News for today's 2018

CYPRUS UNDER THE CLAWS OF THE IMF

6:37 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFfx7AUkZyCXRoU_pkV2IT7eC59jrmvcIvogLy1xJjtwfQ7FYxMb8gG8386hrpQ4_4T9iCmM0fiUncFXjjYLIG9BFycQySxHG8JDOR0VdgOSmLNAT0ECoEpED6IL_TxBqloWwTL47_49e/s1600/cypresflag.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFfx7AUkZyCXRoU_pkV2IT7eC59jrmvcIvogLy1xJjtwfQ7FYxMb8gG8386hrpQ4_4T9iCmM0fiUncFXjjYLIG9BFycQySxHG8JDOR0VdgOSmLNAT0ECoEpED6IL_TxBqloWwTL47_49e/s320/cypresflag.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DE FACTO LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY<span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> CYPRUS MAKES BIG CONCESSIONS FOR BAILOUT</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><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-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Christian Reiermann and Markus Dettmer via DS</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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS wants help from the EUROPEAN UNION'S bailout fund. But the price for the billions in emergency aid money is high. The country will effectively lose its sovereignty.</span></b></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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WILL CYPRUS FACE THE SAME FATE AS ARGENTINA?</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dimitris Christofias had a serious look on his face as he turned to the cameras and spoke of what a "gut-wrenching" decision it was, but added that it was also a "necessary evil." The CYPRIOT president was not giving his people good news.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His staff realized how bad it would be when Christofias, in his televised address, reminded viewers of his country's darkest hour, the TURKISH invasion of northern CYPRUS in 1974.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Although CYPRUS is not about to suffer the same fate, it is already clear that in return for billions of Euros for the debt-ridden country from the EUROPEAN bailout fund, the "troika," made up of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will essentially take control of the Mediterranean island.</span></span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Could it be that the troika in reality focuses on taking control of Cyprus’s proclaimed hydrocarbon findings? </span></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For further information on related topics see:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcEehWAbWtDggt_4xQE-wPoM60j0JI98zAgl6YUhUQlkDUqx3kT9PpT5Hr7neBFy3liyaulnPawLJRKNbfPeWGVbHqzsGHqHUiD4jw7eSCixQHiIeR1L1B8McRDYJpP9lNe1QoWaamPKJ/s1600/Pytheas_Net_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcEehWAbWtDggt_4xQE-wPoM60j0JI98zAgl6YUhUQlkDUqx3kT9PpT5Hr7neBFy3liyaulnPawLJRKNbfPeWGVbHqzsGHqHUiD4jw7eSCixQHiIeR1L1B8McRDYJpP9lNe1QoWaamPKJ/s320/Pytheas_Net_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQI-TREp08jEAp6L_I-pDJT43ckqsQAE7zAF8WEmSUcdT3-I7iJKAkVRLFKi4Bc-kqE5gmsjIiS_qKI-kEpX4ZsUqRDHApUaqeQGG8aYDXY49nVOgtmKoSNv1bWi6M7unpZ4ss1rLtLww/s1600/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQI-TREp08jEAp6L_I-pDJT43ckqsQAE7zAF8WEmSUcdT3-I7iJKAkVRLFKi4Bc-kqE5gmsjIiS_qKI-kEpX4ZsUqRDHApUaqeQGG8aYDXY49nVOgtmKoSNv1bWi6M7unpZ4ss1rLtLww/s400/Southeastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Developments-300x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </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";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html</a></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";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html</a></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";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/complexity-of-eastern-med-energy-games.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/complexity-of-eastern-med-energy-games.html</a></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";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";">European Union</span></i></b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";"></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";"></span></i><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times","serif";">The European Union is also supportive of the aforementioned, since it agonizes for its energy security and a potential discovery of new reserves by a Eurozone country such as Cyprus further strengthens its energy planning. French and German companies especially, being the dominant players in the European energy corporate environment, estimates they will be able to acquire concessions and strengthen their businesses worldwide. Europe will face an issue with natural gas imports sometime after 2020 due to rising consumption, decreasing North Sea reserves and increase in demand by the rest of the world.</span></i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The CYPRIOT government and representatives of the troika negotiated for almost five months over the terms of a bailout package, worth at least €17.5 billion ($22.8 billion). The negotiations produced the draft version of a 30-page Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in which the troika dictates to CYPRUS what steps it will have to take in the coming years, down to the smallest detail.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Under the deal, civil servants and politicians, including cabinet ministers, will have to fly in economy class when traveling within EUROPE in the future. Exceptions apply to the president of the country and the president of the parliament. Spending on foreign trips will be trimmed. The privilege senior bureaucrats have to buy cars duty-free will be eliminated. And the salaries of civil servants and lawmakers will be frozen until 2016.</span></span></b></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="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BLAMING THE BANKS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When representatives of the troika got down to the nitty-gritty of imposing rules, no detail seemed too small for them. For instance, they have prescribed new hours of operation for government offices. In the future, public offices will open punctually at 8 a.m. Starting Sept. 1, 2013, public servants and other government employees will work within a regulated flextime program. According to the MoU draft document, this will be "37 1/2 hours per week, 7 1/2 hours per day."