Time to rethink Pot

I read this article below as part of a Billion dollar pot bust this week in California.

"The federal government is not going to pull back on its efforts to curtail marijuana farming operations, Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, said Wednesday in Fresno.

The nation's drug czar, who viewed a foothill marijuana farm on U.S. Forest Service land with state and local officials earlier Wednesday, said the federal government will not support legalizing marijuana."Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine," he said."

Do you think a federal or state government with over a trillion dollars of debit can ignore the tax potential of legalization and tax on marijuana? I don't.

California has moved quietly into this opportunity by taxing the sale of marijuana at "medical marijuana stores." Nearly everyone knows these stores are really the first steps toward legalization. Anyone who wants to buy marijuana, can walk in and claim some problem only to have an on-site physician write a prescription.

I think it is time for us to decide what our priorities are with regard to government at the Federal, State, and City level. We need to stop funding the silly war on drugs. We lost that battle 30 years ago. Anyone who wants to get high is getting all the drugs they want.

It makes no sense to me that we watch TV and see dozens of Drug ads for erectile dysfunction and other made up new age diseases while we still pay billions to fight marijuana. We could reduce the national debit by stopping the war on drugs and taxing marijuana consumption, just as we do alcohol and tobacco.

The FLU....deja vu all over again

On the cold afternoon of February 5, 1976, an Army recruit told his drill instructor at Fort Dix that he felt tired and weak but not sick enough to see military medics or skip a big training hike.Within 24 hours, 19-year-old Pvt. David Lewis of Ashley Falls, Mass., was dead, killed by an influenza not seen since the plague of 1918-19, which took 500,000 American lives and 20 million worldwide. Two weeks after the recruit's death, health officials disclosed to America that something called "swine flu" had killed Lewis and hospitalized four of his fellow soldiers at the Army base in Burlington County.

Brother, here we go again. The old story holds true; if you live long enough you get to see things a second time.

I am opposed to any and all flu vaccines. In my opinion they represent a weakening of the human specie. It's a slippery slope. Once you begin mass vaccinations for flu the population will only become weaker and more vulnerable. Yes, I know others do not agree. I also have heard all the fear of the great flu of 1918. Regardless, you need to practice good hygiene and if you get sick...stay home and get better. This new round of Swine Flu will likely turn out like it did in 1976....a big joke, much like Y2K.

The Onion

It was an interview. My Plan to find new salespeople in Central Illinois had turned up a few prospects. One was a waitress / hostess in Champaign who also happened to be from Belleville.

I was to meet Bob Splan at a Restaurant in Champaign, called the Bermuda Onion. It was a nice day, July 13, in St Louis and I drove to Champaign with the top down. I wore shorts. What the heck, it wasn't me being interviewed....or was it?

Bob and I met and briefly talked waiting for the candidate to show up. She did, limping with a broken toe. We explained the position, selling food to restaurants. She had worked as a waitress and understood the business. But then, somewhere around discussing sales goals, the conversation took a hard left and went off road.

We began to discuss music and the upcoming Grateful Dead Concert in St Louis. No I wasn't going. My favorite band was the Gin Blossoms. Then she said, they played in Urbana and she saw them and like lighting, I was struck. Blam. It all began to flow, so easy and so similar. We really did have a lot in common. She had Linda Emigg for her teacher at Wolf Branch. This was the beginning of my life with Pam.

It was today. Fifteen years ago and a million miles away in Urbana, Illinois. The rest has been history and wonderful. I love you Pam, more today then ever. Thanks for 15 wonderful years and for believing in me when nobody else did. Thanks for Jack and the Swiss Army watch.

"...if you don't expect too much from me you might not be let down."

The London SUN

Just a quick follow up to my Blog about the Michael Jackson Cry Fest.

The London Sun had some things to say about it also: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2523526/Michael-Jackson-memorial-was-like-a-macabre-circus.html

Click and go read the article 'Memorial like a macabre circus' . It hits the nail on the head.

PLEASE GET REAL

As a father, I have to say I do not miss this pedophile who overdosed on pain killers. Regardless of the music, which always seemed simplistic and over produced, Michael Jackson is no "Star."

Here is what we know, and what is not discussed today at the NAACP Cry Fest in Los Angeles:

From the web site: http://www.statementanalysis.com/jackson/

In 1993, a 13-year-old boy accused Michael Jackson of sexual molestation. Jackson had befriended the boy in 1992. Soon the boy became a regular guest at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, California. Jackson gave the boy gifts and paid for several vacation trips around the world. In 1993, the boy started to spend the night at Jackson’s residence. This was not unusual as Jackson would often have children sleep over at his Neverland Ranch. According to the allegations, Jackson had kissed and fondled the boy while they were alone in bed. Allegedly, this repeatedly took place during a four-month period. At the suggestion of the boy’s father, a civil lawsuit was filed in 1993. Jackson denied the accusations. He continued to tour and make public appearances. The boy’s father talked to the Jackson camp about a financial settlement while the police continued their investigation. On January 25, 1994, Michael Jackson settled the civil lawsuit paying an undisclosed amount to his accuser. Many believe that he paid between 15 and 20 million dollars. After receiving the settlement, the boy refused to testify in any criminal matters. Therefore, the prosecution was not able to pursue a criminal case.

On September 3, 2004, "Dateline NBC" correspondent Josh Mankiewicz investigated allegations that more than one boy accused Michael Jackson of abuse in 1993, and how the case has been kept quiet until now. "Dateline NBC" learned what evidence authorities had against Michael Jackson, as well as details about the civil case against him that have remained sealed in the basement of the Los Angeles county courthouse for more than a decade. Jackson's accuser swore in a declaration filed in the civil suit against Jackson:

"Michael Jackson masturbated me many times both with his hand and with his mouth. Michael Jackson told me that I should not tell anyone what happened. He said this was a secret."

I may be alone in making this point. Regardless, I am glad that one less pedophile is gone. I wasn't invited to speak at the event in LA. My guess is my Irish background kept me off the list. Had I been there, I would have said, This was one sick kid who never grew up. He, and his parents should be ashamed.

LANCE on Twitter

I signed up to follow Lance Armstrong on Twitter during the Tour de France. There are over 1,240,000 people following Lance on Twitter for the race. It should be really interesting over the next month.

Go to: http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong