freethefly

I believe you are thinking of Falun Gong. You would do well to research the similarities of the vast array of religions and spiritual studies. The majority do intersect and are rooted deep in the past. There is no person alive today who can say, with surety, exactly where it all begun or where it is going. We, as humans, are limited by time. What was 2000 years ago is, more or less, hearsay. What is to be 2000 years from now is anyones guess. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I stand corrected. The government grants privilages, not rights. I have been to the Winchester house, years ago, when I was stationed at Treasure Island. So many rooms and stairways that go nowhere... She was ecentric, to say the least. She continued building onto the house right up to her death. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

You're thanking a god for all the death that this idiot has caused by invading a country that did nothing to us? The blundering idiot blindly invaded without a plan. He has changed his reason for doing such far to many times to have any credibility for doing such. He has placed the credibility of our nation in the abyss with no way out to save face. Invading Iraq will go down as the greatest military blunder of all time and Bush will be seen for what he is - an incompetent president whose only agenda is a grandiose vision that he is the savior of the planet. Face the truth, Bush is a major screw up. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Even though I am not a christian, I did once go to bible school and nowhere do I recall god giving us rights to keep and bear arms. It was the second amendment that secured that right. Although I believe that this amendment is broadly misunderstood and has been twisted out of shape by so many, I do love my deer rifle, a Winchester Model of 1917 30 06. Mine was manufactured in 1919 and is in pristine condition. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

The people of Sudan would most likely disagree with that statement. Unless there is something to gain monetarily, genocide, for the most, is overlooked. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I agree only on the decision to strike back at Bin Laden in Afghanistan, which he ultimately screwed up. The rest of what you say brings up the question of his integrity. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Nowhere in the article is there a claim that Jesus was a christian. How could he be? He was a Jew who practiced Taoism. Christianity was made up by a man who had never even met Jesus. Christianity, for the most was and still is a politcal tool. It is used to instill fear in the guilable. Jesus never claimed this. That he was born from a virgin and is the son of god is but a myth invented as a politcal tool by a person who had never met Jesus. He was just another human. Not exactly. He was somewhat dissillusioned and seeked to create a new Jewish sect. Not exactly a devout Jew. Who? God? Jesus? Allah? I need only to obey myself and to do what is right. Taoism, for myself, is the only truth. There is no hell in true Taoism. There is no "set in stone" rules that I must follow. What there is is the Tai Chi, yin and yang. To understand the symbols that surrounds the Tai Chi, one should read the Hua Hu Ching, section sixty-one. It should be understood that Taoism is not a religion but, spiritualism. If you have never read the Tao Teh Ching and the Hua Teh Ching, you should (I am not saying that you should practice it but, it will give you an insight as to where Jesus was coming from in his teachings, particuraly the sermons on the mound). "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

This will most likely cause you christians to see red and curse. I am a self-professed Taoist and have been since the 70's. I called the preacher at our Baptist church a bullshitter full of shit and have not stepped foot into a church ever since. I first read the Tao Teh Ching in the 70's and saw that it made more sense than the bible. The teachings of Jesus are a near mirror image of the teachings of Lao Tzu. Jesus never intended christianity. Christianity is a farce and the only true truth can be found in the Tao Teh Ching. Jesus followed and incorporated it in his own teachings. If you have never read it, you should. Compare it to portions of the bible and enlighten yourself. The Tao of Jesus? Article by the Dan Hankins, Webmaster of www.exploretaoism.com Before beginning this article, let me say that I have been a follower of Jesus of Nazareth since I was thirteen years old. I was ordained as a minister in the Christian Religion in 1972, and have spent more than thirty years in service as a minister to that religion. I feel, therefore, that I have an established understanding of what Christianity teaches, and am able to speak candidly about that faith. Without the slightest hesitation, I can say that I love Jesus and deeply respect his teachings... but I can no longer honestly call myself a Christian in the way the term in commonly defined in the West. Let me begin by asking this question: Did Jesus of Nazareth hold a philosophy compatible to Lao Tzu’s Taoism? The foundation question that must be asked before asking if Jesus lived by a “Taoist” philosophy, is to ask if Jesus was a "Christian" in belief and practice. This question probably evokes laughter from some, and others would exclaim with contempt, "Of course he was! The Christian Religion is founded on Jesus and his teachings!" I beg to adamantly differ with you. Christianity was not founded on Jesus nor his teachings. Jesus was a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth who never gave the slightest indication that he intended to leave the Jewish faith nor institute a new religion. On the contrary, Jesus followed the Jewish law and encouraged others to do so. He was circumcised on the eighth day and attended the Jewish feasts in Jerusalem. He would, in fact, die while attending a Passover Feast in Jerusalem. When he cleansed the lepers, he told them to go to the Temple and make the proper religious offering according to the Jewish law. Even when he was disgusted with the hypocrisy of the leaders of his religion, he told his followers to obey the Chief Priest because he "...sat in Moses seat." The single motive of Jesus seems to have been the reform of his own faith. When approached by a non-Jewish woman in search of his favors, he told her that he had been sent to the "...lost sheep of Israel." The scriptures teach that it was his custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath day... a habit that he maintained until his death. Those people who followed him were also Jews. When he died he was removed from the cross early because the Jewish Sabbath was about to begin, a clear indication that his closest followers were still devout Jews. His followers buried him in a Jewish burial place according to Jewish customs. Later on, when the Apostles had a difference with Paul of Tarsus, it was over the matter of circumcision and the keeping of the Jewish law. Again, this is tacit proof that the Apostles were still very much orthodox Jews with no intention of leaving their religion. If Jesus had intended to start a new religion, he would have certainly committed some of the things he intended to be taught or observed in his religion into written documents. No such documents exist. In fact, there is not the slightest reliable indication that Jesus ever wrote anything, even though we know that he could read and write, and was educated so well in the Jewish law that he was able to impress the scholars at Jerusalem with his brilliant scholarship when he was only 12 years old. There were a number of Jewish sects in the region where Jesus lived. A Jewish sect would be like a Christian denomination. There were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Herodians, and a number more. It is obvious, I believe, that Jesus did intend to start a new sect, because he clearly appointed leaders in his group, but the thought of beginning a new religion separate from the Jewish faith was unthinkable to Jesus. If this is so, three questions need to be asked. First, If Jesus did not found Christianity, then who did? Second, who originated the central beliefs of the Christian Church if Jesus did not? And third, what did Jesus intend to be taught in his new sect? It is clear to any honest student of the Christian religion that Paul of Tarsus was the founder of Christianity. Therefore, it would behoove us to have a close look at this fellow Paul. He began his life as a rigid, devout Pharisee, probably the most conservative sect (denomination) within the Jewish religion. There is not the slightest indication from New Testament Scripture that Paul ever saw Jesus nor heard a single lesson Jesus ever taught. Paul had a "vision" on the road to Damascus. Even in the vision there is no indication that he actually saw Jesus, but he did see a "light." This vision, much like the vision of Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith, was a major turning point in his life. Paul did not seek out the Apostles of Jesus after this vision, as one would expect, so that he might be instructed in the fundamentals of this new Jewish sect. Instead he set off for the wilderness where he spent several years developing his very own, unique, never before heard or taught set of doctrines which became the foundation of a new religion which he personally forged from these novel ideas - many of which were 180 degrees out from the teachings of Jesus, whom he had never actually heard. He was never appointed an Apostle by the authorities in Jerusalem, and, in point of fact, boasted about this fact in the first chapter of Galatians. He claimed his appointment to be an Apostle was an act of God. No Apostle appointed by Jesus ever called Paul an Apostle in the New Testament record. Other than Paul himself, only Luke, his biographer ever called in an Apostle in the New Testament Based solely upon his personal reason and logic, this prolific writer and charismatic speaker redefined the sect that Jesus had founded. He now preached a radical new idea that righteousness or “good works” was no longer a requirement for salvation. He said that righteousness was now a matter of correct "thinking" rather than correct "actions." It boiled down to what you "believed" rather than what you actually "did." This was, of course, the exact opposite message of Jesus who repeatedly admonished people to practical acts of compassion and righteousness, warning them that if their righteousness did not exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, they would not "see" the Kingdom of Heaven. Most significantly, Paul prescribed a new way to have your sins forgiven. He now preached that you must accept Jesus as being none other than "God" if you wanted your sins forgiven. He of course had not heard Jesus, nor those who had firsthand knowledge of him, when he made this pronouncement. Jesus had said that no one was good except the "Father" in Heaven, hardly something he would have said if he thought of himself as God. He had never claimed the attributes of God. He grew in "wisdom" just as other children did. He learned to walk, talk, run, and play just like all the other children in Nazareth. He had to be "potty trained" just like the other children, and his mother Mary wiped his nose and cleaned his behind just like all other mothers. When hungry one day in Jerusalem, he hiked over to a fig tree to see if it had any figs on it. Had he been God, he would have known whether or not it had figs. When it didn't have figs, he lost his temper and cursed it just like you and I might do. Paul's new formula for the forgiveness of sins was totally at odds with Jesus' formula. Jesus had said that if you want your Father in heaven to forgive for you sins, you must simply forgive those who sin against you. When asked by a young lawyer what was necessary to obtain eternal life, Jesus had replied, "Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will have eternal life." This simple answer from the mouth of Jesus was drastically out of line with early Christianity's highly exclusive formula about accepting Jesus as "God," being baptized, being "confirmed," celebrating the Eucharist, etc. etc. etc. It is clearly obvious to any honest student of the New Testament that Jesus and what he taught do not resemble Christianity and what it teaches. Paul's religion, when devoid of illogical defense, boils down to a primitive religion with a deity demanding