News for today's 2018

Today is My Due Date!

5:36 AM Tukiyooo 0

This last week of pregnancy is just really giving it to me.  Since last Monday's appointment, I have been struggling every day with my sore bum. <br /><br />I just couldn't take it anymore yesterday, so I scheduled a last minute appointment at my OBGYN.  I met with a midwife at around 11:30 AM and she confirmed the severity of those painful, protruding veins.  As some other doctors have been saying, they know the baby is going to be big (now they're estimating 10 lbs).  I told the midwife how concerned I was about pushing and how much worse that would make the hemorrhoids.  She shared in my concern, stating that if I am birthing a large baby I'm going to need to push hard.  If I have any anxieties surrounding pushing hard because of the hemorrhoids, I could potentially go through a natural delivery for nothing - causing me to have a c-section anyhow, and then I've <i>really</i> hurt myself.   The thing with hemorrhoids is that they never go away.  They can recede back up inside your colon, but sometimes they don't depending on how severe they are. <br /><br />But, it gets better.<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="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/cat-saturday-231.jpg?w=500&h=1083" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/cat-saturday-231.jpg?w=500&h=1083" width="292" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will for SURE be Charles!</td></tr></tbody></table>On top of the fact that I went in because of my sort butt, my blood pressure was also slightly elevated (in the 130s).  That's not really a bad reading on average, but for me it is.  Pre-pregnancy by BP was on the low end (in the 90s) and during pregnancy it's hovered between the 100s, never going above 120.  The midwife was concerned I could be suffering from preeclampsia so she sent me to the hospital.  She also told me to be prepared to deliver the baby that day, especially if they found I was starting to have early signs of it. <br /><br />Needless to say, I was in total shock when I left the doctor's office.  I knew my blood pressure was steadily rising as I drove home to grab Joel.  I was so nervous - I could've had a baby later that day!  Of course, I didn't have my hospital bag packed (totally procrastinating on this), so I just grabbed a change of clothes, the camera and we were off.  Once they got me checked in, my blood pressure had risen into the 140s - no surprise there!  I was so nervous and scared - mainly because of the increased blood pressure, and less because of the impending delivery. <br /><br />They monitored me for a few hours and also drew blood.  It turned out I did <i>not</i> have preeclampsia (thank you JESUS!), but I did have a urinary tract infection and didn't even know it.  They attributed the higher BP to the pain I'm dealing with because of the hemorrhoids.  I was also experiencing contractions while I was there (didn't even know it!), and they said they suspected I was contracting because of the UTI - I guess those infections can cause that. <br /><br />Now, I was told when I left my doctor's office not to eat or drink anything else from now until they're done with me at the hospital.  So once my test results came back, I asked the nurse if I could finally have a drink of water because I was parched and so hot!  She said I could while I waited for the doctor to come and discharge me.  I knew I wanted to talk c-section for Monday's induction, so I anxiously awaited the doctor's arrival.  Well, the doctor had just gotten out of surgery so they sent a midwife.  I explained to her why I was there in the first place and she was completely fine with me having a c-section, but she had to go clear it with the doctor.  Dr. Andre came in and she talked to me about my entire situation and agreed it was the best approach.  I had never met Dr. Andre before, but I did like her and she said she would be performing my surgery on Monday morning at 7:30 AM!<br /><br />Yesterday was quite a day, needless to say.  However, I am so happy and relieved to know I won't be making my sore bum any worse and it can hopefully start to heal once the little lady makes an appearance.  Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers!<br /><br /><br />

This last week of pregnancy is just really giving it to me. Since last Monday's appointment, I have been struggling every day with my s...

