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Debate about secret session in House of Representatives part 1
I think we should vote 2008 Green Party - Mckinney and Clemente.
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Drug legalization debate, 6/26/08, aired across Europe and the Middle East
Click here to view the full one-hour program on presstv.com. David Borden did not appear in the first half due to technical problems. PressTV is an English-language network based in Teheran, which airs across Europe and the Middle East.
References for statements made by David Borden:
* Past-year prevalence of marijuana use among young people in the tolerant Netherlands about half as in nearby France:
The State of the Drugs Problem in Europe, 2007 report EMCDDA (page 41)
* States with marijuana decriminalization have not seen resulting rises in use:
various studies including Institute of Medicine, Monitoring the Future, Connecticut Law Review Commission, others
* Teen marijuana use declines in states with medical marijuana laws:
Marijuana Use by Young People: The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Laws
* Substitution effect between marijuana use and alcohol use:
Substitution of Marijuana for Alcohol: The Role of Perceived Access and Harm, Journal of Drug Education, 2006
* Average Age of Netherlands heroin addicts has been increasing (e.g. few young heroin addicts):
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction
* Opiates and cocaine were banned almost a century ago (1914) by the Harrison Narcotics Act:
Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs
* Taliban earns $100 million in opium profits in 2007:
Drug War Chronicle citing UN Office on Drugs and Crime Chief Antonio Costa on BBC
* Drug prohibition sends hundreds of billions of dollars per year in illicit revenues to the global underground:
UN World Drug Report, via Drug War Chronicle
* The US homicide rate increased under alcohol prohibition and decreased following it's repeal:
Schaffer Library alcohol prohibition section
* Street price of cocaine (adjusted for purity and inflation) drops by 80% since 1980:
Rand Corporation, via Joint Economic Committee, US Senate Click here to view the full one-hour program on presstv.com. David Borden did not appear in the first half due to technical problems. ... more -
Why one casualty in Iraq is one too many ...
Statistics are designed for politicians, think-tanks, strategists and advocacy groups. But it’s far different for those personally affected by war.
The United States Army classifies a casualty as “Any person who is lost to the organization by reasons of having been declared dead, missing, captured, interned, wounded, injured, or seriously ill.”
By this definition, the Pentagon has concluded that the Iraq war has produced over 34,000 casualties, 4,100 of which were fatalities. Statistics are designed for politicians, think-tanks, strategists and advocacy groups. But it’s far different for those personally aff... more -
McCain and Obama Agree to Attend Megachurch Forum
The presidential candidates will attend a forum at the Saddleback Church in California later this summer. The more we can see these two square off in any type of debate-style setting, the better it is for all those interested in choosing the best man for the job. The presidential candidates will attend a forum at the Saddleback Church in California later this summer. The more we can see these tw... more
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What's the eco footprint of death?
"What’s the ecological cost of contemporary burial?
Each year in the U.S.’s 22,500 cemeteries we bury roughly:
827,060 gallons of embalming fluid
90,272 tons of steel (caskets)
2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)
1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)
14,000 tons of steel (vaults)
30-plus million board feet of hardwoods (much tropical; caskets)
Emissions and pesticide use:
Though we haven’t found good figures for emissions (from lawn mowing, trimming, etc.) or synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use, it’s got to be mega-tons each year. (Depending on the type of mower used, cutting grass for one hour emits as much pollution as driving a car from 100 to 650 miles.)
The average cemetery buries 1,000 gallons of embalming fluid, 97.5 tons of steel, 2,028 tons of concrete, and 56,250 board feet of high quality wood in just one acre of green.
The ecological cost of cremation:
Each cremation releases between .8 and 5.9 grams of mercury as bodies are burned. This amounts to somewhere between 1,000 and 7,800 pounds of mercury each year. Seventy-five percent goes into the air and the rest settles into the ground and water.
Cremation removes the body from the cycle of nature, keeping it from nourishing new life. We prefer earth burial.
You could drive about 4,800 miles on the energy equivalent of the energy used to cremate someone—and to the moon and back 83 times on the energy from all cremations in one year in the U.S.
Cremations of Tompkins County residents during the past year released between 1.2 and 6.8 pounds of mercury into the atmosphere. This estimate is based on a 20% statewide cremation rate—though the county’s rate is probably higher.
Your body is a natural resource, rich with life-sustaining nutrients. Your choice for natural burial is a choice for natural renewal and growth—a way to give back to the earth that sustains us all." "What’s the ecological cost of contemporary burial? Each year in the U.S.’s 22,500 cemeteries we bury roughly: ... more -
Should Equal Rights be up to Voters?
This article claims "The Field Poll of 672 likely voters found that 51% oppose Proposition 8, which would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and woman. Forty-two percent of voters support the November ballot measure." The margin is small, that could easily change...
