Medical news from Pittsburgh

Pixie dust. h/t Jerome Doolittle.

Parental guidance suggested — mature subject matter

Marijuana and the Catholic church

According to The Catholic Warrior, this is their position:

First of all, marijuana is a mind altering drug and will put one into intoxication always when using it. That is an important point, because that distinguishes marijuana from something like beer which can be used without becoming intoxicated. Marijuana however you will always become intoxicated from.

As Christians we can find in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Drunkenness in intoxication can be achieved through alcohol or other drugs. The Bible is saying here that those people who engage in drunkenness will not enter Heaven. This makes a very clear statement that marijuana can not be compatible with a Christian as marijuana can never be used without abuse.

So there you have it. He just defined “drunkards” as people who use cannabis. People who use beer — and get drunk — they are something else.

This is not my church. I do not recognize it.

WWJD?

Judge the tree by the fruit.

Listen.

Cannabis is medicine.

Bicycle song

Albert rides on.

(and on.)

(and on.)

(and on.)

Auto de fé

WaPo:

Sitting just feet from the courtroom table where he had once planned to make cases against military detainees, Air Force Col. Morris Davis instead took the witness stand to declare under oath that he felt undue pressure to hurry cases along so that the Bush administration could claim before political elections that the system was working.

* * *

Davis said he wants to wait until the cases — and the military commissions system — have a more solid legal footing. He also said that Defense Department general counsel William J. Haynes II, who announced his retirement in February, once bristled at the suggestion that some defendants could be acquitted, an outcome that Davis said would give the process added legitimacy.

“He said, ‘We can’t have acquittals,’ ” Davis said under questioning from Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Mizer, the military counsel who represents Hamdan. ” ‘We’ve been holding these guys for years. How can we explain acquittals? We have to have convictions.’ “

7 time

New age

Matter is energy is mind manifested vibration. Tune in.

Don’t mess with Major Tom.

Forgiveness is free.

Etz Chaim.

Back soon, leave a message.

Tunnel

It’s still alright.

A moment of reflection

h/t

Who will win in Pennsylvania?

Will the voters decide?

h/t ellroon.

“The omens are just stacking up, what can I say?”

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review endorses Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania’s “Democrat” primary.

The World According to Monsanto

[Full-Screen]

h/t monkeyfister and thanks to jurassicpork for reminding me

Update: If this video has disappeared, Todd Green has found replacements.

Update 2: Ellroon has found another replacement.

Happy 420

The corporate media speaks for the corporations

Not for the people.

Movin’ right along

Turn left at the fork in the road.

Et tu, Robert?

Robert Reich (h/t meme):

The formal act of endorsing a candidate is generally (and properly) limited to editorial pages and elected officials whose constituents might be influenced by their choice. The rest of us shouldn’t assume anyone cares. My avoidance of offering a formal endorsement until now has also been affected by the pull of old friendships and my reluctance as a teacher and commentator to be openly partisan. But my conscience won’t let me be silent any longer.

I believe that Barack Obama should be elected President of the United States.

Although Hillary Clinton has offered solid and sensible policy proposals, Obama’s strike me as even more so. His plans for reforming Social Security and health care have a better chance of succeeding. His approaches to the housing crisis and the failures of our financial markets are sounder than hers. His ideas for improving our public schools and confronting the problems of poverty and inequality are more coherent and compelling. He has put forward the more enlightened foreign policy and the more thoughtful plan for controlling global warming.

He also presents the best chance of creating a new politics in which citizens become active participants rather than cynical spectators. He has energized many who had given up on politics. He has engaged young people to an extent not seen in decades. He has spoken about the most difficult problems our society faces, such as race, without spinning or simplifying. He has rightly identified the armies of lawyers and lobbyists that have commandeered our democracy, and pointed the way toward taking it back.

Finally, he offers the best hope of transcending the boundaries of class, race, and nationality that have divided us. His life history exemplifies this, as do his writings and his record of public service. For these same reasons, he offers the best possibility of restoring America’s moral authority in the world.

Stupid people theater

The Boss

Bruce Springsteen (h/t MEC):

Dear Friends and Fans:

LIke most of you, I’ve been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I’ve envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that’s interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where “…nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone.”

At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man’s life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams From My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we’re proud to support Obama for President.

Oops?

Chicago Tribune (The Swamp):

Barack Obama can take some solace out of Hillary Clinton’s new television ad in Pennsylvania. At least one of her supporters featured in the spot hammering Obama for his small town comments isn’t registered to vote in Pennsylvania.

Clyde Thomas, who sports a goatee in the ad and says, “the good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said,” is actually registered in New Jersey. He voted there for Clinton Feb. 5. He only recently moved to Bethlehem, Pa.

Not a song about Pittsburgh.

This could make a difference

Quite an endorsement!

Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian,

Based on the experiences that I have had in my seventy-five years and my assessment of what I think our nation needs to make real the change that is so needed, I am proud and now feel compelled to endorse Senator Barack Obama.

This is not something that I do regularly but as I listen to the candidates in this race, I am struck that we continue to hear about the problems and the same challenges that we have been talking about for decades. Protecting jobs here in Pennsylvania, breaking our dangerous and costly addiction to foreign oil, making health care accessible and affordable – these are neither new issues nor new ideas. And yet we have failed to make real progress.

As a grandfather and a citizen of this community I think Barack Obama’s, thoughtful, strategic approach is important for America. When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is best for them which is to inspire them to be great Americans.

This time, we can’t afford to wait. Our country needs a new direction and a new kind of leadership – the kind of leadership, judgment and experience that Senator Obama has demonstrated in more than 20 years of public service, and in a particularly impressive way in this campaign. Senator Obama has rejected the say-and-do anything tactics that puts winning elections ahead of governing the country. And he has rejected the back-room politics in favor of opening government up to the people. Barack Obama is the one candidate in this race who can finally put an end to business as usual in Washington and bring about real change for Pittsburgh and the country as a whole. He has inspired me and so many other people around our country with new ideas and fresh perspectives.

True sports fans know that you support your team even when they are the underdogs. Barack Obama is the underdog here but it is with great pride that I join his team.

When I think of Barack Obama’s America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency.

Sincerely,

Daniel M. Rooney,

Owner and Chairman, Pittsburgh Steelers

h/t KDKA, Pittsburgh (video available).

Chapter 113C

I’m copying this entire article from ABC News. It’s too important not to.

Bush Aware of Advisers’ Interrogation Talks
President Says He Knew His Senior Advisers Discussed Tough Interrogation Methods
By JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG, HOWARD L. ROSENBERG and ARIANE de VOGUE
April 11, 2008

President Bush says he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details about how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the Central Intelligence Agency, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News Friday.

“Well, we started to connect the dots in order to protect the American people.” Bush told ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz. “And yes, I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.”

As first reported by ABC News Wednesday, the most senior Bush administration officials repeatedly discussed and approved specific details of exactly how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the CIA.

The high-level discussions about these “enhanced interrogation techniques” were so detailed, these sources said, some of the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed — down to the number of times CIA agents could use a specific tactic.

These top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects — whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding, sources told ABC news.

Does America torture? Yes.

Not a song about Pittsburgh

Boy?

Josh Marshall:

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) on Obama: “I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”

Dear Barack Obama

Please stop trash talking Hillary Clinton. This is what I’m talking about:

The “Annie Oakley” reference is completely uncalled for here and you should know better.

h/t egalia for the clip.

Not suitable for the weak of heart

Nor the reinforced.

Incident at Oglala

Part One

Full-screen

All Hail the Freewayblogger

h/t, and visit his blog.

Dear Keith Olbermann

On your Worst Person in the World segment last night, you awarded the bronze to Elton John, for making the following statement:

“I never cease to be amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some people in this country. I say the hell with them. I love you Hillary. I’ll always be there for you.”

See 00:30-1:22 below:

I am not a Hillary Clinton supporter, and Elton John’s music is frankly grating to me for the most part. However, you seem to be completely clueless about the real misogyny that some people clearly demonstrate, including quite notably by your own colleague Chris Matthews.

And yes, a sizable number of people in this country are still racist, as well. News flash.

A hundred years, six months at a time

h/t

Wikistory

Wikihistory, by Desmond Warzel.

h/t

Novelty wave

You can’t be a misogynist progressive

Read this important announcement.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

Overcome

There goes the mountain

Truetopia

Vietnam then, Iraq now

Awareness test

h/t talldean.

I get up. I get down.

Fafblog!

Fafnir & Giblets are back just in time to save the universe.

Uh oh, driftglass has competition again.