkdr_G52WX1tnjbbmdfn7RkNJjlo4MbavmlbGuW9JqMEAYi1VyWWLfsuy9sjNnufzfFdOljz6x6_-ITtvkFE5YLB-hxD1e-PGdypr-bWl7foj14tZWUewug/s400/Kim+Kardashian+Sexy+Nude+Ass.png" width="276" /></a></div><br />Others may simply dream of the go to ass of Scarlett Johansson...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqsmGEazyXvRxjfFaEuXjCq7A-2w0yBEvN3GuW4SbbzoQrVOGTG8s-aQ0CxPqFrER-T51ib_vc8BKD999S2GymHSvw7t6G8YnOl_oK5v9-2YNdmKe56XF1dU0ZiGQVznQAHAm6O4P4QE/s1600/Scarlett+Johansson+Great+Ass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqsmGEazyXvRxjfFaEuXjCq7A-2w0yBEvN3GuW4SbbzoQrVOGTG8s-aQ0CxPqFrER-T51ib_vc8BKD999S2GymHSvw7t6G8YnOl_oK5v9-2YNdmKe56XF1dU0ZiGQVznQAHAm6O4P4QE/s400/Scarlett+Johansson+Great+Ass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Megan Fox doesn't disappoint either, especially when she is kissing herself...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt3v-QUJLSoqDnYSMpO1sXeuVe7ilCLtfe8nw3XgNibIhcSCif_Glko0W8Ch1InhZvLvc6OhKFccPqFauvU1hlt5ewmkXkx4RIupDVqauSZB7-v_lKlL3vJ96C9jit4JuWyE2iMZkR0A/s1600/Megan+Fox+Sexy+Nude+Ass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt3v-QUJLSoqDnYSMpO1sXeuVe7ilCLtfe8nw3XgNibIhcSCif_Glko0W8Ch1InhZvLvc6OhKFccPqFauvU1hlt5ewmkXkx4RIupDVqauSZB7-v_lKlL3vJ96C9jit4JuWyE2iMZkR0A/s400/Megan+Fox+Sexy+Nude+Ass.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Of course, a new and particular fave that IWS has discovered, is the delicious derriere of one Kate Upton...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9gY9n9tHCYLodzDfb1suX-FjrAf9rMI0uE7bp-RrV4Y2_pbgKuxjsgO9VKqM1p_4xq35ejDPSQ_B256R9WUajXIxHZGP-PBlGW6uRNjCIk7cvQ81fXPJ7Onq8nkKIyuWNhzYelnpVfI/s1600/Kate+upton+sexy+nude+ass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9gY9n9tHCYLodzDfb1suX-FjrAf9rMI0uE7bp-RrV4Y2_pbgKuxjsgO9VKqM1p_4xq35ejDPSQ_B256R9WUajXIxHZGP-PBlGW6uRNjCIk7cvQ81fXPJ7Onq8nkKIyuWNhzYelnpVfI/s400/Kate+upton+sexy+nude+ass.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br />And certainly, a stalwart of legendary assdom is that of one of the IWS team, the Schmoopster...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWaxm3QnfWsbUT4N1B_IaxDsXPibBHiuB9o1eWcZyctFkfHIOagyi7BGUJuI_SzB1nuZq8KS1kWhXH7t_p6hVrecNmaQ9E9FNIMqNbZRgaPMPFX3UY9dIr2muD7lyGp1dE-my4Xfpb8Q/s1600/Schmoop+Hot+Ass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWaxm3QnfWsbUT4N1B_IaxDsXPibBHiuB9o1eWcZyctFkfHIOagyi7BGUJuI_SzB1nuZq8KS1kWhXH7t_p6hVrecNmaQ9E9FNIMqNbZRgaPMPFX3UY9dIr2muD7lyGp1dE-my4Xfpb8Q/s400/Schmoop+Hot+Ass.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />So there you go.  Year's End and Rear Ends.  Let's love the hell out of all of them.<br /><br />And don't forget...<br /><br />If you missed Jay and Matt kicking 2012 to the curb on Blog Talk Radio LIVE last night, you can catch all of the angst ridden hilarity right here in the archives.  A good time was had by all...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="270" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fim-with-stupid%2Fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=true&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2fim-with-stupid%2fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=true&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=270&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="270" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">    <br /><br />Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;"></div></div></div>

IWS Babe of the Week...Year's End and Rear Ends

As we quickly approach year's end, now is the perfect time to celebrate some really sweet looking...rear ends... Many people today, when...