Search This Blog

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Enlightenment

Enlightenment is a destructive process.

https://24.media.tumblr.com/e7cc8624f97e5a2fb60b4940189b8105/tumblr_n57tkm0Tqp1tb7tqio1_500.gif

It has nothing to do with becoming better or being happier.

Enlightenment is the crumbling away of untruth. 

It’s seeing through the facade of pretense.

It’s the complete eradication of everything we imagined to be true.”

Adyashanti

(/ˈædjəˌʃɑːnti/; Sanskrit word meaning, "primordial peace"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adyashanti

https://31.media.tumblr.com/74f9edb3dd842db4818e916686bba0a9/tumblr_mx55ycw0E51qdg6sho1_500.jpg

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Science 🥼of Laziness 🦥

🥼The Science of Laziness 🦥
Why you are a couch potato
Laziness explained by science
Exercise, like sex and eating, causes pleasure. 
Yet some of us are less likely to do it.
Have you ever wondered why it is so darn difficult to pry yourself off the couch and exercise? 
Well you may be able to blame it on Mom and Dad

According to the guys at AsapSCIENCE, scientists who studied the exercise patterns of mice may have identified a “couch potato” gene. This is a mutated gene that affects a type of dopamine receptor. According to Psychology Today:

“Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.”
Less ability to derive pleasure from exercise, less motivation to get up and move. 

Watch the video below to learn more:
👇   📺   👇

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/23/this_is_why_you_are_a_couch_potato_laziness_explained_by_science/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
 
The Science Behind Laziness
Study Based || Mind Talks
The lack of desire to do physical activity and just be lazy, maybe in your DNA, specifically your "Couch potato" gene.
👇   📺   👇
https://youtu.be/xTWOwG2lHZE

Friday, May 23, 2014

Food In New York City

Food Signs
You're Definitely A Tourist
In New York City
*
by  Alison Spiegel
Posted: 05/22/2014

New York is one of, if not THE, greatest food cities in the world. Not only can you get just about any kind of food in New York, but you can get some of the best. You've got the iconic black and white cookies, the New York style cheesecake (from Junior's, of course) and the bagels (sorry, Montreal). Despite what some Chicagoans may think, the pizza reigns supreme in New York -- and so do the hot dogs. (Although we'll entertain a dispute and taste test deep dish versus thin crust any day.)

Indeed, the food in New York makes it worth all the hardship that the city requires; it makes the struggle worthwhile. It's no wonder that tourists flock to our great city not just to see the sights, but to eat.

The curse of all tourists, however, is that they're not locals and thus can't truly eat like a local -- no matter how hard they try. Despite even the most valiant efforts, most will inevitably fall into at least one tourist trap. Luckily it's not all bad. There's a reason visitors to New York seek out some of our most touristy food attractions -- many of them are great and New Yorkers love them too! New Yorkers really do love Junior's cheesecake, and we're damn proud of our pizza and black and white cookies.

Other touristy restaurants and iconic foods, however, are an egregious waste of time and stomach space. New Yorkers would never be caught dead at these establishments or eating this food -- or at least they don't have time to wait in the lines.

For better or worse, here are 13 signs that you're definitely a tourist in New York (or are at least acting like one). What's your favorite or least favorite culinary tourist trap in New York City? 

http://i1.huffpost.com/gen/1809796/thumbs/n-MAGNOLIA-BAKERY-large570.jpg

You stand in line for cupcakes
at Magnolia.
 

There are so many better cupcakes in New York. Just try Billy's or Buttercup Bakeshop and then see what you think about waiting for Magnolia. There's just no need to wait in a line that wraps around the block for a dry cupcake with inferior frosting.  

You eat pizza from Lombardi's.
 
It's not that Lombardi's pizza is bad, per se, but there are so many better places to get pizza in New York. You're just selling yourself short by waiting for an hour for pizza from Lombardi's.


You eat at the Olive Garden
in Times Square.
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350437/slide_350437_3762055_free.jpg


You eat anywhere in Times Square.
 
Unless you're forced to eat in or around Times Square because of your office location (for which we pity you), there's no good reason and no excuse for eating there. It's chaos -- get out as quickly as you can!


You order Cosmolitans to fit in.

 Just because the girls on "Sex in the City" drank them, doesn't mean real New Yorkers do.




You eat in Little Italy.
 
Little Italy may be one of the saddest places to eat in New York. 
We wish it wasn't so, but it is. 



You go to Serendipity
for Frozen Hot Chocolates.
 
We'll admit frozen hot chocolates are pretty awesome, 
but Serendipity is really just for tourists.

 
You think 4 dumplings for $1 at Vanessa's 
is the best deal you're gonna find.
 
New Yorkers eat at Prosperity.


 
 
You walk over the Brooklyn Bridge
just for Grimaldi's pizza.
 
Over-hyped

 
You think the Cronut
is worth the hype.
 
If you're willing to stand in line for two hours to wait for a Cronut™, we're not sure we should even let you in on this little secret. But... croissants and doughnuts are perfect foods. Combining them doesn't make them any better. Also, Dominique Ansel's DKA is FAR superior. 



You visit the M&M store.

No New Yorker has EVER gone inside the M&M store, unless he or she works there. We're sure it's fun, but we've never been, so we have no idea!


You think going to Smorgasburg
in Williamsburg is adventurous.
Smorgasburg


 

In fact, you think going anywhere
in Brooklyn is adventurous.

Tourists need to spend way more time in Brooklyn
and
ALL the outer boroughs.

That's where all the best food is!
There are also
30 Food Reason
New York
Is Worth The Struggle



The Pickle Guys
Order anything from here, and your day just got light years better.

Porterhouse Steak From Peter Luger
Yes, this dish will cost you your first born. But, it's worth it. Blow your entire paycheck on this meal and don't think twice, because you just can't get a steak this good anywhere else.



Disco Tots From Queens Comfort
Disco tots are tater tots smothered in sawmill gravy and cheddar cheese. Each bite makes us forget that we can't afford the subway ride it cost us to get here, let alone the breakfast that sits in front of us.

Shake Shack's Frozen Custard
Ice cream doesn't even rank when there's frozen custard. And Shake Shack does it best. It's one of the main reasons summers in New York are so great.

Everything Bagels
The fact that you can find an everything bagel at almost every corner deli means you're never far from an awesome (and cheap!) breakfast.


The Coffee
There is SO MUCH good coffee. (Which is reason alone to move here.) Every block has one, if not two, options for a cup that will jolt you back to life and make you forget that you worked a 14-hour day yesterday and are just about to do it again -- and again. Cafe Grumpy, Mud, La Colombe, Abraco, the list goes on and on.


ALL THE PIZZA
We're not talking dollar slices here, but the real good, art-in-the-craft type of pizza. Here are some of our favorites: Best Pizza, Motorino, Paulie Gee's, Lucali, Artichoke, Sullivan St. Bakery, Roberta's, DiFara's, Totonno and grandma-style pizza from L&B Spumoni Gardens.


Bialys
New York's best kept secret.

Xiao Long Bao
Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings, are the only way we ever want to eat soup -- and they are the one thing getting you through the brutal NYC winter.

The Burger At Diner
There are so many good burgers in this city, but this one, this one is special. Just look at the way they blanket the patty in cheese. You'll remember this burger for the rest of your life.

Ramen
It's particularly great from Ippudo, but you can get good ramen almost anywhere in the city. That alone is reason to never leave this place.

Hibiscus Donut From Dough
Donuts from dough aren't cheap -- almost nothing is in this city -- but the fact that they're the size of your face makes up for that.

White Fish From Russ & Daughters
There's a reason this place has been around since 1914, and it's because of this white fish salad.

Prosperity Dumplings
The fact that you can get five dumplings for $1 makes NYC feel like the kindest place on earth.

Mille Crepe Cake From Lady M
When just one piece of cake won't do, a slice of mille crepe cake will set you straight.



Smoked Meat Poutine At Mile End
This is not just your everyday gravy-and-cheese covered fries. This poutine is made with smoked meat by the guys that don't mess around when it comes to meat. And it's just the type of food you need after sending out 98 resumes in one week and not hearing back a single response.

