Monday, 26 October 2009
Exposing the colour of prejudice
The answer to that question may seem obvious now after decades of slow and uneven progress towards racial equality and enlightenment.
It would have seemed very different 50 years ago to the white Texan writer John Howard Griffin, when he embarked on one of the most remarkable one-man social and psychological experiments in history.
Griffin was the white man who fooled hundreds of Americans into believing he was a black man as he travelled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia - and who felt at first hand the bigotry that meant.
In later life, the six-week venture - described in his book Black Like Me - was to expose him to the hatred and violence that underpinned that bigotry, too.
When he toured the South lecturing to white audiences about his experiences as a black man, he was threatened, intimidated and, on at least one occasion, seriously beaten.
Bong Water illegal in Minnesota
The lesson is clear: If you live in Minnesota, and you happen to own a bong, be sure to pour out the water after each use.
Bong water is now officially a controlled substance in Minnesota, according to a state Supreme Court ruling last week. An Associated Press report by Steve Karnowski in the Minneapolis Star Tribune said the decision “raises the threat of longer sentences for drug smokers who fail to dump the water out of their pipes.”
@'Addiction Inbox'
Slightly strange this story as the water tested positive for methamphetamine not cannabis! In a 4-3 decision Thursday, the state's highest court said a person can be prosecuted for a first-degree drug crime for 25 grams or more of bong water that tests positive for a controlled substance.
Nick Griffin attacked by his own BNP supporters over Question Time
As a public postmortem into one of the most divisive broadcasts in the corporation's history attempted to gauge its impact on the party's fortunes, Lee Barnes, the BNP's legal officer, accused Griffin of "failing to press the attack" during the televised debate, which was watched by a record 8 million people. Others sympathetic to the BNP's views expressed dismay at Griffin's flustered attempts to appeal to the mainstream.
Scientists study possible health benefits of LSD and ecstasy
The emergence of a community that passes the drugs between users on the basis of friendship, support and need – with money rarely involved – comes amid a resurgence of research into the possible therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. This is leading to a growing optimism among those using the drugs that soon they may be able to obtain medicines based on psychedelics from their doctor, rather than risk jail for taking illicit drugs.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Cheney's blood lust
There is something Greek about the Cheney family’s obsessive persecution of President Obama. Ancient Greek, that is. It recalls the vindictive persecution of the House of Atreus by the Furies in Aeschylus’ great trilogy of tragic plays, The Oresteia. The Cheneys’ Fury-like pursuit of Obama is relentless, irrational, and unforgiving.
Why I don't go out much...
I LOVE IT!
GREAT NEWS FOLKS
...speaking to a philosophy student earlier who brought up Peter Singer. "Vegetarian?" I asked, yes she said. Wear leather shoes I asked "Only second hand" she replied!
THE COW DOESN'T GET KILLED TWICE!
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Should you be in Berlin tonight...
Location: St.Georg
Street: Ritterstrasse 26 (Aqua-Butzke Höfe), Berlin
DJs
Mark Stewart (Bristol)
Max Dax (Spex)
Professor ERIC D.CLARK
iGedget (Beatevolution)
Grizzly Adams
Jose Fox (Lissabon)
DSB (London)
€ 5