An Interesting Drugs Report

It seems that a while ago, the World Health Organization performed a study on cocaine use (the source said it was the largest ever indepth study). Then, the results got dimissed and the report was never published, as it didn't conform with the myths propagated by the US anti-drug campaigns and political interests.

The report touched on unjustified stigmatization/vilification of cocaine users, exaggerations of the health damages cocaine produces and the fact that current approaches to stopping the use of cocaine are naive at best (among other things).

The US apparently threatened to withdraw funding from the WHO if the report was published (in the end it seems it was leaked[PDF], not published).

Disclaimer: This post is in no way an endorsement for the use of cocaine (or any other drugs for that matter). I am more interested in writing about the conclusions and the supression of the report, than drugs in general. Besides, IANAD.

Don't talk to the police

... at least if you're in the States ...

The US Elections Are Over a.k.a. Pedros

In a bar in Mexico, there was a Mexican drinking Tequila (of course!). All of a sudden, he heard someone yelling from outside:

Pedros, Pedros, somebody is stealing your horse!

He dashed outside, then suddenly stopped and realized:
Hey, I don't have a horse! He went back inside and got a new glass of Tequila.

Ten minutes later, he heard another voice yelling outside:

Pedros, Pedros, somebody is robing your house!

He dashed outside again, then suddenly stopped and realized:
Hey, I don't have a house! He went back inside and got a new glass of Tequila.

Ten minutes later, he heard another voice yelling outside:

Pedros, Pedros, somebody is kidnapping your wife!

He dashed outside again, then suddenly stopped and realized:
Hey, I'm not Pedros!

So ... what does that have to do with the US elections? Nothing much ...

... except that I knew very strongly who I was going to vote for ... and I'm not American.

Damn media! :-(

Good thing it's over though.

Utnapistim for President

So ... it seems there's a surprise move in the campaign for the president of the US.

Watch the news here.

US Democracy is ... Not a Democracy

Papa Stalin said it doesn't matter who votes, it matters who counts the votes (or something like that).

This guy gives court testimony under oath that the US voting machines are rigged.

How comes this is not front page news?

newest episode: it's the actions of "some soldiers"

Until now, it wasn't there;

It seems it was there, just ... it was the actions of "some soldiers" ...

Sad ... sad ...

From a Former President no Less

Francesco Cossiga is a former Italian president, having ruled Italy from 1985, until 2002.

He's also one of the few politicians considered to be more-or-less correct, as in his last two years as president, he started unmasking all kinds of overt moves made by politically-powerful people, in the Italian government. Those two years made him very popular with the Italian people, and very unpopular with the Italian parliament - which seems to be the reason he lost his presidency - I'm not sure, I haven't had much time to look into that.

That's not interesting in itself, unless you're into European history.

What IS interesting however, is the interview he gave in Corriere della Sera, where he stated (translated to English):

Palazzo Chigi [headquarters of the Italian government] circles, nerve centre of Italian intelligence, note that the video's falsity is proven by the fact that Osama Bin Laden reportedly confesses that Al Qaeda made the September 11 attacks against the twin towers in New York, while all democratic circles in Europe and America, above all those of the Italian left-wing, know that the disastrous attack has been planned and executed by the CIA and Mossad, with the help of the Zionist world, in order to accuse Arab countries and force western powers to intervene both in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is why there has been no word of solidarity to Berlusconi from the Quirinale [home of the Italian president of the republic], from Palazzo Chigi nor from members of the left wing coalition.

All this, is coming from a widely-respected former-president of Italy.

What is the most interesting of it all though, is that none of the mainstream media outlets (BBC/CNN/etc.) seem to see this as newsworthy (let me give you a hint: it's huge!).

Vote of "No Confidence" in the US Dollar

Guys, if you have to sell dollars, I suggest you do so tomorrow morning. The US Dollar just got a vote of no confidence on the international market, through the accidentally (not sure it was accidental, but that's what the article said) leaked meeting of the OPEC leaders:

They said Opec should formally express its concern about the weakness of the dollar when the cartel makes its official declaration at the close of the summit today. But the Saudis, the world's largest oil producers and de facto head of Opec, vetoed the proposal. Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, warned that even the mere mention to journalists of the fact that leaders were discussing the weak dollar would cause the US currency to plummet.

Unfortunately his words and those of everyone at the meeting were being broadcast via a live television feed to a group of astonished reporters.