</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The euro rescuers also addressed government revenues. The tax on fine-cut tobacco will go up drastically from €60 to €150 per kilogram, while the beer tax will increase to €6 per degree of alcohol and hectoliter. The troika also believes that a tax increase of 7 cents per liter is appropriate for diesel fuel and gasoline.</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Citizens will be especially hard-hit by the planned 2-percent increase in the value-added tax, bringing it up to 19 percent. <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;">The troika (IMF, ECB and World Bank) is also calling for cuts in the healthcare sector, as well as reduced pensions.</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IMF</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-destroyer-of-nations.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-destroyer-of-nations.html</a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-on-trial.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/imf-on-trial.html</a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpkGhy7BxXw?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christofias left no doubt as to who he blames for the disaster, saying: "It's true that the decisions of bank executives and the miserable control by the CYPRIOT CENTRAL bank have cost CYPRUS billions of EUR." The amount of the aid package corresponds almost to the country's entire economic output in a year. According to the troika's plan, by 2016 CYPRUS'S national budget will be cleaned up enough that the country can hopefully make do without new debt.</span></span></b></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";">CREDITORS TO TAKE LOSSES FIRST</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRIOT banks are also expected to make a contribution. Crisis-ridden institutions will no longer be supported solely by injections of cash from the EUROPEAN bailout fund. This time, the banks' creditors are also expected to pay up. "With the goal of minimizing the cost to taxpayers, bank shareholders and junior debt holders will take losses before state-aid measures are granted," the MoU draft reads. This means that creditors of CYPRIOT banks won't just be able to withdraw their money. Instead, their claims will be converted into bank shares.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In taking this step, the troika is avoiding a potential embarrassment. Substantial sums of RUSSIAN capital are deposited into CYPRIOT banks, and some of it is probably of dubious origin. It would be difficult to explain to the EUROPEAN public why its taxes are being used to rescue wealthy oligarchs. Now, people who had previously invested their wealth into yachts, cars and football clubs will be forcibly turned into bank owners.</span></span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: <i>See <b>11 Feb 2012</b> article published by <b><span style="color: blue;">Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring,</span></b> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a>:</i></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MUCH NEEDED ECO- FINANCIAL BOOST FOR CYPRUS AFTER RUSSIA’S BAILOUT, BUT WITH GEO STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS </span></b></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">During 2009 and 2010, CYPRUS and ISRAEL discovered enormous natural gas deposits off their shores in the Mediterranean Sea. And in late 2011 NOBLE ENERGY, the firm contracted by CYPRUS with exploring for gas in its waters, announced a discovery of gas estimated at 5-8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas there. <b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;">This discovery could not come at a better time for CYPRUS, which in 2011 endured a slippage in its fiscal ratings, was shut out of international capital markets, hit by a large munitions blast, and was finally forced to accept a RUSSIAN bailout.</span></b>All told, the discoveries by both countries amount to 33 trillion cubic feet of gas (ca. 1 trillion cubic meters). And the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Levant Basin, where most of these discoveries have occurred, may hold 122 TCF (3.4 tcm).</span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKISH THREATS DEEPLY DISTURB CYPRUS AND RUSSIA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">However, TURKEY’S threats against CYPRUS and ISRAEL due to their exploration and drilling for gas in the Eastern Mediterranean caused concern in RUSSIA. <b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; color: blue;">Moscow recently organized a large loan for CYPRUS to sustain it against a crisis should GREECE default because so many RUSSIAN accounts are held in CYPRUS’ banks and then reinvested in RUSSIA or used to launder the elite’s money by cycling it out of RUSSIA into the global banking system</span></b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; color: blue;">.</span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Clearly, Moscow cannot allow CYPRUS to go under</span></b>.</span> Turkish threats therefore deeply disturb both CYPRUS and RUSSIA. </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS FUNCTIONS AS AN OFFSHORE FINANCIAL CENTER FOR RUSSIA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">, </span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/russia-and-cyprus.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/russia-and-cyprus.html</a></span></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At the same time, CYPRUS will have to rebuild its financial sector in the coming years, along with drastically improving regulations and intensifying the fight against money laundering and tax evasion. </span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The president wasn't willing to end his address without giving his fellow CYPRIOTS at least some words of comfort and hope. After the TURKISH invasion, he said, the country was rebuilt. And added, today Cyprus can hope for a new "economic miracle."</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><b><i> </i></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

