Growing Trend: Michigan joins California & Other States in making medical marijuana legal

FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE THIS MORNING...

As Michigan's medical marijuana law takes full effect next month, sufferers of chronic pain and other ailments cheer while police predict problems

By Tim Jones | Tribune correspondent

March 20, 2009

PAW PAW, Mich.—At first glance they look like old pals, maybe a bunch from the Rotary Club leisurely gabbing away over the hamburger special, making the waitress work overtime for her tip.
But these guys are different. Their eyes, their fidgeting and their restlessness betray a shared bond of chronic pain, sleepless nights, depression and a reliance on heavy-duty prescription drugs. Around this lunchtime table, they talk about the only thing that gives them a measure of peace, the only thing that, for perhaps a few hours, sets them free: marijuana.
They've been smoking or eating marijuana for years—privately and illegally. And now, because Michigan voters approved marijuana use for the treatment of certain serious maladies, Bob White soon will be able to get himself together in his Three Rivers home "without having to draw the shades."Ron Stephens, who has a chronic neck disorder and depression, built his own marijuana "grow room" with high-powered lights and reflective paper on the walls. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Tribune photo / March 12, 2009) Read the whole article here.

World's Heaviest Insect: Giant Beetles weigh up to a quarter pound!

 

Goliath Beetles weigh almost a quarter pound (think about a burger), and are the heaviest insects in the world. Being a species of a scarab beetle (which plays a major part in Ancient Egypt mythology), these creatures live mostly in Africa - but a beetle on the lower right image - Megasoma acteon (caleóptero) - lives in Equador and can easily crawl up the map to North America, if it so desires. Center photos: Scarab beetles in Ancient Egypt apparently were as big as a dog... which is a scary thought.

(images via) at darkroastedblend.com

Liar! Liar! Liar! Sen.Chris Dodd caught lying about AIG bonus backing!

I think I'm going to start an annual, or monthly, Hall of Shame for lying politicians. The latest entry can be Senator Chris Dodd. What really amazes me is when politicos like Dodd get caught red-handed,they still manage to weasel out an explanation for their actions.

Christopher Keating, of Capitol Watch website noted that...

"Amber Wilkerson, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said "Senator Dodd's reversal on this issue is both astonishing and alarming. ... Contrary to his statements and denials over the last 24 hours, Senator Dodd has now admitted that he and his staff did in fact change the language in the stimulus bill to include a loophole for AIG executive bonuses."
Dodd said flatly that his comments were not a reversal, though when asked by CNN what had changed in his understanding between Tuesday and Wednesday, Dodd replied, "Going back and reviewing it. ... I apologize if we had some confusion.''

EXCUSE ME? The only confusion was on Doddy boy's part! He simply lied. If it were you or I caught in a lie...we'd pay the consequences. Not politicians like Dodd, who live according to a different set of rules than what he expects from others. Why doesn't someone really grill his lying ass and make him pay for the consequences? He helped those AIG thieves give themselves bonus after bonus while the ship was sinking. What kind of consideration did good old Dodd get for this covert action? He knew what he was doing. If he didn't he's an idiot. But, make no mistake, he knew what he was doing. I wouldn't be surprised if some tax-free tropical isle bank is now bulging with a new deposit from Dodd.

Today's Talking Points Memo asked,  WHO ASKED DODD TO DEFANG ANTI-BONUS PROVISION?

By Justin Elliot

Who in the Obama Administration pushed to weaken a key anti-bonus provision in the stimulus bill last month? Sen. Chris Dodd, who wrote the provision -- and ultimately agreed to defang it -- isn't saying.

Ever since the AIG story broke, we've heard about the company's binding contracts as a key barrier to the government blocking bonuses to AIG executives.

Read the whole article here.

There's more to read if you are so inclined.

Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake has a different take on the blame game. She thinks it's Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's fault the bonus language made it's way into law.

TREASURY ATTEMPTS TO "BLAME DODD" FOR AIG BONUSES

As Geithner tries to get out of the way of the AIG bonus train wreck, it looks like the designated sin eater is going to be Chris Dodd:

The administration official said the Treasury Department did its own legal analysis and concluded that those contracts could not be broken. The official noted that even a provision recently pushed through Congress by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, had an exemption for such bonus agreements already in place.

Read the rest of the article here.

Why do we buy Chinese goods when most are defective or dangerous to our health?

Take a long look at the quality of products we buy from China and then try to figure out why we bother buying junk from them every year. There have been numerous recalls on pet food, baby food, toys with lead, and now it's dry wall that can make people sick! Could it be that because we owe China one trillion dollars we have to buy their shit or they'll call in their markers? You have to wonder. There doesn't seem to be any justification for buying Chinese goods - other than they are cheaper...which to unscrupulous American companies is a real plus.

Here's information regarding the latest crap we're buying to build homes with from HomeOwners For Better Building....

Chinese drywall? Call your insurance company
There is an urgent message for people who may have Chinese Drywall in their homes: Contact your insurance company right away. Wednesday night, builders from across Southwest Florida tried to get a grasp on the Chinese drywall epidemic that's spread throughout the state and beyond. Dr. David Krause is the Florida Health Department Toxicologist who has been heading up the investigation into potential health risks.

To read the whole article click here.

Here's More News on the subject from hoanewsnetwork.com ...

Chinese drywall fears widen in SW Florida

By DICK HOGAN • dhogan@news-press.com

"Richard Cesta’s on his third air conditioning coil in a few months at his Bella Terra condominium. The air in his home sometimes smells of sulfur.

Like other Lee County residents, he’s worried he may be victim of Chinese drywall leaking corrosive chemicals into his home and endangering his health. "

To read more of this article click here.

image via Google Images

 

Good Public Art Stirs the Masses to Wonder... and to Question Why?

I've always been interested in public art sculptures, and when I ran across these

two examples I thought I'd share them with you.

Taken in Melbourne, Australia ( top left) and Los Angeles, California (top right)

The bottom two photos were taken in unknown locations.

If you happen to know where they are please share the locations with me.

All photos - via

Laws are supposed to protects us, but when the government decides to get in our pants, some crazy stuff goes down!

From AlterNet today...

By Simcha , The Frisky. Posted March 18, 2009.

Here are some actual sex laws truly for the record books!

1. In Bakersfield, Calif., if you're going to have sex with Satan, you've gotta use a condom. And definitely come up with a safe word!

2. Poking a porcupine is illegal in Florida. But apparently that law didn't go far enough. Just a couple of weeks ago, State Sen. Nan Rich submitted a bill that would ban peeps in the Sunshine State from being able to stick it in where the sun don't shine on any animal.

3. In Minnesota, it's illegal for any slime bucket to hook up with a live fish.  Don't worry disinterested wives, a cold fish is still A-OK!

4. In Dyersburg, Tenn., it is illegal for a lady to call a gentleman for a date. Clearly no one in that town is getting laid!

5. In Merryville, Mo., no woman can change her natural waist. Wearing a corset is illegal because "the privilege of admiring the curvaceous, unencumbered body of a young woman should not be denied to the normal, red-blooded American male." No wonder it's called the "Show Me State!"

6. It's illegal to purchase sex toys in Alabama. This law can beat it!

7. In Washington State, it's totally legal to eff an animal like an animal, as long as it weighs less than 40 lbs. What, fatty farm pets don't deserve some love?

8. While most would argue that this is place where the people get screwed many different ways, in Washington, D.C., engaging in any sexual position other than missionary is illegal.

9. In Massachusetts, you cannot recklessly consummate your love with a rodeo clown while the horses are still around. But seriously, there's a reason for the expression "hung like a horse." I doubt the animal would get jealous!

10. The biggest Internet-porn-consuming state, Utah, gets freaky in its laws too. Sex with an animal is totally cool, unless you're doing it for cold, hard cash! Hey, why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free!

image via Google Images

Celebrate your right to know what's going on with America's lawmakers behind the scenes...

•  March 15-21, a celebration
  of open government records.
• Do you know your House District or Senate District numbers?
• Want to find out?
• Go to Follow The Money and discover how easy it is to get information on what's going on with the politicians in your area.
• Check out who the Lobbyists are near you.
• Who contributes to what? Now you can know.
• Want to know more about a candidate in your district? Here's your chance.

The Mexican drug war threatens our national security!

     Blame for the proliferation of the Mexican cartels can be shared by Mexican and American authorities.

Massive amounts of guns and ammunition have been purchased easily in the states and sent back to Mexican drug lords and their armies. It's common knowledge that the cartels are outgunning the Mexican police and military.

If American authorities want to really help they need to examine the availability of weapons, and to tighten up illegal border crossings. Over 6000 people died last year in this Mexican undeclared war. Considerably more deaths than occurred in Iraq and Afganistan combined last year!

American citizens are being kidnapped and held for ransom. The border between us and Mexico is now the front line of the war. That can't be good for our national security.

In my opinion, this nasty border war is too close, and we need to get proactive about cutting these duggie bastards off at the source!

FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE THIS MORNING ON THE SUBJECT:

US, MEXICO BLAMED FOR RISE OF DRUG GANGS

By Josh Meyer | Washington Bureau

March 18, 2009

Efforts by Mexico and the United States to stem the skyrocketing cross-border drug and weapons trade are failing, and both countries are to blame for the rise of violent cartels responsible for more than 6,000 deaths south of the border last year, lawmakers and experts said at a Senate hearing Tuesday.
For years, elected officials in Washington have sought to portray Mexico as being largely responsible for the problems spawned by the increasingly powerful transnational crime syndicates, and for fixing them.

Here's the entire article.

image via Google Images

As It Stands 'Not a part of the silent media majority' according to CalAware

JOURNALIST BUGGING CLAIM GETS NO BIG MEDIA PLAY

FREE PRESS -- Eric Alterman and George Zornick, writing in the Center for American Progress, ask why the national news media appear to be ignoring the recent stunning claim by former National Security Agency analyst Russell Tice that under the Bush Administration the NSA systematically monitored and recorded the phone and other electronic communications of journalists, among others.

"Neither Tice nor his charges were discussed in the Times, either in print or online. This was standard across much of the mainstream media—The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Associated Press have all remained completely silent about Tice’s allegations. And in one of his many, many “legacy” interviews, Bush told Fox’s Brett Baier in December that they were simply “listening to a phone call from a known terrorist.” He was not challenged on this point during that interview, nor any other of which we are aware."

Clearly something deeply disturbing lurks beneath these revelations, and with Bush gone from office, it’s hard to understand just what is preventing journalists from seeking the truth about this program more energetically.

Columnist Dave Stancliff of the Times-Standard in Eureka is not among the silent majority. He concludes his February 1 open letter to President Obama thus: Click here 

For a link to the entire column

click here.

Image via

https://www.clayandiron.com/index.jsp

Erin Go Braugh! Can I be an Irishman for St. Patrick's Day if I wear green?

                    By Dave Stancliff

 Despite descending from a long line of English stone cutters, I really admire the Irish.

When St. Patrick's Day rolls around on March 17th I wear green and eat corned beef and cabbage. I know what you're thinking.

The traditional meal calls for Irish Bacon and cabbage, but you get the picture. To read the rest of the column click here.