From Reuters: The federal government has the power to prevent sick patients from smoking home-grown marijuana that a doctor recommended to relieve chronic pain, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday in a setback for the medical marijuana movement. The 6-3 ruling means the federal government can enforce a federal law prohibiting the cultivation, possession and use of medical marijuana even where it is legal under state law. At

Above:  University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian insists his disagreement with Israel is an “intellectual” one From the AP: Sami Al-Arian emerged as a key figure in a “terror cycle” perpetrated by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose members targeted Israelis in deadly suicide bombings and bragged about them to raise money for more attacks, a prosecutor said today on the opening day of the fired college professor’s trial. In

…So I need to clear some space.  DVDs for sale:  $6.50 each, 2 for $12, 3 for $16; 10 for $50 (shipping included).  Titles below the fold.  If you’re interested, email me or drop a note in the comments.  If any of you have universal players that can play DVDs from other regions, I have a bunch of Spanish, UK, French, and Aussie titles I can part with, as well.

Kerry:  “…and the simple truth is, the Hostess Fruit Pie lied to us.  Which is why on Monday, I plan to begin presenting the case for his removal as titular head of the land of delicious snack cakes.* **** update:  “BECAUSE NO INDIVIDUAL FRUIT-FILLED PASTRY IS ABOVE THE LAW!” **** More here, here, here, and here.

I’m out of creamer.  Shit. Developing….

Sorry, but a chain of violent thunderstorms rolling through here has the little guy totally spooked.  In fact, the last I saw him he was guzzling coconut rum and fixing to sacrifice a chicken so that he might “appease the angry sky gods.” Of course, all he has to work with is half a Boston Market roaster and a plastic butter knife, so I don’t suspect he’ll be able to

Jury foreman:  “Did I mention the guy sleeps with little drunk boys…?” **** update:  “…Or that he owns a llama?  Because he does, you know.”

Melana Zyla Vickers, “Shamnesty International,” TCS: The torture and abuse of terrorist suspects is very much in the news these days, so it’s interesting to note the advice on the topic found in an Al Qaeda training manual seized some time ago in the U.K. The manual says that when captured or facing trial, “brothers must insist on proving that torture was inflicted on them by State Security.” Noting the