The Crisis of ISIS

Some rather stupid comments on this video, but the video itself is a must-watch. 

I had a rather brief, but sad, discussion with a lady who works with Perfection Personified. We were pretty much in agreement, main point being that if children grow up in war-zones, it can damage their psyche and worldview to unimaginable depths. 

 I realize that if you haven't lived in the Middle East you cannot wrap your head around how complex the situation really is. 

From the outside, looking in, I suppose it seems to people that ISIS is supported by Mozlemz worldwide, when actually, it's the opposite. The outrage, the anti-Isis fatwas, air-strikes against ISIS, and so on, are obviously not being reported on most news channels.

 Pretty much every country has spoken out about this new and strange group that's risen up--that includes KSA, UAE, Turkey, etc. 

Some illogical, misleading, and inflammatory remarks are being posted on the internet in favour of ISIS, but these are from uneducated, frustrated little twerps, keen to draw in losers. Possibly under multiple catfish accounts (judging by the reasoning). 

http://lettertobaghdadi.com/
Signed by 126 of the prominent Sunni scholars (deliberately ambiguous wording on news channels would have you believe Sunnis support ISIS)

Genius-tique

Being obsessed with the artistic aspect of anything, I can do things, dans un 'jiffy' as vous say, without realizing what I did/why I did it. It's like cooking an excellent supper while taking swigs of champagne, and waking up from a drunken stupor not remembering anything you did. Intuition sans awareness. 

I love videos that note all the little practical techniques.

 Mathias Alan's videos get down to every precise detail, like exactly what brushes are best for merging crease colours with liner, what camouflage palette to use, what cream colour bases layer best, etc.

Especially interesting, to me, is how he maximizes a few colours. 

One thing you learn from painting, is that using a gajillion paints in an amateurish attempt to achieve a simple effect results in mud, whereas one or two colours will do, if used properly. 

 That he explains the sequence of things (mascara afore lower liner = using the wet dark smudges from mascara mistakes to thy advantage) makes it useful, too. 

 I have learned a ton from watching these videos, and they're not dull and drawn-out.

If I were ever to cook...

Off Topic Again

Credits: kimk (i don't know who created it)

Refresh by Ruth Tal

Ruth Tal, living advertisement for healthy eating

Refresh (by Ruth Tal and Jennifer Houston) is a vegan cookbook that doesn't suck. (Link to purchase).
This is a book to gift to people one cares about, along with a juicer and a lifetime pre-paid gift card for all the organic food ever [I WISH].

This isn't exactly a proper review...more of a nutshell review.

Refresh makes for an introduction to delicious and healthful dining.
The recipes come straight from Toronto's popular FRESH restaurant, and give you a wide variety of dishes, from energizing espresso drinks, to veggie burgers that don't suck.

Obviously, results might be too tangy or mild, depending on how addled one's tastebuds may be from boiling hot coffee over the years.
Therefore, we turn to...discretion or the spice rack! Duh. Deutsche mark. For example, her Thai peanut sauce for her Buddha Rice Bowl, was too overpowering for us, as written. So je toned down the lime juice next time.
(I theenk zat in general, these recipes err on the side of tangy zestfulness, so balancing out the smaller quantities, with 'earthy' herbs/spices works for me).

Her recipes for juices and smoothies are wonderful--there is something for every need and taste. You know... energy, illness/general weakness, lollipop-cravers, PMS.
[That she manages to make wheatgrass not-so-nayyystay is something I have to take her word for, as I just haven't made the effort to find frozen wheatgrass. Once someone gifted it to me, and that was enough to turn me off POUR LA VIE.]

I've accumulated about 4 weeks worth of meals, from this cookbook, and they've registered as big hits in my household. Not just with yours turly, but EVEN avec...ze Others (z'uzzers).
 That it passed the Picky Eater test, 2 people with opposing taste (baby who LIVES for fruit and veggies, his dad doesn't), is testament that it's not all in my head, this really is a superb resource.

Occasionally I did change her recipes around once I got the hang of them.

Modifications were necessary to:

1. Up the calorie ante (for baby's benefit).
2. Bulk it up for the habitually carnivorous man. (avocado/meat/mushroom-it up)
3. Stretch em out for several meals.

I really recommend this as a tantalizing peek into the healthful way of life. After this, our family became addicted and so I sought out a couple of other health-conscious curkburks, reviews of which may or may not be coming up.

Times of Israel deleted this

Bad for public image to out the way Zionists really think, eh... but I have the 'cache'/google archive of it copy-pasted here...lots of BS and the standard lies woven in there but w/ever...maybe he really believes them, although I don't believe he can possibly gloss over past massacres with these excuses, so it's probs intentional:

When Genocide is Permissible, by Yochanan Gordon
--
Judging by the numbers of casualties on both sides in this almost one-month old war one would be led to the conclusion that Israel has resorted to disproportionate means in fighting a far less- capable enemy. That is as far as what meets the eye. But, it’s now obvious that the US and the UN are completely out of touch with the nature of this foe and are therefore not qualified to dictate or enforce the rules of this war – because when it comes to terror there is much more than meets the eye.
I wasn’t aware of this, but it seems that the nature of warfare has undergone a major shift over the years. Where wars were usually waged to defeat the opposing side, today it seems – and judging by the number of foul calls it would indicate – that today’s wars are fought to a draw. I mean, whoever heard of a timeout in war? An NBA Basketball game allows six timeouts for each team during the course of a game, but last I checked this is a war! We are at war with an enemy whose charter calls for the annihilation of our people. Nothing, then, can be considered disproportionate when we are fighting for our very right to live.
The sad reality is that Israel gets it, but its hands are being tied by world leaders who over the past six years have insisted they are such good friends with the Jewish state, that they know more regarding its interests than even they do. But there’s going to have to come a time where Israel feels threatened enough where it has no other choice but to defy international warnings – because this is life or death.
Most of the reports coming from Gazan officials and leaders since the start of this operation have been either largely exaggerated or patently false. The truth is, it’s not their fault, falsehood and deceit is part of the very fabric of who they are and that will never change. Still however, despite their propensity to lie, when your enemy tells you that they are bent on your destruction you believe them. Similarly, when Khaled Meshal declares that no physical damage to Gaza will dampen their morale or weaken their resolve – they have to be believed. Our sage Gedalia the son of Achikam was given intelligence that Yishmael Ben Nesanyah was plotting to kill him. However, in his piety or rather naiveté Gedalia dismissed the report as a random act of gossip and paid no attention to it. To this day, the day following Rosh Hashana is commemorated as a fast day in the memory of Gedalia who was killed in cold blood on the second day of Rosh Hashana during the meal. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same mistakes over and over. History is there to teach us lessons and the lesson here is that when your enemy swears to destroy you – you take him seriously.
Hamas has stated forthrightly that it idealizes death as much as Israel celebrates life. What other way then is there to deal with an enemy of this nature other than obliterate them completely?
News anchors such as those from CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera have not missed an opportunity to point out the majority of innocent civilians who have lost their lives as a result of this war. But anyone who lives with rocket launchers installed or terror tunnels burrowed in or around the vicinity of their home cannot be considered an innocent civilian. If you’ll counter, that Hamas has been seen abusing civilians who have attempted to leave their homes in response to Israeli warnings to leave – well then, your beginning to come to terms with the nature of this enemy which should automatically cause the rules of standard warfare to be suspended.
Everyone agrees that Israel has the right to defend itself as well as the right to exercise that right. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has declared it, Obama and Kerry have clearly stated that no one could be expected to sit idle as thousands of rockets rain down on the heads of its citizens, placing them in clear and present danger. It seems then that the only point of contention is regarding the measure of punishment meted out in this situation.
I will conclude with a question for all the humanitarians out there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly stated at the outset of this incursion that his objective is to restore a sustainable quiet for the citizens of Israel. We have already established that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the safety and security of its people. If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?


The thesis that the danger of genocide was hanging over us in June 1967 and that Israel was fighting for its existence, was only bluff, which was born and developed after the war.
-Matityahu Peled, general