Islamophobia.

Grrrr....Angry Muslims.

Great point on Islamophobia. I don't see why people are getting all worked-up on it. I think after 9/11, the London bombings, the Bali bombings, the Danish cartoon controversy, countless suicide bombers, fatwas, fourteen beheaded Philippine marines (who were also tortured, and two had their genitals cut off), etc., it makes perfect sense why some people are afraid of offending Islam. Terrorism has badly damaged the image of Islam, and the funny thing is, not enough Muslims are doing anything about it. It seems that each time a terrorist act occurs (i.e. failed London car bombings), majority of the Muslims simply keep silent about it. Yet when Salman Rushdie was issued a knighthood, Muslims across the globe chanted- yet again -for his death. If fed-up Muslims in Iraq can stand-up to al-Qaeda, why can't moderate Muslims in the West do the same? Silence is quite damning, don't you know. The least they can do is pick-up a damn anti-suicide-bombing/beheading/whatever protest sign to let their voices be heard. If they ever did such a thing in the past, well I didn't notice it. (Yes, I'm ignorant!)
I'm also tired of the comparisons being made between Christians and Muslims. Not to say that the other is better, but when radical Muslims called for the Pope's death, nobody blew themselves up over it. I can only imagine what radical Muslims will do if a "small" group of Christians called for a cleric's death. When Pope John Paul was shot by a crazy kid, he forgave the shooter. When the Danish Muhammad Cartoon controversy erupted, people were actually killed.

So... no wonder.


photo source

VIDEO: Weird Science of Alexander McQueen.

Amazing...

ALERT: Purchasing fake handbags helps TERRORISM!

BELIEVE IT!



I know, I know. It sounds ridiculous, but it isn't. Buying counterfeit merchandise is a heinous act: It should be considered as a heavy crime punishable by death! Alright, so I'm being wicked about this- and I'm not all that serious -but according to Cynthia Nellis, here is a good reason why buying fake high-end merchandise is a bad idea:

According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) about 18% of the $98 million of counterfeit products seized by U.S. Customs in '02 were made up of fashion-related items: apparel, sunglasses, watches, handbags and headwear.

While it's not a crime to buy counterfeit merchandise (only to sell it), there are legitimate reasons why you should rethink your buying tactics according to the IACC:

1. Counterfeiting robs the U.S. alone of more than $200 billion a year. It's a cash, tax-free business; legitimate citizens like yourself will still get stuck paying taxes, while counterfeiters line their pockets at your expense.

2. Terrorists, gangs and organized crime syndicates all profit from selling counterfeit merchandise. Sometimes designer handbag knockoffs are lined with drugs and used for smuggling things like heroin, too. There is also evidence that the bombing of the World Trade Center in '93 was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel...

See? Al-Qaeda is simply not satisfied with hijacking airplanes, planting car bombs, baking children, and what-have-you hither and yon... Terrorists are now hijacking the world of fashion as well, and as a concerned student of Fashion Design and Merchandising, I ask you to think twice before you sprinkle some good ol' money-love on that fake, demented-looking Marc Jacobs bag! You might not know it, but there's a chance that your hard-earned cash will aid terrorists and gang-members. So take a stand against al-Qaeda and their little mouselike rodent friends and get a real Marc Jacobs bag. (Delancey!!!)
Anyway, I found the Beyonce-falls-flat-on-her-face video. So worth watching. Don't get me wrong- I love her, but it was a monumental disaster waiting to happen! Anyone who shakes her booty that hard is bound to fall flat on her face. And you have to admit that that stuff is always funny. (But I still love Beyonce!!)

FASHION: ANIMAL-PRINT

My favorite picks. Check them out!

Neiman Marcus

 
 

More: Manolo Blahnik Leopard-print d'Orsay, Valentino Leopard-Print Haircalf d'Orsay, D&G Dolce & Gabbana, Leigh Bantivoglio, Moschino Cheap & Chic!!!, Marchesa halter gown...

Babyphat

 
 

More: Babyphat Military jacket, Zebra Wash Signature Jean, KLS Cheetah Dress, KLS Cheetah Tank Dress...

Betsey Johnson

 
 

FASHION: LOUD.

Mary L Couture

 
 

Alright, so the third one is not so "loud", but it's just as beautiful. Heh! Check out these other patterns: Babyphat Fan Dolman, Kimora Lee Simmons Long Tube Dress, Kimore Lee Simmons Deep-V Mini-Dress, Topshop Kate Moss Printed Maxi Dress, Topshop Patchwork Dress, Topshop Spiro Button Dress...

Bloomingdales

 
 

Michael Moore gets SERVED!

From thewest.com.au
Moore may face subpoena over Cuba trip

The director took several Americans, who became ill after working in the ruins of New York's World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks, for free treatment in Cuba. In May, the US Treasury Department informed Moore it was investigating his trip to the communist state as a potential violation of Washington's long-standing embargo restricting US citizens' travel to the communist nation. Moore wrote then to US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, "I have broken no laws, and I have nothing to hide."

Tee-hee!! By the by, I was watching CNN a while ago and they showed Michael Moore's I-got-served announcement on Jay Leno. He was overdramatic about the whole thing and kept insisting President Bush is an evil tyrant, but CNN straightened him out. CNN is still a bitch, but it's good to see them standing up to Fatty Arbuckle -Mikey Moore.

Israel's "goodwill gesture"; New details on Tillman.

Update: Baghdad Diarist sets-up a domain- My bad! It's a parody site! Scott Thomas Beauchamp made outrageous claims about his fellow soldiers during a writing stint for an online magazine. The accusations he made were ultimately called into question by members of the military community, its supporters, and several Conservative bloggers. After scanning through Scott Thomas' website, I have come to the conclusion that Scott Thomas is somewhat of a retard.

Update: Beyonce dances wildly; falls flat on her face. The poor dear.

Mahmoud Abbas demands the release of 100 more terrorists. Israel's Ehud Olmert already released 255 Palestinian prisoners, but I guess that's not enough. Also, IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit., still remains in Hamas captivity. Despite Israel's generous "goodwill gesture", the young soldier's fate remains unclear as Abbas admits he has no influence over the affair.

New details on Pat Tillman's death. "The documents also shed new light on Tillman's last moments. It has been widely reported by the AP and others that Spc. Bryan O'Neal, who was at Tillman's side as he was killed, told investigators that Tillman was waving his arms shouting "Cease fire, friendlies, I am Pat (expletive) Tillman, damn it!" again and again.
But the latest documents give a different account from a chaplain who debriefed the entire unit days after Tillman was killed.
The chaplain said that O'Neal told him he was hugging the ground at Tillman's side, "crying out to God, help us. And Tillman says to him, `Would you shut your (expletive) mouth? God's not going to help you; you need to do something for yourself, you sniveling ..."

I am worried that his death was not "accidental". According to the article, "The documents show that a doctor who autopsied Tillman's body was suspicious of the three gunshot wounds to the forehead." Of course, we may never know for sure, so I'll just wait for more details on this story. Besides, the Pentagon already conducted a criminal investigation and concluded that it was a friendly-fire accident. What a tragedy, though. Pat Tillman walked away from a lucrative deal with the NFL so he could enlist in the army and serve his country. He's a hero and should be remembered for his bravery and self-sacrifice.

The Rise of Islam.

Londonistan... and now, Wiesbadenstan!

In Europe, skylines reflect the rise of Islam
By Isabelle de Pommereau

Wiesbaden, Germany - In the Rhine Valley city of Mannheim, the glittering minaret of Germany's biggest mosque overshadows what was once the region's most vibrant church, testifying to Muslims' new confidence as Christian churches are closing down.

Years ago, 180 sisters of the Catholic order of the Sisters of the Divine Savior were the pulse of the city. Today, eight remain. Every weekend, roughly 150 Roman Catholics attend mass at the Liebfrauen Church, while up to 3,000 Muslims throng the Yavuz-Sultan-Selim mosque. Since the mosque was opened in 1995, Muslim shops and youth centers have become a magnet for the Muslim community.

