We know we shouldn't be flip, but having viewed TDS too many times, we can't resist. To have kept things interesting (and flip)during Mr. Obama's press conference on health care he just needed to say two words: 'Medical Marijuana'. And the resultant sales tax on the sales of the same would in itself pay for most of healthcare. Of course, most Americans are opposed to legalizing the medicinal use in all 50 states. Which is true, we just can't have half of the population high on medical marijuana half the time - it is just too dangerous. Also, it is too comical. Can you imagine characters like Jay and Silent Bob (from the Kevin Smith movies) on almost every street corner - or storefront - in America. Or worse, Harold and Kumar stereotypes. Or - much worse - Cheech & Chong stereotypes in every college town in America. Gosh, its kind of sad, isn't it? Reducing the nation's health care reform to this kind of ridiculous portrayal. Will the health care reform have to go the way of the medical marijuana sales tax to pay for itself? Probably not. However, the sales tax on beer, wine, liquor, spirits, tobacco, pornography, sugar, fast foods and other pleasures will probably be raised to help pay for the reform. Oh, or raise taxes on the rich to help pay for the reform? Huh? What did you say? You changed your mind to legalizing medical marijuana to pay for the reform? We thought you would give in.
Anyway, regarding the political firestorm growing out of the Gates' arrest (and Obama's outrage), see the links below. Also, see our posting of yesterday (which was published before the press conference...don't worry, our prescience does not make this a 'Blog of Note'...): 'Gating Dr. Gates'.
Oh, and don't panic, but check out the links to the latest on the H1N1 Pandemic. Medical marijuana probably won't be helpful here - except to reduce any levels of panic.
And the unemployed may have no reason to fear drug testing for medical marijuana, because
Many unemployed giving up
http://www.yahoo.com/s/1104441
Black scholar arrest angers Obama
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164862.stm
'THE POLICE ACTED STUPIDLY': Obama Jumps Into the Race Debate
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8153681&page=1
Obama: Police 'acted stupidly' in prof's arrest
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/22/harvard.gates.interview/index.html
Obama says police acted 'stupidly' in arrest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_harvard_scholar;_ylt=Ana29zX4t6zXW1jpUWlllAkEtbAF
Gates’ Daughter Speaks Out (CBS)
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5181954n
Cop: Obama remark disappoints
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32092715/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/
http://www.yahoo.com/s/1104441
Black scholar arrest angers Obama
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164862.stm
'THE POLICE ACTED STUPIDLY': Obama Jumps Into the Race Debate
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8153681&page=1
Obama: Police 'acted stupidly' in prof's arrest
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/22/harvard.gates.interview/index.html
Obama says police acted 'stupidly' in arrest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_harvard_scholar;_ylt=Ana29zX4t6zXW1jpUWlllAkEtbAF
Gates’ Daughter Speaks Out (CBS)
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5181954n
Cop: Obama remark disappoints
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32092715/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/
Gating Dr. Gates
http://americanpoliticalhandbook.blogspot.com/2009/07/gating-dr-gates-and-more-for-wednesday.html
Obama defends healthcare reforms
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164177.stm
Obama turns health push into a snoozer
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/23/2005548.aspx
Feds bust mayors, others in huge N.J. graft sweep
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32103250/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
The Ann Arbor News hits the streets for last time
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_us/us_ann_arbor_news_goodbye;_ylt=AiYoefTXw.4rJxuFAsBbVhis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlNDVqY21sBHBvcwM3MARzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3Vfc19uZXdzBHNsawN0aGVhbm5hcmJvcm4-
US pessimistic on Iran overtures
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8165265.stm
Iran opposition leader's brother-in-law arrested
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election;_ylt=AkFx_E1qo4XB1hkG0uP8J6ys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFicmtxcWtmBHBvcwM1NgRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3dvcmxkBHNsawNpcmFub3Bwb3NpdGk-
Bin Laden son 'believed killed'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164763.stm
Saad Bin Laden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saad_Bin_Laden
Mumbai suspect trial to proceed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8164279.stm
Ajmal Qasab
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmal_Qasab
Wall Street jacks up pay after bailouts
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32099693/ns/business-washington_post/
Schwarzenegger wields knife, touts cuts
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32099641/ns/us_news-life/
Karadzic asks for DNA from graves
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/23/karadzic-war-crimes.html
Radovan Karadzic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radovan_Karad%C5%BEi%C4%87
Atleo wins AFN election
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/23/afn-national-chief-vote-ballot752.html
Shawn Atleo
http://www.shawnatleo.com/
This Article Will Self-destruct: Tool To Make Online Personal Data Vanish
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721113309.htm
Vanish Paper & Prototype
http://vanish.cs.washington.edu/
New Statistical Tool Identifies Predictable Economic Variables
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721091824.htm
How To Maintain The Integrity And Accessibility Of Research Data
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722120830.htm
Ensuring the Integrity, Accessibility, and Stewardship of Research Data in the Digital Age
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12615
Artificial Noise Saves Energy For Computer Network Providers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624093734.htm
RIM warns Mideast customers of spyware
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/rim-uae-spyware-blackberry.html
B.C. Taser inquiry to issue report
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/23/bc-braidwood023.html
UK space sector 'to double value'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8164776.stm
Tamiflu-resistant swine flu case found in Canada
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090722/ap_on_he_me/cn_canada_swine_flu;_ylt=ApO6b87pQdQjX5BOprQ5Ki.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkMHNuaTdzBHBvcwMxNTUEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9oZWFsdGgEc2xrA3RhbWlmbHUtcmVzaQ--
Flu infects 100,000 in past week (BBC UK)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8163930.stm
Swine flu fears prompt Hajj curbs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8164535.stm
Hajj
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajj
Biodiesel On The Wing: A 'Green' Process For Biodiesel From Feather Meal
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722110903.htm
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