Eva declared, out of nowhere, that she hates swimming and doesn't want to go again.

I declared that she doesn't have to, so long as she changes into her bathing suit and enters the pool area during her classes.

Jenn wanted to know why, Eva didn't want to tell us, and the whole conversation culminated in Eva stripping off her panties and putting them on her head to simulate a swim cap, before tossing them dramatically on the floor and then striding off. She returned a minute later to hug them, mummering "It's okay Purply" as she did so.

I feel we have gained a new insight into Eva's thought processes.

*****************

Pakistan parliament backs embattled prime minister as crisis deepens

Police abandon posts in Lesotho, fear for lives

As Russia Invades Ukraine, the Kremlin’s Far Right Allies Meet in Yalta

Ukraine's defence minister has accused Russia of launching a "great war" that could claim tens of thousands of lives.

Nato to create high-readiness force to counter Russian threat

Pro-Russia Rebels Say They Will Settle For Autonomy In Ukraine

Baltic States Fear Putin Amid Escalation in Ukraine

Kazakhstan is latest Russian neighbour to feel Putin's chilly nationalist rhetoric

Tiny Genetic Differences between Humans and Other Primates Pervade the Genome

Presence of Bedbugs in Subway Scares Riders, Transit Workers

The Central African Republic’s sectarian civil war has divided a once peaceful nation, and pitted brother against brother.

Nigeria's Boko Haram 'seize' Bama town in Borno

Nigerian Military Failing to Defeat Boko Haram, Report Says

What’s missing in the Ebola fight in West Africa

Scientists Develop Simpler, Cheaper Way to Detect Ebola

Doctors and Nurses Risk Everything to Fight Ebola in West Africa

Trillions of Tiny Plastic Pieces Reside in Arctic Ice

Fast-food workers plan acts of civil disobedience. Another article here.

Burger King has maneuvered to cut U.S. tax bill for years

Gross Photos Show Sewer Workers Battling A 'Fatberg' The Size Of A Boeing 747 Under London

Kurd Rebels Fighting Islamic State Boost Hand for Turk Talks

U.N. to investigate alleged human rights abuses by ISIS

ISIS Turning Old Enemies into Awkward Allies

Captured IS Suicide Bomber Reveals Threat

Somali officials say U.S. struck where al Shabaab were meeting

Sigh. I hadn't wanted to post again so soon today

The journalist Steven Sotloff has been murdered by ISIS.

Since I've posted that, I may as well post the other more or less related links that have accumulated in the past few hours.

Syrian refugees top 3 million, half of all Syrians displaced

The Pentagon is denying that U.S. troops are fighting ISIS on the ground in Iraq—but eyewitness accounts and Kurdish officials tell a different story.

And, somewhat related, Metafilter had up this rather depressing ad for Save the Children. There are actually two morals hidden in their "one year" video, the first being "donate money!" and the second being "pay attention" - after all, one of the signs that the shit is hitting the fan is their neighbors hurriedly packing their car, presumably to get someplace safer.

But the point is that if you're at all concerned about the many many (many) wars going on right now, they're apparently one of the most legit organizations out there, with a solid 4 rating on Charity Navigator, with nearly all of their money going to their programs, which all seem to be pretty helpful and non-controversial. So if you're thinking ahead to "how am I going to spend my charitable money this year?", that's one option.