altara

Saturday, January 04, 2014

weed

Legalizing Marijuana

In a recent column, David Brooks criticizes the Colorado's legalization of recreational marijuana use. If we were starting out; with little or no marijuana availability and use, I could agree. It would not be wise to introduce a legal supply of marijuana.

But marijuana has long been available and in use. The main problem has been the criminalization of its use, leading to prison terms, often disproportionately for members of minorities. On balance, it is better to permit and regulate its use.

Brooks also predicts a plunge in prices resulting in more widespread use. Well, so far, that has not happened. Prices in Denver have reached $400 an ounce.

But it is likely that those living in Colorado will not long tolerate such prices. Marijuana is so easy to grow that having one or two plants at home would easily provide an adequate supply.

Friday, January 03, 2014

donkey meat

"Products from a supplier of donkey meat that had been found to be tainted with fox DNA were removed from Walmart stores in China..."

Maybe IKEA would have been better off with donkey meat

Thursday, January 02, 2014

Mars

Mission Shortlists Over a Thousand Candidates for Life on Mars

Damn! I missed the cut.

Health Care

"Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Obama administration from forcing some religious-affiliated groups to provide health insurance coverage of birth control or face penalties as part of the Affordable Care Act."

The health care policy that would have been best , Medicare-for-all, would have obviated this controversy.

Note that these employers are in no way being forced to recommend or require their employees' use of contraceptives. Note also that a large majority of Catholics do use contraceptives. So why deprive employees of these organization of affordable coverage?

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Congress

2013 Congress -

Goodbye and good riddance. For all that it accomplished, it might as well have spent the year trapped in the Antarctic ice

Drones


FAA picks sites for drone testing

I'm so looking forward to the Passenger Drone, which will pick me up at home and carry me directly to my office.