August 8, 2014

High and Dry in Pot Country: How California's Historic Drought Is Threatening The Marijuana Industry

High and Dry in Pot Country
By Sean Patrick Farrell, August 6th, 2014

California’s drought is affecting agriculture including marijuana.
Illegal growers are being blamed for stolen water and environmental damage.
Small-scale farmers say the crop can be grown green.

Story and video at link

http://nyti.ms/1kJsUSF

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August 6, 2014

CA A.G. Kamala Harris (D) refuses to endorse legalization of cannabis but her GOP opponent has....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/kamala-harris-marijuana_n_5652387.html?utm_hp_ref=los-angeles&ir=Los+Angeles

While her Republican opponent gave a full-throated endorsement for legalizing marijuana, California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) declined to say whether she supports allowing recreational use of the substance.

Republican Ron Gold, the state's former deputy attorney general, is challenging Harris in her reelection bid this fall. Gold has voiced his support for both medical and recreational marijuana, pointing to the failures of prohibition.

"It is common sense, reasonable and rational to change laws that have driven the market for marijuana into the hands of drug cartels and street gangs," Gold wrote in an op-ed last month.

In an interview with Sacramento NBC affiliate KRCA, Gold further explained his pro-marijuana position, noting the potential tax benefits for the state.....
More at link

This is the kind of shit that will lose us key positions in state and federal office if the Democratic Party does not get its act together and endorse legalization otherwise the Libertarian/TeaPartiers will take the youth vote from us.
Come on Kamala!

July 23, 2014

I admire that these kids from Central America still want to come to the USA despite the fact...

that our country seems to be packed with racists.

July 21, 2014

My Breakfast with James Garner

When I first moved to Los Angeles in January of 2001 my best friend had an office in Malibu on the PCH that I would visit from time to time.
One day, during my very first week here, on the way to his office, I stopped to have breakfast at the restaurant in the Malibu Country Mart.

I bought a newspaper, ordered my food, started to read and waited for my meal.
An older man with big eyeglasses, also sitting alone, at the table right next to me, asked if he could borrow my Sports section.
"Sure thing. Here you go." I said.
As I handed him the LA Times Sports section I realized it was James Garner next to me doing the borrowing.

Now, you have to understand that I love, love, love James Garner and his work. THE ROCKFORD FILES, his SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL... movies, 36 HOURS, MAVERICK and almost everything else he had done were my favorites. I am probably one of the world's biggest Jim Garner fans, period. So I'm kind of proud about how cool I acted when this happened.

He and I shared the paper, chatted about the news and sports, and ate breakfast for almost an hour in a way two local guys would at any diner across the country. The NFL payoffs were going on at the time and we talked about my NY Giants chances to go all the way. He didn't think they would do it, but they did later that month. I did not "go fanboy" on him.

About 20 minutes in, while talking sports, I called him "Mr. Garner", acknowledging that I knew who he was, he told me to call him Jim. So I did, and he called me Kevin when I introduced myself and we shook hands. We never discussed his work as an actor or how much I loved it, and him over the years. We simply had a nice conversation over breakfast.

James Garner is the first famous person/superstar that I met when I moved to Los Angeles and was the nicest, most pleasant, funny and charming guy during the encounter.

It is rare to meet a personal hero that lives up to your image of them in your mind. Talk about the best Welcome Wagon ever. I was the happiest person on Earth afterward.
Cloud 9 exists.
I've been there.

I never met or saw him again after that morning, but I probably went to that place for breakfast about 20 times over the next few years hoping for another run-in.

The memory of this meeting came flooding back to me this morning with the news of his passing. It made me as happy as the news of death saddened me. Later today I'll go for a drive and listen to that iconic theme song to The Rockford Files while cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway to Paradise Cove.

Rest In Peace Mr. Garner, and thank you for your time.

http://www.deadline.com/2014/07/rip-james-garner/

July 3, 2014

My dog loves America, but hates the 4th of July

She hates fireworks.
They freak her out big time.
Mrs. Pooka got a Thundershirt a couple years ago and I must admit it does work.
Pulled it out last night after the kids started celebrating the 4th early and she calmed down.
She gets so scared/anxious we now go for a car ride in the evening on the 4th so she can't hear all the bang bangs.
The irony is Mrs. Pooka LOVES Fireworks displays.
Fortunately there is a mall parking lot we can park in to watch the town fireworks display so we get a win win, kinda.

June 30, 2014

SCOTUS wants to know if you will Get Out The Vote in 2014 & 2016? Or roll over and lose?

Because they will just keep on taking away the rights of citizens and give them to corporations if you're cool with it.

They think you don't care.

They think you will let a Republican get elected in 2016 so they can pack the Supreme Court even more.

They want to fuck you over.

The question is: What the fuck are YOU going to do about it?

Whine and complain after your candidate loses the primary and divide the party so we have no chance?

Or come together, no matter who wins the primary, and kick GOP ass?

It is on us to lead this party to victory.

GOTV 2014, 2016

June 10, 2014

I'm a Democrat. I've never skipped Election Day because I didn't like/agree with our party's nominee

I'm a Democrat.
It's why I'm at DU, not RU.
I know my vote counts.
Everyone's does.
My friend Hanging Chad proves it.
I've never voted for a Republican.
I think staying home on Election Day and whining, with your diaper in a bunch, hoping your party will lose, is just like voting for a Republican.
I don't care if you're talking about Hillary, Warren, Biden or anyone.
We have primaries.
We make a group decision.

You can stay home because you don't get your way, but then you weren't really playing fair with the rest of the group were you?
If you're only going to do something if the group does it your way,
then you're just trying to use the group for your own agenda aren't you?
You are not an honest participant in the party (even though you think you are "being frank&quot nor a leader for the group, just yourself.
So you should join the Selfish Party.
That's the party that reflects your values.
The problem is they never get to win because everyone votes for themselves.

But now, because of you and your trumpeting of your voting boycott, the rest of us have to work harder to GOTV and replace your selfish ass, and anyone else you infected, at the polls.
So thanks for your opinion about a candidate and the Party bashing, but why don't you go crawl under a rock for two and a half years and STFU while the rest of us try to win a couple of elections in 2014 and 16?
If you stay home on Election Day you get what you deserve but the rest of us don't.

June 4, 2014

Thank you Bowe Bergdahl! The service you have provided me is invaluable.

The attacks on Bowe Bergdahl are showcasing some real fucked-up thinking in some members at DU.
Now because they have revealed themselves, I get to put them on ignore.
I've "ignored" more members in the last two days than I have done total in my time here.
So if you called him a traitor or deserter or said we should not have traded to get him back, etc. I will not miss you or your opinion.

Bowe Bergdahl, making DU a better place for me one click at a time.
Thank you for your service Bowe.

May 29, 2014

The 5 Worst Things about ex- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer buying The L.A. Clippers

1. The Clippers are no longer compatible with Apple products.
2. The Clippers will now require weekly updates that do nothing.
3. The Clippers will now come bundled with a lot of software you don't want and can't use.
4. The Clippers are now more susceptible to hackers so change their password often.
5. Get ready for Clippers Vista.

Steve Ballmer Wins Bidding for Clippers With $2 Billion Price Tag (Report)

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is to reportedly buy the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion.
The news came after weeks of speculation on the fate of the team since Donald Sterling was banned for life from the NBA by commissioner Adam Silver on April 29.
The sale would be the highest ever paid for a NBA team.
Ballmer was chosen over competitors that included Los Angeles-based investors Tony Ressler and Steve Karsh and a group that included David Geffen and executives from the Guggenheim Group, the Chicago-based owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the Los Angeles Times.
more at link...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steve-ballmer-wins-bidding-clippers-708041

May 24, 2014

Clinton, Warren, Castro, George Clooney, my brother-in-law, whoever....

the Democratic Party ultimately picks to run in 2016 is who I'll be voting for in the general regardless of my primary support.
Because in November 2016, if we are all not united behind our candidate, then we will not win.
The GOP is counting on a divisive Democratic Party after the Candidate is selected.
I'm going to do my best NOT to give it to them.

GOTV 2014 & 2016



But please do not let it be my brother-in-law, he's an idiot....