Month: June 2007

Disguise that took the intrepid zoologist into the crocodiles’ lair

New York governor reverses position on medical marijuana:
Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer, in a reversal of a campaign position, said Tuesday he could support legislation legalizing the use of marijuana for certain medicinal purposes.

Deadly $2 heroin targets teens – CNN.com:
DALLAS, Texas (CNN) — A cheap, highly addictive drug known as “cheese heroin” has killed 21 teenagers in the Dallas area over the past two years, and authorities say they are hoping they can stop the fad before it spreads across the nation.

“Cheese heroin” is a blend of so-called black tar Mexican heroin and crushed over-the-counter medications that contain the an

Iran moves to execute porn stars – CNN.com:
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill that could lead to the death penalty for persons convicted of working in the production of pornographic movies.

With a 148-5 vote in favor and four abstentions, lawmakers present at the Wednesday session of the 290-seat parliament approved that “producers of pornographic works and main element

China Threatens War Escalation Over Bush Handshake:

China Threatens War Escalation Over Bush Handshake
Top news story in China ignored in U.S.; Beijing furious about warming of American-Taiwanese relations
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

In an astounding development that has completely failed to register any attention amongst mainstream U.S. media, China promised to escalate preparations for war in advance of a potential conflict, after President Bush shook hands with a Taiwanese government official yesterday.

Bush shook hands and met with Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Joseph Wu, on Tuesday,

My Late tribute to Actor Charles Nelson Reilly, Died. May 27
Charles Nelson Reilly, the Tony Award winner who later became known for his ribald appearances on the “Tonight Show” and various game shows, died of complications from pneumonia on May 27. He was 76. In 1962, Reilly appeared on Broadway as Bud Frump in the original Broadway production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The role won Reilly a Tony Award. He was nominated for a Tony again for playing Cornelius in “Hello, Dolly!” In 1997 he received another nomination for directing Julie Harris and Charles Durning in a revival of “The Gin Game.” Reilly was a regular on programs like “Match Game” and “Hollywood Squares” in the 1970s and ’80s, often wearing giant glasses and colorful suits with ascots.

Louisiana town banning saggy pants; plans fines jail terms for violators:
Louisiana town banning saggy pants; plans fines jail terms for violators
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | 12:24 PM ET
DELCAMBRE, La. (AP) – It soon will be a crime in this Cajun-country town to let the waistband of your pants sag too low in public.

Mayor Carol Broussard has said he will sign an ordinance the town council approved this week setting penalties of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for being caught in pants that show undergarments or certain parts of the body.

Broussard said he has nothing against saggy pants but thinks people who wear them should use discretion. “It’s gotten way out of hand out here,” he said.

Albert Roy, the councilman who introduced the ordinance, said he thought the fine was a little steep and should be more in the $25 range, but he still favoured the measure.

“I don’t know if it will do any good, but it won’t hurt,” Roy said. “It’s obvious,

A Medical Marijuana Law Gains Momentum in Albany – June 12, 2007 – The New York Sun:
ALBANY — Following in the footsteps of Connecticut’s Legislature, New York State lawmakers are expected to approve legislation allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

The Democrat-led Assembly could pass a medical marijuana bill as early as this week, according to the bill’s main sponsor. The Republican-led Senate is expected to follow suit, lawmakers said.

It’s not clear if Governor Spitzer would support the bill. As a candidate last year, Mr. S

HERE

You just can’t trust pirates… on Flickr – Photo Sharing!:

Alcohol | Drink up | Economist.com:
Drink up
Jun 12th 2007
LUXEMBOURG glugs more than 15.5 litres of alcohol per person in a year, more than any other country. One explanation is that the duty on alcohol is relatively cheap in the tiny nation, encouraging booze tourism from its more heavily taxed neighbours. No such explanation for the Irish, however, who quaff 13.7 litres a year, according to the World Health Organisation. European countries, with their cultural acceptance of alcohol, tend to dominate the top places. In America, where stricter minumum-age requirements apply, the average person drinks 8.6 litres a year.