Happy New Year!

Happy 2013! Innocence is bliss.






Aidon/Getty.

Antidepressants: "more lives taken than saved" claims Dr. David Healy

"Isoniazid, reserpine, imipramine, atropine, stimulants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, fluoxetine*, ketamine – all have antidepressant credentials. The word coined by Max Lurie has lost meaning; it’s a basket for acronyms. Psychiatry was the first branch of medicine to have specialist hospitals and journals, the first to adopt controlled trials, rating scales, and guidelines. The antidepressants beckoned us toward clinical neuroscience but have led to myth, hidden data, ghostwriting, more lives taken than saved, womb to tomb consumption, and an increased incidence of “depression” from 1 per 1,000 to 1 in 5 of us.
Knowing when not to prescribe is the greatest art in medicine."

Dr. David Healy (here)

*Fluoxetine= Prozac 

Blogger: Make a backup of your blog

For how long you don't save a backup of your blog?
It takes one minute:

1 Go to Dashboard and click at Settings (last choice at the left).
2 In Settings click at "Other" (also last choice)
3 Click at "Export blog" and you'll have a .xml archive downloaded.

I just did it because... we never know.

Checkers: patience

I've been playing those games we all know and used to play when we were children. I didn't have patience to think all the possible outcomes of one move and this is the most important factor in many games.

I'm noticing it now. We have a card game, a little bit bit like canasta, but it's a version that only Brazilians play.
I remember that the first round I did well. The second not that much and at the rest of the game, we played for hours, my mind was on something else.

Fortunately my partner was kind enough not to call me names or those other compliments we pay when we get tired of losing.

I declined learning chess because I refused to memorize all those moves. So checkers was the only possibility although I also didn't have patience for more than two or three rounds. I always lost and it happened very quickly. Today I played this one and it took me a while to win.
Patience is the answer.

Macaw couples in Brazil

Macaws are very known in Brazil and we are so used to them that we forget to pay attention.

I found the picture of the top left and noticed that the contours around both makes a heart.

I tried to identify the photographer but didn't succeed but other pictures of these birds made me see the beauty. The couples are seen flying in the skies at the state of Mato Grosso in the pantanal region.

The blue macaws are my favorites.

On laziness

Merry Christmas 2012

The Grinch is ruining Xmas

Canada
Tuesday November 20, 2012

In Kingston, it’s not the Grinch but a 24-year-old man who police say stole Christmas.

As Christmas-themed floats slowly rolled down Princess St. during Kingston’s annual Santa Claus parade, an intoxicated man shouted blasphemous lies to shocked children: Santa doesn’t exist.

The man, whose gelled hair “looked like a set of devil horns protruding from his head,” was reported to Kingston police, Const. Steve Koopman said.

Police arrested a 24-year-old man around 6 p.m.

“It was pretty despicable that someone, during this time of the year, would tell kids Santa isn’t real — which of course we would argue,” Koopman said. (keep reading)
Via The Star.

Hitler was furious when informed that Santa
 doesn't exist.                                                                         (By hitlerantsparody)

 Confusing...

Sandy's Hook School-shooting Hidden Objects: Obama parting with parents and Robbie Parker acting

This is my first hidden object game and as I had this picture I used it as trial. These women are the mothers of some of the children allegedly killed in Sandy Hook school. At The Daily Mail there are other pictures of the smiling people.

Take a look at the video below where  the actor Robbie Parker is talking and smiling to everybody and change to the crying father when the show begins. Quite a performance! This is spooky.

Addicted to hidden objects game

I did the "Hidden World of Art" again and got the first position.
What an accomplishment! I scored the first and the third place. Mom is very happy.

The good thing about this game is that while searching for objects the player immerses in the picture which gives an understandment of the objects and architecture of  the painting's period and also an appreciation of the oeuvre.

The living-room on the right is the result of the points that are used to buy each item.

As I said I didn't like the second version of the game  and I'm trying to find a good one. For free? Yes. A proof that I love searching for hidden stuffs. It is not easy to make a good game.

Operation Himmler: Nazi's false flag project to legitimize the invasion of Poland

“Naturally the common people don’t want war, neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” - Hermann Goering


Operation Himmler, a Nazi Germany SS project to create the appearance of Polish aggression against Germany, which would be used to justify the subsequent invasion of Poland.

