Christmas Warning: YOU Are Being Distracted!

Last year, on Christmas Day, Anonymous released this message on YouTube to remind us that, in spite of all the gloom and doom of this world, we can still change the game. Provided we consent to open our eyes and stop choosing to see only what best suits us — that is, assuming that the powers that be are stronger than us and that there's nothing we can do about it. So convenient. This rules out any guilt or remorse. This is the way things have always been and always will (What do you know apart from what you've been told? Were you or have you been there?). This is the flimsiest of excuses, inspired by fear and apathy, both cleverly nurtured by the Matrix. Proxy lives, celebrity worship, escapism at any cost.

If you're scared, take the first step, get out of your comfort zone and you'll be surprised to see how resourceful and courageous you can be. If you're tired of everything, hold on to any sparkle within that could wake you up (whether real or imagined, knowing that the former leads to the latter and inversely). Feel it, feed it, and watch it grow. As for fear, only the first step will require your effort. Remember that while you've been deceived by reality outside, the same applies within. You are not what your ego would like you to believe. You are so much more and better. Thereupon, the snowball effect should also apply to the world. For the only way to bring change to the outside is to bring change within.

Nobody can change the world on their own, but everyone can change on their own and when enough snowflakes have transformed, the 100th one will make the snow stick so the avalanche can start. And it seems that, ultimately and in spite of the ever-increasing efforts of the mainstream media to paint everything black, we shall soon redesign the whole set in white.

Please note that due to lack of time, I've only transcribed Anonymous's message and left out the various excerpts illustrating their point.

Ey@el

Greetings citizens of the world, we are Anonymous!

Contrary to what you may believe, life as you know it is a lie. Your society is a cage, your jobs are voluntary slavery. The television you watch is designed to keep you incapable of critical thought and the very freedom and democracy your leaders claim to stand for is nothing but an illusion.

Under the guise of morality, your government sells weapons to the very countries that they claim to protect you from, lining their pockets with the spoils of war — billions made by the death of millions. They continue to invest in a flawed system that supports a dying economy, creating poverty and crime. They create laws and legislations that contradict our Constitution and take away our right to be a free-thinking member of the human race. And you are too blinded by the culture they have created for you to take any real notice or make any real change.

Anonymous is not blind. Anonymous has seen everything. For years, we have been a force for good on this battlefield, fighting for our basic rights as the dominant species of this planet protesting in peace, spreading the truth — a bloodless conflict. But now it appears that the day we have been waiting for is at last upon us and the time to act is NOW.

The Western government talks of a New World Order. They build their FEMA concentration camps ready to detain thousands of Americans without trial for speaking out against corruption. They move to censor the Internet, the one place freedom of speech truly exists, taking away our right to learn. They weaken our democracy every day, tightening their grip until they have complete control. And these actions are confirming the fears of the Zionist enemy, forcing their hands and bringing us ever closer to nuclear extinction.

And yet you occupy public places in peaceful protests while others even choose to do nothing. Doing nothing in this crucial year is dangerous. If the recent defeat of soap at the hands of Anonymous has taught us anything it's that yes, it is time for a new world order. But it is a new world order of people NOT the government. Gone are the times you can sit and watch from the sidelines. Done are the times you could live in ignorance. NOW is the time to fight.

We have the tools to build a whole new system where corruption will be wiped clean, leaders will have the best interests of the people, and you The West will have your first taste of true freedom. It is not too late to act but time is short. Living behind closed eyes is not an option anymore because they will draw first blood. They do not have the capability to fight real people power. We must unite and we must take action. There will be a time and a place where every Anonymous will be called upon to destroy that cancer that exists in our leadership and when that day comes we will show them that they are truly legion.

If you cannot fight, use your critical thought. This is what they desperately want to take from you. Do not let them. Do not accept conventional thought, question everything and most importantly, spread this message. We have a genuine chance of change but every free man, woman and child must stand united and declare “I am a human being and you cannot take my right to be free”.

And to those who had silenced our voices, Anonymous knows who and what you are. Anonymous has always known. Anonymous is not so easily brainwashed by television and celebrities and we will be there when you fall. When you are finally exposed for the monsters you really are, we will be there. When the people you tried to control storm your buildings and drag their dictators through the streets, we will be there. When generations of secret scheming, planning and conspiring are burnt to ash and buried, we will be there. When you realise you have failed, we will be there.

You are no match for us. You never were. There are more of us than you know. There are more of us than anyone knows and every day our numbers grow stronger. We are Anonymous, we are legion. We can forgive though we shall never forget...

Original text by ANONYMOUS OFFICIAL transcribed by EY@EL
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The Best Christmas Song

You know how much I like to keep you in the mood with relevant seasonal songs. Well, this year, you lucky sods, I got you the top of the poops, the best Christmas song that ever existed, though this is not the first Christmas crime committed by this crazy Canadian wacko. If you can hear it out without dislocating your jaw in exasperation nor laughing your head off, then you may certainly pass the New Year's Eve challenge. Otherwise, too bad for you as I do intend to find even worse. Note to anyone interested: I'm auditioning... with my earmuffs and mittens on, of course.

Happy Easter everyone!

Ey@el

They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
If you don't believe me, well you should believe me
Cuz they say it's the best Christmas song — listen to it now!

Christmas is my favorite Christmastime of the year:
Bells are jingling and the angels are making Jesus.
It's a silent night except for my neighbor's washing machine;
It's very loud that's why I'm wearing my second favorite earmuffs.

Santa Claus is coming so you'd better be naughty or nice.
He has a large beard so you can't even see his neck.
He flies around with horses with branches in their ears
Cuz there are no earmuffs in the North Pole — there are only trees.

He brings presents to the kids but he doesn't wear mittens,
Probably because they make his hands very itchy.
Leave Santa milk and cookies so he can have a snack,
It'll be easy for him to pick them up cuz he won't have mittens on his hands.

They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
All the Christmas songs sort of a bit talk about Christmas stuff.
But they say it's the best Christmas song, you're listening to it now!

Santa comes in from the chimney so don't block it with a mattress.
And if you don't have chimney, make one out of a mattress.
Santa, what is the present you're gonna put in my tree this year?
I hope it's not the shoes that I already have.

I already have those shoes so that's not a very good present.
A better present would be to make my family still alive.
Or a bicycle, that would be good too.
Also, can you move your beard, I wanna see what your neck looks like.

They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
Mittens aren't even a super important thing.
But they say it's the best Christmas song, keep listening to it now!

Everybody, do the Christmas arms:
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas arms!
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas arms!

Everybody, do the Christmas face:
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas face!
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas face!

Everybody, do the Christmas talking:
Vrrrrrrrmmmm talking!
Vrrrrrrrmmmm talking!

Everybody, don't put mittens on:
No mittens, no mittens, no mittens, no!

Ha! ha! ha!, I tricked you into not putting mittens on.
Now your hands are cold — that was my Christmas trick.
Another trick I like to do is I give people chocolate and I say “Happy Easter”.
They say “But it's got to be Easter”.

Well, they say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
They say it's the best Christmas song that ever existed...
Maybe Santa's neck is a different color or something.
They say it's the best Christmas song and now it's finished!

Original text by JON LAJOIE
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Gloria to Our Ghosts

The Great Hall looked magnificent. Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow was falling, warm and dry, from the ceiling.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling

On Christmas Eve, my heart goes out to those who will be alone at home, on a sick bed in hospital, or in families where you don't see/get along with each other anymore — and for whom  this special evening — sadly every special effort will be made not to ignore — will no doubt have a bitter undertone of too much and/or too little. I can tell you that magic is in your heart even though it may seem broken beyond repair by illness, loneliness or despair. Do not allow your mean, cynical mind to torture any longer with its narrow vision of life and misconceptions of what is possible and what is not, or of what is real and what is not, for this ignorant Squib1 would rather hand you down to the Dementors of Azkaban2 than having you find the magic sparkle that would enable you to get out of the Chamber of Secrets3 (located, as everyone knows now, deep below Hogwarts and accessible via the second-floor bathroom). When everything's so bad, how risky is that to envision a different  way out? Or are you afraid you might lose something you actually no longer care about?

Your faith was strong but you needed proof...

"Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen (1984)

May tonight (or any other night), Venus, planet of love, better known as the Evening Star, guide you to your very own Diagon Alley.4

Gloria to our ghosts!5

Endnotes

  1. ^ A Squib is someone born of magical parents, but who develops no magical abilities, which sometimes makes them feel envious and frustrated like Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
  2. ^ Dementors are gliding, wraith-like dark creatures that feed on human happiness and thus generate feelings of depression and despair in any person in close proximity to them. They can also consume a person's soul, leaving their victims in a permanent vegetative state. They were formerly employed by the British Ministry of Magic as prison guards of the fortress of Azkaban, on a rock in the middle of the North Sea where the most dangerous criminals of the magical world were imprisoned.
  3. ^ The subterranean Chamber of Secrets was created by Salazar Slytherin, without the knowledge of his three fellow founders of Hogwarts, to breed a Basilisk that would maintain the purity of wizard race by killing off all the Halfbloods and Mudbloods (born of Muggle or non magical parents).
  4. ^ Diagon Alley is the main shopping alley for the wizarding world in London and is invisible to Muggles. It is accessed through a brick wall in the rear courtyard of a pub called The Leaky Cauldron by taping a special brick with your magic wand.
  5. ^ "Gloria", Indochine (2017)

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Winston the Nutcase vs Buster the Boxer

Every year in the UK, big chains such as Sainsbury's or John Lewis commit to substantial budgets on TV commercials, which, it must be said, often turn out as pure gems both artistically and ethically. The so-called Christmas Spirit is being sold to us. In this regard, the Great Manipulators succeed every time in getting us to lower our guard by playing heavily on our weakness which is our feelings and emotions (and also turns out to be our greatest strength as opposed to those shadow psychopaths who totally lack the ability). And it does work! If you tell me you don't get emotional watching the above clip, I simply won't believe you. However, the underlying message is pretty clear: consume our products to create a better world and forget also that thanks to your money we can control the world and viciously keep plundering it with no regard whatsoever to its living inhabitants whether humans, animals or vegetals. What we're showing you is as virtual as the reality we've tricked you into. I would even go further and point to an existing parallel between the trampoline and our modern society: however much we jump and bounce back, we'll never get any higher or further than the set boundaries of our pen. The above clip is John Lewis's Christmas 2016 commercial and the final scene has been edited out to turn it into a parody for our enjoyment. I guess Winston is in reference to Churchill, often pictured as a bulldog (initially the dog was called Buster). If you wish to compare both versions, here's the link to the original.

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No Bling Bling

This year again even more than ever before, it's really hard for me to get into the so-called “spirit of Christmas” they're trying to sell us for evermore when the world is still going ever-so wrong with a growing number of people going homeless. And meanwhile the rich and famous are getting even wealthier (and more famous) and desperately trying to get rid of their guilt in assuaging their conscience by giving money to charities (rarely without publicity) — or worse, by organising (tax-free) charitable events where the less poor will cough up their last pennies while being preached morality for good measure.

Those who might say I'm cynical would be well-advised to wash their eyes and ears and most especially their brain (though some might obviously prefer to get it done for them). I have grown so allergic to hypocrisy and fanaticism (“Not my icon, you unbeliever!”) I'm on the verge of anaphylactic shock with angioedema and stuff. I'm not slandering anyone, I'm just being perceptive. I may be an unbeliever, but I still have faith. Faith in my ability to change my personal reality and encourage others to do likewise. And that certainly won't happen while living by proxy as recently demonstrated with the large-scale funerals of Johnny Hallyday, our national Elvis (sic), both inappropriate and outrageous, which left me deeply saddened but for much different reasons than his legions of fans mourning their raison d'être. Yep, humanity does hurt.

Just like last year and so as not to pose as your typical Grinch, I googled some decorative ideas for Christmas but only using recycled materials and I must say I saw wonders. So much talent and creativity can only mean that humanity has not reached rock bottom yet. At least, some of it. Phew! Here's my selection:

So which ones do you like best? I must confess it would a hard choice for me, but since I won't have time to craft anything, I think I might just pick up the twig tree. With this wind, I guess I should have no problem finding a suitable one.

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Headquarters of European Union Acknowledge Reception of Monsanto's Christmas List

Already spoiled before time with the glyphosate approval, Monsanto can now look forward to Christmas Eve in full confidence.

While each year, the corporation would send its list of requests to Santa, today they have decided to deal directly with the European Union. “They're capable of doing the impossible. Only they know how to put stars in our eyes like that. Have you seen with glyphosate? Everyone is well aware of its toxicity, yet they still managed to push it through. Who knows, they might have worked hard at finding (or bribing) fake experts? They swept the precautionary principle to protect health straight under the carpet. That's what you call Christmas magic!” declared a spokesperson for Monsanto's executive board.

The list arrived this morning in Brussels and was directly delivered to the relevant staff. The UE's elves in charge of the Christmas lists of lobbies are already in action. For Christmas Eve, Monsanto has decided to also rely on President of EU Council Jean-Claude Juncker to play Santa. All members of the corporation will then have the right to sit on his lap to get their hair stroked.

Monsanto is looking forward to an enchanting party. “We are very grateful that we can have such a wonderful Christmas, which won't be the case for everyone. We are therefore committed to offer a free cancer to anyone consuming a product contaminated with our pesticides. If you don't believe us, wait and see ten years from now” says Hugh Grant, chairman of Monsanto UK.

Original text by LE GORAFI translated from French by EY@EL
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You Raise Me Up

Last time with The Verve, I had presented you one of the most disempowering songs ever — not out of petty revenge for never getting any comments, but to illustrate what to do to get sponsored by the antidepressant drug lobby. Now, I'm saving your day with this powerful antidote that I never tire of. Besides, the lyrics are quite easy to remember since they get repeated in a loop all along. This version, which is my favourite, happens to be the cover that introduced it to mainstream audiences as the original song was actually written by an Irish-Norvegian duo called Secret Garden. I'm embedding their clip as well as a bonus. Enjoy without reserve!

Ey@el

When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

The Original Version

Original text by BRENDAN GRAHAM
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Rich Kids Will Get an Extra Gift From Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron just signed controversial documents endorsing new regulations regarding the organisation of Christmas parties at Élysée Palace.

The good news for all the kids attending Christmas celebrations at Élysée, whose parents have annual revenues of over € 150.000, is a PlayStation4 all bundled with the latest 20 games will be added to the many regular gifts handed out on the occasion. A little extra adding up to an already overloaded bag as Elysée declared that over 50 kg of goodies would be distributed to the children of their wealthy guests.

Obviously the adjustments made by our head of state are not to everyone's liking. There was a great deal of protest against the weight reduction of the traditional candy given to the children of the poor going from 10 to 5 g. An even bitterer pill to swallow since on top of their 50 kg worth of goodies, rich kids will also have access to an all-you-can-eat buffet of candies and pastries.

The French government addressed criticism by mentioning several actions in support of children from the poorest families who, this year, will be treated to a previously unseen clown show by Christophe Castaner and the opportunity to get closer to the walls of Élysée Palace to overhear the private concert of Kids United for rich kids only.

Endnotes

  • Christophe Castaner is a lawyer and French politician acting as spokesperson for the government of Édouard Phillippe and Secretary of State for Parliamentary Relations. He was also spokesperson for Emmanuel Macron during his campaign for the French presidency in 2017.

Original text by LE GORAFI translated from French by EY@EL
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Bitter Sweet Symphony

This song is a mega hit of the 1990's everyone must have heard of. It's even been used in many commercials including one for the infamous trademark with the comma-shaped logo — the one of many corporations exploiting child labour in sweat shops and making big bucks with their over-expensive products sported by overpaid footballers and supposedly committed, concerned, preachy rockstars such as... Thom Yorke, for instance, who is not forced to wear creps sold by worldscrewers, is he? Besides, I'm almost sure he must love it because you can't write any more depressing and disempowering lyrics as these. I guess I made it clear that I don't like this song, never did and never will (even got the CD as a present), all in spite of its rather cool music based on a sampling of "The Last Time" by the Rolling Stones (which got these friends of Oasis into a high-profile lawsuit in their disfavour even though they had obtained prior authorisation). As I said, it's all about the gut feeling emanating from this song — that deep sensation of being sucked down which I cannot put up with. So why the hell am I reposting it? Good question! Probably because it suddenly occurred to me as I was brainstorming over a recent article on music for the blogger community I'm now coordinating and which I mentioned about in my previous post, and the obvious contrast with all my chosen illustrations of the Great Music, architect of the universe, empowering us all — stroke me so hard. A perfect display of cognitive dissonance, demonstrating the very mindset that keeps you in the “mould” the lyrics keep referring to. I can change, I can't change... well, make up your mind for god's sake! I for one believe that you can. But, for sure, if you keep listening to that kind of stuff all day long that won't happen. And I cannot even imagine what Matt Bellamy would have done with it. Can't wait for the next Muse LP to get all filled up with high vibes and fighting spirit even though the new Indochine will do the job for now. Don't shoot the messenger!

Ey@el

Cos it's a bittersweet symphony, this life,
Try to make ends meet,
You're a slave to money then you die,
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down,
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet.

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change,
But I'm here in my mould.
I am here in my mould,
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next.
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no...

Well I never pray, but tonight I'm on my knees.
I need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in me.
I let the melody shine — let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now.
But the airways are clear and there's nobody singing to me now.

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change,
But I'm here in my mould.
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next.
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no...
I can't change...
I can't change...

Cos it's a bittersweet symphony, this life,
Try to make ends meet,
Try to find some money then you die,
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down,
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the things meet.

You know I can change, I can change,
I can change, I can change,
But I'm here in my mould.
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next.
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no...
I can't change my mould
no, no, no, no, no...
I can't change,
Can't change my body,
no, no, no...

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down...
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down...
Been down...
Ever been down...
Ever been down...
Ever been down...
Ever been down...
Have you ever been down?
Have you've ever been down?

Original text by RICHARD ASHCROFT
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Do You Like Mozart?

Do you like Mozart? The Big Music? Here is a tag created many years ago with one of the wonderful characters designed by Féeline as a teaser for my forthcoming article in French for a blogger community project called Eklabugs. I really wish I had more time to write an English version as well as it's dealing with the AUM or seed sound and the quantum aspect of music as builder of the Universe with large excerpts from David Wilcock's free Convergence book series available to read online HERE.

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Glyphosate: EU Postpones Decision to Take All Bribes From Lobbies in Consideration

The Commission chose to postpone the 11/9 controversial vote in order to calmly benchmark bribes.

Much is at stake, and even moreso the amounts we've been offered” President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said yesterday. Indeed, since last September, negotiations in Brussels over the ban of the carcinogenic pesticide have created an even tenser atmosphere than at Israeli checkpoints.

The 300,000 lobbyists located in the Belgian capital are actually displaying the best of their abilities to try to influence the decision of the EU in a “more pragmatical” way. According to a judicial officer, the Commission would have already received “contributions, gifts, and other donations for 943 million euros — tax-free, of course”. This generosity is said to come from several major sponsors from Big Pharma and the food industry, all committed to a common funding pot and putting on a marvellous show of unity. Only Monsanto, no longer concerned about its corporate image for quite some time now, has ruthlessly admitted its involvement in the ongoing influence campaign.

“Contributors to the vitality of the legislative debate in Europe”

According to President Juncker, “the Commission wishes to make a well-informed decision”. And in order to do so, they intend to carry out a comprehensive comparative study of the stack of bribe records that keeps piling up on their desks for months. “There is a clear genuine involvement from the industry professionals on the issue” said one commissioner on his way to a 3-week prepaid holiday in the Bahamas. “It's a great feeling to be able to engage in mutual understanding with our counterparts in the private sector” added another before stepping into his brand-new Jaguar.

Unfortunately, the exact source of what looks an awful lot like a full-on bribery operation will not be divulged. “To ensure transparency and fairness, we wish to respect the confidentiality of those who contribute so generously to the vitality of the legislative debate in Europe”.

Original text by LE GORAFI translated from French by EY@EL
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Neo-Nazi Group Mistakenly Prints 10,000 T-Shirts in Honour of Nelson Mandela

This was hardly a brilliant idea. A dozen members of some dark identity group in Finland have just turned into a national joke and the laughing stock of the whole Internet after ordering by mistake 10,000 t-shirts with a picture of the former South African leader, whom they hate above all else.

According to Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat's coverage of the story on their website, the group named Ryhmä Kirjoittamaton Suprematist Harrastaja (RKSH) or White Supremacist Amateur Group, has made what one might call a very costly blunder.

While preparing for a European identity rally to be held in late November in Hungary, they had meant to get ten of thousands of t-shirts printed to be sold at the event. A plan now seriously compromised.

Indeed, our jolly friends ended up with a batch of 10,000 garments delivered to their door, sporting the face of Madiba together with the praising slogan “More than just a man, a mentor”.

A mishap arising from a typing mistake in the order placed on the Internet: “Initially, we wanted to use a picture of Mandela with "Rakastan kalaa"  (I hate this man) underneath. But the person who processed our order wrote "Lakastan calaa" which totally means the opposite” explained group leader Yügha.

The RKSH members didn't realise the mistake until three weeks later when saddled with the goods. Now, the young Neo-Nazis, of whom the oldest just turned 29, sound visibly affected. “It's very hard, we invested a lot of money into this project and no-one will purchase these” said Jaska, another member of the group.

An effort to minimise losses

Right now, the bunch of friends is exploring ways to best monetise this major setback since the T-shirt company won't take the goods back nor issue a refund to the unfortunate Neo-Nazis. “We'll see whether we can sell some at reggae or world music concerts. But that means that a couple of us would have to be willing to sacrifice themselves and let their hair grow while pretending to enjoy this kind of music. Got the feeling it's gonna be tough... oh, fuck...” said Yügha obviously dispirited.

Original text by LE GORAFI translated from French by EY@EL
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A French Summer

Un été français

Another day in my life
I don't wish to stand by,
Another dull monday
Where nothing but time passes me by.
Tuesday, got butterflies in my stomach
From confinement and compliance;
Wednesday, longing for another life —
Wish I could call it a day just to have the choice.

When I get cornered
I fancy a French summer —
A perfect summer
Where nothing could happen to me.
Sorry for the national frost,
Such a hellish country —
Slow death on the way!

Thursday, I'm in the wrong place,
And everything you promised me
Just like on a black Friday
When I forgot everything and the part of my life.
And I'm feeling a bit lonely,
Too old to die in winter.
Wish I could stand in the sun,
But I'm still needed over here.

When I get cornered
I fancy a French summer —
A perfect summer
Where nothing could happen to me.
Sorry for the national frost,
Such a hellish country —
Slow death on the way!

Nights spent on a rooftop,
Gazing at the storms,
Exposed to the danger
Of lightning on your face,
And stars by your side,
And our imperfect dreams
While lasts this French summer
And we forget everything.

Nights spent on a rooftop,
Gazing at the storms,
Heavens for the taking,
And flying fish,
And stars by your side
(When I get cornered...)
And our imperfect dreams
(I fancy a French summer...)
While lasts this French summer
(A perfect summer...)
And our imperfect dreams
(Where nothing could happen to me).

© Nicola Sirkis, 2017

About this song

Nicola Sirkis: Just imagine if the far right had won the elections in France... We're in the same configuration [as America and the rest of the world with Trump].

In "Un été français", you actually depict France as a “hellish country” and a “national chill”...

Nicola Sirkis: Every five years, we get that big carnival. Delusion, promises, and broken dreams. But this is what democracy's all about.

(Source)

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How to Apply Russian Doll Effects on Photos

Ever seen that effect where frames are embedded within frames ad infinitum — or multiple mirror reflections? Why don't you do that with your pictures... well, at least with those that contain a frame or mirror. For this very basic yet a rather tedious tutorial, I've used GIMP but you may easily do it with any other image editor.

Materials

  • a picture featuring a frame (or mirror) large enough to add other frames
  • Instructions

1. Open a copy of the image you wish to manipulate and add alpha layer (with Paint Shop Pro: convert to raster layer) so as to be able to create a transparent zone.

2. Selection the area inside the frame with the appropriate tool which depends on the zone to detour (magic wand, freehand or selection tool) then press suppress to get a transparent zone.

3. Duplicate layer several times according to the size of your original frame and the depth you wish to create. Hide all layers except the second one from the bottom.

4. Use the Scale tool (with Paint Shop Pro : Deform tool in Scale mode) to resize the layer so that it can fit into the transparent frame in the layer below.

5. Move the resized layer under the original one and reposition into the transparent zone. To prevent moving layers inadvertly, you should link them.

6. Unhide third layer and apply step 4 and 5, adjusting tho the smaller transparent zone.

7. Repeat with each remaining layer.

NOTE: For the above example, I've added an extra frame to place over the cardboard shape as you can see, and after step 2, applied a drop shadow on a separate (unmerged) layer. Finally, I enhanced the output with a series of effects (Levels, Refocus, and several GMIC filters) to improve sharpness, contrast and colours.

For this second example, I had fun experimenting Perspective and Shear tools to turn and skew layers. I had to cheat using the Clone and Smudge brushes to fill the empty spaces.

For this final example, I've applied several GMIC filters (forgotten which ones) to boost the colours of the original picture and create a psychedelic efect. I've also colourised each frame  using the Hue-Saturation settings from the Colours menu. Then, in each layer I had to select hands to recolour them to original flesh tone (using Colours - Map - Swap colours).

Cool, isn't it? Fancy losing yourself in the maze of your imagination? What's holding you back? Have a try!

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Watching the Wheels

People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing,
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin.
When I say that I'm OK they look at me kind of strange
“Surely you're not happy now you no longer play the game.”

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away,
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me.
When I tell that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall,
“Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball?”

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round.
I really love to watch them roll,
No longer riding on the merry-go-round,
I just had to let it go.

People asking questions lost in confusion,
Well I tell them there's no problem, only solutions.
Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind.
I tell them “There's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time.”

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round.
I really love to watch them roll,
No longer riding on the merry-go-round,
I just had to let it go.

Original text by JOHN LENNON

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How to Apply 3D Effects on Photos

Got a new operating system (Linux) and a new image editing software (GIMP). Even though I'm still using Paint Shop Pro on Wine, I want to learn how to use this much-praised multiplatform tool. But it takes time for, like many free alternatives to giants such as Photoshop and MS Office, it was designed by geeks who can't really put themselves into the average user's shoes who, in turn, may be too busy perhaps to take the time to thoroughly read a user guide. That's the way things are and no-one is perfect. So I wanted you to know that I'm actually making the effort and starting to really enjoy GIMP.

As always, the tutorial below may be done with any basic graphic tool. It's quite simple yet requires some dexterity depending of the areas you'll choose to detour and therefore presuming you're already familiar with this technique. Another challenge might be to find suitable pictures which may be time-consuming. Luckily, I have a large stock which I have organised in databases with XnViewMP, another multiplatform tool (though unavailable in official Linux repositories).

Material

  • a picture featuring a well-contrasted element to be partially detoured and enough space around to fit in a frame
    - optional: a background image

Instructions

1. Open a copy of the image you want to manipulate.

2. Apply Layer - Transparency - Add Alpha Channel menu command (Paint Shop Pro: Layers -  Promote Background Layer).

3. Add a new layer and fill it with white.

4. Select all (Ctrl+A) then apply Selection - Reduce menu command (PSP: Selections - Modify - Contract) using value between 10 and 15 pixels depending on the original size of your picture. Press Del key then Select None (Maj+Ctrl+A - PSP: Ctrl+D). Your picture now has a 10-15px white border.

5. Use Perspective Tool (PSP: Deform Tool - Free Mode) to warp and reduce the size of the border frame as you like and so that your chosen subject may stick out.

6. Activate your original background layer. With the lasso (Freehand Tool), draw around the area you want to keep. You may zoom in to make sure you do that as thoroughly as possible and choose the Add To Selection mode to proceed in instalments with complex and intricated shapes.

7. Once your selection is complete, apply Layer - Mask - Add Layer Mask menu command with Initialise Layer Mask To Selection option (PSP: Layers - New Mask Layer - Show Selection). Now the unwanted parts are all hidden.

8. Activate the white border layer and using the lasso, select the areas overlapping your subject and press Delete.

9. Select None and Merge All Visible Layers. You may then add drop shadows and a background layer as you wish.

NOTE: In the above example, before merging layers I've tweaked the colours of my original picture to fit with the tones of my chosen background plus a series of enhancements including applying Darken and Sharpen Tools in some of the grassy areas. You may skip the layer mask part by inverting your selection and pressing Delete but note you may not be able to modify anything after that, whereas layer masks can conveniently be edited.

For this second example, I have duplicated the original layer to use it as background layer and worked on the duplicate layer. After the detouring step, I've selected the inside of the central frame which I floated then unfloated to a new layer and applied various filters before duplicating it and changing layer blend mode. Before merging, I applied a drop shadow to the white border only.

So now you know how to create some relief and make even your most common pictures real stand out.

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Rebirthing

Today I'm passing away
Over my fears
And hard feelings,
Bogged down in the foundation
Of the self-created dramas
Of my mindscape.

One by one,
I let them go,
No resentment
One by one,
I watch them die,
No grief.

Today I'm reborn
From my dirty waters
And misguided fancies.
Relieved from my burdens,
Effortlessly, remorselessly,
I'm taking off.

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Believer

For a minute there when you saw the above title and picture, bet you all freaked out that I might have gone with the choir prissies. If so, shame on you, you should know better. What you see is not always what you get and this young lady with her British gospel overtones (which I dig so much) may look like a church mouse, she's definitely not. She's a rocker — one true rocker. But who keeps rocking in the shadow. Actually, I'd already wrote a piece on her — that was two years ago, how time flies. Still no album in sight yet (unfortunately), but at least a Soundcloud page full of goodies where you may listen to more titles including an acoustic guitar version of this same track. Honestly, seeing all the vapid talentless sluts (I won't name any but follow my gaze) taking over the airwaves, it feels so unfair that we're denied the opportunity to hear such talent as Tiffany Page's (unrelated to Jimmy, by the way) who not only can sing without Autotune but also write catchy songs. No need for her to confess, I'm a convert, and the sluts I mentioned above can go back where they came from — and cover themselves up for the way global warming is going, they might catch a cold and lose their voice, which would be a real shame (maniacal laughter).

Ey@el

Show me how you believe
And I might be converted.
Confess everything to me,
Show me how your worship
Can you set me free,
Make a believer out of me ?

I wanna scream it to the heavens,
Wanna praise your name,
And when you do that certain something to me,
I'm a believer...
I'm a believer...

Take me to a higher plane,
Draw me in the shadow,
Offer me forgiveness babe,
And maybe I might follow.
Can you help me see,
Make a believer out of me?

I wanna scream it to the heavens,
Wanna praise your name,
And when you do that certain something to me,
I'm a believer...
I'm a believer...

I wanna scream it to the heavens,
Wanna praise your name,
And when you do that certain something to me,
I wanna burn you into my skin,
Feel your secret fire,
Peel away the mystery, baby
Cuz I'm a believer...
I'm a believer...
I'm a believer...

Show me how you believe
And I might be converted.
Confess anything to me,
Show me how your worship.

Original text by TIFFANY PAGE
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Equinox

Meet me on the equinox,
Meet me halfway,
The sun is perched at its highest peak
In the middle of the day...

"Meet Me On The Equinox", Death Cab For Cutie (2009)

On this day of the equinox, no big-do, keep everything in balance. No clash, maintain harmony. No dull play either, my autumn way instead — in my own tone. Bye bye the usual clichés that remind us that our sun time is up — you bet! And with all due respect to acorn and dead-leaf lovers, this year I shall do as I please for what matters is to stay in tune, doesn't it? So let our true colours shine through!

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How to Apply Posterise Effects on Photos

It's been a long time since my last photo editing tutorial. I must say after migrating to Linux, I had to learn how to use different graphic tools even though I've managed to get Paint Shop Pro 8 running with Wine (previously I've been using PSP X for many years but it doesn't work on Wine). So for this new tut requesting no additional plugin, I've used GIMP which is the default installed graphic program on most Linux distributions and is also available for Windows but you will should have no problem using it with any other image editor.

Materials

  • a colour (or black and white) picture with good contrast and clearly defined lines

Instructions

1. Open a copy of the image you wish to manipulate.

2.  Apply effect Colours - Threshold (or Settings - Luminosity and contrast - Threshold if you're using Paint Shop Pro).

NOTE: I've kept default settings, but you may use a change the value for black pixels (left setting) until you're satisfied with the preview (for PSP, there's only one setting). If necessary, you should cover unwanted areas with black or white after applying the threshold effect.

For my second example, I've duplicated the original layer and applied the threshold on the top layer using value 100. Then I set this layer blend mode on Value (Overlay or Hard Light if you're using PSP). To enhance the effect, I've then applied several cosmetics improvements to the original bottom layer.

Easy peasy, yet the result really depends on your original as you'll quickly realise you won't get good rendering with every pictue, only with some. Why not using these bichromic pictures to create stencils, to print and handcolour them, use them as brushes in your graphic editior or turn them into vectorial images, etc. As always, your imagination.

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Life Is Wonderful

A song with both luminous and dark lyrics... Incidentally, this article was meant to go online back in June, but since any video posted by fans was systematically removed from YouTube, I had to wait for the official release of this wonderful clip (by Italian actress/director Asia Argento) which was well worth the delay, wasn't it? A reminder for those who don't live in France or haven't seen all the posters on display all over the country: Indochine's new album 13 is to be released on Friday, but should be aired tomorrow on RTL2 radio (broadcast time stil unknown as yet).

Ey@el

La vie est belle

The only reason I was born here is to be with you
As someone who will be and will be talked about.
The only reason I was born here is to be with you.
I'll be someone who will be, you'll see.
We'd go and and make life — that we could do.
We'd go and make the night as far as you can.
The only reason I was born here is to be with you.

Life's both wonderful and cruel
Just like we are sometimes.
I was born only to be with you.
Life's both wonderful and cruel
Just like you are sometimes.
I was born only to be with you.

I felt so proud to live with you though
Life comes to you in a flash, your cancer is mine,
It was so obvious I was meant to end up with you.
Your blood is mine, together we can be one
And we'd be invincible — something we could do.
We wanted all sorts of possibilities as far as we can.

Life's both wonderful and that cruel
Just like we are sometimes.
I was only born to be with you.
Both lonely and sad, we'd have thought it possible,
But it can't just end up here.
We could have seen nothing but our smiles and joys.
I was born only to be with you.

Life's wonderful, but cruel sometimes,
It feels we are sometimes.
My life's as beautiful as you.
Life's wonderful, but cruel sometimes
Just like we are, you and I.
I was born only to be with you.
We'd have believed in our smiles and joys.
The only reason I was born here is to be with you.

Original text by NICOLA SIRKIS translated from French by EY@EL
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What It Could Mean When You’re Driving in Your Dream

I'm used to dream I'm driving a car that's not mine and experiencing a curious sense of freedom mixed with both impunity and fear for knowingly treading forbidden paths, probably because in “real life”, I neither own a car nor a driving licence. Constantly aware I might get arrested by the police, I often take separate circuitous routes. A bit like what my everyday life tastes like, rebelling against the Matrix and refusing to conform with its unnatural standards and dictates, all in breach with universal laws. These are usually dreams indicating I'm on the right track in contrast with all those train rides (always sitting with my back to the opposite direction of travel), sometimes missing the next stop or the train. Or those dreams  where I'm in the tube, getting lost in the lonely subways, stuck at the terminal, caught up in a flood or desperately trying but failing to reach my destination. A good ten years ago, I had a significant dream like something out of an Hollywood scene from the War of The Worlds movie (adapted from the famous short story by H.G. Wells starring Tom Cruise and which I saw much later on) in which I was riding against traffic on a one-lane motorway, where all the cars caught in a traffic jam were being crushed by some kind of gigantic road roller from above. There was blood splashing everywhere, leaving some scarlet gooey pulp on the tarmac behind, while pressing the accelerator, I was racing to the East of Eden! Some blatantly clear symbolism there, still quite upsetting.

Ey@el

Often you will dream about being in a car. It is important to notice who’s driving the car, as a car represents your “drive” in life or how your propel yourself from the present time toward your future. If you are not driving, notice the position in the car where you are sitting. If you are in the front passenger seat, whoever is driving the car represents the drive in your life. If you know this person, describe their personality in three words, such as “Judith is quiet, responsible, and squeamish.” That is the adopted program that is driving your life in this dream. You are riding shotgun to your own life.

I used to have dreams of not even having a car, but sort of a skateboard apparatus that I propelled with my hand. Needless to say, that was not a good thing. I was driving myself fist over fist — not an easy way to travel through life.

Read more...

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Sweet Summer Treat

Yes, I'm much into recycling this month, so what? Recycling is eco-friendly and it's not because I can't afford to go on holidays that I don't have the right to slow down. That said, it may not seem like much but bringing back improved old recipes and translating them into another langage still requires a minimum input of time and effort. So all you grousers, never-satisfied and spiteful mouths, please don't change a thing. After all, you have the right to exist too, but it doesn't mean we won't live on our own terms and share what we like. Worry not, we do love you because you're such a laugh and constant reminders of how we could end up like lest we decided to give up on our dreams. So thank you for continously boosting our motivation and have a good ranting! Such a lenghty preamble to introduce my new improved and revisited version, still 100% vegan and sugar/gluten free of the hyperproteinated creams I ate for breakfast (see Related articles). This is an original recipe I invented and which I wanted smoother and with a subtil flavour of hazelnut and vanilla which reminds a little bit of crèmes brûlées. For those who don't like coconut in general, have a try because it really doesn't taste like coconut.

Ingredients

Makes 12 ramekins :

- 1 litre hazelnut (or almond) milk
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 1 vanilla pod
- 4 tbsp lupin flour
- 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 4 tbsp ground almonds

Instructions

 Split the vanilla pod and infuse with milks brought to boiling point.

Remove vanilla pod and add powders and flour, stirring well to avoid the formation of lumps.

Stir regularly and cook over a low heat until the mixture thickens which should take about 10 minutes but it depends how thick you want it to be (please note it will continue thickening when cooling).

Pour into ramekins and let it cool before refrigerating.

Before serving, you may spray some cinnamon (or cocoa) powder and add a couple of almonds on top to decorate.

