Looks like we could use an open thread.
Sending people to prison just for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit.
It’s time that we right these wrongs. pic.twitter.com/0avI1FmWf9
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 20, 2024
.
Those upset by the sight of Ukrainian flags in Congress after the funding bill passed, are the same people who didn’t blink an eye when insurrectionists were running around the Capitol with Confederate and Trump banners.
Take your outrage and shove it.
— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) April 21, 2024
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NEW: VoteVets On House Passage Of Aid To Ukraine
“Ukraine has gone above and beyond to hold Putin back, and keep Europe and America from having to fight a wider war…We urge swift passage in the Senate. Ukraine can not afford to wait any longer.” pic.twitter.com/1ihVPKyDDS
— VoteVets (@votevets) April 20, 2024
Anybody still up?
War for Ukraine Day 788: Kharkiv Is Attacked Again
fake irishman
Yep. Not for long though.
*turns off lights.*
PS: First? (Am I doing it right?)
Ishiyama
If you knew the many thankless years my cohorts and I rallied, protested, and campaigned to end marijuana prohibition. I have lived to see the beginning of the end of this folly.
Lyrebird
@fake irishman: TIme to turn of the lights here, too. and yes, you are!
prostratedragon
Born to Kill, a thorough survey of psyvhopathologies, which TCM is showing now. Much of the dialog is that good.
beef
@fake irishman:
Yep, a solid effort. But have you considered going old school and spelling it ‘Frist’?
Poe Larity
If TFG can sleep in court, is it disrespectful if I sleep in the comments?
AntiCliche
“underminded”. sigh. maybe it’s some kind of wordplay?
HumboldtBlue
I’m gonna go smoke a bowl.
In honor of Brandon Marsh, who made a fan’s night during White Sox v Phillies.
WaterGirl
@Ishiyama: it’s long past time. Good on Joe for taking this further than he has already.
sometimes I think Biden must be the best delegator of all time. This administration gets so much done.
some bosses delegate tasks, and some delegate authority. I think Biden is good at doing the latter, which some bosses are too insecure to do.
West of the Rockies
Is hope allowed in this thread?
WaterGirl
@West of the Rockies: Yes!
WaterGirl
@West of the Rockies:
There is a lot that’s fucked up, but there is plenty to be hopeful about, much more than last week.
wjca
The idea of taking TIFG as any kind of role model makes my teeth hurt.
Melancholy Jaques
@HumboldtBlue:
Recently some friends and I were having a “now that it’s legal” discussion. I was trying to remember the last time I indulged and I could not. It’s got to be 30 or more years ago.
Dare I do it again?
Anotherlurker
Apropos of nothing. The Mets are hot right now! Whenever they can take 2 out of 3 from the Braves and Dodgers gives me hope for the season.
However, they are the Mets so I’m expecting heartbreak to be on the horizon.
Until then, Go Mets!
Narya
About to head to sleep…local radio station played album sides (on vinyl) 12-12 today. Ending w Cheap Trick live. Funding for Ukraine and Joe tweeting at 4:20 to decriminalize. Thanks for sending me to Nod on a good note (though not a high note because it’s not my jam).
karen marie
@Melancholy Jaques: Do it!
Being able to walk into a store and buy it is incredible. I am too old to be standing on a corner waiting for the man.
Last week I made ghee so I could make sole Meuniere. Once you have the ghee, the sole is dead simple – 10 minutes, start to finish. It was so delicious, when I was at the store I bought some more sole and made it again, accompanied by a salad with avocado, green onion, tomato, and raw fresh corn, and a lime dressing.
I ate very slowly and savored every bite.
West of the Rockies
@Melancholy Jaques:
I haven’t indulged in 8 years. Might try edibles. I liked the ritual of smoking, but not what it did to my lungs and throat. Plus, it was very hit or miss as far as an enjoyable buzz went.
HumboldtBlue
@Melancholy Jaques:
I would be very fucking careful (said with that Richard Pryor knowing look) because this ain’t yo’ daddy’s weed, this is cannabis and if you need some indica gelato lemonade bomb strike or the purple jelly bean smoothie start lightly.
Chet Murthy
@HumboldtBlue: Haha, I am reminded of Maureen Dowd’s [spit] experiences w/edibles in a Denver hotel room.
coin operated
@West of the Rockies: Cut your edibles into quarters and start that way. My first foray I took a whole 10mg Indica gummy…I became one with the recliner so hard I freaked mrs coin out just a little bit.
