Wednesday, March 16, 2016

23 Things Animals Can Teach Us About Our Lives - Advice in Pictures

So, I love Pinterest, and if we're not friends on there you should find me so I can steal your cute/innovative/handy-dandy ideas, too. For me, it's an excellent place to store recipes (that I'll never remember I pinned there), scrapbooking templates, projects (that I'll never remember I pinned there), and umpteen photos of cute animals. Let's be honest, mostly cats. This week has, thus far, been mostly grey and unfortunately cold here in Bursa, so I think some cute animals photos are in store for today.

1. This eager looking kitty in a kitty hide away. 
Lovely kitty:

Why is he peeking out? Because life is so much better when it's shared. But from a place you can easily escape back into your hole. I mean home. 

2. This monotone cat family.
Kittens!:

This family is proving to us beyond all probable doubt that everything is black and white with shades of grey.

3. This like mother/like daughter duo.

cat ♡:

Proof that even in kitty-dom the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

4. This integrated family.
Cute kittens with mommy:

Because love knows no color.

5. This determined cat and this equally determined chair.
 :

Because challenges are all about perspective.

6. This zenned out kitty.
Cats can sleep anywhere:

Because sometimes you wake up in the morning, look at your to do list, think about all the responsible things you will have to accomplish before bed, and you just go back to sleep.

7. This cat who has mastered his chakras. 
E-excuse me... But, I would like you to pet me again. I am sorry if I disturbed you, but I liked being petted.:

Whenever you feel yourself collapsing in gate pose (which is obviously a metaphor for life), just internalize this little kitten and imagine your head, heart, and hands reaching forward. 

8. This cup of joy.
What I always want to see in a morning cup of coffee.:

Because some things are more necessary than your morning boost of caffeine.

9. This panda whose little heart overfloweth.
I love you!:

Because, in your heart if not in your mind, you know there is someone who you love soooo much that you would squeeze to their arm and look at them with such unbridled love, even if there was a camera pointed at your face.

10. These Origins of Love
Two kittens make one heart. (KO) Angelic kitties. Don't be fooled! Naughtiness dressed up in furry clothes! Precious though. At times. Mostly naughty.:

Because someone will always be there to expand your heart.

11. This epic fail.
The cute but tragic but, let’s be honest, more cute than tragic Panda Slide Accident of 2008. | Community Post: The 50 Cutest Things That Ever Happened:

Because you won't be good at everything.

12. This blatant show of materialism.
Humorous, Funny and Cute Animal Photos: Humor Page: Archive:

Because some things ARE really important.

13. This tactile monkey and the eager-beaver recipient. 
Unlikely animal friendships - monkey and kitten (hva):
Because when you see a cat you have to touch it. Or when a monkey wants to touch you, you have to let it.

14. This star-gazer.

Now that cloud looks like a........:

Because sometimes it's okay to slow down and revel in the wonder. 

15. This sunny shower.
Always find a reason to laugh. It may not add years to life but it will surely add life to your years.:

Because you, too, can sing and dance in the rain.

16. This cat who shows his love. Literally.

precious:

We all could learn a little something from this kitty. This cat has taken the sometimes negatively connoted expression, "Wear your heart on your sleeve" and has turned it around to "wear your heart on your nose," which he does in order to remind us everyday how much he loves and appreciates us.

17. This jovial fellow.

Baby elephant showing off...captured my heart:

Because why not make every movement a dance?

18. The Gun Show

Young gorilla showing his guns by Laurie A. Rubin:

Because you are so strong. Just as you are today.

19. These juxtapositions.

Kittens:

Because you've got two choices: You can hang on for dear life or you can own your wobbly rung and literally make it your bed. 

20. This sense of wonder.

Can I eat it?:

Because flowers really ARE amazing. 

