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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.

AS IT STANDS COLUMN ON POT LEGALIZATION BRINGS COMMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE SMOKING ISSUE!

By Dave Stancliff

My 3/8 column on pot legalization has stirred up plenty of controversy (the last time I looked about 181 comments were made on the Online Eureka Times-Standard Forum ). I've received a generous amount of emails from readers too. I'll introduce one of these readers to you shortly.

 Meanwhile, the pros and cons battled it out, and I've been called everything from a dreamer to an idiot. One local blogger, Rose from WatchPaul, felt my ideas on how legalization would help the economy were "all sunshine and roses, hearts and flowers..."

US Rep Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) seems to think a

marijuana legalization pilot program

would be a good idea.

At least six blogs were interested enough in my column to run it.

THE MEDIA AWARENESS PROJECT

HEALTHGROUPS.YAHOO.COM - Medical News From Brett

CRIMEANDCONSEQUENCES.COM

CALIFORNIA NORML

WHY PROHIBITION.CA

TALK LEFT THE POLITICS OF CRIME

More states are looking favorably on various forms of legalization right now. For example "Minnestotans For Compassionate Care" sponsored a medical marijuana bill that has passed the House Civil Justice Committee Without Dissent last week.

As It Stands reader, Tim Castleman, sent me a very interesting email about the proposal being considered (AB 390). It's so well-thought out, that I really want to pass this on to you.  

"Comments on California Assembly member Ammiano's marijuana tax bill, AB 390 (as introduced)

The problems begin early, in fact with the title of the bill itself - the term "marijuana" is slang and should not be used in legislation.

The proper terminology would incorporate all of the words cannabis, sativa, indica and ruderalis. The definition offered in the bill only includes sativa. Much worse are all the new crimes created and the fact that cannabis actually remains illegal except when obtained through state authorized channels. Deepening the offense, the idea that cannabis should be treated like alcohol and only allowed for age 21 years and up is just flat wrong and certainly unenforceable. Even killer tobacco is available to 18 year olds.

Further, alcohol kills thousands in a variety of ways. No such harm has come to millions of regular cannabis consumers, except at the hands of their own government. Cannabis is SAFER than alcohol and it is a slippery slope to allow cannabis to be classified in the same category.
So let's wade into the bill's text to unravel this unholy 59 page proposed new law.

Section 1 begins well enough and would be complete with just subsection (a), which states: "To legalize marijuana and its derivatives." Regrettably it is mostly downhill from there. Subsection (b) says that 18,19 and 20 year olds are not adults and makes them into a whole new batch of criminals if they have anything at all to do with cannabis. Hope subsides upon reading subsection (c), which requires federal permission for any of the law to be valid anyway. So much for states rights.

Next, subsection (d) funds drug war propaganda and treatment centers with a "substantial fee" on the "legal sale" of marijuana. To clarify what "legal sale" may mean subsection (e) seeks to "impose a set of regulations and laws concerning marijuana comparable to those imposed on alcohol." This means licenses, background checks and restrictions on a plant that has never killed anyone, unlike alcohol.

This apples and oranges comparison perpetuates the lie that cannabis is a "dangerous drug" and puts unreasonable restrictions on private citizens. The people that pay the tax should benefit from it with reduced fees for government services, assistance with research and development, small business loans and services that benefit the cannabis consumers. Pot smokers don't cause alcoholism or drug addiction and should not be forced to pay for the treatment of those who become addicted to the products of drug, alcohol and tobacco corporations.

The magnitude of damage this bill could do only begins to come into focus deep into the language, but a hint is seen in subsection (f) "To impose substantial fines for violations of the noncommercial regulations and laws concerning marijuana, which will be applicable until and after commercial marijuana is available by virtue of future changes in federal law." So there you have it - marijuana is even more illegal than it was, unless obtained from a state licensed retailer, who must get it from a state licensed wholesaler, who must get it from a state licensed producer.
Subsection (g) seems to be pro-reform, but look closely and note there are still "crimes related to marijuana" .... "in this bill."

Exempting industrial hemp and medical marijuana from the tax in subsection (h) seems unfair. This is like saying gala apples are taxed but fuji apples are not. It doesn't make sense. If there is a to be a tax on cannabis, let all who benefit from the plant pay their fair share.

The subsection (i) legislation authorizing state funded lobbyists to Washington DC is a waste of taxpayer resources. We have elected representatives and their staff to do this on our behalf already. States do not need to "encourage the federal government" to do anything other than respect states rights.
Sections 2 and 3 set up the tax and licensing regime that must be complied with to avoid prosecution. First year applicants must pay $5,000 ($2,500 annual renewal) and submit to a background check, however no guidance is offered as to whom the "department" may consider worthy of the license. The state's power increases with "significant fees" and "regulations" to enforce.

