On Bob Newland's Sentence

Well, I'm not a sitting judge and I'm not sure I completely understand Judge Delaney's sentencing of my friend Bob Newland.

1. One year with all but 45 days suspended. (It's 15 days more than I guessed he would get.)
2. $2,000 fine, all suspended. (I predicted a $1,000 fine)
3. No public campaigning for Bob's cause.
This one threw me for a loop. Interesting. I don't see Bob complaining about it. Carefully read the Journal's account,

"Delaney also told Newland that he is not to take a public role in efforts to legalize marijuana for the next year."

"You are not going to take a position as a public figure who got a light sentence," Delaney warned Newland.

"Delaney said Newland case was not a typical possession case.

"I have an entire segment of society that will take note of this case," Delaney said. Several of Newland's friends and supporters were in the courtroom.

"Delaney said Newland's advocacy was not an issue, what was an issue was the idea of an adult doing anything that would encourage kids to drink or do drugs. Juvenile courts are packed with kids who have drug problems, Delaney said.

"Ninety-five percent of my chronic truants are using pot," Delaney said."

Read all that carefully. I do not know judge Delaney well. We've met. I have always been impressed. Nothing he said in court, if the Journal quoted accurately, was accidental. He did not say Bob could not advocate for his cause. He said could not publicly advocate for his cause. I believe – and I would ask Judge Delaney to clarify, if I were Bob – that the sentence does not prevent Bob from lobbying legislators or talking privately with supporters. He cannot testify before legislative committees deciding the issue, because they are covered by the media.

Bob cannot write his Journal Forum pieces. He cannot comment to broadcast media. He cannot be quoted in campaign literature. He cannot encourage others to "use" and use his light sentence as an example of what will happen to them.

I don't believe Delaney's sentence prevents Bob from finding a new spokesperson for the cause. I don't think it prevents him from coaching that spokesperson, or from assisting that spokesperson in the preparation of information intended for the media, as long as that information is under some other real person's byline.

I'm not Delaney and I don't have the benefit of being able to read his mind. But it seems to me that he's simply telling Bob to disappear for a year, not to stop working for his cause. This can be accomplished. Ask Bill. He has been the "voice" of many politicians, while remaining quiet in the background, unquoted, but effective. This may be an excellent use of Bob's skills.

Bob is quick to tell people that he has no marketable skills. However, he's a pretty good at political tactical thinking. And, as Bill will confirm, that is a marketable skill.

The Disappearing Post Mystery

I've removed some posts. I was dead serious when I said I was not going to allow name calling on this blog. My blog. My rules. No name calling. Look how good the posts are without it.

Mr. Powers removed his own, as far as I can tell. I inadvertantly removed one of Carl's that should not have been and I apologize here and now. I removed anonymous posts that contained what I interpret as libel. I removed others by others that could be interpreted by others (a jury) as libel.

Here's the deal folks:

If you intend to call someone something here, provide proof that it is true or don't post it. If you do, I will remove it.

Apologies Carl, once again.

And Newland gets...

In an hour-long sentencing hearing, Judge Delaney waxed reminiscent as he described his admiration for Muhammad Ali's stance against an illegal war, which cost him millions of dollars and his peak performing years, during which time he did not complain, nor did he leave the country that so abused him for his beliefs.

Then, citing the fact that he (Judge Delaney) had to account for his actions to the hundreds of kids he sees in juvenile court, he sentenced me to a year in the Penn. Co. jail, with all suspended but 45 days. During the suspended part of the sentence I will wear a bracelet that senses alcohol use and I will be subject to arbitrary piss tests by a probation officer to detect illegal "drug" use. In addition I may have no "public role" in cannabis law reform advocacy during that year.

So much for any inclination I might have about complaining, which I don't. I am sure Judge Delaney knows I don't have the strength of character that defined Muhammad Ali, and I readily admit that. Lord knows if I don't have the strength of character of Pat Powers, I couldn't begin to measure up to the greatest professional boxer in history.

Work release is an option, but I have few saleable skills, especially in a time when everyone else is getting laid off. I'll follow any leads any of you might have.

It was somewhat harsher than I expected, and probably less than I deserved. At least it did not cost me a career worth millions, and my peak performing years won't begin until July 6, 2010. And that's about all I feel comfortable saying about it. For a year.

I'll turn 61 in prison, doin' six weeks for smokin' a joint. Mama tried.

What is the definition of libel again?

Oh yeah:

Here it is.

Ok, now read this.


Ya think?

At least Knuppe has a contact email

Newland says: I sent the following email to Ken Knuppe today via the email address posted on his website.

Hello Ken,

I'm a moderator for a So. Dak. politics-mainly blog called Decorum Forum. Our readers would like to know something about those who are running for governor of So. Dak. I've listed below the items you have chosen as campaign issues. If you would care to expand on them giving us specifics on your plans for each item, I'll post your responses on the blog.

Thank you,

Bob Newland; 1998 Libertarian nominee for Gov. of SD

Below are some of the key issues Ken intends to address as Governor. Please contact Ken to discuss the issues that concern you and your family.

• Keep government simple and accessible to all people
• Strengthen the economy
• Promote small business
• Enhance profitability in agriculture
• Improve insurance options for small businesses
• Capture and utilize various forms of energy
• Ensure property tax structure is fair and effective
• Improve education funding

What do you want to know about the candidates?

As a licensed and certified member of the Media, I plan to ask the candidates for governor of South Dakota some questions. Not that I think they'll answer them, but at least I shall ask. There are, however, two challenges.

First, how do I get hold of them? I just went to Dave Knudson's website. There is no direct connection given. I guess I can kinda understand that the campaign might feel overwhelmed by having a direct email, rather than a "join our effort" signup page, but it's frustrating when a person who wants to govern me doesn't give me a way to ask him his views on things. So, anybody out there have an email address for any of the gubernatorial candidates?

Second, what do you want to know? You can either post your questions to any of the gubernatorial candidates in the comments, or you can email them directly to me: newland@rapidcity.com. Be aware that you will have to respond to a challenge from SpamArrest; without its firewall I would drown in unwanted solicitations for male enhancement products.

I'll post any answers I receive from the various candidates.

Minarchism? I thought Bob made it up. Nope.

Newland, is this a good working definition? Lots to chew on here.


Excerpt:

"In civics, minarchism (sometimes called minimal statism,[1] small government, or limited-government libertarianism[2]) refers to a political ideology which maintains that the state's only legitimate function is the protection of individuals from aggression.[2][3] Minarchists defend the existence of the state as a necessary evil,[1][4] but assert that it may only act to protect the life, liberty, and property of each individual. A minarchist state would therefore consist simply of courts, a military, and a police force—the mere components of a night watchman state. Generally, minarchists identify themselves within the broader libertarian movement."

Time/Space Continuum

Proof that God not only created Heaven and Earth, He created the 4th of July (note the colors).

Just thought this might illustrate Fleming's post on monism/dualism below.

Mr. Alonzo, am I naked?

My friend Leonard Running is a puppeteer,
and he does this great, strange, little finger puppet show.

In the show, Mr. Alonso is a wizard, and Bebe is a fuzzy
little um...creature. There's also a French weasel
friend named Charles (prounounced "sharl")...
but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I mostly want to add the pie chart above for your
consideration (and to see if I did it right) and to say
also, that a Mr.(actually Dr.) Alonso (aka "Jose") is
also the leader of the Homestake Mine's
underground lab efforts.

We'll be talking about both Mr. Alonsos here from time
to time. (Come to think of it, maybe Leonard's wizard
character's name is really "Alenzo". Oh well, close
enough for finger puppets.)

For now, suffice it to say that I think my friend Leonard
might be onto something in his usual peculiar way,
and that even Dr. Jose Alonzo just might someday
think so too.

Hint: It has to do with things
popping in and out of nowhere.
——————————————————————
Update: Some of you may or may not notice
a couple of edits to my post above. First, I corrected
the spelling of Jose Alonso's name ("s" not "z")
and second, I took out the part about his winning
the Nobel Prize, because he hasn't yet. That was
either deep confusion on my part, or profound prescience.
Time will tell, I suppose. Anyway...

Monism or Dualism? Part 2.

Ok, our survey response isn't very large, but then
who knows, perhaps neither is our readership.
But clearly many of you who did respond (half)
would like more discussion on science and religion.

Great. Me too... although I didn't say so on the survey.
(I bullet voted "more pictures," because I like seeing
things Newland thinks are cool to look at.)

Ok, so anyway, here goes. First, let's follow up on
a discussion Troy Jones and I fell into on a prior
thread... the monad vs dualism.

I think he and I agreed that what we generally think
of as being "nature" is in fact only a tiny slice of what
nature really is.

Here's a link if you didn't catch it the first go-round.

Part of the reason for this, I think, is that the majority
of us have yet to fully complete the paradigm shift
from the classical Newtonian/Cartesian understanding
of reality to the modern "Standard Model" which includes
relativity and Quantum Mechanics.

The net result is that many, if not most of us still think
of the universe as a kind of clockwork of solid physical
parts playing around in a vacuum (void...empty space)
AND we think of that space as being separate from time.

Well, as it turns out, if that's what you still think,
you'd be wrong, according to today's best science.

And there is ample, irrefutable proof.

Now, are we all on the same page about this?

Or do we need discussion before we continue?

I pause now, because if we need to get some
of the old notions out of our heads, now's the time.
Much of what we have to discuss, presumes the truth
of what I just asserted.

[Newland here: Woh! This is indeed ambitious territory for a blog that averages 1 comment per topic posting. I, for one, need a little more basis in your assumptions before I assume the same things.]

Light and Transient Causes

I would be considerably more enthusiastic about joining my peers in celebrating liberty with beer and burgers and by watching big bangs tonight were I not facing loss of liberty on Monday.

I will be sentenced for engaging in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am accused of and have admitted to possessing an herb that no one has really determined causes harm, but that has arbitrarily been deemed illegal.

Like tens and hundreds of thousands of folks across the world, I have discovered that cannabis is a palliative for some of the symptoms of life, including aging pains and periodic depression. In the company of others also aware of these truths, I have attempted to communicate the “separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle” us to those holding the reins of power in South Dakota.

Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. This, despite the fact that some of our closest neighbors among the several States of this union have presented their assent to that for which we petitioned.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Pardon me if I hear the mouthing of these words by countless radio voices this weekend accompanied by the bitter taste of cynicism in my mouth.

Here's something I don't get.

Why would we elect people who don't like government
to be governors? Isn't that like hiring a vegetarian to
cook at a BBQ rib joint? Doh.

Happy Birthday America!

233 years of liberty (more or less.)
Right, Michael? Bob? Troy? Taunia? Corey?
Anyone... anyone ...Bueller?

Is Rush right?

Maybe the Republican Governors are fed up.

...so disgusted, they're walking off the job
and going out on their own to find something
— anything— else to do that gives their lives
meaning.

So they're taking a hike.

Let's call it The Appalachian Two Step.
Or maybe, more patriotically — because
after all, it is Independence Day —
The Liberty Shuffle.

For Sanford it was a few trips to South America
to seek comfort in a newfound soulmate.
He's trying to hang in there, but we all know
his heart's not in it, because he told us so.

Boy, did he ever. ...over, and over, and over...

For Palin it's more simple and clear cut.

We don't know why yet, but she's pretty much
just told her fellow Alaskans, "Hey there folks,
I know you like me and stuff, but you know
what, by golly? I don't want your darn job any
more, so kiss my ass. Catch ya later. I got
other things ta do, ya know?"

So who's next?

Which Republican governor will
be the next one to go on strike?

Hey, babies, do you wanna dance?

Ok, Sarah, so I guess I don't speak Alaskan too good, ay?

Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska today.

Here's how she explains it:

"Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt
that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status
in this particular climate would just be another dose
of politics as usual, something I campaigned against
and will always oppose," Palin said in a statement
released by her office.

"It is my duty to always protect our great state.
With that in mind, my family and I determined
that it is best to make a difference this summer,
and I am willing to change things, so that this
administration, with its positive agenda,
its accomplishments, and its successful road
to an incredible future, can continue
without interruption and with great administrative
and legislative success," she said."

There, I've typeset it as best I can, breaking
her syntax into chunks like they teach us
to do in graphic design class.

Now, dear readers, can any of you please
interpret Palin's quote for me?

Because seriously, I don't have a clue
as to what any of it means. Seriously.

Governor Sanford, the confessional...

... is officially closed.

Sorry about the bad link at first. Thanks Corey!

Ok, who's right here?

Joe?


Or Bill?

What will this man do for your liberty?

Dave Knudson, Candidate for Governor of So. Dak.; photo by Denise Ross for Hoghouse Blog

It is suggested that he would restrict your right to carry a weapon that might deter or allow you to retribute upon some poor SOB who’s just trying to extract a portion of the fruits of your labors or, simply, just wants to waste you.

In the 2009 session, Sen. Knudson voted against being able to carry a gun on campus (SB82), and Gun Owners of So. Dak. targets him as being consistently anti-2nd Amendment.

Okay, this has started off on a hostile note. I have a reason for that. I saw Mr. Knudson in action in 1999 in a legislative committee, where he said, in response to a question from SD Rep. Pat Haley…

Rep. Haley: “What is the purpose of the “War on Drugs?”

Dave Knudson, then-chief of staff for then-gubner Bill Janklow: “…to lessen the impact of the use of illegal drugs on families….”

We were in a hearing of the So. Dak. House State Affairs committee. I was there because Janklow had written and proposed a bill that would have imprisoned everyone subsequently convicted of any crime of possession of cannabis or a controlled substance for a minimum of 30 days. If SB210 had passed, there would no longer be any misdemeanor possession of drugs or paraphernalia.

Janklow lumbered in, shoved Knudson out of the way, and said, “I don’t have many moral principles. I don’t. But I know what drugs do to young girls.” Despite the presence of newsfolk from all over the state, not one reported those words, which had drawn gasps and swiveling heads all over the crowded hearing room.

I testified in opposition to the bill. I referred to Knudson’s response to Rep. Haley; “So, by kicking down a family’s door, shooting its dogs, stealing its cash, car, house and kids, and imprisoning its breadwinner because he has tried a non-state-approved way to feel better, the state is lessening the impact of drug use on families? Is that right, Mr. Knudson?”

I’d like to say that my testimony helped kill the bill, but, if anything, it probably nearly got it passed. Rep. Hennies, ex-police chief in Rapid City, probably can take the credit for killing the bill. Can’t remember his argument, but it gave cover to even the law-and-order guys who were sickened by Janklow’s bloodlust.

Why’d I bring all this up? Because I intend to start querying candidates for governor of So. Dak. on their proposed policies. I’ll letch’all know how that works.

Some courts actually adhere to the law

Garden Grove Tried to Avoid Returning Cannabis to Patient

A California city's refusal to return less than $200 worth of cannabis to a qualified patient has now cost them at least a thousand times that. And they had to return the cannabis anyway.

As part of a settlement to resolve their unsuccessful challenge to the state's medical marijuana law, Garden Grove officials wrote a check for $139,000 in attorneys' fees to Americans for Safe Access, who represented the patient. That money is in addition to what the city spent fighting the case, estimated at in excess of $100,000.

"It's unfortunate that the City of Garden Grove felt it necessary to spend more than a quarter of a million dollars challenging a patient's right to his medicine," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford. "Hopefully, other local officials will now do better upholding medical marijuana patients' rights under the law."

When officials in Garden Grove said they would not return the eight grams of cannabis seized from Felix Kha in June 2005, ASA filed suit. All charges against Kha had been dismissed because he was able to show that he is a qualified patient under state law, but city officials argued that returning his medicine would require them to violate federal law.

In a landmark decision, a superior court disagreed and ordered the city to return the cannabis to Kha, but Garden Grove appealed. A state appellate panel also found in favor of Kha, ruling that, "it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal drug laws." City officials then asked first the California Supreme Court and then the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision, but both refused to review the case.

"This settlement is a huge victory for patients that underscores law enforcement's obligation to uphold state law," said Elford. "Better adherence to state medical marijuana laws by local police will result in fewer needless arrests and seizures. That protects patients from hardship and avoids wasting resources."

Newland and Fleming approved in landslide

by Newland
By a vote of 13-8, Newland and Fleming have been given license--no, a mandate--to exercise their egos on Decorum Forum. Look forward to even more of it.

As for the eight less than ecstatically enthusiastic votes, we have your ISP addresses. We will hunt you down and whip you like rented mules.

But don't let that stop you from voting in the new exciting poll (top right). We're actually asking you about what content you like, as if we think you're an important element in this exercise.

As Spring becomes Summer

We had a ringside seat to part of the cycle of life for two weeks. About ten feet off our deck, we noticed a robin's nest about June 17. The pictures here were taken over the course of the next ten days. The last in the series is the two young robins on June 28. On the 30th, they had flown the coop.

Secret or mystery?

Without looking them up, I'm saying
that a secret is something one knows
...but is not telling.

While a mystery is something one knows
...but doesn't understand.

So humor me.

Is the economy a secret?

Or a mystery?

Or both?

Oh, come on!

I'm pretty patient with the media because I get it
that it's a tough, thankless job sometimes.

But it can also be a mean, snarky one.

This deal with Governor Mark Sanford is a case
in point. I'm hearing the media say now that
Sanford is giving too much information (TMI).

Come on!

The man is simply answering all your
questions. If you don't want to hear it,
stop talking to him. It's obvious that he's
goofy, dangerously, recklessly in love.

I say let's leave him to it and mind
our own business.

There are worse ways to ruin a career.

Speaking of race issues...

The late, great Michael Jackson
had one killer rock tune that's
totally worth revisiting:

p.s. Note the number of views.
13,442,186 and counting...
Neil Diamond, eat your heart out.

On Michael Jackson

Bill Fleming e-mails me to clobber me on my having been quoted in the Journal and that I actually have more space there than in response to Bill's excellent post here on my own blog.

Well...damn.

The Journal's Pat Dobbs caught me on my cell phone the day Jackson died. I was driving somewhere without benefit of forethought and Dobbs quoted me in a sidebar in the Journal's coverage of Jackson's death.

Eric Lochridge picked up the quotes on his RCJ blog, Feedback & Distortion.

Unfortunately, my comments are filled with brain fart errors that happen when one is caught on one's cell phone and comments without benefit of having facts before one.

Thriller sales are not 26 million. They're between 47 and 109 million worldwide, according to the oh-so reliable Wikipedia. They have spiked since Jackson's death.

Gene Kelly never commented on Jackson's "Billie Jean" performance at the 25th Anniversary of Motown. Fred Astaire did. I recall couching my comments with Dobbs, but they were printed as if I stated them as fact. It happens.

What matters is Jackson and his death. His "Billie Jean" perfomance remains one of the best musical performances ever recorded, in my opinion and in the opinions of many others, more astute than I.

Combine Jackson's raw talent with similar talents Quincy Jones, Barry Gordy and John Landis, and the world is left with musical experiences that will live long past any of us here. I've been asked a hundred times since his death what I think about Michael Jackson.

I believe he suffered from mental illness.
I believe his mental illness was a contributing factor in his genius
I believe the product of genius survives controversy, scandal and mental and physical challenges...Michelangelo, Mozart, Van Gogh, Monet, Beethoven, Poe, Hemingway, Woody Allen, Buster Keaton, Shalom Aleichem, J.D. Salinger, Kurt Vonnegut and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

History does not hold accountable its artists for their crimes or their sins. Michael Jackson's art will long be remembered and his crimes and sins will be remembered only as a byproduct of his own personal torture.

Sonia Sotomayer and reverse discrimination.

Typically, the social conservatives "litmus test"
for a new Supreme Court justice has been their
presumed position on the abortion issue (whether
the right wingers care to admit it publicly or not.)

I know, they say "strict constructionist" etc, etc, but
its pretty much understood that they're pointing to
Roe v. Wade and their position that, at least as far as
the abortion issue goes, the court shouldn't make law
from the bench.

But for Sotomayer, the issue seems to have somehow
coalesced around race. The recent overturning of her
ruling on the Firefighters being a case in point.

Here is some background.

So, my question is, will the race issue be the primary
point of Republican resistance to Sotomayer's appointment?

And if so, isn't that pretty ironic, all things considered?

I mean, in the firefighter case, both sides of the argument
were about race discrimination, right? How do we now
decide which side is right? Weren't both sides right on this one?

And isn't that why we have the SCOTUS?

Prediction: I bet they figure out a different way to give
Firefighters raises from now on. Because just because
they might be good in a classroom doesn't mean they're
good at fighting fires, and saving lives.

Right?

And one other question. Regarding rules.

Suppose Sotomayer had been appointed
to the SCOTUS quickly enough to be able
to review her own decision in the Firefighter case
and deliberate with the other justices.

Is it possible she could have reversed her own
decision? Or would she have had to recuse herself?

Has such a thing happened before?

And finally...well... ok, just one more little thing.

Since we're doing the Lewis Black comedy schtick
on religion here (thanks for the great clip Michael)
how 'bout we look at this one regarding the whole
"race" deal:

Because, it's good to be white, right?

Bring it on. Please. Pretty Please.

Ok, maybe I like the spectacle of politics
a little too much for it's own sake.

Maybe I get caught up in the personalities
sometimes when I should be more
rational and wonkey about the issues.

But I gotta tell ya, when I read research like this,
I just get all tingly inside.

Obama v. Palin

As in "Now wouldn't THAT be fun to watch?!"

R Crumb tackles Genesis

by Newland
The June 8 & 15 issue of The New Yorker contains the creation story excerpted from R. Crumb's new graphic..., uhhhhhh, novel?, The Book of Genesis, presented straightforwardly (satire of Genesis being difficult). I've posted a few frames here, for flavor.

That said, I'm gone for a couple of days, until the likely storm of comments settles down.

Stimulate me

VANCOUVER, Wash. - A Southwest Washington psychology professor has received federal stimulus money to study marijuana and pain management.

WSU Vancouver Professor Michael Morgan qualified to receive $148,438 for his two-year study, which aims to determine whether the use of marijuana along with other anti-pain medications such as morphine provides better pain relief than either drug alone.

The grant from the National Institutes of Health is part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the economic stimulus package enacted by Congress and signed by the president in February.

"This research is innovative in the field," Morgan said in a news release. "Currently there are no other projects that are studying this chemical relationship using these parameters."

His project was picked because of "its potential to stimulate the economy and create or retain jobs within the community" as well as its likelihood of making scientific progress in two years, school officials said in a news release.

The story is posted here.

Citizen advocate's voice stifled by legal maneuver

For at least 20 years, Hazel Bonner, now 65, has endeavored to provide people (mostly poor) with aid when they get crosswise with law enforcement. I know of several cases where she obtained something closer to justice for accused people than did the licensed lawyers assigned them by the courts.

She was tried in a civil action Friday, the So. Dak. State Bar having complained to the court about her activities in providing help to accused people. I am being careful about my language because to "advise" a person what to do in regards to an action in court is a dangerous thing to do if you do not have a license to practice law.

