DEA conducts 'smash and grab' operation on 5 medical marijuana dispensaries

 California NORML has confirmed reports of 5 DEA raids in LA yesterday.

Contrary to rumor, no doctor's office was raided.   The raids were all "smash and grab" operations:  agents took medicine and money, destroyed surveillance cameras and grabbed computers,  but did not arrest anyone.   The professionalism of the operations was questionable.

In one case, agents reportedly failed to leave a written receipt for cash that was seized.  No rhyme or reason was apparent in the selection of targets, other than they were in the same neighborhood.     Agents gave no reason for the raids other than that marijuana is still illegal, but apparently suggested that they wanted to act fast before receiving new orders.

   California NORML believes that recent DEA conduct resembles nothing more than legalized piracy, and calls on supporters to remind President Obama of his pledge to end DEA raids.

   Dale Gieringer, Director, California NORML

LA EMERGENCY PROTEST - Feb 5th, NOON,  Los Angeles Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St.,

ASA is holding a MAJOR EMERGENCY PROTEST and we need you there!   Bush
wouldn't listen, but President Obama WILL if we press him!  WE NEED HIM
TO RESPOND!
WHEN: THURSDAY, Feburary 5 at 12 NOON

WHERE:  Los Angeles Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St.,
Bring signs, bullhorns, & posters and a loud voice!  We need you to
stand up and make that voice heard!
For more information contact Don@SafeAccessNow.org
Visit this link for directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=255+e.+temple+street+los+angeles+ca&oe=utf-8&r
ls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&e
i=qemISeieIoHwsAOnkOmZBg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

Obama vetting team has to quit monkeying around!

Naming a trio of tax-dodgers (Daschle, Geither, and Killefer) to fill open government posts sure doesn't give much credence to Obama's vetting team - seen here interviewing another possible nominee for performance czar - during these trying economic times.

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How Hip was This? A 1950s in-your-car Record Player!

The things that you find in cyberspace. I had no idea that the Chrysler Corporation offered such a unique thing back in the day. I know one thing for sure however, these record-players must have had problems.

Think about it. I can recall bumpy roads messing up my eight-track tapes in the sixties, and even some CDs recently.

Can you imagine how a delicate needle must have cut grooves into the pressed vinyl with every little bump in the road?

That had to be a brief blip that no one wants to remember. Still, looking at the illustration, it looked kinda cool. Maybe it was only played when the car was stopped. That must be it!

What kind of idiot would have tried to play the record player while driving? A teenage boy type of idiot would be my first guess.

Someone like me, who went out and bought eight ten-inch Craig Speakers for my 1964 Chevy Impala to impress the girls when I drove by playing "Born To Be Wild!"

What would a smooth player back in the fifties have stocked in his record collection to romance his date? I wonder. Does anyone have any ideas what a young guy back in the fifties would have played to impress and woe his girl?

Hmmmmm....

image via darkroastedblend.com

Nice kitty! Now where's that phone number for PETA?

Wilson was always a socially correct type of guy.

It's too bad the giant cat thought he was a rat and had him for lunch!

image from darkroastedblend.com

What's up with all these tax dodgers being nominated?

President Obama: You better get a more competent "vetting team" or something. It's starting to look like Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe, are the vetting team!

So far, they've selected Geithrer (Mr. Opps I made a mistake and forgot to pay Uncle Sam), and Daschle (Mr. "I'm sorry for not paying over a hundred thousand in back taxes").

Not a good start. Then your pick for first chief performance officer, Nancy Killefer (shown here), has to turn down you down and not take the performance czar position because she has some problems with - GUESS WHAT? - Your right! Taxes! Good grief Mr. President!

This is really getting to look like a double standard, as these questionable selections for office all seem to have problems with their own finances, yet they are getting nominated.

What happening to cleaning up Washington? These selections are all starting to look like political payback time to the Clinton's by hiring people that have previously worked for them to staff the new administration.

Everyone knows how the Clinton's have clout in Washington, and it appears to me that you've gone to bed with them to get elected. Say it ain't so Barack?

As It Stands, just get rid of the stooges who have been recommending these people to you Mr. President, and remember...You won the election. Not the Clintons!

click here to read the Associated Press account of today's news regarding Killefer and why she has withdrawn her candidacy for the performance czar position.

BREAKING NEWS - CNN ANNOUNCED (around noon Eastern time) THAT Tom Daschle HAS WITHDRAWN FROM HIS NOMINATION as Health and Human Services Secretary, stating he didn't want to be a distraction for the Obama administration. This clearly illustrates my point.

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So what did a Muslim think about my column on khat?

After picking up my column this Southern Arabian web site made the following statement:

 "If anyone knows where I can score some Shami, let me know. Finally a sane point of view on the matter. The govt. propaganda on the substance is laughable. Not saying Qat isn’t dangerous…it is economically dangerous - at least for Yemen.  Coincidence a pro-qat article comes form Eureka? I think not."

Here's a link to the web site. Note: be sure to scroll down a ways, as the front page is blank till you get halfway down.

Also here is a link to the khat/Qat column I wrote:

It was a Garden Party for Kobe in New York last night

Bryant continues to amaze people. He had the Madison Square Garden Knick fans actually cheering for him when it became apparent he was going to set another NBA record.

Kobe broke the current Madison Square Garden record with 61 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers looked plenty potent without Andrew Bynum (out for the season) in a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.

AP/photo – Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes up for a layup as New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler …

A Real HotWheel: Kids toy transformed for zany adults!

  

(Source: cars.ign.com)

A funny ad that I remember being on the back of comic books

(image credit: Found in Mom's Basement)

Another Round for Brown? He's hoping for an historical repeat

 

NOW AND THEN: Linda Ronstadt and Governor Jerry Brown. Jerry Brown today at 70 years-old.

I remember thinking Jerry Brown meant change in 1974. It was the year I got married, and I was inspired by this 36-year-old reformer who believed in alternate energies like wind and solar. He was popular and often caused his critics to call him "Gov. Moonbeam" because they considered his ideas wild and unworthy when he talked about energy conservation, and the use of alternate energies.

Janis Joplin and the Beatles were riding a cultural transformation that brought out reformers like Brown after WaterGate. His long romance with popular singer Linda Ronstadt caused a lot of talk among conservatives, but the liberals loved him. I'm just surprised that at age 70 he's even interested in holding another elected office. This will be his 12th campaign to get an elected position. He tried running for president a couple of times, but had no luck.

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