CYPRUS UNDER THE CLAWS OF THE IMF

DE FACTO LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY : CYPRUS MAKES BIG CONCESSIONS FOR BAILOUT By Christian Reiermann and Markus Dettmer via DS CYPRUS wants h...

Senior Software Engineer (C#| C++| LINUX |GUI | Commercial Software Development| WxWidgets|CUDA) (#108868)

4:48 PM Anonymous 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Senior Software Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The REBL program is developing a new-generation electron-beam lithography system for high-throughput maskless production of ICs.  Much of the technology employed in this system is novel, and the software to operate the system and supply data to it is likewise novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Help us complete the latest version of our "EDGE" software (an IC pattern processing program) and complete a port of it to Linux. Test and benchmark both the Windows and the Linux versions of the completed application. Ensure that the Linux GUI is equivalent to the Windows one. Support internal and external customer evaluation of this application. Ensure that the program is 'customer ready.'<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Participate in our work to further improve the performance of EDGE, by introducing new programming constructs such as MPI and output-file format changes; enable user visualization of portions of an IC mask layer after it has been processed by EDGE. Ensure that EDGE can process test patterns needed to achieve program milestones and acceptance tests of REBL.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Develop hardware and software architecture for the 'Distributor', a new module in the REBL data path. This module will be similar to an embedded system, but quite complex, with dedicated background and foreground software tasks, high-performance storage modules, high-performance computation elements (e.g., GPUs), specialized FPGA cards and multiple network cards. Participate in reviews and assessments of the hardware design. On the basis of the software architecture and hardware selected, design, code and test the software for the new module.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Education and Experience:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in relevant branch of science or engineering. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.10+ years' experience, at least part of which should be in data preparation for semiconductor lithography and part in applications development under Linux. 3.In-depth knowledge of both Linux and Windows-based systems.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Ability to program multi-threaded applications, particularly using 'Boost' libraries (for Linux application), will be needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.Ability to program for a quasi-real-time environment similar to an embedded system. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">6.Some familiarity with CUDA programming is helpful. Familiarity with WxWidgets (a tool for producing a Windows-like GUI in Linux) will be very helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">7.Some familiarity with device drivers may be useful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Please send your resumes to</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></div></div></div>

Position: Senior Software Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job description: The REBL program is developing a new-gener...

Monday, Monday

1:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features the <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/07/parrish-art-museum/">Parrish Art Museum</a> in Water Mill, New York, by Herzog & de Meuron:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/07/parrish-art-museum/"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SAM_5324.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Apr09/20/dose.html">Espacio Goya</a> in Zaragoza, Spain by Herzog & de Meuron:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Apr09/20/dose.html"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Apr09/20/image01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/07/future-practice/"><i>Future Practice: Conversations from the Edge of Architecture</i></a> by Rory Hyde:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/07/future-practice/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hyde.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a>   <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/03/28/matter-in-the-floating-world/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/floating.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/03/28/matter-in-the-floating-world/"><i>Matter in the Floating World: Conversations with Leading Japanese Architects and Designers</i></a> by Blaine Brownell.<br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World-Architects.com U.S. <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/projects/reviews/41">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/projects/projects_detail/39424">Safe House Museum</a> in Greensboro, Alabama, by Rural Studio:<br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/projects/projects_detail/39424"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://www.world-architects.com/images/resize_new/project_pictures/2010_SafeHouse_TH_P1_0058.jpg/39424/size:900:w" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, by Herzog & de Me...

EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY AT A CROSSROAD

10:17 AM Tukiyooo 0

EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY AT A CROSSROAD

DEPLETED EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY Politicians are getting increasingly tired , citizens increasingly frustrated , the pace and action requir...

Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford)

9:01 AM Anonymous 0

<b>Law Librarian - </b><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Halloran & Sage LLP</strong></span> (Hartford) is an established, multi-practice law firm serving a diverse  cross section of clients in the private and public sectors. We have an  exciting opportunity for an experienced, highly skilled Law Librarian,  located in our Hartford office. The successful candidate will possess  excellent interpersonal communication, and strong organizational skills.  The candidate will take pride in his or her professionalism, be  detail-oriented, self-motivated, and self-confident with the ability to  work on a team or independently in a highly productive and fast paced  environment. Job Description: The Law Librarian is responsible for the  overall administration of the Firm’s Law Library and electronic research  resources for all Firm locations. Responsibilities include but are not  limited to: Managing the operations of the law library, including  provision of reference and research services; interlibrary loan; online  information retrieval; acquisitions and collection development;  organization and inventorying of library materials; and library  accounting and budgeting; Conducting in-depth research in wide range of  areas including practice-specific areas of law, business intelligence,  public records, legislative history, medical and news/media. Training  lawyers, staff and others on the use of Internet-based legal research  programs such as Westlaw and emerging electronic resources such as  Google Scholar, electronic journals, on-line court dockets and  legislative materials. Conducting periodic reviews of new and existing  electronic resources with an eye toward improved service and research  efficiencies. Performing various cataloging and inventorying procedures  for all types of library resources. Skills and Experience Required: An  advanced degree in library science, law or business is required. Minimum  of 5 years’ of professional experience as Law Librarian. Expertise with  online systems including Westlaw and other online systems used in law  firms. Demonstrated experience in fiscal planning and budgeting.  Excellent communication and writing skills. Ability to work effectively  with all levels of the firm with tact and diplomacy. Demonstration of  high degree of trustworthiness commensurate to handling confidential and  sensitive material. Flexibility to work additional hours, as necessary.  Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.  If being a vital part of a professional team excites you, and you seek  to enhance your career with one of the largest law firms in Connecticut  with offices in Hartford, Middletown, Westport, Danbury, New London and  Washington, D.C., this is the opportunity for you. Halloran & Sage  offers a stimulating and collaborative environment, competitive salaries  and generous benefit package. We are an equal opportunity employer.  Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume with salary  requirements to: <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:humanresources@halloran-sage.com" href="mailto:humanresources@halloran-sage.com">humanresources@halloran-sage.com</a>.

Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford)

Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford) is an established, multi-practice law firm serving a diverse cross section of clients i...

What questions do employers want to hear in an interview?

8:20 AM Anonymous 0

<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Justin Thompson, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b><br /><br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px; text-align: left;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/82/ar5l2t86rzfp20glcp82.gif?time=6/8/2012%2011:20:10%20am" /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;" /><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Once you've received the call from an employer inviting you in for an interview, the real preparation begins. Prior to an interview, candidates should research the company so they can not only answer questions, but have questions ready to ask the hiring manager as well.</div><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /><br />The interview is where the job candidate and employer get to know each other. Think of it like dating. While a job interview is in a professional setting and the outcomes are different, the intentions are the same. You've exchanged information because you think there might be a connection, and now you're ready for your "first date." As much as you want to make a good first impression, the employer needs to make a good impression, too.<br /><br />Just like a first date, you don't want one person to dominate the conversation and ask all the questions. It should be a balanced dialogue, and you should <a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/get-the-job/interviews/5-rules-for-asking-better-interview-questions/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">ask questions</a> that get to the heart of the matter: Who is this employer, and why should I work for this company?<br /><br /><b>The right questions to ask</b><br />Alan Guinn, managing director and CEO of The Guinn Consultancy Group, works with employers every day. He recommends that recruiters listen for these 10 questions from job applicants to see if they've done their homework and truly want the position:<br /><br />1. I've been told that I work very well as a team member. What are some of the ways your company encourages teamwork?<br />2. We all know how important job satisfaction is to everyone. I want to be happy in any role. Is the company committed to promotion from within, whenever possible?<br />3. I love your published mission and values. How are these reflected in day-to-day life at the company? Can you share some examples with me?<br />4. If your son, daughter or a friend was looking for a job, would you recommend working for this company? Why?<br />5. What do you think distinguishes this company from its competitors, both from a public and employee perspective?<br />6. How often do you speak with your C-level officers? When you do, what do they normally ask you? Do they ask for your opinion?<br />7. How does the company demonstrate a sense of pride in its employees? Can you help me understand what it looks for in return?<br />8. Are there paid, ongoing learning opportunities offered at my level of job responsibility? What obligations do I have if I elect to take advantage of them?<br />9. What does the company expect in the way of personal and professional growth for a person hired into this position?<br />10. Does the company value a difference in <a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2975-Workplace-Issues-Signs-your-job-is-taking-over-your-life/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">work and personal time</a>, or does it blur the responsibilities between the two?<br /><br /><b>Think about your goals first</b><br />Don't feel obligated to walk into the interview with a set number of questions, but these give you an idea of the right questions to ask. Also think of the questions in terms of your career and personal goals. If you're moving into a role with more responsibility, how will that affect what questions you ask? If you're starting a family soon, what do you want to know about the company's commitment to work/life balance?<br /><br />Thoughtful planning and preparation for an interview will not only help you feel more confident but will also leave a great impression on the person interviewing you.<br /><br /><i>Justin Thompson is a writer and blogger for </i><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/msn/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><i>CareerBuilder.com</i></a> <i>and its job blog, </i><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Work Buzz</i></a><i>. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.</i></div>

What questions do employers want to hear in an interview?

Justin Thompson, CareerBuilder Writer Once you've received the call from an employer inviting you in for an interview, the real preparat...

Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library

7:59 AM Anonymous 0

<b>Part Time Library Assistant - </b><span style="color: #48286d;"><b>Burlington Public Library</b></span> is looking for an energetic individual with the demonstrated ability to  effectively work with the public at our circulation desk. Also  performing  other library related duties, including but not limited to,  responding to patron request for information and assistance, reader's  advisory, shelving, as well as general clerical duties. The position is  for 12 hours per week - afternoons, nights and rotating Saturdays are  required. Pay is $12.90/hour, no benefits. A bachelor's degree is  preferred. For a complete job description see our website, <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.burlingtonctlibrary.info" href="http://www.burlingtonctlibrary.info/" target="_blank">www.burlingtonctlibrary.info</a>. Send resume and cover letter no later than <span style="color: red;">January 18, 2013</span> to: Diana Rudzinski, Assistant Director, 34 Library Lane, P.O. Box 1379, Burlington, CT 06013, or by email to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:drudzinski@libraryconnection.info" href="mailto:drudzinski@libraryconnection.info">drudzinski@libraryconnection.info</a>.

Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library

Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library is looking for an energetic individual with the demonstrated ability to effectivel...

The last sweet years or bad romance? Handling infidelity in the nursing home | Practical Ethics

