The official mourning period for late leader Kim Jong Il has begun in North Korea, which will culminate in a state funeral on Dec. 28. Foreign representatives have been banned from visiting Pyongyang to pay their respects.  I can't imagine the guest list of world leaders would be particularly long, but China and Russia might want to send mid-level functionaries and Hugo Chavez may want to say a final farewell to his dear "comrade." It seems like an odd decision, but then again, this is North Korea. 

Not that there aren't any foreign VIPs on the invite list. Japanese magician Tenko Hikita, better known as Princess Tenko, has reportedly been invited:

Ms Hikita, who has performed several magic shows in North Korea, received the invitation over the phone and via e-mail from one of Kim's relatives, the manager said, adding that the magician has not yet decided whether to attend.[...]

The magician was invited to North Korea in 1998 and 2000 to perform magic shows and attend Kim's private dinners, the manager said.

Kim was apparently a big fan of her act, and there are even (totally unsubstantiated, most-likely complete British tabloid fantasy) rumors of a romantic relationship between the two. Of course, Kim had some magical powers of his own. North Korea's official news agency has been reporting strange natural phenomena including landslides and an eerie glow around Mt. Paektu -- Kim's supposed birthplace -- since the Dear Leader's death. 

If you're interested, here's Princess Tenko's famous water tank escape (Don't try it at home kids!): 

 

EXPLORE:FLASH POINTS
 

DOUG12

4:03 PM ET

December 21, 2011

There Is Magic Everywhere

It might be a terrific finale if Kim Jong Il is resurrected at his funeral and announces his decision to an astonished crowd that he will spend several more years at the helm.

 

WICKBAM

5:03 PM ET

December 21, 2011

that reminds me of a joke

The Russians decide that they no longer wish to have Stalin's body in their country. They call up the UK and ask if they'll take the infamous Georgian. "So sorry", say the British, "but we already have Karl Marx and it wouldn't do to have another famous communist as well." The Russians concur.

Next they call Berlin to see if the Germans might take Stalin's remains. "Apologies", reply the Germans, "but we already have one infamous dictator and we'd rather not have another." Russians agree that this is a reasonable refusal.

Finally, Moscow calls the Israelis. Could they do Russia a huge favor and take Stalin off her hands? There is a pause on the line before the Israeli premier coughs nervously.

"Well you see...we've already had one resurrection and we'd rather not risk another."

 

MOSFAN

8:38 PM ET

December 22, 2011

Worth watching

Agreed, that would be a terrific finale! Sufficiently theatrical for one of the world's remaining cold war dictators. Heck I'd watch that on pay-per-view. Much more interesting than programming point of sale software widgets.

 

COUNTCHOCULA1011

8:53 PM ET

December 21, 2011

Really Kim? Really?

That has to be the most stereotypical Kim Jong Il form of entertainment imaginable. Magic, half-naked woman, cheesiness = Kim Jong Il Gold

 

MOSFAN

8:39 PM ET

December 22, 2011

Can you fault him?

Admittedly it's pretty cheesy, but you can't fault the guy for having distinct taste!

 

ZEESHANTHARKI

10:10 AM ET

December 22, 2011

Really ??

I don't believe this that he can do this kind of act..!!
Over the past few years, there has been a growing tendency to dub Muslims as terrorists. And leading from the front in this blame game is none other than the superpower, the United States. It is extremely sad that such a tolerant and loving community is being dubbed as behind the terror outfits.

It is gross injustice that the Muslims of this world are being treated as second class. How many of you think that Muslims are behind the terror plots, no matter where they happen? No doubt most of the terror outfits are comprised of Muslims, but is it correct to say that all Muslims are terrorists? If we look at the community as a whole, the Muslims will outnumber almost the rest. Indeed most of the rich nations are Muslim nations.

There are a few misguided youth who have spoilt the spirit of Islam, disturbed the Muslim norms, created havoc in the world, revoked the laws of the land, disturbed peace, affected fraternal relations, and above all marginalised the facets and tenets of the KORAN --the Holy Book-- that has been leading several generations ever since it came into being. It is not just the Muslims that bow before the Koran, I being a non-Muslim, too, bow before the most sacred book, and I have no doubt in saying that millions of non-Muslims treat the Koran as their HOLY BOOK--much like the Geeta of Hindus, the Bible of Christains, and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji of Sikhs. All these sacred, religious books preach their followers fraternity, brotherhood, and love for all --no matter which religion they belong. Wouldn't it have been wonderful, had all of us followed our religion, keeping in mind the sanctity of all other religions?

this is my request to everyone..standby your faith, your religion, your prayer, your worship, your norms, but for God's sake don't use the pious name of God for violence, waging wars, letting bloodshed, diluting sacred human values, massacring men, women, children and old n infirm,---just for the sake of POWER n SUPREMACY over others.

ASK God when, you leave for haven, how correct are those indulging in gross human rights violations just to gain power n prestige just to create dread, fear n havoc in the world.

Muslims are a religious community, who believe in the sanctity n virtues of the Koran n the Prophet --the Great Prophet, who taught them to fight those who kill innocents, to wage a jihad against those who r antihuman-- not against all n sundry..

So, how did Muslims started being dubbed as terrorists? Being a community rich of strength n valor, the powerful Muslim lords saw themselves reaping dividends by ruling over the world. Just this was the beginning...n the rest is history, v much the present--may b d future too.

But can we let the blood of our brethren, n fellow citizens flow like this in suicide bombings, bomb blasts n all such atrocious tactics of the so-called terrorists? The disgruntled few r in a state of dissatisfaction n to satisfy themselves have started waging a war on innocents that they call as jihad. however, they fail to understand that in doing so, they have tarnished the sacred name of ISLAM, n invited criticism from world over..resulting in the world calling the entire Muslim community as associated with terrorists.

For God's sake stop calling Muslims terrorists. They are a community that loves its religion, its God, its Prophet, and upkeep human values. The dissatisfied n misled among them r the real culprits, who need to be justified. I have so many Muslim friends and trust me, they all believe in upkeeping human values, they believe in brotherhood, fraternity, their heart cries at the suicide bombings, their lives r disturbed by terrorist activities. They love humanity, first.

Do you know so many Muslims have died in the suicide bombings and bomb blasts? If the terroists who care so much for their religion, loved their religion n fellow Muslims, will they kill them? Will they place bombs at places where muslims r predominant? will they target muslim locations n habitations?

they have targetted muslim habitations..hyderabad in INDIA is a glaring example, where so many muslims were killed in the blast incide the mosque. such disgruntled elements placed the bombs inside the mosque only to create misunderstanding between different communities so that people fight each other out, which would result in the victory of the terrorists.

A Muslim scholar from Pakistan says: "Our religion teaches us that the murder of an innocent person is the murder of humanity as a whole. "

MUSLIMS r not terrorists. muslims r friends n fellow citizens. please do not mistake such a tolerant community because of a misled few!

Over the past few years, there has been a growing tendency to dub Muslims as terrorists. And leading from the front in this blame game is none other than the superpower, the United States. It is extremely sad that such a tolerant and loving community is being dubbed as behind the terror outfits.

It is gross injustice that the Muslims of this world are being treated as second class. How many of you think that Muslims are behind the terror plots, no matter where they happen? No doubt most of the terror outfits are comprised of Muslims, but is it correct to say that all Muslims are terrorists? If we look at the community as a whole, the Muslims will outnumber almost the rest. Indeed most of the rich nations are Muslim nations.

There are a few misguided youth who have spoilt the spirit of Islam, disturbed the Muslim norms, created havoc in the world, revoked the laws of the land, disturbed peace, affected fraternal relations, and above all marginalised the facets and tenets of the KORAN --the Holy Book-- that has been leading several generations ever since it came into being. It is not just the Muslims that bow before the Koran, I being a non-Muslim, too, bow before the most sacred book, and I have no doubt in saying that millions of non-Muslims treat the Koran as their HOLY BOOK--much like the Geeta of Hindus, the Bible of Christains, and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji of Sikhs. All these sacred, religious books preach their followers fraternity, brotherhood, and love for all --no matter which religion they belong. Wouldn't it have been wonderful, had all of us followed our religion, keeping in mind the sanctity of all other religions?

this is my request to everyone..standby your faith, your religion, your prayer, your worship, your norms, but for God's sake don't use the pious name of God for violence, waging wars, letting bloodshed, diluting sacred human values, massacring men, women, children and old n infirm,---just for the sake of POWER n SUPREMACY over others.

ASK God when, you leave for haven, how correct are those indulging in gross human rights violations just to gain power n prestige just to create dread, fear n havoc in the world.

Muslims are a religious community, who believe in the sanctity n virtues of the Koran n the Prophet --the Great Prophet, who taught them to fight those who kill innocents, to wage a jihad against those who r antihuman-- not against all n sundry..

So, how did Muslims started being dubbed as terrorists? Being a community rich of strength n valor, the powerful Muslim lords saw themselves reaping dividends by ruling over the world. Just this was the beginning...n the rest is history, v much the present--may b d future too.

But can we let the blood of our brethren, n fellow citizens flow like this in suicide bombings, bomb blasts n all such atrocious tactics of the so-called terrorists? The disgruntled few r in a state of dissatisfaction n to satisfy themselves have started waging a war on innocents that they call as jihad. however, they fail to understand that in doing so, they have tarnished the sacred name of ISLAM, n invited criticism from world over..resulting in the world calling the entire Muslim community as associated with terrorists.

For God's sake stop calling Muslims terrorists. They are a community that loves its religion, its God, its Prophet, and upkeep human values. The dissatisfied n misled among them r the real culprits, who need to be justified. I have so many Muslim friends and trust me, they all believe in upkeeping human values, they believe in brotherhood, fraternity, their heart cries at the suicide bombings, their lives r disturbed by terrorist activities. They love humanity, first.

Do you know so many Muslims have died in the suicide bombings and bomb blasts? If the terroists who care so much for their religion, loved their religion n fellow Muslims, will they kill them? Will they place bombs at places where muslims r predominant? will they target muslim locations n habitations?

they have targetted muslim habitations..hyderabad in INDIA is a glaring example, where so many muslims were killed in the blast incide the mosque. such disgruntled elements placed the bombs inside the mosque only to create misunderstanding between different communities so that people fight each other out, which would result in the victory of the terrorists.

A Muslim scholar from Pakistan says: "Our religion teaches us that the murder of an innocent person is the murder of humanity as a whole. "

MUSLIMS r not terrorists. muslims r friends n fellow citizens. please do not mistake such a tolerant community because of a misled few!

Over the past few years, there has been a growing tendency to dub Muslims as terrorists. And leading from the front in this blame game is none other than the superpower, the United States. It is extremely sad that such a tolerant and loving community is being dubbed as behind the terror outfits.

It is gross injustice that the Muslims of this world are being treated as second class. How many of you think that Muslims are behind the terror plots, no matter where they happen? No doubt most of the terror outfits are comprised of Muslims, but is it correct to say that all Muslims are terrorists? If we look at the community as a whole, the Muslims will outnumber almost the rest. Indeed most of the rich nations are Muslim nations.

There are a few misguided youth who have spoilt the spirit of Islam, disturbed the Muslim norms, created havoc in the world, revoked the laws of the land, disturbed peace, affected fraternal relations, and above all marginalised the facets and tenets of the KORAN --the Holy Book-- that has been leading several generations ever since it came into being. It is not just the Muslims that bow before the Koran, I being a non-Muslim, too, bow before the most sacred book, and I have no doubt in saying that millions of non-Muslims treat the Koran as their HOLY BOOK--much like the Geeta of Hindus, the Bible of Christains, and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji of Sikhs. All these sacred, religious books preach their followers fraternity, brotherhood, and love for all --no matter which religion they belong. Wouldn't it have been wonderful, had all of us followed our religion, keeping in mind the sanctity of all other religions?

this is my request to everyone..standby your faith, your religion, your prayer, your worship, your norms, but for God's sake don't use the pious name of God for violence, waging wars, letting bloodshed, diluting sacred human values, massacring men, women, children and old n infirm,---just for the sake of POWER n SUPREMACY over others.

ASK God when, you leave for haven, how correct are those indulging in gross human rights violations just to gain power n prestige just to create dread, fear n havoc in the world.

Muslims are a religious community, who believe in the sanctity n virtues of the Koran n the Prophet --the Great Prophet, who taught them to fight those who kill innocents, to wage a jihad against those who r antihuman-- not against all n sundry..

So, how did Muslims started being dubbed as terrorists? Being a community rich of strength n valor, the powerful Muslim lords saw themselves reaping dividends by ruling over the world. Just this was the beginning...n the rest is history, v much the present--may b d future too.

But can we let the blood of our brethren, n fellow citizens flow like this in suicide bombings, bomb blasts n all such atrocious tactics of the so-called terrorists? The disgruntled few r in a state of dissatisfaction n to satisfy themselves have started waging a war on innocents that they call as jihad. however, they fail to understand that in doing so, they have tarnished the sacred name of ISLAM, n invited criticism from world over..resulting in the world calling the entire Muslim community as associated with terrorists.

For God's sake stop calling Muslims terrorists. They are a community that loves its religion, its God, its Prophet, and upkeep human values. The dissatisfied n misled among them r the real culprits, who need to be justified. I have so many Muslim friends and trust me, they all believe in upkeeping human values, they believe in brotherhood, fraternity, their heart cries at the suicide bombings, their lives r disturbed by terrorist activities. They love humanity, first.

Do you know so many Muslims have died in the suicide bombings and bomb blasts? If the terroists who care so much for their religion, loved their religion n fellow Muslims, will they kill them? Will they place bombs at places where muslims r predominant? will they target muslim locations n habitations?

they have targetted muslim habitations..hyderabad in INDIA is a glaring example, where so many muslims were killed in the blast incide the mosque. such disgruntled elements placed the bombs inside the mosque only to create misunderstanding between different communities so that people fight each other out, which would result in the victory of the terrorists.

A Muslim scholar from Pakistan says: "Our religion teaches us that the murder of an innocent person is the murder of humanity as a whole. "

MUSLIMS r not terrorists. muslims r friends n fellow citizens. please do not mistake such a tolerant community because of a misled few!

Thanks

Travel agency

 

PINKYMISHI

10:21 AM ET

December 31, 2011

Yes you are right.. Muslims

Yes you are right.. Muslims are not terrorist. :)

 

PECASAUTONET

10:44 AM ET

December 22, 2011

Really Kim?

i AGree in Kim Jong Il form of entertainment imaginable. Magic, half-naked woman, cheesiness ...Thanks
Massagista

 

FRIENDS AND LOVER

9:32 AM ET

December 31, 2011

good

The government feels that Malta should withdraw national honours conferred on any foreign dignitaries who no longer deserve them, a government spokesman said this afternoon.
The spokesman preferred not to go into specifics.
The government's position was requested after Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that while he agreed that the Maltese honours conferred on former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi should be withdrawn, similar action should be taken with regard to former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
The government yesterday announced that when Parliament reconvenes, it will move a motion to repeal the honours conferred on Col Gaddafi. He had been made an honorary member of the Xirka Gieh ir-Republika in 1975 by the Labour government and an honorary companion of the National Order of Merit in 2004 under the Nationalists. Ben Ali was similarly honoured in 2005.
The PL in a statement yesterday proposed that the resolution should be presented jointly by the government and the opposition.
Dr Muscat, speaking this morning, regretted that there had not been consultation with the Opposition over the issue. He said that in the Opposition's view, the honours conferred by Malta on Ben Ali should also be withdrawn.
Questioned on the Labour position throughout the crisis in Libya, Dr Muscat said the party had been careful not to politicise the issue. He reiterated that he had met representatives of the Libyan rebels, in Malta and abroad, during which they discussed what help the PL could offer as an Opposition Party.
He also hit back at criticism of the PL, noting that it was Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who had visited Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli at the height of the 'Arab Spring' although he reiterated once more that he did not wish to politicise the issue.
Dr Muscat made his comments when he visited the base of the Civil Protection Department in Shipwrights Wharf (near Marsovin) in Marsa, where donations for the Libyan people are trickling in.
The Labour leader appealed for generosity by the Maltese people.
The CPD will throughout today receive donations of food and water which will be shipped to Tripoli. It is also receiving monetary donations.

thanks
Ghana

 

PINKYMISHI

10:20 AM ET

December 31, 2011

This is what i want to read

This is what i want to read it..!! you have spoke the real thing.. :)
Thanks

 

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