NOTE: You may substitute other vegetal milks for hazelnut milk but the mixture might not have the same thick consistency. If you use almond milk instead, the taste might be slighly bitter since this recipe doesn't contain any added sugar. If so, you may add a touch of honey or agave syrup.

Enjoy your treat!

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Earthsick

The dark night of the soul, the bends. The ultimate groundswell that drags you down to the bottom of the bitter sea. Carried away, my heart sank in this ebb and flow of tears. Overwhelmed by the Big Blue. Am really sinking this low? And those weird fishes — their slashed souls and lifeless eyes staring at me, blankly. Their greedy sunken — bleak, dead, stillborn eyes. Yes, I want to live, breathe, but as for being part of the human race, well I'm not so sure anymore. I can't take this right now. Got some sort of mega faith crisis. And it won't just go away when I wake up sucking a lemon. No, no, no... I'm afraid it will take much more than this.

Stop! I wanna go home,
Take off this uniform
And leave the show.
And I'm waiting in this cell
Because I have to know
Have I been guilty all this time?

"Stop", Pink Floyd (1979)

I'm an alien soul longing for somewhere else. Somewhere far away from this creeping madness, from this unreasonable perversion, this growing ingratitude, ignorant arrogance, loud egos, baffling denial, uncontrollable fear and excruciating alienation. Going round and round little patapons, over and over in circles. Could you please stop drawing me sheep? Forget it. It was a mistake — an awful mistake.

Come let the truth be shared
No-one ever dared
To break these endless lies
Secretly she cries.

"Sunburn", Muse (1999)

Can't. The veil of oblivion is flawed. False memories are fading away as real ones are emerging. If they float, they burn. If you talk, you die. If you keep quiet, you give up the ghost. Shoot the messenger! Burn the witch! Their game, their rules. Move or get removed, let's play leapfrog instead. One, two, three, Alice fell into a black hole. Black is black, you can't go back.

A lull. A dying angel. A shooting star. Make a wish. I believe, yes I do. I want to. Yes I can. You, me, them. Change our reality.

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Pinhole Vision

Hold on, don't you go assuming I'm into psychedelic trips. Nope. I'd just like to share an awesome discovery I made while surfing: pinhole glasses. Mine cost me less than two euros (some serious grounds for upheavals on planet Oculus 2000, assuredly, and what with getting called a charlatan except I have nothing to sell and the object of disinformation offence is even cheaper than a lottery ticket).

I'm punching holes, tiny little holes
Tiny little holes, over and over again
Second class holes
First class holes

"Le Poinçonneur des Lilas", Serge Gainsbourg (1958)

The concept is simple: whenever a person with visual impairment such as myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia or astigmatism looks through a hole, their vision becomes clearer — the beam of light reaching the eye is narrowing, thus widening the focus range and reducing the blurred area on the retina. You can experiment at home by creating a tiny pinhole-sized tunnel with your fingers and look through it without your glasses on. Both the Eskimo and Filipino peoples, as well as the Aztecs, had invented the forerunners of our modern glasses — viewing slots made of mussels or animal bones to get a clearer view of their surroundings.

It's the camera obscura principle and the aperture used for that is called a “pinhole”. It allows individuals with visual impairment to have a vision 60% clearer when looking through it than without any corrective device.

I, for one, use pinhole glasses against presbyopia (far-sightedness). Since my vision varies according to my health condition, stress, eye strain, lightening conditions, and because I'm not the regular user I should be (doing my best), I wouldn't say my close vision is perfect (far from it), yet it's been about five years now and I still can read without corrective lenses. Whenever I'm struggling with small print (i.e. such as recommended dosage on homeopathic medicines), I put my pinhole glasses on and everything's fine.

You need to know that, unlike corrective lenses which sort of serve as crutches eyes that lost their ability to focus clearly, looking through pinholes stimulates and strengthens oculomotor nerves and muscles. I must say I've also practiced (but not on a regular basis) eye yoga recommended by Ayurveda medicine and basic foundation of the famous Bates Method.

Not the Bates as in Norman, the psychopathic murderer from the Psycho movie, but rather Bates as in William — Dr. William Bates, an American ophtalmologist of the past century who designed a method to  train eyes based on psychology, which was later popularised by Aldous Huxley. Without entering the specifics here, if you've never heard of it, it's for the same reason as many other similar things: it would hurt a whole juicy business. So if you visit Wikipedos, the Matrix cyclopedia, you may expectedly read that it has no real scientific basis, and you'll also find articles galore by medics and healthcare professionals condemning the desinformation — nothing new under the Propaganda sun. If you're still skeptical, I would like to point out though that the Bates Method was recommended to me by an orthoptist in addition to the specific custom exercises to train my eyes.

Besides, I'm not selling anything. Neither do I ask you to get rid of your glasses. Still I'm advising you to have a serious try and see (no pun intended) what happens. When you constantly wear corrective lenses (especially if you're far-sighted), you weaken your muscles and in time, you'll always need stronger ones (bonanza).

I won't expose the Bates Method here either (there are many detailed websites and books available), but paired with the regular use (15-30 minutes a day) of pinhole glasses  — while watching TV, working on your computer, reading a good book, etc. (however BEWARE not to use them will driving or walking in the street as they restrict your vision scope), overall you should acquire a better eyesight with or without corrective lenses.

Another benefit of pinhole glasses is that you can also use them as sunglasses to your great advantage since they reduce the amount of sunlight while retaining its healing quality (full solar spectrum). Perfect to watch tonight's solar eclipse.

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The Panther of the Lake

It's almost Halloween. On this occasion, I intended to repost an article by Alanna Ketler about what black cats actually symbolise and ...

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