Eleven things to quit right now. (Might be more helpful if that list came with some how-tos …) Theodore Bikel has died. He was one of those amazingly talented people. The late Dr. Seuss has him beat, though. He’s managed to come up with a “new” book years after dying. (Amazon link) Judge bans Bong-a-Thon from the town of Stoner — yes, Stoner — Colorado. (H/T jed) Yet another reason to prefer older cars. Remember those bootable drives with the prep info? Mark, aka Greylocke, their creator, is adding files of surgery basics. And he’s still looking for somebody to…
Category: War on Some Drugs
California’s gun-running anti-gunner Leland Yee pleads guilty. This is the first article I’ve read from Bloomberg’s new anti-gun “journalistic” venture, The Trace. As I’ve heard, it seems to meld legitimate-looking reporting with Bloombergian hysteria. Oh yeah, “street toughs” are just looking to get their hands on M1s so they can commit “common crime.” A former federal judge denounces the majority of the sentences she ever passed. (Why do these uber-establishment types always wait until afterward to take a stand?) Can the bacteria in your gut affect your mood? Well, then, how about the nerve in your gut? Business Insider calls…
Was thinking this morning — no idea why — about a friend who was once arrested on the absolutely magnificent (and no doubt Victorian) charge of “tending to lead an idle, lewd, and dissolute life.” A kind of catch-all charge, I gather, for underage kids who weren’t actually caught in any specific act, but who were nevertheless up to no good. A 17-year-old high school senior, he was busted at a college party where drugs figured heavily. Apparently that high-flown charge was originally invented by reformists committed to the belief that minors were salvageable and as yet incapable of actually…
More surprises from the most transparent administration in history. That DoJ gag order against Reason was even more unreasonable than it seemed. Though I gasp at his apparent belief that U.S. cops aren’t hardass enough, Kevin D. Williamson is once again perspicacious. He says we’re seeing “peak leftism.” We can surely hope so, because if the current crop of ranters and banners goes much farther, we’ll end up with full-blown fascism. Drug addiction: It isn’t what we’ve been told. (This book by the writer of that article looks like a must read: Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days…
If somebody in private enterprise did this — let alone did it again and again — heads would roll, congressthings would hotly hold hearings, new regulations would strangle business, and the fedgov would mutter about the need to take over entire fields. But … oopsie! (H/T MJR) Here’s one more for the “one term in office and one in jail” concept of term limits. Better yet, former Honorable Speaker Hastert is going down not for some real crime, but for one of those faux crimes that Congress itself invented. “In praise of uncertainty.” The art of running from the police.…
The case against modern science. Fom the editor of one of the world’s most eminent medical journals. (H/T SC) It’s the time of year for dragging up old commencement speeches. The best ever, of course, was from J.K. Rowling at Harvard in 2008. But two years ago, Joss Whedon gave one as only he could give it. Senate panel gives the okay for medical marijuana for veterans. It’s a step. And at the fed level where steps are badly needed. But oh! The horror! We’ll soon all be home-brewing heroin. The government! Must! DO SOMETHING! About this! (Tip o’ hat…
The Drug Policy Alliance has decided to “help” the DEA find a new leader. 🙂 Current drug-war boss Michele Leonhart is leaving because of the little matter of her agents hanging out* at sex parties funded by drug cartels. This could be an opportunity for you! (No, not the sex parties, though perhaps those, too. The boss job, silly.) —– * No pun intended.
A small-town pot store having its grand opening. Nice store, too. Yeah, I know I said I’d be away from the computer most of this weekend. But when I logged on for a quick check, my operating system it informed me rather nastily that it needed to be reinstalled. 🙁 Consider this to be testing … 1 … 2 … 3 …
Police face recruiting challenges, according to this NPR interview with cop advisor Darrel Stephens. But know what? If that very last line Stephens’ speaks is what cops aim for, they’re going to face a lot worse than mere recruiting challenges in the long run. They’re gonna face us. (Both audio and transcript at the link.) Of course, some cops merely aim for good old-fashioned sadistic fun at our expense. While others just watch too many movies. (Via Borepatch) Reminds me of this oldie but goodie from XKCD. All of which is why we call them thugs, regardless of their race,…
The courts have been so all over the place on police search issues that it’s hard to say what impact this will have. But the Supremes just declared that cops cannot prolong a routine traffic stop even for a minute without legit cause. Inside the strange and wonderful world of micronations. Emphatically NSFW, but funny: company posts a … unique Craigslist ad for engineers. Bet we’ve all wanted to do this at some time or another. Looks like a must-see documentary (though the characterization of Tasers as “rifles” needs some explanation for sure). Gradeschooler challenges school anti-pot propaganda. His activist…