Here you go

via MoJo

Wait… what did you just say? I didn't, uh, hear you, I, uh, guess

"Once these population differences were corrected for, the long-term effects of marijuana use disappeared: The scientists found that “there were no significant between group differences.” In other words, the amount of pot consumed had no measurable impact on cognitive performance. The sole exception was performance on a test of short-term verbal memory, in which “current heavy users” performed slightly worse than former users. The researchers conclude that, contrary to earlier findings, the mind altering properties of marijuana are ephemeral and fleeting…" | via FC |


Unrelated: I'm getting smarter every day. 

what is the horror of swift death by the axe, compared with lifelong death from hunger, cold, insult, cruelty, and heart-break?

Mark Twain said,

"Why, it was like reading about France and the French, before the ever memorable and blessed Revolution, which swept a thousand years of such villany away in one swift tidal-wave of blood--one: a settlement of that hoary debt in the proportion of half a drop of blood for each hogshead of it that had been pressed by slow tortures out of that people in the weary stretch of ten centuries of wrong and shame and misery the like of which was not to be mated but in hell.

There were two 'Reigns of Terror,' if we would but remember it and consider it; the one wrought murder in hot passion, the other in heartless cold blood; the one lasted mere months, the other had lasted a thousand years; the one inflicted death upon ten thousand persons, the other upon a hundred millions; but our shudders are all for the 'horrors' of the minor Terror, the momentary Terror, so to speak; whereas, what is the horror of swift death by the axe, compared with lifelong death from hunger, cold, insult, cruelty, and heart-break?

What is swift death by lightning compared with death by slow fire at the stake? A city cemetery could contain the coffins filled by that brief Terror which we have all been so diligently taught to shiver at and mourn over; but all France could hardly contain the coffins filled by that older and real Terror--that unspeakably bitter and awful Terror which none of us has been taught to see in its vastness or pity as it deserves."

… in reference to the Civil War.

Who drops out of the GOP race next?

My money is on Santorum, as Cain is too crazy to realize he is beaten and Gingrich is just going for the payday anyway. What do you think?

Suggestion for more Apropos Cartoon Lyrics

Herman Cain quoted the theme song from 2000's Pokemon movie in yesterday's debate. I cannot wait from the Republican Primary season to hit full swing.

Here are some other cartoon lyrics I think he could maybe use:

"When in this world, the headlines read of those whose hearts are filled with greed, who rob and steal from those who need, [I'll] right this wrong with blinding speed... I'm an underdog..."

"You've got the touch, you've got the power."

"[I'll] fight for freedom wherever there's trouble."

"Come along with the Snorks. Swim along with the Snorks. Play along with the Snorks. Happy to be living under the sea."

Dr. Beardlove: Or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Prognostication

Bellmen: Ring your bells, load your muskets, ride your horses, and warn the British. The republican primaries are coming, and it is time to prognosticate.

Iowa had a little event at the state fair yesterday, and a few blowhards blew. Perhaps drawn by the lure of fried butter, or piqued by the shallowness of the republican pool, Perry is expected to officially throw his 10-gallon into the deep end a little later tonight.

I couldn't help but notice we're not talking about it.

My observations? A Texas candidate is nothing without Rove. I don't think Rick Perry's pray and wait strategy will play where it counts, mainly the important north-east and mid-west primary states. He should also be easily overcome if the actual Texas books are scrutinized. (And I don't mean our text books). The cooked books and fudged numbers that won him a few elections out here will definitely come to light (if not in the primaries then in the general election). As weird as it is, I just don't see how Romney should be worried about Perry's entry.

That said, I can't wait for Perry to enter the debates.

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart: Coda

American Beard

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Another Fond Look Back...

Six months and 105 Bearded Men. Thank you all.

1. Bertie Higgins - Key Largo
2. Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch
3. Orleans - Dance With Me
4. Loggins and Messina - The House at Pooh Corner
5. Michael Murphy - Wildfire
6. Dave Mason - We Just Disagree
7. Isaac Hayaes - Walk On By
8. Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze
9. Christopher Cross - Sailing
10. Kenny Rogers - Lady

Special Week-end Edition - Jethro Tull - Thick As a Brick

11. Michael McDonald - What A Fool Believes
12. Ambrosia - Biggest Part of Me
13. Stephen Bishop - It Might Be You
14. ZZ Top - Rough Boy
15. Leon Russell - A Song For You
16. The Beatles - Let It Be
17. George Harrison - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
18. Ringo Starr - Photograph
19. John Lennon - Instant Karma
20. Billy Preston - Will It Go Round In Circles

Special Week-end Edition - The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post

21. The Band - I Shall Be Released
22. Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful
23. Bob Schneider - 40 Dogs (Romeo and Juliet)
24. Billy Joel - New York State of Mind
25. Little Feat - Fat Man in the Bathtub
26. ELO - Telephone Line
27. Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well
28. Gary P. Nunn - London Homesick Blues
29. Waylon Jennings - Luckenbach Texas
30. Willie Nelson - Good Hearted Woman
31. Split Lip Rayfield - Drink Lotsa Whiskey
32. Band Of Heathens - Hallelujah / I've Got a Feeling
33. Charley Daniels - Long Haired Country Boy
34. Merle Haggard - There's a Pair of Blue Eyes Down In Texas
35. The Black Crows - Soul Singing
36. Bob Marley - Exodus
37. Dr. John - Such a Night
38. Grateful Dead - Ripple
39. Blaze Foley - Oval Room
40. Darrell Scott - A Crooked Road

Special Week-end Edition - Free - Alright Now

41. Steve Goodman - You're the Girl I Love
42. William Elliott Whitmore - Old Devils
43. The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Mama's Fried Potatoes
44. Luke Kelly - Dirty Old Town
45. Eric Clapton - It Hurts Me Too
46. Ray Lamontagne - Empty
47. Manfred Mann - Blinded By The Light

Special Zimmerman birthday Edition - Bob Dylan - Baby Let Me Follow you Down

48. Bruce Springsteen - Spirit in the Night
49. The Avett Brothers - St. Joseph's
50. Cat Stevens - Peace Train
51. The Black Keys - Your Touch
52. Dave Van Ronk - Candy Man
53. Matisyahu - King Without a Crown
54. Bloc Party - Banquet
55. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize
56. The Police - Every Breath You Take
57. OutKast - Ms. Jackson
58. Jason Webley with Sxip Shirley - Days With You
59. Shooter Jennings - Walk Of Life
60. Luther Allison - Living in the House of the Blues
61. Valient Thorr - Man Behind The Curtain
62. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
63. Bob Neuwirth - Rock Salt and Nails
64. Unity featuring Stic.Man - Let's Ride
65. Phish - Waste
66. Daryl Hall - Kiss On My List
67. Bob Seger - Still the Same
68. Foo Fighters - Best of You
69. Planxty - The Blacksmith
70. The Parlor Mob - Hard TImes
71. Gentle Giant - Free Hand
72. Queen - Headlong
73. John Legend - Ordinary People
74. Lionel Richie featuring Lyfe Jennings - Easy
75. Parliament Funkadelic - Do That Stuff
76. Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be A Hero
77. James Blunt - Carry You Home
78. Glen Campbell - So Lonesome I Could Cry / Southern Nights
79. Jimmy Webb - P.F. Sloan
80. Bobby Bare Jr. - The Monk at the Disco
81. Prince - 7
82. James Ingram - Just Once
83. Teddy Pendergrass - Turn Off The Lights
84. Barry White - Can't Get Enough of Your Love
85. Al Green - Let's Stay Together
86. George Michael - Faith
87. Toots Hibbert - 54-46 (That's My Number)
88. Marshall Tucker Band - Can't You See
89. Earth Wind and Fire - Boogie Wonderland
90. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
91. War - The Cisco Kid
92. Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
93. Biffy Clyro - Bubbles
94. Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day
95. The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost
96. System Of A Down - Chop Suey!
97. Guns n Roses - Knocking On Heavens Door
98. Richie Havens - Freedom
99. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - I Should Have Known It
100. The Eagles - Hotel California

Welcome to the world

Kevin Drum says:

This is pretty much the reason I'm no longer a neoliberal, but a recovering neoliberal. The neos believed that liberals should devote a lot of energy to getting public policy right, even if it meant gutting a few sacred cows along the way. The idea was that the public would never support an activist government unless they were convinced that it was being run as leanly and efficiently as possible. The problem is that this only works if the other side plays ball. After all, what's the point of agreeing to abolish a poorly working program if conservatives refuse to meet halfway and try to build a better program in its place? For most liberals, even a poorly working program is better than no program at all. 

Politically, then, technocratic neoliberalism just doesn't work given the true-believer obduracy of the contemporary Republican Party. So we're left with trench warfare instead and no one's happy. Conservatives are unhappy because liberals keep defending programs that have poor track records, while those of us who suffer from the neoliberal temperament are unhappy because we're too busy fending off knife attacks to have a real chance reforming the delivery of government services. Welcome to the modern world.

I'm all for technocratic idealism, but I think it's naive to think that American politics has ever been anything but trench warfare. It just hurts more when the liberals are losing. And a lot of us think that liberals are losing because we stopped making the "a bad program is better than no program" argument. It's a hard argument to make, but it worked when people clearly saw what "no program" looked like. I was hoping we wouldn't have to go all the way back to robber baronies to find out why we need liberalism.

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 100!

Warm smell of beard

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 99

Heartbreaker beard

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 98

Freedom beard

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 97

Tighty-whitey beard

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 96

System of a beard