Grilled Octopus In Astoria
The number of Greek restaurants in Astoria means that there's no shortage of perfectly charred, tender octopus. One bite from this dish and you'll forget for a moment that you live in a concrete jungle.

Noodles From Xi'an Famous Foods
We have one thing to say about this: hand-pulled noodles are worth fighting for.

Pierogis At Veselka
Not only will eating these pierogis feel like you're being hugged by a Polish grandmother, but you can get them 24 hours.

Deep Fried Cadbury Egg From Chipshop
Just because you can get everything you've ever wanted in NYC, definitely means you should -- like a deep-fried Cadbury egg. Eat that and relish in that fact that you can get it any old day of the week. Along with deep-fried pizza, deep-fried cherry pie, deep-fried mac and cheese. You want it, you got it. That's the NYC way.

City Bakery Hot Chocolate
It's more like chocolate soup, and it can mend your battered-down spirit.



$1 Pizza Slices
We appreciate it for not letting us go hungry after we've handed our life savings over to our landlord.


Pastrami Sandwich At Katz's
This is the sandwich you eat when you just lost your job. Again. And if you're extra nice to the guys behind the counter, they'll load you up on half sour, full sours and pickled green tomatoes

Anything From Peter Pan's Donut & Pastry Shop
The fact that you can get a cup of coffee, a donut and a killer breakfast sandwich for under six bucks makes this place a true gem. And the 1950s feel of the place is pretty great too.

Luke's Lobster Roll
Yes, we know $18 is a lot to spend on this tiny sandwich. But we'll cough up our last 20 for just one bite of their lobster roll. Or their shrimp roll. Or their crab roll.

Black And White Cookies
This cakey cookie makes us momentarily forget that we dodged two rats on the subway ride home.

Momofuku Pork Buns
Worth the wait, every time. And if you go for lunch, there's no wait. (Which means you should definitely call in sick tomorrow so you can go.)

Lard Bread
How could you not want to live in a place where a loaf of bread made with pork fat, cheese and salumi exists? It's comfort food at its finest. And if you live in New York, you need good comfort food.

Egg Cream from Gem Spa
You don't understand how great milk and soda water go together until you've tried it at Gem Spa. This simple drink will make you feel like a child again, and wash away all your worries.







Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Dick Cheney wants Hillary Clinton held "accountable" for Benghazi

 Dick Cheney
wants Hillary Clinton
held "accountable"
 for Benghazi
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10388137_10202989087465789_3988484733075305170_n.jpg
by Vyan
Sun May 18, 2014



Well, here's one from the complete lack of irony and self-awareness column.  

After the Pheonix FBI memo that noted a group of guys trying to learn to fly planes but not how to land them
- after the August 6 PDB which named potential targets in New York and Washington and indicated that hijacked planes might be used as weapons
- after  taking information that was gained either by torture (ibn Sheik al-Libi) or bribery (Curveball) which falsely claimed inspectors couldn't find Iraq's WMD because it was being carted around in mobile labs and that Mohammad Atta had been trained by Iraqi intelligence on the use of chemical weapons
- after  warnings from CIA European Chief Tyler Drumheller that Curveball couldn't be trusted were ignored, 
- after  both the State Dept and CIA said that the yellowcake documents were forgeries, which was further proven after Joe Wilson went to Niger to check it out, 
- after CIA told the White House repeatedly that the Niger/Yellowcake claim wasn't solid - but still the 16 words were uttered  
- after the Energy Dept in the Iraq NIE said that the anodized coating on the aluminum tubes made them unsuitable for use in a centrifuge,  
- after Cheney's own Chief of Staff fed classified and false information on Iraqi WMD to the New York Times using Judith Miller and then revealed to her the ID of an undercover CIA operative (Wilson's Wife, Valerie Plame) as "political pay-back" for Wilson's criticism of the White House, 
 - after the Iraqi UN declaration which specifically said they had no more WMD's - which then Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice ignored because it didn't explain what happened to the yellowcake(!?) - but was soon confirmed by the defecting head of Iraqi Intelligence Habbush who told us Saddam had destroyed his own WMD stockpile in 1991, yet instead of listening to him they paid him $5 Million in hush money to keep quiet, then the WH - or someone whose perspective and goals were perfectly aligned with the WH - had him forge a letter which attempted to claim that all the lies about WMD, Nuclear Weapons and links between Atta/al Qeada to Saddam that were gained from the two people that couldn't and shouldn't be trusted, al-Libi and Curveball, were all "true"... and therefore the imminent invasion of Iraq was completely and totally "justified".

After all that Dick Cheney thinks that the person who needs to be held accountable for a deadly terrorist attack - is Hillary Clinton.

Yes, seriously.
During a Sunday interview on Fox News, host Chris Wallace asked Cheney if Clinton “did anything wrong,” and if she should be “held responsible for the events surrounding that attack.”
“She was secretary of state at the time that it happened,” Cheney opined. “She was one of the first in Washington to know about it. I think she clearly bears responsibility for whatever the State Department did or didn’t do with respect to that crisis.
“I do think it’s a major issue,” he added. “I don’t think we’ve heard the last of it yet, and I expect that she will be held accountable during the course of the campaign.
Really dude?    Really?

Y'know who I think might also bear some responsibility for the the security situation in Benghazi?  Congress.
For fiscal 2013, the GOP-controlled House proposed spending $1.934 billion for the State Department’s Worldwide Security Protection program – well below the $2.15 billion requested by the Obama administration. House Republicans cut the administration’s request for embassy security funding by $128 million in fiscal 2011 and $331 million in fiscal 2012. (Negotiations with the Democrat-controlled Senate restored about $88 million of the administration’s request.) Last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that Republicans’ proposed cuts to her department would be “detrimental to America’s national security – a charge Republicans rejected.
Ryan, Issa and other House Republicans voted for an amendment in 2009 to cut $1.2 billion from State operations, including funds for 300 more diplomatic security positions. Under Ryan’s budget, non-defense discretionary spending, which includes State Department funding, would be slashed nearly 20 percent in 2014, which would translate to more than $400 million in additional cuts to embassy security.
Oh look Secretary Clinton specifically warned Congress that these cuts could be detrimental to security - and guess what - they were.

And it's not like that outcome was necessarily difficult to predict.  Nope

Not after the 13 Different Attacks on our Embassies that occurred during the Vice Presidency of Richard Cheney.
  1. January 22, 2002. Calcutta, India. Gunmen associated with Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami attack the U.S. Consulate. Five people are killed. 
  2. June 14, 2002. Karachi, Pakistan. Suicide bomber connected with al Qaeda attacks the U.S. Consulate, killing 12 and injuring 51.
  3. October 12, 2002. Denpasar, Indonesia. U.S. diplomatic offices bombed as part of a string of "Bali Bombings." No fatalities.
  4. February 28, 2003. Islamabad, Pakistan. Several gunmen fire upon the U.S. Embassy. Two people are killed.
  5.  May 12, 2003. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Armed al Qaeda terrorists storm the diplomatic compound, killing 36 people including nine Americans. The assailants committed suicide by detonating a truck bomb.
  6. July 30, 2004. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A suicide bomber from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan attacks the U.S. Embassy, killing two people. 
  7. December 6, 2004. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Al Qaeda terrorists storm the U.S. Consulate and occupy the perimeter wall. Nine people are killed.
  8. March 2, 2006. Karachi, Pakistan again. Suicide bomber attacks the U.S. Consulate killing four people, including U.S. diplomat David Foy who was directly targeted by the attackers. (I wonder if Lindsey Graham or Fox News would even recognize the name "David Foy." This is the third Karachi terrorist attack in four years on what's considered American soil.)
  9. September 12, 2006. Damascus, Syria. Four armed gunmen shouting "Allahu akbar" storm the U.S. Embassy using grenades, automatic weapons, a car bomb and a truck bomb. Four people are killed, 13 are wounded.
  10. January 12, 2007. Athens, Greece. Members of a Greek terrorist group called the Revolutionary Struggle fire a rocket-propelled grenade at the U.S. Embassy. No fatalities.
  11. March 18, 2008. Sana'a, Yemen. Members of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic Jihad of Yemen fire a mortar at the U.S. Embassy. The shot misses the embassy, but hits nearby school killing two.
  12. July 9, 2008. Istanbul, Turkey. Four armed terrorists attack the U.S. Consulate. Six people are killed.
  13. September 17, 2008. Sana'a, Yemen. Terrorists dressed as military officials attack the U.S. Embassy with an arsenal of weapons including RPGs and detonate two car bombs. Sixteen people are killed, including an American student and her husband (they had been married for three weeks when the attack occurred). This is the second attack on this embassy in seven months.

It's a fair criticism to point out that initially the CIA didn't get the facts right with Benghazi.  They thought that there had been a protest in Benghazi just as there had been protests in 40 Countries that same day, which was a logical assumption. 
They made a mistake.  Not an Anodyne Coating, Yellowcake Forgery, Fake Mobile Labs Level of mistake, but still a mistake.  
Contrasting with the previous administration this White House actually listened to the CIA and used their talking points as they were - flaws and all.  The CIA didn't actually have a chance to review video from the event and see there was no protest, only an attack, because that video wasn't released by the Libyan government until 2 Days After then Ambassador Rice had made her rounds on the Sunday talk Show circuit.
 
To draw up those talking points, the CIA relied on at least six early press reports that said the Benghazi attacks grew out of protests against an anti-Muslim film that had appeared on the Internet, according to the SSCI report. The source of the mistake looks clear in retrospect. For starters, violence targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities did take place in Egypt, Yemen and Tunisia in reaction to the video. Protests against the film occurred in over 40 countries around the world.
...
Last month the CIA’s former deputy director, Michael Morrell, testified in front of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that it was only after the Libyan government said on Sept. 18 that video footage showed no protests that the CIA concluded they had got it wrong.
So the argument that Secretary Clinton knew something ahead of time or knowingly didn't do something ahead of time that would have significantly changed the outcome in Benghazi is pretty much like saying that Dick Cheney, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice really should be held accountable for all of their failings, particularly when those failures contributed not just to the death of 4 Americans.. but over 4,000 Americans.

Twice.


But then again, we all know that would only be a partisan witchhunt now wouldn't it?

Vyan


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/18/1300205/-Dick-Cheney-wants-Hillary-Clinton-held-accountable-for-Benghazi?detail=facebook#

If his intent is to make her responsible for Benghazi, then that same logic should have made Condi responsible for the 13 SIMILAR attacks on US embassies under HIS watch, where 60 people died! So, he shouldn't be saying a blasted thing!

 https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10390157_793311490686667_2510381798679372332_n.jpg
He must have dementia. 9/11, Iraq, torture. 
The Chicken Hawk draft dodger should shut up.

Yeah, right after he and Bush are held accountable for the deaths of over 4,000 Americans and over 100,000 civilians on the lies that brought us into Iraq.


Yeah, right after he and Bush are held accountable for the deaths of over 4,000 Americans and over 100,000 civilians on the lies that brought us into Iraq.
So will the republicans hold Condoleezza Rice accountable for the death of US diplomat David Foy. Killed during the 3rd attack on US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan on March 2nd 2006. I would like to ask Dick Cheney, sir where was the heightened security in that consulate, after the 1st attack, after the second attack. Where was the Fox news outrage against the Bush administration? Where was the republican outrage? How many congressional investigations were there? How many times did the republicans demand that Condoleezza come and testify before their investigative committees?


The Ultimate ‘Dick’ Move: Cheney Blames Hillary Clinton for Benghazi
By: Jason Easley
In a mind-blowing display of arrogance, war criminal Dick Cheney said that Hillary Clinton should be held responsible for Benghazi.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/18/ultimate-dick-move-cheney-blames-hillary-clinton-benghazi.html


The Evil Dick Cheney
June 22, 2002
By Jackson Thoreau
http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/06/22_cheney.html


Contractors Reap $138 Billion from Iraq War, Cheney’s Halliburton #1 with $39.5 Billion
In News on April 8, 2013
http://leaksource.info/2013/04/08/contractors-reap-138-billion-from-iraq-war-cheneys-halliburton-1-with-39-5-billion/

 

Interpol Arrest Warrant Issued For Dick Cheney
http://www.examiner.com/article/interpol-arrest-warrant-issued-for-dick-cheney