21. This Phoebe Runner

How could you not smile looking at this? Who says elephants can't fly??? Just look at this!!!!:

If you're a FRIENDS fan, you've already gotten it and you can move it. If you're not, let me explain. Phoebe takes up running with Rachel, who prescribes to the school of conservative, form-following, breath-controlled jogging. Phoebe likes to run like she did when she was a child. This elephant is Phoebing. And so should we!

22. This cat who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to ask for it.

* * MEDICAL AFFLICTION: DIAGNOSIS: Severe self- loathing KITTEN: " If dis wuz mirror here, me woulds destroy meself." PROGNOSIS: With intense therapy, kitten can lost interest in current affliction. All will be well for a bright future.:

Because when you need a hug, you should ask for one. 

23. This wise old prophet.

22 Cats With The Most Beautiful And Unique Coat Patterns In The World:

Because inside all of us is a little Dumbledore. 



Friday, March 4, 2016

Star-Spangled Banter

America: What the actual fuck is happening over there?

Most of my news comes first from Facebook, which I then channel through various sources - some more legit than others - and all I can say is: really? REALLY?

Other than keeping the meme writers heavily employed, I'm not seeing a whole hell of a lot of politics happening, particularly on the Republican side. I recently just watched a short video in which Donald Drumpf supporters were read a bunch of Hitler quotes, told that Drumpf said them, and asked if they supported those policies. (By the by, I'm using Drumpf's real last name according to John Oliver - highly recommend this video). When they - flabbergasted - were told that those words were quotes from Drumpf but from Hitler, one supporter said, and I quote, "If Donald Trump said (these quotes) I'd support 'em."

I think this provides an excellent rule of thumb: Does it sound like something Hitler would say? Let's see how we do with quotes from our current Republican candidates.

"Swastikas are a symbol of hate for some people, too. And yet they still exist in museums." - Ted Cruz

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Yes. But, shhhhh! The anti-logician is speaking.

“You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.”  - Donald Drumpf

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Uh, no, probably not. Follow up question: Does this sound like something you want your president to say?

"Let's ask Hillary Clinton. She believes in the systematic murder of children in the womb." - Chris Christie

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Well, okay, this one's a bit of a stretch, but it's the phrasing that clinches the Hitlerevity for me. Instead of saying, "Hillary Clinton supports abortion," Christie chose to refer to abortion as "the systematic murder of children," which sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton is armed and loaded with a bunch of pregnant women lined up against a wall. 

“When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time. All the time.” - Donald Drumpf

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Yes actually, in  more modern but equally delusional way.

"If I'm the President of the United States and you're thinking about joining al-Qaeda or ISL, I'm not gonna call a judge. I'm gonna call a drone and we will kill you." - Lindsey Graham 

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Yes, yes, 1000 times yes!

"I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” - Donald Drumpf

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Yes, just replace "Mexico" with the Jews. Or Gypsies. Or Poles. Or any other list of people whom Hitler found offensive.


"People have a right to be Democrat. People have a right to be wrong. I know they're the same thing." - Marco Rubio

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Kind of. Being a Democrat = being wrong. I mean, he's not threatening our lives...yet.

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending the best. They're not sending you, they're sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. ... And some, I assume, are good people." - Donald Drumpf

Does this sound like something Hitler would say? Yes, again just replace "Mexico" with any one of the myriad groups Hitler hated. But it's nice that Drumpf can see the good in, you know, some of them. 

I could go on and on, but suffice to say, you can't make this stuff up. A friend of mine on Facebook posted a video of one of the Republican debates and, more than anything, I was annoyed at the lack of sustenance. The video, which was about 4 minutes long, was mostly just other candidates trying to say something while Donald Trump interrupted. I wanted to jump through the screen, use my teacher voice, and be like, "We'd all be happy to listen to you when it's your turn to speak. But right now Marco Rubio is trying to make his point." Or slap him across the face. He was really annoying me! I can feel my blood boiling now. In order to not leave this post feeling really pissed off, I shall leave you with this meme. (As I said before, the meme writers are having a veritable feast with all this material.)