DivaSkyChick

Chuck, Everything they said plus please keep us informed of Mr. Kitty's progress. I've been there as most of have, and it sucks! Hugs, Mandy --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

I just heard on CNN that the jury could rule during sentencing that it was a crime of passion - she could just get probation! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Better traction HAH!!!! Good one! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Please don't think that this is necessarily my opinion. I just know that this is a group who enjoys political debate and I found it interesting and new. Some of you do too, apparently! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

A friend of mine sent me this from an Australian news source - it's abridge, as the original is 19 pages. I believe the source is at the bottom of the page. Interesting to see what other countries think about all this. THE REAL REASONS FOR THE UPCOMING WAR IN IRAQ Although completely suppressed in the U.S. media, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking - it's an oil currency war. The real reason for this upcoming war is the Bush administration's goal of preventing further OPEC members moving to the 'Euro' as an oil transaction currency standard. The dreadful events of 9/11 delivered (like a godsend) to the Bush Administration, the wonderfully perfect and timely excuse for hunting down OPEC and it's move towards the euro. Under the guise of "rooting out all terrorist organisations and weapons of mass destruction", Bush hopes to keep the US dollar the dominant world currency -and, as a neat by-product, boost the flagging US global military/industrial machine. In order to pre-empt OPEC, the US needs to gain strategic control of Iraq's oil reserves (2nd largest in the world). As the US prepares for war with Iraq, the US seems unable to answer even the most basic questions about this war. If Iraq's "Weapons of Mass Destruction" program truly possessed the threat that Bush has repeatedly purported, why is there no international coalition to militarily disarm Saddam? Secondly, despite over 300 unfettered UN inspections to date, there has been no evidence reported of a reconstituted Iraqi WMD program. Third, (and despite Bush's rhetoric), the CIA has not found any links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. In fact, Saddam and Bin Laden are mortal enemies.] Moreover, North Korea is processing uranium in order to produce nuclear weapons this year, yet Bush has not provided a rational answer as to why Saddam's seemingly dormant WMD program is a more imminent threat than North Korea's active program? The core driving force for toppling Saddam is actually the euro currency! The US Federal Reserve's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard. Iraq actually made this switch in November 2000 when the euro was worth around 80 cents. It was this move that sealed Saddam's fate, -and another manufactured Gulf War become inevitable under Bush II. The Bush administration and the corporate/military/ industrial conglomerate needs a puppet government in Iraq - so that Iraq will revert back to a dollar standard and stay that way. (While also hoping to veto any wider OPEC momentum towards the euro, especially from Iran who is actively discussing a switch to euros for its oil exports). This information about Iraq's oil currency is censored by the US media as well as the Bush administration & Federal Reserve, as the truth could potentially curtail both investor and consumer confidence. This quasi "state secret" can be found on a Radio Free Europe article discussing Saddam's switch for his oil sales from dollars to the euros on November 6, 2000. The United States dominates other countries through its currency, noting that given the superiority of the dollar against most other hard currencies, the US monopolizes global trade. After toppling Saddam, the US may decide that Iran is the next target in the "war on terror." Iran's interest in switching to the euro as their standard transaction currency for oil exports is well documented. Even more alarming, and completely unreported in the US media, are some monetary shifts in the reserve funds of foreign governments away from the dollar towards the euro (China, Venezuela, some OPEC producers, and last week Russia flushed some of their dollars for euros). The American people are largely oblivious to the economic risks regarding Bush's upcoming war. Not only is Japan's economy at grave risk from a spike in oil prices, but additional risks relate to Iran and Venezuela as well, either of whom could move to the euros, thus providing further momentum for OPEC to switch to the euro as the fiat currency for oil. The Bush administration believes that by toppling Saddam they will remove the juggernaut, thus allowing the US to control Iraq's huge oil reserves, and finally break up and dissolve the 10 remaining countries in OPEC. Regardless of whatever Dr. Blix finds or doesn't find in Iraq regarding WMD, it appears that President Bush is determined to pursue his "pre-emptive" war to secure a large portion of the earth's remaining oil reserves, and then use Iraq's underutilized oil to destroy the OPEC cartel. Will this gamble work? Undeniably may nations may suffer not only from economic retribution, but also from increased Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorism. Will we stand idle and watch CNN, as our governments become international pariahs by discarding International Law, as it wages a unilateral war in Iraq? Is it morally defensible to deploy brave but naive young soldiers around the globe to enforce US dollar hegemony for global oil transactions? Will we allow imperialist conquest in the Middle East to feed the West's excessive energy consumption, while ignoring the duplicitous overthrowing of a democratically elected government in Latin America? Shall we accept the grave price of an unjust war over the currency of oil that will only benefit the US? Remaining silent is not an option. Make a small difference. Forward this to all you know. by W. Clark (abridged) www.indymedia.org:8081 --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

