Playing right into the pastor's hands

Angelina Jolie and Hillary Clinton give Koran-burning church exactly what itcovets

Angelina Jolie is taking on the pastor at her own urging.
The Koran is an ancient text that's being used as a publicity grab by an obscureFlorida pastor.
Terry Jones of The Dove World Outreach Center speaks about the planned burningof the Koran on the center's "The Braveheart Show."
YouTube
"Islam is of the Devil," by Terry Jones

By now you've probably heard of the formerly obscure church in central Florida that plans to burn around 200 copies of the Koran Saturday on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

You've heard of pastor Terry Jones not because he wields much influence, or even has much of an audience. You've heard of him because, in many ways, as the NYT points out, he's as skilled in viral marketing as the creators of that famous fake girl who quit.

Jones, head of the several-dozen-member church the Dove World Outreach Center, has been making inflammatory remarks and staging anti-Muslim demonstrations for years. This year, due almost exclusively to our saturation in and the disseminating power of the Internet, his idiocy has reached even the ears of the Vatican and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both of whom have publicly condemned the burning. (Gen. David Petraeus has even spoken out, voicing concerns that the demonstration could endanger American troops in Afghanistan).

And of course, Angelina Jolie has decided she needs to chime in as well.

Whether giving Jones the attention he so obviously craves is a good or a bad thing is hard to say, and unimportant. Here I am, adding to his Google news record as we speak.

I think of it as my grandfather did: That's the thing with free speech. You have to listen to a lot of crap, but at least you know who the assholes are.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana