I looked up "vivacious" in the "2010 International Bachelors' and Cads' Dictionary" and it says:
"Well above ones normal weight, yet with a degree of energy not beholding to one's effective HWP."
It continues:
"Typically indicated of and by females, a person has traditionally been considered to be vivacious, if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight, yet somewhat energetic, or even "bubbly", partially in order to direct attention away ...from the obvious."
Rough.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
more on Cannabis propositions in four states
Since yesterday, I brought up the situation with Prop 19 in California, just in case some people found that information relevant to their interests, I felt like I should mention others. Voters in four states rejected efforts to at least liberalize cannabis in polls on Tuesday.
There were proposals to allow marijuana use for specific medical conditions that may have been defeated by a narrow margin in Arizona, and were rejected in South Dakota; but in Oregon, where medical marijuana is allowed, voters did not want marijuana dispensaries even for those who are legally approved its access. What the heck is that about?
"It's still a historic moment in this very long struggle to end decades of failed marijuana prohibition," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director for t\he Drug Policy Project. He continued, "Unquestionably, because of Proposition 19, marijuana legalization initiatives will be on the ballot in a number of states in 2012, and California is in the mix.
video: "Pro Pot lot blames older voters for Prop 19 defeat" (may take a moment to load)
Getting back to Arizona...excuse me a brief aside. I would simply stay out of Maricopa County, until the Sheriff there, Joe Arpaio, has a heart attack, receives no help from anyone walking by, and dies. Arizona is where a lot of attention has been these past few years due to Maricopa County and the wild and wacky (and dangerous) Sheriff Joe Arpaio. If you are a victim of Sheriff Arpaio's harassment or abuse or any of his deputies call the FBI at 602 279-5511. Subscribe to http://www.youtube.com/user/Humanleag... Phoenix Arizona. As for Arpaio, think, bully. Think, Eugene McCarthy (no really). Think, criminal.
The following is a letter from the Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project:
Rob Kampia
Executive Director
To Donate
There were proposals to allow marijuana use for specific medical conditions that may have been defeated by a narrow margin in Arizona, and were rejected in South Dakota; but in Oregon, where medical marijuana is allowed, voters did not want marijuana dispensaries even for those who are legally approved its access. What the heck is that about?
"It's still a historic moment in this very long struggle to end decades of failed marijuana prohibition," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director for t\he Drug Policy Project. He continued, "Unquestionably, because of Proposition 19, marijuana legalization initiatives will be on the ballot in a number of states in 2012, and California is in the mix.
video: "Pro Pot lot blames older voters for Prop 19 defeat" (may take a moment to load)
Getting back to Arizona...excuse me a brief aside. I would simply stay out of Maricopa County, until the Sheriff there, Joe Arpaio, has a heart attack, receives no help from anyone walking by, and dies. Arizona is where a lot of attention has been these past few years due to Maricopa County and the wild and wacky (and dangerous) Sheriff Joe Arpaio. If you are a victim of Sheriff Arpaio's harassment or abuse or any of his deputies call the FBI at 602 279-5511. Subscribe to http://www.youtube.com/user/Humanleag... Phoenix Arizona. As for Arpaio, think, bully. Think, Eugene McCarthy (no really). Think, criminal.
The following is a letter from the Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project:
"I've hosted only
two election-night parties in the 17 years I've lived in Washington, D.C.
And strangely, both nights ended with disputed elections in the main
jurisdictions MPP worked in.
"In November 1998, the D.C. government didn't release the vote tallies of the local medical marijuana initiative we campaigned for because Congress had just enacted a federal law that prohibited the D.C. government from spending taxpayer money to count the ballots.
"And last night, the vote on the medical marijuana initiative in Arizona we drafted and helped place on the ballot was too close to call – and it's still too close to call!
"Based on the ballots tabulated by election officials last night, the initiative was trailing slightly, with 49.75% in favor, with 50.25% opposed ... a difference of less than 7,000 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast.
"For the next few days, Arizona government officials will be counting an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 votes that were cast by people whose mail-in ballots arrived at polling stations or elections offices in the final hours of the campaign. They may also need to examine thousands of "provisional" ballots that were cast by people whose residency was in dispute at the polls on election day.
"In sum, if our initiative receives 52% of the votes that have yet to be tabulated, our initiative passes.
"This is a nail-biter, and the stakes are high: MPP contributed more than $600,000 in financial contributions and staff time to the campaign to draft the initiative, help place it on the ballot, and pay for consulting services. If the initiative passes, approximately 120 nonprofit dispensaries will spring up across Arizona, selling medical marijuana to patients in need.
"MPP has almost completely depleted its coffers working on the Arizona campaign, in addition to pushing our medical marijuana bills to the brink of passage in the Illinois and New York legislatures. Would you please donate as much as you can right now, so that we can push those two bills over the top in the next two months?
"Your donation will also mean that you're telling the MPP staff, "Never give up. Never give up.""
Sincerely,
"In November 1998, the D.C. government didn't release the vote tallies of the local medical marijuana initiative we campaigned for because Congress had just enacted a federal law that prohibited the D.C. government from spending taxpayer money to count the ballots.
"And last night, the vote on the medical marijuana initiative in Arizona we drafted and helped place on the ballot was too close to call – and it's still too close to call!
"Based on the ballots tabulated by election officials last night, the initiative was trailing slightly, with 49.75% in favor, with 50.25% opposed ... a difference of less than 7,000 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast.
"For the next few days, Arizona government officials will be counting an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 votes that were cast by people whose mail-in ballots arrived at polling stations or elections offices in the final hours of the campaign. They may also need to examine thousands of "provisional" ballots that were cast by people whose residency was in dispute at the polls on election day.
"In sum, if our initiative receives 52% of the votes that have yet to be tabulated, our initiative passes.
"This is a nail-biter, and the stakes are high: MPP contributed more than $600,000 in financial contributions and staff time to the campaign to draft the initiative, help place it on the ballot, and pay for consulting services. If the initiative passes, approximately 120 nonprofit dispensaries will spring up across Arizona, selling medical marijuana to patients in need.
"MPP has almost completely depleted its coffers working on the Arizona campaign, in addition to pushing our medical marijuana bills to the brink of passage in the Illinois and New York legislatures. Would you please donate as much as you can right now, so that we can push those two bills over the top in the next two months?
"Your donation will also mean that you're telling the MPP staff, "Never give up. Never give up.""
Sincerely,
Executive Director
To Donate
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Marijuana's prop 19 voted down, no pot for fun
California's Prop 19 for Cannabis recreational use has been voted down.
I'm so annoyed at the White House right now (Gil!) that I'm releasing my Noon blog, immediately....
First, let me say, this issue, is not just about pot. Its about many other things, too. It points to an inherent cancer in our government. Also, I admit I threw this together and was angry at the same time. Not a good combination for making a point, but it certainly allows for passion to seep through.
Strangely I'm not so much angry because Prop 19 went down, but because of a White Hose statement by a retrograde intelligence (and I'm offended using that term about this guy, even if used int he negative), the White House drug policy director, Gil Kerlikowske. I'm so offended that he thinks that we are really that stupid, as exemplified by his comments. As for Prop 19s failure?
The White House applauded this. I find that rather sad. With the attachments and the form of this bill.
Perhaps the White House should have said one more thing, some thing like this:
'We here at the White House, with President Obama's blessing, applaud Prop 19s failure, BECAUSE, it was not a good law, it needs a few things fixed in it; people need to not subvert it from its primary purpose: that of giving Americans back some of their freedom and choice, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as stated in one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence (remember all that? That's okay, most of us are beginning to forget about it too), to help our economy, to decrease the numbers of those in prison who are not violent, and potentially victimless in their actions. It will happen, but it needs to happen properly. The White House is going to set up a commission to help each and every state to draft appropriate bills to make this happen. And we will apply pressure to see it through. This is only the first in many efforts to turn Americans' lives back over to them and for the US government to stop trying to be everyone's mom, when everyone has a different agenda and need to decide for the most part, for themselves.'
Wow, did that feel good, or what?
Okay, I'm dreaming. But wouldn't it be nice if out government went that way? Not just on pot. But on many things we have issue with. How nice would it be to have the government lead the way. Make life better for its citizens and not allow a vocal minority in every case drive the bus. Just because a few ignorant, paranoid, typically religious groups are afraid of their own shadows, is no reason to stop doing what is right. Listen to them, but then use intellect and move on.
Why?
Because the only arguments I'm hearing against it, sound oddly like the same arguments used against Prohibition of alcohol. And those sound strangely like fear mongering efforts. We need to do something to stop people going to jail for victimless crimes. And for crimes where they would not be criminals if pot were legalized. And if I hear one more time that someone with a disease or condition has gone to jail or court because of owning a substance that can alleviate their pain, I think I'm going to scream.
As for those who become addicted...addicted? To pot? But its not an addictive substance, its NOT a class 1 narcotic as the government has labeled it for decades. I'm happy to see that it is currently, although labeled a Schedule 1 restricted drug, is now also indicated as not a Narcotic. Doctors and scientists have argued for decades over having that one changed. It was completely delusional by the government until this was updated.
Schedule I drugs are a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. Among the substances so classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency are mescaline [Peyote], lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], heroin, and marijuana [cannabis]. Special licensing procedures must be followed to use these or other Schedule I substances.
Seriously, Cannabis and heroin should never be mentioned in the same sentence. And as I've said before, we need to stop calling it Marijuana because this was from an original scare monger by the US government just post prohibition when the FBI as looking for a new enemy and to find a way to feed all its ex alcohol oriented Special Agents.
Look, heroin is addictive, crack cocaine is addictive, meth is addictive. Those are in a completely different class from pot. People who have a problem outside of Cannabis use and need help, the pot, brings that out and shows what their issue is and its most likely not pot but some underlying issues. We need to address the violence creeping into the US from Mexico. Legalizing will stop that.
Growers are against commercialization. So were those who were illegally distilling alcohol during prohibition. Are these growers bad people? No, not from what we are seeing. But the obviously have a divested interest as big business will crush them. Will they? What about local micro breweries? They have local followings and are doing well. I will not drink Budweiser beer, which I drank when I was young, dumb and well, dumb. Now I much greatly prefer imports, or better, our local micros, such as Hood Canal Brewery, or many other smaller operations. Why? Because they ARE local. But also because they taste great.
I lost a little respect for the White House today, with their announcement applauding the failure of Prop19. I think it may have had some attachments making this version of legalization, not so great and maybe it should have failed. But in failure, there may have come success.
All that being said (article from):
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, shares the same view: “Prop. 19 has elevated and legitimized the discourse around marijuana policy like nothing ever before.” Nadelmann adds, “This is the first time major elected officials and labor unions and civil rights organizations have endorsed a marijuana legalization measure. The debate is less about whether to legalize marijuana and increasingly about how to legalize marijuana.”
Notwithstanding the defeat of Prop 19, advocates of a similar proposal in Colorado are now preparing for their own shot in 2012, the Denver Westword reported. These advocates even created a website, Legalize2012.com. Laura Kriho, of the Cannabis Therapy Institute, the organization behind the website, said that one of the reasons they are starting out early is because of their patients. “They are in the process of getting restricted out of being able to get their medicine in a reasonable fashion,” Kriho said.
Here are pieces of a couple of articles today:
From:
"California voters snuffed out Proposition 19 which would have legalized recreational marijuana cultivation, according to ABC News projections, but backers said they would try again to legalize pot in 2012.
"The White House drug policy director Gil Kerlikowske applauded the vote today:
"The Obama Administration has been clear in its opposition to marijuana legalization because research shows that marijuana use is associated with voluntary treatment admissions for addiction, fatal drugged driving accidents, mental illness, and emergency room admissions," Kerlikowske said"
I'm officially calling for Gil Kerlikowske to be fired. Why? This guy is a moron and letting President Obama look like a fool. So, Gil, STOP THAT!
I don't doubt what Gil says may be true. But think! Doesn't it sound like ludicrous fear mongering at its best? It only takes ONE person to voluntarily admit themself for treatment, one to drive off the road and typically stats show, alcohol was also involved in driving accidents. Mental illness? I'm not even going to deal with that, its just stupid. Cannabis does NOT cause mental iillness. That is just offensive. Emergency room admissions? Come on. This guy is in the White House? Someone should be fired. I could come up with a better made up argument to release to the public if I was stone, hung over, no sleep in three days and my dog just died.
Take cocaine, heroin, which cannabis is scheduled along, include alcohol, which is legal, and compare those statistics. Here is cannabis along the bottom of the chart, there are the rest, along the top of the chart; there is no comparison. Come on, how stupid does Gil think Americans are? Well, obviously, pretty damn dumb.
And MENTAL ILLNESS? Really?! Oh my God. Gil...PLEASE!
From:
"Police in a northern California town thought they had an open-and-shut case when they seized more than two pounds of marijuana from a couple's home, even though doctors authorized the pair to use pot for medical purposes.
"San Francisco police thought the same with a father and son team they suspected of abusing the state's medical marijuana law by allegedly operating an illegal trafficking operation.
"But both cases were tossed out along with many other marijuana possession cases in recent weeks because of a California Supreme Court ruling that has police, prosecutors and defense attorneys scrambling to make sense of a gray legal area: What is the maximum amount of cannabis a medical marijuana patient can possess?
"No one can say for sure how many dismissals and acquittals have been prompted by the ruling, but the numbers are stacking up since the Supreme Court on Jan. 21 tossed out Patrick Kelly's marijuana possession conviction.
"Gray is not a good color for the law," said Shasta County District Attorney Gerald Benito, who dismissed a case earlier this month and is considering dropping several more because of the ruling. "It makes it very difficult for us to enforce the law — I think everyone is crying out for a clear line."
"Benito cited the Supreme Court ruling in dropping charges on March 5 against James Bradley Hall, who was arrested in October and charged with growing 40 marijuana plants.
"The next week, a San Francisco jury acquitted a father and son charged with growing three dozen plants. The lawyers for Thomas Chang, 62, and his son, Errol Chang, 30, based their defense on the Kelly case, arguing that the men needed that much pot to treat their medical conditions."
I'm so annoyed at the White House right now (Gil!) that I'm releasing my Noon blog, immediately....
First, let me say, this issue, is not just about pot. Its about many other things, too. It points to an inherent cancer in our government. Also, I admit I threw this together and was angry at the same time. Not a good combination for making a point, but it certainly allows for passion to seep through.
Strangely I'm not so much angry because Prop 19 went down, but because of a White Hose statement by a retrograde intelligence (and I'm offended using that term about this guy, even if used int he negative), the White House drug policy director, Gil Kerlikowske. I'm so offended that he thinks that we are really that stupid, as exemplified by his comments. As for Prop 19s failure?
The White House applauded this. I find that rather sad. With the attachments and the form of this bill.
Perhaps the White House should have said one more thing, some thing like this:
'We here at the White House, with President Obama's blessing, applaud Prop 19s failure, BECAUSE, it was not a good law, it needs a few things fixed in it; people need to not subvert it from its primary purpose: that of giving Americans back some of their freedom and choice, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as stated in one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence (remember all that? That's okay, most of us are beginning to forget about it too), to help our economy, to decrease the numbers of those in prison who are not violent, and potentially victimless in their actions. It will happen, but it needs to happen properly. The White House is going to set up a commission to help each and every state to draft appropriate bills to make this happen. And we will apply pressure to see it through. This is only the first in many efforts to turn Americans' lives back over to them and for the US government to stop trying to be everyone's mom, when everyone has a different agenda and need to decide for the most part, for themselves.'
Wow, did that feel good, or what?
Okay, I'm dreaming. But wouldn't it be nice if out government went that way? Not just on pot. But on many things we have issue with. How nice would it be to have the government lead the way. Make life better for its citizens and not allow a vocal minority in every case drive the bus. Just because a few ignorant, paranoid, typically religious groups are afraid of their own shadows, is no reason to stop doing what is right. Listen to them, but then use intellect and move on.
Why?
Because the only arguments I'm hearing against it, sound oddly like the same arguments used against Prohibition of alcohol. And those sound strangely like fear mongering efforts. We need to do something to stop people going to jail for victimless crimes. And for crimes where they would not be criminals if pot were legalized. And if I hear one more time that someone with a disease or condition has gone to jail or court because of owning a substance that can alleviate their pain, I think I'm going to scream.
As for those who become addicted...addicted? To pot? But its not an addictive substance, its NOT a class 1 narcotic as the government has labeled it for decades. I'm happy to see that it is currently, although labeled a Schedule 1 restricted drug, is now also indicated as not a Narcotic. Doctors and scientists have argued for decades over having that one changed. It was completely delusional by the government until this was updated.
Schedule I drugs are a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. Among the substances so classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency are mescaline [Peyote], lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], heroin, and marijuana [cannabis]. Special licensing procedures must be followed to use these or other Schedule I substances.
Seriously, Cannabis and heroin should never be mentioned in the same sentence. And as I've said before, we need to stop calling it Marijuana because this was from an original scare monger by the US government just post prohibition when the FBI as looking for a new enemy and to find a way to feed all its ex alcohol oriented Special Agents.
Look, heroin is addictive, crack cocaine is addictive, meth is addictive. Those are in a completely different class from pot. People who have a problem outside of Cannabis use and need help, the pot, brings that out and shows what their issue is and its most likely not pot but some underlying issues. We need to address the violence creeping into the US from Mexico. Legalizing will stop that.
Growers are against commercialization. So were those who were illegally distilling alcohol during prohibition. Are these growers bad people? No, not from what we are seeing. But the obviously have a divested interest as big business will crush them. Will they? What about local micro breweries? They have local followings and are doing well. I will not drink Budweiser beer, which I drank when I was young, dumb and well, dumb. Now I much greatly prefer imports, or better, our local micros, such as Hood Canal Brewery, or many other smaller operations. Why? Because they ARE local. But also because they taste great.
I lost a little respect for the White House today, with their announcement applauding the failure of Prop19. I think it may have had some attachments making this version of legalization, not so great and maybe it should have failed. But in failure, there may have come success.
All that being said (article from):
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, shares the same view: “Prop. 19 has elevated and legitimized the discourse around marijuana policy like nothing ever before.” Nadelmann adds, “This is the first time major elected officials and labor unions and civil rights organizations have endorsed a marijuana legalization measure. The debate is less about whether to legalize marijuana and increasingly about how to legalize marijuana.”
Notwithstanding the defeat of Prop 19, advocates of a similar proposal in Colorado are now preparing for their own shot in 2012, the Denver Westword reported. These advocates even created a website, Legalize2012.com. Laura Kriho, of the Cannabis Therapy Institute, the organization behind the website, said that one of the reasons they are starting out early is because of their patients. “They are in the process of getting restricted out of being able to get their medicine in a reasonable fashion,” Kriho said.
Here are pieces of a couple of articles today:
From:
"California voters snuffed out Proposition 19 which would have legalized recreational marijuana cultivation, according to ABC News projections, but backers said they would try again to legalize pot in 2012.
"The White House drug policy director Gil Kerlikowske applauded the vote today:
"The Obama Administration has been clear in its opposition to marijuana legalization because research shows that marijuana use is associated with voluntary treatment admissions for addiction, fatal drugged driving accidents, mental illness, and emergency room admissions," Kerlikowske said"
I'm officially calling for Gil Kerlikowske to be fired. Why? This guy is a moron and letting President Obama look like a fool. So, Gil, STOP THAT!
I don't doubt what Gil says may be true. But think! Doesn't it sound like ludicrous fear mongering at its best? It only takes ONE person to voluntarily admit themself for treatment, one to drive off the road and typically stats show, alcohol was also involved in driving accidents. Mental illness? I'm not even going to deal with that, its just stupid. Cannabis does NOT cause mental iillness. That is just offensive. Emergency room admissions? Come on. This guy is in the White House? Someone should be fired. I could come up with a better made up argument to release to the public if I was stone, hung over, no sleep in three days and my dog just died.
Take cocaine, heroin, which cannabis is scheduled along, include alcohol, which is legal, and compare those statistics. Here is cannabis along the bottom of the chart, there are the rest, along the top of the chart; there is no comparison. Come on, how stupid does Gil think Americans are? Well, obviously, pretty damn dumb.
And MENTAL ILLNESS? Really?! Oh my God. Gil...PLEASE!
From:
"Police in a northern California town thought they had an open-and-shut case when they seized more than two pounds of marijuana from a couple's home, even though doctors authorized the pair to use pot for medical purposes.
"San Francisco police thought the same with a father and son team they suspected of abusing the state's medical marijuana law by allegedly operating an illegal trafficking operation.
"But both cases were tossed out along with many other marijuana possession cases in recent weeks because of a California Supreme Court ruling that has police, prosecutors and defense attorneys scrambling to make sense of a gray legal area: What is the maximum amount of cannabis a medical marijuana patient can possess?
"No one can say for sure how many dismissals and acquittals have been prompted by the ruling, but the numbers are stacking up since the Supreme Court on Jan. 21 tossed out Patrick Kelly's marijuana possession conviction.
"Gray is not a good color for the law," said Shasta County District Attorney Gerald Benito, who dismissed a case earlier this month and is considering dropping several more because of the ruling. "It makes it very difficult for us to enforce the law — I think everyone is crying out for a clear line."
"Benito cited the Supreme Court ruling in dropping charges on March 5 against James Bradley Hall, who was arrested in October and charged with growing 40 marijuana plants.
"The next week, a San Francisco jury acquitted a father and son charged with growing three dozen plants. The lawyers for Thomas Chang, 62, and his son, Errol Chang, 30, based their defense on the Kelly case, arguing that the men needed that much pot to treat their medical conditions."
Writing and being a Freelance Writer
Lou Redmond said,
"We never write as well as we want to, we only write as well as we can."
In a 2002 study at Ben-Gurion University, people who wrote about stressful events made fewer visits to health clinics over the next 15 months. And researchers at Chicago Medical School found that when cancer patients without family support wrote about their illness for 20 minutes a day, they reported less stress for up to 6 months. (from "Getting Started as a Freelance Writer" - Robert W. Bly)
"If you want to make money as a freelancer, stop thinking of yourself as a writer first. Instead, consider yourself a self-employed businessperson -- whose business happens to be writing. That means you are no longer writing for satisfaction. Now you're writing for money. That simple fact is a major mind-set change for most freelancers." (From "Six Figure Freelancing" - Kelly James-Enger)
So, if you want to be a writer, write. Read. Pay attention to what is around you. Read old classics. Start a blog; its fun, its work, its discipline; it can get you immediate responses on your writings, and its one of those things were you get better simply by just doing it.
Bottom line is, just do it.
"We never write as well as we want to, we only write as well as we can."
In a 2002 study at Ben-Gurion University, people who wrote about stressful events made fewer visits to health clinics over the next 15 months. And researchers at Chicago Medical School found that when cancer patients without family support wrote about their illness for 20 minutes a day, they reported less stress for up to 6 months. (from "Getting Started as a Freelance Writer" - Robert W. Bly)
"If you want to make money as a freelancer, stop thinking of yourself as a writer first. Instead, consider yourself a self-employed businessperson -- whose business happens to be writing. That means you are no longer writing for satisfaction. Now you're writing for money. That simple fact is a major mind-set change for most freelancers." (From "Six Figure Freelancing" - Kelly James-Enger)
So, if you want to be a writer, write. Read. Pay attention to what is around you. Read old classics. Start a blog; its fun, its work, its discipline; it can get you immediate responses on your writings, and its one of those things were you get better simply by just doing it.
Bottom line is, just do it.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Nazi medical experiments
I think, perhaps that this is a good topic for a post Halloween article.
So, its been established that we won't use the information from Nazi experiments, tortures and murders because we don't want people in the future to think they can benefit from things like that. This all lead to the Nuremburg Code; ten standards to which physicians must conform when carrying out experiments on human subjects in a new code that is now accepted worldwide.
Okay. However, isn't there a problem with that idea?
So those people who died, who were tortured, those sacrifices they made will go to naught, not even being used to make their death and pain count for something. But just because we're a bunch of emotional wimps, they therefore had to die in vain?
I can understand how back then, we wanted to save the feelings of people who had suffered. But I would still argue that was wrong, scientifically, even emotionally, speaking. But perhaps, probably, it may have been correct from a psychosocial, healing perspective.
"After the Nuremberg trials Nazi experiments on humans were brushed aside as pseudoscience and as having nothing to do with mainstream medical research. Abuses in other countries could not be so dismissed, but here the culprit was generally held to be the state. If only, so the argument runs, the doctor would be free from the corrupting pressures of the state and ideology, the ethos of the doctor's duty of care would ensure that patients could never be exploited as human guinea pigs.
"But what if we accept that experimental abuses had plausible rationales? Some experiments might have more valid scientific reasons than others, but what if even the most gruesome research had some basis in medical science? Wolfgang Weyers offers an overview of human experiments from their origins in ancient medicine to modern times in The Abuse of Man: An Illustrated History of Dubious Medical Experimentation." (from BMJ.com)
Well, those people from the Nazi Holocaust, well all be gone soon.
Perhaps there really is nothing there, but perhaps, we should now go back and look at those things again. Correlate them with advances in information and medical technologies. See if we could have saved lives with that information. Then consider all that, should this ever come up again.
Because I have to tell you, if I were one of those people, if I were tortured, murdered and burned or buried in a mass grave, I would be extremely pissed off that I was to have died for nothing. NOTHING.
I would want someone to think that humankind would have benefited in some positive way from my suffering and sacrifice.
Ya know?
So, its been established that we won't use the information from Nazi experiments, tortures and murders because we don't want people in the future to think they can benefit from things like that. This all lead to the Nuremburg Code; ten standards to which physicians must conform when carrying out experiments on human subjects in a new code that is now accepted worldwide.
Okay. However, isn't there a problem with that idea?
So those people who died, who were tortured, those sacrifices they made will go to naught, not even being used to make their death and pain count for something. But just because we're a bunch of emotional wimps, they therefore had to die in vain?
I can understand how back then, we wanted to save the feelings of people who had suffered. But I would still argue that was wrong, scientifically, even emotionally, speaking. But perhaps, probably, it may have been correct from a psychosocial, healing perspective.
"After the Nuremberg trials Nazi experiments on humans were brushed aside as pseudoscience and as having nothing to do with mainstream medical research. Abuses in other countries could not be so dismissed, but here the culprit was generally held to be the state. If only, so the argument runs, the doctor would be free from the corrupting pressures of the state and ideology, the ethos of the doctor's duty of care would ensure that patients could never be exploited as human guinea pigs.
"But what if we accept that experimental abuses had plausible rationales? Some experiments might have more valid scientific reasons than others, but what if even the most gruesome research had some basis in medical science? Wolfgang Weyers offers an overview of human experiments from their origins in ancient medicine to modern times in The Abuse of Man: An Illustrated History of Dubious Medical Experimentation." (from BMJ.com)
Well, those people from the Nazi Holocaust, well all be gone soon.
Perhaps there really is nothing there, but perhaps, we should now go back and look at those things again. Correlate them with advances in information and medical technologies. See if we could have saved lives with that information. Then consider all that, should this ever come up again.
Because I have to tell you, if I were one of those people, if I were tortured, murdered and burned or buried in a mass grave, I would be extremely pissed off that I was to have died for nothing. NOTHING.
I would want someone to think that humankind would have benefited in some positive way from my suffering and sacrifice.
Ya know?
Western Stage's 'The Foreigner' Wacky Fun (Salinas, CA)
"The Western Stage production of Larry Shue's "The Foreigner" is two-plus hours of chuckles. A very inventive and off-the-wall farce, it contains all the elements of a classic construction of an audience-amusing and attention-holding comedy.
"In a sparkling presentation in the Hartnell Studio Theater, the play is unusual in that, with all the humor and oddball situations that the author cooks up, he also builds it to a very serious climax which, for a brief period, is actually scary and makes one wonder how he will resolve the dilemma he has created.
"It comes as an almost gripping surprise when it arises, but then it very satisfactorily and skillfully builds to a happy ending.
"The Foreigner" tells the story of two best friends from their years in Her Majesty's Service.
"There are the two villains who suddenly become electrifyingly prominent in the denouement of the plot. One is played by Mike Rainey, as the slithery and conniving Rev. David Marshall Lee, is a convincing, smooth and underhanded operator. His motives are dark as he tries to manipulate and soft-soaps his wealthy fiancee, Cathy Simms."
For the full article by NATHALIE PLOTKIN Herald Correspondent
Rounding out the 2010 season on stage now is The Foreigner in the Studio Theater from October 22 – Nov 14
Western Stage
411 Central Avenue
Salinas, CA 9390
Tickets
"In a sparkling presentation in the Hartnell Studio Theater, the play is unusual in that, with all the humor and oddball situations that the author cooks up, he also builds it to a very serious climax which, for a brief period, is actually scary and makes one wonder how he will resolve the dilemma he has created.
"It comes as an almost gripping surprise when it arises, but then it very satisfactorily and skillfully builds to a happy ending.
"The Foreigner" tells the story of two best friends from their years in Her Majesty's Service.
"There are the two villains who suddenly become electrifyingly prominent in the denouement of the plot. One is played by Mike Rainey, as the slithery and conniving Rev. David Marshall Lee, is a convincing, smooth and underhanded operator. His motives are dark as he tries to manipulate and soft-soaps his wealthy fiancee, Cathy Simms."
For the full article by NATHALIE PLOTKIN Herald Correspondent
Rounding out the 2010 season on stage now is The Foreigner in the Studio Theater from October 22 – Nov 14
Western Stage
411 Central Avenue
Salinas, CA 9390
Tickets
Monday, November 1, 2010
Zach Galifianakis - fallout from smoking pot on Bill Maher's Real Time HBO show
After Zach's portrayal of a pot smoker on Bill Maher's Real Time HBO show, using real pot, I wondered if there would be repercussions.
Since the airwaves and in this case, the cable lines, are governed by the FCC, that makes it a Federal consideration and as the Marijuana laws are most importantly Federal in prohibiting it,will there be repercussions some time this week?
At first only pro-Pot web sites commented. So I waited for Monday. Now we are seeing the more mainstream periodicals picking up the event. Mostly, they aren't saying anything about it. I can find no comment anywhere about any legal repercussions. Which I'm pleased about. I'm all for civil disobedience, in making a statement. Sometimes, its even necessary. Personally, I don't even see what the big deal is about this. Legalize it.
When I consider the numbers of people, mostly minority, who have spent fifteen years in prison for holding, or smoking a cannabis cigarette, I'm horrified. When considering what has happened to them in jail. Considering how much that has cost us, with housing these people, seeking them out with law enforcement, legal fees, court costs, on and on and we really, really, have other more important things to deal with.
Like people out of work. The infrastructure, roads, the Internet, schools, all deteriorating and needing to be fixed up. I have no clue why we are wasting time with cannabis laws. Let's be done with it, remove the club from the criminals hands. Protect the American pot smoker who has no idea what crap they are taking into their lungs, who are by definition, having to purchase it from criminals and who can be good, upstanding, God fearing (their problem not mine) people who can suddenly find themselves in prison, their lives ruined, becoming another burden upon our society, all because they smoked some pot?
Really?
CBS News comment
Entertainment Weekly
New York Magazine comment
Washington Post comment
Since the airwaves and in this case, the cable lines, are governed by the FCC, that makes it a Federal consideration and as the Marijuana laws are most importantly Federal in prohibiting it,will there be repercussions some time this week?
At first only pro-Pot web sites commented. So I waited for Monday. Now we are seeing the more mainstream periodicals picking up the event. Mostly, they aren't saying anything about it. I can find no comment anywhere about any legal repercussions. Which I'm pleased about. I'm all for civil disobedience, in making a statement. Sometimes, its even necessary. Personally, I don't even see what the big deal is about this. Legalize it.
When I consider the numbers of people, mostly minority, who have spent fifteen years in prison for holding, or smoking a cannabis cigarette, I'm horrified. When considering what has happened to them in jail. Considering how much that has cost us, with housing these people, seeking them out with law enforcement, legal fees, court costs, on and on and we really, really, have other more important things to deal with.
Like people out of work. The infrastructure, roads, the Internet, schools, all deteriorating and needing to be fixed up. I have no clue why we are wasting time with cannabis laws. Let's be done with it, remove the club from the criminals hands. Protect the American pot smoker who has no idea what crap they are taking into their lungs, who are by definition, having to purchase it from criminals and who can be good, upstanding, God fearing (their problem not mine) people who can suddenly find themselves in prison, their lives ruined, becoming another burden upon our society, all because they smoked some pot?
Really?
CBS News comment
Entertainment Weekly
New York Magazine comment
Washington Post comment
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