WAHHOOOOO! Can't wait to hear.

Anybody have one laying around they want to sell? Thanks. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

I second the card thing - if you do everything else right, you can get out of the card. There will be a small one on the flowers anyway. Cards can be torture to write. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

I'm going to try and make it out too. How's your foot? --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Remind me to bring you along when i drive cross country. Otherwise, I might end up Chile on my way to New York! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

When I was in college, the left coast analogy came from the political sphere. There was a very liberal paper in Berkeley called Left Coast, as well. Of course I realize what side of the country the state is on, jeez! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Lou, Arizona may be near the West Coast but it is not, IMO, part of the LEFT coast - that is, here in Arizona, the NRA and mostly Republican thinking rules. See? Anyway, for a girl from Hollywood, Arizona is particularly far away from the coast... A friend of mine says that anything outside of California is the East Coast, and anything East of Highway 15 is the MidWest. Of course, he is from the beach. But the map idea was cute!

Okay, Madam Chardonay has my ticket so I don't get this post.... Lou? Ma'm PUT DOWN THE PIPE AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD SLOWLY --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Hey Sharkey, What do you mean leave the left coast - I'm in frigging ARIZONA. Can't wait to see the photos - send them to me at Iamatmandyhamptondotcom - you know how to translate that, right? lol xoxoxoo --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

You and me kid, Harlem here we come! xoxoxox --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Anybody here live in Manhattan? If so, what do you do and how well can you live as, say, a bartender? Just curious. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Do you even wonder what the hell you're doing with your life? I mean, have you made the decisions that put you where you are, today, or did you just sorta follow along with the easiest options available? Do you ever feel like somewhere a long the way you lost your path - lost track of the plan you formulated way back when, when you were going to be famous or world champion or prove superstring theory... Do you feel like it's too late to find your way again, that you've made your bed... What if someone told you that you could put everyone who cares about you on hold for awhile, they'd be in suspended animation so they'd never be hurt about or even know your decisions... What if all your debts would go on hold and your job would still be there if you chose to come back... What would you do? What would you change? Of course you'd have no job or cash, they'd all be on hold. You could activate any friends you wanted or needed to make the new plan work... How would you start your new life and would you try again to achieve the old dreams? Do you remember what they were? LOL I guess this is for those of us who can't jump this weekend... --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Well this thread is about something totally different. I read the title and thought you were "in the moment" with some lizard that you met on a tequila drinking spree. I thought he meant his reserve repack date! LOL --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Be sure to get us an address for you wherever you end up. Prolly get some cool stuff from this crowd! Take care, for real. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

I'm thinking we need a poll here.... --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

I'm aquau - one of my least favorite colors - so uncommitted! I want to be MAGENTA!!! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

LOL no clue. She's got red hair and she's friends with JC - Kelly Samples - he should be able to point her out! I'll email her and tell her to contact you thru PM. Thanks for trying! See you very soon. M --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Did you ever call my friend Kelly who just moved out there? --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

Philly, In addition to what you said, my understanding was that McDonalds also settled numerous cases out of court prior to losing the big one. AND they kept the coffee so hot because they did the bottomless cup thing when you're in the store - if it wasn't hot enough, you might actually ask for that free second cup. --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

LOL it's true, we do keep missing each other! One of these days we'll get it right! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch