Weekly Reading List [7.28.12]

1. SYRIA'S WEAPONS AT THE READY & AL QAEDA TAKING DEADLY NEW ROLE IN SYRIA'S CONFLICT & SYRIA THREATENS CHEMICAL ATTACK ON FOREIGN FORCE & SYRIA IS IRAQ & ALEPPO SHORT ON WEAPONS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS SYRIA'S NEXT BIG BATTLE LOOMS - Things continue to evolve in Syria. This week they announced having chemical weapons and their intention to use them on outside forces. Al Qaeda has come out and said that they are taking a new role in the conflict. I know the rebels need a hand, but joining forces with Al Qaeda most likely means that your revolution will be usurped. Sad.

2. 4 GLOBAL FLASH POINTS MAKE THIS AUGUST A HOT ONE & IS THE 50-YEAR FINANCIAL STORM ON THE HORIZON? - A little financial commentary.

*Happy Birthday to my knight in shining armor!* 

Thor

Thor has taken up a new habit. He likes to sit on your feet. It's kind of nice, keeps the toes warm.

AND we got accepted into puppy kindergarden!! YEA!!!! I know this is a dumb thing to pray about, but we really need an extra hand and it was such a relief to get in. First class is Monday.

AND he weighs 30lbs. Damn.

Thor

Yesterday we went to the vet for the first time. They weighed Thor and he weighs 28lbs!! That's 3lbs more than just a handful of days ago. Wow!

After being at the vets we went to our favorite cafe for breakfast, Thor was so excited by all the activity happening. There were loads of people who wanted to pet him (of coure) and then several cyclists and their bikes. He, in his excitement, ran right into a bike's chain ring. He's had a nice black grease stain on his forehead since. As a result Jay has started calling him "chain ring."

Another cute moment yesterday, was with another local family who we have seen at Cibo before. They are a french family and have the cutest, little toehead of a girl. She is maybe 3, and apparently LOVES animals. Her dad told us that she has already said she wants to be a pet doctor when she grows up. She came right over and put her face against Thor's face and he gave her a huge kiss! She kept coming out to where we were sitting to talk with Thor. She even brought her napkin an laid it over his butt while he was napping. She tucked him in! So adorable.

We've had some difficulty getting Thor to listen to us this weekend. He's not coming when we ask, he's been overly "nippy" when he wants to play. I'm pretty exhausted. We found a puppy kindergarden class close to our home AND in the evenings after work (sad how hard this was to find). I sent our application in yesterday and all weekend I just keep hoping and praying that the class isn't full and that we get in. I personally could really use some support on this journey. I'm sure it will make Thor happier and less confused too.

Weekly Reading List [7.20.12]

1. THE VALUE OF TIME -  At what rate do you value your time right now? I mean, if you were to quantify what your time is worth in a dollar amount, what would it be and how would that impact your choices? This is a great article by the CEO of a start-up, sharing how he manages and prioritizes based on a monetary value of his time.

2. THE ATHLETE - Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein did a photoshoot of Olympic athletes. It's amazing to see the variety of body types, sizes, and shapes.

3. SOMALI REFUGEES TOP ONE MILLION MARK, SAYS UN AGENCY - The Somali government was toppled 21 years ago, and the country continues to be devestated by violence and power-plays. As the article says, this is "one of the world's longest and worst refugee crisis."

4. ETHIOPIA ROCKED BY MASSIVE MUSLIM PROTESTS - I find the tension between religious groups throughout Africa, very fascinating. The complex relationships between Christian and Muslim communities in particular, i.e. Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, etc. This article highlights some of the political power playing that happen.

5. JIHADISTS' FIERCE JUSTICE DRIVES THOUSANDS TO FLEE MALI & MALI: AVOIDING ESCALATION - Things are continuing to deteriorate in Mali this week. US counterterrorism groups continue to express concern that Mali is the next haven for terrorists. Great background article by the Crisis Group with foreign policy recommendations.

6. SYRIAN REBELS' CONFIDENCE GROWS AFTER BOMBING HITS ASSAD'S INNER CIRCLE & SYRIAN REBELS LAND DEADLY BLOW TO ASSAD'S INNER CIRCLE - Could it be a turning point?

**Today is the start of Ramadan. My thoughts and prayers are with Muslims around the world. May this be a time of seeking truth, "stimulating the mind, purifying the soul, and sympathizing with those who have not. (via LupeFiasco)**

The growing dog

Last week I weighed Thor. He weighed in at 21lbs.
This morning I weighed him again. He weighed in at 25lbs.

Any bets for next week? Will we hit 30lbs??

Weekly Reading List [7.14.12]

This week the theme is Africa...

1. RWANDA DENIES HELPING REBELS IN DEMOCRATIC CONGO & AFRICAN ARMY NEEDED TO FIGHT REBELS, MINISTERS SAY & CONGO-KINSHASA: RESPONDING TO THE MOST URGENT NEEDS IN NORTH KIVU

2. AFTER ATTACKS, KENYAN MUSLIMS GUARD CHRISTIAN CHURCHES & THE WITZ END - My friends Bekah and Jason live in Garissa (the northeast province of Kenya). Last Sunday they were evacuated from their home. The attacks had come too close to home, the police came to the church where they were worshiping and said they had to go. Glad my friends are safe.

3. DARFUR OPERATIONS: NIGERIAN SOLDIERS THREATEN MUTINY - ASK TO BE AIRLIFTED HOME

4. 3 STEPS LIBYA'S NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE TO STABILIZE THE COUNTRY

5. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN MALI "PROBABLE"

6. Someone compiled from all of Obama's speeches enough words to have him "sing" one of the top 40 pop songs. Just some humor for the weekend.

Thor

I'm sure every pet owner has nicknames for their dog or cat. Jay and I have come up with quite a few, and they are a bit more non-traditional. Our favorite recently is to call Thor "dingis." I should have prefaced that with, we say that with so so so much love.

Today we took dingis to the park, he LOVES it! He got to romp in the grass and run to his little hearts content. There were a few other dogs at the park today. Two little chiwawa type dogs, super high energy ran/sprinted right over to say hi. Thor did great, he's super friendly, loves other dogs. Then there was another dog, an american bulldog, named Einstein. Einstein is deaf, but a super mello loveable dog. Thor did great, so proud.

One of the things he does is, when we go outside. Thor will often sit down mid-walk and sniff the air. He'll sit real still, but you can see his nose is firing. It's pretty cool. We also saw it today at the park, he would be trotting along and all of a sudden get hot on a scent. He's such a smart dog.

Here's a photo of Thor 9 weeks on the left and 11 weeks on the right. You can see how much he's grown in the past 2 weeks. He doesn't really fit under the couch so well, but he sure does try.

Thor

Thor will be 11 weeks old on Wednesday! Sometimes it seems like we've had him for weeks and weeks, and then I look at the calendar and realize it hasn't even been two full weeks yet. It puts things in perspective for me. I desperately want him to be perfectly obedient and do exactly what I want. You won't be shocked by this, but he doesn't.

He's got his own little personality. He doesn't like the sun, can't really blame him. He's got so much fur, it must be unbearably hot. He loves to eat mulch and dig in the gardens around our condo. He is a creature of habit. When we walk or go "out" he strongly prefers to walk the same paths, we can even predict exactly where he will hop up from the street to the sidewalk. What an amazing memory he must have to remember these things.

Today, I came back to work after the weekend, and realized how much I was whining about how hard having a puppy is. While it's true that it is more work than I anticipated, it's still an amazing experience. It reminds me of listening to Mum talk about having three small children. She could have called it the terrible two's or she could reframe it and call it the terrific twos (which she did). I can think of this time as terrible, and hard, and exhausting, and think of Thor as stubborn, and misbehaving. Or I can embrace the fact that everyday is something new for him. There's a new smell he HAS to check out. Or a new game that he gets so excited about he goes nuts. I can love him and support him, or I can resent this stage of growth.

So I am going to try and write a little bit regularly about doggie life and what I'm learning. Focus on the amazing journey and his incredible growth and development.

Weekly Reading List [7.9.12]

From Twitter over the weekend...

1. @AJEnglish "Feature:Northern #Mali has imploded from a mix of #poverty, drought, #guns, #corruption, marginalisation aje.me/NPy5c6"

@texasinafrica "Someone finally covered the Mali deaths of those US Special Ops guys who were with 3 Moroccan prostitutes: j.mp/NSv18r "

2. @adrianhong "Shame. RT @TheEconomist: Not everyone is pleased about Africa's new breed of clergyman, whose wealth raises eyebrows econ.st/NPQ0j4"

3. @texasinafrica "UN & aid agencies have evacuated from Rutshuru: apne.ws/NbdVg2%0A

Some background from the WSJ on the conflict in the Congo"

4. @thehill "Clinton hails deal to provide $16 billion in Afghan development aid bit.ly/PzRXrk"

@csmonitor "Another $16 billion in aid, but Afghan businessmen say help us bit.ly/PBnKrK"

"$16 Billion in Civilian Aid Pledged to Afghanistan, With Conditions" from the NYTimes

5. @EgyptSourceBlog "New on EgyptSource: Morsi's Counter Coup by @MicheleDDunne #Morsi #SCAF #Parliment bit.ly/LacYGi"

Also, from the NYTimes, "Egypt's President Orders Return of Parliament"

In additional news, today mark's the 1 year anniversary of South Sudan! Congrats to the men and women who fought long and hard for their cessation from Sudan, and continued prayers for your wisdom and fortitude in governing your new country.