While browsing around the Internet, I came upon a rather startling series of videos. These videos were the first, in quite a long time, where I had to stop part way through and take a break. They show the absolutely staggering poverty and conditions that exist within the country of Liberia.

BE WARNED that these videos are not for the faint of heart in any stretch of the imagination. However, if you are willing to experience what exists in our world, then these videos will challenge you. I bring you, The Vice Guide to Liberia.

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Part IV:

Part V:

Part VI:

Part VII:

Part VIII:

I don’t know if the other parts haven’t been published, or what, but right now, I could not find the links to part 7 and 8… but damn, this is some captivating reporting. The remaining episodes have been posted as they have been released.

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The Law Enforcement Against Prohibition blog just announced that the Senate will be removing the ban that they have had in place against their voters since 1998.

In 1998, the voters of Washington D.C. voted for Initiative 59 to allow medical marijuana. This was challenged by using something known as The Barr Amendment which effectively prohibited D.C. from lowering any penalties on schedule I controlled substances. Not only did it stop the initiative from passing, it disallowed the release of the vote tally information.

Now, 11 years later, voters are finally getting what they asked for. In the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Conference Report: Financial Services Summary, dated December 8th, 2009, under the “Important Policy Items” section, you can find the following:

“Removing Special Restrictions on the District of Columbia: Eliminates a prohibition on the use of local tax funds for abortion, thereby putting the District in the same position as the 50 states. Also allows the District to implement a referendum on use of marijuana for medical purposes as has been done in other states, allows use of Federal funds for needle exchange programs except in locations considered inappropriate by District authorities, and discontinues a ban on the use of funds in the bill for domestic partnership registration and benefits.”

Sounds like things are going to change in D.C. for the better.

Looks like the federal government can’t ignore medical marijuana anymore. This is a huge step in the medical cannabis and cannabis legalization movement as it forces our federal government to be faced with this issue right outside their front doors. Hopefully this will not only help the people of Washington, D.C., but also spark good conversation and reformation for draconian, damaging, and irresponsible laws that currently govern cannabis.

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Elizabeth McCaughey has gained attention recently as being the source of the “Death Panel” discussions that have brought our news networks to a halt time and time again. Leave it to John Stewart over at The Daily Show to pwn her on national television and cause her to leave her position as the director of Cantel Medical the next day. Congratulations John Stewart: you officially pwn the death panel.

Here’s an excerpt from the press release on Friday, August 21st, 2009:

“CANTEL MEDICAL CORP. (NYSE: CMN – News) announced that on August 20, 2009 it received a letter of resignation from Ms. Elizabeth McCaughey as a director of the Company. Ms. McCaughey, who had served as a director since 2005, stated that she was resigning to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest during the national debate over healthcare reform.”

Resigned? After her performance on The Daily Show, I’m surprised she wasn’t tarred and feathered. John Stewart, yet again, has delivered what other “news correspondents” could not, and publicly debunked most everything the poor woman was trying to say.

Want to see what happened? Check it out.

Part I:

Part II:

Part II – Extended Interview (great stuff here too)

She agreed numerous times to points John Stewart was making in such an absent fashion that the audience could do nothing more than laugh and applaud. She also referred to John Stewart as one would a small dog whilst calling him cute, and “good at arithmetic” in such a Palinesque fashion that I thought a “youbetcha” would erupt at any moment.

Well done John Stewart. Well done.

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