Chet Murthy
@coin operated: I think there’s a subtext there that the first few times you consume, you’d better make sure you’re not alone ? Or am I reading too much into your comment ?
coin operated
@Chet Murthy: No…my comment was meant to tell people to ease into it. YOLO isn’t a good way to jump back into cannabis consumption.
lgerard
@Anotherlurker:
All 20 of the Mets games have been against teams with winning records while the Barves and Philthies have been beating up on cupcakes
LFGM!
HumboldtBlue
@lgerard:
Nothing better than a Mets fan in April.
Chet Murthy
@HumboldtBlue: I’m no baseball fan, but boy it’s funny watching that!
jame
Edibles are great, but there has been a revolution in weed horticulture — it’s extremely high-powered, and I’d advise those that haven’t partaken in decades to go real slow.
I see others have already given that advice.
AlaskaReader
More good news.
The Biden administration on Friday moved to block a proposed 200-mile road in Northwest Alaska, and also said it would increase protections to halt oil and gas development in much of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Both actions are a reversal of steps taken under Donald Trump’s administration to open up land in the NPR-A for oil and gas development and permitting the Ambler Road right of way.
This is a real big deal. A whole lot more than 13 million acres of big deal.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski in an interview Thursday said the actions are a “kick in the gut for Alaska.”
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan told reporters on Thursday that the Biden administration was sending a message to foreign adversaries such as China that America won’t use its resources to strengthen itself.
On social media Friday, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola called Biden’s action on Ambler Road “premature” and said the administration’s NPR-A decision “is a huge step back for Alaska, failing to strike a balance between the need for gap oil and natural gas and legitimate environmental concerns, and steamrolling the voices of many Alaska Natives in the decision-making process.”
Yeah, well, …all three of them can stuff it. Dan, Lisa and Mary would rather the world ends in fire so long as their multinational corporate handlers can profit today.
We’d all be better off with sacking all three for replacements who are human.
Ishiyama
With today’s weed, “all you need is one hit; just one sledgehammer” (thanks, Grace).
trollhattan
I’m okay with jailing somebody for weed possession, so long as I don’t personally like them. Take Mitch, for example.
Parfigliano
@Melancholy Jaques: Gummies. Save your lungs
NotMax
You’re kidding, right?
Jager
@Ishiyama:
I had a nasty bout of sciatica. a friend gave me a gummy, Instant sleep, and a couple of hours later, I had to pee. the master bathroom is about 4 feet from my side of the bed, staggered, held to the vanity, and had to sit down to pee. Far out, maaaaan.
sab
@NotMax: Is it even late where you are?
sab
@jame: My last use was in 1978 or 1979. Watching my age group reintroduce themselves to it has been a bit shocking. They get absolutely wasted. I think I will leave it to the kids.
ETA But I have seen it as a real palliative drug for friends and relatives going through cancer treatments. And a much better alternative for folks with drug and alcohol addiction issues.
NotMax
@sab
Just sitting down to a nibble of din-din.
Wasn’t hungry earlier. Did a little more than the usual cooking earlier today and the prep always saps my appetite for hours after.
NotMax
@sab
No less than 50 years ago for this guy. More of a social exercise; never got anything in the way of effects others described.
sab
@NotMax: I remember sitting in a car at a traffic light on a first date, debating which color of light meant it was okay to go. He was from NYC and I was from Ohio and we were in Tennessee. His stuff was much stronger than anything I was used to. Last time for me.
NotMax
@sab
Murder at the Vanities, Marihuana.
sab
@NotMax: You are amazing. How do you find these things?
NotMax
@sab
Heh. That would be telling.
:)
MagdaInBlack
@NotMax: Dear lord, that’s awful! 🤗
NotMax
@MagdaInBlack
:)
Can’t argue with that.
sab
@MagdaInBlack: Yes. I cannot wait to show it to my husband when he wakes up.
MagdaInBlack
@sab: When I visit my dispensary, I am always struck by the cross-section of ages in the line. I kinda think the “go nuts and party cause we can now” phase will pass for those taking that route. Its the silliness of a forbidden thing suddenly being ok. For me, it’s never been a party thing. Its a smoke a bit and read/listen to music thing.
My friends who do indulge are all pretty amused that we can order ahead and pick it up no fuss no muss. And that we get a SS discount. 😉
Also @sab: LOL, oh i’ve sent it to several friends already
HumboldtBlue
Rowan Atkinson interviews Elton John.
sab
@MagdaInBlack: We all have different needs.
It has been a miracle drug for my husband with his back issues (reconstructed spine with permanent infection issues because of hardware in his spine. ) If they take out the hardware the bottom third of his spine is gone. He is in constant pain and cannabis is a huge help.
Me, I am just a dingbat and don’t need drugs to make me more of a dingbat.
sab
@sab: If I remember correctly, the whole anti-marijuana drug war was an attack on Mexican migrant laborers who used it because they had back pain from their farm work. Hearst papers went after the non-existent drug problem because as racists they wanted the Mexican farm workers gone.
Hearsts ran newspapers not farms. They did not know and did not care that Mexican farmworkers were absolutely essential to California farming.
The Hearst guys were every bit as ignorant as the Murdochs and Tucker Carlsons. Too much influence and too much money and too few brain cells
ETA Also too much racism.
Betty Cracker
Medical pot has been legal in Florida for several years, but I never tried it until our snowbird neighbors shared theirs at a bonfire party a few years back. I was surprised at how strong it is!
MagdaInBlack
@Betty Cracker: Yes, a little goes a very long way. It ain’t your random bag of who knows what.
sab
@Betty Cracker: My husband is unfazed but I am thinking Yikes! But I haven’t tried it and don’t intend to. I have too much problems with alcohol to move on to other things.
MagdaInBlack
Relevant to nuthin: I am so fascinated with “Fallout” that I have been on a binge of watching youtube Fallout lore videos. I love that there’s a whole backstory to these shows.
Betty Cracker
I’m working on getting a legal pot card of my own. It’s pretty easy — you just gotta jump through some diagnostic hoops and pay fees. The neighbors coached me. At the next bonfire party, I’ll be able to join the discussions about the merits of local dispensaries and hybrid weed varieties. I wish my mom had lived to see it. She was an old hippie and would have been right at home with the pothead snowbirds. 😊
sab
When my mom died twelve years ago I was completely devastated for years.
My dad died last week and I am sad but also relieved. His last months were horrible for him. My dad was a lovely kind man and I was lucky to have him as a father. But we didn’t have much in common. My oldest sister was his soul mate and she is as devastated as I was when Mom died.
Moving Dad’s stuff out of his new nursing home was surprisingly painful. It is a lovely place and I had expected to spend many hours visiting him there. I visited him in the old place but I always felt I was intruding instead of welcomed. I couldn’t wait to leave. Not so in his new place. So welcoming and comfortable.
MagdaInBlack
@Betty Cracker: She’d be scrolling the websites for the best deals and discounts. Here in Illinois, I’ve found that the discounts cancel out most of the excessive sales taxes
sab
I had two issues of concern voting for Biden. Too hostile to medical marijuana (aka the gateway drug.) Too friendly to (Bibi’s) Israel.
He has come around on both issues. Science fixed him on one, Bibi’s bad behavior on the other.
sab
For jackals placing parents in nursing homes. Do not go by word of mouth referrals from friends and family only. Check online. Do research. There are really nice places out there. Do your research and find them.
Jeffg166
@sab: There will never be a perfect candidate. I am more than happy with Joe’s ability to get done what he’s gotten done. He exceeded my expectations.
sab
@Jeffg166: So much yes. I liked him in general, but I was stuck on two issues. Then reality intruded and he changed. I really like candidates that think and are not welded to their issues or simply lying. Biden is firmly but not unreasonably committed to his issues but he can and does change with new facts.
Martin
@MagdaInBlack: My favorite Fallout let’s player. Well done edited playthrough videos from someone who *really* loves Fallout and Fallout lore.
It’s a little hard to disaggregate the lore from the games. He has playthroughs of all of them so you can start with his Fallout 1 series which he plays through a bit as a retrospective, as well as Fallout 2. He has multiple playthroughs of all the others, but I think he has a pretty thorough straight playthrough of Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76.
It’s a mix of the game, some game theory (the nature of the games have changed which affect people’s opinions of them) and lore. Characters do sometimes carry forward from game to game, there are usually some light references to previous games which help stitch a somewhat broader story. Watching a playthrough of the game can probably also contextualize the importance of various elements in the show – comics, etc. because of the specific role they play in the game.
MagdaInBlack
@Martin: Thank you.
eclare
@sab:
Biden’s ability to evolve is amazing. Most people, as they get older, become more stubborn in their views. He has done 180’s on more than one issue. I admire that so much.
Betty Cracker
Biden will be in Tampa next week. From the Tampa Bay Times:
Good for him. I don’t know if the campaign will make a serious play for Florida, but it’s smart to proceed as if it is. Forces Repubs to play defense on what they’ve been crowing is “their” territory, and it boosts local Dems.
DeSantis and other MAGA turds are lying about the abortion rights ballot initiative. I hope Biden calls them out.
TBone
Per Heather Cox Richardson today. I say Russian Warship, GO FUCK YOURSELF:
Geminid
Capitol Hill correspondent Jamie Dupree has a good article about yesterday’s House votes, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dupree mainly focused on Georgia’s House delegation. The breakdown there was 9-5 in favor of Ukraine aid, 11-3 in favor of the Israel/humanitarian aid bill, and 12-2 for the Taiwan/Indo-Pacific bill.
Dupree gave the home towns of the Representatives, as in “Buddy Carter (Saint Simons Island).” And guess what? The only two Georgia Representatives voting against all three bills were Andrew Clyde (Athens) and Marjorie Greene (Rome).
TBone
@sab: my father put my brother in charge of mom (dementia) in his Last Will and Testament. Huge mistake. My brother illegally put his wife in charge (only my brother had Power of Attorney) and she hoarded my mother’s money, depriving and neglecting her horribly. They did, however, hire two attorneys to fight ME. I had to fight like hell, only partially successful because I was so outnumbered. Gah. Horrible memories. They put her in two horrible facilities and mom was abused in both, suffering a broken hip at both locations. Be careful is right!!!
After inheriting, they bought a mansion and are living happily ever after 🤬
Betty Cracker
@Geminid: Kind of surprised Athens GA is repped by a Republican creep like Clyde since it’s a big college town. Gerrymandering! Same way Gainesville, FL got Yoho and now Carmack, I guess.
Rome GA is less surprising. It’s beautiful country but populated with too many of the sort of folks who would vote for a dumb freak show like Moscow Marge.
TBone
@sab: hugs and gentle vibes to you
TBone
@Betty Cracker: on our last vacation to Mt. Desert Island in Maine, I went to the dispensary and, for the first time ever, bought really great weed at a store, just as God intended. Upon my questioning, I was advised which was best for daytime and which would help me sleep. The dispensary was located between a bakery and an ice cream parlor, these folks know what they’re doing! Afterwards, we took a trip over the Island, the mainland, and the ocean in a tiny puddle jumper airplane. Best vacation evah!
TBone
@prostratedragon: 💙
Barbara
@sab: Condolences to you and your sister. Regret is such a hard emotion to manage. I hope you can focus on your happier memories.
Raven
@Betty Cracker: my friends are down there now scoring on their daughters card
Geminid
@Betty Cracker: Athens is like Charlottesville, a liberal college town in a red Congressional district represented by Bob Good.*
I see that Sparta, Georgia is represented by 10th CD Congressman Mike Collins (R). Sparta is 82% Black, but that’s just 1100 out of 1,350 people. And like the original Sparta, this one is south of Athens and southeast of Rome.
*Fun fact: Marjorie Greene was scheduled to campaign in Good’s district yesterday. She’s trying to help state Senator John McGuire beat Good in the June primary. But she had to “Put-in” some time in DC.
Raven
@Geminid: He’s such a fucking asshole. He owns a local gun store shaped like a fort.
Raven
@Geminid: They are trying to take over our local government too. The murder of Laken Riley by an undocumented guy is fueling the right wingers.
TBone
Too many enchiladas last night 🤣🤮🎶
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0EoOVvGV_aQ
Geminid
@Raven: What are the politics like in the county around Athens
Ed. But I guess you may br talking about Athens proper.
Betty Cracker
@TBone: Bought my first out-of-state legal weed during a visit to Oregon a couple of years ago! I was driving through a little town, saw a dispensary, locked up the brakes on my rental vehicle and flew into that store! The counter clerks were very helpful, and I ended up with far more product than I could consume in 10 days.
Geminid
@Geminid: Jamie Dupree’s AJC article about yesterday’s House votes:
Link (fixed)
Geminid
@Geminid: Jamie Dupree’s AJC article about yesterday’s House votes:
Ed. This link dors not work but it does go to the ajc.com website. Maybe it wwill work later, once the article has been posted for a while.(politics in the URL was misspelled)Link (fixed)
RevRick
@Betty Cracker: I’m not at all surprised to see blue dots swimming in a sea of red. Gerrymandering usually takes place in marginal districts, like Atlanta metro, where Georgia legislators packed and cracked a suburban district.
