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Will John Boehner’s Growing Family Change His Mind About Marijuana Policy?
The more people you know who use marijuana, the harder it becomes to say that they should be arrested for possessing it. After all, the vast majority of marijuana users are productive and otherwise law-abiding members of society. This fact has become increasingly evident as more and more people come out of the “cannabis closet” and become open about their experiences with the substance.
Dominic Lakhan
Last Friday, House Speaker John Boehner’s daughter Lindsay married Dominic Lakhan, a Jamaican-born construction worker. Lakhan was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana in 2006.
Rep. John Boehner
Is it possible that Boehner, who has consistently opposed marijuana policy reform, will start to come around now that he has a convicted marijuana user for a son-in-law? Does he think Lakhan is better off with an arrest record or that Lakhan deserves to be arrested again for using marijuana? Would he care about how it affects his daughter? Only time will tell.
Let’s hope his experience is similar to that of Republican Senator Rob Portman, who changed his stance on gay marriage after learning that his son is gay. While this position initially caused a slight loss in approval among Republicans in his state, the growing acceptance of gay marriage (which has been nearly mirrored by the increasing support for marijuana policy reform) could actually help him in the long run.
Politicians’ thinking traditionally lags far behind the general public on social issues, but it gets a little harder to ignore when that thinking hurts your own family.
Did You Hear About The DFW NORML Marijuana March?
The420TimesStaff | May 18, 2013 | Comments 0
From the fine folks at DFW NORML:
On May 4, a sense (and smell) of hope and freedom filled the air as marijuana supporters gathered at Hyde Park in Fort Worth to participate in DFW NORML’s annual Global Marijuana March. The energy could be felt from the very beginning, as volunteers and vendors gathered early outside of Mambo’s Tapas Cantina to set up for the day’s events. Participants and supporters mingled, danced, shouted and sang as they enjoyed live music played from the Mambo’s 2nd floor roof patio.
Then came the march. At 4:20 pm, DFW NORML’s members and supporters began to march. Flags were waved, signs were held, and the sound of “1-2-3, we want weed!” echoed through the streets. What began as a march of around 300 people soon began to catch the attention of onlookers and passers-by. By the time marchers returned to Hyde Park, we had picked up an additional 200 supporters and a legalization parade that stretched for 9 blocks, resulting in an estimated 500 people!
Those who didn’t join in gave thumbs up, honked, waved, and stopped to video record the march as a show of support. One man even got out of his car at the intersection of 9th and Commerce to video uswith his phone. To top off an already incredible day, the march was also covered by Channel 5 (NBC DFW) and the Fort Worth Star Telegram, along with several other independent media outlets.
The weather that day was perfect and the day’s events, from start to finish, went smoothly without a single incident or need for police involvement. It was a very proud day in history for both DFW NORML and the city of Fort Worth. DFW NORML greatly appreciates the march’s participants, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, the Park Central Hotel, as well as Federal Plaza and the city of Fort Worth for hosting this event.
Our next event is the May meeting on 5/25 at the Whiskey Girl Saloon in Fort Worth so please join us or make a donation to the cause at our online store here: http://dfwnorml.myshopify.com/products/donation
Herb’s the word.
Filed Under: Activism • Exclusive Web Content • Politics • The War On Drugs
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time releasing in July
Get your sprinklers set up for a long summer, because Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time will rise from the lawn in July. The release date for PopCap’s tower defense sequel was revealed in the goofy video below.
The first Plants vs. Zombies propelled PopCap to new heights of casual domination in 2009. It made the studio a very attractive acquisition for Electronic Arts, which purchased PopCap for $ 650 million in 2011.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 was set for a spring release when it was announced last year, but all we’ve learned about the game since then is its new subtitle. Is time travel or historical zombie slaying in the mix?
We’ll find out soon.
How to Talk to Your Child About ADHD
Talking with your child about his ADHD isn’t always easy. But it’s important to do, and it goes better if you keep it productive and positive.
“I have two children with ADHD, so I can speak from experience here,” says Terry Dickson, MD, director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan, and an ADHD coach. “The reason why you need to talk about your child’s ADHD with him directly is because you want them to be involved, to understand, and to be on board.”
These eight tips will help you talk about it.
Start Talking
When you find out your child has ADHD, that’s the time to start communicating with them about it.
“It’s never too early to start talking with your child about his ADHD,” says Patricia Collins, PhD, director of the Psychoeducational Clinic at North Carolina State University.
You’ll talk about it many times as your child grows and develops. Start having those talks as early as possible.
A good approach is to help your child understand what ADHD means, what it doesn’t mean, and how to be successful at school and in life. What you say should be appropriate for their age.
“You need to help your child feel special, and like he is part of the plan,” Dickinson says. “He should feel like he is involved.”
1. DO make sure your child feels loved and accepted.
Help him understand that ADHD has nothing to do with his intelligence or his ability, and it’s not a flaw, Dickson says.
2. DO pick the discussion time wisely.
“It should be a time when you are unlikely to be interrupted,” Collins says.
Try to pick a time when your child isn’t eager to do something else, like playing outside or before dinner or bed.
Leave some time for follow-up, so you’re available to the child after the conversation is over if he has extra questions.
3. DO let them know they’re not alone.
Many other people have ADHD, too, and everyone with ADHD can be successful.
Give your child examples of people who have or had ADHD that they might know, like Walt Disney, Michael Phelps, and designer Tommy Hilfiger.
Let your child know they are special and they can succeed as well as anyone else.
4. DO learn more about ADHD.
Talk to your doctor, reach out to advocacy groups, and find support groups in your area.
“One of the best things you can do is talk to other parents who already have experience with ADHD about what they’ve learned,” Collins says.
5. DON’T focus on the negative.
“Focus on their strengths, what they do well, and praise their accomplishments,” Dickinson says.
“Whether its sports, arts, or dance, they can pursue their interests and do well with your support.”
6. DON’T let your kids use their ADHD as an excuse.
“Kids can’t take the easy way out by blaming their setbacks on their ADHD,” Collins says.
“Parents need to help their child understand that ADHD is not a reason to not turn in homework, to not try their hardest, or to give up.”
7. DON’T expect instant interest.
Don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t respond immediately or seems uninterested, Collins says.
It takes some children, particularly younger ones, some time for new information to make sense, or for them to know what questions to ask.
8. DO maintain open communication.
“One conversation is just the beginning,” Dickinson says.
“Keep the dialogue going, talk about school, their friends, homework, extracurricular activities, and keep a positive attitude.”
China’s Internet abuzz about presidential taxi ride that wasn’t
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a meeting with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing April 12, 2013.
Credit: Reuters/Goh Chai Hin/Pool
BEIJING |
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Internet was abuzz on Thursday over a report that President Xi Jinping, who is striving to portray himself as a humble man, had hailed a cab in Beijing last month. The report was later dismissed by state media as being false.
Many Chinese news portals, which had carried the story, removed it, including the website of the newspaper that wrote the original piece.
The report, which first appeared in the Beijing-backed Ta Kung Bao newspaper of Hong Kong, went viral on Chinese microblogs and the Internet before the official Xinhua news agency stepped in to say it was all untrue.
The Ta Kung Pao later posted an apology on its website.
“Because of our lapse, a significant false report appeared,” the newspaper said. “For this, we sincerely apologise to our readers, We take this as a warning, and will return to producing accurate and rigorous reporting for the public.”
The story had portrayed Xi, who has been keen to break from the stiff and aloof style of past leaders, as a man who takes random taxi rides and gives moderate tips.
The Ta Kung Pao said that China’s new leader hailed a cab in the capital last month to take him to the Diaoyutai Hotel, part of the well-guarded state guesthouse.
Taxi driver Guo Lixin said he picked up two men, one of whom turned out to be Xi, who at the time was Chinese Communist Party secretary and was two weeks later named China’s president.
“This is hilarious. It shows that people will believe anything,” wrote one user on Sina Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, after Xinhua’s denial.
(Reporting by Terril Yue Jones and Eleven Du; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
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President with the smell of communism written all over him