GERMANY AND IRAN

1:54 AM 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="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";"></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQk1J_BpoHI27nvw6F4lZbfE8KL5VOoSp7F_2sDSm68pMH7xkbkSjTt9wHsrPWLRUZE17LyGk0Wy2Bs4Yu1AnQLj7dpKrN_rQXbSqFVQd6jNWbJYpskLTTSUuek8dlHjhmuRITXq_N8tk/s1600/iran-germany-flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQk1J_BpoHI27nvw6F4lZbfE8KL5VOoSp7F_2sDSm68pMH7xkbkSjTt9wHsrPWLRUZE17LyGk0Wy2Bs4Yu1AnQLj7dpKrN_rQXbSqFVQd6jNWbJYpskLTTSUuek8dlHjhmuRITXq_N8tk/s400/iran-germany-flags.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br />  <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE NEXT ROUND </span></b></span></span></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: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Via German-Foreign-Policy.com</span></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: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the aftermath of IRAN'S presidential elections, GERMAN foreign policy specialists and government advisors are pushing for a new round in the power struggle with Teheran. Even before votes were cast, GERMAN specialists were calling for using the personnel change to launch a new round in the dispute over IRAN'S nuclear program. The conditions are now considered unusually favorable. The winner of the elections, Hassan Rohani is "in favor of compromises in the nuclear dispute and a normalization of relations with the USA." Whereas some experts on IRAN are pleading for using cooperation programs, "killing Teheran with kindness" - others are still in favor of pursuing confrontation approaches. For example, one of Chancellor Helmut Kohl's former advisors proposes that the more than 3,000 members of the People's Mujahedin of IRAN, trapped in IRAQ, be taken from that country. In the past, the West had considered them as a possible core for a subversive military insurgent movement in IRAN. The EU should also address the IRANIAN people directly - for example, using internet PR campaigns or through the recently founded "European Endowment for Democracy," which has the task of strengthening subversive forces against undesirable regimes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";">COMPROMISES IN THE NUCLEAR DISPUTE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even before the IRANIAN presidential elections, GERMAN specialists in foreign policy were pleading for a readjustment of GERMANY'S and the EU's approach to Teheran. The pending new constellation of the IRANIAN establishment offers a good "opportunity" for doing this, explains, for example, Cornelius Adebahr, an associate fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). Since Hassan Rohani has won the elections, experts are now insisting even more on progressing in the negotiations. The moment is seen as advantageous, because Rohani is considered part of a political spectrum that is more open to the West, than that of his predecessor President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Also preceding the elections, IRAN specialist Bahman Nirumand, speculated that he may even "introduce a fundamentally new foreign policy." Rohani "strongly criticized Ahmadinejad's foreign policy" declaring that "he does not master the art of diplomatic negotiation," but rather used "inflammatory rhetoric, which has brought the country to the brink of war." Rohani, on the other hand, "seeks compromises in the nuclear dispute and a normalization of relations with the USA."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";">WEAKENING IRAN WITH COOPERATION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DEMANDED BY GERMANY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6H5Kmpq6Bk_mUXUAr7xKPGz8MjGvG3oU8IlVxJcmQ8Z1FBZ-M_-Zi4DIzM8n8HdMBHSnYnzJV37yfcJp2JfZiSAr7IJXK5OV04zrAaLY5BppbALCbZQu04YLG1QggXXyHbUtcXsYG03w/s1600/NA-BA946_GERIRA_NS_20091002190027.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6H5Kmpq6Bk_mUXUAr7xKPGz8MjGvG3oU8IlVxJcmQ8Z1FBZ-M_-Zi4DIzM8n8HdMBHSnYnzJV37yfcJp2JfZiSAr7IJXK5OV04zrAaLY5BppbALCbZQu04YLG1QggXXyHbUtcXsYG03w/s320/NA-BA946_GERIRA_NS_20091002190027.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A plea for an "embracing strategy" is one of the proposals for the approach to Teheran, now making the rounds in Berlin. As the IRANIAN-ISRAELI foreign policy expert, Meir Javedanfar wrote in "Internationale Politik", the sanctions against IRAN are showing effects: they "could become an existential threat to the regime." The West should therefore intensify the negotiations. One should not "get tired" of "making proposals to the other side." In the long run, Teheran would not be able to evade them. Javedanfar is circumscribing the attempt to wear down the adversary using means of cooperation rather than direct confrontation. For example, "imagine a boxing match. Rather than throwing punches at the contender, you bear-hug him. It is the tying him up that wins points and weakens the adversary." Weakening IRAN with cooperation has been repeatedly demanded by GERMAN foreign policy specialists. The specialized journal "Internationale Politik" calls this strategy "killing with kindness."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";">SUPPORT THE RESISTANCE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though the "embrace strategy" is gaining ground in Berlin since Rohani's electoral victory, proposals of aggressive confrontation have still remained on the table. Horst Teltschik, a former advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who served from 1999 to 2008 as the director of the Munich Security Conference, pleads for such an approach. Teltschik demands that "the opposition forces in IRAN" must be "given the public signal and therefore the assurance that their resistance is not only being honored, (...) but also supported." This expert makes his call even more concrete with a demand "to free the People's Mujahedin of IRAN (MEK) from the grip of the IRAQI leadership." (The more than 3,000 member People's Mujahedin is currently being held in Bagdad by the pro-IRANIAN IRAQI government.) For some time, Teltschik has been campaigning for providing MEK asylum in GERMANY - an unusual step for GERMANY, which usually turns refugees away. At times, over the past few years, the MEK had been considered a core element for a subversive military movement in IRAN. It should "be politically supported," according to Kohl's former advisor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><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";">Background Information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SEVENTY PERCENT OF IRAN'S 74 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER 35</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/iran.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/iran.html</a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN: WEAPON FOR CHANGE - DEMOGRAPHY</span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgNJtpeWjUVoeAcDSoODLD0LxqHZR0RYLqDts2Wv5cOaTbUp8kJ3QvZTTP0SjBNIdV7ofRiUmKbaLi6yZ5c_1nPu7G1ojhDHvNqvEVE3YY0HSMgPCj_7fjzaraLRd_Kai-GRZO_R_jx51/s1600/6a00d83451608369e200e552e6415c8834-800pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgNJtpeWjUVoeAcDSoODLD0LxqHZR0RYLqDts2Wv5cOaTbUp8kJ3QvZTTP0SjBNIdV7ofRiUmKbaLi6yZ5c_1nPu7G1ojhDHvNqvEVE3YY0HSMgPCj_7fjzaraLRd_Kai-GRZO_R_jx51/s1600/6a00d83451608369e200e552e6415c8834-800pi.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHILE THE U.S. PURPORTS TO HAVE A STRATEGY FOR NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS, WHY IS THERE NO STRATEGY FOR WOOING THE YOUNG IN IRAN?</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Death to AMERICA" has been the rallying cry of IRAN'S Islamic Revolution since the late 70s, and images of IRANIAN radicals chanting the regime's favorite slogan have made a lasting impression in AMERICAN minds.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But there is a huge misunderstanding in the West about IRANIANS as religious fanatics. For many young IRANIANS, hatred of their own government is all consuming, and they stand fiercely against the corrupt religious regime. So why wouldn't we consider anyone who hates the current IRANIAN regime as possible allies?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SEVENTY PERCENT OF IRAN'S 74 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER 35</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and have no real memory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Fifty percent of the IRANIAN population is under 25 and very well educated. Many of these young people joined the democracy protests in 2009, but were severely beaten and are now afraid to speak out against their country. While the 2009 demonstrations didn't lead to an EGYPT-style revolution, they did permanently alter the landscape of IRANIAN politics.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the dismay of the IRANIAN government, and despite their strong arming tactics, their youth often look upon the UNITED STATES, if not warmly, at least with some jealousy. Many young IRANIANS have access to the Internet and satellite television, which is banned but still widely used. And they long for what AMERICANS enjoy: freedom, liberty, equality and justice. They often describe themselves as the "burnt generation," and many young IRANIAN bloggers say they await the opportunity to once again take to the streets to express their disapproval of their spiritual leadership's aggressive policies.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN IS ONE OF THE MOST TECH-SAVVY SOCIETIES</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Broadcasting Board of Governors conducted a phone survey in March and reported that over one third of IRANIANS watch satellite television. The IRANIAN police go house to house and take the dishes away, but most do not issue any fines. Pirated music, videos and video games are also widespread. Many IRANIAN youths push the legal limits sometimes to a breaking point. Millions go to websites such as Facebook that are blocked by the government but accessible to anyone with some technical knowledge. IRAN is one of the most tech-savvy societies in the developing world, with an estimated 28 million Internet users, led by youth.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to the UNITED STATES Institute of Peace, "<b>IRANIAN youth are among the most politically active in the 57 nations of the Islamic world and represent one of the greatest long-term threats to the current form of theocratic rule. IRAN'S youth are increasingly pivotal to elections. After the 1979 revolution, the voting age was lowered to 15, but later raised to 16 then 18, as the theocrats recognized the youth's political power. </b>The young constitute nearly 40 percent of the electorate, a number expected to grow over the next decade. Whether they vote, and how, will be a major factor in the 2013 parliamentary elections, the regime's next official test."</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN is one of the youngest societies in the world, skewing politics, the economy and social pressures, and the sheer number of well-educated youth is one of the biggest threats to the current regime. But even with a university degree, it takes two to three years to find a job, and many are chronically unemployed, left frustrated, angry and ready for change. According to the IMF, IRAN has one of the world's highest rates of brain drain.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In April, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Al Arabiya News</span> reported, "The increasing infighting between Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad has given even more hope to the many young IRANIANS in the pro-democracy movement. The infighting between these leaders is more than an indication of their lack of popular support. It is a sign of their weakness and myopia, not to mention a golden opportunity for young reformers to swoop in. It may happen during the next presidential election in mid-2013 or it may happen sooner, but whatever the case, sometime soon political power will land in the laps of young IRANIANS. When it does, change will follow. In the meantime, the children of the Islamic Revolution are still stirring, and as the old chaps fight among themselves, young women and men are setting the stage for a new day in IRANIAN politics."</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rising education, erosion of government restrictions on information and an expanding middle class are the key to change in IRAN. Given some time to let the young mature and have children of their own, IRAN could become more like TURKEY in the future.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So while the U.S. purports to have a strategy for nuclear negotiations, why is there no strategy for wooing the young in IRAN?</span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A war with IRAN will only strengthen the hatred IRANIANS have for the West, including the on-the-fence burnt generation. The West should consider using the IRANIAN youth—not bombs—as their weapon for change.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";">DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE POPULATION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the same time, DGAP associate fellow, Cornelius Adebahr, makes proposals that could lead to an aggressive confrontation as well as to a cooperation strategy of embrace. Adebahr favors establishing a special "TASK FORCE IRAN" within the EU to consolidate all activities concerning IRAN. Parallel to this task force, he also favors a reinforcement of the EU's internet PR propaganda, for example, through the creation of a Persian language "virtual embassy." This could provide a means of "explaining" to the internet-enthused IRANIAN population the "EU's policy" toward their country. But, above all, Adebahr proposes that the EU address "the masses of the people, directly" - with PERSIAN language internet publications. This will offer a means for denouncing Teheran's violations e.g. of rule of law, freedom of the press or labor rights. This foreign policy specialist has concrete ideas about possible instruments for stirring up the IRANIAN people against their government, such as foundations, like the GERMAN party-affiliated foundations or the "European Endowment for Democracy." The latter was recently created to furnish support to subversive forces in foreign countries. Adebahr has good access to Brussels: He is a member of "Team Europe," a "network of experts" of the EU Commission.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";">PRESSURE ON TEHERAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><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";"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the diverse strategy variations for wearing down IRANIAN resistance to western hegemony over the Persian Gulf are being discussed, Berlin is intensifying its pressure on the government in Teheran. Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said his government "expects IRAN to do its part to help bring about a swift diplomatic solution to its standoff with the West over its disputed nuclear program." The newly elected IRANIAN President must now "assume his responsibility in terms of sobriety and hope," writes the foreign ministry. Hassan Rohani will take office in August; however the dispute around his foreign policy course has already begun.</span> </div>

GERMANY AND IRAN

THE NEXT ROUND Via German-Foreign-Policy.com In the aftermath of IRAN'S presidential elections, GERMAN foreign policy specialists and...

Matt Said, Jay Said Uno Dos Tres Cuatro

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Matt talks, Jay talks, You listen. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTQfk5u_OgHXNodN7EYiFpMMo_0Y8do_FAkkIdVXMTOGnT6NGaPUb7hyphenhyphenun64M1VLzNEPv6X0FcgWIXEmTSfWYmNEtsWMF7LNZ5Nn75p7-sJ2xJK9FHXiKAMIFas_I_J9iyNwp0zreRwY/s1600/Jamie-Chung-Bikini-Nude-Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTQfk5u_OgHXNodN7EYiFpMMo_0Y8do_FAkkIdVXMTOGnT6NGaPUb7hyphenhyphenun64M1VLzNEPv6X0FcgWIXEmTSfWYmNEtsWMF7LNZ5Nn75p7-sJ2xJK9FHXiKAMIFas_I_J9iyNwp0zreRwY/s320/Jamie-Chung-Bikini-Nude-Hot.jpg" width="226" /></a>Schmoop: Hiaya! <br />Jay: Huh .. Uh … What are you wearing?<br />Schmoop: A t-shirt .. AND NOTHING ELSE! <br />Jay: Whoa! <br />Schmoop: Hello?<br />Jay: *heavy breating*<br />Schmoop: Are you there? <br />Jay: *grunts* …. *more heavy breating*<br />Schmoop: Uhhhhhh … What are you doing??<br />Jay: What? <br />Schmoop: What were you doing sicko?<br />Jay: What? I dropped my pen and couldn’t reach it. <br />Schmoop: Oh, okay. Here’s Matt<br />Matt: Cheers! <br />Jay: Hola! <br />Matt: How’s you? <br />Jay: Excellent! How’s you? <br />Matt: *sigh* It’s been a rough week. Rough TWO weeks actually. <br />Jay: I know it has Pookie. <br />Matt: Thank you for your support. <br />Jay: You’re totally welcome. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jay: Hey! Kim and Kanye named their kid …  Matt: Stop. <br />Jay: North! <br />Matt: Stop! <br />Jay: No really, they named it North West. <br />Matt: Maybe the full name is Northby North West <br />Jay: Or North South Easton West<br />Matt: Maybe actual FULL name is Pacific North West?<br />Jay: I guess there’s always Westby North West too. <br />Matt: <br />Jay: You there? <br />Matt: Are we done with these people?<br />Jay: Yeah<br />Matt: Then I’m here. <br />Jay: Oh, okay then. <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Matt: Why do I have David Carradine in my notes? <br />Jay: Shit, I don’t know. <br />Matt: It had to have something to do with the show. <br />Jay: Oh you wrote him down in your SHOW NOTES!<br />Matt: Well yeah, I’m a professional, you know?<br />Jay: True. I guess we talked about Erotic Asphyxiation or Thai Hookers. <br />Matt: That doesn’t sound like us at all. <br />Jay: IKR? Maybe Kung-Fu TV show? <br />Matt: That show was a classic! <br />Jay: Totally! <br />Matt: But that couldn’t be it. <br />Jay: Hmmm … Well I got nothing then. <br />Matt: Strike David Carradine off the list then! <br />Jay: OHHHHH! Vacation activities. <br />Matt: Really? THAT was one of the vacation activities we talked about? <br />Jay: Well, there were other things too. <br />Matt: God, I hope so. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyG_u4AW6wDYJhD2H-jGzKbzU7HfoSlDWpgw9pnJxn4S310wyDG_VVkwVwuofpzYa-J8cQwnjbbLqyxGmbSdw-keoba6toytJmndCzM0ij99yzfPTQ3YWPR9DCKQRrUQff6YQQBeqEU/s1600/Kristen-Bell-Bikini-Ass-Nude-Hot-Sexy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyG_u4AW6wDYJhD2H-jGzKbzU7HfoSlDWpgw9pnJxn4S310wyDG_VVkwVwuofpzYa-J8cQwnjbbLqyxGmbSdw-keoba6toytJmndCzM0ij99yzfPTQ3YWPR9DCKQRrUQff6YQQBeqEU/s320/Kristen-Bell-Bikini-Ass-Nude-Hot-Sexy.jpg" width="235" /></a>Jay: So that’s what we’re talking about this week right?  Matt: Deviant sex acts? <br />Jay: No, vacations and summer<br />Matt: Right! Summer celebration and stuff. <br />Jay: Yeah, the Ratchet Summer Show<br />Matt: What does “ratchet” mean. <br />Jay: Not really sure, but the kids use that word all the time. <br />Matt: Is it something like “off the hook?” or “Cray-Cray?” <br />Jay: Yeahhhhh .. Something like that, but more dirty and nasty. <br />Matt: Oh. Well okay then. We’ll do it for the kids. <br />Jay: And the ratings. <br />Matt: Mostly the ratings. <br />Jay: So summer vacations<br />Matt: Local tourist attractions! <br />Jay: Road trips and roadside attractions! <br />Matt: Family vacations as when we were kids.<br />Jay: Oh yeah. <br />Matt: Summer activities. <br />Jay: Places we would like to go! <br />Matt: OH … Something else I have to do! <br />Jay: Okay, I’ll wait. <br />Matt: No on the show! A Slim Whitman tribute. <br />Jay: Well of course! <br />Matt: Definitely. <br />Jay: Also Poet’s Corner? <br />Matt: Oh hell yeah. <br />Jay: And maybe some tourism related sponsors. <br />Matt: Brilliant! <br />Jay: And a Summer Move Blockbuster!<br />Matt: Can’t wait! <br />Jay: Oh yeah, we’re ready for greatness! <br />Matt: Always! <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Be sure to listen to the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/23/ratchet-summer-show" target="_blank">Ratchet Summer Show</a> on I’m With Stupid Sunday at 12 Noon ET!! It’s gonna be HUGE! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Matt Said, Jay Said Uno Dos Tres Cuatro

Matt talks, Jay talks, You listen. Schmoop: Hiaya! Jay: Huh .. Uh … What are you wearing? Schmoop: A t-shirt .. AND NOTHING ELSE! Jay: Whoa!...