Bonner has a law degree. The only thing that separates her from lawyers is that she has not taken the bar exam, a necessary step to becoming a member of the State Bar, which is necessary to "practice law."

In my experience, Hazel has always told the people she helps, "I am not a lawyer. I do not give legal advice. This is what I would do if I were in your shoes right now." She often then shows them a legal form, the type used to document the progress of cases and to present requests to the court. Sometimes she interviews them and fills in blanks based on their answers. Sometimes she lets them use her computer and fill in the blanks themselves.

The issue in her case is, "When does using your own knowledge to help others become 'practicing law'?" I have represented myself in court. That's legal. I have told many people what I would do if I were in their shoes with regard to a legal situation. No one has accused me of practicing law without a license (maybe that's next).

Bonner was tried in civil court Friday (June 26), in a neat little move that allows the prosecution to present evidence but no corroborating testimony, and with no way for Hazel to examine the complainants. She was compelled to testify against herself. There was no jury. At the end of the day, Judge Anderson--from Pierre, all the local judges recused themselves--ordered her to not visit jail inmates who have attorneys already, and to cease "preparing legal documents or doing legal research unless she is supervised by a licensed attorney." (quotes from Rapid City Journal story)

I believe she would have been acquitted had she been tried in criminal court in front of a jury.

A violation of the court order, as defined by the court, could result in her being jailed without trial for contempt--again with no jury of her peers.

It's a dicey question. When does talking to a person about what to do next become "legal advice?" Chances are, most of us violate the law regularly. Hazel says many lawyers "practice license without law," meaning they go through the motions without really advocating on behalf of their clients. I've certainly seen evidence of that.

Below are three links to Rapid City Journal stories by Mary Garrigan, on June 24, 25, and 26, that cover the basic facts of her case. The photo of Hazel above (by Ryan Soderlin) was taken from the RCJ website.

"Grandma Hazel" relishes role as advocate
Rapid City activist takes on State Bar in court
Judge puts brakes on Bonner

This is one way the lawyers' club keeps a cap on its monopoly of control over one of the most important areas of our lives.

When you die, your environmental footprint will be smaller

by Newland

SD's most recent tobacco counter-marketing effort.

Thoughts?

Is there room for religion in science?

by Fleming

I ran across this WSJ article the other day
and would enjoy discussing it here if
anyone's up for it.

Here's the link, and a few excerpts:

Excerpts:

God and Science Don't Mix
A scientist can be a believer. But professionally, at least, he can't act like one.

By LAWRENCE M. KRAUSS

My practice as a scientist is atheistic. That is to say, when I set up an experiment I assume that no god, angel or devil is going to interfere with its course; and this assumption has been justified by such success as I have achieved in my professional career. I should therefore be intellectually dishonest if I were not also atheistic in the affairs of the world.

-- J.B.S. Haldane

"Fact and Faith" (1934)

"Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in several exciting panel discussions at the World Science Festival in New York City. But the most dramatic encounter took place at the panel strangely titled "Science, Faith and Religion." I had been conscripted to join the panel after telling one of the organizers that I saw no reason to have it. After all, there was no panel on science and astrology, or science and witchcraft. So why one on science and religion?

I ended up being one of two panelists labeled "atheists." The other was philosopher Colin McGinn. On the other side of the debate were two devoutly Catholic scientists, biologist Kenneth Miller and Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno. Mr. McGinn began by commenting that it was eminently rational to suppose that Santa Claus doesn't exist even if one cannot definitively prove that he doesn't. Likewise, he argued, we can apply the same logic to the supposed existence of God. The moderator of the session, Bill Blakemore, a reporter with some religious inclination, surprised me by bursting out in response, "Then I guess you are a rational atheist."

Our host was presumably responding to all those so-called fundamentalist atheists who have recently borne the brunt of intense attacks following the success of books like Sam Harris's "The End of Faith," and Richard Dawkins's "The God Delusion."
....

Science is only truly consistent with an atheistic worldview with regards to the claimed miracles of the gods of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Moreover, the true believers in each of these faiths are atheists regarding the specific sacred tenets of all other faiths. Christianity rejects the proposition that the Quran contains the infallible words of the creator of the universe. Muslims and Jews reject the divinity of Jesus."
...

Finally, it is worth pointing out that these issues are not purely academic. The current crisis in Iran has laid bare the striking inconsistency between a world built on reason and a world built on religious dogma."

——————————————

In other words, we're all pretty much atheists toward other people's Gods, right?

So why does athiesim get such a bad rap?

p.s. For my part, I do believe in a "higher power" (as they say in the 12 step programs)and for now, I'll just leave it at that. BF

Home of the Whopper, Oh, Man!

by Newland
I saw this first at South Dacola, then went to the link provided there. Since I'm still searching for my blog voice, this seemed appropriate. I doubt it needs further comment from me.

The copy at the bottom of the ad says; "Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the NEW BK SUPER SEVEN INCHER. Yearn for more after you taste the mind-blowing burger that comes with a single beef patty, topped with American cheese, crispy onions and the A1 Thick and Hearty Steak Sauce."

A few words about South Dacola: It's published by Scott Ehrisman, who lives in Sioux Falls, and it is a very dynamic blog, with constant topic entries covering pop culture and political comment.

Scott has published some of my critique of Pat Powers' inconsistent political philosophy, for what that's worth.

Mad Dog

by Newland
A friend of mine named Tom Stratton created this cartoon about 20 years ago for a magazine I published at the time. I know he won't mind a second unremunerated use.

I still get a giggle out of it.

Incessant Barking

by Newland
I found this in The New Yorker, which has the best cartoons of any magazine, about 5 years ago. It's signed "Gregory," and it's one of my favorite cartoons of all time.

The caption reads, "I had my own blog for a while, but I decided to go back to just pointless, incessant barking."

This may be unlawful use of copyright material, but we don't make any money off its use, and I sure hate to see a good cartoon only get one publication. If anyone has any objection to such occasional uses of other folks' work, let me know.

I decided, in the midst of a depressing lack of inspiration, to post this instead of saying something pointless.

Balls of Steel.

Wow, does Governor Sanford (SC) have
some major cajónes or what?

He calls a cabinet meeting, gives a few
brief apologies to a few key people,
then does a little light ass chewing
and tells everybody to get back to work.

One macho dude.

That Argentine woman must be a sizzler.

Okay, Global Warming, one more time.

I've got a virtual friend, ultra conservative
(but clean and articlulate) who insists the
earth is actually getting colder, not warmer
lately (last 10 years or so.)

And so, he argues, the cap and trade deal
is a waste of time and money. A hysterical
chicken-little, sky-is-falling, conspiracy
designed to... well, I'm not sure about that part.

I'll have to ask him again.

Not clear on how old my guy here thinks
the planet is. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt
for us all to discuss some of these things,
given the current activity in the House.

For starters, let's look at this data from
Nate Silver.

Click Here.

Okay, twak amongst ya-selves.

I'm still feeling a little verklempt.

Goodbye, Michael. (...not you, Sanborn, the other famous Michael).

By Bill Fleming

Say what you will, Michael Jackson
was an artist of the first order
who left us with works of immense
beauty and passion.

Feeling – captured in form.

Like this with Quincy, Stevie
and everyone else on the planet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IweJ0g39I


Each of us suffers his/her own private hell
from time to time, and it seems Michael
fared no better and no worse than any
of us that regard.

And so, I hope he finds the rest
of his answers now.

And does some real,
no bull*hit moon walking.

Good night little brother.

I'll miss you.

And thank you, Michael.

Really. Thank you.

Namaste.

Thanks for lively posts

Thanks to Bob Newland and Bill Fleming for the heavy posting. Good reading.

Up side the head

by Bob Newland

Every once in a while, most of us undergo a slap upside the head (SUTH); a necessary attitude adjustment device that redirects one's priorities, at least if one has the mental capacity to do so. For me, most recently at least, it was the moment back on March 20 when I was stopped by a highway patrolman for speeding. The HP noticed the smell emanating from the nearly 1/4-lb. of skunkbud I was carrying (never break more than one law at a time; always keep the skunk in the trunk).

I'll be sentenced for a class 6 felony on July 6 at 3:15. It is a public hearing; you're invited to watch and listen as Judge Delaney presents his decision as to what punishment I deserve. Whatever it is, it will probably not be enough. On second thought, it probably will be, if deterrent is one of the objectives.

For Don Imus, it was the day after the moment about three years ago when he said of the Rutgers womens' basketball team, "Now there's a bunch of nappy-headed hos." That cost him his $20 million a year job. Now, that's a SUTH.

As is the case in most such SUTHs, the ripples spread out, affecting innocent folks. In my case, it cost the medical marijuana patients in this state the time and resource investment of an effective leader in their effort to get the state to recognize the legitimacy of their therapy. In Imus' case, it brought us the quintessentially annoying Laura Ingraham in his time slot on KTOQ 1340 in Rapid City.

Imus has returned, now on KIMM 1150, in roughly the same time slot, 6-9 am (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm too lazy to click a few links and figure it out). And he still hosts the most entertaining show on radio. This morning he and his sidekick read So. Carolina Governor Sanford's and his Argentinian honey's (speaking of SUTHs) emails to each other. Woh! ROFLMAO!

Imus is back! With a vengeance. Will Newland return? Well, I'm here, but so far the only person who seems to be listening is Fleming (and maybe Donna, and, of course, PP, waiting for me to falter). We may have to wait until after we see whether Judge Delaney bars me from posting. Stay tuned.

In spite of the fact that it says Sanborn posts these comments (directly below), Bob Newland posted this.

The Future of News

by Bill Fleming

I'm watching in awe as the networks scramble

to retrieve what little news they can out of Iran.

And I can't help but notice that the RCJ and other

local papers are doing approximately the same thing,

albeit for far less profound logistic reasons.

Has it now become the reporter's job to sit and

monitor Facebook, Twitter, and email and publish

for the masses what people who are paying attention

already know?

Seems like the girls and boys next door are writing

the news AND the editorials these days. For free.

How does the MSM compete with that?

A while back, I talked with the publisher

of the now defunct RCWeekly news.

I got the impression that he thinks maybe the

function of media is becoming more like a Google

type service... an index as to where to get the latest

most reliable info on ... well, whatever.

Is that what newsmen are becoming then?

Good indexers? Linker-uppers?

Say it ain't so.

More on universal health "care"

by Bob Newland

I have often suggested that folks who are concerned about the constant incursions of government into what should be our private lives visit a website called DownsizeDC.org.

I quote from its lead today…
"Of course, no one knows what the bill would really cost in operation. But the history of social insurance and welfare programs is sky-rocketing expense well beyond original projections. Go back and look at the initial cost estimates for Medicare and Social Security, and you will run from the room simultaneously laughing and crying." -- Doug Bandow

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the Democrats' health care plans will cost more than a trillion dollars over ten years. But the true cost is likely to be vastly higher. In fact, the consulting group HSI Network estimates that the real price tag would be closer to $4 trillion. As a result, support for the plan is declining, both in Congress, and among the public.

*****

DownsizeDC appears to have put together a grass-roots coalition of email activists that is having a measurable effect on votes in DC.

Its principal effort is to get a bill introduced that would force every Congress-critter who votes on a bill to certify that he/she has read the bill. An ancillary campaign is being waged to provide that a bill only deal with one subject at a time.

Along the way, lobbying is waged on currently-debated issues, like universal health care.

I recommend you look at the site and let us know what you think.

Health Care Reform. It's time.

by Bill Fleming

Ok, I'm not an economist, so I'll keep these

questions very simple and seek enlightenment.

1. Is there any higher priority for our tax dollars

than the health and well being of our citizens?

2. Does anybody really believe that a public option

would put private insurance companies out of business?

If so, why?

3. If 75% of the American people want this,

shouldn't Congress pass it? I mean, it's our money, right?

(And our kids and grand kids too, I guess... and maybe China's.)

Defying Gravity

by Bob Newland

Thank you, Mike, and Hello Bill & Everyone. Right off the bat, I have to take issue with Mike (wouldn’t be me if I didn’t). I am NOT a one-issue guy. I am a two-issue guy.

The issues are Liberty and Justice. Both are smeared with the blood and snot and lies of the so-called War on (Some) Drugs, not to mention the bodies of the innocent killed in the crossfire between two vicious groups of people--those who want to make a living in the illegal marketplace and those who think it is their place to prop up that group's profit mechanism.

*****

In 2007, 2723 murders in Mexico were attributed to illegal drug businessmen killing each other and those who got in the way. The 2008 tally was 5612. As of June 14, 2009, 2902 people have died in the violence, often in a quite gruesome manner. The toll this year will exceed 6000, probably by a lot.

The deaths themselves don’t provide an adequate measure of what is being done to Mexico by the drug war. The police are paralyzed—either they cooperate with the gangs or they, and often their whole families, are dead. If they cooperate and are found out by some other agency—the army, most likely--they’re imprisoned or tortured or shot by that agency.

Cabinet ministers and judges are on the take, often under the same threats as the cops.

The stimulus creating the mayhem is competition over access to the US market for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and—by far the largest portion monetarily—cannabis.

For those who pay attention to such events, one thing is glaringly obvious. The US could cut the violence to almost nothing overnight with the simple stroke of a pen, by legalizing cannabis (or “marijuana,” if you will). I would prefer all drugs be legalized, thus allowing regulation, taxation, and control. But legalizing marijuana is at least politically feasible, and only the more myopic believe it would increase, rather than decrease, problems.

Since about 85% of the market numbers involved are related to cannabis, one could surmise that about 85% of the violence would disappear as the bottom dropped out of the retail prices, about 90% of which reflect the risk involved in bypassing law enforcement.

What would be left would be a few hundred violence-oriented people with guns, but no money to bribe law enforcement, which would then have incentive to protect their communities from whatever crime the crazies would turn to for self-support. A few weeks, and things would revert to something near normalcy.

When the “problem” of marijuana is solved by that wave of the wand, so will most of whatever problems there are with the other illegal substances I mentioned. Why? Because, in reality, the problems of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin are promoted and borne by so few folks that they really don’t amount to a pinch of shit in the overall scheme of things.

Any other approach to the “problem” of marijuana and other “drugs” is nothing less than an attempt to repeal the law of gravity.

Iranian Students

By Bill Fleming
Well?

Are they heroes or what?

I spent the weekend on Twitter

watching a revolution go down,

inspired out of my skull and yes,

brokenhearted as I watched

and remembered Kent State

in another time and place.

"Tin soldiers and Nixon comin'

We're finally on our own,

This summer I hear the drummin'

Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are cutting us down,

Shoulda been done long ago.

What if you knew her and

Saw her dead on the ground?

How can you run when you know?"

From "Ohio" by Neil Young

But enough from me.

I want to know what you think.

Welcome, Mr. Newland

Bob Newland has agreed to post here to help me fill the content void that will be left by my concerning myself with making a living.

Bob, as most of you know, has been a one-issue guy for some time. We have agreed that Bob will not turn my blog into a mouthpiece for NORML. He will comment on drug legalization only once in five posts.

Bob is a great conversationalist, who knows I intend to keep things civil here, so we won't be calling Pat Powers or anyone else names here. That happens, no matter how entertaining, and I'm changin' passwords.

Bob's a bright guy and with Fleming on the left, Newland from a libertarian perspective and me from the semi-right, we might actually get some folks to read this thing. Balance? There's a thought.

Legitimized Tea Parties?

By Michael Sanborn

Jerry Steinley over at Blogmore has one of the dumbest posts I've ever seen him do.

"I missed the first Tea Party in April and, frankly, don’t know if I’ll be investing several hours on July 4 to catch up with the group. But who knows? Maybe it’s an event the general public needs to get behind? Maybe meeting in the park, waving banners and hearing speeches on socialized medicine and cap-and-trade can make a difference.

If it’s a show of solidarity they’re after, they’ll get it. Tea parties are lined up around the country and the media tends to eat up these kinds of events which further legitimizes them.

These events are fairly new to our political landscape and they’re driven by well organized political groups, simple messages and mass communication."

The comments are for the most part equally stupid. It really makes my ass tired when one side or the other in a political battle thinks they have exclusive rights to free speech and dissent.

Steinley's tone makes it sound like he shouldn't be required to go and watch what happens at one of these events because he can just watch Rachel Maddow and get all he needs. Well, Jerry, that's bullshit. If it takes media coverage to make dissent legitimate then this country is in a very sad place.

It is in an even more sad place that you don't consider several thousand citizens gathering to make their voice heard newsworthy enough to pry yourself away from your July 4th bratwurst and beer long enough to go hear what they have to say.

I'll bet that beyond the notion that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, Gordon Howie and I don't agree on two other things. But the fact that these folks are able to gather support from both sides of the political isle is newsworthy. And, if you don't get that, Jerry, you have no business being in charge of anyone's opinion page.

I have sat in the same chair you occupy now Jerry. The moment you think that those with whom you disagree are best dealt with with ridicule, a la MSNBC and FOX News, it is you who are no longer legitimate.

Welcome, Mr. Fleming

My friend from the left, Bill Fleming, has agreed to do some posting here to keep things interesting as I enter into the busy Sturgis Rally season.

Bill has a lightning fast wit and a perspective that will be refreshing and provocative, I'm sure. He's well schooled on matters political. And, from a business side he's an expert on design and media placement, which should be coming into play as we all look at the upcoming elections.

His perspective on candidate campaign strategies is always insightful and should generate some interesting responses from those who reside on the extreme right.

I'm also talking with another volunteer who can bring a libertarian point of view. If we can reach an understanding, he'll be posting too. And with three of us posting, hopefully, we can generate some traffic on this humble blog.

Out for a while

The next couple of weeks are going to be hectic, as have been the last couple of weeks.

I'm looking for a qualified volunteer to access the blog and make some thought-provoking posts.

I'll post as time permits. From now through the rally, it will be less frequent. Please keep checking back.

And so it goes...

To whom it may concern...

Tucked away on page 171 of my book Wampeters Foma & Grandfalloons is one of the more unique obituaries ever to be published in the Rapid City Journal. The obit was for my friend Joe Krebs, who died last Thursday at 52. The book, a collection of opinions by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., was a gift from Joe. He signed it for me in 2007 as follows:

MIKE,
TO MY GOOD FRIEND
THE WORDSMITH.
AND AS FOR PROSE...
AND SO IT GOES...
Joe

Joe and I came to know each other through Al Fazenbaker. Al was helping me on my journey through the first three degrees of Masonry. Joe was helping Al at several of his businesses. Joe and I hit it off from the beginning.

I had a love of music. He was a musician. He had a love of great writing, specifically Kurt Vonnegut. That I was for a time able to eek out a living writing interested him. And I shared his regard for Vonnegut.

His obituary in the Journal began with To Whom It May Concern... and ends with "He has been cremated. No services are planned at this time...And so it goes."

And so it goes is a reference to Vonnegut's anti-war book, Slaughterhouse 5. If you have not read it, then you've little excuse for reading anything on the internet, including this blog It should be required reading in every high school and college in the country. Read it twice or more. You won't regret it.

I've spent several days trying to come up with some notion of what I would write about Joe. And, he probably would be disgusted with this post as it will likely not have the requisite beginning middle and end that identifies every good composition. This is going to ramble.

I've referred to Joe in my newspaper columns. He was my Slats Grobnik... He was Jay Stevens and J.K. Manshok. Manshok is a German word for big man. Jay Stevens is a big and tall menswear company. Joe was big and tall.

Joe was a musician, an engineer, a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, a philosopher, an altruist and a philanthropist. He was a man's man, who loved Mama Cass Eliott's voice. He was a master of conversation, both intellectual and mundane. He could exchange views on everything from Voltaire to favorite movies with gratuitous nudity. He was a friend.

You've seen him here in Rapid City. He was born and raised here. He was difficult to miss, for many years seen riding his bicycle in all kinds of weather while wearing his trademark all-weather shorts. For some time he rode a classic AMF Harley Davidson bagger in unmistakeable buckskin and brown paint.

He chose his friends carefully. But, he wasn't all that interested in sharing them with others. I had known Joe for many years but never met his best friend Sohrab Banker. He spoke of Banker often, with great praise for his intellect. Fridays were reserved for Banker. He once told me that Banker and I would enjoy each other's company. When I suggested he arrange a meeting, he told me his time with Banker was unique and between him and Banker. Perhaps I'll meet him soon.

Over the years, Joe gave 300 units of platelets at United Blood Services. The Krebs family is honored on the walls there.

He was an intensely private man. One did not knock on his door unannounced. Call first, after eleven. He stayed up nights. He read. He would read anything from technical manuals to the Torah.

Raised a Catholic, he was not religious. Several events in his life turned him away from organized religion. I'm not sure what they all were. He told me some and kept others to himself. He claimed to follow the teachings of Zoroaster, making him a Zoroastrian. He was clearly not an active, practicing Zoroastrian. There was no place to do that here in the Black Hills.

He was in love twice that I know of. Neither romance worked out. Both nice ladies.

And he loved the Black Hills. He tried to leave them a time back, but was drawn back by "friends and family."

He was among the stubbornest men I've met. I never saw him change his mind. Sometimes he would take quite a while to make up his mind. But once a decision was made, there was no changing it. If someone gave him bad service once, he forgave it. The second time was the last time.

He disliked and distrusted medicine and the medical community. The thought of purchasing medical insurance repulsed him. He had a hernia operation some time ago and negotiated a cash deal with the surgeon, paid in advance and got the "deal" he wanted.

He suffered from respiratory problems all the years I knew him. I'm told that during this season's last blizzard, he suffered what he thought was a heart attack. I saw him about three weeks before he died at home with his brother Anthony by his side. He had recommended a column by Frank Rich of the New York Times. I wrote of it here in piece called "Is The Culture War Lost." Joe looked horrible. His voice was weak, and his voice was never weak. I did everything short of beg him to see a doctor.

Joe apparently had congestive heart failure. I'll know more someday. But, he for his own reasons, chose to let nature take its course without interference. I don't recall ever having an argument with Joe. It would have been pointless. If Joe was willing to argue about something, he knew he was right from the start.

So I did not argue with him about seeing a doctor. He had made his decision. If he had to make his peace – which I doubt – he had. And so he checked out on his terms. None of his friends with whom I've spoken were particularly surprised by his decisions to die rather than seek medical help or to forego a funeral. And so it goes...

Brain tumors and pot

I challenged my friend Bob Newland's assertion that pot actually suppresses lung cancer growth. He offers the following which doesn't really address the issue of lung cancer but does discuss brain tumors in rats.

The source is Cannabis Culture Magazine. It is interesting, but what happens to rats does not necessarily happen to humans. I'm doing some research on the article's claims about the actions of some pliticians to suppress this apparently effective cancer treatment.

US: Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew In '74
by Raymond Cushing, (29 Mar 2001)

San Antonio Current

(Wednesday, March 28, The United States Supreme Court rules on whether marijuana use for medicinal purposes can be a valid defense on charges of marijuana possession. The following article was listed as one of the top 25 censored stories of the year 2000. We reprint it here and pose the question, why would the government want to keep us from knowing this?)

