The Bargain Blonde: VIDEO: DIY Shoe Chandelier

Remember a few weeks ago when you voted on which DIY project you wanted TenList, the home improvement experts,?to make a video of next? ?Well, your wish is my command. Really, your wish is TenList's command. Drum roll please ...

The "Shoe Chandelier" project was the winner!?

Daniel, the TenList DIY guy, has put together an easy DIY video tutorial on how to make a shoe chandelier for your closet. ?It's a very inexpensive and cool way to give your shoes a home.

After you watch the video, share your thoughts in the comments: How would you make this project better? ?Will you attempt this at home?

If you do make your own shoe chandelier, tweet a picture of it to me @thebargainblond and @TenList10 using the hash tag #shoechandy! ?Happy DIY-ing.

Do you like TenList on Facebook? ?They frequently give away hundreds in gift cards away to their Facebook fans! And while we're at it, do you like The Bargain Blonde on Facebook? ?I can't say the same about the giftcards, but I can promise you with some pretty awesome status updates. ?Bam.

Source: http://thebargainblonde.blogspot.com/2012/08/video-diy-shoe-chandelier.html

bill rancic nflx jennifer hudson chicago blackhawks dick clark elie wiesel giuliana rancic

Shadine M?nard of HIP Magazine: An Interview :: Kreyolicious.com

Sooner or later Shadine M?nard had to be part of something big?creatively-speaking. She grew up as the daughter of legendary novelist Evelyne Trouillot. Her uncle was the late and noted intellectual and anthropologist Michel Rolph-Trouillot. As a little girl, she wrote brilliant essays and poems. Evelyne Trouillot still holds on to memories of her daughter?s first literary opus. Says the novelist: ?Shadine?s first poem [was] about the things she loves. She did not even knew how to form letters properly but the images and the beauty of the words were already there. I had it framed, the frame is probably broken, the paper all stained and torn, but I must still have the poem somewhere.?

M?nard?s sister Nad?ve M?nard knew she saw a little creative genius in the bud. ?Shadine definitely expressed herself through writing from an early age,? she attests. ?I can?t say that I knew she?d be drawn to the magazine business or publishing, but it was clear that she was passionate about many topics, especially Haiti, her family, music, and fashion.? In high school, M?nard wrote for the school?s newspaper, and teachers were constantly praising her creative writing skills. During her college years at Drexel University in Philly, professors were immensely impressed by M?nard?s gifts for the written word, and agreed that she should put her abundant gifts to professional use.

And then there was M?nard?s avid consuming of fashion and beauty magazines. Throughout her life, she loved leafing through the pages of Essence, Vogue, Glamour, Amina, and Vibe, and eventually got an editorial position at the latter magazine, as well as its sister publication Vibe Vixen. Becoming an integral part of the magazine world, and noticing the different niche publications that were tailored for particular groups by the industry made M?nard wonder why there wasn?t one for someone like her. Someone like her, as in a Haitian-American who was attuned to both cultures, one who had an innate need to stay close to her culture, but who was also interested in keeping in touch with the American side too, and beyond.

In 2008, after much planning, M?nard launched Haitian International Pulse magazine, abbreviated as HIP. The print publication was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience that it was intended for. ?I will say that I am not at all surprised when Shadine decided to follow her creative instincts,? says Trouillot of her daughter. ?Although it is a difficult path, I am glad and proud that she decided to pursue her dreams. I think for most parents the most important thing is to see our children happy while following their dreams.? A long-time beauty aficionado, M?nard didn?t just write articles on color palettes and hem lines. The Fashion Institute of Technology graduate also explored issues like the sugar cane field workers in the Dominican Republic, and wrote extensively about Haitian music, cinema, art, and social issues?all from a Haitian-American perspective. ?Shadine has a lot to offer because of her sensitivity? observes Trouillot, ?her artistic talents and her ability to write and express her thoughts. Her magazine online HIP lets her be herself.?

These days, the publication is done in online format. But don?t think that its readers love it any less. For longtime HIP devoted readers like Mia Lopez, M?nard?s work doesn?t go unappreciated. ?HIP stands out because it talks about a a variety of things,? affirms Lopez. ?From health to beauty, from music to entrepreneurs, HIP introduces a host of things to its readers. The blogs are personal, the interviews are in depth, the comments after a release also keeps you interested.? But more than the articles, is the community within HIP itself. Lopez adds: ?The typical Haitian website nowadays doesn?t focus on much more than gossip, it may have an article here and there but the main focus is always hearsay and gossip. HIP distinguishes [itself] from them from keeping it real but in a high standard.?

Besides being a magazine mogul, M?nard is an ardent champion of Haitian causes. Following the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, she was on the scene, on the grounds distributing much needed clothes and supplies to those in need.

Between working tirelessly on HIP?to keep it within the standards its devotees have come to expect, and balancing her life?M?nard agreed to answer some questions about her work.

Q & A

What is a typical day like for you as the creator of HIP?
Usually, I am up all night either writing or working at a Brooklyn bar. The nights I work, I get home between 4 and 5 A.M. I usually eat breakfast, catch up on emails then relax a bit before starting my morning workout. I usually end my workout by 9 P.M. the latest, shower and sleep before getting up to write, interview then continue on with my errands before heading back to work. On my days off I try to relax, but am constantly inspired by things and people around me that give me new ideas for HIP, which is why I always have a small notebook and pen on me.

Anything in your background and experiences that was useful in starting and managing HIP?
My past editorial positions for Vibe, Vibe Vixen and iStyle Magazine gave me inside knowledge on the behind-the-scene workings of a publication?product requests, production schedules, transcribing, editing, readership. Additionally, I believe that all past experiences and positions help us in some way. My merchandising manager position in retail, internship at FUBU, interpreter/translation work for non-profits?they all left a mark and a lesson.

What were some obstacles that you came across in starting as well as in running HIP?
In the beginning, when I was printing the premiere issue, it was hard to get advertisers. Fortunately there were a few private businesses and a Haitian woman who loves supporting new Haitian ventures that were in my corner. When it comes to running the webzine, the hardest part is doing it all on my own. I have a problem delegating and trusting others to help with my baby, but that will have to change at some point. It is also hard getting people to understand how a legit editorial magazine?whether it is online or in print?is run. They are always trying to barter for publicity or trying to tell me how to write an article?tone I should use, what I should say, etc. It is true that sometimes readers give me great tips and ideas on new stories, but part of what makes HIP different and consistent with my vision is that it doesn?t mainly focus on konpa or the most popular people in Haitian culture and gossip. HIP is about marrying Haitian and international cultures and shedding light on intelligent, interesting, enlightening and entertaining content. I think it?s important to keep that balance and also to make sure HIP?s integrity is not compromised by accepting money for features. Also, if you want to have ads on HIP please pay, we don?t barter?exceptions are rare and made for super supporters and loved ones. I find it offensive that people have no problem saying: ?I think your site is great and would love to advertise on there but I don?t want to pay?.

Are you influenced by anybody in particular?
My mother is my biggest influence. She decided earlier than most to quit her full-time stressful job in education and focus on her writing. Although she still teaches, she is now a successful writer and speaker. She is also a co-owner of an editing company that creates and contributes to publications for UNESCO and others. She is doing what she loves and making a living from it and loving it. The best thing about it is that it makes her happy and allows her to represent Haiti proudly.

Where do you see the magazine and publishing world heading?
I was sad to see such publications as Honey suffer from the downward spiral the magazine world went through a few years ago. Many niche publications could not and still cannot keep up with the print costs and demands in these hard times, yet they are needed by specific demographics. The publishing industry as a whole has been changing and not necessarily in a bad way. So many publications are now available in different formats and the challenges and competition has forced them to be more creative and tactical with content, such as the great changes implemented in Marie-Claire.

Any interview experience in your journalism career that especially stood out?
As an editorial assistant at Vibe I met and worked with Ciara, the model Jessica White and others, but I was in work mode and not fazed at all. Living and going out in NYC you meet so many people that it kind of seems normal. As far as interviewing, I just like getting into people?s heads and forget their title once I?m talking to them because you can?t get overwhelmed or star crazed and let that impact your work. In order to be professional and ask pointed questions, I have to stay unaffected. The only person I was in awe of and felt myself beaming every time she uttered one word was Gloria Steinem. ?Til this day I kick myself for not bringing a camera with me to the A Long Walk Home fundraiser that she hosted at her home. Speaking to her was like a dream. She is such a wise and powerful and caring human being. And if anyone doesn?t know who she is they should Google her [Laughter].

What are your thoughts on the current state of all the sectors of Haitian entertainment, be it music, movies, or other?
Oh goodness, do I have to answer this question? [Laughter] I?m really liking some of the rap Kreyol now. I guess it?s because I feel they are bringing something new. As far as movies go, I?m still scarred by the few I?ve seen. There are a few very talented people in the Haitian movie industry, but as a whole we need to do better. As far as konpa goes, I still have old hits like Zenglen?s An Nou Al?z cd, many of ZIN?s old hits and K-Dans?from the era where the CaRiMi guys were still part of it. There is something timeless about the konpas I grew up listening to or maybe it?s nostalgia talking. [Laughter] I do love some of the current konpas, but I get tired of listening to the same songs for over a year. I?d love it if production was sped up more.

Curious to know what your favorite all-time books, music pieces and movies are!
There are way too many to list. My favorite book of all time is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Other books that I can read over and over again and still get completely immersed in them are: La Gloire de Mon P?re (Marcel Pagnol), Le Ch?teau de ma M?re (Marcel Pagnol), Diary of Anne Frank, Little Women (Louisa M. Alcott), Rosalie L?Inf?me (Evelyne Trouillot) and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (Ntozake Shange). I am so sappy when it comes to movies. I can watch Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Beaches, Pretty in Pink, Sleepless in Seattle over and over again. But my true pleasure when it comes to film is watching old movies on the Turner Classic Movie network: The Philadelphia Story, Some Like It Hot, Breakfast at Tiffany?s, My Fair Lady, Grand Hotel, Strangers on a Train, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, The Sound of Music and many more. As far as music, I listen to anything really. I don?t discriminate; if it sounds good to me I?m downloading it.

Readers and subscribers who have been with HIP from the very beginning are still hoping to get it in print again.
I actually love print magazines. I feel like there is no substitute for the feeling of holding a print magazine, flipping through it and going back to it during train rides, salon visits and bedtime readings. So I miss having HIP in print as well; unfortunately there?s no way I could financially afford to continue the print edition. I have been thinking of printing one special annual issue every year though. Just a thank you to the readers and a keepsake that they can have always each May to commemorate the first time it was printed.

It?s been said that every magazine editor has a novel lying around in their drawers. Is that the case with you?
Haha. I have to laugh at this question because many people ask me this as soon as they learn I?m a writer and are always perplexed when I assure them that I?ve never had plans to write a novel. Some, my mother in particular, think that I should. But it?s just a step I don?t feel I can take yet. Aside from editorials, writing has always been cathartic for me. I?ve just now started sharing my poetry publicly and feel that any novel would have so many huge chunks of my reality that I?m not ready to share that much of myself yet.

Source: http://kreyolicious.com/shadine-menard-of-hip-magazine-an-interview/5670/

reason rally mad hatter azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you ray charles cheney heart transplant

My Public Speaking Year 2011: September - 6 talks, winemakers ...

Magna Carta Country Winemakers, Wraysbury, Berkshire

My first booking last September was another short-notice talk in the Staines area, this time for?the?Magna Carta Country Winemakers?at the?Wraysbury Village Halls. It's one of the oldest wine circles anywhere and certainly the best-attended that I have ever been to - there were around 110 there that night to hear me speak on?My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer.

Maureen Rolfe was wonderfully hospitable, providing me with lovely sandwiches to have while the group was busy with its business meeting. And when there were problems as I tried out the tape player that had been supplied she even drove off to get another - which worked perfectly.Then it was time for my talk - and what a great gig! Even a good-natured heckle from a gentlemen after one of my observations came just at a point of the talk where I knew the next bit would follow on as a nice riposte to what he had just said!

The only minor problem was that the venue is very close to Heathrow so I occasionally had to stop speaking due to the noise of an aircraft (I certainly wasn't going to try and shout above it!) but these pauses were very few and very brief and the club members are obviously used to this.

Public Speaking Tip #443:?Some venues experience drawbacks which affect every speaker and the audience understands this so there is no need to draw attention to obvious interruptions such as aircraft noise - just wait for a few seconds and then carry on as normal.

Public Speaking Tip #444:?There are some noisy interruptions that a speaker cannot compete with - even with a microphone. Bellowing into it will only cause even more noise and no-one will be concentrating on what you're saying anyway - just on what you're trying (and failing) to do!

It was a really enjoyable evening. My thanks for the lift from the station and also to Maureen for this lovely testimonial:

"Hi Nick, Thank you so much for coming to speak to our members on Tuesday evening. I really appreciate your coming at short notice especially as you had such a long journey to get here.

The members were absolutely delighted with your talk, which was brilliant, and I have been asked by so many to book you again for next year. I do hope that this will be convenient to you, as you were so popular when you visited the MCCW last week".

I was very quickly rebooked for May 2012.

Poole Royal Air Force Association, Dorset

My next booking was a return visit to the Poole RAFA, exactly a year after?the last, this time to speak about Patrick Campbell. On arriving at the Poole Ex-Servicemen's Club I made the disastrous discovery that I had forgotten my glasses. Now there are some talks where this would not have been a problem but not this one ?- I do rely on some written material and I didn't want to attempt to do the whole talk by heart. There was no time to go back home so I told the organisers and then found myself being offered a wide selection of their own specs to try! (It was a bit like being in a high street optician's only with better service: see?this blog post).

I found a pair that fitted and the talk went ahead with no further problems.

Public Speaking Tip #445:?If you arrive at a speaking engagement and experience a problem which will affect your talk then tell the organisers. They want the event to be a success and will try and find a solution.

I really must thank the gentleman who loaned me his glasses. It probably meant he couldn't see me during the talk but that may not have been much of a loss!

A luncheon in West Sussex

Two days later I set off early for Victoria and then headed out from there to West Sussex for the first of two bookings for ladies' groups that day. The first was to speak on My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer after a lunch. I had spoken to this group before a few years earlier but at a different venue.

I arrived in good time and we started the meal. Unfortunately the lady in charge of the venue's catering received some very upsetting news about the health of a relative and had to leave. It was one of those events that are beyond anyone's control but it had the effect of slowing service right down. This meant that I didn't get to speak until nearly 3pm which really is too late after a lunch - especially on a boiling hot day.

Public Speaking Tip #446:?If you are speaking after a lunch, you are really going to struggle if you are put on too long after, say 2.30pm. With after dinner speeches, the same usually applies ?going on after about 10pm.

Once again I found myself having to tread a path between editing and giving an audience their money's worth. I got laughs but the response was, by my standards, lukewarm. A great pity, as they are a very nice group and this was a special meeting in their calendar.

Public Speaking Tip #447:?Just occasionally events beyond a speaker's (or anyone else's) control will prevent an engagement from being all it could be.

National Association of Women's Clubs, Ash Club, Surrey

Feeling a bit tired and disappointed I then travelled to Ashford in Surrey, where I had?spoken to the U3A?back in June, this time to deliver an evening talk on My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer for the?Ash Club, part of the?National Association of Women's Clubs, who meet in the?Fordbridge Day Centre.

This is a very friendly, welcoming group, with around 50 attending. Any fatigue very quickly lifted when I started my talk - they were a fantastic audience and an hour flew by. They then very kindly arranged a lift back to the station?

Public Speaking Tip #448:?If you have more than one engagement in a day and the first one doesn't go according to plan then this should have no bearing on the second. Move on!

Weymouth & Portland U3A, Dorset

The week finished with a morning talk?for?Weymouth and Portland U3A?in the town's Salvation Army Citadel.

There were well over 100 present and My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer went down a storm and soon led to 3 further bookings in the town on recommendations. (Prior to this, apart from an audition in 2005, where the audience came from all over Dorset, I had not spoken in Weymouth since 2000; it's just the way the bookings fall sometimes!)

I couldn't sell?Nick R's in a Twist!?due to the Sally Army's no-merchandising rules, which I have mentioned before, but there was such a demand for my free Twelve Tips for Terrified Speakers leaflet that I ran out of copies. For anyone who didn't get one that morning you can read the Twelve Tips?here.

A really enjoyable talk. Afterwards, I visited a very good secondhand bookshop near the venue (described here by another blogger), where I picked up a volume that might inspire a new talk for me to offer...

David Hawkes R.I.P.

David Hawkes MBE JP was a retired diplomat who was a much in-demand speaker in my area, delivering up to 200 talks per year. Sadly he passed away in September 2011 and, as with Mr Tom Hall from the Southbourne Literary Society, I didn't find out until some time afterwards.

What I remember most about him is the generosity he showed to other speakers. His leaflet was a sheet of A4 folded into 6 pages. On the front was a cartoon of a figure in a dinner jacket then the next pages listed his talks: 'A Diplomat's Lot', 'The History of Arab Costume', 'Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War', 'The Turin Shroud' and numerous other presentations, quizzes and monologues. And then at the back he listed various other speakers in the Bournemouth area and our contact details (Mr Eric Watson?also does this). I was getting bookings from this source years before I ever met David.

In April 2004 he booked me as the guest speaker at the annual dinner of the East Dorset Speakers Club, part of the?Association of Speakers Clubs. A few weeks later I was due to speak at a ladies' group where they had inadvertently booked two speakers (it occasionally happens!) I discovered that David had turned up first but, on learning of their error, had graciously told them to give the booking to me and then left.

I read that his funeral service was followed by a reception at the?Miramar Hotel?and I can think of no more appropriate venue for a Bournemouth speaker's memorial. A very large number of clubs and societies have held meetings there over the years. I have certainly spoken there many times so I cannot begin to imagine how many times he did.

RIP Mr Hawkes and thank you, not just for the extra work but also for an inspiring example of just how many talks a speaker can complete in a year.

Rhinefield Probus, Hampshire

My last booking for September was a third visit to?Rhinefield Probus Club?at the?Forest Park Hotel?in Brockenhurst, this time to speak on the Power of Humour in Everyday Life. I have always enjoyed speaking to this club and it was a great morning. I included some topical humour which included gags from that day's news and these went well. Also gratifying was a question-and-answer session afterwards which lasted some 20 minutes.

Public Speaking Tip #449:?When you get on a roll with a question-and-answer session it can just build and build (if time permits). Be prepared for this as it's usually the sign of a very successful talk and, when audience members look back, it will be seen very much as part?of?it.

A non-existent booking

I did have a seventh booking in the diary for September 2011 but that engagement turned out not to exist and the story behind it is very sad. A few hours after a talk earlier in the year I had taken a call from a gentleman who had enjoyed hearing me that day and wanted to book me for a supper at his church.?

As the date approached I had heard nothing from him and was puzzled when I looked at the church's website and noticed that there was no mention of the event and that their only meeting was on a different date from that arranged.

In the end I managed to speak to the gentleman's wife who told me that her husband had been in hospital since a couple of weeks after he phoned me. She knew nothing about the supper.

When I finally spoke to someone from the church I was told that the man had dementia and that his wife was also a sufferer, although to a lesser extent. There was never a supper and he had actually tried to book a number of entertainers for various other functions and most had been contacted but I seemed to have slipped through the net.?

As I have said, it's all very sad.?There had been nothing in his phone call that had rung any alarm bells with me.?In view of how many talks I have delivered for senior audiences over the past 16 years it is perhaps surprising that it has never happened before.

There was never any chance that I would actually have made the 90-minute journey to that town without confirmation and when no-one had contacted me I started making my own calls, just as I did with?another non-existent booking?(for different reasons) four years earlier.

I first became worried when I looked at the church's website and saw there was nothing mentioned about the booking but it's always a good idea to look at website mentions of engagements that?doactually exist. You get to see how you're being advertised (which gives you some idea of areas to stress in your content), there may be some information about the event itself and there may be some mention of who else is attending. It's all useful stuff.

Public Speaking Tip #450:?Checking how an event where you are due to speak is advertised on a website can provide some useful background information to help you prepare for it.

?

Source: http://www.nickrthomas.co.uk/journal/2012/8/7/my-public-speaking-year-2011-september-6-talks-winemakers-wo.html

oscar winners the artist sacha baron cohen oscars the old curiosity shop jane russell meryl streep martin scorsese

Take's Top Ten: Outdoor Activities | Shuichi Take Fitness: Miami's #1 ...

Since its summertime I thought it would be appropriate to write my next installment of ?Take?s Top Ten? about outdoor activities. Now many of these activities can be done all year around but depending on where you live, I suggest leaving some of them to the warmer months. Swimming laps in the freezing cold isn?t recommended?unless you enjoy frostbite and don?t need your fingers or toes.

Although I live in Miami, my ranking is not necessarily relative to or influenced by Miami. The factors that I took in consideration with my ranking system were cost, equipment needed, the number of participants required and availability. I also factored in my personal preferences because it?s my blog and I can do whatever I want damnit! So I don?t care if you don?t agree with my ranking as you find an activity you like.

As with any activity you participate in, make sure you stretch before and/or after and stay hydrated. Because of the hot summer weather, be sure you stay cool and to avoid heat exhaustion. This can cause serious health concerns so listen to body and monitor how you feel. If you experience any discomfort, become light-headed or nauseous stop immediately. If you are just starting a fitness program or have any previous health issues that may affect your ability to participate in any of these exercises, consult your physician before starting.

OK, now that I?ve gotten the disclaimers out of the way we can start with my list:

10. BOOT CAMP

• Although a boot camp class may not necessarily be an activity per se, it made my list because it burns the most calories per hour and you can find a class pretty much everywhere. Drive by any local park and you?re bound to see a group of die-hard grunts willing to wake up early for their ass-whoopin?. Classes prices are reasonable ($10-$25 per class) and do not require any equipment.
• Bonus Benefit: A six-pack?with regular classes and good nutrition, of course.
• Calories Burned: 640. (Calorie count based on a 150lb person for 60 minutes. To calculate how many calories you burn CLICK HERE)

9. TENNIS

• Some might put Tennis higher than I did but since I don?t play tennis it gets #9. The equipment need isn?t terribly expensive (rackets run about $50-$100) but availability can be a challenge depending on what time you want to play and where. Some courts can be first come first serve so you might have to wait a while before you play. When you make it on the court, expect to burn a lot of calories!
• Bonus Benefit: ?Core strength
• Calories Burned: 450 (singles)

8. ROLLERBLADING

• I actually happen to own a set of rollerblades that?s collecting dust in my closet. I do plan on giving it a try one of these days?hopefully! ?From what I?ve been told, rollerblading is a fun way to get your cardio in and do some sightseeing as well. Even at a casual pace, it burns more calories than you would expect. At a fast pace it can give boot camp a run for its money at the top spot.
• Bonus Benefit: Balance and Coordination
• Calories Burned: 540 (casual)

7. BASKETBALL

• Basketball is a great sport for any age and fitness level regardless of your experience. Just don?t expect to be picked up on a team at the local park if you?ve never played before! ?Courts are available at just about every park and getting a decent one for your driveway will only set you back few hundred dollars. If you buy one just make sure you use it!
• Bonus Benefit: You get to do that Michael Jordan impersonation that you?ve always wanted to do!
• Calories Burned: 250 (half court)

6. YARD WORK

• I know this is more of a chore?and a pain in the ass?then an activity but if you have to do it then consider it your exercise for the day. ?Think of it as a workout; try alternating between your left and ride hand/side and focus on using good posture. You can also incorporate a few exercises like squats, shoulder presses and woodchops depending on the type of yard work your doing.
• Bonus Benefit: Making your spouse happy and your neighbors envious of your yard.
• Calories Burned: 240 (heavy yard work can burn over 500 calories)

5. BIKING

• Despite having the highest cost for equipment, biking is in my top 5 because it also doubles as a mode of transportation.? Many cities now have bicycle sharing systems or rentals so you don?t have to own one?or worry about getting yours stolen!
• Bonus Benefit: Leaving a small carbon foot print.
• Calories Burned: 240 at 5.5mph/450 at 10mph

4. VOLLEYBALL

• Volleyball is towards the top of my list because I?ve been playing since high school and still play on the beach 2-3 time a week. So ya, I?m playing favorites with this one! Volleyball in the sand is much more challenging than playing on a hard court, therefore you end up burning more calories?even if you?re just playing jungle ball (what us ?real? players call it when people just slap the ball around any which way).
• Bonus Benefit: A nice tan!
• Calories Burned: 208 (casual)/ 597 (vigorous)

3. SWIMMING

• With Michael Phelps being an Olympic hero and a commercial pitchman, swimming?s popularity is at an all-time high?which makes wearing a Speedo kinda cool, right? Although Phelps only competes indoors, it doesn?t mean you can?t practice your breast stroke outside. With pools open for another month?in Miami they are open year round?there are plenty of options available. For something more challenging, try swimming in the ocean where the waves add an interesting dynamic. If you happen to see any dorsal fins, put on your best Phelps impersonation and free-style towards land!
• Bonus Benefit: Low impact and non-weight bearing which causes less stress on your joints.
• Calories Burned: 540 (casual)

2. RUNNING

• The only recommended equipment is a decent pair of running shoes ($60-$80). Other than that, running is a very accessible and readily available form of exercise. Many cities have running groups that you can join to add a social element to your exercise.? Not only is running number two on my list but it also burns the second most amount of calories behind boot camp. To stay motivated and consistent, try entering and training for a 5K run (3.2 miles) with some friends.
• Bonus Benefit: You get the right of way when crossing the street?except in Miami!
• Calories Burned: 543 (at 5mph)

1. WALKING

• Walking is separate from running because it has its own Olympic event so I thought it was only right to differentiate the two. Walking gets the top spot for a variety of reasons; it?s low cost, no special equipment needed, it doesn?t require any other participants and it?s available anywhere and anytime. ?Because it has less impact on your body then running, walking is a simple and effective form of exercise for all ages and levels of fitness.
• Bonus Benefit: Burn calories with things you already do on a daily basis such as walking around the mall, sight-seeing, going to and from your car, etc.
• Calories Burned: 300 (at 3mph)

Source: http://www.shuichitakefitness.com/blog/takes-top-ten-outdoor-activities/

miss america lana del rey saturday night live focus on the family packers vs giants giants score aaron rodgers 2012 golden globe nominations

Interview: Tony Wang from GeniusProfits.com ? ProfitBlog.com

In this weeks interview we?re going to meet Tony Wang of GeniusProfits.com. Tony is a young blogger, internet marketer and entrepreneur. After graduating college Tony decided to pursue his dream of working for himself online and has now been doing just that for several years. Tony has a passion for helping others achieve the same success online that he?s had. His blog http://www.GeniusProfits.com is where he often shares his thoughts, ideas and experiences in building a successful online business.

Check out the interview below and I hope it will inspire and motivate you as much as it did me. -Josh

?

Josh: How long have you been doing blogging/internet marketing and how did you get started?

Tony: 5 years now. Almost 6. I got started when my dad gave me $200 for my 18th birthday. At the time, I was listening to a Tony Robbins tape set I borrowed from my library. Tony was talking about investment strategies or something. I started Googling stuff on investment and stumbled upon The Rich Jerk ebook.

It was an ebook on how to make money with affiliate marketing. I was so captivated by the sales page that I bought the ebook and read it in a few hours. I created a website on how to do street magic and promoted a couple of affiliate products. It ended up doing pretty well especially considering how clueless I was about internet marketing.

(I actually had no idea I that domains expire after a year and forgot to renew it. Dumb mistake.)

Even though I lost everything, the whole experience planted a seed in my mind that?s its really possible to make money on the internet.

Josh:?What was your first big success and what keeps pushing you to continue going further. (your goals, motivation, etc..)

Tony:?My first big success was actually my magic website I made back in 2007. It was the first site I ever created. It was making around $400/month in affiliate commissions. Until it disappeared because I didn?t know I was supposed renew it.

You can probably call it beginners luck.?I think that the reason I actually made money was that I didn?t get stuck in?over-analyzing?or trying to learn everything before implementing. I just did the best I could with what I had and focused on taking action, even if it wasn?t perfect.

Magic was also a hobby of mine, so it was easy to create content for the site. I think that?s also pretty important because I?ve tried going into niches that I knew nothing about.? It?s much harder to create good content.

What drives me to keep going further is my family. My dad sacrificed a lot to move to America. To make sure I grew up in a comfortable environment (he actually grew up on a farm in China and had to secretly study at night just so he could go to college). They moved back to China few years ago, and it?s hard living so far away from them. One of my goals is to buy my parents a beach house here in Santa Monica someday. I have a picture of my family ask my desktop wallpaper that provides constant motivation.

Josh:?What types of marketing are you currently focusing on and where do you see that going in the future?

Tony:?Currently I?m seeing great results with advertising on Plenty of Fish, although it?s starting to get more competitive. Recently, I?ve also been getting away from SEO and moving on to paid traffic sources. I?m also experimenting with YouTube, since video is getting? HUGE nowadays (currently 60% of internet traffic after 5pm is video).

I wrote a blog post recently on how to make money by promoting Clickbank products on YouTube. Something you might want to try if you have time, but I wouldn?t recommend it as a long-term business model.

Josh:?Working from home can be hard for some people, it takes self discipline and focus. A lot of times its easier to just have a boss tell you what to do or go into a job knowing what your supposed to do for the day. How do you overcome this in your own business to make sure that you stay productive and keep moving forward.

Tony:?I agree. The idea of ?being your own boss? sounds great in theory. In actuality, it takes a lot of mental discipline and focus to keep yourself on the right track. Especially when the money?s rolling in and you have little incentive to work.

I?ll admit. I?m not perfect and I do slack off every so often. But I also have rules and systems in place to make sure I?m as productive as possible.

Basic rules I follow?

• Check email no more than twice a day- once in the morning, once in the afternoon.
• Write down my most important tasks for the day and set a strict time limit for their completion. I can?t go to sleep until I finish everything on this list, so it makes me think twice about what?s actually important and what?s not.
• Work in a 55 minute chunk with a 5 minute break. Then another 55 minute chunk with a 30 minute break. Rinse and repeat.
• Working at my business partner?s apartment or Starbucks. While I work from home occasionally, I prefer to keep work and play separate.
• Not buying new products and courses unless they relate help me with something I?m currently doing.

There are a few more but those are the major ones. I revealed some of the top productivity tricks that have made the biggest difference in my business in my free ?Internet Profits Fast Track? mini-course. If you?re interested in, you can sign up for that on my blog.

Also, just taking time to unwind. I hang out with friends on the weekends to recharge and take my mind off of work. Oh- and going to the gym to get swole

Josh:?What mistakes have you made that have cost you time/money that if you could you?d stop other people from making?

Tony:?Biggest mistake I made was not building a list from the get-go. A lot of experienced marketers will tell you the same. If you aren?t collecting emails currently, go sign up for Aweber right now.

I?m sure you?ve heard things like ?the money is in the list? and ?every subscriber is worth $1/month?. So true. I made a few thousand in a single day last month just by sending out a few emails to my list (which is pretty small). And yes, this applies to niches outside of IM as well.

I would say the other biggest ?mistake? I made is focusing too much on making money quickly instead of building a business that offers real value.

See, after I saw some success with my magic website, I got greedy and wanted instant overnight success. I developed shiny object syndrome for a while and chased after every single magic pill system that was being sold. Although I had all the guides and tools, I couldn?t make any money online to save my life. This went on for years.

It was finally when I got back into the mindset of ?giving back at least 10x the value of what you?re charging? that I started making money again.

Josh:?Lastly I?d like to ask you what in your opinion is the main reason for your success. There are a lot of people out there that have been dabbling in online marketing for years but are still just chasing the dream. What would you say has set you apart?

Tony:?I would say the biggest cause for my success is that I act on ideas quickly rather than trying to figure out all the pieces of the puzzle. Eben Pagan actually says that ?speed of implementation? is the most important factor in entrepreneurial success. I think the best attitude to approach internet marketing when you?re new is to accept that you?re going to fail at some point or another, so you might as well get it out of the way now and learn from it, rather than getting stuck and chasing perfection (which isn?t attainable anyways).

The other thing I?d like to add is that everyone?s criteria for success is different. Everyone should have their own definition of success instead of blindly adopting other people?s or society?s definition.

Everyone once in a while, I?ll have a ?Wow, I?ve finally made it moment?. Like when I was flying back from a month vacation in Europe. Or the other day when I tried my chef?s steak for the first time. While I enjoy these moments for what they are, I also feel humbled quite often, which motivates me to go after bigger goals.

For instance, I have a few friends that make 5 figures a day. Their business makes mine look like a lemonade stand. But rather than compare my profits to theirs, I simply focus on the actions I need to take. Because i know if i keep taking consistently, I?ll get to where I want to be eventually. So I allow myself to feel successful just by the mere fact that I?m doing the things I need to do to live the life that I truly want. I trust in the process and enjoy the journey for what it is.

I think this is a crucial mindset for newbies, since so many people get frustrated at their lack of results and feel ?unsuccessful?. Success is relative. By simply taking action towards building an internet business and not being afraid to go after what you want, you?re doing things that the majority of people are not willing to do. To me, that?s also success.

Hope you found this helpful. I enjoyed answering these questions. I gotta go call my mom now and wish her a happy birthday.

If you want, can check more of my stuff on Genius Profits, my blog where I share actionable?strategies for creating online profit from scratch.

Source: http://www.profitblog.com/interview-tony-wang-from-geniusprofits-com/

melanie amaro new air jordans jeff dunham young guns concord safe and sound botticelli

Liberty Energy Announces New Acreage in Eastland County, Texas

HOUSTON, Aug. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Energy Corp. (OTCBB:LBYE) ("Liberty" or "the Company") announces further details on its new Texas acreage.

The Company is pleased to reveal further details on its newly acquired acreage in Eastland County, Texas. The 112 acre lease is located within Eastland County, approximately 80 miles west of Fort Worth, Texas.

The Company has confirmed that there are two major producing reservoirs that are widespread within this area. The first, Marble Falls, a prolific oil and gas producing reservoir with production being generated from several channel sands found within this Lower Pennsylvanian formation. The second, Mississippian-Duffer limestone, predominantly produces gas with some oil shows. The Duffer formation lies unconformably below the Marble Falls formation. Both zones are widespread in Eastland County and have been highly productive throughout Texas Railroad Commission District 7B.¹

The (Mississippian) Barnet Shale is also present in this area. Although its thickness is limited to approximately 50 feet in this area, this geological structure is among the most prolific oil and gas producing areas of Texas. This shale underlies the Duffer Limestone, and is thought to be a source for much of the hydrocarbon found in the reservoirs above.²

The Bend Arch has had a significant effect on the Barnett Shale regarding its burial history and geo-thermal makeup. The Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin Province resulted in estimated means of 26.7 trillion cubic feet of gas (TCFG), 98.5 million barrels of oil (MMBO), and a mean of 1.1 billion barrels of natural gas liquids (BBNGL).³ Nearly all of the undiscovered gas resource (98 percent, or 26.2 TCFG) is considered to be in continuous accumulations of non-associated gas trapped in strata of two of the three Mississippian-age Barnett Shale AUs of the Barnett-Paleozoic TPS.⁴ The third AU within this TPS, the Hypothetical Basin-Arch Barnett Shale Oil AU, has not yet been quantitatively assessed because of a lack of data.³ The Barnett-Paleozoic TPS is estimated to contain a mean of 409.2 BCFG of conventional gas, or about 88 percent of all undiscovered conventional gas, and about 64.6 MMB of conventional oil, or about 65 percent of all undiscovered oil in the Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin Province.⁴

"We are extremely pleased to have secured this lease which is situated in the heart of existing oil and natural gas fields. This is a formation that has been consistently produced by majors for years including Devon Energy, Chesapeak Energy and ConocoPhillips. We intend to extensively study the surrounding fields and formations in which oil and natural gas have been recovered. We then intend to initiate a detailed geological study of the acreage that will determine how we further develop the property," commented Ian Spowart, CEO of Liberty Energy Corp. For more information on the Eastland Project see the Liberty Energy website at www.energy-liberty.com/projects/.

ABOUT LIBERTY: Liberty Energy Corp. (OTCBB:LBYE) is an Independent Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company dedicated to the sourcing and production of fuel supplies in the United States and Europe. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company has leases and royalties in both Texas and Bulgaria, covering several wells with extensive potential for future development. In Texas, Liberty owns twelve leases based around numerous geological pay zones. In North-West Bulgaria, Liberty has royalty rights to a 1,000,000+ acre natural gas property (the A-Lovech exploration block), an area of high quality, low-sulphur natural gas condensate. Through this combined international reach and domestic focus, Liberty Energy is committed to the development of U.S. fuel reserves while seeking out further opportunities for the global energy markets.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Liberty Energy Corp. bases these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events, based on information currently available. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may also include statements relating to Liberty Energy Corp.'s anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, strategies and similar matters. Liberty Energy Corp. disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Liberty Energy Corp

Ian Spowart, Chief Executive Officer

References

1. www.oilandgasinternational.com
2. www.oldgas.com
3. The 1995 National Assessment of the United States Oil and Gas Resources: The Economic Component ? USGS
4. Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin Province of North-Central Texas and Southwestern Oklahoma, 2003 - USGS

CONTACT: Liberty Energy Corp.          Two Allen Center          Suite 1600          1200 Smith Street          Houston          TX 77002          Tel: 713-353-4700          Fax: 713-353-4701          Email: info@energy-liberty.com          Website: www.energy-liberty.com            Facebook: www.facebook.com/LibertyEnergyCorp                    INVESTOR RELATIONS:          Toll Free: 1-877-890-1650          Email: ir@energy-liberty.com

Source: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?ref=rss&d=260809

ann coulter tom brady sister dad shoots daughters laptop brandon jennings channing tatum the vow review luol deng

Quarterly Beverage Tracker Q1 2011 ? Latvia : RSS Feed Directory

August 5, 2012 by admin ? ?

Price: $ 1455 (Single User License)?

??

Synopsis
A quarterly overview of all beverage consumption trends and latest market developments in the Latvia drinks industry Summary
Published by Canadean, Quarterly Beverage Tracker provides a detailed analysis of the latest developments in the beverage market. With a combination of textual commentary, analysis and data tables, the report covers the following categories:

Packaged Water?
Bulk Water?
Carbonates?
Juice and Nectars?
Still Drinks?
Squash/Syrups?
Iced/Rtd Tea Drinks?
Sports and Energy Drinks?
Hot Tea and Coffee?
Beer, Wines and Spirits?
Dairy Drinks (White Milk, Cultured Dairy Drinks, Flavoured Milk, Other Liquid Dairy)?

Data for the current quarter vs Q1 2010, full year 2010, moving annual totals (MAT) and 2011 forecasts is provided. The performance of each beverage category is analysed, together with the latest industry, distribution and packaging news. An economic mood indicator, completed by Canadeans local consultant, examines (on a scale of one to five) whether confidence levels in the industry are better or worse than the previous quarter, whether net prices are rising or falling and how private label products have performed versus the rest of the market. Recent new product introductions are shown by category, including flavour, pack type, pack size, retail price and selected pack shots. Selected retail prices are given for the most recent quarter, and the previous four quarters. Also included in Quarter 1 2011; a special focus on flavour trends in soft drinks. Scope

This report provides a detailed analysis of the latest developments in the Latvia beverage market

ReasonsToBuy

In the current climate of economic uncertainty and market volatility companies need to know about more than just data.?
Canadean?s Quarter 1 2011 Latvia Quarterly Beverage Tracker report provides a complete overview of all commercial beverage consumption trends, latest market developments and an economic mood indicator.?
Ideal for benchmarking total market vs retail audit and other data.?
An essential tool for keeping up-to-date with the latest industry developments.?

Key Highlights

Analysis of individual beverage categories including full year 2010 volumes, plus 2011 forecasts?
Supporting text on quarterly performance and forecast assumptions for each beverage category?
Economic mood indicator?
Latest industry , distributio and packaging news?
New products including selected pack shots?
Carbonated soft drinks volumes by flavour and regular vs low calorie?
Special focus on flavour trends in soft drinks?
Selected retail prices?

Original Post Quarterly Beverage Tracker Q1 2011 ? Latvia source Researchmoz Market Research
Latvia Reports

Source: http://www.rssfeeddirectory.co.uk/2012/quarterly-beverage-tracker-q1-2011-latvia/

orange bowl tim howard goal ben gibbard nfl playoff schedule tim howard scores nick cannon kidney failure consumer financial protection bureau

How to defeat your enemies on the Internet

1 hr.

Sam Biddle , Gizmodo

The Internet began as a pure place, free of malice and bad manners. Today, rudeness and horror abound.

From friends you know and people you've never met, abuse comes in many forms. Maybe it's a nasty comment on a Facebook photo. Maybe it's an insulting tweet. Maybe it's writing "U SMELL FUNNY" on your wall over and over and over again.

So what do you do if someone is being mean to you online? Cry? Sit there and take it? No. You survive. You prevail. Here's how to beat the bullies.

Take threats seriously

Look, if someone threatens you with physical harm via the Internet, go to the police. No matter what. No exceptions.

But if things are less severe?...

Take it offline

If your friend is being a jackass on the Internet, try to hash it out off the Internet. As magical as it is, the Web just isn't a good way to express sincerity. Odds are, you two will misunderstand each other online and exacerbate your spat. Just bury the hatchet face to face.

Tattle on them

It's easy to talk smack?online. And it's just as easy to whine to the authorities about it. There is shame in telling on people in kindergarten, or in the mafia. But not online. Snitching is just a tool in your belt, not a sign of weakness.

Twitter doesn't have a formal policy against being mean. But actual threats, privacy invasion, and spamming are all verboten???as are "abusive" tweets, which is a little nebulous. If you think you're being abused, not just in the midst of an argument, report the infringing messages here. If Twitter agrees with you, your antagonist will either be warned or suspended.

The same goes for Facebook: Every post can be reported directly to Zuckerberg's Internet police???and luckily for you, victim, Facebook is much stricter than Twitter. On paper, at least. The Book declares the following for its users:

You will not bully, intimidate, or harass any user.

You will not post content that: is hate speech, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.

It's extremely easy to report stuff you don't like. If Facebook doesn't like it either, the transgressor can have posts deleted or be suspended from the service.

Gmail, like email in general, is pretty much still the wild west. So unless you get a subject line stating, "I'm going to strangle you tonight," you're pretty much on your own. Google provides an abuse reporting area, but really, a call to the police should be your first move. In a trial, emails are certainly admissible as evidence.

Ignore it

The moral high road isn't fun, but if it were, it wouldn't be so moral and high. It might be satisfying to see your foe banned from Facebook or Twitter, but maybe the best satisfaction is not giving them the satisfaction. Harassing tweets? Ignore them. Rude IM? Ignore. Petty Facebook comment? Ignore. The silent treatment is the best way to make a bully bored?and when they're bored, they'll move on in search of a better reaction.

Seal yourself off

Block and delete. You probably don't want something insulting you on your own wall???what are you, a chump? So delete it and block the infringer. If you really want to piss someone off, hide your wall and photos from the bully without blocking them entirely???a nice middle finger, albeit not the most mature move. Create a filter on Gmail that'll send their email straight to the trash?be sure to let them know first. Block 'em on Twitter. It'll be like they never existed in the first place.

Fight back?

And then, there's this. The counterattack. This is risky, and perhaps even ill-advised, but a troll can be shocked into submission by the power of your own typing. I'm ugly? No, you're ugly, and we all know why your parents got divorced. Oh, I'm an idiot because I support [Presidential Candidate]? Here's an educated, 500 word explanation of how you don't have your facts straight. Mic drop. Shut up. Posting an embarrassing picture of me on Facebook? Cool! Here's an album of that time you puked in my basement and fell asleep in it. Maybe I'll tag your parents in the middle of the puddle.

Is this petty? Yes. Will it potentially make your situation exponentially worse? Yes. But is there a perverse joy in fighting it out online? Of course???it's in the Web's soul. Just be ready for a long engagement that publicly degrades everyone involved.

User Manual is Gizmodo's guide to etiquette. It appears as if by magic every Friday.

More stories from Gizmodo:?

Source: http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/how-defeat-your-enemies-internet-922011

project x the lorax lorax fisker karma super tuesday states shepard fairey is snooki pregnant

Official: Syria PM defects to anti-Assad opposition

SANA via EPA

A picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency shows policemen inspecting the damage at the state-run Syrian TV building in Damascus after a bomb ripped through its third floor.

By NBC News staff and wire reports

AMMAN, Jordan - Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab has defected to the opposition seeking to overthrow President Bashar Assad, a spokesman for Hijab said Monday, marking one of the most high-profile desertions from the Damascus government.?

Syrian state TV said Hijab had been fired, but an official source in Amman told Reuters that the dismissal followed his defection to neighboring Jordan with his family.?

---

?

Khaled Al-Hariri / Reuters, file

Syrian television reported on Monday that Prime Minister Riyad Hijab had been fired. His purported spokesman said he had defected to Jordan.

"I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution," Hijab said in a statement read in his name by?Mohammad Otari, who identified himself as Hijab's spokesman, on?Al Jazeera television.?

Ahmad Kassim, a senior official with the Free Syrian Army, told The Associated Press that Hijab defected to Jordan along with three other ministers.

"Don't be scared. Defect from this criminal regime," Otari said in the televised statement, urging other Syrians to join the defecting ministers.

Otari?denied that his boss had been fired, and added that?the defection was planned "for months" and was executed in conjunction with the Free Syrian Army, the main armed opposition group in Syria.

The news follows other high-level defections -- including that of Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlas ?-- and deaths of the country's defense minister and as well as his powerful brother-in-law in a bomb blast in Damascus in July.

A bomb rips through Syria's state television building in Damascus, while the country is also rocked by the news of the Prime Minister's defection to the opposition. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

From restive?Deir al-Zour
Syrian state TV announced Hijab's dismissal as government forces appeared to prepare a ground assault to clear battered rebels from Aleppo, the country's biggest city.?

Journalist: British militants took me hostage in Syria

Assad appointed Hijab, a former agriculture minister, as prime minister only in June following a parliamentary election that authorities said was a step toward political reform but which opponents dismissed as a sham.?

"Hijab is in Jordan with his family," said the Jordanian official source, who did not want to be further identified. The source told Reuters that Hijab had defected to Jordan before the announcement that he was fired.?

NBC News

People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.

Hijab is a Sunni Muslim from Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, which has been caught up in the revolt, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Syrian TV said Omar Ghalawanji, who was previously a deputy prime minister, had been appointed to lead a temporary caretaker government on Monday.?

Earlier in the day, a bomb blast hit the Damascus headquarters of Syria's state broadcaster as troops backed by fighter jets kept up an offensive against the last rebel bastion in the capital.?

In villages across Syria there is great concern for the city of Aleppo, where the violence seen in the last few days could be nothing compared to what's coming. NBC's Richard Engel reports.

The bomb exploded on the third floor of the state television and radio building, state TV said. However, while the rebels may have struck a symbolic blow in their 17-month-old uprising against Assad, Information Minister Omran Zoabi said none of the injuries was serious, and state TV continued broadcasting.?

Rebels in districts of Aleppo visited by Reuters journalists seemed battered, overwhelmed and running low on ammunition after days of intense tank shelling and helicopter gunships strafing their positions with heavy machinegun fire.?

Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.

Audacious attack?
Emboldened by the audacious bomb attack in Damascus that killed four of Assad's top security officials last month, the rebels had tried to overrun the Damascus and Aleppo, the country's commercial hub.?

But the lightly armed rebels have been outgunned by the Syrian army's superior weaponry. They were largely driven out of Damascus and are struggling to hold on to territorial gains made in Aleppo, a city of 2.5 million.?

Damascus has criticized Gulf Arab states and Turkey for calling for the rebels to be armed, and state TV has described the rebels as?"Turkish-Gulf militia," saying dead Turkish and Afghan fighters had been found in Aleppo.?

Paralysis in the U.N. Security Council over how to stop the bloodshed forced peace envoy Kofi Annan to resign last week, his ceasefire plan a distant memory.

Activists report mortars hitting a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital. Meanwhile, Turkey has been holding military drills along its border with Syria. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

The violence has already shown elements of a proxy war between Sunni and Shiite Islam which could spill beyond Syria's border.

The rebels claimed responsibility for capturing 48 Iranians in Syria, forcing Tehran to call on Turkey and Qatar -- major supporters of the rebels -- to help secure their release.?

Iran asks for help after dozens of pilgrims kidnapped in Syria

On Monday, Syrian army tanks shelled alleyways in Aleppo where rebels sought cover a helicopter gunship fired heavy machinegun fire.

Photojournalist John Cantlie tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy of the UK's Channel 4 News about the terrifying week he was held captive in Syria by radical Islamic militants, some of them British.

Snipers ran on rooftops targeting rebels, and one of them shot at a rebel car filled with bombs, setting the vehicle on fire. Women and children fled the city, some crammed in the back of pickup trucks, while others walked on foot, heading to relatively safer rural areas.?

Aleppo gateway
The main focus of fighting in Aleppo has been the Salaheddine district, a gateway into the city. One shell hit a building next to the Reuters reporting team, pouring rubble on to the street and sending billows of smoke and dust into the sky.?

State television said Assad's forces were "cleansing the terrorist filth" from the country, which has been sucked into an increasingly sectarian conflict that has killed about 18,000 people and could spill into neighboring states.

The army appeared to be using a similar strategy in Aleppo to the one used in other cities where they subjected opposition districts to heavy bombardment for days, weakening the rebels before moving in on the ground, clearing district by district.

Syria's two main cities had been relatively free of violence until last month when fighters poured into them, transforming the war. The government largely repelled the assault on Damascus but has had more difficulty recapturing Aleppo.?

Explosions shake Syria capital as rebels renew attack

Rebel commanders say they anticipate a major Syrian army offensive in Aleppo and one fighter said they had already had to pull back from some streets after army snipers advanced on Saturday under cover of the fierce aerial and tank bombardment.?

Rebels and regime forces continue their fight to control Syria's largest city. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.

"The Syrian army is penetrating our lines," Mohammad Salifi, a 35-year-old former government employee. "So we were forced to strategically retreat until the shelling ends," he said, adding the rebels were trying to push the army back again.?

Late Sunday rebels clashed with the army in Aleppo's south-eastern Nayrab district, a fighter who called himself Abu Jumaa said.

The army responded by shelling eastern districts. There were also clashes on the southern ring road, which could be a sign the army was preparing to surround the city.?

Reuters, The Associated Press and NBC News staff contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/06/13143336-syria-premier-defects-to-anti-assad-opposition-spokesman-says?lite

kenny powers kenny powers carl hagelin triple play virginia tech shooting james neal jackie robinson