bike 1, car 0

I just got into my first car v. bike. While I'm not happy that the guy changed lanes right in front of me, I do like how as I ran into it, the left horn of my pursuit bars skewered his right brake light, shattering that piece on the road.

I have to admit, though, that I do feel a little bad about the situation. The kid was just moving here, probably isn't used to bikes on the road and was super nice about the whole deal. His sister, Jody, is a COM student, I came to learn. I think I may look her up so I can get in touch with this dude and see if I can help him out with his car at all. Really, super nice guy.

-steve

marijuana

I don't know if anybody else heard this, but it's news to me and it's pretty sweet.

First I'll hit you with some links.

Article that has a good read on what went down. It also has a video after the jump that's not that bad aside from the excessive bongos, stupid reporting and interview with dumb high people. Yes, there's boobs near the end too (about 3:45).

Also, there are some youtube videos. Downside: obligatory pot referencing song. Upside: zero interaction with the population. Take a look at the related videos too as some of those may be decent as well.

Alright, now I'll hit you with some opinions.

1. Pot should be legalized. Look at this. 10,000 people got together and smoked marijuana. NOT ONE OF THEM GOT ARRESTED. Meanwhile, half as many people gather in East Lansing and we have dozens of arrests (hundreds in the past) as well as obvious acts of violence. Sure, this was in Boulder, CO and not E.L., which says something, but the sentiment still remains.

2. Pot should be regulated and taxed. Put in safety and quality control, educate the public about the harmful pulmonary effects and tax the shit out of them. One 20ct. box could easily sell for 5-10$, about 25-75% of which could be pure tax revenue. Trillions of dollars of debt? This may not erase it, but it sure as hell would help.

3. Hippies still suck.

4. Tie die is still ugly.

5. The only way for legalization to take place is for the majority of people who advocate it to STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN. Yes, what you are advocating for has, for a long time, been illegal. Yes, by advocating the legalization of a controlled substance everybody understands that it is likely because you enjoy it when you can, illegally. Yes, the substance that you are advocating the legalization of makes you stupid. You still don't have to act like the dumb little 8 year old who just found his dad's stash of porn who feels excited and guilty at the same time. Calm the fuck down. Stop saying things like, "get baked," "smoke reefer," and "are the brownies magical?" and start saying "get high," (even now accepted and understood language) and "smoke marijuana." Politicians don't refer to alcohol as "booze." If politicians are ever going to listen to advocates, they have to start using the words that the politicians use: high, weed, marijuana. Drop the jargon, you sound like an idiot.

6. In accordance with the above, people need to stop acting like idiots regarding weed, too. Hackie sack is lame, frisbees are for dogs only and your music sounds like shit. Phish is for assholes.

7. Old people smoke pot too. Stop encouraging your asshole friends to start speaking up. Nobody cares how many stupid, punk 18-24 year old white, male college students you have speaking up for marijuana legalization (and even less for minorities). Get the 40-50+ crowd involved. Get the people who KNOW HOW THE WORLD WORKS and aren't overly idealistic to start the conversation with the politicians who are, in more respects than for the younger crowd, their PEERS.

8. Hippies still suck. It needed to be said again.

-steve

good things

...tend to happen when you have a large amount of music on your computer.

Especially when it's rediscovering great songs that you have forgotten about.

Like this:

 

Huzzah for 22,290 items in iTunes.

-steve

so there's more to the story

That previous post about the Yale student's art project just got a bit more interesting. Head here to read up on the latest press releases. Apparently she's saying two things to two different groups of people (administrators and, er, the general public).

The fact, though, that a couple of Yale Deans still think this has happened in the way that it's been presented (which I hope isn't the case) kind of confuses me. I'm sure that everything will come out in the end (pun definitely not intended - that would be gross). Until then, I guess I'm just going to buckle up and hope both that this really is art and that it doesn't get stifled if that's all it is.

-steve

umm... wow?

Make sure you go here when your stomach isn't full.

I'm all for art, and I'm all for women's choice, but this combination of the two seems wrong if only because it's simply unnecessary.

-steve

[edit]

Apparently, it's just performance art.  According to the Yale Office of Public Affairs (page may change)...

Ms. Shvarts is engaged in performance art.  Her art project includes visual representations, a press release and other narrative materials.  She stated to three senior Yale University officials today, including two deans, that she did not impregnate herself and that she did not induce any miscarriages.  The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman's body.

She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art.

Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns.

Thank goodness.