Raven
@Geminid: Typical Georgia rednecks with a mix of hippies!
different-church-lady
Tell it, Jack!
Geminid
@Betty Cracker: I bought my first legal weed in Alamosa, Colorado. I was a little disappointed when I got there because it turned out Alamosa is a “dry” county. But the guy at Alamosa’s medical dispensary gave me a 10% discoint card and sent me to a recreational weed store in the town of Garland, in Costilla County to the east. I think they had common ownership.
Alamosa is a really nice town to visit, one of my favorites now. Plenty of flat walking. There’s a big park two blocks from downtown that runs along the Rio Grande, also large wildlife refuges nearby that are frequented by migratory birds. Alamosa ought to be having their Crane Festival about now.
2liberal
Thank you!
S Cerevisiae
@Betty Cracker: another snowbird with a medical card here, it’s worth the cost and the hoops. I love a good sativa to help with energy and focus and a nice indica in the evening to relax and chill. Watch for the daily specials at all the dispensaries, there are some great deals.
AM in NC
@Betty Cracker: Yep, just like in Asheville, NC, the GOP cracked these cities into wedges and combined the wedges with surrounding rural areas, so the economic engines of their respective regions are totally denied any political power.
MAGA state legislatures are happy to collect the taxes of these productive individuals, but steal their representation from them.
JAFD
@AM in NC:
There’s been suggetions that when Pa Dems win the legislature, they should reapportion a ‘dumbbell’ district with State College at one end, Harrisburg at other.
Took a look in the ‘legal weed’ store in Maplewood, NJ. Dignified place, glass cases, dark blue and off-white decorating, not a price tag in sight. Like Tiffany’s. Haven’t indulged in cannibis in decades, but oneovdezedaze… Is couple of blocks from Maplewood Hobby, so quite convenient.
TBone
@Betty Cracker: takeout is a beautiful thing 😍 I have leftovers but running low after yesterday’s shenanigans 😆 no matter, it grows for free and my friends don’t let friends go without for too long, praise be! I go for long stretches completely sober. I almost never drink (maybe once a year but it’s been a 2 years dry). Sometimes I just need weed, sometimes I couldn’t care less. Yesterday was a wonderful celebration 🎉 and today I’m gonna back it up and get silly again soon.
TBone
@JAFD: hey! That’s my district! We’re not ALL Stoopid 😆
UncleEbeneezer
@coin operated: This! 2.5 mg (THC) of most edibles nowadays seems like the sweet spot for us. We’ve tried hundreds of types and brands of edibles and found that if you keep it at 2.5 mg (per person) you enjoy the effects but never really get into uncomfortable territory. I sometimes may do 5 mg pieces if I’m going to a good movie or concert and don’t have to drive, but that’s about as high as I’d go. I can’t even fathom the people who eat a whole chocolate bar that’s like 50-100 mgs.
UncleEbeneezer
Is anyone else watching Ripley on Netflix? It’s a B/W series of the Talented Mr. Ripley book. Despite being Black & White, the cinematography is absolutely stunning. Makes me really want to visit Italy. Also, it’s a very slow-burn drama the builds the tension in a very gradual way. And Adam Scott (who plays Ripley) is a really superb actor. It’s a very different approach than the 1999 film starring Matt Damon (which was great too), but it’s totally engrossing and addictive.
LiminalOwl
@sab: I’m so sorry for your loss. I remember you talking earlier about how much better the new place was. Of course it’s good that his last few days were spent there, but I so wish you’d had more time with him. May his memory be a blessing to you and yours.
Miss Bianca
@Geminid: Alamosa has always been a surprisingly (to me, anyway) cool town. I don’t get down that way much anymore, now that I’m not traveling to New Mexico regularly, but since one of my nieces just moved to Durango, maybe I’ll get over that way again more often.
Peke Daddy
@HumboldtBlue: I worked in California to ensure authorities would fairly administer and regulate Prop 215, the Compassionate Use Act. Cali established a precedent which changed perception. Best thing I ever did.
https://youtu.be/X19Fje5_Zqo?si=lyxVr_ylBQJsQQ
StringOnAStick
@West of the Rockies: Professionally grown pot is no longer hit or miss, and edibles are fantastic. I hadn’t indulged in decades until offered an edible after CO legalised and the quality of the high is greatly improved. Just be sure to tell your budtender (is to a job title!) that you’re new to it all and don’t want anything super strong. The people who use it for medical reasons use very, very strong stuff and you don’t want to go there