I’m never going back to school! Hmmm… on second thought

Oakland trade school teaches people how to grow pot

By LISA LEFF
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif.  — You know you’re in a different kind of college when a teaching assistant sets five marijuana plants down in the middle of a lab and no one blinks a bloodshot eye.

Welcome to Oaksterdam University, a new trade school where higher education takes on a whole new meaning.

The school prepares people for jobs in California’s thriving medical marijuana industry. For $200 and the cost of two required textbooks, students learn how to cultivate and cook with cannabis, study which strains of pot are best for certain ailments, and are instructed in the legalities of a business that is against the law in the eyes of the federal government.

“My basic idea is to try to professionalize the industry and have it taken seriously as a real industry, just like beer and distilling hard alcohol,” said Richard Lee, 45, an activist and pot-dispensary owner who founded the school in a downtown storefront last fall.

So far, 60 students have completed the two-day weekend course, which is sold out through May. At the end of the class, students are given a take-home test, with the highest scorer — make that “top scorer” — earning the title of class valedictorian.

Before getting to Horticulture 101, the hands-on highlight of Oaksterdam U, the 20 budding botanists, entrepreneurs and political activists at a recent weekend session sat politely through two law lectures and a visiting professor’s history talk.

In the lab, Lee measured plant food into a plastic garbage can and explained how, with common sense, upgraded electrical outlets, a fan and an air filter, students can grow pot at home for fun, health, public service — or profit.

Lee explained to his students how to prune and harvest plants, handing the clipping shears to a woman who wasn’t sure how close to the stalk to cut without damaging it. He offered his thoughts on which commercial nutrient preparations are best, as well as the advantages of hydroponics, or soil-free gardening.

During a discussion of neighbor relations, he warned against setting boobytraps to keep curious kids out of outdoor gardens.

Students gave various reasons for enrolling. Some said they were simply curious. Others said they wanted tips for growing their own weed, although judging from the questions, a few were ready for the graduate seminar Lee recently added to the curriculum.

Jeff Sanders, 52, said he has been buying medical marijuana since 2003, but wants to open a dispensary in the San Joaquin Valley because he doesn’t like having to drive up to San Francisco and paying the markup.

“I see it as a good thing. You are giving back to the community,” Sanders said.

Patrick O’Shaughnessy, 37, said he started smoking pot regularly for the first time about a year ago to treat his chronic migraines, depression and anxiety. After attending class, he said felt more confident about growing his own, which he wants to do because the dispensary he frequents often sells out of his favorite strain.

Oaksterdam U draws its name from the jokey nickname for a section of Oakland where some of California’s earliest medical marijuana dispensaries took root. The nickname in turn was inspired by the city of Amsterdam, in Holland, where pot use is tolerated.

At one point, the Oaksterdam neighborhood had at least 15 clubs and coffee shops selling pot, a number that dwindled to four when the city started issuing permits and collecting taxes from them a few years ago.

California was the first of a dozen states that have legalized marijuana use for patients with a doctor’s recommendation. Despite periodic raids by federal drug agents and the threat of prosecution, clubs and cooperatives where customers can buy the drug of their choice have proliferated; California has 300 to 400, according to advocacy groups.

Entry-level workers are paid a little more than minimum wage, while “bud tenders,” can make over $50,000 a year, and owners and top managers more than $100,000, Lee said. But there’s also a certain amount of risk — and not just financial, but legal.

Michael Chapman, an assistant agent in charge with the Drug Enforcement Agency’s San Francisco office, said authorities are aware of Oaksterdam U and don’t see any reason to shut it down. Talking about marijuana is not illegal, and while a small amount of pot is kept on the premises, the DEA tries “to concentrate our case work on the most significant violators,” he said.

Still, Chapman said he doesn’t like Lee’s effort to wrap cannabis education in a cap and gown.

“I think they are sending the wrong message out to the community and it’s something that could only facilitate criminal behavior,” he said.

America Tortures… Even in Tennessee

No matter whether you are inside this country or outside, we (our representatives in government) torture. We don’t just torture “terrorists”, we torture our own citizens. It is obvious in the over usage of “stun” weapons, even the notion of assault weapons in local sheriff departments, the over-penalizing for minor drug usage while allowing harder criminals to gain freedom quicker than drug addicts. Constant claims of terrorists and threats (boogeymen of all sorts) to keep us scared to death. The system is reversed. It is set to dominate and ensure submissiveness.

Not only that, as I can attest by acquaintances I have had in sheriff departments, most are generally big, stupid, and full of themselves and power. One drug cop my brother was associated with was strung out on what he took from those he didn’t want to prosecute (he just took their shit for his own use). He was (he is still alive, but no longer a cop) big and full of shit, but stupid as a rock. Another sheriff we had in the 80’s was known as “Cocaine Paine”, because it was so widely suggested. We had one deputy named “Slip” who was fired from virtually every department he worked at (almost all of them in a 60 miles radius) for abusing people (I know of one friend who worked at a Sonic drive-in that fat ass Slip would visit that figured out a way to get his revenge… do not mess with Chuckles).

I have personally been strong-armed unnecessarily on many occasions… once jailed for public drunkenness after eating an honey bun and drinking a quart of milk (absolutely straight as an arrow).

 As for physical torture, even in Tennessee… it is no different than in Iraq.

From the November Coalition:

  Roll The Tape

It begins with Jenny Siler’s sigh. Her husband is in trouble again.

With lawmen at her door, Jenny Siler turns on a tape recorder in her kitchen and sighs as she heads to the door to greet them. The recorder would continue to roll long after the lawmen send away Jenny Siler, 27, and her 8-year-old, leaving them alone with Eugene Siler.

It would produce a recording that spanned 40 to 45 minutes of what authorities contend was a two-hour ordeal.

The FBI transcript of the recording indicates that it not only captured what the officers said but what they did. It is replete with references to sounds of Siler being slapped and struck. It details Siler’s moans, his pleas, his piercing screams.

The lawmen indicate in the transcript that Siler had fled out the door when they arrived. They’ve caught him and handcuffed him. He is brought into the house and placed in a chair, his hands cuffed behind his back.

He is already moaning.

Webber is heard first, telling Siler his “dope dealing’s over.” Franklin chimes in, telling Siler the lawmen are shutting down his drug business. Monday speaks next.

“It’s (expletive) over, son,” Monday says.

The beating begins then.

There is no way to tell from the transcript how long the first assault lasts. At some point, Franklin instructs Carroll to hold off.

“Wait a minute, Will, before you start,” Franklin says.

“10-4,” Carroll responds.

Franklin then speaks to Siler, saying, “I tell you what we’re gonna do. Let me tell you what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna put them handcuffs in front of ya. Cut you a little slack. But if don’t start operating (sic), we’re gonna put the (expletive) behind your back, and I’m gonna take this slapjack, and I’m gonna start working that head over, you understand?”

The lawmen demand information from Siler, why he hasn’t been in touch with them, who supplies him drugs and where he has stashed his cash. Webber reminds Siler that he is alone and outnumbered.

“There’s nobody knows we’re (expletive) here,” Webber says. “We’re doing this on our own.”

The transcript indicates that Webber produces a form that, once signed, will state that Siler gave his consent for the officers to search his home. Siler apparently refuses to sign it. The beating resumes.

Moaning, Siler apparently tries to say something to the lawmen, but Webber is not in the mood for conversation.

“You’re not (expletive) listening,” Webber says. “You hear what I told you? I told you not to be talking. ? This (expletive) right here, he loves seeing blood. He loves it. He loves seeing blood. You’re talking too much. ? He loves (expletive) seeing blood. He’ll beat your ass and lick it off of you.”

Franklin orders another officer to remove Siler’s handcuffs so he can sign. Siler, who cannot read or write, asks one of them to read it to him.

Monday refuses.

“Just sign it,” Monday orders Siler.

Siler refuses.

“Git (sic) up,” Monday responds. “Git (sic) up. I said get the (expletive) up.”

Beating sounds follow.

“Now git (sic) up, (expletive) it,” Monday says.

Siler responds, “Oh, alright.”

“No, git (sic) the (expletive) up,” Monday says again.

“Let me ask David (Webber) something first,” Siler pleads.

“Look, you sign this (expletive) or I’m gonna hit you again,” Monday says. “One. Two.”

Slaps and blows are again documented on the transcript, with Monday continuing to order Siler to sign.

By now, Siler is crying.

Threats come next. The lawmen tell Siler they will jail his wife and have his children taken away from him. The transcript details more beating sounds, more moaning from Siler, who repeatedly asks to talk to Webber.

“You ain’t talking to nobody,” Green responds. “You’re gonna sign this (expletive) paper.”

