prepare to love life again for a minute

[turn it all the way up to eleven and click image]

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No kidding....

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love, 99
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peter cook and dudley moore

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In drag.

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laugh

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Laugh and laugh, dammit.

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i know yer all hicks freaks

[click image, video/audio playlist, one hour]

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The lost hour is here.

Our lost minds are here....

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oh, it's damn time for a moment of levity around here

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Yethiree, it shirr ith.
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reagan tells obama to grow a pair

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Lafingas is at it again....
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And then even Mullen piled on!
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mickey kaus cracks me up

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He's a kick... and REALLY smart.
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senility is contagious

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I was going to wish Jack a happy 77th 39th birthday yesterday, but, well, I was sidetracked....
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public service mordant humor reminder

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I've been trying to do a little sidebar cleaning while my poppa's taking his nap, and I thought I ought to drop in this reminder before we go off to watch a movie with our milkshakes tonight....
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laugh while you cry — UPDATED

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There are too many pigs in our media. There are too many pigs in our country. Everyone's in an uproar over this tragedy, from the UFO people accusing the United States of causing the earthquake in our population reduction operation to those of us the most concerned that this not be another excuse for instituting still more brutal conditions. Here, though we may not have needed the help, Matt Taibbi cleans David Brooks' clock in a way that makes me laugh as the knife of reality is sticking in my chest.
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Oh, no.

NOLA 2.0
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REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL
Haiti is putting the spirit of cooperation to the test
(Taken from CubaDebate)

THE news arriving from Haiti paints a picture of the tremendous chaos that was to be expected given the exceptional situation created by the disaster.

Initial surprise, shock, commotion, the desire in the most remote corners of the Earth to provide immediate aid. What to send and how to do so to a corner of the Caribbean, from China, India, Vietnam and other nations located tens of thousands of kilometers away? The magnitude of the earthquake and the country’s poverty instantly generated ideas of imagined needs, which give rise to all kinds of promises that they then try to deliver by any possible means.

We Cubans understood that the most important thing at that point was to save lives, and we are trained not just to confront catastrophes such as this one, but also natural disasters related to health.

Hundreds of Cuban doctors were there, plus a significant number of young, working-class Haitians who have become well-trained healthcare professionals, a task in which we have cooperated for many years with that neighboring sister nation. Some of our compatriots were on vacation, while others of Haitian origin were training or studying in Cuba.

The destruction caused by the earthquake exceeded all calculations; the humble adobe and mud homes – in a city with almost two million inhabitants – were unable to withstand it. Solidly constructed governmental buildings collapsed; whole blocks of houses crashed down upon their inhabitants who, at that time – as night was falling – were inside their homes and were buried, dead or alive, under the ruins. The streets full of people crying out for help. The MINUSTAH – the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti – the government and police were left leaderless or without headquarters. In the first moments, the main task of those institutions – incorporating thousands of people – was to find out who was still alive and where they were.

The immediate decision of our selfless doctors working in Haiti, as well as the young Haitian healthcare specialists who graduated in Cuba, was to communicate with each other, learn of each other’s fate and find out what resources were available to assist the Haitian people in the midst of that tragedy.

Those who were at home on vacation in Cuba immediately got ready to leave for Haiti, as did Haitian doctors on specialist courses in our homeland. Other expert Cuban surgeons who have undertaken difficult missions offered to leave along with them. Suffice it to say that, in less than 24 hours, our doctors had already seen hundreds of patients. Today, January 16, just three-and-a-half days after the tragedy, the number of victims who have been seen has risen to several thousand.

At midday today – Saturday – the head of our medical brigade reported, among other data, the following information:

"…the work being done by our compañeros is really commendable. The unanimous opinion is that this puts the earthquake in Pakistan in the shade – there was another severe earthquake there and some of these doctors worked there – in that country; our doctors often saw patients with badly healed fractures and people whose bones had been crushed. But this has surpassed the imaginable: there have been an abundance of amputations, operations have practically been performed in public; the image is one of a war."

"…the Delmas 33 Hospital is now operational; it has three operating rooms, with electrical generators, consultation areas, et cetera, but it is completely full."

"…12 Chilean doctors have joined us; one of them is an anesthesiologist. There are also eight Venezuelan doctors and nine Spanish nuns. Eighteen Spaniards – to whom the UN and Haitian Health Ministry had handed over control of the hospital – were due to arrive, but they lacked emergency resources that hadn’t as yet reached the area, and so they decided to join us and begin working immediately."

"… 32 Haitian resident doctors were sent and six of them were going directly to Carrefour, a place that has been totally devastated. Three Cuban surgical teams who arrived yesterday also traveled with them."

"…we are operating in the following medical facilities at Port-au-Prince:

La Renaissance Hospital.

The Social Security Hospital.

The Peace Hospital.

"…four Comprehensive Diagnostics Centers are already operational".

This information merely gives one idea of the work being undertaken by Cuban medical personnel and those from other countries working with them, who were among the first to arrive in that nation. Our medical personnel are willing to cooperate and join forces with all other healthcare specialists who have been sent to save lives in that sister nation. Haiti could become an example of what humanity can do for itself. The opportunity and means exist, but the will is lacking.

The longer it takes to bury or incinerate the dead and to distribute food and other vital supplies, the higher the risk of epidemics and social violence breaking out.

In Haiti, it will be put to the test how long the spirit of cooperation will endure before egotism, chauvinism, petty interests and contempt for other nations prevail.

Climate change is threatening the whole of humanity. The earthquake in Port-au-Prince, barely three weeks after the Copenhagen conference, reminds us all of how selfishly and arrogantly we behaved there.

Countries are taking a close look at everything that is taking place in Haiti. World opinion and that of the peoples will be increasingly harsher and more implacable.

Fidel Castro Ruz
January 16, 2010
7:46 p.m.

Translated by Granma International

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SOUTHCOM
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UPDATE:


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oof

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I was busy tracing the insanities of the space lizard hunters and not in the same neighborhood as sleep. I wanted to be asleep so I could dream, so I could be open to the cosmos teaching me in any of my reaches. I wanted to dream. I wanted to be finding out everything asleep, awake, both, neither....

I finally got to dreaming sometime after the sun had risen, but the telephone rang and a Shakespearean procession of calls from doctors and pharmacy has ruled my indescribably muddled day so far. I had at one point needed to get out of bed and to a pill bottle to get the telephone number for the doctor. A very bad cramp in my right triceps made itself very painfully known as I did this. I was groaning and huffing and alarming the doctor with these noises.

Anyway, after all these conversations and non-conversations with obtuse computers and harried clerks, full of coffee, still trying to be awake and asleep and both and neither, this pain running down the back of my right upper arm is not so acute, but still bothers me pretty badly. And nothing seems to be going anywhere. We appear to have a pit of warmish taffy here, with a live wire stuck in it.

The plan is to shower without drowning, go to town for my prescription refills, come home and try manfully to stay awake until something approximating what a Regular Joe would call a feasible bedtime and then hit myself over the head with a chill pill and actually sleep, for real, until every sleep-related deficit in this taffy pit is taken care of. Honestly, I think the pain is just because I'm so tired I can't hold my skeleton up.... You might be amazed to know that I left all persons and machines on the other end of the ringing phone in working order. No one died. No one was offended. Samsara was not provoked.

And, oddly, I did not have to muster any vitality to prevent myself from melting down on them.

I know it's not possible to be sticky pit of goo and a Zen mistress, but I may have hit on it nonetheless.
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In case yer wondering, it is 7:45pm and I am still uprightlike—to the eye of any passing peeping tom anyway—and trying to rummage around in the taffy for my sense of glee over the three new pairs of boofy cushy soft and WARM socks I got on serious sale in town today. This is WAY up there on my list of fashion statements I'm still avid to make.

I am also, per my Planet-Xian genes beginning to feel something akin to alert, but am not going for it. I will be down for the count just as soon as I've put enough distance between my eighty-four-year-old neighbor's bedtime and one a little more age-appropriate for me... even if it won't happen again this early for another year or seven....

Was just browsing through the Democracy Now! broadcasts of the past few days and found this snippet from Naomi Klein there. She says in a nutshell all I have to say about the latest Haiti disaster... only not mowing anyone down with the invective I'd be using.

I'm going to try to take in another space lizard related video before I'm down, but it may end up being the rhythm section for my snoring....
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Thus Spake the Goddess of Desire....
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one funny panel out of six

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The rest is just partisan blather.

I mean, cut to the chase, people, cut to the chase.
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happy new year

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... Vladimir Putin ....
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Heh. The idiots all came out with their fireworks at midnight, and a couple minutes later it started pouring really hard and the wind whipped up big time... all the idiots ran for shelter.... :-P
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let's get crazy

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dr horrible is making me laugh

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Just get me a stash of that Wonderflonium, doc.

just outstanding

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Now that Peter B has moved to podcasts, he's even better than the seriously great he was on the air. Here's an hour and fifteen minutes of simply excellent listening. The guy he's interviewing in the middle section, David DeGraw, is awesome. I'm getting so I have to check Peter's site for new podcasts every five minutes. PLEASE, if you have any nickels for philanthropy, I wish you'd help keep him happening.

let's quit kissing earth's ass

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I have been waiting patiently for the video of President Ahmadinejad's speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday and it does not seem to be forthcoming. A lot of propaganda is forthcoming, but not the thing itself. Here is the transcript of the thing itself:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, and peace and blessing be upon our Master and Prophet, Mohammad, and his pure Household, and his noble Companions"
"Oh, God, hasten the arrival of Imam Al- Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those who attest to his rightfulness"

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

Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Almighty God for granting me, once more, this opportunity to address this important international meeting.

I wish to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, for having assumed the presidency of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly and wish you all the success. I also extend my thanks to H.E. Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly, for his excellent stewardship of the work of the General Assembly during his term.

Over the past four years I have talked to you concerning the main challenges facing our world. I have talked about the roots and underlying causes of these challenges and the need for the world powers to review their outlook and workout new mechanisms to address the pressing international problems. I have talked about the two conflicting outlooks prevailing in our world; one that is based on the predominance of its materialistic interests through spreading inequality and oppression, poverty and deprivation, aggression, occupation and deception, and tends to bring the entire world under its control and impose its will on other nations. This outlook has produced nothing but frustration, disappointment and a dark future for the entire humanity.

The other outlook is the one that spouses with the belief in the oneness of the Almighty God, follows the teaching of His messengers, respects human dignity and seeks to build a secure world for all members of the human community, in which everybody can equally enjoy the blessings of sustainable peace and spirituality. The latter is an outlook that respects all human beings, nations, and valuable cultures in defiance of all types of discrimination in the world, and commits itself into a constant fight to promote equality for all before the law on the basis of justice and fraternity, laying a solid foundation to guarantee equal access for all human beings in their quest to excel in knowledge and science.

I have laid emphasis time and again on the need to make fundamental changes in the current attitudes towards the world and the human being in order to be able to create a bright tomorrow.

Friends and Colleagues;
Today, I wish to share with you a few points about the changes that should take place.

First,
Clearly, continuation of the current circumstances in the world is impossible. The present inequitable and unfavorable conditions run counter to the very nature of human kind and move in a direction which contravenes the truth and the goal behind the creation of the world.

It is no longer possible to inject thousands of billions of dollars of unreal wealth to the world economy simply by printing worthless paper assets, or transfer inflation as well as social and economic problems to others through creating sever budget deficits. The engine of unbridled capitalism with its unfair system of thought has reached the end of road and is unable to move. The era of capitalist thinking and imposition of one's thoughts on the international community, intended to predominate the world in the name of globalization and the age of setting up empires is over. It is no longer possible to humiliate nations and impose double standard policies on the world community.

Approaches in which realization of the interests of certain powers is considered as the only criteria to weigh democracy, and using the ugliest methods of intimidation and deceit under the mantle of freedom as a democratic practice, and approaches through which sometimes dictators are portrayed as democrats, lack legitimacy and must be totally rejected.

The time has come to an end for those who define democracy and freedom and set standards whilst they themselves are the first who violate its fundamental principles. They can no longer sit both the judge and the executor and challenge the real democratically- established governments.

The awakening of nations and the expansion of freedom worldwide will no longer allow them to continue their hypocrisy and vicious attitudes. Because of all these reasons most nations including the people of the Untied States are waiting for real and profound changes. They have welcomed and will continue to welcome changes.

How can one imagine that the inhuman policies in Palestine may continue; to force the entire population of a country out of their homeland for more than 60 years by resorting to force and coercion; to attack them with all types of arms and even prohibited weapons; to deny them of their legitimate right of self-defense, while much to the chagrin of the international community calling the occupiers as the peace- lovers, and portraying the victims as terrorists.

How can the crimes of the occupiers against defenseless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments, and at the same time, the oppressed men and women be subject to genocide and heaviest economic blockade being denied of their basic needs, food, water and medicine.

They are not even allowed to rebuild their homes which were destroyed during the 22-day barbaric attacks by the Zionist regime while the winter is approaching. Whereas the aggressors and their supporters deceitfully continue their rhetoric in defense of human rights in order to put others under pressure.

It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the U.S., to attain its racist ambitions.

It is not acceptable that some who are several thousands of kilometers away from the Middle East would send their troops for military intervention and for spreading war, bloodshed, aggression, terror and intimidation in the whole region while blaming the protests of nations in the region, that are concerned about their fate and their national security, as a move against peace and as interference in others' affairs. Look at the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is no longer possible to bring a country under military occupation in the name of fight against terrorism and drug trafficking while the production of illicit drugs has multiplied, terrorism has widened its dimensions and has tightened its grips, thousands of innocent people have been killed, injured or displaced, infrastructures have been destroyed and regional security has been seriously jeopardized; and those who have created the current disastrous situation continue to blame others. How you can talk about friendship and solidarity with other nations while you expand your military bases in different parts of the world including in Latin America. This situation cannot continue. It is all the more impossible to advance expansionist and inhuman policies on the basis of militaristic logic. The logic of coercion and intimidation will produce dire consequences, exacerbating the present global problems.

It is not acceptable that the military budget of some governments exceeds far larger than those of the entire countries of the world. They export billions of dollars of arms every year, stockpile chemical and biological weapons, establish military bases or have military presence in other countries while accusing others of militarism, and mobilize all their resources in the world to impede scientific and technological progress of other nations under the pretext of countering arms proliferation.

It is not acceptable that the United Nations and the Security Council, whose decisions must represent all nations and governments by the application of the most democratic methods in their decision making processes, be dominated by a few governments and serve their interests. In a world where cultures, thoughts and public opinions should be the determining factors, the continuation of the present situation is impossible, and fundamental changes seem to be unavoidable.

Second;
Any change must be structural and fundamental both in theory and practice, involving all domains of our life. The outdated mechanisms which themselves were instrumental in and the root cause for present problems in human societies can never be used to bring changes and create our desired world. Liberalism and capitalism that have alienated human beings from heavenly and moral values will never bring happiness for humanity because they are the main source of all misfortune wars, poverty and deprivation.

We have all seen that how the inequitable economic structures controlled by certain political interests have been used to plunder national wealth of countries for the benefit of a group of corrupt business giants. The present structures are incapable of reforming the present situation.

The political and economic structures created following the World War II that was based on intentions to dominate the world failed to promote justice and lasting security.

Rulers whose hearts do not beat for the love of humankind and who sacrificed the spirit of justice in their minds never offer the promise of peace and friendship to humanity. By the grace of God, Marxism is gone. It is now history. The expansionist Capitalism will certainly have the same fate. Because based on the divine traditions referred to as a principle in the Holy Quran, the wrong like the bubbles on the surface of water, will disappear. There remains only what that can be used forever towards the interest of human societies.

We must all remain vigilant to prevent the pursuit of colonialist, discriminatory and inhuman goals under the cover of the slogans for change and in new formats. The world needs to undergo fundamental changes and all must engage collectively to make them happen in the right direction, and through such efforts no one and no government would consider itself an exception to change or superior to others and try to impose its will on others by proclaiming world leadership.

Third;
All problems existing in our world today emanate from the fact that rulers have distanced themselves from human values, morality and the teachings of divine messengers. Regrettably, in the current international relations, selfishness and insatiable greed have taken the place of such humanitarian concepts as love, sacrifice, dignity, and justice. The belief in the One God has been replaced with selfishness. Some have taken the place of God and insist to impose their values and wishes on others. Lies have taken the place of honesty; hypocrisy has replaced integrity and selfishness has taken the place of sacrifice. Deception in interactions is called foresight and statesmanship; looting the wealth of other nations is called development efforts; occupation is introduced as a gift towards promotion of freedom and democracy, and defenseless nations are subjected to repression in the name of defending human rights.

Friends and Colleagues;
Settlement of global problems and administration of justice and maintenance of peace will only be materialized with collective determination and cooperation of all nations and states. The age of polarizing the world on the premises of the hegemony or domination of a few governments is over.

Today we must rise together in a collective commitment against the present challenges; we must take change seriously and help others through collective work to return to the basic moral and human values. Messengers were sent by God to show the light of the truth to human kind, they came to make people aware of their individual and social obligations. Piety, having faith to Allah and its judgment of human behavior or conduct in the next world, belief in the primacy of justice in both lives, seeking one's happiness, well being and security in the happiness, well-being and security of others, respecting human kind, making efforts to expand love and compassion against hostility were all on top of the teachings offered by the Messengers of God from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ and the last one Prophet Mohamamd (PUH). All of them came to do something to eliminate war and ignorance, to eradicate poverty and uproot discrimination in order to spread happiness in the entire world. They are the best gifts that God Almighty has granted to human beings.

If the belief in Entezar (Awaiting patiently for the Imam to return) will turn into a common and we join hands to achieve prosperity for all, then there will be more real and increasing hopes for reform.

Fourth;
In my opinion, we have several important agendas in front of us. The Secretary-General and the UN General Assembly can take the lead by undertaking necessary measures for the fulfillment of our shared goals on the basis of:

1- Restructuring the United Nations in order to transform this world body to an efficient and fully democratic organization, capable of playing an impartial, equitable, and effective role in the international relations; reforming the structure of the Security Council, specially by abolishing the discriminatory privilege of veto right; restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people by organizing a referendum and free elections in Palestine in order to prepare a conducive ground for all Palestinian populations, including Muslims, Christians and Jews to live together in peace and harmony; putting an end to all types of interferences in the affairs of Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, and in all countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe.

As our great Prophet said, a government may survive with blasphemy, but never with oppression. Oppression against Palestinians and violation of their rights still continue; a new group of Palestinians who lived in al-Qod al-Sharif were again forced out of their homes as the destruction of their residential homes continues by the occupiers; bombings in Afghanistan and Pakistan have not yet sopped; and Guantanamo Prison has not yet been shut down and there are still secret prisons in Europe.

Continuation of the present situation adds to hostilities and violence. Oppression and military aggression must be stopped. Regrettably, official reports concerning the brutalities of the Zionist regime in Gaza have not been completely published. The Secretary-General and the United Nations have crucial responsibilities in this respect and the international community is impatiently waiting for the punishment of the aggressors and the murderers of the defenseless people of Gaza.

2- Reforming the current economic structures and setting up a new international economic order based on human and moral values and obligations. A new course is needed that would help promote justice and progress worldwide by flourishing the potentials and talents of all nations thus bringing well-being for all and for future generations;

3- Reforming the international political relations based on the promotion of lasting peace and friendship, eradication of arms race and elimination of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons;

4- Reforming cultural structures , respect for diverse customs and traditions of all nations, fostering moral values and spirituality aimed at institution of family as the backbone of all human societies;

5- Worldwide efforts to protect the environment and full observance of the international agreements and arrangements to prevent the annihilation of nature's non-renewable resources.


Fifth;
Our nation has successfully gone through a glorious and fully- democratic election, opening a new chapter for our country in the march towards national progress and enhanced international interactions. They entrusted me once more with a large majority this heavy responsibility.

And now, I want to declare that our great nation that has made great contribution to the world civilization, and the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the most democratic and progressive governments of the world is ready to mobilize all its cultural, political and economic capabilities to engage into constructive process aimed at addressing the international concerns and challenges. Our country has been a main victim of terrorism and the target of an all-out military aggression during the first decade of the revolution.

All through the past thirty years we have been subject to hostile attitudes of those who supported Saddam’s military aggression and his use of chemical weapons against us, and then they took military action in Iraq to get rid of him. Today, our nation seeks to create a world in which justice and compassion prevail. We announce our commitment to participate in the process of building a durable peace and security worldwide for all nations based on justice, spirituality and human dignity, while being dedicated to strongly defending our legitimate and legal rights.

To materialize these goals, our nation is prepared to warmly shake all those hands which are honestly extended to us. No nation can claim to be free from the need to change and reform in this journey towards perfectness. We welcome real and humane changes and stand ready to actively engage in fundamental global reforms.

Therefore, we emphasize that:
The only path to remain safe is to return to Monotheism (believing in the Oneness of God) and justice, and this is the greatest hope and opportunity in all ages and generations. Without belief in God and commitment to the cause of justice and fight against injustice and discrimination, the world architect would not get right.

Man is at the center of the universe. The man's unique feature is his humanity. The same feature which seeks for justice, piety, love, knowledge, awareness and all other high values. These human values should be supported, and each and every fellow humans should be given the opportunity to acquire them. Neglecting any of them is tantamount to the omission of a constituting piece of humanity. These are common elements which connect all human communities and constitute the basis of peace, security and friendship.

The divine religions pay attention to all aspects of human life, including obedience to God, morality, justice, fighting oppression, and endeavor to establish just and good governance. Prophet Abraham called for Oneness of God against Nimrod, as Prophet Moses did the same against Pharaohs and the Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon them) did against the oppressors of their own time. They were all threatened to death and were forced out of their homelands.

Without resistance and objection, the injustices would not be removed from the face of the earth.

Sixth;
Dear friends and colleagues;
The world is in continuous change and evolution. The promised destiny for the mankind is the establishment of the humane pure life. Will come a time when justice will prevail across the globe and every single human being will enjoy respect and dignity. That will be the time when the Mankind's path to moral and spiritual perfectness will be opened and his journey to God and the manifestation of the God's Divine Names will come true. The mankind should excel to represent the God's "knowledge and wisdom", His "compassion and benevolence", His "justice and fairness", His "power and art", and His "kindness and forgiveness".

These will all come true under the rule of the Perfect Man, the last Divine Source on earth, Hazrat Mahdi (Peace be upon him); an offspring of the Prophet of Islam, who will re-emerge, and Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him) and other noble men will accompany him in the accomplishment of this grand universal mission. And this is the belief in Entezar (Awaiting patiently for the Imam to return). Waiting with patience for the rule of goodness and the governance of the Best which is a universal human notion and which is a source of nations' hope for the betterment of the world.

They will come, and with the help of righteous people and true believers will materialize the man's long-standing desires for freedom, perfectness, maturity, security and tranquility, peace and beauty. They will come to put an end to war and aggression and present the entire knowledge as well as spirituality and friendship to the whole world.

Yes;
Indeed, the bright future for the mankind will come.

Dear friends,
In waiting for that brilliant time to come and in a collective commitment, let's make due contributions in paving the grounds and preparing the conditions for building that bright future.
Long live love and spirituality; long live peace and security; long live justice and freedom.
God's Peace and blessing be upon you all.

I was going to appeal to people to consider the lucidity of his speech against the psychedelic uproar about his evil and anti-Semitism... but there's almost nowhere such an appeal will land on fertile ground. The big media blitz covering [and mistranslating] every utterance from Ahmadinejad is over. No more deciding for yourself in the din of warmongering propaganda. Now it's just straight warmongering propaganda without even the basis on which it is hallucinated out there for those who would prefer truth.

alaskan pole dancing

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I'm back home now for a while. Have been in a nearly unremitting state of grief for two weeks. Tear ducts getting one hell of a workout. Contact lenses floating at all times. The nuances are so sad that it would make you start crying too. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to bug out from my parents' place for a time, and I ordered Dad something I know he'll love, which should be in his hands right now, and left last night.

The rain coming down as I drove the five hours home didn't even faze me because I couldn't tell it from my tears.

But my friend, Bluebear2 forwarded me a little video like this one in the middle of it, and I got to crack a smile for a moment. Thank you, BB2, thank you.

xoxoxox

and now a word from our sponsors

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i wish bill hicks were not dead

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I was reminded of how hotly I wish this, earlier, when I came across a video of pertinent commentary from the dead earlier today. This long one is another one billed as a must see, and I don't doubt it, considering the guy being interviewed. I don't know if Google Video is just in panic mode at this moment or if the upload was as ghastly bad as it seems. So I downloaded it in the hope that it will be a little better that way. Still, Bill Hicks, was always and will always be someone you should try hard to hear, so try to just live with the poor quality. I am.

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Starts slow, but gets better and better. At about the 54 minute mark they show the tank shooting flames into the Branch Davidian complex in Waco. The video is very hard to see, but it does not look like the official line....

Maybe you want to contemplate that this interview took place SIXTEEN years ago, and they were talking about exactly as we are today.... I mean, I have to contemplate all the time about the decades I've been screaming about this stuff and it's only worse now. It's only worse now and STILL people are oblivious.

The whole time he's speaking, here, he knows he has pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver. He's going for weekly chemo treatments and making all his dates... joking about going bald... more of a man at 32 than most men ever become.

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Extra Credit