The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February 2000, when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

The Madrid study marks only the second time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals. In 1974, researchers at the Medical College of Virginia, who had been funded by the National Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damages the immune system, found instead that THC slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice -- lung and breast cancer, and a virus-induced leukemia.

The DEA quickly shut down the Virginia study and all further cannabis/tumor research, according to Jack Herer, who reports on the events in his book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes. In 1976, President Gerald Ford put an end to all public cannabis research and granted exclusive research rights to major pharmaceutical companies, who set out -- unsuccessfully -- to develop synthetic forms of THC that would deliver all the medical benefits without the "high."

The Madrid researchers reported in the March issue of Nature Medicine that they injected the brains of 45 rats with cancer cells, producing tumors whose presence they confirmed through magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ). On the 12th day they injected 15 of the rats with THC and 15 with Win-55,212-2, a synthetic compound similar to THC. "All the rats left untreated uniformly died 12-18 days after glioma ( brain cancer ) cell inoculation ... Cannabinoid ( THC )-treated rats survived significantly longer than control rats. THC administration was ineffective in three rats, which died by days 16-18. Nine of the THC-treated rats surpassed the time of death of untreated rats, and survived up to 19-35 days. Moreover, the tumor was completely eradicated in three of the treated rats." The rats treated with Win-55,212-2 showed similar results.

The Spanish researchers, led by Dr. Manuel Guzman of Complutense University, also irrigated healthy rats' brains with large doses of THC for seven days, to test for harmful biochemical or neurological effects. They found none.

"Careful MRI analysis of all those tumor-free rats showed no sign of damage related to necrosis, edema, infection or trauma ... We also examined other potential side effects of cannabinoid administration. In both tumor-free and tumor-bearing rats, cannabinoid administration induced no substantial change in behavioral parameters such as motor coordination or physical activity. Food and water intake, as well as body weight gain, were unaffected during and after cannabinoid delivery. Likewise, the general hematological profiles of cannabinoid-treated rats were normal. Thus, neither biochemical parameters nor markers of tissue damage changed substantially during the seven-day delivery period or for at least two months after cannabinoid treatment ended."

Guzman's investigation is the only time since the 1974 Virginia study that THC has been administered to live, tumor-bearing animals. ( The Spanish researchers cite a 1998 study in which cannabinoids inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, but that was a "petri dish" experiment that didn't involve live subjects. )

In an e-mail interview for this story, the Madrid researcher said he had heard of the Virginia study, but had never been able to locate literature on it. Hence, the Nature Medicine article characterizes the new study as the first on tumor-laden animals and doesn't cite the 1974 Virginia investigation.

"I am aware of the existence of that research. In fact I have attempted many times to obtain the journal article on the original investigation by these people, but it has proven impossible," Guzman said.

In 1983, the Reagan/Bush Administration tried to persuade American universities and researchers to destroy all 1966-76 cannabis research work, including compendiums in libraries, reports Jack Herer, who states, "We know that large amounts of information have since disappeared."

Guzman provided the title of the work -- "Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids," an article in a 1975 Journal of the National Cancer Institute -- and this writer obtained a copy at the University of California medical school library in Davis and faxed it to Madrid.

The summary of the Virginia study begins, "Lewis lung adenocarcinoma growth was retarded by the oral administration of tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) and cannabinol ( CBN )" -- two types of cannabinoids, a family of active components in marijuana. "Mice treated for 20 consecutive days with THC and CBN had reduced primary tumor size."

The 1975 journal article doesn't mention breast cancer tumors, which are featured in the only newspaper story ever to appear about the 1974 study -- in the "Local" section of The Washington Post on Aug. 18, 1974. Under the headline, "Cancer Curb Is Studied," it read in part:

"The active chemical agent in marijuana curbs the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice and may also suppress the immunity reaction that causes rejection of organ transplants, a Medical College of Virginia team has discovered." The researchers "found that THC slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers, and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent."

Guzman, writing from Madrid, was eloquent in his response after this writer faxed him the clipping from The Washington Post of a quarter century ago. In translation, he wrote:

"It is extremely interesting to me, the hope that the project seemed to awaken at that moment, and the sad evolution of events during the years following the discovery, until now we once again draw back the veil, over the anti-tumoral power of THC, 25 years later. Unfortunately, the world bumps along between such moments of hope and long periods of intellectual castration."

News coverage of the Madrid discovery has been virtually nonexistent in this country. The news broke quietly on Feb. 29, 2000 with a story that ran once on the UPI wire about the Nature Medicine article. This writer stumbled on it through a link that appeared briefly on the Drudge Report Web page. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times all ignored the story, even though its newsworthiness is indisputable: a benign substance occurring in nature destroys deadly brain tumors.

Powered by MAPMAP posted-by: Richard Lake

Pubdate: Thu, 29 Mar 2001
Source: San Antonio Current (TX)
Copyright: 2001 San Antonio Current
Contact: roliver@sacurrent.com
Address: 1500 North St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, Texas 78215
Website: http://www.sacurrent.com/
Author: Raymond Cushing
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1011/a04.html

CANNABIS CULTURE MAGAZINE
www.cannabisculture.com
Box 15, 199 West Hastings, Vancouver BC
Canada V6B 1H4

Obama, the humble?

Woster over at Blogmore has a post about David Brooks' gushy smushy C-Span commentary on how Obama is wonderful in every way, except he may be over reaching and over confident. Read it here.

Woster wonders if the president is taking on too much too fast. Ya think? It reminds me of the old bumper sticker: Jesus is coming: Look busy. Maybe if it appears to voters that Obama is working hard, they might return him to office, even if he never accomplishes anything good.

Obama is stirring up enough pots without solving anything that we'll be in such a mess by the time the 2010 elections come around that the majorities he enjoys now may not be there for the second half of what may be his only term.

So as he fiddles with running car companies and banks and the stock market, panders to Iranians and dabbles in public health care, the North Koreans are playing with their nuclear weapons and children not yet born will owe a debt they won't live long enough to pay.

The Poor Man's University

Maybe it was Andrew Carnegie who said libraries are a "poor man's university." I'm not sure who said it, but whomever it was, he (or she) was correct.

So Rox Laird at the Des Moines Register has a very good editorial on that community's library taking up residence in a large mall. You can read about it here.

It's a novel idea (if you'll pardon a pun). Imagine a Rushmore Mall with a branch library in one of those empty store fronts. Imagine a community where kids on skateboards would be welcome at the public library; a library where kids are encouraged to hang out – outside and inside. Imagine a library where lockers are available for kids' skateboards and backpacks.

Rapid City has a beautiful library. Wouldn't it be cool if some of those gray-haired "university" students within, would encourage those on the lawn outside to join them inside?

Having a branch in the mall might be an interesting experience. Hot Topix, Spenser's Gifts, The Buckle, The Library. Maybe something within those walls might rub off on the kids in the mall.

Herbal cures can kill you

Patrick Kelly of the Emporia (Kan) Gazette has a sad editorial on the deadly results of a woman who believed that herbal treatments could cure her rectal cancer. Read it here.

Today, it has become accepted talk show fodder to feature snake oil salesmen who sell herbal health treatments and make health claims that aren't supported by research.

The story in the Gazette is a sad one. By the time the patient realized her herbal treatments weren't working, her cancer had advanced and she died a hideous death.

Here in South Dakota we are likely to be faced with an herbal health question on the next ballot. Marijuana has been proven to be effective in the treatment of pain and nausea. It is within the power of congress and state legislatures to decriminalize the use of this natural product to relieve excruciating pain and the debilitating nausea associated with some cancer treatments.

They have failed to do so. And so South Dakota voters will have their chance to be heard if medical marijuana proponents get enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot. Some of those proponents are reasonable spokespeople for the cause. Others are clearly just street-variety potheads who see the medical marijuana issue as a possible loophole for toking up for recreation without legal recourse. If the proponents can rein in those idiots, they have an opportunity to make progress to reduce some sick peoples' suffering.

I expect the vote to be close, because I believe South Dakotans are for the most part compassionate and believe society will be better served if their vote can help reduce someone's suffering.

Of course, this all could have been avoided if the Legislature had taken the matter seriously enough to draft and pass legislation that would have addressed law enforcement concerns and made the plant available to those who need it. But our attorney general, on a Public Radio forum made it clear he had no interest in working with proponents to accomplish that.

And so the suffering continues.

On Torture

Good answers so far. And, I want to reiterate that I'm not proposing what caheidelberger describes as a Jack Bauer Hollywood scenario as an effective means of extracting information. Changing the topic to describe differing reasons for torture does not answer the question of what would you do if faced with the situation below.

There has been much discussion of torture of terrorists in an effort to extract information that some say saved American lives and others say saved no one.

There has been a lot of discussion on blogs about what is torture; is it wrong?; and the U.S. is an evil state for the actions of the past administration.

Okay. You are the President of the United States:

You have captured a terrorist whom your best intelligence people tell you knows of a plan to kill thousands of United States citizens.

Extracting the information will save thousands of innocent lives.

Now, we're all pretty smart out here on the lone prairieee. So, without discussing the pros or cons of torture, share with us here what YOU would do to convince a fanatic terrorist to spit out information that will prevent future carnage.

Here is one possible method:

Bring the terrorist and one of his compatriots to a small room containing two chairs.

Line the chairs up so that the terrorist who knows the most is seated behind the other.

Ask that terrorist what he knows, and allow him to answer.
A.) If he answers, return the two to their cells and explore the truthfulness of his answer.
B.) If he refuses to answer, unholster a .45 cal. weapon, place the barrel firmly between his eyes and discharge the firearm, making sure the decedent's brains, blood, skin, hair and bone soil the other terrorist.

Advance to the other terrorist, gently place the barrel of the gun between his eyes without bruising or scratching and calmly ask: "Did you have something you wished to share?"

There is no torture. The first terrorist dies instantly without pain or prior knowledge or suspicion that he is about to meet his virgins. The second terrorist witnessed a messy execution, which he has likely seen before.

I'm not proposing the method above be used. It is extreme, I understand. But when faced with the Geneva Convention's rules of interrogation, it seems to me that it is the duty of the U.S. to allow thousands of innocents to die.

Not so? What would YOU do? What would YOU authorize? Rather than bitch about what others in this position have done, or what the current administration may not be doing, let's come up with REAL solutions – ones that are worthy of the great minds of the high plains – so we can dutifully forward to a grateful administration.

Cop Discusses Medical Pot

I attended a presentation last night by Ed Moses, a Missouri undercover cop, that was advertised as a discussion of Medical Marijuana. The presentation was sponsored by ASAP (Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention.)

It was an interesting night. Moses' presentation contained some statistics I question. But, for the most part it was a discussion of marijuana as a "gateway" drug and what a bad idea it was to legalize Pot. Medical marijuana was lost in the discussion.

Some proponents for legalization in general were disruptive and disrespectful. That's too bad. The question before voters will be the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

Moses did not keep to that topic, in fact he barely touched on it. And the cause of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes was damaged by the rude behavior of some of those proponents in attendence.

For those of us who believe medical marijuana should be legalized, it is disheartening when proponents behave in a manner that drives people to the other side. Those folks accomplished nothing last night. Those proponents who were respectful, including Bob Newland, were not served by the angry rants of the potheads in attendance.

And, until people begin to behave like adults trying to pass reasonable legislation, the medical marijuana vote will go down. Propagandists like Moses win when they remain calm as those who disagree with them loose their cool. If last night's display was a demonstration of what is to come in this campaign, it will be a futile fight and those who suffer in need of the product, will only continue to suffer.

Election comments

Mayor
Alan Hanks v. Bonnie Redden
Hanks' victory, and the margin (nearly 70 percent) were no surprise. Hanks hasn't done anything in office that would warrant throwing him out of office in favor of an ill-prepared and under-funded Bonnie Redden. Frankly, I'm surprised 3,092 voted for Bonnie. I thought the margin would be much worse.

Alderman, Ward 4
Ron Kroeger will face John Roberts in a runoff. He nearly scraped by with 49.96. I'm told by others that Roberts knocked on a lot of doors. But the folks in Ward 4 have in the past returned Kroeger to office with some regularity. In my first run for Ward 3 council, I lost to Steve Rolinger, and the city was better for it. Rolinger (disclosure: Steve was my campaign treasurer when last I ran in Ward 3 against Martha Rodriguez) came in third. Steve has had some bad ink, bad luck and has had some not-so-good judgement (who among us hasn't?). Still, he was a damned good councilman and I've little doubt he would have made an excellent contribution.

I do not know John Roberts. I do know Ron Kroeger, and have a good deal of respect for him. I've known him for some time and he's never told me one thing and done another. He's extremely smart and I've seen nothing that would prevent me from voting for him if I lived in his Ward. That said, I suspect that if Roberts continues to work his ward as he has so far, he may be able to give Ron a race, but if Ron only gets a few of Rolinger's votes, he'll be returned to the council and the city will benefit from his quiet leadership.

Alderman, Ward 3
Bill Waugh will return to the council after defeating incumbent Bill Okrepkie and Dan Michael. Waugh is one of the best councilmen in recent memory. I like Okrepkie, but feel he has been on the wrong side of some of the more questionable TIFFs. I think he is sincere. But I also think he's sometimes difficult to reason with. Dan Michael is a perpetual candidate. He's run for mayor several times, and finally decided to try to work his way toward that job with service on the council. Unfortunately for him, he chose to run in a race with two popular incumbents.

Alderman, Ward 2
Deb Hadcock was returned to the council with 847 votes, just 82 votes more than first-time challenger Jeanette Deurloo. Deb has loyal followers. I've no doubt she's responsive to her constituents. But, she has in the past been controversial and she's among the first to sign up for expensive junkets. I think she works hard, but there is room for improvement... Her positions have almost always favored development, even when it isn't smart. And her position on feeding ducks at Canyon Lake is completely indefensible.

Alderman, Ward 1
Aaron Costello smoked challenger John Lundeen. Costello is an articulate, smart young man who hasn't done enough on the council to form a reasonable opinion about. He now has two years to learn to pick his projects, and his fights. He gets a pass for being new, for now.

School Board
Suzan Nolan defeated three others to win a seat at the most thankless table in politics. Incumbent Arnie Laubach came in a distant third. I don't know enough about any of the candidates to comment with confidence. Congratulations Ms. Nolan.

Incumbents Sheryl Kirkeby won her 3-way race handily. Incumbents Doug Kinniburgh and Bret Swanson were unopposed.

My opinion of the school board, in general, is that they don't understand who is boss (they are) and give the administration way too much rope with which to hang taxpayers. We shall hope Nolan brings a different point of view.

Light posting

Lots of deadlines this week, so posting will be slow if it happens at all.

In the meantime would someone please tell me how America finds the following politician:

1. Fiscal conservative.
2. Not interested in where I worship.
3. Not interested in who I sleep with.
4. Is interested in my tax money being spent wisely
5. Is interested in foreign nuts who now have nuclear weapons.
6. Is interested in keeping our promises to our veterans
7. Not interested in jailing people for becoming intoxicated on marijuana
8. Is interested in removing obstacles to medical marijuana
9. More interested in solving violent crime than pothead crime
10. More interested in bringing violent criminals to justice than in obstructing my
Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
11. Is interested in what the people west of the Mississippi and East of the California, Oregon, Washington border have to say about their government.
12. Is interested in reasonable regulation of businesses to prevent predation on employees and customers.
13. Believes in usury.