7:06 AM Tukiyooo 0

Ulf suffers dementia and lives in a nursing home. He often interacts with Lena, who also has dementia. They seek each other out, invite each other to their rooms, hold hands and kiss. They can clearly express what they prefer (or not). The staff think they enjoy life and each other's company. There is just one problem for the happy couple: Ulf is married, and his wife is not happy. She and their children strongly dislikes the relation between Ulf and Lena and asks the staff to keep them apart. They argue that if Ulf had been free of dementia he would not have desired contact with Lena; he might sometimes even be confused and think Lena is his wife.<br /><br><br /><br>The situation was posed as a question to the ethics committee of the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden, and it recently responded that the staff should not try to interfere in the relationship: the welfare and autonomy of Ulf is prior to the wishes of the family. An earlier question dealt with a somewhat similar case, where the cuckolded wife demanded that her husband be both separated from the other woman and medicated to "dampen" him.The committee found that it would be against the autonomy of the man to be medicated against his will, and the staff did not have a right (legally or morally) to prevent patients from seeing each other.<br /><br><br /><br>The interesting question is what to make of romances that come about due to dementia. Are they authentic? How do they relate to the interests expressed earlier in life?<br /><br><br /><br>First, it is pretty clear that the patients at least in these cases do have autonomy. They have clear preferences in the present, they do make choices, and likely have capacity to deal with their own lives within the nursing home. However, if a person consistently confuses another one for their spouse it can be argued that they do not have the capacity of making the right choices about their love. Capacity might not be true in all cases, but in the following I will assume the patients have the elements of capacity.<br /><br><br /><br>Is a love that come about due to dementia authentic and worth respecting?<br /><br><br /><br>One approach would be to ask, since attraction happens due to mechanisms in the brain, why we should think attraction in one brain is any more authentic than attraction in any other brain – demented or not. But typically romantic love is believed to be an expression of a whole person: it is not just the result of a small partner-detection subsystem triggering independently of everything else, but linked to a complex web of personality, past emotions and memories, social ideas, subconscious patterns of attraction and repulsion. The whole person is (ideally) involved on all levels. Somebody getting attracted to another just because of an external or internal stimuli cannot be said to have the same level of authenticity, especially if the target is somebody who they would (given past experience) not be attracted to. A good example is the case where a brain tumor caused a man to develop pedophilia (paper), and where the urges disappeared when the tumor was removed. The desires and behavior was not consistent with his past, or with his moral understanding.<br /><br><br /><br>So the question is whether the romantic relations in the above cases are due to the whole person or just a malfunctioning brain. I doubt there is any simple answer. But it is worth considering that at least some people with dementia appear to regress to an earlier age: they retain well-consolidated memories from youth and core personality traits remain, despite the losses in other dimensions. In this case one might argue that attraction might be quite authentic: it is due to the strong core elements of the person, shorn of later complications. In other cases there is personality change that might make the relationship plausible given the current personality but not the past one: it might be authentic in the present but not when considering the entire life of the patient.<br /><br><br /><br>If we cannot recall past promises (and cannot avoid forgetting them), we are not morally bound by them. It can be argued that the past, healthy person would not have wished to be unfaithful. They presumably had interests about the shape of their future marital life, traditionally expressed in wedding vows. We should generally respect stated interests of people even when they are no longer capable. However, wedding vows rarely seem to prevent infidelity. People often underestimate how much their personalities, values and preferences are going to change in the future, making their stated commitments a great deal less reliable than they intended. People fall in (and out of) love not just because of their brains but their overall life context. Suffering dementia and living separated from one's spouse in a nursing home is a serious change of life context: it would be strange if people did not react to it, including by changing their relationships. We might not want to be unfaithful due to dementia, but the dementia is a necessary precondition for the unfaithfulness in this case: what we really want is not to get dementia in the first place, since it no doubt is going to cause many other undesirable future behaviors and experiences.<br /><br><br /><br>If we are serious about enforcing our earlier commitments we might create advance directives, constraining what our future self can do regardless of what they think (for example, telling the nursing home staff on admission to help maintain one's fidelity). But the thought of being constrained what an earlier self desired – given that we have grown and changed – is often disagreeable, so such directives will likely be rare. It is also debatable to what extent "Ulysses contracts" can be morally or legally binding. While autonomy includes the power to bind oneself to a course of action, it also includes the freedom to change one's mind. The standard problems are compounded here because dementia might weaken the identity link to the future self: they are literally a different person, and the past self cannot morally claim any paternalistic power over them.<br /><br><br /><br>We might find it unfortunate that respecting the autonomy and well-being of people may force staff and family to tolerate infidelity. But insofar it is an expression of genuine will and produces genuine happiness, it might still be a gleam of sunlight in the late autumn of life.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2013/01/the-last-sweet-years-or-bad-romance-handling-infidelity-in-the-nursing-home/">http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2013/01/the-last-sweet-years-or-bad-romance-handling-infidelity-in-the-nursing-home/</a>

The last sweet years or bad romance? Handling infidelity in the nursing home | Practical Ethics

Ulf suffers dementia and lives in a nursing home. He often interacts with Lena, who also has dementia. They seek each other out, invite each...

Southernmost Point

4:40 AM Tukiyooo 0

<p>Key West is the Southernmost city in the USA.  It is closer to Cuba than Miami.</p><p>Here is a picture of the Southernmost Point marked by a giant buoy.  It was very busy when I took the photo as the Ragnar Relay racers had just arrived in town.</p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKUGR6TU6a8Ak9UtLxuzmGNkO2Vkzt_oCaBXCaEhBuXzyrLEd1DhjiBjBnYxerGqLhTSTzOVGl_S8qYLPyPpzmzuUOdvT3wUjJ3_965nr-WR-KbT03sPGhLij8cBQ0h3VWPLns5eyxIHG/s1600/20130106_151758.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKUGR6TU6a8Ak9UtLxuzmGNkO2Vkzt_oCaBXCaEhBuXzyrLEd1DhjiBjBnYxerGqLhTSTzOVGl_S8qYLPyPpzmzuUOdvT3wUjJ3_965nr-WR-KbT03sPGhLij8cBQ0h3VWPLns5eyxIHG/s400/20130106_151758.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWDziNtCVr6PuAqmch-jPwO7h-QfNp1nzQiepmVcNGirF5EQNeSXdBAC8zZy9r_T5tG9jW5EJ04Opp3vRE8N8WFHgpyfhI9hmVjfw8H2lT3JGEzXaVfbHyri7wrC71I83M32pL3RXt58i/s1600/20130106_151307.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWDziNtCVr6PuAqmch-jPwO7h-QfNp1nzQiepmVcNGirF5EQNeSXdBAC8zZy9r_T5tG9jW5EJ04Opp3vRE8N8WFHgpyfhI9hmVjfw8H2lT3JGEzXaVfbHyri7wrC71I83M32pL3RXt58i/s400/20130106_151307.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RBBCn_W0kSfZSJXT7HyIKJiyXaOU7NlfCHZnj-gz4KCqxANA2sXUTOIVcCkMLMHCHKpIffu2gMu0YGuG9vo9XcMYfTAKEIExekaVSIt5BwW6_Tp9j9aYGTe7SeSt_-2GyGKdL1Ad38EE/s1600/20130106_151653.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RBBCn_W0kSfZSJXT7HyIKJiyXaOU7NlfCHZnj-gz4KCqxANA2sXUTOIVcCkMLMHCHKpIffu2gMu0YGuG9vo9XcMYfTAKEIExekaVSIt5BwW6_Tp9j9aYGTe7SeSt_-2GyGKdL1Ad38EE/s400/20130106_151653.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDQBq5qMeUV4RALw1DrUZquVX4yZDvA4wkrXr58eHXyRCgWxKfWht1nDTC-8d0MDIpHnrJsAuyvnbBQ6tqFm23beO-0WguX4xwPKIgmh5Uun_zJVoPWEK7MlBX_PhHHm-QpzwQVSiEfW1/s1600/20130106_151347.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDQBq5qMeUV4RALw1DrUZquVX4yZDvA4wkrXr58eHXyRCgWxKfWht1nDTC-8d0MDIpHnrJsAuyvnbBQ6tqFm23beO-0WguX4xwPKIgmh5Uun_zJVoPWEK7MlBX_PhHHm-QpzwQVSiEfW1/s400/20130106_151347.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSq3h3wEd-JuCsTt19oOk9ojM0GRpKxsBGlrwRzz3QgdmWAB0nNoAt74AYE0mazXmw4CwZQ07FN6JGjTVs69GNA67BLWJ3KWQH0DvlJcTqYjlAArRjXAle_zx9qhgNmIAN8tcXBpm_1ex/s1600/20130106_151642.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSq3h3wEd-JuCsTt19oOk9ojM0GRpKxsBGlrwRzz3QgdmWAB0nNoAt74AYE0mazXmw4CwZQ07FN6JGjTVs69GNA67BLWJ3KWQH0DvlJcTqYjlAArRjXAle_zx9qhgNmIAN8tcXBpm_1ex/s400/20130106_151642.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Southernmost Point

Key West is the Southernmost city in the USA. It is closer to Cuba than Miami. Here is a picture of the Southernmost Point marked by a gian...

Why not consider a ‘Mystery Skype’ session with your class this year?

