I don't use marijuana, but I have been openly supporting its legalization, because there are too many folks out there who could benefit from it who don't have access. I am not the only one who supports this.
A recent Harris Poll survey that polled over 3,100 adults online found that 74% of respondents support legalizing medical marijuana in their state, with 48% saying they strongly support it. When asked about legalizing recreational use, support came in at 42% with 49% opposed.
Not surprisingly, the east and west coasts of the U.S. support legalization the most, with 50% in both regions supporting recreational legalization. The south region polled as least supportive.
When asked about who should make the decision about legalization, 44% say it should be a state matter, while 40% think the feds should handle it. Either way, this poll shows the overwhelming support in this country for medical marijuana, and the growing support for recreational legalization.
Yet medical marijuana seems to remain a controversial issue. Why? If polls regularly showed 95% support for medical marijuana, would that make a difference? Or is it more of a matter politicians not caring? Or beyond that, is it a side effect of the fact that old white guys hold most of the elected positions in this country?
But times are changing. Progress may seem slow to some, but small, positive steps lead to the overall momentum we now enjoy. Legalization is inevitable as older politicians pass away and younger ones take their place.
Friday, April 1, 2011
20 UN staff killed over Florida Quran burning
An Afghan mob apparently angry over a Quran burning in Florida set upon a United Nations compound Friday, killing as many as 20 employees and setting fire to several compound buildings.
The attack, which may be the deadliest assault on the UN in Afghanistan, grew out of a protest in response to news that US pastor Terry Jones oversaw a Quran burning on March 20. Mr. Jones drew worldwide criticism last year for threatening to burn Qurans on the anniversary of 9/11.
The UN is still assessing the scope of damage and determining the exact death toll at its offices in Mazir-e-Sharif, a typically quiet city in northern Afghanistan.
In this Sept. 8, 2010 file photo, Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center speaks to reporters prior to a service at his church in Gainesville, Fla. Jones gained notoriety when the threatened to burn the Quran in September 2011.
John Raoux/AP/File
Related Stories
The UN is still assessing the scope of damage and determining the exact death toll at its offices in Mazir-e-Sharif, a typically quiet city in northern Afghanistan.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Brain Fog, reading, and music
I have just been reading an article by a woman whose fibromyalgia caused her to partially lose the ability to read music. Apparently, much like academics having trouble reading, musicians have trouble understanding music the way they did before they were diagnosed.
I was intrigued by this article, because I am having a terrible time reading and understanding much of anything. I haven't been able to read any books, but can digest short articles as long as they aren't too technical. You can find the story about the musician here. There are lots of comments at the end that are interesting also.
Try not to be too discouraged if you are struggling with reading and comprehending things that were previously like second nature. This is all a part of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
I was intrigued by this article, because I am having a terrible time reading and understanding much of anything. I haven't been able to read any books, but can digest short articles as long as they aren't too technical. You can find the story about the musician here. There are lots of comments at the end that are interesting also.
Try not to be too discouraged if you are struggling with reading and comprehending things that were previously like second nature. This is all a part of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
New computer
Well, I have received my new (to me) computer and am familiarizing myself with all its features. I spent hours today trying to install a printer, without success. I will work on it some more tomorrow. It also looks like I will need a microphone in order to use my MagicTalk program.
Anyway, it is primarily able to take care of all my needs for blogging, email, and documents. I may try and install some shareware or freeware. It did come with the full suite of microsoft office, including publisher, so that's great.
Back to playing with my new toy.
Anyway, it is primarily able to take care of all my needs for blogging, email, and documents. I may try and install some shareware or freeware. It did come with the full suite of microsoft office, including publisher, so that's great.
Back to playing with my new toy.
Insomnia
Insomnia is one of the major debilitating factors of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. When the body doesn't enter REM sleep, it cannot heal. Along with the various other symptoms of FMS and CFS there is what is often termed a "stage-four sleep disorder."
This prevents the body from entering the fourth stage of sleep, or REM sleep. Just as the brain starts to shift gears into REM, it is yanked back into wakefulness, thereby depriving the body of needed healing.
You will often find me blogging, or surfing the net when I am unable to write, in the wee hours of the morning. No matter how tired I am, I can't rest. No matter how many hours I spend in bed, I am not really getting the sleep that I need. I continue to have the hope that some day I will fall asleep and rest peacefully, waking up refreshed and clear-headed instead of still exhausted.
This type of insomnia is virtually ubiquitous among FMS and CFS sufferers. Although I prefer the term strugglers to sufferers, since it denotes the active way we fight to live with these conditions. To merely suffer implies passivity, and those of us who have lived like this for more than a few years are definitely not passive.
NOTE: A friend of mine, and an expert on FMS/CFS, has informed me that it is not REM sleep, but the deeper stages of sleep without dreams that are disrupted in the stage-four sleep disorder found in these conditions.
This prevents the body from entering the fourth stage of sleep, or REM sleep. Just as the brain starts to shift gears into REM, it is yanked back into wakefulness, thereby depriving the body of needed healing.
