RIP Captain EO

Not sure why but Michael Jackson's death makes me very, very sad.


May Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon also RIP.

Is everyone just searching for a reason to be outraged?

I mean seriously I get annoyed all the time but I'm never really outraged by the world...often amused, often confused, often annoyed. But actual outrage? Nah. It just seems these days everyone is pissed about something and if they're not already pissed their poised with the zipper down waiting for something, anything, to help them find that first drop of anger.

Lighten up. Pay attention, watch, discuss, but for crying out loud don't get outraged and start hating things. The world is going bitter.

Freedom of speech is essential.

I think it's kind of great that the Sarah Palin/David Letterman feud is going on during the Iranian elections. For one it really puts Sarah Palin and her insignificance and un-seriousness in perspective. But more importantly it has allowed us to see an illustration of just how crucial freedom of speech is from the most meaningful, life changing, speech to the most trivial, most inappropriate or most offensive speech.

Iranian Elections Update:
"And my hope is that the regime responds not with violence, but with a recognition that the universal principles of peaceful expression and democracy are ones that should be affirmed."
- President Obama

"Ahmadinejad called the opposition as a bunch of insignificant dirt who try to make the taste of victory bitter to the nation. He also called the western leaders as a bunch of 'filthy homosexuals'. All these disgusting remarks was today answered by that largest demonstration ever. Older people compared the demonstration of today with the Ashura Demonstration of 1979 which marks the downfall of the Shah regime and even said that it outnumbered that event. The militia burnt a house themselves to find the excuse to commit violence. People neutralized their tactic to a large degree by their solidarity, their wisdom and their denial to enage in any violent act."
-Quoted on Andrew Sullivan's, The Daily Dish

Palin/Letterman Update:
Sarah Palin's acceptance of David Letterman's second apology reads something like this:

"I'd like to thank young women everywhere and our brave troops that make moments like this possible for me. And also, equality, free speech, evolution and respect."

Tobacco.

Whichever your preferred news resource, you've likely heard of the new bill putting tobacco companies under the control of the FDA. Big deal right?

Initial thoughts and maybe/probably stretching:

-Is this to make way for a precedent when medical marijuana goes federal as well as the move toward general use marijuana (over the counter =) becomes legal? Will it help firm up a strong precedent to control it under the FDA (which I think is better than the DEA for this instance). Is this a total stretch?

-Is this the start of a "slippery slope" towards more regulation on food products? Okay, so other than things we eat it's hard to define "food" in this instance but I think it's safe to say things we consume by putting them into our body and attribute them to our physical health are under this category and now, possibly, open to more regulation. After all if you can prove it is HORRIBLY bad for, do you have a case to regulate it for the "public good"? Perhaps.

Some things we can all agree on...

Charlie Lynch is being sentanced tomorrow. Charlie Lynch legally sold medical marijuana to valid medical patients with doctor prescriptions. The DEA raided his dispensary, arrested him and did not allow him to mention state laws or medical marijuana in his defense.

WRONG. No matter which side of the isle.

Who's Debt?

The Daily Dish links to a great New York Times breakout of the current natinal debt and the party responsible. Bush owns most of it, Republicans won't own up to it.

Click through for a great visial:

Can't help it, Palin is just so...so...

This post offers a great comparison of two recent speeches. One given by Sarah Palin and the other by President Obama.

**UPDATE** Apparently the Palin speech was heavily "borrowed" from an article by Newt Gringrich.

Here's an excerpt:

And this closing message:

Sarah Palin:

Friends, we need to be aware of the creation of a fearful population, and of fearful lawmakers being led to believe that big government is the answer to bail out the private sector because then goverment gets to get in there and control it and, mark my words, this is going to happen next I fear, bail out next debt-ridden states, then government gets to get in there and control the people, and watch what happens there. Michael, maybe you want to talk about your home state California. We’ll see what happens there but you know it’s…. aaaaa!…. for the love of God you’ve got to ask yourself where we got off track?

President Obama:

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples - a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.