Author: Paul

Reason – by Jacob Sullum

During the session that begins next week, the Washington State Legislature is expected to tackle regulatory issues raised by I-502, the 2012 ballot measure that legalized marijuana for recreational use. In a 20-page memo released yesterday, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, one of I-502’s leading backers, offers some suggestions, including integration of the medical and recreational marijuana industries, legalization of home cultivation, and simplification of marijuana taxes. He also urges the Seattle City Council to legalize “marijuana use lounges.” Here is a description of Holmes’ major proposals:   Continue reading “Seattle City Attorney Urges Legalization of Home Cultivation and ‘Marijuana Use Lounges,’ Abolition of Medical Dispensaries”

Disinformation

It sounds like a reality TV show: America’s Dirtiest Cops. In fact it’s an expose on Texas Border police corruption by Rolling Stone:

The temperature was nearing triple digits when Jonathan Treviño strapped on his bulletproof vest, slipped his .40-caliber Glock into his ankle holster and got ready to go to work. It was Thursday, July 26th, 2012, one of those summers in South Texas when the hot air settles on the Rio Grande Valley like a blanket. The Gulf breeze was already sticky as Treviño climbed into his unmarked Chevy Tahoe and started it up. Continue reading “America’s Dirtiest Cops: Cash, Cocaine and Corruption on the Texas Border”

The Daily Beast – by Brandy Zadrozny

On any given night in Arlington, Texas, a group of open-carry activists turned self-appointed cop-watchers can be found walking by the side of the road, in safety-yellow reflector vests with cameras pointed at police. They carry “FILM THE POLICE” signs, and sometimes, in a habit that’s become of increasing concern to the officers being watched, they’re carrying guns of their own.

These armed activists’ mission—ostensibly to hold the police accountable by recording every interaction—has found new meaning in light of recent deaths of unarmed citizens like Mike Brown and Eric Garner. Indeed, members of the Texas group have adopted the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” cry popularized during protests of the men’s deaths.   Continue reading “Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic”

Wouldn’t it be great if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven’t met yet…

I don’t trip over things, I do random gravity checks!   Continue reading “Random thoughts”

Common Dreams – by Andrea Germanos

Dozens of people in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County brought work towards a natural gas pipeline to a halt on Monday, charging that the project threatens a Native American cultural site and their rural way of life.

The protesters, who include area residents and a local chapter of the American Indian Movement, gathered along the Conestoga River and encircled a rig which was drilling for core samples at the site of a proposed pipeline, according to a statement from the group.   Continue reading “Enforcing the ‘Will of the People,’ Dozens of Pipeline Protesters Halt Operations in Pennsylvania”

Independent

Lesbian and gay couples were married in Miami on Monday by the same judge who said she saw no reason why they could not immediately get their licenses ahead of Florida’s coming-out party as the 36th US state where same-sex marriages are legal statewide.

The courtroom erupted in cheers when Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel cleared the way for the licenses issued to Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello, and Jeff and Todd Delmay. Then she presided over their weddings in a dual ceremony.   Continue reading “Gay and Lesbian couples in Florida celebrate as judge says they can marry”

Intellihub – by Shepard Ambellas

LITTLE ST. JAMES, U.S. Virgin Islands (INTELLIHUB.COM) — If you can name it — it has likely taken place on the lavish private island off the coast of Florida which boasts a beautifully landscaped plush luxury estate complete with its own helipad, privy only to certain members of the global elite.

Owned by Jeffery Epstein, a wealthy American financier and convicted sex offender, Little St. James Island appears to be somewhat of a gathering place and is a well desired hangout among key figureheads, actors, and royalty to the likes of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, and even Prince Andrew.   Continue reading “St. James Island exposed: The elites best kept secret, until now”

Now the End Begins

New York attorney Richard Garbarini claimed he’s blowing the whistle on the 51-year-old nicknamed “The Smiling Preacher.” Garbarini – who previously helped a band win a judgment from Osteen and his Lakewood Church for stealing their music – is calling for an investigation, charging that Osteen uses his charity to promote his for-profit books.   Continue reading “Feel-Good Preacher Joel Osteen May Have Violated Lakewood Church Non-Profit Status”

He said: “What can I help you with?”

She said: “Take this bag of potatoes,

Peel half of them and put them in the pot.”

 

Engadget – by Jon Fingas

Forget lab-made materials like graphene — natural, old-fashioned hemp may be the ticket to our energy future. Researchers have demonstrated that you can make very efficient carbon electrodes simply by heating hemp bast fibers in a two-stage process. The resulting substance holds as much energy as graphene, but is much cheaper to make. You’re just using biological leftovers, after all. It’s much more tolerant of temperature extremes, too, and can survive anything from freezing conditions to a scorching 200F. And before you ask — this is hemp, not pot, so you’re not going to get a contact high just by using a battery.   Continue reading “Scientists turn to hemp for cheap, fast-charging batteries”

International Business Times – by Tom Porter

President Vladimir Putin may have been pipped to the post for his second Time Person of the Year award in as many years, but he is the undisputed winner in another yearly award, this time from a group of investigative journalists.

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has named Putin their 2014 Person of the Year, in their annual tongue-in-cheek award for the person “who does the most to enable and promote organized criminal activity”.   Continue reading “Vladimir Putin named Person of the Year for ‘innovation’ in ‘organised crime’”

The Guardian

North Korea has furiously denounced the United States for imposing sanctions in retaliation for the Pyongyang regime’s alleged cyber-attack on Sony Pictures.

North Korea’s foreign ministry reiterated that it did not have any role in the breach of tens of thousands of confidential Sony emails and business files and accused the US of “groundlessly” stirring up hostility towards Pyongyang. He said the new sanctions would not weaken the country’s 1.2 million-strong military.   Continue reading “North Korea responds with fury to US sanctions over Sony hack”