News for today's 2018

YEMEN

3:07 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></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/AVvXsEj88e12wzEXL01RPWgSnoyToronTip2To3fdlarPmv-H7ja4dvGrXpwz5zixR4eayCOMExprS3aUTi032FfMi4afp-0PqHHolV6TtpnSEfDSDsf1hUkdijZP8Yywi9sco1Znxjs1WNNkCUK/s1600/20080426mudbrick-houses-shibam-yemen-20052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88e12wzEXL01RPWgSnoyToronTip2To3fdlarPmv-H7ja4dvGrXpwz5zixR4eayCOMExprS3aUTi032FfMi4afp-0PqHHolV6TtpnSEfDSDsf1hUkdijZP8Yywi9sco1Znxjs1WNNkCUK/s400/20080426mudbrick-houses-shibam-yemen-20052.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br /><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";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE RED SEA</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Via YemenPost</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ARABIAN Peninsula Seas contain two of the most important strategic waterways in the world: Bab Al-Mandab and Strait of Hormuz. Without them much of the geopolitics of the Horn of AFRICA and SOUTH WEST ASIA would make little sense.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Red Sea is moderately integrated into the regional level but it is much more deeply integrated into international level. National pride, regional developments, international commerce and worldwide political events all have played a part in shaping the Red Sea Region as it exists today.<br />The “new” Red Sea Region should be characterized by regional cooperation. The aim should bring people, businesses and organizations of the region together, and providing added value to both people and businesses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BAB-AL-MANDAB, THE GATE OF TEARS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YEMEN`S Highlands – which include the ARABIAN Peninsula’s highest mountain, Nabi Shuayb (3.760 metres) – result from the formation, millions of years ago, of the Great Rift Valley system. They constitute a spectacular upland area which forms the backbone of the ARABIAN Peninsula, along its western flank. The escarpment edge overlooks the coastal strip, a continuation south to the Bab al Mandab Strait where the island of Perim constitutes a stepping-stone between AFRICA and ASIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmad3BQEYR4K18lcBIfQFGCDMe3AYDcp5d0jOfo7GB8qVAuDKr8wLP6_sh3bhFn5d9kuLktYZJQH-OjOa7fJq0dBSne8-PVzZo3DFNLaCq788URW4nudJIrm5ucqKhnixJBp_ihLR7V3fX/s1600/yemen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmad3BQEYR4K18lcBIfQFGCDMe3AYDcp5d0jOfo7GB8qVAuDKr8wLP6_sh3bhFn5d9kuLktYZJQH-OjOa7fJq0dBSne8-PVzZo3DFNLaCq788URW4nudJIrm5ucqKhnixJBp_ihLR7V3fX/s400/yemen.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Arabic, Bab al Mandab, also Bab- el-Mandeb, Bab al Mandib or Bab al Mandeb means “Gate of Tears” referring to the strait’s precarious navigation. The distance across is about 20 miles (32 km) wide from Ras Menheli in Yemen to Ras Siyan in Djibouti. The island of Perim divides the strait into two channels, of which the eastern, known as Bab Iskander (Alexander’s Strait), is 2 miles (3 km) wide and 16 fathoms (30 m) deep, while the western, or Dact-el-Mayun, has a width of about 16 miles (25 km) and a depth of 170 fathoms (310 m). Near the coast od Djibouti lies a group of smaller islands known as the “Seven Brothers”. There is a surface current inwards in the eastern channel, but a strong undercurrent outwards in the western channel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><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";">BAB AL-MANDAB: STRATEGIC LINK BETWEEN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, VIA THE RED SEA AND THE SUEZ CANAL. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bab al-Mandab is at the tip of the South-East end of the Red Sea, towards the INDIAN Ocean. From there, ASIA and AFRICA seem fairly close to another. The passage is 40 miles long, and is sprinkled with small islands such as the Islands of the Seven Brothers, and Perim Island which splits the strait in two, thus creating a navigation lane for oceanic ships on one side, and a coastal navigation lane on the other. These little islands are frequently used by fishermen, as stopovers or shelters as they cross the strait.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The marine currents which flow through the strait are “complex phenomena”, and this particular strait is quite special. In the North, the Suez Canal bears its name for a reason: it’s a canal, not a channel. Water exchanges happen here, from the South.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Contrary to common believe, the Red Sea isn’t completely engulfed. Currents coming from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden deliver the essential part of the nutrient salts (or fertilizer) the Red Sea needs, and keep flowing towards the North, slowly dwindling as they are absorbed by phytoplankton.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Red Sea acts like an evaporation pond; as the water evaporates, the seawater salinity’s increases and it becomes colder, therefore denser. The water then sinks deeper down and forms deep sea currents which cross the Red Sea in the other direction: from North to South, finally leaving the strait, “kind of like a moving walkway”. Consequently, the major part of the Red Sea’s biomass is concentrated in the South.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; 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";">NAVIGATION CHALLENGES AS WELL AS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for navigating, crossing this channel is far from easy! Three different forces drive the currents: the monsoon, the tide and the local winds. Therefore, what characterizes these currents is variability from the dominance of one of those three. The monsoon is a periodical atmospheric current found in the inter-tropical zone of the globe. It is due to the crossing of the equator by trade winds. In this part of the globe, the monsoon is quite probably the determining factor when it comes to meteorology.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the monsoon – from May to October- in the area of Bab al- Mandel, the sea level in the Gulf of Aden falls and tends to become lower in the Red Sea, and the surface current flows in a South, South- East direction. From November to April, the opposite phenomenon occurs and the surface current goes North, North-West.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During times of strong wind and lively water, when the wind is blowing against the current’s direction, the surface of the water becomes highly agitated. Legends warning navigators weren’t created simply to give the traveler an empty scare; places such as the “Gate of Tears” require the utmost attention and care upon crossing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; 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";">SUEZ CANAL ACCESS </span></b></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHljn5CbxJH6PUGyXz8LWjPn3NXZZI6Cm0ytTOO8ccC6G1gcX7oAdDkaTTqvu77lUzQvMxyQQ8i18JYN6TAaeJzdPE89-EZS1c_numA-QGfKDtYLDIyWL5YumFFuUX2sPbCVAUHQgh0JDq/s1600/1-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHljn5CbxJH6PUGyXz8LWjPn3NXZZI6Cm0ytTOO8ccC6G1gcX7oAdDkaTTqvu77lUzQvMxyQQ8i18JYN6TAaeJzdPE89-EZS1c_numA-QGfKDtYLDIyWL5YumFFuUX2sPbCVAUHQgh0JDq/s320/1-1.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another major aspect of this bottleneck lies in its strategic importance. Bab al- Mandab, the channels of Ormuz and the Dardanelles are the only three navigable straits which cannot be circumvented, which makes them crucially important. The Bab al-Mandab passage became important when the Suez Canal was opened for navigation – thus making the Red Sea an optional route allowing ships to avoid going around AFRICA, through the Cape of Bonne Espérance (Good Hope). .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two colonial powers of the time, FRANCE and ENGLAND, created two naval bases to regulate its access: Djibouti and Aden, which to this day remain the two locks guarding the channel.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; 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";">SUEZ CANAL AND BAB AL-MANDAB STRAIGHT VITAL FOR MARITIME TRADE </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The main shipping lanes use the channel to the west of Perim Island. It is estimated that approx. 18.000 ships transit Bab al-Mandab annually, or about 50 a/day, or 33 million barrels of oil transit daily. Approx 30 percent of the world’s oil, including all of the oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf heading west passes through Bab al-Mandab which is in the territorial waters of YEMEN, DJIBOUTI and ERITREA. Of these, YEMEN is well placed to exercise direct control of the shipping lanes. Yemen is a non-OPEC oil producer and liquid gas exporter whose economy depends heavily on its development.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; 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: 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: 5.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></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;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">IRAN-IRAQ: PIPELINE TO SYRIA UPS ANTE IN PROXY WAR WITH QATAR</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><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/2013/07/crisis-qatars-transition.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/crisis-qatars-transition.html</a></span></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;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN - IRAQ - SYRIA GAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT  A “WIN WIN” SITUATION, BUT NOT FOR QATAR AND TURKEY </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><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/2013/05/pipelineistan.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/05/pipelineistan.html</a></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;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IS THE TRANS ARABIAN PIPELINE “TAPLINE” THE ANSWER TO FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN THE SYRIAN UPRISING? At </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="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;"><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;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ENORMOUS GAS FINDINGS AND PROSPECTS OF OIL FINDINGS COMPLICATE TURKEYS STANCE IN THE REGION. At </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="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;"><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;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">REGIME CHANGE IN SYRIA WOULD DIMINISH RUSSIA’S IMPORTANCE AS GAS EXPORTER AS WELL AS NAVAL PRESENCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/syrias-destiny-sealed.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/syrias-destiny-sealed.html</a>and</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="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;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/strait-of-hormuz-and-syria.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/strait-of-hormuz-and-syria.html</a></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;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The strait sees almost all of the trade between the EUROPEAN UNION and ASIAN economic powerhouses like CHINA, JAPAN, and INDIA. All of maritime trading nations which use the SUEZ CANAL have an interest that Bab al-Mandab remains open and safe for shipping. Closure of Bab Al-Mandab would have costly implications on global economies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The States bordering the Arabian Peninsula seas also have an obvious interest in preserving peace and stability in the region. However, too little attention has been given to the significance of proximity of the southern Red Sea region which includes highly volatile parts of the Horn of AFRICA at one end, and the Arab- Palestinian interface at the other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT AND SUBSEQUENT REGIONAL INSTABILITY?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although the Sea is a major cause of rivalry and conflict by virtue of geographical configuration, physical resources, and global location, it could be also unifying factor during the forthcoming decade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The guest for regional security, problems of environmental management, and a common desire to limit outside power interference could form the basis for fruitful regional cooperation, and recognition of common problems which can only be solved by regional cooperation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thus the sea which is a potential source of disunity is also a powerful argument for cooperation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Red Sea states may yet to recognize the value of unified political front on matters associated with the sea while gaining space for formulation ideas for their own development. It is the geo-strategic significance of the Red Sea as resource which the Red Sea countries themselves have yet to explore to the full.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But as long as they remain disunited they will be unable to do so. The alternative to conflict resolution and practical cooperation between coastal states will be a period of costly confrontation and environmental deterioration.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to the recent single origin hypothesis, the strait of Bab al Mandab was probably witness to the earliest migrations of modern humans, which occurred roughly 60,000 years ago. At this time, the oceans were much lower and the straits were much shallower or dry, allowing a series of emigrations along the southern coast of ASIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><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";">FRESH LOOK AT THE RED SEA REGION AND THE BATTLE FOR YEMEN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Archaeological studies have revealed cultural connections between the two sides of the Red Sea dating to prehistory. The issue has still not been properly addressed. The studies focus on the mitochonodrial haplogroup HV1 that is present in both the ARABIAN PENINSULA and EAST AFRICA, a finding concordant with archaeological records suggesting intensive maritime trade in the Red Sea from the sixth millennium BC onwards. Closer exchanges are apparent between the Horn of AFRICA and YEMEN, while EGYPTIAN HV1 haplotypes seem to be more similar to the Near Eastern ones.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPY57pU81MU9jsQzhxNkgwH7N2t2U_VlY-dfYYBwyGg_hmxlPDEgYbh2ba03MrOIyaWPjObscjilz2FjzoIAJb3fFRzZi78V-QOiLifSHjK51fiCYSElp9O9Rv4uDw8JaEetGAOwdLhLa8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPY57pU81MU9jsQzhxNkgwH7N2t2U_VlY-dfYYBwyGg_hmxlPDEgYbh2ba03MrOIyaWPjObscjilz2FjzoIAJb3fFRzZi78V-QOiLifSHjK51fiCYSElp9O9Rv4uDw8JaEetGAOwdLhLa8/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The autosomal and uniparental data from ETHIOPIA and SOMALIA strongly leans us toward the proposition of admixture of two very distinct population, one in EAST AFRICA (“Ancestral East Africans”), and EURASIAN group which are likely to have been intrusive. The genetic distance between the EURASIAN inferred ancestral component, which is nearly identical to that of southern ARABIA, and other EURASIAN components is not so large that is seem plausible that there could have a separation during Pleistocene.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In other words, there was a lot of Holocene migration; it had something to do with agricultural and pastoral lifestyles brought by ARABIANS to the Horn of AFRICA within the last 10.000 years. Simple ecology imposed a limit upon the expansion of these peoples into more classical lush tropical AFRICA. Just like the Arabian-AEA hybrid peoples, other would encounter ecological, and also demographic, limits on the margins of the Semitic and Cushitic dominated territories in the Horn of Africa. And then of course there were the Nilotes</span>

YEMEN

THE GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE RED SEA Via YemenPost The ARABIAN Peninsula Seas contain two of the most important strategic waterway...

Richmond: More than 20,000 fans turn out for Redskins Fan Appreciation Day

12:10 PM Tukiyooo 0

<blockquote>Practice has begun here at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, and crowds are still lined up all the way to DMV Drive, waiting to enter the facility.<br /><br />More than 20,000 fans have entered already today, though many have turned around and headed right back out after seeing the conditions. Mud and fertilizer has created a pungent smell in the main viewing area, and security guards have been overmatched against the throngs trying to enter and leave at the same time.</blockquote>So writes Michael Phillips in Saturday's <i><a href="http://trainingcamp.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2013/08/03/more-than-20000-pack-redskins-camp-on-fan-appreciation-day/">Richmond Times-Dispatch</a></i>.  Sounds to me like Richmonders are really enjoying having the <a href="http://www.redskins.com/">Redskins</a> in town. Fan favorite RGIII has been a hit:<br /><blockquote>During the practice portion, quarterback Robert Griffin III was once again the focal point, and he hit his first four passes during 7-on-7 play.</blockquote>Perhaps the enthusiastic outpouring of support will <a href="http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/07/30/washington-redskins-training-camp-in-richmond-a-success-so-far/">help temper the criticism</a> surrounding the move to Richmond. Perhaps. Meanwhile, <i><a href="http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/eight-ways-to-spot-a-redskins-training-camp-tourist/Content?oid=1927043">Style Weekly</a></i> lightens up the atmosphere with a humorous list of eight ways to spot a Redskins Training Camp tourist. <br /><br />I checked out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/redskins">Redskins' Facebook page</a> and found photos, links to press conferences, rallies and gatherings at local restaurants, and more. Seems like a win-win for Richmond <i>and</i> the fans.<br /><br />Cross-posted at <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/08/richmond-more-than-20000-fans-turn-out-for-redskins-fan-appreciation-day/">Virginia Politics On Demand </a>

Richmond: More than 20,000 fans turn out for Redskins Fan Appreciation Day

Practice has begun here at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, and crowds are still lined up all the way to DMV Drive, wait...

London - Day 2

8:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

We started out in Covent Garden where we visited the London Transport Museum. We expected it to be brilliant but were disappointed - it really is more so for children. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XUrF78B-mCyLF7HgaN5jqBG1Gzw17KyQtnjAe-ynu25EMkOoIWTIjp2easDy3dJHPek6U6goCrTZEap1A2zDGOxsnenJNwE2PZ0Lp-cv0pyRtgVuVzMZJ3yV5dcG9FsktjTIsx3Idihf/s640/blogger-image-686046015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XUrF78B-mCyLF7HgaN5jqBG1Gzw17KyQtnjAe-ynu25EMkOoIWTIjp2easDy3dJHPek6U6goCrTZEap1A2zDGOxsnenJNwE2PZ0Lp-cv0pyRtgVuVzMZJ3yV5dcG9FsktjTIsx3Idihf/s640/blogger-image-686046015.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Recruitment "drive" (geddit!) for women drivers in the 1970's - still paid less than men tho </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqye0PbigQS9pIKYY2iFt8QRxlzDAPcZ21Bj4qLQyV4j19EWbc6Qiqbg_K3MOtQxDtHw85xmKabX3OVWLNPeuolGVkTkvvNcJDjFUfj0a9PEiJ7bxnE66lhQzrdpTK3Aruk6jkunBdVtv/s640/blogger-image--489942195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqye0PbigQS9pIKYY2iFt8QRxlzDAPcZ21Bj4qLQyV4j19EWbc6Qiqbg_K3MOtQxDtHw85xmKabX3OVWLNPeuolGVkTkvvNcJDjFUfj0a9PEiJ7bxnE66lhQzrdpTK3Aruk6jkunBdVtv/s640/blogger-image--489942195.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One man bomb shelter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyArBoDArt2Ey4A9rAKh4SeUStQGKYCDFZd7Cf00OqtlXRqYYN-NQFEIvwL-8s1F5eOIuNsBFq7eonTChpiOgCotIrqbkl31Q-FpuwSWrxnWiiie_PTQGaRzIi6hy-gHXwHgZMdbmxf-o3/s640/blogger-image-1792140453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyArBoDArt2Ey4A9rAKh4SeUStQGKYCDFZd7Cf00OqtlXRqYYN-NQFEIvwL-8s1F5eOIuNsBFq7eonTChpiOgCotIrqbkl31Q-FpuwSWrxnWiiie_PTQGaRzIi6hy-gHXwHgZMdbmxf-o3/s640/blogger-image-1792140453.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's Amy outside Covent Garden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRR9BVWXKtPnLQEp2XGxne5F8EI3yUB2Hnlxv51nFsrdaYG0DGOsHbc0BiEivj3C0e22-iZGEQ1d7M7elanLJ08ULrW2wIbfy0an0ROtQ-xkH9tHCi0oBLf8RgkNMqBmCQ2_ue33UseY8/s640/blogger-image--331897899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRR9BVWXKtPnLQEp2XGxne5F8EI3yUB2Hnlxv51nFsrdaYG0DGOsHbc0BiEivj3C0e22-iZGEQ1d7M7elanLJ08ULrW2wIbfy0an0ROtQ-xkH9tHCi0oBLf8RgkNMqBmCQ2_ue33UseY8/s640/blogger-image--331897899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>We walked around China Town and Soho - very cool!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4LSw6PgKlmB3g88-VJXqHLiSrUqXWcQ3idn9d72PeDqzvXVy6yqju9YBzC3TNVjrz6EIFJj1rsyAZp0yspVDVmJ4E_NFfZUbo-bO9Dblq27lOZlLqDErx6ywWnQ-9_AtN0RDiTs0ogHc/s640/blogger-image-121459953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4LSw6PgKlmB3g88-VJXqHLiSrUqXWcQ3idn9d72PeDqzvXVy6yqju9YBzC3TNVjrz6EIFJj1rsyAZp0yspVDVmJ4E_NFfZUbo-bO9Dblq27lOZlLqDErx6ywWnQ-9_AtN0RDiTs0ogHc/s640/blogger-image-121459953.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Later that day we went to the musical Rock of Ages.  All I can say is Wow Wow Wow! It was an amazing show - the singing and dancing was high energy. It was funny, charming and had a great love story. If you love the 80's you will adore this show. If you get the chance you should go!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRctxqBzAVI-IPsmlM5LpLS7o_QnlQl9S_NUXRW6gd1Dz7GnGliMD62MvCaMaIT8l8BHDEo6X_y2X0xehaRRoNXR-CBgYtQT009Ds-P5_5dDiSMgrVFlZ_1PMIYEH1XFu_iHFFh3Kadg-m/s640/blogger-image-632354877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRctxqBzAVI-IPsmlM5LpLS7o_QnlQl9S_NUXRW6gd1Dz7GnGliMD62MvCaMaIT8l8BHDEo6X_y2X0xehaRRoNXR-CBgYtQT009Ds-P5_5dDiSMgrVFlZ_1PMIYEH1XFu_iHFFh3Kadg-m/s640/blogger-image-632354877.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After Rock of Ages we went home and changed quickly and met Kasey and her friends in the Soho Hotel for some delicious cocktails - this is a great spot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Amy and I had caipirosca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-k75sl6zCe5SPulKED2Rw8nunfXuRLAGvD3zB4jD1hCCtH1010AqkNO_EO3LBGDOgPk-hEUZhezHT7nUveTyKw3u6zLewZtwMzVygSLFdwnIqXr99n63afiVUsafUK8ap2n76_6fxuNI/s640/blogger-image--1334253678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-k75sl6zCe5SPulKED2Rw8nunfXuRLAGvD3zB4jD1hCCtH1010AqkNO_EO3LBGDOgPk-hEUZhezHT7nUveTyKw3u6zLewZtwMzVygSLFdwnIqXr99n63afiVUsafUK8ap2n76_6fxuNI/s640/blogger-image--1334253678.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>For dinner we went to Burger & Lobster.  There are only 3 choices on the menu Burger, Lobster or Lobster Roll. What fun! There was a gang of 7 of us and we all really enjoyed the food and super atmosphere.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOO-PEbk_JaOxEQNJ18hjkP3Crh1ZacvYoNkuUipy4PuUS3y60nBBqoA6nR0fwcTeNVUnOGj77uJH4j3Chusy8B78YAeloejncjJ-VSKaFwDZi2MBGj1IOxMgu94FszPSf5kbnPEVzBvx/s640/blogger-image-277670787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOO-PEbk_JaOxEQNJ18hjkP3Crh1ZacvYoNkuUipy4PuUS3y60nBBqoA6nR0fwcTeNVUnOGj77uJH4j3Chusy8B78YAeloejncjJ-VSKaFwDZi2MBGj1IOxMgu94FszPSf5kbnPEVzBvx/s640/blogger-image-277670787.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEi3ypJsAtUQFl7RHFAP0qFTvmgM3Z4q4FclQISt5ZgVrQaA4HomZUQXybrDbHDdwXQQPha6VzTh1bNavxDx2n_hBLWmw40JablYOKa5GffuMgY1NlXQq5L3om1uEzBe3F54nhusQXa7zlTx/s640/blogger-image--57347141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ypJsAtUQFl7RHFAP0qFTvmgM3Z4q4FclQISt5ZgVrQaA4HomZUQXybrDbHDdwXQQPha6VzTh1bNavxDx2n_hBLWmw40JablYOKa5GffuMgY1NlXQq5L3om1uEzBe3F54nhusQXa7zlTx/s640/blogger-image--57347141.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEhEp7BEMsAxue8hS-KWthIKBq6rYZcgQngXFy61jKVpAaziFU7S1A7q62z94A-rFm3M6BA-MPfH65r4MwK7lXvg1QvO3ommPGr8hAn8_-vyx29pMXdKmmQyHvcxt443_MSvlPxK_-MgjXK6/s640/blogger-image--104452728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp7BEMsAxue8hS-KWthIKBq6rYZcgQngXFy61jKVpAaziFU7S1A7q62z94A-rFm3M6BA-MPfH65r4MwK7lXvg1QvO3ommPGr8hAn8_-vyx29pMXdKmmQyHvcxt443_MSvlPxK_-MgjXK6/s640/blogger-image--104452728.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEjTIbJVZF4xzM7f1i_-1T2TtTmQuW-J9rU3xMijpY3rdeel3EluVFhwNrhTC2LiXwklkt2YXHauLxCXGKdbzQb-5UUbzx5cydPSzX9Pn7Y0Xu0cqdYQaN6M_sycepGdK92S8InUfWFejDcx/s640/blogger-image-2002860996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIbJVZF4xzM7f1i_-1T2TtTmQuW-J9rU3xMijpY3rdeel3EluVFhwNrhTC2LiXwklkt2YXHauLxCXGKdbzQb-5UUbzx5cydPSzX9Pn7Y0Xu0cqdYQaN6M_sycepGdK92S8InUfWFejDcx/s640/blogger-image-2002860996.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEgyeHlLuuUS-k0xczkMNfd1Zlzh6jUPuxdvVQ5LxesiQa7E7dT6YcTVn6XnQGFo1T7Zn0xOEL4fVrhvL5ti1Iyhr2vY3eIIwJzCEaEWoelx1VTUxcgqx8ZDc3PdwzZOmBIwrzkMxbj_9SJN/s640/blogger-image-1725770831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeHlLuuUS-k0xczkMNfd1Zlzh6jUPuxdvVQ5LxesiQa7E7dT6YcTVn6XnQGFo1T7Zn0xOEL4fVrhvL5ti1Iyhr2vY3eIIwJzCEaEWoelx1VTUxcgqx8ZDc3PdwzZOmBIwrzkMxbj_9SJN/s640/blogger-image-1725770831.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Then after dinner it was time for another drink in a nice bar/restaurant across the road. What a lovely end to a fabulous day in London Town!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuK1kj_k4KCNta-C6j57hpBI5EfdCPaRrZUvkZakTPU_x1C8REKXW5SODMXmEaJNhv4lg1nrWWmatlm-dTHf-6nhVlS4LTi_qkls4guIQ9DUs6Hm_ws03xMi-V6BMafzQm_OEwzpmmsAT/s640/blogger-image--899654974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuK1kj_k4KCNta-C6j57hpBI5EfdCPaRrZUvkZakTPU_x1C8REKXW5SODMXmEaJNhv4lg1nrWWmatlm-dTHf-6nhVlS4LTi_qkls4guIQ9DUs6Hm_ws03xMi-V6BMafzQm_OEwzpmmsAT/s640/blogger-image--899654974.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

London - Day 2

We started out in Covent Garden where we visited the London Transport Museum. We expected it to be brilliant but were disappointed - it real...

August Superfoods

8:11 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">August Superfoods :</span></h1><center> <script type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script>  </center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>August, the last month of summer, is about time you enjoy in the warm-weather. Take a look at some of our August Best superfoods.</b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="August Superfoods" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90uWVaG4nzUWZv8x9qanmN_1NDGh3JeErt8tv-iVxrJwos2dugV_R1R8SMgbiEL2ZmaLMaZ5V7jdFZIRqSsZVJFGSFPAFkBFdQqKc88Guh5tF18hHiyrvTiHePynzPHZFCXndibH7GFc/s1600/o-BLACKBERRIES-570.jpg" title="August Superfoods" /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Blackberries: </b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very good source of vitamins C, fiber and K and manganese. It's also contains potassium and vitamin E. Helps protect your heart and lower blood pressure.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Eggplant:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very good source of fiber. It's also contains vitamins K and B6. Helps protect your heart and memory.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Zucchini:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a good food to add bulk and substance to your diet without a lot of calories. Very good source of fiber, vitamins A, C and K and potassium. One serving has just 29 calories.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Cantaloupe:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very good source of potassium. It's also contains Vitamin C, Fiber, Folate and Beta Carotene. Cantaloupe loaded with hydrating water. Helps protect your eyes and keeps your blood pressure under control. One serving has just 46 calories</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Yellow Summer Squash:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very good source of  potassium, fiber and vitamins C, K . all for very few calories.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </center></div>

Superfoods August Superfoods

August Superfoods : August, the last month of summer, is about time you enjoy in the warm-weather. Take a look at some of our August Best...

Why It Is Essential To Employ A Personal Trainer Orange County

8:01 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Tammy Walker</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Before, people in the Orange County in California don't often consider the thought of hiring a fitness trainer for their workout needs. For them, this is just a big waste of money and they feel that they can successfully lose weight on their own.<br />  <br />  But there are several trainers in Orange County who have proven to the people that they could actually be a big help to those who are having difficulty in losing weight on their own. So even though you might be spending some money to hire the best personal trainer Orange County, hiring a trainer is definitely worth it. Read on to find out the reasons why i suggest you hire a trainer instead of working out on your own.<br />  <br />  Assistance In Using The Equipment<br />  <br />  Your personal trainer can assist you in using the exercise equipment in the proper way. Although there might be some trainers in the gym who will teach you the proper method of using the equipment there, there are those instances that they are busy attending to other clients, too.<br />  <br />  It can be a waste of time to be waiting for them to finish before they could attend to your needs. Also, if you try to operate the equipment on your own, you could end up harming yourself or you might just be faced with some accidents. So if you do not want this to happen, then look for a personal trainer Orange County that you can hire.<br />  <br />  Tailored To Your Needs<br />  <br />  A good personal trainer is someone who is capable of creating a fitness program that is tailored to your needs. He or she should be able to devise a program that is suitable to your lifestyle and something that could help you to successfully achieve your fitness goals.<br />  <br />  Furthermore, the trainer will sometimes ask you to undergo medical check-up so he or she would know which types of exercises are harmful for you. He can also come up with a set of exercises that is easier for you to do, given your current health condition. So if you want a safe and effective way to work out, then you better hire a personal trainer Orange County.<br />  <br />  Motivation And Accountability<br />  <br />  Keep in mind that working out is definitely not that easy. It can be more difficult if you do not know what you are doing and you are not sure which type of exercise is suitable for you. You might think that you can manage to work out all by yourself, but you could encounter lots of challenges along the way and worse, you might not be able to achieve your fitness goals no matter how hard you work out.<br />  <br />  So if you are from the Orange County area, you better get enrolled to a fitness program as offered by a personal trainer Orange County.<br />  <br />  These are just a few of the reasons why it is necessary to sign up with a fitness trainer. You really don't need to hire the most expensive trainers in the area. After all, you're not a celebrity or a supermodel. There are lots of personal trainer Orange County that you can hire at a minimal fee.<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'>Getting in excellent condition with the help of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-orange-county/">Orange County Personal Trainer</a> not simply enhances your entire body but also your well being too. The huge benefits that you can receive from <a href="https://plus.google.com/115839840522968346614/about">Personal Trainer Orange County</a> are limitless.</div><br />  </div><br />

Why It Is Essential To Employ A Personal Trainer Orange County

By Tammy Walker Before, people in the Orange County in California don't often consider the thought of hiring a fitness trainer for t...

Advantages Of Stretching According To A Personal Trainer San Jose

7:56 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Jackie Johnson</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>San Jose, California is located south of San Francisco. Like in other cities close to the bay area, weather in San Jose is usually fair and does not go below zero degrees. Be active and make use of the pleasant weather in San Jose. The personal trainer San Jose advises you to do stretching exercises after your workout for quick muscle recovery.<br />  <br />  If you're a beginner, you should hire somebody to guide you. In fact, you could benefit from hiring someone to guide you even if you've been working out for a long time already. For instance, you can be guided on the proper stretching techniques.<br />  <br />  Flexibility is described as lengthening your muscles to its fullest. You can become flexible by doing varied stretching exercises that would challenge your muscles to elongate by pulling and pushing and holding the stretch for a couple of seconds to a minute. Stretching has a lot of benefits and you should include it in your workout regimen.<br />  <br />  Improves circulation<br />  <br />  A personal trainer San Jose will tell you that stretching will greatly improve your blood circulation. When you stretch, more blood is pumped into your heart and increased blood flow means more nutrients are delivered to the muscles and tissues. The nutrients you get from food and supplements are properly and evenly distributed in your system.<br />  <br />  Improves balance<br />  <br />  When you do stretching, there are some poses which require you to focus and hold the pose for a while. In turn, you gradually develop your sense of balance which is very important for it is needed to reduce the risk of falling easily.<br />  <br />  Helps relieve body aches<br />  <br />  This fluid is found in the joints and is responsible for giving lubrication. Reduced level of this fluid causes the joints to swell because of constant rubbing of knee joints when moving. Through stretching, the level of synovial fluid is increased because the nutrients are properly circulated in your system.<br />  <br />  Decreases the chances of injury<br />  <br />  If you are flexible, you can easily perform various activities with so much ease. This is because your joints and your muscles are not stiff. It is the stiffness of the muscles and joints that limit your movements for it causes pain when challenged to perform a different range of motion like bending or reaching. You can easily get injured with stiff muscles so always stretch and elongate your muscles with the proper guidance of a personal trainer San Jose.<br />  <br />  Increases level of synovial fluid<br />  <br />  This fluid is found in the joints and is responsible for giving lubrication. Reduced level of this fluid causes the joints to swell because of constant rubbing of knee joints when moving. Through stretching, the level of synovial fluid is increased because the nutrients are properly circulated in your system.<br />  <br />  Employ a personal trainer San Jose and let him show you the various stretching exercises and poses for a more flexible you.<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 by using the assistance of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-san-jose/">Personal Trainer San Jose</a> not just enhances your entire body but furthermore your health too. The advantages that one can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-thousand-oaks/">Personal Trainer Thousand Oaks</a> are countless.</div><br />  </div><br />

Advantages Of Stretching According To A Personal Trainer San Jose

By Jackie Johnson San Jose, California is located south of San Francisco. Like in other cities close to the bay area, weather in San Jos...

Simple Details About GC7x Surge

7:50 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Kelly Munn</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Carbohydrate Metabolic Processes<br />  <br />  Carbohydrate metabolism (glucose processing and intake within the body) performs an extremely essential part in the total wellness condition of an individual. Most often it's the determining factor of how a person looks and feels inside out. If we fail to control it, there is high potential to gain weight as well as become overweight plus experiences metabolic problem. Also, uncontrolled carbohydrate usage could possibly lead to diabetic issues.<br />  <br />  Carbohydrate is a good source of sugar. Sugar (glucose) can be in charge of sending the nutrients to the different part of the body thru the bloodstream. With the aid of sugar (glucose), blood holds these nutrients.<br />  <br />  There are 7 major pathways in the utilization and processing of carbohydrates. All these stages must be correctly dealt with. It's to correctly handle the bodily processes and in order to deal with weight efficiently. Proper control of glucose level may greatly help in controlling weight gain and also might help shed extra pounds.<br />  <br />  GC7x Surge<br />  <br />  For weight loss, GC7x Surge is a dietetic method. It basically contains Emulin. When it comes to sugar metabolism, emulin performs an important part. It's capable of appropriately handling the entire metabolic carbohydrate processes.<br />  <br />  As mentioned previously, the carbohydrates metabolic processes involves Seven phases. GC7x Surge covers all of these processes with many years of rigorous scientific researches. It only means that it has the ability to control glucose Seven times.<br />  <br />  The Metabolic Stages<br />  <br />  The GC7x details are very complicated. In general, there are 7 pathways for carbohydrate metabolic processes including conversion of starch to sugar, glucose absorption, glucose tissue uptake, fat formation, glucose homeostasis, insulin release and insulin sensitivity.<br />  <br />  Ingredients<br />  <br />  The GC7x Surge experienced in depth medical as well as laboratory researches plus exploration before it was made. The architect of this product has identified Emulin GC7x sugar defense blend. It lowers glucose levels with Chloraxis (Green Coffee Bean Extract,) Sophora (Japonica Flower Extract), and Myraxis (Barberry Bark). It will help reduce sugar levels with Chloraxis (Green Coffee Bean Extract,) Sophora (Japonica Flower Extract), and Myraxis (Barberry Bark). This combination works together in reducing sugar levels and reduces fat tissue development. It works from the starch to sugar conversion, glucose absorption, glucose tissue uptake, fat formation, glucose homeostasis, insulin release and insulin sensitivity.<br />  <br />  Some other Products<br />  <br />  However, there are also some other products out there that promises proper glucose control and even risk-free for weight loss management, but they don't concentrate on the Seven paths of carbohydrate metabolic processes. Most of the products for diet and weight reduction management that are easily available in the market only target one of the main paths or are simply stimulating elements. The GC7x Surge covers all of the 7 metabolic pathways. Even though some other products could be helpful for sometime nevertheless when it comes to sustainability, addressing almost all 7 major pathways remains integral.<br />  <br />  These days, it is one of the products obtainable which target all of the Seven metabolic pathways in accordance with carbohydrate metabolic processes. So it is sensible and is reasonable to use as compared to some other brands. It may help to attain your goal towards achieving the desired weight and even body shaping aims.<br />  <br />  GC7x Surge Benefits<br />  <br />  Indeed, GC7x Surge is a good quality diet product. With GC7x Surge, glucose may be used at its most advantageous efficiency. The sugar in the bloodstream goes the right way and not simply lie around.<br />  <br />  GC7x Surge possibly will aid overweight people in shedding pounds. For those individuals who have these unwanted weight, the product turns these unwanted weight tissues into muscle tissues. If you will accompany it with regular exercise activities, it'll be far better.<br />  <br />  It is shown to provide sustained energy and enhance vitality for athletic people.<br />  <br />  It's not just enough to tear down carbohydrate consumption in what you eat if you really need to do so. It is also important that carbohydrates are meticulously managed and addressed. In this matter, it manages and handles the carbohydrates intake by allowing them to be properly used plus ingested and preventing them from going somewhere else wherein they are not required.<br />  <br />  Generally, it improves right carbohydrates metabolic processes, potential for losing weight, sugar control as well as in attaining body shaping objectives. Better carbohydrate metabolic processes can surely increase muscle development.<br />  <br />   gc7x emulin comes in a simple to ingest capsule. It has no side effects since it is 100% natural and isn't chemically developed. If you wish to prove its effectiveness, you can make extra readings about this product. Reviews can be found in some websites thus it is likewise another helpful factor. It really is far away easier to consider doctors advice before using virtually any product especially if you suffering from any disorder or even diseases.<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'>If you're in need of <a href='http://www.freetrialoffersinfo.com/'>gc7x </a>, we certainly can help you. We do offer you help by giving more details about <a href='http://freetrialoffersinfo.com/gc7x-review/'>gc7x surge</a>.</div><br />  </div><br />

Simple Details About GC7x Surge

By Kelly Munn Carbohydrate Metabolic Processes Carbohydrate metabolism (glucose processing and intake within the body) performs an e...

Importance Of Verifying Claims Of A Personal Trainer Saratoga

7:12 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Robert D. Warren</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>There are a lot of personal fitness experts in Saratoga, California. Aside from the active lifestyle of the residents in the city, the percentage of obese adults in the area is also precisely why there are lots of personal fitness trainers in Saratoga. Because of this, it's worth noting that you need to verify the claims of the personal trainer Saratoga so that you can make certain that you are getting a real professional that can guide you and help you slim down, keep your recommended weight and improve your overall health in a safe and efficient way.<br />  <br />  Choosing Somebody that Can Help<br />  <br />  Personal training isn't a simple business. It should be considered heavily because this will affect your entire life and your entire body. Because a personal trainer would be the one who will take control of your health as well as your routines as well as diet, you should make sure that the personal trainer Saratoga that you're hiring can lead you to a healthier lifestyle.<br />  <br />  And to have the ability to do this, you need to verify the claims of your preferred personal trainer. This will be your way of knowing how well and how long has your selected personal fitness trainer been helping people lose weight, maintain their ideal weight or acquire a healthier body by exercising and proper diet.<br />  <br />  Significance Of Verifying Claims<br />  <br />  Verifying the claims of your preferred personal fitness trainer won't only enable you to know whether his or her claimed expertise is real or otherwise. It will likewise let you know much more about the personal trainer as this will reveal if he or she is truthful and doesn't lie or deceive their clients.<br />  <br />  *	Prevents Accidents And Malpractice<br />  <br />  Accidents are unavoidable. But if your personal trainer Saratoga is really certified and actually knows his or her line of work really well, chances of accidents will be lessened significantly. Malpractice, which can result to injuries and fatal effects on your health and body, are likewise reduced.<br />  <br />  So before you hire a personal fitness trainer, make sure that he or she is truly certified to avert being in a situation where your wellbeing is affected by your trainer's lack of skills and data about fitness and health.<br />  <br />  *	Prevents Lack Of Workout And Unsatisfactory Results<br />  <br />  Whenever you verify the claims of your personal trainer Saratoga, you are able to prevent being undertrained. Which means that you can be certain that your trainer knows what they're doing and knows just how much work you should do and can do. Thus, you won't end up working not enough and having zero results because of an unprofessional trainer who's scared of causing you to reach and exceed your limits sometimes.<br />  <br />  *	Prevents Overworking And Injuries<br />  <br />  Verifying the claims of the personal trainer will enable you to employ a true professional who'll understand how much work you should do. An expert trainer will also know the correct ways to exercise and to perform various workouts, which will prevent you from having injuries through excessive workout and improper posture and techniques.<br />  <br />  Getting a personal trainer Saratoga isn't a simple business. You should verify their claims so that you'll know which ones are truly professionals and quite knowledgeable in their field and which of them are offering services without correct training, certification and knowledge.<br />  <br />  Due to simple verification of those claims, you can save your health and your life as well. So, never skip this step and always make certain that you're dealing with registered and trained personal trainer Saratoga to prevent injuries, accidents and malpractice.<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 good condition with the aid of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-saratoga/">visite site</a> not just improves your own physique but also your well being too. The advantages that one can receive from <a href="https://plus.google.com/106004061680121716759/about?gl=US&hl=en-US">website link</a> are limitless.</div><br />  </div><br />

Importance Of Verifying Claims Of A Personal Trainer Saratoga

By Robert D. Warren There are a lot of personal fitness experts in Saratoga, California. Aside from the active lifestyle of the resident...

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gameplay Video at QuakeCon 2013

7:02 AM Tukiyooo 0

<p><img alt="Aldcroft" height="474" src="http://static.elderscrollsonline.com/assets/img/cms/media/screenshots/e8ce8bd9a605a5173e.jpg" width="840"></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Yesterday, </font><a href="http://bethsoft.com/en-us/games/the_elder_scrolls_online" target="_blank"><font size="3">Bethesda</font></a><font size="3"> and the team working on </font><a href="http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en/" target="_blank"><font size="3">The Elder Scrolls Online</font></a><font size="3"> presented actual game play footage at </font><a href="http://www.quakecon.org/" target="_blank"><font size="3">QuakeCon 2013</font></a><font size="3">.  Here is the </font><a href="http://www.twitch.tv/bethesda/b/439743009" target="_blank"><font size="3">link</font></a><font size="3"> to the footage, I can’t embed it unfortunately.  Presentation starts about 41 minutes in and lasts until about 1:10 minutes into the </font><a href="www.twitch.tv" target="_blank"><font size="3">twitch.tv</font></a><font size="3"> recording.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Highlights of the video:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">FULLY voiced</font>  <li><font size="3">INSTANCED loot –that’s right your shinnies are yours and aren’t subject to rolls against others!</font>  <li><font size="3">First person mode</font>  <li><font size="3">Third person mode</font>  <li><font size="3">Looks and Feels like Tamriel</font>  <li><font size="3">fast travel via Wayshrines</font>  <li><font size="3">LFG is built into the game already</font>  <li><font size="3">You can play the way you want, just like all other previous installments of the Elder Scrolls</font>  <li><font size="3">Combat was fluid and NPC’s reacted to being attacked</font></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Overall, completely blown away and it lived up to and exceed my expectations for the game.  I and my husband are both looking forward to this game’s release.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Thank you Bethesda, </font><a href="http://www.zenimax.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">Zenimax</font></a><font size="3">, and the entire ESO team for making a game that was true to what ESO games have always been.  Now if only our beta invites would arrive!</font></p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5307f30d-eef5-4218-9b79-ef69ced91641" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bethesda" rel="tag">Bethesda</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Zenimax" rel="tag">Zenimax</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/LFG" rel="tag">LFG</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Elder+Scrolls+Online" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/QuakeCon+2013" rel="tag">QuakeCon 2013</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/twitch.tv" rel="tag">twitch.tv</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tamriel" rel="tag">Tamriel</a></div>

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gameplay Video at QuakeCon 2013

beta Bethesda MMO PlayStation 4 QuakeCon role playing The Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls Online Xbox One Zenimax The Elder Scrolls Online: Gameplay Video at QuakeCon 2013

Yesterday, Bethesda and the team working on The Elder Scrolls Online presented actual game play footage at QuakeCon 2013 . Here is the l...

Everquest Next: Reaction to the Debut

6:44 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div align="justify"> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:c38425d0-7d91-4bff-a1d6-130d02829c1c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div><object height="480" width="853"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/Dh_0neHhR0k?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/Dh_0neHhR0k?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div></div></div> <p align="justify"><font size="3">When I first started playing </font><a href="everquest2.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">Everquest II</font></a><font size="3"> over three years ago, it was with a large tinge of regret that I hadn’t been there from the beginning.  Everquest II is my perfect game almost, until you get to the reasons why it isn’t (I’m glaring at you insurmountable, AA grind that I’m unwilling to devote my free time to and to ignore other things in my life for).  As a game, Everquest II has amazing stories and collections, a never ending set of quests, tired of leveling in one zone?  Then it is possible to hop on over to another zone and level. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Then last year at </font><a href="https://www.soe.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">SOE</font></a><font size="3"> they announced that the next Everquest game would be ready for unveiling and that </font><a href="www.soelive.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">SOE Live</font></a><font size="3"> attendees would get to see the game first.  Well, they broke that promise when they showed the game to select media outlets at </font><a href="http://www.e3expo.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">E3</font></a><font size="3"> in Los Angeles in June of this year.  Then those same journalists all turned around and awarded Everquest Next the game of the year at E3.  Mind you, they couldn’t explain why but hey we were supposed to blindly take them at their word.  My “trust” for these “news” outlets and blogs, and in these “journalists” evaporated instantly.  I firmly believe that Sony bought and paid for those awards for game of the year.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Yesterday was the long awaited reveal of </font><a href="https://www.everquestnext.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">Everquest Next</font></a><font size="3">.  I watched, heck so did my husband who took an extended lunch break to do so, and we were bitterly disappointed over all.  Upfront I will tell you I wanted to fall in love with what was revealed yesterday, I wanted to be there at the beginning of the next game in the spectacular franchise that is </font><a href="https://www.everquest.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">Everquest</font></a><font size="3">, and most of all I wanted to see what amazing things had so impressed those so-called game journalists at E3 a month and a half ago.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Instead, what was revealed were some incredibly cool features with a lot of CRAP thrown in the blender and then poured into the Everquest universe.  And the cherry on top of that blender of crap?  There was no announcement of a target date for release or even beta.  In essence, what we got was a “here’s what we’ve been working on the last six years please tell us how amazing we are” presentation.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">First the good things I think Sony nailed correctly:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Norrath isn’t just a surface world, but rather is a world of many layers all of which have a story to tell </font> <li><font size="3">The weather and time effects were beautiful </font> <li><font size="3">the few lands they showed were beautiful, especially Feerrot </font> <li><font size="3">Facial expressions were nice </font> <li><font size="3">World that changes based on actions taken in the game, especially important over time but may have long term consequence for new players entering the game</font></li></ul> <p><font size="3">And now where I think Sony just looked around the industry and said “Oh that works, let’s do that!”:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">REINVENTING THE LORE: wait what?  No just HELL NO </font> <li><font size="3">limited skills: </font><a href="www.guildwars.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">Guild Wars 1</font></a><font size="3"> (and in case you didn’t make the leap this means they will be able to bring the game to the PS4) </font> <li><font size="3">change your weapon, change you skills: </font><a href="www.guildwars2.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">Guild Wars 2</font></a><font size="3"> </font> <li><font size="3">play the way you want to play concept: </font><a href="www.thesecretworld.com" target="_blank"><font size="3">The Secret World</font></a><font size="3"> </font> <li><font size="3">Telegraphing moves (i.e. where the NPC weapon strike is going to hit): Guild Wars 2 and The Secret World </font> <li><font size="3">cell shading art direction: every other damn high fantasy mmo on the market almost </font> <li><font size="3">no quest hubs; dynamic, public, organic, or whatever the word of the day is for these type of events: Guild Wars 2 </font> <li><font size="3">Kerran art style: really?  Thanks for giving us a Charr rip-off almost identical to the Charr in Guild Wars 2 </font> <li><font size="3">Dumbing down drastically what it means to play and understand an MMO</font></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Those are just the first thing that pop into my head and onto the screen as I type this.  Then came the announcement of </font><a href="https://www.everquestnext.com/about-landmark" target="_blank"><font size="3">Everquest Next: Landmark</font></a><font size="3"> which is basically you the player being given the development kit to aid Sony in creating Everquest Next.  Landmark will release in Winter 2013.  Sounds cool doesn’t it?  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">And then you realize that you are being given a game to basically be Sony’s unpaid intern staff.  Thanks, but no thanks.  Want my talent to design, or the top most talented fifty designers out there waiting for a chance to show off what they can do while making a salary and receiving benefits?  Then hire the staff needed to complete the damn game!  Why not just say hey, we are too lazy to make it ourselves but you the players design whatever you want for lore, quests, building, etc. and we here at Sony will provide the tools, servers, and technical support to back it up?  Oh wait, that’s basically what they said.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I don’t want an Everquest world where only the most popular choices make it into the final game.  A Norrath where it is possible that Ratonga are not present?  Oh did I forget to mention, that only the popular choices made by players in polls and such will make it into the final product of Everquest Next.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Overall, I’m so extremely disappointed in what was presented yesterday.  I shouldn’t have been, Sony has already disappointed me twice already this year with Wizardry Online and Dragon’s Prophet.    The only positive from the reveal was the announcement that there would be offline stories and that the first book was available for download, </font><a href="https://www.everquestnext.com/media?category=ebook" target="_blank"><font size="3">The Last Stand of the Teir’Dal</font></a><font size="3"> by Michael Alexander Drake.  I wish that Everquest and Everquest II were provided the same courtesy of e-books and/or real books to flesh out their stories, settings, characters, and lore.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I’m sure the whole team has worked very hard on the game, and will continue to do so, but there was nothing truly new, innovative, or ground breaking revealed yesterday.  If I want to go play another cartoonish, high fantasy MMO then I’ll go back to </font><a href="http://us.battle.net/wow/en/" target="_blank"><font size="3">World of Warcraft</font></a><font size="3">.  At least </font><a href="http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/" target="_blank"><font size="3">Blizzard</font></a><font size="3"> retains control of their game’s direction and doesn’t expect the players to build the world for them.</font></p> <p align="justify"> </p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:84d25c0b-e255-4eb3-bdf4-a9de8d5bb5a3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sony+Online+Entertainment.+SOE" rel="tag">Sony Online Entertainment. SOE</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/SOE+Live" rel="tag">SOE Live</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest" rel="tag">Everquest</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest+II" rel="tag">Everquest II</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest+Next" rel="tag">Everquest Next</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQ" rel="tag">EQ</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQ2" rel="tag">EQ2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQ+II" rel="tag">EQ II</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQ+2" rel="tag">EQ 2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQN" rel="tag">EQN</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Guild+Wars+2" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Secret+World" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Blizzard" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/World+of+Warcraft" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/WOW" rel="tag">WOW</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charr" rel="tag">Charr</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kerran" rel="tag">Kerran</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest+Next%3a+Landmark" rel="tag">Everquest Next: Landmark</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PS4" rel="tag">PS4</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/free+to+play" rel="tag">free to play</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/F2P" rel="tag">F2P</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cash+shop" rel="tag">cash shop</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/beta" rel="tag">beta</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Norrath" rel="tag">Norrath</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ratonga" rel="tag">Ratonga</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Michael+Alexander+Drake" rel="tag">Michael Alexander Drake</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ebook" rel="tag">ebook</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wizardry+Online" rel="tag">Wizardry Online</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dragon's+Prophet" rel="tag">Dragon's Prophet</a></div>

Everquest Next Everquest Next: Landmark SOE Sony Sony Online Entertainment Everquest Next: Reaction to the Debut

When I first started playing Everquest II over three years ago, it was with a large tinge of regret that I hadn’t been there from the beg...

Discover Lots Of Perks Of Green Tea Diet Plan Tablets!

6:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Edgar Abbott</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Eco-friendly tea is populared for its lots of health advantages. However what if you do not like the taste of it, or what if you just do not have time to sit and drink the five or even more cups of green tea that is necessary to get all the wellness defense that it provides? Well, green tea is likewise readily available in many various other kinds, not just as a refreshment. You can get green tea capsules or supplements - for an active individual, this might be just what you need, and will allow you to acquire all the dietary and medicinal perks of the green tea simply by ingesting a pill.<br />  <br />  Did you understand that green tea has also various other valuable effects? When you include it in your diet plan, you are likewise consisting of anti oxidants in it so you can be sure that you are cleansing yourself and you do not need to fret at all. Nonetheless, like any other health items, the benefits are not instant, it requires to slowly do its part in your body, but that would not take too long. Soon, you will be taking pleasure in the results of this tea in your body and you can have a healthy and pleased way of life.<br />  <br />  Green tea capsules have a wide range of valuable impacts on the body. These consist of the capability to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, slowing the progression of arthritis, and safeguarding against cardiovascular diseases. The effective antioxidants that green tea includes act to protect DNA from damages by harmful complimentary radicals that could be increased by air pollution or various other contaminants. Eco-friendly tea capsules assist with weight management as well, as the green tea jump-starts the metabolism and helps it to burn even more calories and fat.<br />  <br />  Researches reveal that green tea capsules may even assist to prevent a number of kinds of cancer cells, consisting of bust cancer cells and liver cancer. In the case of bust cancer, it avoids the development and spreading of cancer cells, and consists of chemicals that stop the chemical estrogen from acting to promote cancer cells. For much the same reasons, green tea capsules are commonly utilized to deal with menopause too. Research shows that using green tea capsules assists to minimize the results of menopause for ladies who utilize them.<br />  <br />  To conclude, tt's really simple to use green tea capsules to get all the perks of green tea. In reality, taking just 2 capsules containing green tea remove every single day will give you all the exact same benefits as if you had actually eaten twenty cups of green tea! Remember that like all green tea items, green tea capsules do include a little caffeine, so contact your doctor to make certain your circumstance allows the addition of this all-natural organic supplement.<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'>The present article writer is very knowledgeable about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwCsVBcu6YY">Green Tea Diet Pills</a>. Please have a look at their website or blog for more info.</div><br />  </div><br />

Discover Lots Of Perks Of Green Tea Diet Plan Tablets!

By Edgar Abbott Eco-friendly tea is populared for its lots of health advantages. However what if you do not like the taste of it, or wha...

Today's Teamster News 08.03.13

5:40 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130802_Unions_strike_at_Pennsylvania_Convention_Center.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters, other unions strike deal with Pennsylvania Convention Center</a>  Daily News   ...Trade union members who went on strike early yesterday morning at the Pennsylvania Convention Center over proposed changes to work rules reached an agreement with the center's officials last night that put them back on the job...<br /><a href="http://www.kswt.com/story/23024711/support-for-strikers-grow-families-join-picket-line" rel="nofollow">Support for Teamsters Local 542 Strikers Grows as Families Joint Picket Line</a>  CBS/El Centro, CA   ... Despite the 106 degree heat, 60 paramedics and EMTs in Imperial County continue to walk the picket line 24/7 as they fight for a pay raise and better health benefits...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/members-congress-join-mayor-emanuel-gov-quinn-support-striking-funeral-directors" rel="nofollow">Members of Congress Join Mayor Emanuel, Gov. Quinn to Support Striking Teamster Funeral Directors</a>   IBT   ...Three members of Congress have joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and more than a dozen state legislators in support of striking Teamster-represented funeral directors...<br /><a href="http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5465" rel="nofollow">BLET, SMART Advance Rail Crew Size Legislation</a>   BLET   ...The Transportation Division of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation International Association (SMART) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET/IBT) have jointly announced that legislation requiring at least two crew members on all freight trains in the U.S. has been filed in Congress...<br /><a href="http://www.record-bee.com/ci_23779973/paratransit-hire-new-personnel" rel="nofollow">Paratransit to hire new personnel to replace striking Teamsters</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Lake County Record-Bee   ...Paratransit Services personnel confirmed that they are hiring new permanent employees to replace workers who are currently on strike. About 25 Paratransit Services employees and Teamsters began the strike on Monday and has forced Lake Transit to reduce its services... <br /><a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/02/poll-record-number-21-million-young-adults-living-with-parents/" rel="nofollow">Study: Record Number 21 Million Young Adults Living With Parents</a>  CBSDC   ...A new study from Pew Research finds that 36 percent of Millennials – young adults ages 18 to 31 – are living at their parents’ homes, the highest number in four decades. A record 21.6 million young adults were still living at home last year...<br /><a href="http://nelp.3cdn.net/e380e0dd1c7a1c27f8_zjm6b8hhc.pdf" rel="nofollow">Flawed FBI Records Threaten Work Opportunities For Hundreds of Thousands of Job Seekers</a>  National Employment Law Project   ...—A record 16.9 million FBI criminal background checks were run for employment or licensing purposes in 2012, a six-fold increase since 9/11. But serious flaws in the FBI records are jeopardizing work opportunities for hundreds of thousands of job seekers every year...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-02/swaps-probe-finds-banks-manipulated-rate-at-expense-of-retirees.html">Swaps Probe Finds Banks Rigged Rate at Expense of Retirees</a>  Bloomberg   ...U.S. investigators uncovered evidence that banks reaped millions of dollars in trading profits at the expense of companies and pension funds by manipulating a benchmark for interest-rate derivatives...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-02/banks-replacing-enron-in-energy-incite-congress-as-abuses-abound.html" rel="nofollow">Banks Replacing Enron in Energy Incite Congress as Abuses Abound</a>  Bloomberg   ...The U.S. government permitted Wall Street firms to expand in the energy industry a decade ago, when the collapse of Enron Corp. and its army of traders left a void in the market. The results aren’t pretty...<br /><a href="http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2013/08/the-rule-of-law-in-the-financial-system.html" rel="nofollow">The Rule of Law in the Financial System</a> (opinion)  Credit Slips   ...we cannot and will not see sufficient and durable financial regulatory reform without political reform...<br /><a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10513" rel="nofollow">Michigan Leads Nation in Massive Corporate Tax Breaks (The Untold Story of Detroit's Decline)</a>  The Real News   ...Michigan leads the country with 29 mega corporate tax breaks, costing the state more than $7 billion and accounting for 12 percent of the megadeals nationwide...<br /><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130802/COL06/308040020/Tom-Walsh-Bill-Ford-TPP-trade-deal" rel="nofollow">Detroit automakers have right to object to Japan's currency manipulation</a> (opinion)  Detroit Free Press   ...Last week, on the same day Japan finally jostled its way into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks with the U.S. and 10 other nations, petitions signed by more than 80,000 autoworkers were sent to U.S. Congress members, urging that Japan be forced to stop rigging its currency to subsidize exports and keep out imports... <br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/08/02/new_labor_movement_emerges_in_scott_walkers_wisconsin/" rel="nofollow">New labor movement emerges in Scott Walker’s Wisconsin</a>  Salon   ...The legal protections that Walker took away were the fruits of decades of rank-and-file organizing, community partnership and direct action. What started in Wisconsin — which became the first state to recognize public sector unions in 1959 — is, after 2011, starting again...<br /><a href="http://www.gilmermirror.com/view/full_story/23262080/article-What-We-Don-t-Know-about-Foreclosure-Practices-May-Still-Hurt-Us?instance=lead_story_left_column" rel="nofollow">What We Don’t Know about Foreclosure Practices May Still Hurt Us</a>   The Gilmer Mirror   ...We already know that federal regulators have undermined accountability for the abuses by mortgage servicing companies. In another disturbing development, the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) are refusing to turn over information to members of Congress that could help them prevent such abuses from happening again...<br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57596746/imf-pressures-spain-to-weaken-labor-laws/" rel="nofollow">IMF pressures Spain to weaken labor laws</a>  CBS News   ...Currently, 26.3 percent of the nation's workforce is unemployed, down from an all-time high of 27.2 in the first quarter of 2013.The IMF called on Madrid to give more flexibility to employers when it comes to hiring and firing by reducing the legal requirements for temporary and permanent workers...<br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/02/greece-anti-austerity-protesters-take-campaign-to-acropolis-site-in-athens/" rel="nofollow">Greece: Anti-austerity protesters take campaign to Acropolis site in Athens</a>  Associated Press   ...Greek civil servants protesting mass staff cuts took their campaign to the gates of the ancient Acropolis on Friday, after the government announced that 500 workers at the culture ministry would be suspended next month... <br /><a href="http://www.joc.com/regulation-policy/transportation-regulations/us-transportation-regulations/dot-proposes-cut-%E2%80%98burdensome%E2%80%99-trucking-paperwork_20130801.html" rel="nofollow">DOT Proposes to Cut ‘Burdensome’ Trucking Paperwork</a>  Journal of Commerce   ...U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced a proposal to eliminate a “burdensome” daily paperwork requirement for professional truck drivers, in order to reduce costs to the industry by an estimated $1.7 billion...<br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> <a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_23777321/is-oregons-mileage-tax-future-rest-us" rel="nofollow">Is Oregon's mileage tax the future for the rest of us?</a>  San Gabriel Valley Tribune   ...Two years from now, thousands of Oregon drivers could get a taste of what the future may hold for the rest of us: They will pay taxes not on the amount of gasoline their cars burn, but on the number of miles they drive...<br /><a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/01/study-wal-mart-could-cost-taxpayers-millions-per-year-in-employee-subsidies/" rel="nofollow">Study: Wal-Mart Could Cost Taxpayers Millions Per Year in Employee Subsidies</a>  CBS D.C.   ...While the fate of six Wal-Mart stores planned for D.C. <a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/07/10/d-c-council-passes-living-wage-bill/">remains unclear</a>, a 2013 <a href="http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/sites/democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/files/documents/WalMartReport-May2013.pdf">study</a> says the company could cost taxpayers millions of dollars per year because of publicly funded benefit programs many of its 1.3 million U.S. employees are eligible for...<br /><a href="http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b08e9b7ea1c74d67825e83784a344221/MI--Internet-Lender" rel="nofollow">Michigan tells South Dakota Internet lender of cease-and-desist move over high interest rates</a>  Associated Press   ...Michigan regulators say that Western Sky Financial charges interest rates of more than 340 percent. Michigan’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services said that it has given notice of its intention to issue a cease-and-desist order to the company that also charges loan fees of as much as 70 percent of the loan amount, 14 times the legal limit...<br /><a href="http://inthesetimes.com/uprising/entry/15388/moral_mondays_keep_up_morale_for_the_long_haul/" rel="nofollow">North Carolina’s Moral Mondays Keep Up Morale for the Long Haul</a>  In These Times   ...On July 29, North Carolinians kicked off Raleigh’s last "Moral Monday" protest of 2013 before going on tour to organize other regions of the state. Despite reports that the movement had ended, organizers stressed the fight was far from over...<br /><a href="http://www.bluemaumau.org/12901/franchisees_sue_7eleven_employee_misclassification_abuses" rel="nofollow">7-Eleven Sued for Representing Itself as Franchisor</a>  Blue MauMau   ...Amid the other negative press, including litigation against franchisee and human trafficking, a lawsuit filed in the New Jersey federal court on Wednesday against 7-Eleven, Inc. and its Japanese entities accuses the franchisor of fraudulent business practices and abuses, related to misclassifying employees as independent contractors...<br /><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/motorolas-new-smartphone-made-in-the-usa-but-not-for-much-pay/278270/" rel="nofollow">Motorola's New Smartphone: Made in the U.S.A., but Not for Much Pay</a>  The Atlantic   ...Factory workers assembling the Moto X will make as little as $9-an-hour, if the help wanted ads are to be believed...<br /><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/california-high-speed-railway/28533/" rel="nofollow">California to get America's fastest high-speed rail line</a>   Gizmag   ...When people grumble about how they think the US isn’t as technologically advanced as it should be, they like to bring up bullet trains – Europe and Asia have them, so why doesn’t America? Well, it’s getting one...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-01/pennsylvania-agrees-to-extend-voter-id-ban-to-november-election.html" rel="nofollow">Pennsylvania Will Extend Voter-ID Ban Through Next Election</a>   Bloomberg News   ...Pennsylvania agreed to let a court order barring enforcement of the state’s voter-identification law continue through the November elections... <br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/31/us-usa-illinois-lawsuit-idUSBRE96U17J20130731" rel="nofollow">Illinois legislative leaders sue governor over pay veto</a>  Reuters   ...The leaders of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Pat Quinn's veto of lawmakers' pay during a legislative impasse over pension reform...

Today's Teamster News 08.03.13

Teamsters, other unions strike deal with Pennsylvania Convention Center Daily News ...Trade union members who went on strike early yeste...

Questioning Rigor

4:49 AM Tukiyooo 0

There is a part near the end of the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0988217600/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0988217600&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b>Teach Like a PIRATE</b></a> by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#/burgessdave">Dave Burgess</a> where he questions why we’re using the term rigor. (Read also Shawn White's "<a href="http://swpax.us/685" target="_blank">Let's change R to V: Vigor, not Rigor</a>") Since rigor means:<br /><blockquote>rig·or<br />/ˈrigər/ Noun The quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate. Severity or strictness: “the full rigor of the law”. Synonyms rigour - severity - austerity - stringency - strictness</blockquote>Being thorough or accurate… that is great. Being severe or strict… I just don’t have to be in my classroom.<br /><h2>What I want in my classroom</h2><ul><li>I want my classroom to thoroughly cover my subject.</li><li>I want every child to learn and be engaged.</li><li>I want to be engaging, fun, and a force in my classroom that coaches everyone towards excellence.</li><li>I want to help students learn habits and ways to think about life that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.</li><li>I want students to be unafraid of technology and just know it cold - particularly how to learn about new technology, the great historical figures and trends in technology, and how to spot trends in technology in the future.</li><li>I want to help students find their passion in my classroom.</li><li>I want to have a purpose for every minute the students are in my classroom knowing that sometimes to an outsider viewing a minute or two of what we are doing that I risk being accused of purposelessness. I’m willing to brave the ire and disrespect of a casual observer to be an excellent, deep teacher by providing experiences that immerse students in authentic projects and activities.</li><li>I will take students anywhere in order to teach a lesson. Outside. Inside. Upside down. I’ll take them to town (and have). If there is a lesson to be taught, we’ll move around and get in a better position to observe and be part of what we’re learning. Sometimes you have to get in a different position to see the world differently.</li><li>I am passionate about teaching my subject but even when my passion wanes about a specific topic, my passion will never wane about my students.</li><li>I know that lesson plans go awry and that things happen that mean I need to go in a different direction than I planned. I’ll be adaptable and learn from mistakes and grasp the teachable moment like a cowboy ropes a bull by the horns. The only failure I won’t tolerate in myself and others is that of not learning from failure.</li><li>I love my students. That love does not depend upon whether they love me back.</li><li>I will fill every moment with intentional learning.</li><li>I will know when to back off and let student groups do the work of brainstorming and creativity and interject when kids need help with the process of facilitating brainstorming and creating without interfering too much with their final product.</li><li>I’ll let kids do things differently than I would.</li><li>I don’t want kids to be a “mini me” but a super you. They have a purpose different from mine. They have talents different from mine.</li><li>I’ll look for student talent and encourage kids to bring it in and use it to teach others and me.</li><li>I’ll admit my mistakes and help the class learn from them. Mistakes are embarrassing but to pretend I’m the only one in the classroom who doesn’t make them is to elevate myself to a pedestal upon which I will readily topple very soon.</li><li>I’m glad I’m a teacher and will encourage other teachers to remember what excellence looks like.</li></ul><h2>Can you laugh and learn?</h2>Maybe what I do looks like rigor but honestly, sometimes it looks like we’re having a blast. I read a study that the average 4 year old laughs 300 times a day and the average 40 year old only 4 times a day. Well, when school is in session, I might give that 4 year old a run for the money. <br /><h2>Rigorous assessment of teachers in 10 minutes: say it isn’t so!</h2>I think the problem with rigor is that some are trying to assess it in too short of a time. Turning back to the <strong>Teach Like a Pirate</strong> book by Dave, he mentions that someone came in to assess his “rigor” by spending 10 minutes in his room. They came in when he was folding cranes at the end of a powerful lesson about Hiroshima. Hearing him describe the full lesson - it was a perfect ending that the kids will never forget.<br /><br />This person sent to “assess rigor” spent 10 minutes in his room and left after commenting to a <strong>student</strong> or two that “this doesn’t look like history.” I would argue that teacher assessment teams must be held to the same rigor as a classroom teacher!<br /><br />If I spent 10 minutes on a lesson, I’d be "dinged’ for not doing my job. If a person is assessing a lesson, they should spend the entire time in class. Period. One class period. Honestly, that isn’t enough.<br /><h2>Faking it</h2>I remember a distraught teacher at a local public school telling me her story one night. She says that she teaches across the hall from the worst teacher she’s ever seen. The kids do nothing, literally, most school days. They are roaming the halls…coming over to her room…getting in trouble. It is a mess. The teacher teaches little or nothing. <br /><br /><em>EXCEPT…</em><br /><em><br /></em>The teacher writes beautiful lesson plans that take her hours. She doesn’t follow them, she just writes them.<br /><br />The teacher “performs” a good lesson plan three times a year… the three times that administration comes in to observe her. That is it.<br /><br />Now, I hate to say this, but honestly, for administration to observe three total lesson plans from a teacher is a big deal. I know teachers who are lucky to get a few minutes once a year.<br /><h2>Dropping by is always a good thing</h2>My principal “drops by” as does my curriculum director. I know I’ve just said that you have to see a lesson, but let me tell you what my principal and curriculum director do. They drop by when they see students working (which is a lot) and see what the kids are creating and doing. <br /><br />I have often asked them to judge me not by what they see in my classroom sometimes. Because sometimes it looks like we’re a tad on the edge of chaos. I ask them to judge me by what my students produce and know. And those students know quite a bit.<br /><h2>Keep an eye on the ball.</h2>So, while I’d say not to judge an entire lesson by 10 minutes. I’d also say to administrators that if you’re not popping your head in and walking around to see what is going on, you don’t have your head in the game. <br /><br />A coach watches the game to see what plays the players are doing (if any at all.) A coach knows his or her players and knows how they play. If you don’t know how your teachers teach on a day to day basis, you aren’t keeping your eye on the ball.<br /><h2>Final words on rigor</h2>I have some people I respect greatly like Barbara Blackburn who work with rigor in the classroom. I have the distinct impression that it really means – “are you focused on teaching your topic” but sadly some are interpreting it to mean “are you in your chairs lined up looking at the board and working.”<br /><br />I’ve seen people walk in classrooms where the kids were quiet working on worksheets and commenting on how orderly and great the classroom is. Hogwash. <br /><br />I can walk in your den and it is clean and tidy and everyone is reading a book and comment on how well your family gets along. And I could be very wrong. <br /><br />Just because a classroom is quietly working on worksheets means nothing. In fact, I’d say if all a class does is worksheets then there’s probably a problem. The best teachers I know probably spend the least amount of time at the copier of anyone at the school. They still need it but their lessons are written in the experiences and activities that they plan. If they use a worksheet it is with intention and strategic.<br /><h2>Best wishes to you teachers.</h2>I hope you’ll all pick up Dave’s book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0988217600/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0988217600&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b><i>Teach Like a PIRATE</i></b></a> and I also highly recommend <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989151107/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0989151107&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Invent To Learn</a> </i>by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager. Both of these books will help you picture and imagine excellent learning.<br /><br />I’m not saying rigor is a bad thing. But sometimes we need to understand that how people think they are using it is not really what they want to say. What do they mean by rigor? That is what we have to understand. Depending upon what they mean it could be a good or a bad thing. And if they try to observe whether rigor is happening in a way that is non rigorous itself, we should call them on it. I don’t think you can assess whether rigor exists in a classroom in 10 minutes… that assessment is slack and lacks rigor.<br /><h2>Be willing to question.</h2>We teach with our lives. Our lives should be those that question and ask. <br /><ul><li>Should we blindly let others who know nothing or little about our profession lead us down a road which we do not think it wise to trod without asking them to show us the map?</li><li>If we’re being taken on a journey, should we ask questions to help understand the qualifications of the tour guides and if they have a track record of getting others there safely?</li><li>If the very future is at stake, should we let the pendulum swing over the line from helpful to hurtful without standing in the way?</li></ul>I think that these questions about rigor are ones that should be asked and applaud <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#/burgessdave">Dave Burgess</a> for asking them so bravely. <br /><br />I’d really like to hear from more of you. What are your thoughts about the term “rigor”? Is the assessment of “rigor” in your classroom done in a rigorous way itself? Please speak out so we can further this conversation.

EDUCATION Teaching trends Questioning Rigor

There is a part near the end of the book Teach Like a PIRATE by Dave Burgess where he questions why we’re using the term rigor. (Read als...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/03/2013

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://iosbookmarklets.com/tutorials/pinterest-bookmarklet-ipad/">Pinterest Bookmarklet for iPad — iOS Bookmarklets</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Another goodie. For those of you using the iPad who love pinterest, you'll want to install this add in to the safari web browser so you can pin from your ipad.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipad">ipad</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipadonly">ipadonly</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/pinterest">pinterest</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://iosbookmarklets.com/tutorials/evernote-bookmarklet-ipad/">Evernote Bookmarklet for iPad — iOS Bookmarklets</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">If you use Evernote and you want to put the Send to evernote bookmarklet on your Safari web browser, herea re the instructions for how to do that. This website also has many iOS bookmarklets that do things - a great plus for the productivity nuts among us (like me.)</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ios">ios</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipad">ipad</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipadonly">ipadonly</a>            <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 08/03/2013

Pinterest Bookmarklet for iPad — iOS Bookmarklets Another goodie. For those of you using the iPad wh...

