I was out the past two days and missed this.....Boo Hoo, Poor P.Diddy has to fly commercial because he can't afford the fuel for his personal jet:

Watch out for those moral entrepreneurs

Just before taking a break I noticed with interest the extraordinary admission from Julian Critchley, the former director of the Cabinet Office's anti-drug unit, that legalising drugs would be a more effective strategy than the current policy and that his view was widely shared by the 'overwhelming majority' of professionals in the field including police officers, health workers and even members of the government. Critchley also claimed that drug policy was dictated more by what would appease Daily Mail readers than any objective consideration of the actual evidence as to what works despite the widely held recognition that prohibition causes rather more problems than it solves.

I would suggest that the reason successive governments have stubbornly clung to an approach which they (and the Daily Mail) think ought to work, but clearly doesn't, is because of the insistence that drug taking is somehow a moral issue. An examination of the entire history behind the process of the illegalisation of recreational drug use reveals that it has been led by a desire to discipline particular groups of people rather than any considered view of the actual harms associated with particular substances. Whether it has been Mexican immigrants, Black people, jazz musicians, anti-war protestors, hippies with long hair, new-age travellers or eco-warriors, the targets of drug prohibition have always been populations identified as problematic to those 'experts', press barons and politicians who have the power to establish themselves as self-appointed guardians of public morality - the moral entrepreneurs.

Consider the following quote from a medical textbook written in 1909 by Sir Clifford Allbutt (an appropriate name under the circumstances) and Dr. Humphrey Rolleston and see if you can guess which particular substance they are warning readers about:

'The sufferer is tremulous and loses his self-command; he is subject to fits of agitation and depression. He loses colour and has a haggard appearance. As with other such agents, a renewed dose of the poison gives temporary relief, but at the cost of future misery.'

What could it be? Heroin? Cocaine? Not at all since both of these were hailed by the medical profession as boons to medical science at that point in time. Morphine perhaps or opium? Again no. The answer somewhat bizarrely is coffee! And the reason behind the dissemination of such 'informed' and 'expert' advice warning of the dire consequences of drinking the evil brew was that coffee was particularly associated with the bohemians of Paris, a group of people identified as morally dissolute and with the added bonus of being, not just foreign, but French!

An even more bizarre example of extraordinarily misinformed moral entrepreneurship masquerading under the guise of professional expertise can be found in the views of both Benjamin Rush, the founder of American psychiatry, and his French counterpart, Jean-Etienne Esquirol, on, of all things, masturbation. Rush didn't just think or believe, but positively 'knew' that masturbation caused impotence, tuberculosis, indigestion, dizziness (he could have been right on that one!), epilepsy, memory loss and a range of other disorders, while Esquirol stated it 'is recognised as a common cause of insanity in all countries.' In a staggering exercise in the closing of professional ranks our own Royal College of Surgeons in 1891 advocated a somewhat dramatic solution to these many problems attributed to masturbation both male and female. I will spare readers the gory details, but suffice it to say had their advice been acted upon fully then I wouldn't be here to write this and you good readers wouldn't be there to read it!

Finally, and to return to both the theme of drugs and that most reputable and morally sound organ, the Daily Mail , one of its recent reports spoke of miraculous goings-on in Afghanistan: 'Officials believed the Taliban were turning dried cannabis leaves into heroin.'

The last time somebody came up with a party trick like that was over 2,000 years ago and it involved water and wine - though come to think of it he would have probably looked remarkably like Osama Bin Laden!

Iain Martin calls for a British foreign policy. Hear, hear. But what would such a foreign policy look like? How would it differ from the European one, which Britain is currently bound to uphold (in the words of the Treaties) "actively and unreservedly, in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity"?


Britain must take foreign policy back from Brussels

A sovereign Britain should rediscover her sympathy for national movements. She should prefer countries to be united by trade than by political structures. She should sponsor the spread of individual liberty and property rights, and thereby guarantee her own prosperity as a commercial nation. She should work with friends and allies around the world instead of narrowing her horizons to Europe. She should put her faith elected national politicians rather than remote supra-national bureaucracies. She should combine military preparedness with a preference for non-intervention: war is a terrible destroyer of freedom as well as of people and property. An ability to intervene, combined with a reluctance to become entangled - "splendid isolation" as the policy came to be called in retrospect - brought Britain to her highest point as a nation. Finally, she should recognise the extent to which her outlook and interests are congruent with those of the wider family of free English-speaking peoples, the Anglosphere.