3:18 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Brenda Hallowes...</i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is a guest post from a Schoolnetter</i><i>, </i><i>B</i><i>renda Hallowes, who teaches ICT at Cotswold Preparatory School in Port Eizabeth. Brenda has a blog ‘<a href="http://cotslabnotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cotswold Lab Notes</a>’ and when I read this <a href="http://cotslabnotes.blogspot.com/2012/11/global-connections.html" target="_blank">post </a>in November I asked her if I could use it as a guest post since it highlights the practice of ‘Mystery Skype’ in action. Mystery Skype can also be conducted using a Google hangout! </i></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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIoMXZxQxClrvtfZz3Jee4MaMI6Y-Pq__fM93YvWcCvEpv2eRpGZFtwfwAxf4_qdsjY71-O3ZzVDHQ5egzFYYiexo8vbwFx34X69aisAQzr-XYXZYAv-FyYNDP8pqtBXaEZt3ZmywluE/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCuG7zl8z7K1bzJu5gtCf0xmJTjuN6rGQG1IIqG-2xYPbHygDhDuqtfNiLvHNaSrDGTaG8hfBKKXSIoEzS7_ZtGz6r-bmTiTs3Ktxq62AzfyEnrhnS7EDGxloNik6i2xtm9Ef8Eq30fE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenda's blog 'Cotswold Lab Notes' </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Brenda relates:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We live in a global village. Technology has opened up so many opportunities for connection and collaboration. In the computer lab we have been taking advantage of the opportunity for global connections via the </span><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Global Classroom Project</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I joined the Skype chat group for GCP. Due to time differences the group is active twenty-four hours a day.  The chat is lively and informative. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the fun activities of the group is a "Mystery Skype".  Two teachers connect their classes in Google Hangout without telling their students where the other class is in the world. The children have to ask questions that elicit a yes or no answer in order to work out the location.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0c1ry7JjAkzPNLmATsmw_wCOCuWHarcrMrsQp_YVhQlzJJtUSWJLZYl4-077PprxskRaNj6kwx2Yh5xUCoL91Q7IMS7mjVgVmadtQmdsnXdrt_BBWsDsSJZtaYrYVh_hWMyCJvaF-Lg/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_W0buMCImJ22bxbY30dPzMZ15ZXu49yseBVuM273T4hxyGTfZqcFIFu5g5aC-VeUwH4u1QY1256yi094bPx_kCEbj8ANuPFR_4TVsS0ObzsmDtGkPSWnJtLS6wXDaFOLcBKDB2cF7LM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenda's Grade 2 class during the session</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-QEDi6lEP3K8XydNluIEFxz7qbB1hovwnVyhzMiqPD2SzWtocUFwF8Vio-YMNCoT2T1IIRAzncMpmteuRs6CkMUKDlOcEx5djOgnBEjDJVtRRVUI8H36l1Wx7M_SXbM0weIZwWYMEBk/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHuuL53iVVKT6VlArocJc26wQqxBNBHa4qZtYByM9DGRhtuT5WmU_VCRwe_GR6YcxdJIR5IvLDj1NIjwHvOylC6gTFq8NmIynr0EVWtUkRIXDFa06BoxupbDAgGu_KbcuFtqmDUevUXY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grade 2 class in Indonesia during the session</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the first things the students have to understand is the concept of a continent. Once we have established which continent the other class is on they then have to pinpoint the country. If they do get really stuck they are allowed to get clues such as the capital city or the hemisphere. I was surprised and delighted when one of my Grade 2 classes guessed Indonesia after they had established that it was in Asia. After trying the larger countries like China and India they began to study the map more carefully. They could barely pronounce the word Indonesia but  they learned that it's a country in Asia and they met a class of real live students from there.  Some of our students demonstrated good thinking when trying to find the answer and then I had one little girl who kept coming up and saying, "Johannesburg! or East London". It's a whole new world out there. Our students are young and many of them are lacking exposure to the world beyond our school and homes but I believe that we can offer them opportunities for enrichment <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_proximal_development">beyond their present development </a>through technology and good scaffolding. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are coming to the end of the academic year. This has been the first year at Cotswold that I haven't worked through a set curriculum purchased by the school. It's been an adventurous year and I have learned so much. I'm looking forward to what the new year brings. Technology is changing so rapidly and the trend is towards the "Read Write" web where we discover how to construct our own new knowledge using online tools. It certainly is a great time to be involved in education.”</span></div>

news Skype Why not consider a ‘Mystery Skype’ session with your class this year?

Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Brenda Hallowes... This is a guest post from a Schoolnetter , B renda Hallowes, who teaches IC...