Existensis

California takes steps to decriminalize Marijuana

Vago — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:35:31 +0000

Reporting from Sacramento – A proposal to legalize and tax marijuana in California was approved by a key committee of the Assembly on Tuesday, but it is not expected to get further consideration by the Legislature until next year.

Despite a procedural glitch, backers hailed the committee’s action as historic because it represented the first legislative approval of the proposal.

“This vote marks the formal beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition in the United States,” predicted Stephen Gutwillig, California state director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a pot legalization group.

The legislation would allow those who are at least 21 years old to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), author of the measure, said it would provide needed revenue for the state as well as regulation of the drug.

Existing law “is harming our youth,” Ammiano said. “Drug dealers do not ask for ID.”

It is estimated that the proposed $50 tax on each ounce of marijuana sold, along with license fees charged to cultivators, would generate $1.3 billion a year to be used to pay for drug education and treatment.

Ammiano said his bill is not expected to get a required hearing by a second committee in time to meet a Friday deadline. He said he plans to reintroduce the legislation if a similar initiative proposed for the November ballot is not approved by voters.

The anticipated revenue would not be worth the grief the bill would cause, said Assemblyman Danny Gilmore (R-Hanford), a former assistant chief with the California Highway Patrol.

“We’re going to legalize marijuana, we’re going to tax it and then we’re going to educate our kids about the harm of drugs. You’ve got to be kidding me,” Gilmore said. “What’s next? Are we going to legalize methamphetamines, cocaine?”

The Assembly Public Safety Committee approved Ammiano’s bill, AB 390, on a 4-3 vote.

Online Slot Games – Wow!

Vago — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:28:01 +0000

Did you know that I once paid for a trip to China and southeast asia with slot machines? Why not have a look at the online slot games here and see if you can win a trip to some place wonderful too? It’s worth a shot, right? All I can tell you for sure is that it worked for me.

Best online Roulette Games

Vago — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:21:47 +0000

If you are looking for the best onlineroulette games you no longer need to look any further than to go to the link in this post.

This roulette has high payouts, great graphics, and action that doesn’t stop. If you love roulette, this is certainly the place to go and if you don’t love roulette, you will when you go here.

Have fun.

Lonely Hearts Casino.com

Vago — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:12:10 +0000

If you are looking for a sitethat is a ratings guide to the best online casinos, poker rooms and gaming sites on the web, then I think it might be to your advantage to check out LonelyHeartsCasino.com

These are the best online casinos for real money and you will be certain to find the best odds, the best games, and the best times here.

Gambling is never a sure thing but by being a smart player, you certainly increase your odds.

Vago’s Site

Vago — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:36:19 +0000

Hey…if you are looking for my blog, you came to the wrong one.

http://www.vagobond.com

Sorry for any confusion. You can find Liminal Travel and all my books there.

This one is going to be sitting still for a while…thanks.

Vago C. Damitio

Morocco expelling Swedes and Investing billions in Solar

Vago — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:52:16 +0000

Really, I am only posting these things so that there is something new here…I’m still trying to figure out what to do with all of these sites and not having an always on connection at home is kicking my ass in terms of doing anything on the web….

RABAT, Morocco, Nov. 5 (UPI) — The Swedish ambassador to Morocco has been expelled for allegedly giving a government document to separatists, the African country’s Foreign Ministry says.

Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri called Michael Odevald to his office Wednesday to protest what he called an “unacceptable, professional mistake,” the ministry said.

Fihri claimed the Swedish Embassy breached diplomatic protocol by transmitting an official document to officials of Polisario, the ruling party of the exiled Western Sahara government, which is technically at war with Morocco.

The diplomatic dust-up came as a Sahrawi political prisoner in Morocco is being awarded a prestigious Swedish human rights prize, Afrol News reported.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Morocco Launches $9 Billion Solar Energy Project

Morocco has announced this week the launch of a solar energy project, with an estimated cost of $9 billion, aiming at raising the share of renewable sources in the country’s energy production. The plan, unveiled in the southern Moroccan city of Ouarzazate during a ceremony attended by king Mohammed VI and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will, according to the local news agency, enable the country to equally divide its renewable energies’ national production between solar, wind and hydroelectric sources by the year 2020.

More on November Swine Flu

Vago — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:22:46 +0000

If you thought it was over or under control, you were and are wrong. Same goes for the economic crisis. Same goes for Iran and Afghanistan. Same goes for Iraq. Same goes for natural disasters. If I’m psychic then November 11 will be one hell of a day and I don’t mean in the positive sense. That’s when my guts tell me it will begin.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has declared 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, the White House said on Saturday.

The declaration will make it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs as needed, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that swine flu has become widespread in 46 of the 50 U.S. states, a level comparable to the peak of ordinary flu seasons but far earlier and with more waves of infection expected.

Obama signed the statement on Friday night.

The White House statement said the declaration was intended to prepare the country in case of “a rapid increase in illness that may overburden health care resources.” It was similar to disaster declarations issued before hurricanes hit coastal areas.

“It’s important to note that this is a proactive measure — not a response to a new development,” an administration official said.

“H1N1 is moving rapidly, as expected. By the time regions or healthcare systems recognize they are becoming overburdened, they need to implement disaster plans quickly,” he said.

Seasonal flu normally peaks sometime between late November and early March and kills about 36,000 Americans in an average year.

Swine flu has hit young adults and children the hardest, while seasonal flu normally is more dangerous for people over age 65.

H1N1, declared a public health emergency earlier in the year, has killed more than 1,000 people in the United States and put more than 20,000 in the hospital since it emerged earlier this year, the CDC said. But health officials are quick to note that the actual number of cases cannot be measured.

The new declaration clears the way for waivers of federal requirements that, for example, could prevent hospitals from establishing off-site, alternate care facilities that could help them deal with emergency department demands, the White House said.

The Health and Human Services Department is trying to deliver vaccines against H1N1 but says production is falling short of projections because companies are having trouble making them.

HHS has also moved to make available stockpiles of antiviral drugs oseltamivir, made by Roche AG under the brand name Tamiflu, and zanamivir, an inhaled drug made by GlaxoSmithKline under the brand name Relenza.

On Friday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for an experimental new drug called peramivir, made by Biocryst Pharmaceuticals Inc and licensed to Shionogi & Co Ltd.

The authorization allows the intravenous drug to be used in hospitalized patients who cannot take pills or inhale Relenza or when Tamiflu or Relenza do not seem to be helping.

Moroccan King Honors American Jewish Community leader

Vago — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:40:35 +0000

I really do love Morocco. A big part of that is M6. One hell of a guy.

Moroccan king honors AJC leader

October 6, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI bestowed one of his country’s highest honors on a Jewish leader.

Jason Isaacson, the American Jewish Committee’s director of government and international affairs, was named a Knight of the Order of the Throne of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Isaacson has played a key role in developing AJC’s cooperative relationships with Morocco and a number of Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

“Through political reform and reconciliation, through its determined stand against extremism, through its continued protection of religious minorities, Morocco has proven again and again its friendship, its strength, its principles,” Isaacson said last week on accepting the knighthood. “Today, our hopes again are invested in Morocco, and specifically in His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad — as a beacon of tolerance and moderation, as an unwavering defender of the values that underlie the three great Abrahamic faiths, as a true champion of peace.”

Look for the world to end in November

Vago — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:37:44 +0000

Technically, the world won’t end. Just the world you thought you lived in. The society of human beings is due for a major shift in November. Wars? Rumours of wars? Floods? Famines? Pestilence? Watch as the swine flu rears up like a phoenix and acts as a scourge across Europe and North America in the coming months.

So, the moral is, enjoy this time while you have it.

It would be sad if it wasn’t so well deserved. As it is, that just makes it more than satisfying.

Breaking the fast – We did it!

Vago — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:00:24 +0000

For Muslims, the three days following Ramadan are anticipated and looked forward to throughout the year. It is a time of great joy and celebration. It is called, Eid ul-Fitr. Eid means festival while Fitr means the end of the fast. So Eid ul-Fitr is actually the festival of the end of the fast. For three days, you can indulge yourself with all the things you wanted to eat and drink for the previous month. You deserve it.

Don’t be surprised though if you find yourself feeling like you would rather keep going until the next sunset to keep feeling as good as Ramadan made you feel.