Siler screams. More blows are heard. The lawmen continue to order Siler to sign. He responds with moans and more screams. But there would be no reprieve.

“Eugene, it’s just beginning, buddy,” Webber says.

Siler is going to die, the officers tell him.

“I want to help you,” Siler says.

Webber responds, “No, I don’t want your help. I want you to sign that form ’cause you’re the one we want and we got ‘cha (sic), and if you don’t sign it, you probably won’t walk out of here.”

Siler is next threatened with electrocution. Webber tells him that they could take a battery charger, hook some wires to it and attach it to Siler’s testicles. The federal informations allege that the lawmen later rigged up such a device and used clamps to attach it to Siler’s body.

Monday is accused in the informations with pointing a gun at Siler, threatening to shoot him.

The transcript backs up the allegation.

“Shoot his (expletive) ass,” Green says.

Amid the threats, Siler is again beaten, but he still refuses to sign. Siler pleads with the officers as Franklin threatens to burn him with a lighter after giving him a cigarette.

The transcript also reveals an obscure threat by Green.

“Let’s give him a haircut,” Green says.

At some point, one of the officers shows Siler a pellet gun apparently found in the house. Siler tells the officers it belongs to his son. Monday sees the find as another way to convince Siler his life is hanging in the balance.

“Eugene, you’re gonna sign this right here or I’m gonna (expletive) put a bullet in your damn head, and we’re gonna (expletive) plant this BB gun,” Monday says.

Webber later adds, “Hey, Eugene, what loss do you think it’s gonna be to us if you die, buddy? It’s going to be no loss to us.”

By now, Siler is groaning and gasping for breath, claiming he is suffering a heart attack.

Webber demands Siler tell him where he has hidden drugs or money.

“I want what you have right now,” Webber says.

Siler responds, “I don’t have nothing, sir.”

The FBI transcript details an unrelenting assault that authorities contend did not end when the tape recorder suddenly stopped. The informations allege the attack on Siler included having his head forced underwater in both a fish tank and a toilet.

By day’s end, Siler would wind up not in a hospital but a Campbell County jail cell, charged with running from the officers and tossing drugs to avoid an arrest. His wife, too, would be charged.

Now, granted, the deputies were eventually found guilty and sent to prison (as well they should have). Had it not been for his wife setting up the hidden tape recorder when they forced her to leave, they would have never known that Tennessee deputies tortured this man by electrocuting his balls (this could not be substantiated by the tape, it ran out, but the threat was there).

KnoxNews has an archive page with rundown of events.

But we hardly heard anything about this.

Remember “Don’t Taze Me, Bro’!”? Barely? Remember everyone sitting around as he was screaming and ignoring or afraid to even bargain a glance (wondering if they may be next???). Strong arming even those that don’t require it. Remember the young drunk lady in Florida who was beat senseless, AFTER the cop turned off the camera.

It is rampant and seemingly “acceptable” to the citizenry. But I also contend that it is purposeful and with a motive we haven’t quite figured out yet. Setting up the citizen psyche for the take over. And if that is so, why?

Hell, who knows, but other than an almost cursory look, usually when forced into the spotlight by the internet (blogging, YouTube, etc), the MSM helps sweep it under the carpet. It is almost subtle… clandestine, but with purpose and intent.

The way the dollar is falling, the economy is tanking, and America driven strictly by credit; not to mention the waste of money in idiotic wars causing the blow back we are getting for our neocon fool-driven ways, we may be in for a very difficult time ahead. And they ARE going to keep us in line.

Al-Qaeda even STRONGER because of the USA’s New World Order Policy

Al-Qaeda is 10 years old and thriving: experts

DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

On the 10th anniversary of al-Qaeda, experts on radical Islam said al-Qaeda has reshaped the structure of world relations and will continue to gain strength as long as the U.S. dominates the region.

According to Egyptian daily Al-Fagr, experts consider Feb. 22 to be the group’s 10th anniversary, as the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders — later known as al-Qaeda — came into being on that date in 1998.

Speaking to al-Fagr, Moroccan expert on militant Islam, Dr. Mohamed Darif, said al-Qaeda has reshaped the structure of world relations, noting that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the main conflict was between the Eastern and Western blocs.

Now it is between powers that claim to be fighting terrorism, led by the United States, and other countries that the first group claims to be harboring terrorism, Darif said.

“Thus, terrorism has become the whip the United States uses against any country that doesn’t follow the superpower in the new world order, and this is what’s happening with Syria, Iran, and North Korea as well as Iraq before the invasion,” the Moroccan scholar told the daily.

Darif added that the very existence of al-Qaeda has forged unlikely alliances between specific countries that had a long history of disputes and disagreements.

Egyptian political analyst and expert on political Islam, Diaa Rashwan, said al-Qaeda has caused a major change in foreign relations, as the degree of security coordination between countries is unprecedented in history.

He said the future of al-Qaeda is strongly linked to the United States foreign policy in the Middle East, adding that it is only when the U.S. gives up its plans to dominate the world that al-Qaeda will start getting weaker and losing ground.

“If the United States stays in Iraq and keeps threatening other countries in the region, al-Qaeda will gain more bases and more supporters since it will remain the main resistance force against the West,” he told al-Fagr.

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid).

And they said that Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul are wrong about their rationale of Al-Qaeda’s reasoning/purpose, when it matches the specifically announced claims. We are inflaming the issue (purposefully, in my estimation) to fuel Big Military/Big Money’s desire for more. The sooner America, especially the rest of us rednecks, wakes up, the sooner we can take back what these thieving bastards have taken from us and make up for what they have done elsewhere. The sooner we get out of their countries, unless specifically asked, the better off for all of us. I prefer we get the hell out all together, but we need to start somewhere.

McCain, The Pandering Presidential Wannabe?

There is a meme being spread around (especially in ReTHUGlican circles) that suggests that John McCain is a “straight-talker” who sticks to his guns and would not capitulate or pander just for a vote or influence. I am amazed by such a stance, because McCain’s history is simply full of pandering, flip-flopping, etc.

Rampant. So apparent that those who continue it can’t be functioning in reality.

So how do they justify the lie of the “straight-talk”, when every indication proves it immensely false? Does history mean anything to these people?

Steve Benen at C&L posted a list of McCain’s panderings a while back, which included a few items that Amanda at Think Progress shared, as well.

* Pander On Immigration: McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now, to make the nativist elements in his party happy, he’s against it.

* Pander to U.N. Critics: McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now, to pander to U.N. critics, he opposes it.

* Pander to Abortion-Rights Opponents: McCain used to say he would not support a reversal of Roe v. Wade. Now, to pander to his party’s base, he’s said the opposite.

* Pander to the Religious Right: McCain condemned radical TV preachers like Jerry Falwell as “agents of intolerance” in 2000, but once he began running for president again, he pandered to the religious right by cozying up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.

* Pander to Iowans: McCain was anti-ethanol before the 2008 campaign. Once on the trail in Iowa, he became pro-ethanol.

* Pander to South Carolinians:McCain was against official promotion of the Confederate flag, but in 2000, hoping to curry favor with South Carolinians, pandered shamelessly on the issue, and later conceded that his position was one of “cowardice.”

* Pander On Tax Cuts: In 2001, McCain was one of just two GOP senators to vote against Bush’s destructive tax cuts. Now, however, McCain makes a point of touting his support for making Bush’s tax cuts permanent.

* Pander On Stimulus: For the past few months, McCain has been declaring that passing an economic stimulus package is at the very top of his agenda. Yet when the Senate voted earlier this month on a generous bill providing increased assistance to seniors and veterans, McCain skipped the vote. The bill fell just one vote short of passage, a victory for the far right.

* Pander To Karl Rove: In the 2000 presidential campaign, Karl Rove launched vicious smear tactics against McCain on behalf of Bush’s campaign. Recently, however, McCain has embraced the right-wing political operative. He said that he has “always respected Karl Rove as one of the smart great political minds I think in American politics” and specifically refused to condemn Rove’s partisan smears.

John McCain has made an entire career off of his “straight talk” fantasy. Maybe, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he started that way. But ever since his aspirations for president, he has proved time and time again that he will say and do, then backtrack and deny on any issue that will get him elected. Almost like he knows you are total gullible and ignorant fools or that he simply does not care one way or the other.

This attitude is rampant in our system. Even those that seem to truly believe and want to make change, end up corrupted by the influence, power and MONEY. He has now sidled up with the “Snapper” and his following of dooms day lovers.

Will either Obama or Clinton (Huckabee, Nader, Paul or whomever) be any better?