A New Day

8:31 PM Tukiyooo 0

I have battled weight all of my life.  I have tried multiple diet methods, programs, and have always ended with the same conclusion - FAIL!  My biggest issue:  feeling hungry all of the time!!  I wake up hungry, I go to be hungry.  Unfortunately, my thought to end hunger is....well, simply, EAT!  My weight gain has been progressive over the last few years.  Several events lead to the weight gain.  One being the passing of my mom to cancer.  Another is the loss of a job I loved and I was good at.  The third is falling and breaking my foot requiring 2 surgeries about 2 years ago.<br /><br />This week, a few things happened that will hopefully change my life for good.  A friend posted a picture of me and her on facebook.  I was horrified when I saw the picture.  I couldn't believe what I was looking at.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owi3K7APFqA9CPJFD1y0VrS4wpCmKyj3-qc6FMo5XMHCgNbinuWZp1YmYgFzV8TLqMhCkJ8dzE2Bcx38faTPCYILd7c6pJxz7GhUDEiA3WUsMDK1moPZfl5vMgOpUo1oz5tSWKpl-N8/s1600/me+and+pam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owi3K7APFqA9CPJFD1y0VrS4wpCmKyj3-qc6FMo5XMHCgNbinuWZp1YmYgFzV8TLqMhCkJ8dzE2Bcx38faTPCYILd7c6pJxz7GhUDEiA3WUsMDK1moPZfl5vMgOpUo1oz5tSWKpl-N8/s320/me+and+pam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I knew I needed to make a change.  I am considering lap band surgery, but my insurance doesn't cover it.  So, I will have to save to cover the procedure.  It will cost minimally $10,000 to have the lap band, with that cost to be higher depending on the physician I chose.<br /><br />This week, I had a small medical issue where I needed to see my primary physician.  My physician shares an office with  my orthopedic surgeon that I have been using for about 5 years for various orthopedic issues.  When I walked in the door, the girls at the front desk were reading a brochure that a pharmaceutical rep left behind.  As I was approaching the counter, one looks up and said, "Hey, let's get Ellie to try it."  Now understand, this person is someone I have become friends with over the year and just so happens to be the wife of my orthopedic surgeon!  They all get excited as if I was about to encounter something great!  The brochure:  Belviq and a free 15 day trial certificate.<br /><br />Belviq is a new prescription medication recently approved by the FDA to treat obesity.  BELVIQ is believed to decrease food consumption and promote satiety by selectively activating serotonin 2C receptors in the brain.<br /><br />So, my physician wrote out the 15 day RX (taking 2 a day).  This morning, I got the RX filled by my pharmacy and I took my first dose at about 10:00 am.  For lunch, although probably not ideal for weight loss, my coworkers treated me to an already pre-planned lunch.  Mexican food is one of my weaknesses.  I CRAVE salsa and can usually go through 2 bowls before my meal even comes out.  I always, for the most part, finish my plate.  Today, I ordered the taco dinner.  It comes with the standard beans, rice, and had 3 tacos.   I didn't realize that I only had 1/2 small bowl of salsa before my food came out.  By the time I got my food, I was already feeling "full".  I ate 1 taco and that was it!  I was full.<br /><br />So, is this a sign that this will really work?  So far, my mind isn't consumed on eating - which is not normal for me.  In fact, eating has become a habit.  So, I have to remind myself to keep busy so I don't conform to my habit.  That's where this blog will come in!  <br /><br />Stay tuned as I blog about my change!!!<br /><br />Also, remember, no pill will lose your weight entirely.  Like every other weight loss pill, Belviq is to be used along with proper diet and exercise.  Those two elements will be the biggest part of the change!  But, I can do it!

A New Day

I have battled weight all of my life. I have tried multiple diet methods, programs, and have always ended with the same conclusion - FAIL! ...

Dogs with jobs

7:21 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This dog has an important job to do - he picks up his owners lunch in the Old Town Bakery and carries it back to the house!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwzrv-MgAwJ_WKG3lN6BNR9zlyWQMAltg5ShvIytB-ZgSfBYDljXKc_BFmtyaZdzhFnV5PonWVBbUDNU-ueru4hNd8zZfOIiI8dInktyWVH82rypOF703wUNRKe5S7aVvQq4vu1Ya2UdA/s640/blogger-image--23871483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwzrv-MgAwJ_WKG3lN6BNR9zlyWQMAltg5ShvIytB-ZgSfBYDljXKc_BFmtyaZdzhFnV5PonWVBbUDNU-ueru4hNd8zZfOIiI8dInktyWVH82rypOF703wUNRKe5S7aVvQq4vu1Ya2UdA/s640/blogger-image--23871483.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This dog sits on his owners moped as he makes sandwich deliveries all over the island of Key West.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyKg17dWyVJ4iOhbTDYgpCjLMhyphenhyphenCy9-0SN9thG6F2PAak1m-u5I0ewJfAHL8FI-CL21ta83IF0zxJ9xXOWtDD7DRUl6bdihEVPC7wBPPUMaoi2Wl4mZWFvhQqx4fvAlGdw4PvlCsxrQhz/s640/blogger-image--213716040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyKg17dWyVJ4iOhbTDYgpCjLMhyphenhyphenCy9-0SN9thG6F2PAak1m-u5I0ewJfAHL8FI-CL21ta83IF0zxJ9xXOWtDD7DRUl6bdihEVPC7wBPPUMaoi2Wl4mZWFvhQqx4fvAlGdw4PvlCsxrQhz/s640/blogger-image--213716040.jpg"></a></div><br></div>

Dogs with jobs

This dog has an important job to do - he picks up his owners lunch in the Old Town Bakery and carries it back to the house! This dog sits on...

The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

7:10 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Roxy Albright</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most important idea? Get ready to work hard. There are some helpful products, services and information available that can aid you in losing some weight, but a good effort is almost always necessary from you to get results. This short article will talk about some ways to have a more successful journey toward the weight loss Salt Lake City residents are often after. We will even talk about how the lip injections Utah beauty centers can offer could potentially contribute to your efforts. There are lots of little tricks that may help you out, but a strong commitment to taking action and working hard will do the most for you.<br />  <br />  To begin, we will talk about how adjusting to and maintaining a quality and healthy diet will frequently help to earn better results. Further, we are going to have a look at some things you can certainly do to further your weight loss in Salt Lake City through action. To conclude, we should talk about how enhancing your self-confidence can further success in reducing the surplus weight.<br />  <br />  We often hear about how a healthy diet is a major part of getting the weight loss Salt Lake City residents may be seeking. You should think thoroughly about what you're eating each week. Write down the drink and food from your own past week. Look for healthy things that are missing and that you could use more of, but also look at the non-healthy items you could omit from your daily diet. This is a valuable activity.<br />  <br />  You often hear all over the place that exercise is a large part of being healthy, but many people find it difficult to fit it into their busy lifestyle. There are some approaches to this dilemma that can help you be more active and contribute to the weight loss Salt Lake City residents want. Think about opportunities all around you. If you reside in Utah, you likely have plenty of mountains near you that abound with ways to be active and thrive. Biking, kayaking, and hiking are among the many activities that could be available not too far from you. Or you may need activities at home. Buying a pedometer to measure the number of steps you are taking each day might help you get a bit more movement in. Just try to keep yourself busy with things that call for physical activity. Many projects around the home can provide decent workouts.<br />  <br />  Growing in confidence in yourself and your appearance may help to improve your efforts. Having treatments done such as the facials, laser skin resurfacing, or lip injections Utah providers can perform may help boost your confidence. Perhaps you just need a new haircut. Whatever you do, the more confidence you find in yourself, the more you will typically want to work hard at losing weight and improving you.<br />  <br />  The weight loss Salt Lake City inhabitants want could or could not include interesting options like getting the lip injections Utah medical aesthetics centers provide, but consulting with a physician and expending a good amount of effort at it are both things that should really be involved.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Learn more about <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/vive-weight-loss'>weight loss Salt Lake City</a>. Stop by Lucy Cho's site where you can find out all about this and options like <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/lip-augmentation'>lip injections Utah</a> and what they can do for you.</div><br />  </div><br />

The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

By Roxy Albright Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most impo...

Much Ado About Nothing: A droll something

6:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2012) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/muchadoaboutnothing/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for sensuality, subtle sexual candor and fleeting drug use</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a> • </b></span>Originally published in <i><a href="http://www.davisenterprise.com/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">The Davis Enterprise</a></i>, 6.21.13</b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>            <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fred and Wesley finally got back together, which is pretty cool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while the circumstances are rather unusual, they’re no less delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49cn4JE4y8y6Ud7dL7qqadJa-nkkRqKxBQh25KU0IAlYcs-9ffztoXVCbv8OmVAYnFGWAVZexjob9xy9jCnhO_dx-J4m5qEEjM6LeXKOeF6azN3qY5PfdtMMcb7yZOAZ2zg47kZ_9zPs/s1600/Much+Ado+About+Nothing+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49cn4JE4y8y6Ud7dL7qqadJa-nkkRqKxBQh25KU0IAlYcs-9ffztoXVCbv8OmVAYnFGWAVZexjob9xy9jCnhO_dx-J4m5qEEjM6LeXKOeF6azN3qY5PfdtMMcb7yZOAZ2zg47kZ_9zPs/s400/Much+Ado+About+Nothing+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">An eavesdropping Beatrice (Amy Acker, foreground) is astonished to overhear details<br />about how Benedick — elsewhere in the estate — has long adored her ... astonished<br />because it seems that she and Benedick do nothing but snipe at each other. Ah, but<br />Beatrice doesn't realize that Hero (Jillian Morgese, center) and the maid are fully aware<br />that they're being overheard, and are discussing "details" that have been exaggerated<br />for Beatrice's benefit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most filmmakers, after completing principal photography on a massive, gazillion-dollar project, unwind prior to the next step — assembling the director’s cut — by taking calm vacations ... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anything <i>but</i> film-related.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joss Whedon isn’t most people. Prior to putting the finishing touches on <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2012/05/avengers-well-assembled.html">The Avengers</a></i> — last year’s wildly successful superhero summit meeting — he filled the in-between time by staging an intimate, micro-budget movie at his own Los Angeles home. And, as genre geeks know, when Whedon mounts such a project, he always engages the close friends who’ve become one of Hollywood’s most loyal repertoire companies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this case, a 12-day shoot (!) yielded one of the most unusual interpretations of Shakespeare’s <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> ever to hit cinema screens. Lensed in glorious, mood-enhancing black-and-white by cinematographer Jay Hunter, this modern-dress staging nonetheless employs the Bard’s original dialogue — condensed and occasionally tweaked by Whedon — and features faces well-recognized from his various television projects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, kids; that means <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, <i>Angel</i>, <i>Firefly</i> and <i>Dollhouse</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, my somewhat cryptic opening sentence can be explained by the casting of Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker — Wesley Wyndam-Price and Winifred “Fred” Burke, respectively, on <i>Angel</i> — as Benedick and Beatrice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lest you roll eyebrows over the reflexive accusation that Whedon has unleashed a self-indulgent vanity production, well, yes, that’s certainly true. But who can complain, when the results are this entertaining?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be sure, the initial disconnect is jarring. The setting, clothing and technology clearly are 21st century, which is at odds with the flowery Shakespearean dialogue. The acting style throughout is a bit ostentatious and overly mannered, the performers occasionally mugging for the camera the way a stage actor would pause for a laugh from the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that “settling in” period can be true of <i>any</i> Shakespeare production, even those that are rigorously authentic. Fifteen or 20 minutes into this film, everything starts to look and sound natural, at which point you’ll simply enjoy the richly contrived romantic entanglements present in one of Shakespeare’s most appealing comedies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br />  <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The core plot is fairly simple: Leonato (Clark Gregg), governor of Messina, plays host to his good friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond), who has just quashed a rebellion by his villainous brother, Don John (Sean Maher). Although the latter and his two accomplices — Borachio (Spencer Treat Clark) and Conrade (Riki Lindhome) — arrive in handcuffs, they’re allowed freedom of movement during this visit, as a gesture of kindness. (<i>Big</i> mistake!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don Pedro is accompanied by two faithful officers: Benedick and the younger, somewhat impetuous Claudio (Fran Kranz). The latter immediately falls head-over-heels in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese), and she with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benedick, in turn, has something of an on-again/off-again relationship with Leonato’s niece, Beatrice. They spar verbally in the rich, earthy and often scaldingly pointed manner of “estranged” Shakespearean lovers in numerous plays. T’would be gross understatement to mention that Denisof and Acker thoroughly enjoy hacking at each other, particularly as the exchanges become more deliciously nasty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leonato, Don Pedro, Claudio and Hero concoct a plan to cut past this nonsense and get Benedick and Beatrice to acknowledge their mutual fondness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this would mean <i>two</i> happy couples, which is far more than the evil Don John can tolerate. He therefore engages his own sinister scheme to sever both relationships, and if the residual fallout should destroy his brother’s reputation ... well, so much the better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other words, business as usual for Shakespeare: duplicitous villains, concealed identities, misleading intentions and additional folderol that could be put right with one or two direct conversations. But where’s the fun in that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu make excellent use of the spacious outdoor and indoor settings, and Whedon also draws additional chuckles from the incongruities of modern behavior. As one example, Denisof rambles through one of Benedick’s tormented soliloquies — questioning his possible responses to Beatrice’s behavior — while jogging up and down the concrete stairs that lead up to the estate swimming pool (an intriguing visual in its own right).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most fun, however, comes when first Benedick and then Beatrice, in turn, are tricked into believing that they’re “accidentally” overhearing telling conversations by Leonato, Don Pedro, Claudio and Hero. Denisof’s attempt to conceal himself in the back yard, moving from one window to the next, is simply priceless; Acker’s body-bruising effort to hide within the kitchen is equally hilarious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a more serious level, the degree to which we’ve bought into the story — no matter how grandiloquent the speech and mannerisms — can be measured by our reaction to the moment when, as Hero is betrayed in the worst possible way for a woman, her own father shuns her. Gregg, until now a genial host and doting parent, transforms into a beast whose fury is shocking; we feel his wrath like a physical blow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, even such dire moments are offset by lighter fare. Nathan Fillion supplies pure comic relief as the bumbling, word-mangling Dogberry, a total idiot police officer who stumbles into this case entirely by accident, and then fails to grasp the significance of the evidence he helps uncover. (Dogberry is too agitated over having been called an ass by the contemptuous Conrade.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fillion and Tom Lenk, playing Dogberry’s partner Verges, also have plenty of fun lampooning modern TV cop show clichés, down to the unnecessary sunglasses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the story is propelled by romantic intrigue and clandestine double-cross, Whedon doesn’t overlook the lusty undertone that permeates many Shakespeare plays, which can range from subtly earthy to flat-out bawdy. An early celebratory party at Leonato’s estate — before Don John’s vile machinations take hold — is one such example. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tone is set by a pair of scantily dressed Cirque de Soleil-style acrobats who cavort on a trapeze near the pool, but the entire company sways with the intoxicating application of free-flowing alcohol and sexual tension. Couples begin to shed clothes and vanish off-camera, just quickly enough to preserve this film’s PG-13 rating ... and then there’s the lusty maid, Margaret (Ashley Johnson), who seems willing to drop her knickers for just about any good-looking bloke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denisof and Acker get most of the best lines — and plot contrivances — and therefore wind up with more screen time during which to strut their stuff. But much of the cast is equally memorable, no matter what size the role. Morgese is appropriately winsome and delicate as the fair Hero, which is essential if we’re to believe her reaction to the foul accusation from those she has trusted. (We must remember that Shakespearean women, no matter how spirited their tongues, can have their lives ruined by unscrupulous men.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kranz is suitably earnest — and just naïve enough — as the smitten Claudio. Kranz has a similarly powerful moment when his character is enraged by a perceived betrayal: Again, the moment is breathtaking for its unexpected intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maher narrows his gaze quite convincingly as the vile Don John, who visibly revels in his own malevolence: a guy who loves being wicked for its own sake. (And he was such a <i>nice</i> guy on TV’s <i>Firefly</i>. Go figure.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Diamond remains a bit bland as Don Pedro, while both Clark and Lindhome are under-developed as Borachio and Conrade. Lindhome’s casting actually is intriguing; some recent productions of this play have staged Conrad (no “e”) as Don John’s male lover, and Whedon drops more than one suggestion here that — despite being played by an attractive young woman — this film’s Conrade actually <i>is</i> a man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assuming I’ve read that correctly, it’s an amusing nod toward the fact that, during Shakespeare’s time, female roles were played by effeminate men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My overall pleasure notwithstanding, I suspect this film will be embraced solely by Shakespeare buffs and Whedon’s devoted fan base. I can’t imagine mainstream audiences getting on board, particularly during summer’s bombastic silly season. Indeed, quite a few folks departed midway through Monday evening’s Sacramento preview. (Their loss.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, so maybe Whedon <i>did</i> make a film mostly for himself and his friends. It could be argued, though, that this is the first rule of art: Satisfy yourself, and hope the rest of the world catches on. This <i>Much Ado</i> may be an odd Shakespearean duck, but I’ll happily watch it again: always my most essential movie criteria.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Much Ado About Nothing: A droll something

Much Ado About Nothing (2012) • View trailer 3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for sensuality, subtle sexual candor and fleeting drug use By D...

A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

4:43 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Michael Petry</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In accordance with a census done in 2010, the total number of population in West Hollywood is at 34,399 and out of which, there are about 6 % of children that are below the age of 18 and are living with their parents.<br />  <br />  A number of the parents in Weho have recognized the significance of health and fitness not only for themselves but for their children too. They understand really well that a healthy way of life should start at a young age. So to help these parents, a West Hollywood personal trainer provided a list of some physical activities that parents can do along with the kids.<br />  <br />  Relay Racing<br />  <br />  Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br />  <br />  Plan some challenges for the competing teams to play with, just make sure that they are the kind of challenges that are safe for the kids and something that will not lead to any injuries. The West Hollywood personal trainer said that you can do this activity once or twice a month to help your kids to stay active.<br />  <br />  Swimming<br />  <br />  Another favorite activity of the kids is swimming. So if you live in a coastal area in West Hollywood where several beaches are to be found nearby, schedule a weekly beach outing for the kids. You can also enroll them in a swimming school in your local area if they are not adept at swimming yet.<br />  <br />  Relay Racing<br />  <br />  Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br />  <br />  Invest on a good bicycle for your kids or for the entire family. Cycling is a fun activity which you can do as a group and it is a healthy exercise, too. Your kids will certainly enjoy cycling along with you and your hubby in the nearby park. Also, if your kid's school is just within the village, encourage them to cycle going to school to help them exercise. The West Hollywood personal trainer strongly recommends that you encourage your kids to take up bicycling so they will grow healthy and physically fit.<br />  <br />  Other Activities<br />  <br />  Aside from the activities above, there are numerous other fun activities that your kids will certainly love and among these are:<br />  <br />  * Bowling<br />  <br />  * Dancing<br />  <br />  * Martial arts<br />  <br />  * Skating<br />  <br />  * Skating<br />  <br />  Research shows that a lot of kids suffer from obesity nowadays. If you do not want this to happen, the West Hollywood personal trainer recommends that you encourage your children to exercise while they are still young.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Being in excellent shape with the aid of <a href="https://plus.google.com/100349319569853932791/about">West Hollywood Personal Trainer</a> not just boosts your own entire body but also your well being as well. The advantages that one can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-west-hollywood/">Personal Trainer West Hollywood</a> are limitless.</div><br />  </div><br />

A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

By Michael Petry West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In ...

NeuroTalk Support Groups - Psych Central

3:49 PM Tukiyooo 0

NeuroTalk Support Groups - Psych Central

A place for people to find support for neurological and brain disorders. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/index.php

Networking Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

3:45 PM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Although fully organized patient-run trials are still few and far between, patients are taking a more active role in clinical research. Now, more than ever before, patients have access to scientific knowledge as it's reported, and advocate communities are flourishing, thanks to the wide-ranging, faster, and more accurate communication provided by the Internet. This increasing patient activism, and an accompanying willingness to share personal stories, has resulted in a veritable deluge of patient data.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"When you have gigabytes of data, perhaps hundreds of gigabytes, for each patient, that's more data than has existed in all clinical trials combined up until a couple of years ago," says Marty Tenenbaum, who in 2010 founded Cancer Commons, a database that collates real-time patient data and up-to-the-moment basic medical research to inform cancer treatment.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The online networking site PatientsLikeMe, for example, has accumulated more than 175,000 users who are recording information about hundreds of diseases, treatments, and outcomes. Of the 200,000 customers of direct-to-consumer genetics company 23andMe, some 85 percent have contributed their genomic and phenotypic information to research—totaling more than 80 million phenotypic data points for more than 60 conditions. And the Personal Genome Project, launched by Harvard Medical School's George Church in 2006, has accumulated about 200 full genomes and 400 partial sequences, with some 1,500 additional volunteers who have already made trait data available online and are willing to share their whole genomes.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">But the availability of such data is only one side of the coin. Without expert analysis, patient-generated data would be useless to the drug development community. Fortunately, initiatives and companies are cropping up left and right to support and take advantage of this movement.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Among the benefits of such stockpiles of data is the ability to sift through the challenging heterogeneity of patients, their diseases, and their case information. "Clinical trials, especially as they've been traditionally constituted—large randomized trials—just are a disaster in cancer, because of the nature of the disease," says Tenenbaum. "Every tumor is unique at some level." Databases that collate genetic data, such as patient genomes or the genomes of their tumors, could facilitate the identification of biomarkers to help differentiate responders and nonresponders, speeding a drug's path to the clinic. "It could literally slash years, if not decades, off the normal process," Tenenbaum says.</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">Platforms that support patient input can also help researchers develop better benchmarks for assessing disease progression and more accurate measures of patient health, as well as point to novel indications for existing drugs and promising drug combinations. "We're enabling a new partnership between the patients and the physicians," says Jamie Heywood, cofounder and chairman of PatientsLikeMe, "and that new partnership should produce outcomes at lower costs with lower risks and better innovation."</p></div><a href="http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34585/title/Networking-Medicine/">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34585/title/Networking-Medicine/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Networking Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

Although fully organized patient-run trials are still few and far between, patients are taking a more active role in clinical research. Now,...