It makes me wonder - I believe in State rights, but to me, gay marriage is an equal rights issue. The idea that marriage is "defined" as being between a man and woman doesn't hold water- we made up that definition and we can change it (Just look at voting rights!)
So here's my question(s): Should an issue like gay marriage really be up to the states? If the Federal Gov is going to step in and tell us what to do all the time anyway, shouldn't they do it in cases like this, to uphold everyone's equal rights in America?
This article claims "The Field Poll of 672 likely voters found that 51% oppose Proposition 8, which would amend the state Constitution... more -
Should Science Speak to Faith?
"Scientists Lawrence M. Krauss and Richard Dawkins compared notes from the front lines during breaks at a conference devoted to discussing clashes between science and religion held at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego late last year. In a dialogue they re-create here, the authors explained their respective tactics for engaging the enemy and tackled some of the questions that face all scientists when deciding whether and how to talk to the faithful about science:
Is the goal to teach science or to discredit religion? Can the two worldviews ever enrich one another? Is religion inherently bad? In an extended version of their conversation available here, the authors also delve into whether science can ever test the “God Hypothesis.”"
Like it said, this is a convo, not exactly an "article". I'm a huge Dawkins fan, and this is a good example of civil conversation between two viewpoints that is well articulated and interesting (to me, at least!)
"Scientists Lawrence M. Krauss and Richard Dawkins compared notes from the front lines during breaks at a conference devoted to discus... more -
Could Google monopolize knowledge?
Should a single company be left in charge of putting all of the world's books online?
An impressive list of world-class libraries and book publishers don't seem to mind. In 2004, they signed on as partners with Google, the Internet search and advertising colossus based in Mountain View, Calif.
Yet some observers have strong concerns about Google Book Search and how the collected thinking of human history will be accessed in the future.
Those anxieties rose late last month when Microsoft announced that it was withdrawing from a rival book-scanning project headed by the nonprofit Internet Archive (archive.org).
Internet access to books is becoming more important, some observers say, as portable book readers, such as Amazon's Kindle, become more common and as more people expect to find all their reading needs online.
"I wouldn't say Google is 100 percent of the digital book world, but it's getting near 90 percent," says Siva Vaidhyanathan, a cultural historian and media scholar at the University of Virginia, who writes a blog called "The Googlization of Everything."
(ABC News) Should a single company be left in charge of putting all of the world's books online? ... more -
The fantasy debate over economics
Both Conservatives and Liberals decry the outcome of the economic system they support.
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Heroes of 2008
In my view these people are the real heroes and I hope their determination and bravery is not overlooked.
Many people who hate Israel should ponder over this. Bravo refuseniks - stand up to flawed human law.
Pictured above - Haggai Matar, Adam Maor, and Matan Kaminer. In my view these people are the real heroes and I hope their determination and bravery is not overlooked. ... more -
The Great Canadian White Lie
The Canadian government and media regularly criticize the movement to end the seal hunt for using celebrities to get the message across yet the media usually only reports on the seal hunt only when a celebrity is involved as illustrated in the story link.
Whether it is a baby seal or an adult seal I really dont see the difference in the clubbing to death an innocent animal. And if they were eating all the cod (which is not true) then that is their god given right.
The Canadian government and media regularly criticize the movement to end the seal hunt for using celebrities to get the message acros... more -
Open Obama Thread
This is a spot for folks to gather to discuss Obama's candidacy where we're not limited to just text. Got an interesting article on the economy with charts? Go ahead and add the charts in your post. Got a video we should see? Load 'er up!
I only ask that you please try to keep things civil. I am not opposed to debate on the issues, just that you keep it clean (and at least logical). Also if you want to debate FISA, there is a huge group over on the official Obama blog actively engaged in that. Feel free to go join them. Part of the reason for the creation of this thread was because some of us were just plain sick and tired of hearing about it. It's a done deal, over, gone, end of story.It was also really irksome that the only thing the MSM picked up off the Obama blog to run with was a story of all the dissenters on Obama's blog over FISA. There are hundreds of positive stories there every day but they don't report those!
Of course my main reason for posting this thread is because the Obama blog doesn't allow any graphics from posters except on their own private blogs and frankly, it was getting really DULL.So pull up a chair, grab your coffee or cold drink, and welcome!