These precepts may sound banal, platitudinous even. But they are far removed from the assumptions of Eurocrats and their FCO proxies. The EU tends to favour stability over democracy. To the despair of Washington, Brussels has declared its intention to sell arms to Beijing. The EU refuses to back anti-Communist dissidents in Cuba, and has spent 15 years cosying up to the ayatollahs in Teheran. At the same time, Brussels seeks to replicate its structures on other continents, pouring money into the various campaigns to turn Mercosur, ASEAN and the rest into supra-national blocs, often refusing to sign trade or aid deals with individual states unless they join their regional associations. The EU dislikes and distrusts the principle of national self-determination, understanding that if that principle were accepted for, say, Kosovan Serbs, South Ossetians or Macedonian Albanians, the intellectual basis of European integration would be pulverised.

For Britain, this emphasis on preserving multi-national entities represents a complete reversal of what was once the basis of our foreign policy. Traditionally, Britain was a friend to national liberation movements. As Lord Randolph Churchill observed: "England has ever made the cause of nations her own cause. She supported the national movements of Germany and the Low Countries against Bonaparte. Her sympathy was with Greece, Hungary and Italy, and with the South American republics." To this day, Canning's name is honoured by Latin Americans, who know that they owe their independence as much to the Royal Navy as to Bolívar or San Martín. Twice during the twentieth century, Britain would go on to embark on ruinous wars because a friendly country's sovereignty had been violated. Indeed, the notion that the Second World War was a battle on behalf of all nations would become a favourite refrain for Lord Randolph's son.

An independent Britain, in short, should be a champion of independence for all peoples. She should exhibit that highest form of patriotism: a concern for the freedom of friendly countries. But the first step is to take foreign policy back from Brussels.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Suzuki/2004_DL650/page1.htm

For Sipu, a good write-up on the V-Strom.

I really can't comment personally, I don't ride anything under 1000cc!

And Yet Another Update On The Dirty Diva Ashley Massaro :

Date: 08/28/2008
Subject: I Married My Brother

Good Morning Steve and the Morning show family, I actually do not know where to start with my letter. I guess I will start will saying I have been in tears everyday for the last 4 months. I guess I will also start by giving you a little history. First of all, my husband and I have been married for almost 2 years. We met in college when I was a freshman and he was a junior. When we met, we realized we had a lot in common. We both grew up in the same city just on different sides of town. So we didn't know each other.We were raised by strong single black women that made sure we had the best, we were raised in the church, and we both wanted to get legal degrees. We got married shortly after I graduated college and we relocated to Chicago in hopes of attending law school. When we got to Chicago, I became a nurse instead and my husband got a position at a legal firm (long story short, we didn't make it to law school). We both are devout Christians and we have been for most of our life. We decided that in order to really move foward in our spiritual life, that we needed to forgive all the people we had problems with includeing our fathers. We didn't realize how much that unforgiveness impacted our own lives. I made it a point to forgive my father in my heart because I knew it would be difficult to find him. My husband, however, got in touch with his father and made arrangements to meet up with him when we went home for our family reunion. They decided to meet up at the park where the reunion was to be held because they felt that was a neutral spot. We went home for the family reunion in May.. To my surprise, my father was there. Even though I hadn't seen him in almost 16 yrs, I knew it was him. I remembered the goal me and my husband had set for ourselves so I agreed to go somewhere and talk with him as long as we remained in the park. After about 45 minutes of catching up, I finally asked him what he was doing at the park on that day of all days. He mentioned that he was there to meet someone special in his life. I figured it was probably just another women. Just then, my husband walked up and said, I see you met my father. At that point, I did pass out (literally). I woke up in the hospital a couple of hours later. After a week, my husband went back to Chicago. I remained in our hometown with my mother. I was not ready to face all the issues on my plate and I couldn't just go back to Chicago with my husband/brother. After 3 mons, I am absolutely confused about what to do. Even though we have only been married for 2 years, we have been together for almost 5. I can't imagine my life without him. However, I get sick to my stomach when I think about the fact that I have been sleeping with my brother for so long. I know deep down it isn't really our fault. I mean we did everything right. I know the obvious thing to do is divorce him. But that is easier said than done. I am not torn between divorce and my religious beliefs because we got married under false pretenses. My problem is, I am torn between doing the obvious thing and dealing with all these emotions at the same time. Please tell me what to do. I don't think I have anymore tears left to cry.

~Good Morning! Have A Thriller Thursday Cheers!~

This seems like far fetched! Hef and Holly are going to

get married on this season of Girls next door!

PHELPS TO HOST SNL:

CHRIS BROWN & RIHANNA MOVING IN TOGETHER: Singing superstars Rihanna and Chris Brown may not have confirmed their rumored romance, but Star mag claims they spent the past month shopping for a new Los Angeles condo, which they plan to share. Chris and Rihanna were spotted viewing units at Beverly Hills' posh Sierra Tower several times since July. An insider tells the tabloid, "She and Chris want to live together. They play their music loud though, so they want a condo that's soundproof." Rihanna's so serious about finding them a new home that she has new listings e-mailed to her even when she's out of town, the tabloid writes.

SUGE KNIGHT ARRESTED IN VEGAS:

MOMMA MCCONAUGHEY'S KILLER SEX: Matthew McConaughey's mom, Kay McConaughey, has a new book, "I Amaze Myself". In it, she talks about some pretty personal stuff, including how her husband, Matthew's father, died while she was having sex with him. The 78 year-old writes, "On Monday mornings, he and I often said goodbye by making love. One day, all of a sudden, it just happened. I knew that something was wrong, because I didn't hear anything from him. Just nothing. But it was just the best way to go!"

Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardi made their first apperance

together last night in NYC and all smiles! Can't wait to see what

Kara is like on the show!

EXTRAS SEEK $11M FROM TOM CRUISE AFTER ACCIDENT:

NELLY PLANS NATIONAL TOUR: Nelly is set to hit the road on a nationwide tour next month. He has already announced 13 cities where he will be performing and will kick off the tour three days before the album drops in Reno, Nevada. Nelly will also travel throughout major cities including San Francisco, Dallas, Baltimore, Washington, DC and New York before ending in early October. The untitled tour is currently scheduled to run from September 12th to October 8th. "Brass Knuckles" hits stores on September 16th. 

Brenda speaks!!!!!! You can get Shannen Doherty's whole

story on news stands this week..she dishes the dirt on why she

left the original 90210 and about working on the new show with Jenny

Garth!

MARIO LOPEZ GETS ANOTHER GIG: MTV wants to find the next pop sensation. Mario Lopez (host of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew") will host the new live music competition series "MTV's Top Pop Group" premiering Thursday, September 11 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Joining Mario in the studio will be backstage correspondent Marianela Pereyra. Celebrity judges and mentors for "MTV's Top Pop Group" to be announced at a later date. After a nationwide search in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Miami and Los Angeles, MTV will welcome nine of the greatest undiscovered music groups to the stage for a chance to win $100,000 and the title of "MTV's Top Pop Group." Each week, a new celebrity coach will come in to mentor the groups on everything from choreography and harmony to style and stage presence. 

Titian. Entitled: "OK. She said that if none of you could help, I'd have to buy some cow's milk in the village. Tataa."

The 3rd Duke of Bridgwater, 200 some years ago spent £43,000 on some pictures which a French mate had to sell to escape Madame Guillotine.  So much for French culture.

They're worth a cool billion quid now so he was obviously a good judge of art. The current owner is now offering two Titians to  the country for a mere £100 million, a third of their market value.

In his spare time the Duke mined coal around Worsley and built the Bridgwater canal, which is remarkable for the fact that it stretches 40 miles from East Lancashire to the Wirral without a single lock.

He never married , maybe because he experienced what life might become when he was engaged to one of the society beauties of the age.

