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TALK ABOUT YOUR KISSING COUPLES IN THE RELIGIOUS ZEALOTRY AND TRUE BELIEF DEPARTMENT, and then some:

• The Religiopolitical Right's support base of Fundamentalist and Primitive Christians--a/k/a the Low Church--emphasises what amounts to a Theocratic Weltanschauung rooted in an overzealously literal reading of the King James Version of Holy Scriptures, in turn justifying an unhealthy emphasis on "side issues" such as abortion, homosexuality, religion in the schools (especially so prayer and Bible studies), pornography and "lack of proper moral compass," etc., threatening Our Antient and Pecuilar Soverignty and Soverign Identity as a Nation thanks to Loss of Respect for Traditional Moral and Familial Values, the defence of which is seen as necessary to that of free-market capitalism.
• Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, official Islamist religious thinking is based on the Wahhabist model, emphasising a literal interpretation of the Holy Qur'an which, in its turn, excuses outright contempt for women (especially such without the companionship of a male blood relative), "adulterers" and "infidels" seen to be "corrupting Islam."

Proof that great(?!) minds seem to think alike....

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YOUR CORRESPONDENT FINDS RATHER PATHETIC THE EXCUSE SARAH PALIN GAVE FOR THAT $150K WARDROBE MAKEOVER @ the expense of the Republican Party in an attempt to reclaim honour and credibility--as in trying to create a sense of shame among the rank-and-file unable to lift themselves out of their unfortunate condition.

Which is enough to wonder whether it might have been better if, instead of Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's, the wardrobe in question were purchased @ retailers which were more in line with the Joe Sixpack image she's trying to align herself with (as in Target, Kohl's, Herberger's, Dillon's, Filene's Basement, H&M or some outlet mall), thus saving considerable money and prestige as well.

Or, better yet, some exceptionally tacky T-shirt shop in the tackiest of "shoobie trap" resorts, and even more so with the most tasteless of messages.

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YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT SORT OF MODEL AND IDEAL THE McCAIN/PALIN TICKET REALLY HAS FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA FROM HERSELF--and credit the BBC for this juicy item:

A UN human-rights investigator has strongly criticised North Korea, urging it to end public executions and provide food for the people not just the elite.

In a report, Vitit Muntarbhorn also highlighted the continuing punishment of those who try to leave the country, as well as those forcibly returned.

Mr Muntarbhorn acknowledged some small advances, but said overall the rights situation was "very negative".

He is not allowed into the country, relying instead on testimony.

Mr Muntarbhorn - a Thai expert in human-rights law - was at UN headquarters in New York to present his report to the General Assembly.

He called for an end to public executions and for the North Korean authorities to stop punishing asylum seekers who have been forced to return - such as sending them to labour camps.

Asked about the number of people held in such camps, he said several sources had suggested they housed "very large numbers".

He added that collective punishment was also taking place. "If the dad falls out of favour with authorities, it is the whole family that is carted off to prison," he said.

Food shortages

Mr Muntarbhorn pointed to a number of areas in which the rights situation in North Korea appeared to have deteriorated, such as restrictions on mobile phones and long-distance calls.

He also highlighted reports of a crackdown on North Koreans who watch video and TV programmes from South Korea.

While the ruling elite has enough food, he said, there is a chronic shortage for everyone else, which has only been made worse by floods in 2006 and 2007.

The gap between the haves and the have-nots was on the increase, said Mr Muntarbhorn, who depicted North Korea as a society focused on its military, with an entrenched hierarchy intent upon self-preservation.

Mr Muntarbhorn noted some limited advances, including North Korea's recent invitation to the International Narcotics Control Board to visit the country.

He also welcomed the country's decision to give the UN and aid agencies greater access to those in need.

But he concluded, "the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea] remains grave" in key areas.

He also urged the international community to support long-term food security in North Korea.

(Openly, of course, they don't want to acknowledge as much.)

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WITH EVIDENCE EMERGING THAT THE INFLUENCE OF RONALD REAGAN'S WARPED AND MISGUIDED BELIEFS IN "SUPPLY-SIDE" SOCIOECONOMIC THOUGHT justifying "regulatory relief" as would (in theory) create jobs as would translate into a steady and consistent rate of socioeconomic growth may have aggravated the clear and present danger of socioeconomic collapse, such, IMHO, ought be clear and compelling grounds against adding the face of The Great (Mis)communicator to the parthenon on Mt. Rushmore.

