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| So after a greaet friday in paris, I've been in algeria now for 3 days. While this country is now booming due to the inflation in oil prices, I do have to say that at best, it's an emerging market. There's little to no wealth here. They let you drive down one way streets if you are driving a bimmer, and cell phones and internet are almost non existant. Even the ministers of defense and finance were laughing at how bad the infrastructure here is.
So the last couple of days, we've been struggling first through a wind and sand storm, then today through an enoumous rain storm. Trees and sand and dirt blown around everywhere. Crap on the streets, and just chaos. One crazy note? I don't know if there's regular surf here in the mediteranean, but today? I saw 8-10 footers of Slow rolling waves. I thought I was in Hawaii for a brief second. Then I woke up from my dream =)
This morning, we went into a government building and all these guards had assult rifles. AKs to be precise. Now the stupidest thing abotu it was that they had ZERO concept of gun safety. rifle on a strap pointed at everyone, finger in the trigger frame, just stupid ass stuff. One sneeze or a slip on the wet floors, and I guarantee you, a bunch of people were going down. Oh well what can you do.
So the big question I ask myself yet again. After seeing quite a few opportunities in emerging markets... How much is too much? Is it worth adding some travel on to the routine to give up the comforts of sunny california? A constant struggle....
back to the civilized world tomorrow!!!!
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| Borrowed from Mike Park - New Song Irvine 2/26/06
As rain mixes with bloodshed from airborne racism
And children are denied their proper rights due to their skin
If what we're taught in a stratified society is separation
I'd rather struggle with the last then be in comfort with my kin
A cloud bearing rainbows but only as the sun shines
through souls worn as pain goes I'm searching for the punchline
To the cruelest joke ever played the weight of a nervous trip
With a kick me sign on my back that reads I don't deserve to exist
I've drank the poison cup you see, I've kissed the madam's lips
I've seen the world through cataracts, I've swung the lashing whip
My mouth has been a hive of hate the syrup of revenge
Empowered me to rise above but never allowed my wounds to mend
Send me an envelope filled to the brim with stereotypes
And address it to the flesh as if my souls not home inside
Where's your monster ford truck with a surfboard on top
distorted guitars in rock n roll through stereotypes that shake the block
Where's your swastika to squash yamakas your executive position
Where's your superior ignorance your intelligent resistance
You're not like the rest of them you're not like the rest of them
Where's your rice rocket and scientific calculator
your asian women are so hot you top percentile graduator
I expected you to be quiet shy reserved some sort of a nerd
You're so talkative and outspoken something I've rarely seen or heard
You're not like the rest of them you're not like the rest of them
Yo where's ya basketball dog do you listen to rap at all
Is your neighborhood really filled with crackheads and casket calls
You speak so well and you're not too loud help yourself and don't blame the crowd
With a college education and the proper pronunciation
You're not like the rest of them you're not like the rest of them
Was once told that I was inferior based upon my color
My upbringing had handicapped me made lesser than the others
I'm sick of color lines I try to avoid a conversation
Based on racism I chase wisdom to rise above systematic philosophies
Subliminal caste systems under the mask on the division
Of Socioeconomic standards like scales to weigh the being of a human
Tip the balance beam with love run to freedom in God's hands
Heal me of society with Christ I'm living in contact
The truth ain't hard to find but its hard to let go of the lies
A superficial comfort zone deteriorates in the mind
When seeking light so many remain in darkness trying to hide
The kingdom of heaven is in you, its where God has his throne
Inside the hearts of mere men, so we'll never walk alone
We are the children of love the light of the world the chosen ones
And if we can't love each other we can't love the world or the Son
On the scales of sound I weighed love in a cup for substances
Held rainbow water words float in spirits buoyancy
The suns blinded my eyes I see spots on your significance
Separated from race I can hear your shadow sing
With a song of Triumph,
We rise to the light of the sun.
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| I've been thinking about getting plastic surgery.
And now I think I've found which one I want!
From Anderson Cooper 360:
You too can be a 40-year-old virgin
Someone told me that women are having their vaginas rejuvenated. That's right, rejuvenated and reconstructed and revirginized even. I thought they were kidding. But my producer and I looked into it, and sure enough, it's an emerging surgical trend.
Vaginal rejuvenation costs thousands of dollars and is done with a laser. It includes a variety of procedures, such as women getting their labia made smaller because it is uncomfortable for them to engage in physical activity or have intercourse, women getting their vaginal canal tightened as it was pre-baby delivery, and other women going one step further by getting their hymen (the gateway to the vaginal canal) tightened. This last procedure can, in a sense, make a woman a virgin again.
In many instances, the women who get this surgery need it for medical reasons. But not all. Some women do this as a gift to their husband or significant other.
I interviewed one couple for this story who has been married 18 years and has two children. The wife recently had her hymen replaced as an anniversary gift for her husband. We also talked with the doctor who did the surgery and even got to be in the operating room during another woman's surgery.
You can see the video (the PG version) tonight, February 14th, Valentine's Day. These women say it's the perfect gift. But beware, it isn't cheap. | | |
| OK... we'll we've all seen the movies, read about things in magazines, books and newspapers, and even seen some of it on TV. Below is the definitive guide to three of the more pressing conspiracy theory's that we live with today.
Conspiracy or Not?
1) We went to war in Iraq to protect the interests of big oil companies.
Unfortunately on this one, while I don't think that there is a conspiracy, I do think that the American public has no idea what is going on. Sometimes there are things that aren't black and white. And that could mean ancillary benefits. Such as oil companies making a big buck off of this one. But I don't think we went in there to make them rich. Nor do I think that we went in there to stop WMDs. But what I do know, is that it makes perfect sense that we went in there to control what we know as a "balance of power". Despite the technology that we have today, it is still very difficult for us as a nation to control a region, or defend against a region, without having a local presence. We need force on the ground, local intel, and a barrier of defense. It just like running a business over seas. You can do it, but it's 100 times more effective with a local presence. This was the same way with Vietnam and Korea. We went in routing stopping communism, but what really happened? we inserted ourselves into a region and have had a lasting presence there to help us with local Intel and a presence of force. While I'm not saying that that makes the war "right" or not, it does shed a new light onto the situation. If this was at all interesting to you, take a read - America's Secret War. Awesome book. But again, no major conspiracy.
2) The White House tried to cover up an assignation attempt by Dick Cheney.
Again, unfortunately, doesn't look like there's much here. Yes, it's true that the circumstances seem very peculiar. I.e. Why was the attorney fetching his own kill? Everyone who hunts quail knows that if you don't flat out kill it with the shot, by time the bid hits the ground, it's off running. Hence the use of bird dogs. While slightly pricey, I get the feeling that these gents had no problem affording the bird dogs, and I have little doubt that they were using them. What really happened, is that Cheney's vision is going, and he probably turned a bit too far, went beyond his range of vision, and popped the poor dude by accident. Now I doubt that this was an assignation attempt, i also doubt that there was any major cover up going on. More like a twist to avoid any more stupid question about the leadership of our great country. No major conspiracy here.
3) Valentine's Day.
Now this my friends, is the biggest conspiracy of them all. People say that oil companies are ruling our society? what about bloody hallmark? They've managed to officially get the entire country to recognize a day, that for a matter of fact has absolutely nothing to do with us. EVER. So why are we celebrating a day with hearts, flowers, chocolate, and much more expensive gifts, when the actual day revolved around a priest getting killed? WHO KNOWS? Lobbyist of the big bad hallmark?
Apparently, during the roman era, some priest names valentine wasn't following orders of the emperor, so he was killed. How many times over the course of history did this happen? Especially during that period of time. Yet why do we celebrate this one in particular? cause hallmark has managed to convince the female population that we should! That all females are entitled to getting some sort of gift and extra attention on this special day. And you know what? When ALL women are convinced of something, men are helpless. They've got to capitulate. Eventually, if politicians figure out how to convince women of anything, we're going to be in big trouble! Imagine coming home and hearing the nagging begin about... invading Iraq? After weeks of nagging, eventually, men will just give in, and vote against invading, simple to end the pain! Jack Bower of CTU has never seen torture like the Nag.
But back to valentines... so hallmark leveraged a campaign that has changed the way women, and now men (via the nag) think about this special day. What should, at most, be a day of morning for the priest that was killed, has turned into a massive spending spree, making the owners of hallmark and other companies wealthier than p diddle. And you know what? I'm one of those suckers that are filling those exec's wallets. Now there's your conspiracy.
Happy Valentine's Day To All!
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| Today, I spoke to my Dad.
While not perfect, my Dad has had more influence on my life than any other person. He fought bigger battles than I will ever see in my whole lifetime. He lost many and won some. Yet some how, he managed to stay upright and respectable though all of his trials, tribulations, and temptations.
Sometimes he's demanding, sometimes he's enervated, and sometimes he just doesn't know all the answers. But ALL THE TIME, he does everything with his heart.
Today he said something very profound to me:
"Regret what you didn't do, not what you did."
Words I'll hold close to my heart forever.
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