These regulations, fees and taxes cover "all stages of cultivation, harvesting, drying, processing, packing, and delivery". This seems to be taking things out of order. Before we start taxing pot smokers let's stop prosecuting them and work on making restitution for the harm done by the government's dishonesty and outright hostility to cannabis consumers. It is really insulting to suggest cannabis consumers agree to any kind of taxation until after the government has ceased its declared war on them and made restitution for harm done.

Section 4 falls far short of the reparations needed in order for the government to earn back the peoples trust on this matter. Many have been badly burned by the hostile actions of government agents and agencies. This bit of window dressing to address the stigma created by records of past legal issues is a step in the right direction, albeit a very small one.
Section 5 seems to further extend government control and tax authority to include every possible market segment from bongs to baggies to growing supplies and equipment.

 
Section 6 modifies Schedule I of the controlled substance list by removing the terms "marijuana" and "Tetrahydrocannabinols", which is replaced by "Synthetic tetrahydrocannabinols not derived from cannabis plants. Synthetic equivalents of the substances contained in the plant, or in the resinous extractives of Cannabis, sp. and/or synthetic substances, derivatives, and their isomers with similar chemical structure and pharmacological activity such as the following: delta 1 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers; delta 6 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers; delta 3,4 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and its optical isomers. (Since nomenclature of these substances is not internationally standardized, compounds of these structures, regardless of numerical designation of atomic positions covered)." Does this mean Marinol is now Schedule I and exempt from the new tax?

Section 7 establishes the punishments for 18,19 and 20 year olds who use cannabis, especially on school grounds.
Sections 8,9, 10 and 11 repeal three laws that made cannabis illegal. Hooray! These are keepers.
Section 12 further codifies the restrictions on every market possibly related to cannabis. In short, everything is illegal, unless the state grants an applicant permission, based on fees, a background check and proof of financial resources to sufficient satisfy their requirements for security etc.
Section 13 exempts felons and others with previous legal trouble from eligibility for a state license to retail, wholesale or produce marijuana. This would be unfair to those who have been unfairly prosecuted for cannabis in the past and will likely restrict the industry to a select few.
Section 14 clarifies that every asset is subject to forfeiture for violation of any of these laws. This devastating practice is often used in place of legal proceedings to persecute individuals and prevent them from fighting back.
Section 15 authorizes law enforcement officials to destroy any amount of a "suspected controlled substance" over 10 pounds. Later, when it is time to return the victims property, much of it is likely to have been destroyed by hostile government agents.
Section 16 repeals property rights of owners.
Section 17 instructs any peace officer, subsequent to making or attempting to make an arrest, to "notify the Franchise Tax Board of a seizure where there is reasonable cause to believe that the value of the seized property exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000)." Yep, the government always gets their share, legal or not.
Section 18 modifies the H&S code to remove marijuana and hashish "drug paraphernalia" from consideration as items that create "probable cause" for illegal drug dealing. In other words, having a pipe or bong is no longer evidence that the person was dealing. This seems like a keeper.
Section 19 removes marijuana and hashish from the list of prohibited "drug paraphernalia" and language banning cultivation, possession or sale of marijuana. This is a keeper.
Section 20 removes marijuana from the list of controlled substances that a person can be sued for damages related to abuse. This seems like a keeper.
Section 21 adds an incomplete definition of what "marijuana" is and sets forth conditions under which it is "lawful" and (still) "unlawful" to do anything regarding cannabis. Highlights include 11725 (c) sets a 10-plant limit per person and 11725 (d) authorizes a nursery to cultivate and sell "seedlings" but clones are not mentioned. 11725 (e) forbids the nursery from growing any plants to maturity and may ONLY sell seedlings, no marijuana. 11727 seems to exempt industrial hemp and hemp products.
Section 22 adds "Marijuana Fees" to the Revenue and Taxation Code. It exempts industrial hemp and medicinal marijuana from said fees. It also establishes the initial fee of $50 per ounce, which is subject to review but not to an increase. The money goes into a special account to fund drug war propaganda and treatment centers.
Sections 22, 23 and 24 amend the motor vehicle code to remove some penalties related to marijuana possession.

Further study is needed here. It is premature to treat marijuana intoxication or the presence of its active compounds as impairment when driving or operating machinery. (Some evidence suggests the opposite.) It’s bad policy to agree to this knee jerk reaction just for the sake of "baby-steps." Science should guide policy, not unproven presumptions based on drug war propaganda.

In summary, it is good the debate has been energized, and there are a few good things about this bill. Here is my proposed revised bill language:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, to do all of the following:
(a) To legalize cannabis sativa, indica and ruderalis and its derivatives.
(b) To remove all existing civil and criminal penalties
(c ) To begin reparation and restitution for harms done by prior law."

image via Google Images

SQUIRRELS IN THE NEWS: Alert! Power lines from America to Britain under siege by shock seeking squirrels!

Associated News archives...

SQUIRRELS: IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, ZAP 'EM!

These cute but pesky rodents are a leading cause of unplanned outages. They chew through power lines, fry themselves by completing electrical circuits and generally wreak havoc on power grids.

Utility companies, always on the hunt for new ways to combat animals, may have found an inexpensive solution to what has long been a vexing problem.

The ZAPshield is an $11 polymer disc that arrived on the market some three years ago and delivers a non-lethal, electrostatic jolt to any varmint touching it. In Pennsylvania, PECO and PPL have both deployed the ZAPshield. Philadelphia-based PECO also uses an older, similar technology made of metal.

The idea is to give the squirrels enough of a shock to keep them away from sensitive power equipment, but not enough of one to hurt them. Inventor Jim Rauckman compares the feeling of getting zapped by the ZAPshield to walking across a carpet on a dry day and then touching someone.

"It teaches them not to be up there," he said.

image from eclectech.com UK

FROM: expressandstar.com Britain's largest Online Publication...

Squirrel puts radio off the air

Presenters at a radio station based in Kidderminster were cut off from the airwaves on Saturday for three hours – by a squirrel.

The hapless creature somehow managed to get into the transmitter site and nibbled through a wire which caused a short in a power circuit breaker. It resulted in the station, 107.2FM The Wyre, based on the Stourport Road, going off air for three hours.

Station boss Pete Wagstaff said he had realised something was wrong when he heard the station go off air early on Saturday morning.

He said: “I called the transmitter service provider and they said it was a power problem. They called me back about three hours later to say the power failure was the result of a squirrel. At first I thought the guy was nuts but he explained exactly how it happened and I didn’t like to ask what became of the squirrel.”

 

 

It's about time that we quit bailing out bums from AIG... and let the rats sink or swim!

"Like millions of other Americans I'm wondering why we continue to pour money down the "rat hole" to keep AIG afloat. These clowns have given each other raises from the taxpayer bailout! They should be lined up and whipped for the lousy jobs they did for AIG! Instead, the bloodsuckers come away with our money!

I have a hard time believing all of the so-called reasons for bailing these bastards out. When will this stop? How much deeper will the AIG CEO's dig into the taxpayer's wallets to satisfy their greed! The answer is; for as long as we let them. Obama says they had to do it...but it appears to me that a lot of politics were involved in rewarding these thieves."

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY...

By Brady Dennis

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 16, 2009

In the six months since the government's bailout of insurance giant American International Group, a rescue that has become increasingly costly and contentious, one question has loomed above all others: Where did the money go?

To read the whole article click here.

photo via Reuters

Even baby shampoo isn't safe anymore! What's next?

NEWS FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE...

It looks like one of the oldest baby shampoos - and most used - has two chemicals that cause cancer! Who knew? My wife even uses baby shampoo because it's gentle on her hair. Now, parents have something new to worry about while taking care of their babies.

The Chicago Tribune picked up the story from The Washington Post's reporter Lyndsey Layton:

"More than half the baby shampoo, lotions and other infant-care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said Thursday.
Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde or both, the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, both characterized as probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency, are not added intentionally to products and appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process."

To read more about this click here.

Step right up folks and see the amazing Insect Circus!

Here is a cool link to the Traveling Museum and Emporium of "The Insect Circus", apparently a fine British establishment since1964. It features irresistible attractions such as "a bearded ladybug" or the "Liberty Beetle"

Splendor in the Sky: these rare photos are stunning!

 

Letchik Lekha" is a Russian commercial pilot who also happens to be an avid photographer.

On his site you can find many rare shots of airplanes, the land below and the sky above.
("Letchik" means "the pilot" in Russian, so his real name is kept secret for now... perhaps because of airline regulations)

Resources to research the origins of Friday the 13th

So, here is a quick history of what has happened on Friday the 13th in the past.

- Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album was released in the UK on Friday, February 13, 1970.
- The “Friday the 13th Storm” struck Buffalo, New York on October 13, 2006.
- Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925
- Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926

More Friday the 13th.

- The remake of the original Friday the 13th was released on Friday, February 13, 2009.
- The asteroid 99942 Apophis will make its close encounter on Friday, April 13, 2029. Apophis is an asteroid, which may strike earth in 2036, according to NASA.
Apophis is also known as Apep, the Destroyer, Apophis is the Egyptian god of evil and destruction who dwelled in eternal darkness For more info about asteroid 99942

Random Facts:

-The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.

What Is Superstition?Origin of Friday the 13th SuperstitionsThe Phobia Institute

Resources for Unlucky

MythologyFear of the Number 13More Fear of the Number 13

Resources: Unlucky Friday

History of FridayFolklore of FridayFriday, an Unlucky Day

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• Why Friday the 13th Is Unlucky