To degrees only. But, my hope is that the Democrats understand that we aren’t all stupid, blind, and gullible like many of the right wing and know that we are beginning to see through the BS. For some reason, the THUGS just don’t get it.

McCain: Why Do You Hate America’s Children?

The Children’s Defense Fund(CDF) Action Council published its Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard and the winnerloser is John McCain. He was considered the “worst” of all the Senators when it comes to America’s children.

The criteria was broken down into 10 main votes that were taken:

1. Increase minimum wage (H.R. 2)
2. Increase funding for children with disabilities (S. Con. Res. 21)
3. Protect children from unsafe medications (S. 1082)
4. 2008 Budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 21)
5. SCHIP Reauthorization (H.R. 976)
6. College Cost Reduction and Access Act (H.R. 2669)
7. SCHIP (H.R. 976 - motion to concur)
8. DREAM Act (S. 2205)
9. Funding child health and education (H.R. 3043)
10. Improving Head Start programs (H.R. 1429)

Sen McCain couldn’t seem to make it to these very crucial votes 57% of the time. He MISSED 57% of the vote and missed or voted “present” 8 out of 10 of these crucial votes regarding children.

I wroteabout his lack of participation in his job here. The only person in the entire congress who missed more votes than this old geezer was Tim Johnson and he had a brain hemorrhage and hasn’t voted since (are you ReTHUGlicans proud of this record?).

For those of you who want to defend the indefensible, his record has a continued trend towards this failure to conduct his duties, especially related to children. In 2004, McCain received a 38 percent rating; in 2005, a 22 percent rating; and in 2006, a 10 percent rating. Some call it a “pattern”. I call it business as usual for Johnny Boy.

To defend him is ludicrous. To vote for him, foolish.

Remember his record, as you desperately try to hold on to the ReTHUGlican corruption.

Don’t Take Your Eye Off The Ball

Raw Dawg Buffalo has a great post up at his blog addressing the heroin problem that the new Taliban is creating (with Big Military’s help)…

Just finished reading the International Narcotics Report released by the State Department today (2.29.08). I tell you, the Taliban got it going on and it seems to be all charged by the hate of US – the United States and the West. According to the report:

“Narcotics production in Afghanistan hit historic highs in 2007 for the second straight year. Afghanistan grew 93 percent of the world’s opium poppy, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Opium poppy cultivation expanded from 165,000 ha in 2006 to 193,000 ha in 2007, an increase of 17 percent in land under cultivation… The export value of this year’s illicit opium harvest, $4 billion, made up more than a third of Afghanistan’s combined total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $11.5 billion. Afghanistan’s drug trade is undercutting efforts to establish a stable democracy with a licit economic free market in the country. The narcotics trade has strong links with the anti-government insurgency, most commonly associated with the Taliban. Narcotics traffickers provide revenue and arms to the Taliban, while the Taliban provides protection to growers and traffickers and keeps the government from interfering with their activities. During recent years, poppy production has soared in provinces where the Taliban is most active.”

Now this tells me a few things. 1] the 32,000 troops we got in Afghanistan have not been able to reduce the opium trade nor convince farmers to stop growing Poppy in the region and 2] if they will blow up 2000 year old Buddhist statues out the side of mountian, they wont stop until they blow up all of our troops.

Now this means that the Taliban is rollin’ in loot, 11.5 billion dollars worth. I know I would if i sold more than 90% of all the stuff that was the primary ingredient to make heroin. And I know, my senior chemistry seminar paper was how to make heroin #10 from Morphine (and i still got a copy, fol gave me an 89 n shit).

My main point of consternation is that the locations where cultivation of Poppy is the greatest is in areas that’s under the NATO forces’ control. LOL. So in essence, the Taliban is using this money to attack US and NATO forces as well as the U.S.-backed government. The report is called the U.S. State Department’s annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. A Briefing on the report was given by Assistant Secretary David T. Johnson

We turned a blind eye to the plant when the Taliban was being funded and supplied by US when they were considered a way to make inroads into the country in 1979. But we can’t blame them, because it easy money since i suspect that all the Taliban has to do is provide protection to growers and traffickers to collect. We supposedly reduced their power in 2001 but today still in 2008 we are locked in fierce battle with them folk…

This country is now beginning an epidemic in heroin use. This is AFTER we invaded and took over their country. There is a reason for every move American military makes. Hardly any of it is honorable, any more.