This is a spot for folks to gather to discuss Obama's candidacy where we're not limited to just text. Got an interesting article on th... more -
Hype leads to dissapointment
“Don’t believe the hype” Chuck D from Public Enemy once said and in this case I fully agree. It seems that every time we British blow something up to enormous proportions the bubble bursts. Whether it is Frank Bruno, the England football team or Tim Henman we are only setting ourselves up for a huge disappointment. Now with Andrew Murray we have a very gifted player but will he realistically ever be as good as the Federer’s or Becker’s probably not. Becker won Wimbledon at the age of 17 and went on to achieve much more in a shorter period of time. Of course we should support our gifted but not in the way our Tabloids like to. Murray should develop naturally through his game and not through what he reads in the newspaper. The problem with our sportsman in Britain is Media hype and celebrity if we just butt out a bit and watched more we might produce something of better quality. The tabloids should be directing funds into our schools and sports academies and build the future talent that way then they might have something worth bragging about. “Don’t believe the hype” Chuck D from Public Enemy once said and in this case I fully agree. It seems that every time we British blow ... more
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Behave yourself America
It surprises me to think this dialogue is still going on. Do America not learn that Violence is not allways the solution.
Listen to what India external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has to say; it kind of makes sense. I do not think I even have to ask the question, Invade Iran and kick their brown butts or be sensible and engage with dialogue instead? It surprises me to think this dialogue is still going on. Do America not learn that Violence is not allways the solution. ... more -
The Mindless, The Bored and the Damn Right Savage!
Stabbings here stabbings there, rape, kidnap, bombs, burning buildings and monsters on the loose, what on earth is the world coming to? Can we not all just sit down and chat….No of course not we live in the land of the depraved. Just quietly go about your business and hope you don't look at the wrong person in the wrong way.
Oh by the way here we have a double murder in the capital French Students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez both found stabbed to death in a burning London flat, lol. . Bonomo was stabbed nearly 200 times lol while Ferez suffered around 50 wounds during the prolonged massacre ROFL.
WIAGTDAI (what is anybody going to do about it)
Stabbings here stabbings there, rape, kidnap, bombs, burning buildings and monsters on the loose, what on earth is the world coming to... more -
Stunning spectacular sensational..... Its Fashion Dear!
Sex and the city? forget it I wouldn't call my self a fashion wanna be but this is a show that I will be going to see. I hear that it is all of the above.
Let me know if you have seen it and what you think?
best Sex and the city? forget it I wouldn't call my self a fashion wanna be but this is a show that I will be going to see. I hear that it ... more -
Devalued Banksy
Apparently the Bethnal Green working mans club is not very happy with this new addition to Banksys Flower piece because it devalues the property where as before the working mans club had added value because it sported an original Banksy. I think this is hugely interesting because Graffiti is not supposed to be about commercial value but expression and somehow this new addition is more expressive and challenging than Banksys work although could not of existed without Banksys first layer. The work is now a conversation between two artists I would like to here Banksys response.
Oh and what about Race Walk Ross Kemp? Can I go?
Apparently the Bethnal Green working mans club is not very happy with this new addition to Banksys Flower piece because it devalues th... more -
Genius?
‘The least possible effort for the greatest possible result is my motto.’ Man Ray 1890– 1976
Anti death, aliveness and the human spirit are all summed up in Martin Creeds work 850 where a runner (taking turns with other runners) will continuously run up and down the length of the Tate Britain every day for four months. Another simply simple work by the Turner Prize winner will again stir up debate of what is art or not? Many will say "That aint art I could do that innit" others will acknowledge the work with a chuckle of amusement. Creeds work always uses the bare minimum but always manages to exemplify the human condition. Work no 227 lights going on and off also caused controversy when it won one of the worlds most celebrated art prize in 2001. Like this new work, it is what it is and achieves a lot without having to do much in terms of the artist making anything. Using a bare minimum Creeds works manipulate the spaces in which they are exhibited and manage to give the audience time and space to think even if they are not thinking about the work itself, from the pleased to the furious Creeds work always opens up debate. I believe anything that still manages to challenge our preconceptions of what art can be is doing its job and what is great about Creed is he does this time and time again without having to labour.
‘The least possible effort for the greatest possible result is my motto.’ Man Ray 1890– 1976 ... more -
Uccisa 15enne, proteste in Cina
Il corpo di una studentessa è stato recuperato di un fiume nel sud della Cina. La ragazza, violentata prima di essere uccisa, è probabilmente la vittima di un figlio di un responsabile politico. Le autorità cinesi vogliono insabbiare l'inchiesta--diciamo 'no' a questa ingiustizia ! Il corpo di una studentessa è stato recuperato di un fiume nel sud della Cina. La ragazza, violentata prima di essere uccisa, è probab... more
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Have a moan at pub Grumpy Club HQ
A Hampshire pub has become the perfect place to get things off your chest, as the home to the UK's first official Grumpy Club.
Instead of happy hour, the 300-year-old Bishop Blaize pub in Romsey hosts "grumpy hour" allowing mostly middle-age men to air their grievances
A Hampshire pub has become the perfect place to get things off your chest, as the home to the UK's first official Grumpy Club. ... more
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