You will often find me blogging, or surfing the net when I am unable to write, in the wee hours of the morning. No matter how tired I am, I can't rest. No matter how many hours I spend in bed, I am not really getting the sleep that I need. I continue to have the hope that some day I will fall asleep and rest peacefully, waking up refreshed and clear-headed instead of still exhausted.
This type of insomnia is virtually ubiquitous among FMS and CFS sufferers. Although I prefer the term strugglers to sufferers, since it denotes the active way we fight to live with these conditions. To merely suffer implies passivity, and those of us who have lived like this for more than a few years are definitely not passive.
NOTE: A friend of mine, and an expert on FMS/CFS, has informed me that it is not REM sleep, but the deeper stages of sleep without dreams that are disrupted in the stage-four sleep disorder found in these conditions.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Food for pot program
I just found out that the Kern County Medicinal Collective has an ongoing food drive. The Collective is a medical marijuana cooperative. If you bring in six cans of undented and unexpired food, they will give you one marijuana joint.
Sounds like a win-win situation for those in need in the community. You can find out more about the Kern County Medicinal Collective through a recurring ad on this blog. Just watch the side-bar for their ad or go to http://www.kcmcinc.com/
Indiana Senate votes to ban same-sex marriage
The Indiana Senate approved a proposed amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions this afternoon by a vote of 40-10.
If the General Assembly passes the measure again in 2013 or 2014, it would go to the voters in 2014, before the state constitution can be amended. The Indiana House already approved the measure.
Democratic Sen. Tim Lanane of Anderson argued that attitudes toward same-sex marriages are rapidly changing and the amendment would make it difficult for future changes in state law.
Current state law prohibits gay marriages. Amendment sponsor Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn says the measure would provide maximum protection for the basic family unit of society.
Some major Indiana corporations, including Eli Lilly and Co. and Cummins, oppose the amendment saying it will make it harder to draw top talent to the state.
Read the rest of the story here.
If the General Assembly passes the measure again in 2013 or 2014, it would go to the voters in 2014, before the state constitution can be amended. The Indiana House already approved the measure.
Democratic Sen. Tim Lanane of Anderson argued that attitudes toward same-sex marriages are rapidly changing and the amendment would make it difficult for future changes in state law.
Current state law prohibits gay marriages. Amendment sponsor Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn says the measure would provide maximum protection for the basic family unit of society.
Some major Indiana corporations, including Eli Lilly and Co. and Cummins, oppose the amendment saying it will make it harder to draw top talent to the state.
Read the rest of the story here.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Japanese radiation reaches Nevada
RENO, Nev. -- Nevada has joined several western states in reporting that minuscule amounts of radiation from Japan's damaged nuclear plant are showing up. But as with the other states, scientists say there is no health risk.
Extremely small amounts of the radioactive isotopes iodine-131 and xenon-133 reached a monitoring station by Las Vegas' Atomic Testing Museum this week, said Ted Hartwell, manager of the Desert Research Institute's Community Environmental Monitoring Program. Hartwell said he's certain the isotopes came from Japan because they're not usually detected in Nevada. But he said the readings were far below levels that could pose any health risks.
Read the rest of the story here.
Extremely small amounts of the radioactive isotopes iodine-131 and xenon-133 reached a monitoring station by Las Vegas' Atomic Testing Museum this week, said Ted Hartwell, manager of the Desert Research Institute's Community Environmental Monitoring Program. Hartwell said he's certain the isotopes came from Japan because they're not usually detected in Nevada. But he said the readings were far below levels that could pose any health risks.
Read the rest of the story here.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Japan Nuclear Plant Has Much Higher Radiation Levels
Leaked water sampled from one unit Sunday was 100,000 times more radioactive than normal background levels — though the Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, first calculated an even higher, erroneous, figure that it didn’t correct for several hours.
Tepco apologized Sunday night when it realized the mistake; it had initially reported radiation levels in the leaked water from the unit 2 reactor as being 10 million times higher than normal, which prompted an evacuation of the building.
After the levels were correctly measured, airborne radioactivity in the unit 2 turbine building still remained so high that a worker there would reach his yearly occupational exposure limit in 15 minutes.
The latest confusion in the operation to stave off a full-scale nuclear meltdown at the crippled facility underscores the immense challenges for the several hundred workers in a desperate battle to restart the critical cooling systems.
Seventeen workers have been exposed to high levels of radiation, including three who were hospitalized last week, as technicians conducted highly nuanced electrical work in dark conditions that one nuclear industry expert termed “hellish.”
Read the rest of the story here.
Tepco apologized Sunday night when it realized the mistake; it had initially reported radiation levels in the leaked water from the unit 2 reactor as being 10 million times higher than normal, which prompted an evacuation of the building.
After the levels were correctly measured, airborne radioactivity in the unit 2 turbine building still remained so high that a worker there would reach his yearly occupational exposure limit in 15 minutes.
The latest confusion in the operation to stave off a full-scale nuclear meltdown at the crippled facility underscores the immense challenges for the several hundred workers in a desperate battle to restart the critical cooling systems.
Seventeen workers have been exposed to high levels of radiation, including three who were hospitalized last week, as technicians conducted highly nuanced electrical work in dark conditions that one nuclear industry expert termed “hellish.”
Read the rest of the story here.
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