a literal "human sacrifice" for the appeasement of an angry god. Paul would make Jesus be that sacrifice in his theology. To make matters even worse, it could be fairly argued that Paul cursed Jesus because Paul said, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8 KJV) Well, Jesus of Nazareth certainly preached another gospel! Questions one and two mentioned above can therefore be answered with one word, "Paul." Paul founded the Christian religion. Paul originated its creed. He began to preach that baptism should take the place of circumcision. This concept was foreign to the official group of Apostles in Jerusalem. The very fact that these Apostles were still obedient to the command of circumcision is once again proof that they were Jews with no intention of leaving the Jewish faith, and certainly with no intention of substituting baptism for circumcision as prescribed in the Jewish law. They merely wanted to found a new "movement" or "sect" within the broader Jewish religion and reform the faith they loved. To them, being a follower of their movement did not preclude one from participation in every Jewish rite, ritual, and feast. It would be like a Baptist man today who was also a member of the Lion's Club. One had very little to do with the other in their eyes. To them, belonging to their sect and following the teachings of Jesus would only make you a better Jew and member of the Synagogue. Paul, however, had other ideas. He came to the first Church Council in Jerusalem and argued that Greeks and non-Jews should be included in the new sect. He further argued that these new members should not be circumcised or become Jews. The Apostles had no problem with their becoming members of the new sect as long as the outsiders became Jews. Paul, the eloquent speaker and brilliant debater won the day and a brand new religion, outside the Jewish faith, was born in Jerusalem on that fateful day. Because Paul was by far a more educated man than the fishermen and tradesmen who made up the Apostolic Brotherhood, and because Paul was brilliant in the arena of debate, and chiefly, because Paul was a prolific writer who wrote more books on the new Christian Religion than any other person, Paul's new religion spread like wildfire, while the narrow Jewish sect that had hoped to be a reform movement in Judaism withered down to nothing. By 312 AD Paul's new religion had adherents throughout the empire, chiefly because of Paul and his companion’s untiring efforts at evangelizing and proselytizing from one end of the empire to the other. When Constantine made Paul's Christianity the State Religion in the Empire, the new faith quickly absorbed many of the pagan customs, rituals, feasts, and holidays of the various religions of the realm and swallowed up massive population groups. Deliverance from hell could now only come by complete obedience to the Bishops and Priests of the new Church, giving Constantine immense power over the populace. Many were forced to accept Paul's religion by threat of physical harm. It is a matter of record that the Christian Church killed more people during the first hundred years after becoming the legal State religion of the realm, than had all its persecutors during the one hundred years prior to 312 AD. The final question previously asked, might be a bit harder to answer. What did Jesus intend to teach in his new sect? Of course, there is the obvious answer: he intended to teach the simple message of the early gospels which taught a path to peace with God that included only two elements; loving God and loving one another. One thing can be determined with certainty: he did not intend to have a set of written beliefs - a creed, if you will. Had he intended this for his sect, it is obvious that he would have written it himself. No other possibility makes any kind of logical sense at all. He was intelligent, schooled, and able to read and write. He opened the scrolls in the synagogue when it was his turn to teach and he read the Scriptures. He wanted no creed for his new sect because he wrote no creed for his new sect. He wrote nothing because nothing needed to be written. This idea of living by intuition and practical goodness without a set of written commands is Taoist to the core. Ancient Taoism had no creed and does not presume to tell a single individual how he/she must behave. The rest of what Jesus intended must be inferred by the example of his living. He lived very simply. He told his followers to go about spreading their message taking no provisions for their journey. He said that while foxes had holes, he had no place to call home. He practiced simplicity to the very extreme. When he was hungry, he plucked corn in the fields to eat as he walked along the way, having brought nothing to eat for himself. This life of utter simplicity is a foundation teaching of Taoism. It is repeated over and over in Taoist thought... simplicity... simplicity... simplicity. Jesus taught humility. He told his disciples that the least among them should be counted the greatest. He told them to lead by serving and not by demanding. It grieved him when they tried to maneuver themselves to positions of higher authority or esteem. Little could he have possibly imagined that a religion would one day be established in his name whose leader would be called the "Supreme Pontiff" who would dwell in the largest, most posh palace in the entire world where people would vie for the opportunity to have audience with him and kiss his feet. Could he have dreamed of the vast treasures of wealth and art that would one day be hoarded in Vatican vaults under lock and key in his name while thousands of the people he loved so much went without the basic necessities of life? No, Jesus taught humility. Humility is a core foundation of Taoism. One of the three treasures of Taoism mentioned in the Tao Te Ching is humility. Jesus taught simple, even illogical, trust in the Father. He told people not to worry about what they would wear or what they would eat. He told them not to practice what they were going to say when questioned about their faith. He told them tomorrow has enough problems of its own, just live in the moment. Trust in the Tao - the loving "Spring" of all existence - is a foundation in Taoism. Living in the moment and flowing like water, allowing the circumstances of the day to dictate the acts of spontaneity that propel us forward, are pure Taoism. Jesus taught that knowledge cultivated apart from intuitive reflection was of no value. He told his followers to consider the lilies of the field, and the carefree manner in which they addressed each day. And yet they were arrayed in royal splendor. They didn't struggle to "be", they just “were.” He told them to consider the birds of the air and how they survived on intuition alone without forced intention. He even sat a small child before them, ignorant and unlearned, and told them that they must be as this child to "see the kingdom of heaven." He placed no value in the wisdom of the learned mind and repeatedly lifted up the ideal of teaching by example and common sense fueled by compassion. This truth that the things worth knowing are known intuitively in the depths of the human heart and cannot be learned nor taught is a foundation of Taoism. Jesus practiced a "live and let live" kind of life. When those outside his religion approached him, there is not a single instance of his taking the typical Christian position of "You must be "saved" in the manner prescribed by my religion to enter Heaven." There are no instances of him telling anyone outside his own faith that they needed to adopt his faith to be acceptable to God. When a Pagan Roman Centurion approached him about healing his sick child, Jesus not only granted his request, but as he walked away he exclaimed, "I have not seen faith this great in all of Israel." Never is there the first indication of his proclaiming exclusivity in matters of spirituality to this man at a point in the grateful man's life when he would have definitely been willing to listen. Jesus knew that spiritual peace was not a matter of lining up brain cells to fire in the proper sequence to believe certain dogma, but rather, in a life of humble simplicity and service to others. For the Taoist, spiritual peace is achieved by living a life of absolute child-like trust in the One beyond our ability to understand and comprehend; in a life of humility where good works are performed without the desire for recognition or ego-bulging praise; in a life of simplicity where "less is better"; in a life lived in spontaneity where we trust the Tao to provide and direct the course of the day's events; and finally in a life of compassion toward others, allowing them to progress spiritually in their own time and way. Does this path sound familiar? For most of my life I have been a Taoist - but I did not know it. Perhaps that's the way it was for Jesus. I lived as a minister in the Christian Religion, daily forcing my mouth to say things that my heart could not truly believe. This horrible way of living brought me much misery and even a breakdown in my health. Finally, my Teachers from the Other Side brought me to the shores of this ancient Ocean of pristine Wisdom, thousands of years older than Christianity. I stood in humble awe. The crude, leaky vessel of my Christian faith was no longer needed or adequate. The time-worn ship of intuitive experience had brought me to the ever-waiting shores of enlightenment. Was Jesus a Taoist? He was definitely not a “Christian.” He lived his life as a Jew but, like me, was in constant conflict with the faith of his youth. He was in so much conflict with his faith that its leaders finally killed him for his demands for reform. Was Jesus a Taoist? He was more Taoist than he was Christian. He was more Taoist than he was Jewish. His message was clearly more Taoist than either of these religions. Forty-one years after officially becoming a Christian, I made the conscious decision to make a sincere effort to imitate the life of Jesus of Nazareth. That is precisely why I could no longer be part of the “Christian” religion. Was Jesus a Taoist? All things considered, if we carefully consider the religion he practiced rather than professed, in many ways, I believe he was. This material is protected under International Copyright law, 2003. Permission is granted to post or distribute this material as long as it is reproduced in its entirety without editorial revision with copyright notice attached, and it is not used for commercial gain. McDonald translation of Tao Te Ching used unless otherwise noted. HOME "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

http://www.hemp4fuel.com/ Hemp is the most cost effective and profitable in terms of a renewable resource. Roughly 100 days from seed to harvest. Teri Zimmerman, of St.Louis NORML, has been making her own biomass fuel for some years now. Mostly from used cooking grease as it is expensive to import hemp seeds (the cost would be greatly reduced once American farmers are allowed to farm hemp). Almost anyone could produce biomass fuel in their own backyard. Check the link above on how to make biomass fuel. Any diesel would run on it, with little or no modifications. Teri drives a VW Quantum and to look at the engine you would see that no mods were made to it. It was a pleasure to drive in back of her as the smell was of french fries (she was burning a fuel made of used cooking grease. Hemp fuel smells like popcorn). I did have an odd urge to pull into a McDonald's and get a Big Mac and a chocolate shake. Maybe, McDonald's should get into biomass fuel. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Untill this government sits down and talk, the tension will only get worse untill it snaps into a full scale war. Bush much prefers war over diplomacy, so it seems. He has made a mess in Iraq and will eventually do the same in Iran (Iraq will look like a cakewalk compare to the asskicking the U.S. will get if it dares to waltz into Iran). Unless he takes the diplomatic approach. Most likely he will threaten them with some "Shock and Awe" and kill any hope of a diplomatic solution. Bush is an egostistic moron and has never done anything right. No reason to expect him to do the right thing anytime soon. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I posted a similar thread on hemp last week. The DEA fears the negative effect that hemp will have on their greatly over-bloated budget. More than 90% of the "marijuana" that they and state drug task forces pull out of the ground is actually feral hemp. What would the public say knowing that the largest portion of the DEA's budget has been spent pulling feral weeds? The DEA claims that hemp fields will be used to hide high quality sensimilla. They say this knowing that a large portion of the population knows nothing about hemp and marijuana. Two different plants from the same family. Growing marijuana alongside hemp would render it useless due to cross-pollination. They say it in the same breath with "What kind of message will this send to the children". They fear the acceptance of hemp. As the word spreads more people are getting onboard. Hemp is the worlds most versatile plant ever! They fear that the acceptance of hemp will spillover to a greater acceptance of marijuana. Both medical and recreational. The cotton and timber industry has just as much reason to fear hemp. To learn more about hemp go to http://www.jackherer.com/ There is no one more educated on hemp than Jack Herer. He started the movement and has dedicated his life to bringing forth the truth. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Fair question as NORML is normally associated with recreational use. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3377 NORML Statement on the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp Introduction What is Hemp? History Of Hemp Where does the DEA Stand on Hemp? Hemp Today "The marketplace, not myopic rules, should determine hemp's future in America." - New York Times Editorial Board, April 11, 1998 Introduction Why are American farmers legally forbidden from growing a plant proclaimed by Popular Mechanics magazine to have the potential to be manufactured into more than 25,000 environmentally friendly products? It's because the plant is hemp -- also known as marijuana -- and for more than 60 years, it has remained the U.S. government's public enemy #1. What is Hemp? Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. It is a tall, slender, fibrous plant similar to flax or kenaf. Various parts of the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed and other products. Hemp produces a much higher yield per acre than do common substitutes such as cotton and requires few pesticides. In addition, hemp has an average growing cycle of only 100 days and leaves the soil virtually weed-free for the next planting. The hemp plant is currently harvested for commercial purposes in over 30 nations, including Canada, Japan and the European Union. Although it grows wild across much of America and presents no public health or safety threat, hemp is nevertheless routinely uprooted and destroyed by law enforcement. Each year, approximately 98% of all the marijuana eliminated by the DEA's "Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program" is actually hemp. Despite America's bureaucratic moratorium on industrial hemp cultivation, a domestic industry exists and continues to grow. U.S. retailers and manufacturers annually import approximately 1.9 million pounds of hemp fiber, 450,000 pounds of hemp seeds, and 331 pounds of hempseed oil from Canada and other nations that regulate hemp farming. (Federal law permits the importation of hemp fiber, sterilized seeds, and ingestible hemp-based products containing no THC.) In addition, a growing number of health professionals are praising hemp seeds' nutritional value, noting that it's second only to soy in protein and contains the highest concentration of essential amino and fatty acids found in any food. Given the crop's versatility, it's no wonder that hemp has been endorsed by organizations and individuals such as the U.S. Agriculture Department's Alternative Agricultural Research, the National Conference of State Legislatures, environmentalist Ralph Nader and health guru Andrew Weil. History of Hemp Researchers trace hemp's history as a fiber and food crop back some 12,000 years. During America's colonial era, many of the founding fathers -- including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson -- espoused its manufacturing for rope, sails and paper. Early settlers also used hemp seeds as a source for lamp oil and some colonies made hemp cultivation compulsory, calling its production necessary for the "wealth and protection of the country." Hemp continued to be cultivated in America until 1937 when Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act outlawing marijuana. Although not a bill specifically aimed at hemp production, legal limitations posed by the legislation put an end to the once prominent industry. Hemp production briefly re-emerged in 1942 when the federal government encouraged American farmers to grow it for the war effort. Armed with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) film "Hemp for Victory," thousands of farmers grew hundreds of thousands of acres of hemp for wartime needs. Unfortunately, when World War II ended, so did the government's allowance of hemp cultivation. By 1957, prohibitionists had reasserted a total ban on hemp production. That federal ban remains in effect today. Where does the DEA Stand on Hemp? Despite hemp's emergence as a worldwide economic industry, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) remain firmly opposed to it. Currently, only the DEA has the power to license farmers to legally grow hemp, even in those states where local laws permit it. Not surprisingly, the DEA has continued to deny every permit for large-scale hemp farming (In 1999, they did give Hawaii researchers permission to grow a one-quarter acre test plot of the crop.) within America's borders for the last four decades. In a 1995 USDA "White Paper," the DEA stated that they are "opposed to any consideration of hemp as a legitimate fiber or pulp product," and recommended that any USDA researcher who wishes to explore the issue must first be briefed by White House anti-drug officials. Since then, DEA officials have stonewalled several state efforts to enact hemp cultivation and research bills by threatening to arrest any farmers who attempt to grow it. Most recently, President George Bush's spokesman Ari Flesher answered the question: "Does the President favor the legalization of industrial hemp?" by stating that Bush has not made "any statements ... that would lend one to reach that conclusion." Hemp Today Although our federal government refuses to waver on hemp prohibition, public, state and international support is growing. The European Union now subsidizes farmers to grow hemp, which is legally recognized as a commercial crop by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). In recent years, a number of U.S. states have commissioned studies recommending hemp as a viable economic crop. Most recently, legislatures in Montana and North Dakota have enacted legislation licensing farmers to grow hemp (though federal approval still remains necessary), hopefully paving the way for a renewed U.S. hemp cultivation industry in the not-so-distant future. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Hemp has nothing to do with "potheads" and everything to do with saving the planet, providing a profitable crop for small farms, saving the forest, reducing pesticide run off, providing food, providing non-petro plastics, providing stronger building materials, stemming erosion of farm land. The list of what hemp provides is extremely long. It is the most versatile plant on the planet. George Washington grew hemp. Todays farmer should be allowed the same. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

There was a time, in the U.S., when the farming of hemp was considered essential to the growth of our nation. It is time to start cultivating hemp and start the healing of wasted land caused by deforestation and the over use of fertilizers and pesticides. Last weekend at the Cannabis Revival, in Joplin, Mo., I had the pleasure of meeting Teri Zimmerman of St. Louis NORML (we set up our medical mj items in her booth). She is widely known for the Hempmobile and her work at promoting biomass fuel. We, Jacqueline Patterson and myself, followed her as she drove her VW Quantum to the festival. She was running the car on a fuel made from french fry grease. The smell was of french fries. The car will run on any biomass fuel. To date they import hemp seeds from Canada to make the hempfuel. The fuel has an odor of popcorn (she had jars of the fuel on display). You can also drank it as it is not lethal, although not recommended. After talking to Teri, I am amazed that this fuel is not utilized to free us from BIG OIL. I wonder what the hell is wrong with our country when such a plant can do so much yet veiwed as the greatest evil of all by a government that caters to only the big corporation. It is time for the sea of green to once again spread across the world and heal this dying planet. California: Legislature Approves Hemp Cultivation Bill Sacramento, CA: The California legislature this week approved legislation recognizing industrial hemp as an "agricultural field crop" and establishing regulations governing its cultivation by state-authorized farmers. The bill, AB 1147 (The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act), now awaits final approval from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Under the proposal, authorized farmers and researchers would be allowed to cultivate non-psychoactive varieties of cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC for industrial purposes, such as fiber content and seed stock. Farmers in Canada, the European Union and elsewhere currently grow hemp commercially as an agricultural commodity for a variety of consumer products, including food. According to a 2005 Congressional Research Service report, "The United States is the only developed nation in which industrial hemp is not an established crop." Hemp According to David West, PhD, "The THC levels in industrial hemp are so low that no one could ever get high from smoking it. Moreover, hemp contains a relatively high percentage of another cannabinoid, CBD, that actually blocks the marijuana high. Hemp, it turns out, is not only not marijuana; it could be called 'antimarijuana.'" Source: West, David P, Hemp and Marijuana: Myths and Realities (Madison, WI: North American Industrial Hemp Council, 1998), p. 3. Although opponents of hemp production claim that hemp fields will be used to hide marijuana fields, this is unlikely because cross-pollination between hemp and marijuana plants would significantly reduce the potency of the marijuana plant. On March 12, 1998, Canada legalized hemp production and set a limit of 0.3% THC content that may be present in the plants and requires that all seeds be certified for THC content. Source: West, David P, Hemp and Marijuana: Myths and Realities (Madison, WI: North American Industrial Hemp Council, 1998)., pp. 4, 21. In a July 1998 study issued by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky, researchers concluded that Kentucky hemp farmers could earn a net profit of $600 per acre for raising certified seeds, $320 net profit per acre for straw only or straw and grain production, and $220 net profit per acre for grain only production. The only crop found to be more profitable was tobacco. Source: Tompson, Eric C., PhD, Berger, Mark C., PhD, and Allen, Steven N., Economic Impacts of Industrial Hemp in Kentucky (Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, Center for Business and Economic Research, 1998), p. 21. In a July 1998 study issued by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky, researchers estimated that if Kentucky again became the main source for industrial hemp seed (as it was in the past), the state could earn the following economic benefits: Scenario Full time jobs created Worker Earnings Main source for certified industrial seeds only 69 jobs $1,300,000.00 Certified seeds, plus one processing facility 303 jobs $6,700,000.00 Certified seeds, plus two processing facilities 537 jobs $12,100,000.00 Certified seeds, one processing facility, one industrial hemp paper-pulp plant 771 jobs $17,600,000.00 Source: Tompson, Eric C., PhD, Berger, Mark C., PhD, and Allen, Steven N., Economic Impacts of Industrial Hemp in Kentucky (Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, Center for Business and Economic Research, 1998), p. iv. In February 2004, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Drug Enforcement Administration cannot ban hemp products. The Associated Press reported that "On Friday, the court said that though the DEA has regulatory authority over marijuana and synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the agency did not follow the law in asserting authority over all hemp food products as well. 