From Oregon: shocking mug shots reveal toll of drug abuse

Photos are part of a 48-minute documentary called “From Drugs to Mugs,” created by Deputy Bret King. King hopes that the documentary, which is available on a DVD along with a CD of mug shots, will help scare kids straight by showing them concrete evidence of damage that can occur within months from using meth, heroin or cocaine.

In-your-face photos aim to scare teens straight by striking their vanity

With disturbing before and after photos of drug users’ faces, a new anti-drug campaign may succeed where others have failed, grabbing teens’ attentions by appealing to their vanity.

The pairs of mug shots, which graphically display the damage drugs can do to the face, were collected by the sheriff’s office in Multnomah County, Ore.

FULL STORY

Drug Czar upset with hometown paper’s pro-legalization editorial

This looks like the next step in our so-called War on drugs…where Kerlikowske is going to go around the country and try to intimidate newspaper editors who are for legalization of marijuana!

Can you say Nazi tactics?

This insanity is starting to reach a fever pitch as the administration wages this senseless war on Pot in editorial boardrooms…

“On Friday, February 18, The Seattle Times ran an editorial endorsing HB 1550, a bill introduced by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson that would tax and regulate marijuana in the state of Washington. The editorial was thoughtful, reasoned, and logical. Apparently, the Office of National Drug Control Policy doesn’t appreciate this kind of rabble-rousing.

As reported today in The Stranger, The Seattle Times received a call immediately after they ran their editorial from Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, who wanted to fly out to the Emerald City and personally meet with the entire editorial board. This meeting will take place on Friday. Please join us in requesting The Seattle Times live-stream their important and unprecedented meeting with the Drug Czar.

Beyond the obvious chilling of First Amendment rights implicated by an executive official making such a request, one can only assume that Czar Kerlikowske is making the cross-country flight on the American taxpayer dime. At the very least, Czar Kerlikowske will be ‘bullying’ the editorial board on the clock, meaning the taxpayer is paying for him to do this. Considering we’re paying for his flight and his meeting, we should at least be able to sit in via the Internet! In the interest of a transparent government, please join us in requesting that this meeting be streamed live via the World Wide Web.

Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know that The Seattle Times is not backing down in their support of HB 1550 in light of Czar Kerlikowske’s request.”                  Source

Indiana AG Calls For Live Ammo Against Protestors, Loses Job

The battle over the future of organized labor in the state of Indiana is so heated that one deputy attorney general suggested that "live ammo" be used against the protesters in Madison.The deputy Attorney General, Jeff Cox (pictured here) sent the following to Mother Jones editor Adam Weinstein:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    "[A]gainst thugs physically threatening legally-elected state legislators & governor? You're damn right I advocate deadly force"

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The statement, in addition to being inflammatory and inappropriate, cost Cox his job.  The Indiana Attorney Generals Office offered the following statement:
"We respect individuals' First Amendment rights to express their personal views on private online forums, but as public servants we are held by the public to a higher standard, and we should strive for civility."
Cox's statements to Weinstein appeared to be the last straw for the agency.  On Cox's personal blog, Pro Cynic (now deleted), he compared former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich to a Nazi, and suggested that President Obama is an "enemy" ruling his people the same way Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq. FULL STORY

The Iceman looks tired — but he's 5,300 years old

Geeze…this guy looks better than I do! I know. I know. It doesn’t take much.

Brown-eyed, bearded, furrow faced and tired: this is how Otzi the Iceman might have looked, according to the latest reconstruction based on 20 years of research and investigations.

Realized by two Dutch experts,  Alfons and Adrie Kennis, the model was produced with the latest in forensic mapping technology that uses three-dimensional images of the mummy's skull as well as infrared and tomographic images. Full story.

Bring on that good old fashioned "Redneck" Religion

As seen in the above excerpt from a Bradenton (Florida) Police Department report, suspect Joshua Lee Joehlin told cops that he is a member of the “Redneck” faith.

Joehlin, a 20-year-old Texan, was busted on a felony charge of engaging in a lewd and lascivious act with a minor. Joehlin, pictured at left, is being held in the Manatee County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Story Source

weGrow explosion: The 'Walmart of weed' to open in California

It's being called the Walmart of weed: a 10,000-square-foot Sacramento gardening emporium that opens Saturday with how-to experts and merchandise to help medical marijuana patients grow pot.

The cavernous weGrow hydroponics store marketing itself as a retail outlet is the first national franchise for a company that bills itself as a supply and training destination for legal pot growers. In coming months, weGrow plans to open stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey and Oregon.

The Sacramento Bee reports the enterprise started in Oakland last year as a warehouse store called iGrow.

Pot isn't sold or grown at the store. In the past, hydroponics outlets have avoided any mention of marijuana because pot cultivation is illegal under federal law. But hydroponics stores have exploded as states approve medical marijuana use. Source

Parting shots…

CBS and Warner stop production of 'Two and a Half Men'

It's over for Charlie Sheen.

“After a day of unhinged and unsolicited comments ripping his show's executive producer Chuck Lorre and assorted enemies -- Alcoholics Anonymous and Thomas Jefferson, among others -- the star finally went further than CBS and Warner Brothers Television could take.” Story

Humans are the world's smelliest animal, study shows

Pungent body odor from sweaty adult human skin is unique in the animal kingdom. Humans turn out to be particularly smelly because odors are released from nearly every part of the body while other species living on us are simultaneously emitting odors too.

Our powerful scent attracts at least two species of mosquitoes, according to a paper accepted for publication in the journal Trends in Parasitology. Understanding what it is about human odor that attracts these bugs could help prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Story

It seems good old fashioned joy rides are still popular in Lincoln, Nebraska…with a slight twist; 

“Officials said a sheriff's deputy responded to a report of a suspicious pickup truck east of Lincoln. The deputy said he stopped the truck to question the driver and found everyone in the vehicle was unclothed. The deputy said their clothes were in the bed of the pickup.

According to authorities, when the two men and two women in the pickup were questioned about what they were doing, one replied, "I think we're getting in trouble." Story                                                                                            Meet Nickolus Borgman…the driver

Time to submit your Oscar worthies even though no one cares

For all I know, the Oscars are already over. Oh wait!

What’s that? They’re getting ready… there’s still time.

RELATED: Mouthing off in America: When it comes to opinions, we're all living in an intellectual Costco, where it's volume, volume, volume

Editorial cartoon by Signe Wilkinson / Philadelphia Daily News

Writer makes good argument : it’s ‘Harder to Get Started Today’

If you read my column last Sunday The real American Dream – jobs for everyone you’ll remember I talked about the same subject. I really like the way Trent laid it out. He uses a lot of statistics and facts to make his argument air-tight. Solid read:

 Written by Trent

“Over the past weekend, I had a long conversation with a man in our community who was nearing retirement age. He felt comfortable about his own coming retirement, but he seemed very pessimistic that his children would ever be ready to retire. “They just don’t know how to save money,” he told me.

I told him that, although I agreed with him that young people should save more, there is also a strong case that it is much more difficult today for a young person to establish themselves financially as he did when he was a young adult.

He looked at me strangely. “What do you mean?” he asked.

So, I laid it out for him, piece by piece. Afterward, it occurred to me that the entire discussion might make for a good post here, particularly with some specific research to back it up:

Real wages Let’s start with income. In 1970, the average wage earner took home $312 per week (in 1982 dollars). In 2004, the average wage earner brought home $277 per week (in 1982 dollars) – and it’s still falling. That means that, once you factor out inflation, the average wage earner in 1970 brought home about 18% more than the average wage earner today.

Home prices Even if you adjust for inflation – and even if you take into account the crash of the housing bubble from 2007 to today – the median price for a home in the United States has gone up more than 50% since 1970. Remember, that number accounts for inflation, so what that number actually means is that the cost of a home requires 50% more of a person’s paycheck than it did in 1970.”

READ THE REST HERE

Dancing for Dictators: if the dollars are right they’ll perform any night

How much would you have to get paid to perform for a dictator or one of their family members? It's one of those hypotheticals people love to throw around in the entertainment world and in the case of Beyonce and the Gadhafi clan, the magic number seems to be $2 million.

Other artists -- including Mariah Carey and Sting -- have performed for controversial figures for far less. Take a look through this gallery to see who has danced and crooned for dictators and their families.

Tyranny is the topic of this Sunday’s As It Stands, in the Times-Standard. I ask the question? Can you name all the dictators America does business with?

Army targeted U.S. senators with psy-ops to gain more funding

Manipulating lawmakers to elicit more funding for troops…what’s next?

 Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes was asked how to secretly manipulate the lawmakers, according to a Rolling Stone article released yesterday.

Lt. Gen. William Caldwell (Photo right) ordered a specialized "psychological operations" team to manipulate dignitaries visiting Afghanistan and convince them to boost funding and troop numbers.

QUOTE:

"My job in psy-ops is to play with people's heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave," the officer, Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, told Rolling Stone.

"I'm prohibited from doing that to our own people. When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you're crossing a line," he added. FULL STORY

Parting shots…

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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
— Albert Einstein

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As It Stands: 'I know I'm right' syndrome or being stupid and proud of it

-one of my personal favorites from last year.

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"Stupid is as stupid does.-Forrest Gump

"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change." -Confucius

         
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Cleopatra's Palace believed to be underwater off shores of Alexandria

Off the shores of Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great, lies what is believed to be the ruins of the royal quarters of Cleopatra. A team of marine archaeologists led by Frenchman Franck Goddio made excavation on this ancient city from where Cleopatra, the last queen of the Ptolemies, ruled Egypt.

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Historians believe this site was submerged by earthquakes and tidal waves more than 1,600 years ago.

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The excavations concentrated on the submerged island of Antirhodus. Cleopatra is said to have had a palace there. Other discoveries include a well-preserved shipwreck and red granite columns with Greek inscriptions. There were also founded two statues which were lifted out of the harbor. One was a priest of the goddess Isis; the other a sphinx whose face is said to represent Cleopatra's father, King Ptolemy XII. The artifacts were returned to their silent, because the Egyptian Government says it wants to leave most of them in place to create an underwater museum. Story and Photos

Conservative Guest Opinion: The pillars of conservatism

In my quest to show all sides of the political spectrum I discovered this well-written (and thought out) opinion column in the Los Angeles Times.

It’s important not to demonize any political party if you want to be seen as objective and open-minded. The same for ideologies. You don’t have to agree with them, but if you understand where they’re coming from compromise, and hopefully respect, will lead to progress on thorny issues. I’m often accused of leaning left, or even of being an outright Liberal.

While it may have been true once, it no longer describes me. I’d rather be thought of as a Centrist (if I have to be stereotyped). I’d rather not have a label attached at all, but I understand some people’s need to put everyone in some ideological box in order keep their little world orderly. So be it. Meanwhile, I will continue offering you views from ALL SIDES of each controversial issue featured in this blog.

Understand one thing – when it’s my opinion posted here, you’ll have no doubt about it. I’m not shy about sharing my views. Don’t be afraid to comment, as I assure you that you’ll be treated with respect. But, if you act like a complete ass…guess what? I’m going to treat you like one!

Let’s take a look at this piece:

The Pillars of Conservatism  

By Frank Cannon

“Of all the mischaracterizations of social conservatives, none is more stubborn and pernicious than the notion (promulgated by liberals and eagerly snatched up by credulous media voices) that groups and politicians that espouse a "values" philosophy seek to impose a draconian moral code on a dissenting populace.” Read whole column

Wisconsin governor’s candid comments reveal desire to bust unions

Oh that Scott Walker! What a guy…why just the other day he thought he was talking to one of his biggest backers, David Koch (yea, that Koch, as in the notorious Koch Brothers):

Bragging about how he won’t budge from his position Walker assured Koch he would “…talk, not negotiate.”

“If you heard I was going to talk to them that’s the only reason why,” he went on to tell his pal David.

And what was Koch’s reply to that? “Bring a baseball bat. That’s what I’d do.”

Isn’t this conversation just delicious? You haven’t heard anything yet. Go here to see why Gov. Scott Walker is being accused of wanting to break unions. Warning! It’s not pretty, but it sure is revealing. One more thing: he wasn’t really talking with David Koch, he was talking with Daily Beast editor, Ian Murphy! BUSTED!

McKinnleyville Girl Missing: contact family with any information

Yolanda “Yolie” Quiroga (photo) (Breaking News thanks to Redheaded Blackbelt)

Congressman’s erratic behavior causes staff members to resign

Oregon Congressman David Wu has showed erratic behavior before, but his constituents keep re-electing him (seven times now). After last year’s re-election Wu’s staff members have been “moving on” to ,shall we say, saner pastures!  

I don’t see the big deal about wearing a Tiger costume and sending the photo to staff, but taking non-prescription pain-killers is a problem. He’s sought mental health help, but doesn’t believe he needs to check into an in-house program. He told ABC News that he’s “in a good place now” despite his staff defections.

Excerpt: 

“Seven of his staff members have left since he won re-election in November: his chief of staff, spokeswoman, three field representatives in Oregon, and two others in Washington, D.C. In addition, he lost his campaign pollster and campaign fundraiser. His campaign treasurer resigned last week, and Wu named himself treasurer.”

FULL STORY

'Lucky man': 39 wives, 94 kids not enough for Indian sect leader

That would mean this guy has 39 mother-in-laws!

The article doesn’t say if he takes Viagra or something to keep pace.

Despite being 66 years-old, this guy is going like the Energizer Bunny on steroids!

The more, the merrier is certainly true for Ziona Chana, a man in India's remote northeast who has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren — and wouldn't mind having more.

They all live in a four-story building with 100 rooms in a mountainous village in Mizoram state.

Full Story

I’ve had a variety of bloggers featured–maybe it’s time for an NRA blogger?

Well…I’m waiting folks

My youngest son belongs to the NRA. How about you Eli?

I’d like to hear why a person should be able to buy two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles every month or so? To what purpose?

Do you know what a straw man is? It’s someone who buys the guns and sells them to others...like to the Mexican cartels! You can pick up some spare change that way I suppose, if you don’t give a damn that your supporting murderers.

But the NRA says “that’s okay…just don’t take our guns away. We don’t want any more rules, we’re happy fools!”

Another Guest Opinion: Government pensions, an obesity epidemic

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen makes his argument that state and federal governments are so indebted to their workers in pension and other obligations that they have little money for anything else. A Union member himself, Cohen offers sympathy but not his total support for the Wisconsin state employees demonstrating against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to do away with collective bargaining.

 Read why here.

Cartoon source