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AND PRAY, WHAT JUSTIFICATION EXISTS FOR THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE OF FAITH, as per suggestion of conservative talkback radio blatherskite Michael "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" Savage from his show of the 22nd (as transcribed by Media Matters for America)?

Do you think a person on welfare has the right to vote? I don't. Why should a person who is on public assistance maintain the right to vote? Tell me why. Where is it written that they should have the right to vote? I support them, and they should have the same vote I do? That would be like saying an infant has the right to vote or an insane person has the right to vote. Why should a welfare recipient have the right to vote? They're only gonna vote themselves a raise.

So if you get a demagogue like Obama coming along, and he says to the welfare recipient, elect me, and I'll make sure that we have trickle-up poverty, and the rich -- so-called, that is anyone who works for a living -- will give you more money, more welfare, of course you're gonna vote for the demagogue Obama. See, if I was in charge, I'd pass a law which says, OK, you can't support yourself for whatever reason, you're on welfare, you lose the right to vote. That's all there is to it. You've disenfranchised yourself, either through bad luck or bad behavior, whatever, and you get the right to vote again when you're self-sufficient and you're paying taxes. No taxes, no vote; no taxes, no vote; no taxes, no vote; no taxes, no vote. I have a lot of commonsensical ideas, but you don't hear any -- any of this coming out of the mouths of John McCain, do you? The mouths of John McCain -- I said that pointedly. The mouths of John McCain.

[...]

Do you think that people on welfare should lose the right to vote, as I do? Do you believe that that would be a fundament of democracy that if you lose the right -- if you lose the ability to support yourself, for whatever reason, and you seek public assistance, you should, during that period of receiving public assistance, lose the right to vote? I think that that's perfectly rational, and the reason is, of course you're gonna go with any demagogue who says he's gonna give you more money.

Of course you're gonna vote to take away things from people who work for a living. And by definition, that's not fair. Fair should be those who work for a living and pay taxes get to vote. I'm not arguing that the more money you have, the more votes you should have. I didn't say that, so don't put words in my mouth. I'm arguing the opposite -- that you lose the right -- the ability to support yourself, you lose the right to vote temporarily. You get back on the self-sufficiency, you get the right to vote. Then we'll have a fair election in America. Otherwise, it's all over. We have a communist nation either now or in the very near future.

(Which recalls where many states used to bar what were then known as "paupers, morons and idiots" from exercising the right of electoral franchise based on the belief that they were somehow incapable of making rational decisions thanks to their Unfortunate State of Affairs.

(What's more, studies have disproven an interconnexion between one's state of res angusta domi and lack of moral guidance, suggesting instead that lack of education, dysfunctional upbringing, race, exposure to prejudice and related mindsets and prevailing socioeconomic attitudes, among other factors, are to blame. Just do a Google.)

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HEADON ("APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD") MAY HAVE MET ITS MATCH, by way of Germany:

(Ultimately by way of Smallflower.com, the online version of Chicago's Merz Apothecary, with whom Your Correspondent is graciously affiliate with in the online-shopping department.)

Smallflower.com explains Euminz' benefits thus:

Euminz® deserves special recommendation for sufferers of headaches of any kind - tension, migraine, eye strain, or stress. Euminz is not an oral product - it is applied directly to the afflicted area so that the peppermint oil can start work immediately. This active substance of plant source calms and soothes the excited nerve fibers in the painful region and will quickly make the pain subside. Because Euminz® is especially gentle, it may be used as often as required for long periods of time. Apply directly to skin with the attached applicator. (Not recommended for young children.)

And, like HeadOn, Euminz is applied directly to the forehead. However, unlike HeadOn (which is a rather waxy-looking compound of blueflag extract and bryonia alba, a/k/a white bryony, which can crumble rather easily), Euminz is more in the vein of Absorbine Jr., in terms of application method.

Your Correspondent has started trying Euminz for headaches, and by initial evaluation can say it's a rather worthwhile product--especially among such of you who can't get the hang of HeadOn as much as aspirin. But it doesn't come cheap--$18.95 for a 10mL bottle--but when used judiciously, it should last quite awhile.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding reflects personal opinion and experience only and does not in any way reflect that of either Merz Apothecary, t/a Smallflower.com or its German compounders and manufacturers, Lichtwer Pharma AG. Further, know that no pay or other consideration was received for this blog item.)