On the night of 31 August 1939 a small group of German operatives, dressed in Polish uniforms and led by Alfred Naujocks, seized the Gleiwitz station and broadcast a short anti-German message in Polish (sources vary on the content on the message).

Several prisoners (most likely from the Dachau concentration camp) and a local Polish-Silesian activist (arrested a day before) were left dead on the scene in Polish uniforms.

Who was the first victim of a war that would do more than forty million of them? It was a prisoner of the Nazi concentration camps (probably Dachau) used in a German secret operation that would lead to the outbreak of World War II.

Some months before the invasion of Poland by Germany, several German newspapers and other politicians like Adolf Hitler had already begun a national and international campaign accusing Polish authorities of organizing or tolerating violent ethnic cleansing of Germans living in Poland.

The August 22, 1939, Adolft Hitler warned his generals that he would get something that would legitimize an action war against Poland:

«I will provide a propagandistic casus belli. Its credibility doesn't matter. The victor will not be asked whether he told the truth.»

Then they launched a plan that had the name of its creator Heinrich Himmler and was initially supervised by Heinrich Müller and then by Reinhard Heydrich. The aim was to create the idea of a Polish aggression against Germany, which would later be used to justify the invasion of Poland. In addition, another of the intentions of Adolf Hitler was that such an operation would confuse the Poland allies (United Kingdom and France) and delay their declaration of war on Germany.

Operation Himmler had several episodes: (keep reading)



Very interesting footage from Die Deutsche Wochenschau in 1939. Most aspects of World War II from the German point of view are covered. Most scenes are of genuine combat in the Soviet Union, Italy, the Atlantic and the Western Front. Rare footage of Waffen SS, Panzer troops and Panzer Grenadiers, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and the common German people are filmed in these extraordinary propaganda films.

Die Deutsche Wochenschau (The German Newsreel) was the sole series of German newsreels from 1940 until the end of World War II. It was usually narrated by Harry Giese (1903-1991)

Preciosities

US government is suspending freedom of speech in Connecticut

Connecticut

I just found this video, a must-see, and Martin, who has a great channel at Youtube, raises some important topics about our lives in a very nice way.
He talks about the possibility of Connecticut school-shootings being a false-flag for the purpose of banning weapons from America.

Search for "school-shooting false flag" and you'll find numerous sites discussing this possibility.

The message is:: Americans have to fight for your rights and try to have a realistic picture about what is going on in US and the world,
The world is upside down. America doesn't need play-writers to create horror. US government is doing a great job in creating massacres and even fictitious stories that are transmitted by CNN, ABC, FOX, CBS and all the others. And it is spread all over the world.

Watch the video an try to understand. It is about your life. Be selfish.

Lady Liberty as Divided American flag with tears

Copyright by E, Edwin Ennor, 2004

Debora Kerr

Ce bel amour, qui ne peut mourir,

Sera pour nous un doux souvenir,

Promesse ardente du premier baiser,

Qui nous lie, tous deux, pour l'éternité

D'un bel amour toujours grandissant,

Qui défiera les épreuves du temps.

Trouvons la joie, reste dans mes bras,

Que nous vivions un bel amour,

Affaire de coeur qu'on n'oublie pas.

Our love affair is a wondrous thing

That we'll rejoice in remembering

Our love was born with our first embrace

And a page was torn out of time and space

Our love affair, may it always be

A flame to burn through eternity

So take my hand with a fervent prayer

That we may live and we may share

A love affair to remember

The voice is belongs to the great soprano Marni Nixon's and not to Debora Kerr who is receiving the Honorary Oscar in 2010 - right photography.

The Four Dogs series: last episode

"Those who want to continue the hunger strike raise their plates."

The Four Dogs series was not planed. I did published a picture in 2010 with four dogs and found two others with four dogs. I decided to make this series.
This the the twentieth and last picture of the series.
Most of the photographs are without the author because I found them like this.

Morgan Freeman's analysis about Connecticut shooting is a hoax

His death has already been reported  twice and now a statement attributed to Morgan Freeman about the Connecticut school-shooting is a hoax.

The statement blames the way the media approaches these tragedies:


"You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here's why.

It's because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.

CNN's article says that if the body count "holds up", this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer's face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity? None that I've seen yet. Because they don't sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.

You can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news."

These are not Morgan Freeman words but it raises good points.  Some sites went further and claimed that the perpetrator was on antidepressants SSRIs without any evidence.
Many school shootings, columbine included , were committed by  people who were under antidepressants SSRIs - Prozac-like. It is a fact.
Antidepressants SSRIs induces violent behavior especially when the dose is reduced or during the transition from one antidepressant to another.
Eric Harris, Columbine, was changing from Zoloft to Luvox.

Free game on Art

Yesterday I spent the whole day playing this game.
I've just finished and downloaded the number two 'The Hidden World of Art 2".
It's a free game and I think it's interesting for those who want to get  in touch with paintings or for those who want to pass the time. You can download it here or choose other hidden games that has to do with something you like. Click the image to enlarge. Do you know who is the painter? Hmm... I'm on vacation. I need to take a time.

Update: December, 12
The second game is not as good as the first one. so I gave up. One one of things that is amazing about electronic games is that everything has to do with money.
This one is no exception and the reward was money to buy furniture for a house.

Update: December 24
I tried again the second version. The choice of paintings is not good and the items are so hard to find that it gets irritating.
I kept going to see if it would get better but the more I insisted the more stressed.
If you want to make someone hate art and paintings you found a way. Give this link and I assure you that going to museums or galleries will be the last thing s/he will want to do.
I don't like writing about things I don't admire. It was my fault insisting.
I'm still looking for good games. If you know something it would be of great help.

Hangman: I visited 188 countries

How I wish I had visited more countries but the truth is that I am still trying to recover but  it's
being difficult.
I played hangman today found 188 out of 194 countries. I missed Brazil. lol
What a waste of time but it's being hard to concentrate on anything.
Just wrote this post to be in touch
Love, Ana.

Sorrow by Van Gogh

I still have no computer and I'm also in a difficult period. People hurt sometimes. We have to mourn and regain strenght.
I miss blogging and my virtual friends. You're all with me and it is good to know that you're all there even thou we never met. It's amazing how deeply connected I feel to many people. It's good
People we get in touch are part of our universe and affect us. It is a blessing to have people around the world that I can feel that are close to me.
I want to make a post about this kind of bond we have in the virtual world. Not now. I'm very sad.
I never did a post like this and... dunno. I have to regain control over my emotions. Yes... I'm crying.
Love and peace to all of us.
Image: Sorrow, 1882, by Van Gogh

Broken computer

My computer is broken.
I'll be back as soon as possible. House is getting cleaner and cleaner.

War in Gaza: Obama supports the massacre of Palestinians

Click to enlarge

“The bombs that are falling on Gaza right now are paid for by US tax dollars, as unconditional military aid to Israel remains an unquestioned budgetary priority,” writes Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP).


U.S. and allies are backing the massacre of Palestinians claiming that Israel has the "right of defense":

"In his second phone call with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, since the conflict began, Obama backed "Israel’s right to defend itself," while expressing "regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives," according to a statement from the White House late Friday."
Joshua Hersh at The HuffPost.

As always the facts are distorted and Israel is the victim even though it was the assassination of the Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari - a peace activist who was discussing about a long-term peace between Israel and Hamas - that started the crisis.

"Unconfirmed reports suggest the Israeli military is using white phosphorous and other illegal weapons. It is likely. Israel uses them in all its wars. New ones are tested in real time. Doctors report injuries never seen before." PressTV.

People around the word has manifested their support protesting in the streets.

“It’s an atrocity what is being perpetrated as punishment on the people in Gaza.It’s a crime… I think it is an abomination that this continues to go on,”
Former US President Jimmy Carter

"In the context of total aerial supremacy, in which one side in a conflict deploys lethal aircraft against opponents with no means of defending themselves, the bombardment bears all the hallmarks of war crimes."
The attacks, in retaliation for rockets fired by the Palestinians, would not contribute to the security of Israel, he said.
"It is a blight not only on the Middle East, but on the entire world - and particularly world leaders who have consistently failed the people of Palestine and Israel over the past 60 years."
Desmond Tutu

"I am telling the Zionist oppressors that if you insist on your aggressions, you will face the consequences of your mistakes, you and those who you think are protecting you... I am saying to Israel stop, or you will face the anger of Egyptians... Our souls are striving for the holy lands... Everyone must know that the will and abilities of Egypt could take out the roots of evil just like it took out the roots of oppression... Read history and you would know that you will never become victorious... There will be no peace or prosperity with oppression, as the bloods of victims will be a curse on you and will move all nations against you... The Zionists shall not have power over the people of Gaza, and we are not going to leave Gaza alone." -
Egypt President Mursi, Friday night.




This video shows how the mainstream media manipulates the facts of the conflict.
I was going to write a detailed post but at the moment there is a terrible bombardment that is killing more Palestinians.
A genocide is going on and children are among them.
I'm following Harry Fear that is live as explained in the post below.

"American Muslims for Palestine believes that the occupation leaders are using Palestinian blood for election purposes. “Each time the political climate in Israel reaches a dead end Israeli officials attack Palestinians for political gain in hopes of swaying the Israeli voter.”"

Israeli commentator Jonathan Cook says “Obama’s policy towards Israel and the Palestinians will be the same as in his first term, with policy determined by Zionist pressure and concern for future Democratic Party prospects.”
Is There any Hope for Palestine? by Karin Friedmann.

Operation Pillar of Clouds: Harry Fear reporting direct from Gaza

Harry Fear is at Gaza and is reporting live at this channel. In case he is not reporting he is sleeping.
You can follow Harry's blog Gaza Report.com to read his articles and watch his videos.
I found Harry watching a video by RT where he was invited to speak at "CrossTalk" and his remarks caught my attention because it was clear he knew exactly what is going on.
I google him and found this great human being. This is how real journalism is done, with passion and transparency. Harry Fear is a documentary filmmaker, an activist and a journalist.
Thank you Harry. Be safe.

Gaza Conflict: The world condenms Israel

Left: UK Jewish MP Gerard Kaufman speaks after the attacks in 2009.
Right: Americans protesting at 2nd Avenue on November, 15.

Sir Gerard Kaufman: "Israel was born out of Jewish Terrorism" Tzipi Livnis Father was a Terrorist" Astonishing claims in the House of Parliament. Sir Gerald Kaufman, the veteran Labour MP, yesterday compared the actions of Israeli troops in Gaza to the Nazis who forced his family to flee Poland.

During a Commons debate on the fighting in Gaza, he urged the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel.

Sir Gerald, who was brought up as an orthodox Jew and Zionist, said: "My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town a German soldier shot her dead in her bed.

"My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza. The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploits the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians."

He said the claim that many of the Palestinian victims were militants "was the reply of the Nazi" and added: "I suppose the Jews fighting for their lives in the Warsaw ghetto could have been dismissed as militants."

He accused the Israeli government of seeking "conquest" and added: "

They are not simply war criminals, they are fools."

Protests in Korea.
The vast majority of citizens of the world condemn Israel. Still they keep the genocide. We had enough.

Europe Austerity Protests: police beat and arrest Europeans citizens

The European Day of Action and Solidarity on 14 November, organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), resulted in a strong mobilisation across Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in a large number of European cities against the brutality of austerity measures.

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol commented:

"Europe’s leaders should recognize the full magnitude of yesterday’s European mobilization  Some 50 trade union organisations from 28 countries participated actively in this day of action. It is impossible to pursue the path of austerity, which is a total failure. According to a recent report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the austerity measures implemented in Greece are leading to violations of fundamental rights. We need to change course immediately. The social situation is urgent."
Source:  European Trade Union Confederation  ETUC.

It is appalling that the police has beaten and arrested citizens during the protests and that the answer of the European governments is that they cannot do anything.
There are people committing suicide because they don't see a way out and numerous people don't see their future.

The mainstream media is reporting the violence against unionists, activists and supporters as if it it was nothing exceptional.

When governments treat their own citizens this way one has to stop and think what is going on.
There is something very evil behind it all. I didn't receive the memo.
All I know is that the money is in the account of few and it is a lot of money.
Scary times.

Neo-Nazism in Greece and America

"It is unacceptable that they [Greeks abroad] are assimilated to this kind of sub-humans who have invaded our fatherland with the all sorts of diseases that they lug around,"
Eleni Zaroulia Greek MP on October, 19

Eleni Zarouliaus is the wife of Nikos Michaloliakos.leader of the neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn.
The only information about Eleni at the internet is this statement that was translated to many languages.

Strangely she is a member of the "Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination"  of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - left picture - that also has NATO as one of it's International Parliamentary Assemblies.




I just came across with this video with a demonstration of the National Socialist Organization being escorted by the police that was hostile to those who were counter-protesting.

To be a member of the National Socialist Party:

"Party Membership is open to non-Semitic heterosexuals' of European Descent. If you really care for your heritage and for the future of your family, race and nation, fill out a Membership Application today."

I never forget that after WWI the economic and social situation led many to despair.

With the help of money from nations that feared the revolt of people the Nazism and Fascism was put in power.

The National Socialist Movevement - also known as Neo-Nazi's - held a protest rally in front of the lawn of Pomona City Hall, Sunday, October 5th, 2011 Across the street, they were greeted by a crowd of angry counter protestors, numbering more than three times their size. Police from several counties, dressed in riot gear, held the crowds at bay so the movement's leaders could recite speeches on Anti-immigration and hateful slurs, mostly about Mexican Immigrants. The day ended peacefully as the police escorted the NSM through a planned escort route. Counter protestors, most of whom are of Hispanic descent, left angered at the police for not letting them pursue the NSM.

Bureaucratic part of life

I've been busy lately taking care of some boring stuffs. That's why I'm not publishing as usual.
Just found this .gif. Let's dream.

US Election 2012: November 6, 2012 mourning day

Americans will vote tomorrow. I'm already mourning.
Candidates didn't even had to explain their intentions. This is a first.

"The Future:  Post-Election Consequences

With or without the re-election of Obama, his regime and policies have laid the groundwork for an ever more regressive and reactionary social agenda:  living standards including health, welfare, social security will be cut drastically. Afro-Americans will remain invisible except to the police and racist judicial system.  Immigrants will be hunted down and driven out of homes and jobs:  immigrant student dreams will become nightmares of fear and trepidation.  Death squads, proxy and drone wars will multiply to prop up a bankrupt US empire.

Unaccountable and hypocritical progressives will shift gears and criticize the president they elected; or if it’s Romney they will attack the same vices they overlooked during Obama’s electoral campaign:  more cuts in public spending and climate change will result in greater deterioration in everyday life and basic infrastructure; more floods, fires, plagues and blackouts.  New Yorkers will learn to detox their toilet water; they might be drinking and bathing in it.
Prof. James Petras

Source: "US Elections: From the “Lesser to the Greater Evil”. The Demise of Critical Liberalism"

Economic Austerity for the people vs money laundering to the rich

I just read this article by Julie Lévesque and felt like sharing because it answer some very important questions.
Where is the money? Read it.


Money Laundering and Offshore Fraud for the Rich, Economic Austerity for the Poor

By Julie Lévesque
Global Research, November 02, 2012
Excerpts:



"Offshore banking is the elephant in the global economic room which the political and financial elite is trying to hide from the public view. While imposing austerity measures on hard working citizens, they are well aware that astronomical amounts of money are secretly held in offshore banks, thus lost in taxes. Where is that money from? What is it for?

Drug cartels, fraud, tax evasion and money laundering are common answers to those questions. Despite this reality and even in this era of fiscal austerity, the question world leaders avoid is: why is secret banking still allowed? Are they capable of putting a term to it but unwilling to do it because of the benefits it provides? Clearly.

Every once in a while a robber baron will serve as a scapegoat to give a pale illusion of justice to the common man. Although they deserve to be penalized, the corrupt banking system which allowed them to operate remains inviolate and its flaws are never questioned. Offshore banking is not a parallel banking structure. It is at the heart of the banking system. All major banks have offshore subsidiaries."
(keep reading)

conclusion:
"F. William Engdahl warns that the same kind of “austerity measures paved the way to the III Reich” and insists that the banks are “the source of the problem”:

The EU governments have shied away from any resolute action on the banks involved in the dodgy lending in the first place during the financial bubble years. Those banks remain the source of the problem. There is no lending going on to the real economy, and that`s the root cause of the 25 per cent unemployment in Spain and Greece and elsewhere across the EU. Until that problem with the banks is addressed, we’re not going to see economic recovery. To treat it only as a sovereign debt crisis is grabbing the tale of the elephant and calling it a snake. (F. William Engdahl, Germany Enforces Same Austerity that Paved Way to 3rd Reich, October 30, 2012.)

With the recent images of the brutal Spanish police state in mind we have to wonder if following the corrupt banking industry diktats is a very ruinous ride on the highway to totalitarianism."

Sandy hurricane: Unknown Soldier is safe

Even as Hurricane Sandy approaches, soldiers of the 3rd Inf Reg. continue to stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb has been guarded continuously since 1948.

Source: KXLY 4 News.

Update November, 3:

The picture with three soldiers was shot last September.
The left one was taken depicting Sgt. Jose A. Torres Jr. of U.S. Army guarding the tom was taken  in October, 29 during hurricane Sandy.

Either way the symbol was safe during the hurricane and that should make us very secure and peaceful.

She is always a woman by Billy Joel

She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes,
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies,
And she only reveals what she wants you to see.
She hides like a child but she's always a woman to me.

She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you,
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you,
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free,
Yeah she steals like a thief but she's always a woman to me.

Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants,
She's ahead of her time.
Oh, and she never gives out and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
And she'll promise you more than the garden of Eden

then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding,
But she brings out the best and the worst you can be.
Blame it all on yourself cause she's always a woman to me.
Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants,
She's ahead of her time.
Oh, and she never gives out and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
She is frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel,
She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool,
But she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree,
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me.

I found this post at my draft's page and felt like sharing it now.  Whenever I read descriptions about women's behavior of men's behaviour I have the feeling that the attributes describe both genres.
The piano is great!
Have a great Sunday!

Mondrian's The Red Tree

The Red Tree, 1908.
Piet Mondrian

You might know Mondrian by his Compositions. I feel the same harmony here.

Palestine: it is a country at Google's hangman game

Click here to play hangman. Choose "Hangman with countries".
Have a great weekend!

Dove Dead Sea minerals: are the minerals from occupied territory?

I was watching a movie and the advertisements started. I usually zap to take a look at the other channels because I hate ads.
But today I came across with the new Dove deodorant with Dead Sea minerals. I laughed as always when I come across with the ideas the companies find to sell.

The cosmetic industry is a great source of examples about how people are easily manipulated. It always amazes me how women believe that those creams will remove years from the face or make all sort of changes in the skin.

Shampoos, conditioners, leave-ins and a whole paraphernalia will cause a dramatic change in the hair. After trying three brands with no success some women are ready to try the next novelty.  I'll never forget reading at a shampoo bottle "anti-gravity effect". I have no idea what it means as most women.

The reality is that even if in the formula of one of these creams there is a component that works the percentage for cosmetics is not enough for the treatment. If it has retinoic acid, for instance, the percentage is 0,0004 which is nothing. Cosmetics that have drugs in their formula follow the same rule.

The Dead Sea minerals! Can you imagine the power? It made me remind of the article by Harriet Sherwood at The Guardian:

Israel accused of pillaging Dead Sea resources in occupied territory
Cosmetics firm Ahava singled out for criticism in report by Palestinian human rights organisation
Harried Sherwood, September 3, 2012

Israel is "pillaging" the natural resources of the Dead Sea which lie in occupied Palestinian territory in violation of international law, a report which singles out the cosmetics firm Ahava for criticism.

According to the Palestinian human rights organisation al-Haq, the "appropriation and exploitation of Palestinian land and natural resources in the occupied Dead Sea area by Israeli settlers and companies … meet the requirements of the crime of pillage". (keep reading)

Eleven women raised their voices about Dove's new product at The Grocer.

Rada Daniell | 17 Apr 2012 19:55

Hi,

Before I consider buying Dove deodorant I would like to know if the Dead Sea minerals are acquired form the illegal Jewish settlements located in the occupied Palestine. I practice ethical shopping and I wold appreciate if you would let me know.

Many thanks!

Rada

It is quite inspiring knowing that some women are alert. Even if it is proven that the new Dove's deodorant have the minerals from a legal place it is out of the planet thinking that it can do what the ads claim they do.  Still the cosmetic industry make billions of dollars with their magical products.

US elections 2012: the lesser of two evils?

I don't need to watch debates or listen  to what they are saying.

This circus is around for a long time. I'm tired.


Unfortunately most people are not paying attention or being informed about all the slaughters, murders, genocides, crimes that US government has been doing for a long time.

I'm tired. I've seen too much, got horrified many times... I know I'll die and things will be the same.
This is tragic. When I take a look at the world map...
Now US government's target are also Americans. Not in my worst nightmares I could think about such a thing.

I'm tired.

Woodstock

They keep rocking!

Back problems and tingling feet= away from PC

I have a lumbar disc herniation at L5 and I'm in one of those crisis.
For those who don't know about sciatic pains and other symptoms
it is not a very pleasant pain.

Now I'm having my feet tingling and it is difficult to walk and it makes me
nervous and impatient because it tingles when I'm sat too.

So I'll have to wait and be away from the computer.
I have to have a notebook.  Grr...

The Four Dogs series: Summertime

summertime

Nineteenth of the series The Four Dogs, it has twenty pictures.
Rule 23.678.90: dogs who look back are not counted.

Author: unknown.

Frustration-free packaging or Assassination-free packaging?

I was searching for Kindle even though I'll not buy it but I wanted to check the price and came across with the seal "Frustration-free packaging".  launched by Amazon.

I searched for the expression frustration-free and found the "wrap-rage" concept:

"Wrap rage, also called package rage, is the common name for heightened levels of anger and frustration resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging, particularly some heat-sealed plastic blister packs and clamshells. Consumers suffer thousands of injuries per year, such as cut fingers and sprained wrists, from tools used to open packages and from the packaging itself. Easy-opening systems are available, when desired, to improve convenience to end-users."

The word "frustration" is quite inaccurate and it is also noticeable that all human emotions and reactions are described in a way that sounds pathologic.
The problem are in the packages not the feelings that it provokes, and yes, sometimes it is rage because it is not understandable how can these packages be at the market.

But we don't need an expression that dislocates the problem from the package to the consumer that seems to be suffering of a disease:
"She cannot answer now because she is in a frantic wrap-rage episode! Call her later."

What about "deluded and extrahuman package-creator"? Who invented these packages? Why?
I'll not search because I have a life and good stuffs to read. But... I cannot help wondering how much oil is used in these plastics.

In 2003 The Telegraph published an article claiming that: "More than 60,000 people require hospital treatment each year after injuring themselves opening difficult packaging, research has shown."

"Assassination-free packaging" would be more appropriated but it would not put the blame on the consumer.
Corporations would have to pay if the real reason of these injuries was explained so they decided to defend the idea that it is because of the "frustration" of trying to open something that is not possible to open that people get injured. Nothing related to the packages.

Nothing changed even though they knew about these injuries and some are pretty serious.
I wonder why not a single movie using one of theses packages as a way to kill someone.

Oops, I hope I'm not helping any homicide.

Where are my scissors? I need to open a polish-nail.

The first graffitis in the history of humankind

Each era has it's representational system.

Craig Alan's portrays and his people's technique

He had the idea when he was taking pictures from the sixth floor and saw an image in a crowd.

Influenced by T.L. Lange, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Wanda Sullivan, Richard Diebenkorn, Tommy Taylor and Jasper Johns he keeps the Pop Art flame alive creating this iconic pictures of artists, politicians and singers using people as pixels.

Click to enlarge.

Six years without Anna Politkovskaya

                                                                                   © Photo Anna Politkovskaya's family archive
The first post of this blog is a quotation by Anna Politkovskaya.
Whenever I search for pictures of Anna it amazes me by the many expressions and how her always changing  hair helps showing different attributes of this great woman.

The first time I saw Anna Politkovskaya I knew nothing about her. It was a documentary about the Moscow theater siege and she speaks for one or two minutes.
Instantly I knew this woman was special and was deeply concerned with human beings.
I don't wanna talk about those who killed her and I don't even need to know who pulled the trigger.
We know why she was murdered: they hate those who are connected with ethics, integrity, fighting for human rights, truth and it is the same way not only in Russia: it's like this all over the world.

I want to remember Anna as a journalist, activist, thinker a woman of multiple gifts.
She is so above those who killed her that I rather not refer to them in a post about her. I already did.
Next time I'll say nothing but praise and show the work of Anna Politkovskaya.
Let's celebrate her.

Anna Politkovskaya                                30 August 1958 – 7 October 2006