(Read more...)

Muslim invasion. Loves it. Anyway, here is an update on the twenty-two South Korean hostages. Afghan authorities found the bullet-riddled body of Bae Hyung-kyu on Wednesday. According to the article, he was killed by his Taliban kidnappers on his birthday.

Anti-war Hollywood.

A string of anti-war films will be released within this year and next. Paul Haggis, Susan Sarandon, Reese Witherspoon, Tommy Lee Jones, Ryan Phillippe are just few of the stars who hopped aboard the anti-war, anti-military bandwagon. From descriptions of these films, it seems that Iraq veterans will be potrayed as angry and murderous thugs or war-weary disillusioned PTSD-victims. I hope to God I'm wrong. From the New York Times article:



In the Valley of Elah: ...Before the night was over, one of them, Specialist Richard R. Davis, was dead of at least 33 stab wounds, his body doused with lighter fluid and burned. Two of the group would eventually be convicted of the murder, another pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the last confessed to concealing the crime.

Stop-Loss: Kimberly Peirce’s “Stop-Loss,” set for release in March by Paramount, meanwhile, casts Ryan Phillippe as a veteran who defies an order that would send him back to Iraq.

Rendition: New Line Cinema will release “Rendition,” in which Reese Witherspoon plays a woman whose Egyptian-born husband is snared by a runaway counterterrorism apparatus.

Redacted: Brian De Palma’s “Redacted,” focusing on an Army squad that persecutes an Iraqi family, is to be released in December by Magnolia Pictures.

Of course, when "Valley of Elah" had one of its first screenings in Washington, Iraq Veterans Against The War "helped recruit viewers for the screening." It's a shame how these films will only makes things worse for the troops on the ground, but I guess they really believe that this is the Vietnam era. Oh well, at least The Transformers showed the troops in a good light!!

Taliban kills one Korean hostage; Frees German.

Update: Taliban claims several hostages have been freed. These reports have yet to be confirmed!

Purported Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi claimed that one of the hostages had been shot and killed around 4 p.m., and a police official who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation said militants told him the hostage was sick and couldn't walk and was therefore shot.

Some of the 23 Korean hostages, meanwhile, had been freed and were taken to a U.S. base in Ghazni, two Western officials said who asked not to be identified. The officials did not know how many had been freed. The South Korean news agency Yonhap said eight Koreans had been freed.

Update: Taliban shoots male hostage.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban killed one of the 23 Korean hostages on Wednesday after Kabul failed to free Taliban prisoners, a spokesman for the group said, adding insurgents would kill more if their demands were not met.

"Since Kabul's administration did not listen to our demand and did not free our prisoners, the Taliban shot dead a male Korean hostage," Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters by phone from an unknown location.

Update: German journalist and two Afghans freed.
--

I feel sort of sleepy right now, but I don't want to sleep. Sleeping has got to be the most boring "activity" ever, and I don't want to be bored at all. Not on a beautiful night like this. It would be nice if I could go out and do something insane like order a huge greasy pizza with about five thousand calories in it, but I can't leave my puppies behind without anyone to watch over them. They're nasty, bratty little things that do nothing but claw at me when I try to act like the loving mother I'm not. Anyway, I think I'm about to fall asleep, but I really, really don't want to. I hardly ever remember my dreams anyway, and those that I do remember hardly make any sense. So what's the point?
Oh, by the way, you should read Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. She died at a concentration camp in 1942, but before her death, she was able to create a number of drafts on several stories she planned to publish after the war. She intended it to be a single novel divided into five parts. Unfortunately, she only finished a few hundred pages: These pages tell the story of several families, from different social backgrounds, who were fleeing the war (Storm in June) and the tragic lovestory between a French woman and a German soldier (Dolce). These two un-polished works were discovered by her two daughters over sixty-five years later, and were finally published in France. It is being hailed as a masterpiece.

Check out this beautiful animated film from the Soviet era...

AND

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger- mushroom, mushroom -badger, badger, badger...

Bombs over Baghdad, Part Two.

Update: General: al-Qaeda making new cells in the U.S.

Update:Insurgents' gathering: Ecstatic over the losing political battle in the U.S. ...
THANK YOU, HARRY REID!


Anyway, several days ago I posted a really cool video from Grouchy Media called Bombs over Baghdad. Great rock/hip-hop music from Outkast featuring jaw-dropping clips from the U.S. Airforce. Well I found another one, this time featuring clips from CNN reports and whatnot. I think it's the anti-war version. Also, the music accompanying the clips is the plain hip-hop version, so no guitars or anything (except the solo part). Still, the video is well-done. (I'm all for the war, though!)

FASHION: BUBBLE DRESSES

Pear-shaped girls would definitely look hot in a bubble dress. Young Hollywood celebrities flaunted them, even old has-beens like Demi Moore and Debra Messing ate up the trend. Let's follow 'em! Admit it, celebrity worship forces us to abandon our unique and individual styles, so we can copy the ultra-glamorous outfits that loosely hang over the perfect, skeletal bodies of Hollywood moviestars... and feel better about ourselves. I don't see anything wrong with that, though.

Young Hollywood

 

If you want one of your own, try these lovely dresses...Vera Wang floral brocade dress, Zac Posen metallic bubble dress, Juicy Couture summer bubble dress, Velvet by Graham & Spencer... more below:

Bloomingdale's
Click on the photos below for more details!
 

 

Nordstrom.Com

 

 

"...You just take pictures"; Iraq Surge "is working".

Update:U.S. to set up security panel with Iran.

Scene from Hamburger Hill.


Some things never change. Soldier to a newsman: "I got more respect for those little bastards up there, at least they take a side, you just take pictures."

Iraq Update:
Commander discusses The Surge.

SMITH: Is morale still high among our troops?

LT. GEN. NORTH: When I go visit our wounded warriors in the hospitals, they don’t say, “Sir, I’m done. I want to go home.” I’ve talked to airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines; some without arms, legs, or eyes. They get up from their beds — and sometimes put their arms around me — and say, “Sir, how do I get back in the fight?”

SMITH: But the antiwar crowd will say, “Of course they do” because you are a three-star general.

LT. GEN. NORTH [shaking his head]: I don’t buy that at all. I’m looking in the eyes of these young Americans. I know them, and they know what’s at stake.

...
SMITH: The “surge” in Iraq: Is it working?

LT. GEN. NORTH: The surge is working. We’re seeing great progress. And look at western Iraq, out in Al Anbar Province — a huge success story — and as the enemy is seeing that they are not welcome in the west, they are bumping back up against the western sectors of Baghdad and meeting huge resistance.

SMITH: And Diyala?

LT. GEN. NORTH: Absolutely, many of the enemy have moved out into Diyala Province. There’s quite a lot of fighting going on there right now. Some major operations, and that’s working well for us also. But war takes patience. There are some of our world partners who have said to me, “You know, from your Revolutionary War through your Civil War, it took you about 100 years for you as a nation to gel.” So it takes time. We have to be forward looking. There is a lot of progress going on in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. And understand, that in this fight — militarily — we are doing fabulously.

SMITH: What about the broader war on terror?

LT. GEN. NORTH: The enemy is determined and deliberate and this is big stakes for him. He is patient and deliberate. Where he finds weakness, he probes. Where he finds strength, he draws back. We cannot be short-sighted about this. Our grandchildren are going to be fighting this war. It’ll be different. But we are going to fight this one way or another, around the world or here at home.

FASHION: RUFFLE DRESSES

Dresses, whether they are loaded with ruffles or simply trimmed with them, are fun and flirty. And I'm pretty obsessed with them right now. Here's a small collection of the best I found online. Click on the photos for more details!

Nordstrom.Com

 

 

Betsey Johnson

 

 

Lock-up the loopy; War support has risen.

Update:Support for the war inches up.

"American support for the war in Iraq has risen somewhat as the White House has continued to ask the public to reserve judgment about the war until General David Petraeus files his report in the fall.

In a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted over the weekend, 42 percent of Americans said taking military action in Iraq was the right thing to do, while 51 percent said the United States should have stayed out of Iraq.

Support had been at all time low in May, when only 35 percent of Americans said the United States’ involvement in Iraq was the right thing and 61 percent said the United States should have stayed out."

Cindy Sheehan gets arrested.



From Yahoo.Com:
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Monday at the Capitol for disorderly conduct, shortly after saying she would run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the California Democrat's refusal to try to impeach President Bush.

Sheehan was taken into custody inside Rep. John Conyers' office, where she had spent an hour imploring him to launch impeachment proceedings against Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Conyers, D-Mich., chairs the House Judiciary Committee, where any impeachment effort would have to begin.

"The Democrats will not hold this administration accountable, so we have to hold the Democrats accountable," Sheehan said outside of Conyers' office after the meeting. "And I for one am going to step up to the plate and run against Nancy Pelosi..."

Extra: About Cindy.
Cindy Sheehan became a controversial anti-war activist after her heroic son, Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq. Little is known about Casey as Cindy likes to... well, talk mostly about herself, or how President Bush is an evil tyrant out for oil, or how deliciously awesome Hugo Chavez is. To be honest with you, I am completely disgusted with her behavior. She continues to spit on the memory of her son- perhaps without meaning to? -and belittle the noble sacrifice he and his fellow soldiers made. To know the story of Casey Sheehan- soldier, warrior and hero -click here. It is because of brave men like him that freedom continues to reign in our world.

Vintage Dior hats!

How vintage!


African-inspired hats by Christian Dior, sometime in the 1960s.

Bloody Sunday and fashion brands.

Update: Confusion over fate of Taliban hostages.

A purported Taliban spokesman said Saturday that the Islamic militia had killed two German hostages, a claim disputed by both Afghanistan and Germany. He also offered to trade 23 captive South Koreans for imprisoned Taliban fighters. The militant spokesman offered no proof of his claim on the kidnapped Germans. Afghan officials said one of the Germans appeared to have died from a heart attack, while the other was still alive. Despite the competing claims, the separate seizures of the foreigners in southern provinces were vivid illustrations of the lack of government control over the region.

Kidnapped Italian priest has been freed by Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda linked group operating in the southern Philippines.

In the search for Bossi earlier this month, the military lost 14 Marines, including 10 who were beheaded, threatening a peace process in the south.
"I feel like I am responsible for their death because they were there looking for me. Instead they were ambushed," said a teary-eyed Bossi during a news conference.

"Iraq Explodes In Celebration of Its Soccer Team".

Few spectators missed the irony of Iraq defeating Vietnam , a nation with its own experience with a bloody, ill-fated U.S. war. One Iraqi sports commentator dubbed the match “the wounded vs. the healed.”

President Bush sings "Bloody Sunday":



I think President Bush rocks. He liberated Afghanistan and Iraq from very oppressive governments, planted the seeds of democracy and freedom in their countries, and gave them the chance to become citizens of the world. However, they must prove themselves worthy of liberty and should thus cooperate with U.S. and NATO forces in rebuilding their countries. It's for their children and future, after all. (Now before you rip me apart, may I just remind you that freedom is not free! It is not handed to you on a silver platter- you must work hard for it. You must ache, bleed and die for it. You must keep fighting for it. If you no longer believe that freedom is worth fighting and dying for, then by all means, welcome the Taliban and al-Qaeda back into your arms. Just don't bitch about it when they begin executing women and children again.)
Anyway, check out the awesome dresses from Mango. So stylish. I've always loved their pieces and prefer them over Topshop's (I still love Topshop, though- but not the Kate Moss line!)

Also, check out this Betsey Johnson mini-dress:



Loves it! I know the print is loud and crazy, but I love loud and crazy! Also check out this sailor dress Screw that, I hate it now. Check out this slip dress from Betsey Johnson:




Other funky styles: Evening Polka Dot Sateen Dress, Silk Print Maxi Dress....

Kimora Lee Simmons:



Blousant tunic/dress. Gotta love Babyphat and Kimora Lee! More: FUNKY Scoop Neck Tee!!!, Babyphat Cheetah Dress...

And last, but not the least: KICKASS TUNIC!!!

"We will all be slaughtered."

From Newsbusters.Org:

JOHN BURNS: Well, I think, quite simply that the United States armed forces here -- and I find this to be very widely agreed amongst Iraqis that I know, of all ethnic and sectarian backgrounds -- the United States armed forces are a very important inhibitor against violence. I know it`s argued by some people that they provoke the violence. I simply don`t believe that to be in the main true. I think it`s a much larger truth that where American forces are present, they are inhibiting sectarian violence, and they are going after the people, particularly al-Qaeda and the Shiite death squads, who are provoking that violence...
A senior American official told me just the other night that he had been to see Tariq Al Hashimi, who - the Sunni vice president, a former Saddam army officer who never joined the Baath Party and left Iraq in the early `90s. In other words, a Sunni who - who has genuine credentials as a moderate. Tariq Al Hashimi asked this senior American official, "is your Congress really serious about withdrawing troops?" And the American official said to him, "you`d better believe that it may be. This is a serious debate and it`s very finely balanced, and it could - it could fall in favor of withdrawing those troops and withdrawing them on a fairly rigorous, tight schedule." Tariq Al Hashimi responded to that by saying "then we will all be slaughtered," then we will all be slaughtered.

I am sure, however, that Obama believes Iraqis are not worth saving from that slaughter.

Dior Fashion Show

Update: Here is Victoria Beckham's Roland Mouret Moon Dress (paired with a delicious ostrich-skin Hermes Birkin bag!). The simple, origami-folded frock is heavenly and truly deserves to be petted, worshipped and loved-to-death by every girly-girl on the planet! Check out the video below to see Christian Dior's fashion show and his (beautifully) bizarre take on the origami trend.

Dior's Summer 2007 Haute Couture Collection- jaw-dropping.

Here is a beautiful Dior fashion acrylic painting from Winnett Art.
--
I'm trying to produce two sets of sketches (those blasted dummies and A-line skirts!) fashion illustrations while listening to Rihanna's idiotic but very catchy song, Umbrella, and surfing the web. Which is why I'll probably never finish anything... oh well! Anyway, I adore this...

Well, love the dress, hate the shoes.

The New Greatest Generation.

Update: For some retarded reason, my page looks crazy on Firefox. I'm too lazy to fix it, though!





...This young Marine was on his second deployment in his many years in the Marine Corps. He went on to say that the deployment this time was entirely different, witnessing rebuilding projects, more Iraqi security forces, more normal, daily routines and a dramatic improvement in the security situation.

He then looked at my sergeant major and asked, “We’re not going to be given enough time to finish this, are we, Command Sergeant Major?”

Being the huge dork that I know I am, I got all teary-eyed over this.

"News briefing with Lt. Gen. Odierno in Iraq", Photos

Still Missing/Captured...

Sergeant Keith Matthew Maupin



"Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin (July 13, 1983-) is a United States Army PFC captured by Iraqi insurgents on April 9, 2004 while serving in the Iraq War after his convoy came under attack by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire near Baghdad, Iraq. On June 28, 2004, Al Jazeera aired a poor quality video purportedly depicting Maupin's execution. On June 30, 2004, an Army spokesman said the video was "totally inconclusive...Maupin has been promoted three times since he was declared missing in action, first from Private First Class to Specialist, then to Sergeant, then lastly, Staff Sergeant. As of May 24, 2007, he, Spc. Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, Pvt. Byron W. Fouty and Spc. Alex R. Jimenez are still missing.[2]

"Love Never Loses Its Way Home", is a phrase used in Iraq among the troops to 'describe' Sergeant Maupin..." More.

"He was a hardworking kid who didn't get to play as much as he wanted to, but he didn't let that deter him," says coach Zak Taylor. "We'd finish about 3:45 every day, and he'd always stay late," working out in the weight room. Younger brother Micah, 19, says Matt has always preferred action to words. "Matt works hard and does the best he can. A lot of people just yell, yell, yell, but Matt isn't like that. It's more of a lead-by-example thing with him." More.