'They cannot regulate naturally-occuring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana,' the court ruled, noting it's not possible to get high from products with only trace amounts of the mind-altering chemical. Hemp is an industrial plant related to marijuana. Fiber from the plant long has been used to make paper, clothing, rope and other products. Its oil is found in body-care products such as lotion, soap and cosmetics and in a host of foods, including energy bars, waffles, milk-free cheese, veggie burgers and bread." The case is Hemp Industries Association v. Drug Enforcement Administration, number 01-71662. Source: Terence Chea, Associated Press, "Appeals Court Rejects DEA Bid To Outlaw Hemp Foods," Feb. 6, 2004, from the web at http://www.mapinc.org/newscsdp/v04/n231/a07.html , last accessed Feb. 18, 2004. "Other than Maryland, only Hawaii, North Dakota and Minnesota have laws allowing hemp production. All were passed last year. Both Minnesota and North Dakota allow farmers statewide to grow hemp." Source: Montgomery, Lori, Washington Post Staff Writer, Maryland Authorizes the Production of Hemp, The Washington Post, May 19, 2000, p. B1, B5. "In Virginia, lawmakers passed a resolution last year urging federal officials to 'revise the necessary regulations' to permit experimental hemp production there." Source: Montgomery, Lori, Washington Post Staff Writer, Maryland Authorizes the Production of Hemp, The Washington Post, May 19, 2000, p. B5. http://www.jackherer.com/chapter02.html Hemp Facts Hemp is the Strongest Natural Fibre Known to Man Hemp Produces 4 Times As Much Paper Per Acre than Tree A Crop of Hemp can be Grown in 100 Days, Without Harmful Fertilizers & Pesticides Hemp can Create Jobs, Reduce Acid Rain & Help Reverse the Greenhouse Effect http://www.hemphouse.com/docs/hempinfo.html "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Did a search to see just how big she is. No bigger than the majority of the women who compete. Some of the women are pretty damn big. This Michelle seems to be on the smaller side from what I found doing the search. That being said, I have never met (not to my knowledge) a transsexual person untill I used the AIDS clinic in St. Louis (being HIV+, one tends to come in contact with a wide spectrum of people whom one may not otherwise meet). One woman who volunteered there unless you knew, you would never guess it. I was, at first, uncomfortable being around gay people and transsexuals. I was very prejudgedice and openly hated them before HIV entered my life. Turned out that they are just like everyone else. Different lifestyle but, for the most part they are just people living their life the best they can. No different than anyone else once you shed your ignorance and get to know them. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Doesn't the new Iraqi government support Hezbollah? It appears that the US has created the one thing it fears the most - a terrorist supportive government. How long untill US dollars and hardware are divirted to Hezbollah? "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Fixed it for ya Professor "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Damn, looks as if my Navy as gone to hell or, is this Bills personal Guided Missile Destroyer? "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

He should send in the big guns. Shock and awe !!! "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I am deeply concerned with the potential enviromental hazard that this may cause in the Gulf of California. Dumping waste in America's waterways is an eviromental crime. Besides, the Grand Canyon is a beautiful place. Can you please find another canyon to destroy? Maybe, Copper Canyon in Mexico as it is far bigger than the Grand Canyon. Just say "All expense paid Mexico vacation" and people will leap like lemmings!! "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I just do not know what to say about your post. I find it offensive. Are you hoping to discourage AIDS funding? I hope that you find yourself alone in being discouraging. Besides, this is old news. Also, why are you against what it takes to ending a global epidemic? Comparing AIDS to cancer and heart disease is akin to comparing apples and oranges. AIDS is in a class all of it's own. To hell with any political agenda when the subject is preserving human life. There is far too much suffering on this planet. It is EVERYONES responsibilty to end strife and suffering of every kind. Imagine what kind of good that could had been accomplished with the money that has been wasted in Iraq. http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182 A HUGE THANK YOU TO FRANCE for their brave effort. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I am always appaled when the system is abused to discredit an innocent person. The other night Dateline ran a piece (I think it was a re-run) about a Bakersfield, Ca. man who spent 20 years in prison due to a vengeful ex-wife and overzealous caseworker and a prosecutor. If not for certian people coming forward (the children, now adults and http://www.innocenceproject.org/ ) this man would still be in prison for a crime never commited. Part of why the system fails is due to those who abuse it for their own gain and not the childs best interest. Such false claims destroys more than the life of the accused, it also takes away from the child and it takes away resources that could be used to protect those who truely need protecting. I hope that you are using every single resource available to you and that in the end the truth will be known. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I truly would caution anyone to be damn sure of any allegations about child abuse they may be thinking of making. Be at least reasonably clear on all the facts before you get a ball rolling at will inevitably do harm to all those concerned if you are wrong. You are completely right about jumping the gun. When my niece was around 7 or 8 years old she ran into her fathers cigarette and got a small burn. The following week a school teacher noticed the burn. She asked Amber what happened. Amber told her that her fathers cigarette burned her and that set the ball rolling. It took several months of a case worker interviewing everyone who was there. It was determined (and rightfully so) to had been just an accident. But it was also understood that such abuse does occure and that they will always err on the side of saftey for the child first. Growing up, I had a very good childhood. Time to time, when I did something I should had not, I got my ass beat with the belt. Nothing major but, enough to raise a few welts. Lesson learned and all was good. I did, however, have friends who would get nearly daily beatings. One friend's father thought nothing of a fist upside his sons head, no matter who was there to see. Nothing was ever said. This was during the sixties and seventies. I am sure that we all had friends who had to endure a cruel parent. You may have had to endure one yourself. We all know that it happens. How do you know if a bruise on a child is just from a fall or from a beating? If it is from a beating, to what extent was the beating? How often is the child beat? Should anyone beat a child for a wrong? My answer to the last question is NO. But, is the spanking that a child recieve abuse or just a reminder to the child that certian behavior will not be tolerated? I have and I am sure that everyone reading this has seen a child being beat into submission at a store by a frustrated parent. Is it really neccesary for a parent to do this soley because a child was being a pest or would not simmer down? I think that all to often we see on the news or read an article of someone being arrested for shaking a child to death or breaking a childs limb. Just last week a father was arrested here in SW Missouri for breaking his infants son's leg after the baby peed on him. Unbelievable. Far to often we hear of children being raised in filthy conditions. Methhead parent/parents. Alcoholic parent/parents. Just plain cruel parent/parents. Who is responsible for reporting these and any other form of abuse? Most people want children to grow up safe. Most people would be appaled to hear of a child that got a severe beating for spilling milk. There is no fine line between "correcting" a child and "beating a child. No child should ever be hit by an adult. Period. But then it comes down to whether a spanking was abuse or just that, a spanking. It is hard to say. A hard call to make. Err on the side of saftey? or wait to see what happens? How do you know? Learn more @ http://www.childabuse.org/ http://www.building-block.org/ "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

If they are so concerned about flag burning, why not pass a law requiring that all American flags be made of NOMEX. Doing so will appease certian lawmakers, frustrate flagburners and make the Dupont stockholders very happy. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

The Extent of Child Abuse in America By Larry Axmaker, EdD, PhD More than 2.5 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported in the U.S. each year. The true number is probably much larger as all types of child abuse and neglect tend to be underreported. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that: One in four girls and one in eight boys will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. One in 20 children is physically abused each year. Half of all child abuse falls into the category of neglect. What is Abuse? Physical abuse - inflicting physical injury by punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, or otherwise physically harming a child Child neglect - failure to provide a child's basic needs physically, emotionally, educationally, and medically Sexual abuse - includes fondling children's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, commercial exploitation through prostitution, or producing pornographic materials Emotional abuse - acts or lack of attention by parents or other caregivers that results in behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders Recognizing Abuse and Neglect It can be difficult to recognize abuse and even more difficult to determine what to do about it. Children are often reluctant to tell anybody if they are being abused because they think they will be blamed or not believed. Parents tend to overlook symptoms because it is uncomfortable to talk about. The longer a child is abused or neglected, the deeper the trauma, and the less likely there will be a full emotional recovery. Many behaviors can indicate possible abuse or neglect. In many cases the behaviors could be caused by other situations. This list doesn't guarantee that the cause is abuse, but be alert to unexplainable changes such as: Injuries, bruises, factures, or head or abdominal injuries that cannot be explained Fearful behavior such as nightmares, depression, or attempts to run away Abdominal pain, bedwetting, urinary tract infections, genital pain or bleeding, or sexually transmitted diseases Extreme sexual behaviors (acting out) that are inappropriate for the child's age Sudden drop in self-confidence Self destructive or suicidal behaviors Drug and alcohol abuse Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause Failure to gain weight (usually in infants) Desperately affectionate behavior or need for approval Overeating and stealing food When to Call for Help If you suspect your child or another child has been abused or seriously neglected you should call your pediatrician or a child protective agency. Provide the information you have and they will follow-up. Doctors are legally required to report cases of abuse. Child protection agencies can provide shelter and care for abused children. Mental health professionals are often involved to help children cope with and overcome past emotional trauma caused by abuse or neglect. Some communities have Child Abuse Hotlines - you can often call anonymously. Sources: 1. Child Abuse and Neglect. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2000. Available online at: http://www.medem.com/ MedLB/article. Accessed January 20, 2006. 2. JAMA Patient Page: Protecting Our Children From Child Abuse. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999. Available online at: http://www.medem.com/ medlb/article_detaillb.cfm. Accessed January 20, 2006. http://www.building-block.org/ "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young