A light at the end of the tunnel

I am really glad to see that we are starting to have at least some debate on the status of marijuana in our society. My favorite quote:

""There's no doubt that if people choose to use marijuana instead of alcohol we would not have the same number of problems," said Mason Tvert, the 23-year-old campaign organizer."

Yup, that and a whole slew of other social malignancies that alcohol causes and marijuana does not. But then again, people will phrase the discussion in whatever way suits their argument. Ultimately, my contention with marijuana (and all other drugs for that matter) is that it is a matter of personal choice. The government should have absolutely no say in what we do with our bodies! It is none of their business. They can and should regulate its cultivation/production and distribution. They should tax it and use that money to fund medical assistance for addicts and any medical problems that might arise in some. As the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project (which recently relocated to Santa Cruz, CA) likes to say - drugs should not be a law enforcement issue, but rather a health issue.

No more nanny state!

Diplomatic furore is justified

The new president of Iran openly and vehemently attacked Israel's right to exist. The operative words were "sweep Israel away". Western countries have reacted swiftly to condemn his comments. These two quotes summarize the situation.

"It's a crass thing for any head of state to say about another country," said one British diplomat.

"Can you imagine a state like that with an attitude like that having a nuclear weapon?" [Tony Blair] asked rhetorically.

Seriously. You know, for the most part, I considered Iran's claims to nuclear energy to be justified up to this point. Now I must echo Mr. Blair's concern at a country like that owning nuclear anything.

"Galloway challenges US senators"

I love this guy!

A US Senate committee accuses him of taking bribes from the Iraq oil for food program earlier this year and he flies to the US, appears in front of the committee and tears them a new a-hole for accusing him without any direct evidence (full appearance available as a link in my history). Now they accused him again as "new evidence" has come up. So, what does he do - he says charge me and I'll show up to defend myself. The article has a link to a 5-minute interview showing his reaction to the accusation. It is well worth watching!

He is not only a brilliant orator, but also a well spoken and intelligent man. I admire him for aggresively defending his honor! It is rare that you see any politician so openly and defiantly contesting charges against them.

Gas tax hike?

Hopefully so. This nation has been long overdue for a gas tax hike! There is no better way to build a future with less dependence on oil. Not only that, but we'd get less pollutants in the air, less suburbia, more public transportation. A hike in gas tax would transform this nation for the better!

The Holy Phallus

"a religious satire told from a penile POV" hehehe... sounds good to me! :)

For all your spam needs

Classic!

Homelessness finally getting some attention from the Fed Gov't

Homelessness is a problem that can never be truly solved, but a lot more could be done to ameliorate the lives of the homeless and provide them with a helping hand to rise up from the destitution in which they exist. I applaud the efforts of the Bush administration to address this issue!

"The Bush directive boosted a concept called Housing First, pioneered in New York City and Los Angeles about five years ago."
...
"The plan in a nutshell: The cure for homelessness is a home.

"Don't give them just a blanket and a bowl of soup," Mangano says. "Give them housing and services, and eventually that person goes out and gets a job.""

A number of cities (San Francisco, New York City) have had great success with programs that focused on providing housing and assistance. It only makes sense. "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime."

NIMBY is deplorable!

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) is a popular, yet disgusting, selfish and hyporcritical practice. Here's the mentality: "Well, I got here so fuck everyone else!" It's been practiced with US immigration, in various neighborhoods throughout the country and now in NYC. A number of groups have risen to rezone the city to lower population density in order to "preserve neighborhood character". New York City is fabulous because of its density and any idiot who cannot see past his obsessive self-interest should move out.

""If you allow the character of a neighborhood to be eroded, the people who live in that neighborhood will leave the city," said Amanda M. Burden, chairwoman of the City Planning Commission." Cry me a fucking river! Maybe you should move out to Montana where the density is lower and you can have your ranch. These people!

Ig Nobels arrive

Ig Nobels award "scientific achievements which "cannot, or should not, be reproduced"." As usual this year's picks are quite something! Here are some of my picks.

Best:
"Literature - The many Nigerians who introduced millions of e-mail users to a "cast of rich characters... each of whom requires just a small amount of expense money so as to obtain access to the great wealth to which they are entitled". "

Zen:
"Physics - John Maidstone from Australia for his part in an experiment that began in 1927 in which a glob of black tar drips through a funnel every nine years. Mr Maidstone shared the prize with a late colleague who died sometime after the second drop."

Bizzare, yet quite successful as I found out from a separate story:
"Medicine - Gregg Miller from the US for his invention of Neuticles - rubber replacement testicles for neutered dogs that are available in varying sizes and degrees of firmness."