London - Day 1

1:01 AM Tukiyooo 0

We got the tube to Southbank and then walked to Trafalgar Square and visited the National Museum.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAueBP1j5zBvz47PiLF6tdDDMmHsSavP6pyoev1m70wi7n1L6k2zalPXYPyZS05pftGMiGzy1R4wde1Eaz0ZsvqqYtmYw_a4NKjCtBAq-JBtdI3qj45hyphenhyphenGyD9RjEZg7Arw49A3X8WWUSnV/s640/blogger-image--1925864890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAueBP1j5zBvz47PiLF6tdDDMmHsSavP6pyoev1m70wi7n1L6k2zalPXYPyZS05pftGMiGzy1R4wde1Eaz0ZsvqqYtmYw_a4NKjCtBAq-JBtdI3qj45hyphenhyphenGyD9RjEZg7Arw49A3X8WWUSnV/s640/blogger-image--1925864890.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEgA9lVDVyxfyZeNnciWTFN1N8a1iiAHHXrb0nJ6EP-Nw7uQPrQCxsZx2phswqAEom9hd43zY7XjGCQ_VtihpuewHA7o5ORc7iPpsN8tXpItWiUaL9zjLTDK_hWg9B19colzVpiahAW1eekP/s640/blogger-image--556348547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9lVDVyxfyZeNnciWTFN1N8a1iiAHHXrb0nJ6EP-Nw7uQPrQCxsZx2phswqAEom9hd43zY7XjGCQ_VtihpuewHA7o5ORc7iPpsN8tXpItWiUaL9zjLTDK_hWg9B19colzVpiahAW1eekP/s640/blogger-image--556348547.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Along the way we asked directions and chatted to locals (the policemen outside Downing Street are possibly the friendliest policemen in the world!)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kXq072v2uGZlbiVa6CtA9tBVqx_6i2npS5rw_WQt_cw8XmVT4taS0EkzAgJTvENN5OI8MA7Ez7gZMq3xkxQPIVE0V7ed8ku00KJ4Gbyv2nLX3yhBQwM2Xk9zbKx2kB95nL6YJB9nC9y3/s640/blogger-image-1848169548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kXq072v2uGZlbiVa6CtA9tBVqx_6i2npS5rw_WQt_cw8XmVT4taS0EkzAgJTvENN5OI8MA7Ez7gZMq3xkxQPIVE0V7ed8ku00KJ4Gbyv2nLX3yhBQwM2Xk9zbKx2kB95nL6YJB9nC9y3/s640/blogger-image-1848169548.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>Afterwards we made our way to Downing Street where we saw the changing of the Cavalry by chance.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ6vwqz2erfp8kZkf6Zw9w7heY8wziz-YSLSLGt174WozQwJn9I9z0IKyUjt2menV-ldnW6uj3O4J1l4dDtabKfjgRzkmBPRNK9-Lt0qULaSNdYt2BfB1L2eOCCQG145bybdXYkpDQi5r/s640/blogger-image-1127670028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ6vwqz2erfp8kZkf6Zw9w7heY8wziz-YSLSLGt174WozQwJn9I9z0IKyUjt2menV-ldnW6uj3O4J1l4dDtabKfjgRzkmBPRNK9-Lt0qULaSNdYt2BfB1L2eOCCQG145bybdXYkpDQi5r/s640/blogger-image-1127670028.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>From there it was a lovely walk along Birdcage and on to a park which took us to Buckingham Palace.  The changing of the Guards was not taking place today as the Navy were (very unusually) on duty.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWmsp3gPRo2noqMtnQoheK0IXnaemhgqkWHb9AjRtt7NBJnfMZPhbhTyDEofE2FOuOHc55va2ftFs8f5gRhDX5ExtY8zAbTstFhHP2QDcjBRUAJv6_XC-a_ZSbXL-ClsKiYIjiqJkvctU/s640/blogger-image-649970277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWmsp3gPRo2noqMtnQoheK0IXnaemhgqkWHb9AjRtt7NBJnfMZPhbhTyDEofE2FOuOHc55va2ftFs8f5gRhDX5ExtY8zAbTstFhHP2QDcjBRUAJv6_XC-a_ZSbXL-ClsKiYIjiqJkvctU/s640/blogger-image-649970277.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyupjxdMpj-49dQJs4cq5g0jR7KoWDx3Klr7msSBwTbzknEYuAaQsDhFnS4f_j43AN9nMJmFOgw5wp0w-40o2Ivl1VwY1EMNbzeDxHd89rrRojOVzuZ2Y5tfGYx73Ee2zAaeG1nVvSwUxa/s640/blogger-image--680687269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyupjxdMpj-49dQJs4cq5g0jR7KoWDx3Klr7msSBwTbzknEYuAaQsDhFnS4f_j43AN9nMJmFOgw5wp0w-40o2Ivl1VwY1EMNbzeDxHd89rrRojOVzuZ2Y5tfGYx73Ee2zAaeG1nVvSwUxa/s640/blogger-image--680687269.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The palace was amazing, particularly the special exhibition about the Queens Coronation.  The Queen's dress was the highlight of the exhibit and was stunning - an incredible creation that has to be seen to be believed!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32UWKteq3OUKpbwrRvcvMOswqmj7aENrjalI7CSCWw0On7xD7VoQ7Ish6Er0LM1W1TFWgXtcxMMooogT2KCk2twBcvggowRBoSjwKN-fsmcLcRWOHOcSjMdlpePUeM2eocgu9Jd2u7lLp/s640/blogger-image--844802661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32UWKteq3OUKpbwrRvcvMOswqmj7aENrjalI7CSCWw0On7xD7VoQ7Ish6Er0LM1W1TFWgXtcxMMooogT2KCk2twBcvggowRBoSjwKN-fsmcLcRWOHOcSjMdlpePUeM2eocgu9Jd2u7lLp/s640/blogger-image--844802661.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We then went to Knightsbridge to visit Harrods.  This department store is quite something - in particular the memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVEYA9Ar4vwD_cPCp7nzK9x32eq4uwfskJvx7ioPKzw-1N-_WNLwpDoG2ePQyl8FEjnF71AkzOrfR79PTIjoINkvuGgsTz-O6hl22UWIbVy4ZCeU-wIsk8YBpW3sUAiSVGM2AVFyjDdfD/s640/blogger-image--275721174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVEYA9Ar4vwD_cPCp7nzK9x32eq4uwfskJvx7ioPKzw-1N-_WNLwpDoG2ePQyl8FEjnF71AkzOrfR79PTIjoINkvuGgsTz-O6hl22UWIbVy4ZCeU-wIsk8YBpW3sUAiSVGM2AVFyjDdfD/s640/blogger-image--275721174.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEiYubb0t96gePXbmStFm9bH6FGWn1XNbauAzaqYwSiUAsANpc60OBNeCrp1ki3z6fI3tWMlj8ad4kii6N2R-psiByzdcTm-Dgufl-Xem6mEBBqio96kjJD-4N6nxFFjXeq_zYmvdWPEb3KH/s640/blogger-image--1888723916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYubb0t96gePXbmStFm9bH6FGWn1XNbauAzaqYwSiUAsANpc60OBNeCrp1ki3z6fI3tWMlj8ad4kii6N2R-psiByzdcTm-Dgufl-Xem6mEBBqio96kjJD-4N6nxFFjXeq_zYmvdWPEb3KH/s640/blogger-image--1888723916.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>It was about 32 degrees celcius in London so we were very hot and sweaty after our day so we went home and showered before dinner in Shake Shack, Covent Garden. This place has only opened so there was a large queue outside - but it was worth the wait!</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBApXXNQV0TeR88JqRrtP5CU57dowT8t_ZTHkHmbCW38zfkaFUmsmGcQpYCb3hicp-7TbT3xswi9INEezite34ZAa3lgdJESJGYMWVpr81DUFrMNpL7xvbtHr8U7ZOLEmOg6aPcyoDGniX/s640/blogger-image-1939403643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBApXXNQV0TeR88JqRrtP5CU57dowT8t_ZTHkHmbCW38zfkaFUmsmGcQpYCb3hicp-7TbT3xswi9INEezite34ZAa3lgdJESJGYMWVpr81DUFrMNpL7xvbtHr8U7ZOLEmOg6aPcyoDGniX/s640/blogger-image-1939403643.jpg"></a></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/AVvXsEgnYeZLtyQa5VUmFFU6jy96QLefmAanFO_ky4m_Ys2BOSABhx087LkXYYnxI36LdQPdfxkftUvwDHf4SMNbpYIh46Bp3AmLFOheoA5v7fa3_wtF4ikBVZSQKfdpos7il-GPvDUIxqc0FgNJ/s640/blogger-image-192692720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYeZLtyQa5VUmFFU6jy96QLefmAanFO_ky4m_Ys2BOSABhx087LkXYYnxI36LdQPdfxkftUvwDHf4SMNbpYIh46Bp3AmLFOheoA5v7fa3_wtF4ikBVZSQKfdpos7il-GPvDUIxqc0FgNJ/s640/blogger-image-192692720.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have been getting the Tube everywhere which we just love!</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/AVvXsEiN6JDUfDvffFfD4JUl2jZ0-R8QAkFRcDZEpGa0tgThNU6thJHMukpeFbQ2sHIRF7a4XqrdNxhpVLZYzGTtsO9Zi14TMSzIQMa6ELXs4M6e4MFBu6ewaqHZwfdgoeeTE8GpDe0vTb0nqBsm/s640/blogger-image-2076091417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6JDUfDvffFfD4JUl2jZ0-R8QAkFRcDZEpGa0tgThNU6thJHMukpeFbQ2sHIRF7a4XqrdNxhpVLZYzGTtsO9Zi14TMSzIQMa6ELXs4M6e4MFBu6ewaqHZwfdgoeeTE8GpDe0vTb0nqBsm/s640/blogger-image-2076091417.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

London - Day 1

We got the tube to Southbank and then walked to Trafalgar Square and visited the National Museum. Along the way we asked directions and chat...