That's my boy!

Here you go, we were talking about her this morning...from the WWE, it's the Fabulous Moolah!!!

I just wrote quite a lengthy reply to your comments to me on your South Africa blog ... it was deleted and my reply was lost.

Essentially I said I realized that you are a decent bloke and not a bigot, and that life is complex - composed entirely of shades of grey. Of course you write from the perspective of a wealthy white man of strongly right-wing views, and others in SA will have different perspectives and different views, but you are an eyewitness and your account must be taken seriously.

I said that the newspaper piece you reproduced was beneath you, because it was clearly based on a bitter visceral hatred (whereas the account in your comments was based on experience), and that you would be letting yourself down by endorsing it - tempting though this might be.

Here's a computer generated age progression of Michael Jackson had he not had work done:

A friend sent me this in an e-mail..it moved me.

The Ancient Wisdoms

He who knows the ways of beasts and birds
Who can distinguish them by song and cry
Who knows the bright quicksilver life in streams,
The courses that the stars take through the sky,
May never have laid hands to books, yet he
Is sharing wisdom with Infinity...
He who works with sensitive deft hands
At any woodcraft, will absorb the rain,
The sunlight and the starlight and the dew
That entered in the making of it's grain;
He should grow tall and straight and clean and good
Who daily breathes the essences of wood.
He who finds companionship in rocks,
And comfort in the touch of vine and leaf,
Who climbs a hill for joy, and shouts a song,
Who loves the feel of wind, will know no grief;
No loneliness that ever grows too great;
For he will never be quite desolate...
He shares, who is companioned long with these,
All ancient wisdoms and philosophies.

Old Welsh Prose

Apparently rat meat is very popular in Cambodia fetching 29pence per lb.

They, the rats that is, take a lot of catching and I imagine a lot of cooking and chewing.

Never knowingly eaten rat meat myself I can only imagine that ,apart from cheapness, it has some endearing nutritional qualities that other meats do not possess. Also if the Cambodians like it that much I suppose it must be farmed in order to generate sufficient tonnage.

Of course, people in desperate situations anywhere,  who are starving e.g. war ,will eat anything so perhaps it's not so surprising that to some the rat could become a standard dish.

Can't see it catching on here just yet.

If you have seen the Dark Night, you will love this!

Aries (astrology)

Aries, the ram, is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac. Originating from the constellation of Aries. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Aries is considered a "masculine", positive (extrovert) sign. It is also considered a fire sign, and is one of four cardinal signs.Aries is ruled by the planet Mars. Being the first sign in the zodiac, Aries is associated with the astrological 1st house.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Aries individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in Aries roughly from March 21 to April 19,by definition beginning at vernal equinox. Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from April 15 to May 15.

Taurus (astrology)

Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Taurus. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Taurus is considered a "feminine", negative sign. It is also considered an earth sign and is one of four fixed signs.[3] Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus (which also rules Libra). Being the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus has been associated with the astrological second house. The glyph is also the alchemical symbol for rocksalt.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Taurus individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in Taurus roughly from April 20 to May 20.Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from May 15 to June 15.People born on these juncture dates should have an astrological chart drawn to determine which sign the sun was in at the exact time of their birth.

Gemini (astrology)

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Gemini is considered a "masculine", positive (extrovert) sign. It is also considered an air sign, and is one of four mutable signs.Gemini has been closely associated with the planet Mercury and is considered to be ruled by it.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Gemini individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in the sign of Gemini roughly from May 21 to June 21.Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from June 15 to July 15.

Cancer (astrology)

Cancer is the fourth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Cancer. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Cancer is considered a yin sign or alternatively feminine or negative sign, meaning it is more introverted. It is considered a water sign, and is one of four cardinal signs.Cancer is ruled by the Moon. Being the fourth sign in the zodiac, Cancer has been associated with the astrological 4th house.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Cancer individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in Cancer roughly from June 22 to July 22and under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently roughly from July 21 to August 15.

Dude, Anchorman looks like a total rip off of WTAE news.  Check out Joe DeNardo and Don Cannon's hair!!  The zinger jokes at the beginning are the best!  Enjoy the magic here: