Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. The illustrious David Christopher Hartman has laid down a new track for your aural pleasure. Check it out at his MySpace. The song is called Whistlestop, and I give it my seal of approval. Seriously, shameless promotion of my best friend aside, this is a good song and you should listen to it.
- Rev.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
With Apologies to Mom and Dad: A Call to Arms at LVC for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws
An Open Letter to Lebanon Valley College Administration and Students:
Yesterday, my best friend was suspended from school and banned from campus for a year and a half, spent the night on a steel cot, and is facing two felony charges and a misdemeanor. What crime is he guilty of that warrants such heinous retribution? Why, it was simply the possession of a plant. Because he, an adult citizen of the United States of America, refused to buy into the propaganda and bullshit behind this “evil” flora he now faces a setback in his academic development and a criminal record that could haunt him forever. In this foul year of our lord, 2008, the mentality of our government is still decidedly anti-Marijuana, and to what end?
In 2005, there were 43,443 alcohol related traffic fatalities. Every year there are approximately 100,000 alcohol related deaths overall. Every weekend, bars are open until 2:00 AM and freely serve liquor, wine, and beer to those patrons who are of age. And in 2007 alone, there were exactly zero deaths related to marijuana overdose. The government condones the sale and consumption of alcohol, while it chases after and persecutes marijuana users more ardently than they pursue rapists and child molesters. While my friend is being banned from the Lebanon Valley College campus, there are five registered sex offenders living within a stone’s throw of my house. I know that I have been accused of being irrational, combative, and impulsive... but am I really the only one who sees a problem with this?
In my three years of college I have seen a drunk throw a chair, get in a fight with his best friend, destroy college property, and raise all sorts of hell. In my three years of college I have not once seen somebody under the influence of marijuana raise a hand against friend or foe, knock over a trash can, or otherwise be a total dick. Marijuana has countless medical benefits which could do good for all of mankind. Industrial hemp is a useful and environmentally sound alternative to cotton, plastics, glass, has many nutrition benefits, and doesn’t even get you high. Yet it is illegal because of its kinship with cannabis. Who else sees a discrepancy here?
LVC Administrators and Students, I am writing to tell you that neither I nor my fellow students will stand for this anymore. I, for one, refuse to relegate myself to the shadows with this anymore. I am willing to standup as a proud American citizen and say, “I support, and am willing to fight for, the decriminalization of marijuana.”
So, dear readers, especially those of you at LVC, I am going to go about establishing a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws on the Lebanon Valley College campus. Who’s with me?
Rev.
PS:
Here’s a video of Seth McFarlane (creator of Family Guy) talking at Stanford. About five minutes into the video he gives a good rundown of why pot was made illegal in the first place. Here’s a spoiler: it was because of a government lobbyist back in the 1800’s. Check it out at about 4:30 minutes... you'll be enlightened if you haven't been already.
PPS:
This post is dedicated to the man who was persecuted by these swine. I'm sorry that it took a tragedy to move me to activism. Big ups to a true blood.
Yesterday, my best friend was suspended from school and banned from campus for a year and a half, spent the night on a steel cot, and is facing two felony charges and a misdemeanor. What crime is he guilty of that warrants such heinous retribution? Why, it was simply the possession of a plant. Because he, an adult citizen of the United States of America, refused to buy into the propaganda and bullshit behind this “evil” flora he now faces a setback in his academic development and a criminal record that could haunt him forever. In this foul year of our lord, 2008, the mentality of our government is still decidedly anti-Marijuana, and to what end?
In 2005, there were 43,443 alcohol related traffic fatalities. Every year there are approximately 100,000 alcohol related deaths overall. Every weekend, bars are open until 2:00 AM and freely serve liquor, wine, and beer to those patrons who are of age. And in 2007 alone, there were exactly zero deaths related to marijuana overdose. The government condones the sale and consumption of alcohol, while it chases after and persecutes marijuana users more ardently than they pursue rapists and child molesters. While my friend is being banned from the Lebanon Valley College campus, there are five registered sex offenders living within a stone’s throw of my house. I know that I have been accused of being irrational, combative, and impulsive... but am I really the only one who sees a problem with this?
In my three years of college I have seen a drunk throw a chair, get in a fight with his best friend, destroy college property, and raise all sorts of hell. In my three years of college I have not once seen somebody under the influence of marijuana raise a hand against friend or foe, knock over a trash can, or otherwise be a total dick. Marijuana has countless medical benefits which could do good for all of mankind. Industrial hemp is a useful and environmentally sound alternative to cotton, plastics, glass, has many nutrition benefits, and doesn’t even get you high. Yet it is illegal because of its kinship with cannabis. Who else sees a discrepancy here?
LVC Administrators and Students, I am writing to tell you that neither I nor my fellow students will stand for this anymore. I, for one, refuse to relegate myself to the shadows with this anymore. I am willing to standup as a proud American citizen and say, “I support, and am willing to fight for, the decriminalization of marijuana.”
So, dear readers, especially those of you at LVC, I am going to go about establishing a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws on the Lebanon Valley College campus. Who’s with me?
Rev.
PS:
Here’s a video of Seth McFarlane (creator of Family Guy) talking at Stanford. About five minutes into the video he gives a good rundown of why pot was made illegal in the first place. Here’s a spoiler: it was because of a government lobbyist back in the 1800’s. Check it out at about 4:30 minutes... you'll be enlightened if you haven't been already.
PPS:
This post is dedicated to the man who was persecuted by these swine. I'm sorry that it took a tragedy to move me to activism. Big ups to a true blood.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The VP Debate: Sex Sells for Sarah
Hello readers. For those of you at LVC, this post is an article I wrote for La Vie. The good editors who watch over our publication chose to trim it down to size, so here's the "director's cut", if you will. Is the Internet the next wave of journalism?
After watching the Vice Presidential debates, I felt more than a little disappointed.
I tuned in on Thursday night hoping for credibility and entertainment, and was left wanting. They might as well have been moderated by Ed McMahon, what with all the vicious talking heads in the mainstream media hyping the event, like it was some sort of epic cage match, chainsaws and all.
“In the left corner we have Joseph ‘Ole’ Joe’ Biden. And in the right corner stands Sarah ‘The Bulldog’ Palin’.” I could almost hear McMahon over the loud speakers.
After all this hype, the debates were relatively anti-climatic. Palin didn’t come off as a complete twit, despite the “Couric Interview” and Biden kept his notorious tongue in check, a move that may have been too cautious. Both candidates skirted issues and avoided questions, while moving the dialogue towards their respective strong points and scoring minor victories.
All the buzz words, obviously prepared sound bites, and displays of etiquette were present and accounted for. I lost track of how many times Palin said “maverick” more than necessary really. Unfortunately, it seems that Palin’s “cute” persona is here to stay, and that high pitched voice makes me feel punchy.
In all truth, the debate was more of what we would have expected had both candidates been regular politicians, which they are.
This goes to show how the mainstream media and respective campaigns have high jacked the levity of the Presidential election and turned them into a three ring circus. All hail the mighty ratings and poll numbers, and damn the truth to hell. But, I digress.
So who really won the VP debate? Biden did a somewhat better job of getting his points across than Palin, and he also has the advantage of running on a platform that is good for the country. Unfortunately, Palin clinched the victory for the debate thanks to one ad found on the website Craigslist: “Wanted. One Sarah Palin look alike for Adult Film. No anal required.”
Apparently the pay is $2,000 to $3,000. One could assume that this is depending on whether or not the actress has a pair of “Palin Glasses”.
What depraved sexual deviant can even think about a respected Vice Presidential Candidate that way? Now that you mention it, I think I can. Palin certainly turned up her “cute” factor, now being cute all the time as opposed to only when she doesn’t know the answer to a question. It may have the booze talking, but when she said “drill, drill, drill,” and gave the camera a little wink, I found myself thinking, “would I?” Good job, Grand Old People, you have replaced your ‘crusty old white man’ look with a marginally hot hockey mom. Can we talk about the issues now?
- Rev.
After watching the Vice Presidential debates, I felt more than a little disappointed.
I tuned in on Thursday night hoping for credibility and entertainment, and was left wanting. They might as well have been moderated by Ed McMahon, what with all the vicious talking heads in the mainstream media hyping the event, like it was some sort of epic cage match, chainsaws and all.
“In the left corner we have Joseph ‘Ole’ Joe’ Biden. And in the right corner stands Sarah ‘The Bulldog’ Palin’.” I could almost hear McMahon over the loud speakers.
After all this hype, the debates were relatively anti-climatic. Palin didn’t come off as a complete twit, despite the “Couric Interview” and Biden kept his notorious tongue in check, a move that may have been too cautious. Both candidates skirted issues and avoided questions, while moving the dialogue towards their respective strong points and scoring minor victories.
All the buzz words, obviously prepared sound bites, and displays of etiquette were present and accounted for. I lost track of how many times Palin said “maverick” more than necessary really. Unfortunately, it seems that Palin’s “cute” persona is here to stay, and that high pitched voice makes me feel punchy.
In all truth, the debate was more of what we would have expected had both candidates been regular politicians, which they are.
This goes to show how the mainstream media and respective campaigns have high jacked the levity of the Presidential election and turned them into a three ring circus. All hail the mighty ratings and poll numbers, and damn the truth to hell. But, I digress.
So who really won the VP debate? Biden did a somewhat better job of getting his points across than Palin, and he also has the advantage of running on a platform that is good for the country. Unfortunately, Palin clinched the victory for the debate thanks to one ad found on the website Craigslist: “Wanted. One Sarah Palin look alike for Adult Film. No anal required.”
Apparently the pay is $2,000 to $3,000. One could assume that this is depending on whether or not the actress has a pair of “Palin Glasses”.
What depraved sexual deviant can even think about a respected Vice Presidential Candidate that way? Now that you mention it, I think I can. Palin certainly turned up her “cute” factor, now being cute all the time as opposed to only when she doesn’t know the answer to a question. It may have the booze talking, but when she said “drill, drill, drill,” and gave the camera a little wink, I found myself thinking, “would I?” Good job, Grand Old People, you have replaced your ‘crusty old white man’ look with a marginally hot hockey mom. Can we talk about the issues now?
- Rev.
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