Nings are a good way to start and keep social interaction on very specific topics (like a single form thread is here). 

For instance, I started my own about asheville graffiti.

But remember, if you start your own it dies on the vine unless you keep up with it (adding content, discussion and photo/vids).

-z

I write for a living. When I’m not here on the Xpress boards causing chaos, I am usually writing articles for papers all throughout the country. Even though I now live in Sylva, I consider in a lot of ways the Xpress and Asheville “home base”. Although I’m not a staffer at the Xpress, I feel as if because I’m on these boards I’m often confused with an official voice of the paper. I am not an official voice.

It came to my attention that someone from this board (I have no idea who) wrote the Xpress a letter (not an email, and honest-to-goodness letter) complaining about me. Because of this, I fear that if I keep posting on this board I will endanger my standing with my local paper of choice and cause them unnecessary stress.

So effective immediately, I’m excusing myself from the table. I am a struggling writer, and every penny counts. So thanks a lot, whoever sent the letter. You, who can’t separate the internet from real life win. I will post here no longer. You are free to spam the boards with senseless hatespeak.

Have a good day, everyone. I’m sorry to anyone I’ve offended on here. Unless of course your are the person who wrote the letter. To Nam Vet I say get a life.

Jason.

http://www.theamericanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13842

The same criteria applied by all papers for Letters to the Editor should apply here—disclose your real name.

Posting under your real name cuts down on sheer rudeness, trolling, and encourages civil and meaningful discussion.

A BILL
To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults’.
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA-RELATED PENALTIES.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no penalty may be imposed under an Act of Congress for the possession of marijuana for personal use, or for the not-for-profit transfer between adults of marijuana for personal use. For the purposes of this section, possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana shall be presumed to be for personal use, as shall the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana, except that the civil penalty provided in section 405 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844a) may be imposed for the public use of marijuana if the amount of the penalty does not exceed $100.

Co sponsors:

Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 5/20/2008
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 6/24/2008
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 4/24/2008
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 6/25/2008
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 6/5/2008
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 4/17/2008

The above text describes Rep. Barney Frank’s (D. Mass) Bill to eliminate most, not all criminal penalties on the federal level. In other words, it will not legalize possession and use of marijuana, it merely eliminates the federal government from the equation and leaves it up to the states to decide on what to do. On its own this bill won’t fly, as too many legislators will continue to pander to what ever special interests they are attached.
What is needed are well crafted amendments to HR 5843 to bring those reluctant to support this bill on board. One such example is Industrial Hemp, the non-stoney kind. Industrial hemp has many uses, from rope to bio fuel, from cosmetics to fabrics and more. Living in North Carolina I have seen many textile mills shut down and hemp could easily re-employ many of the workers who lost their jobs in the textile industry, just to mention one example.
Another is bio fuel. Hemp produces slightly over twice the oil as corn (280 lbs of oil @ acre from hemp, 135 lbs of oil @ acre from corn) and can be used to make bio diesel, which will run any diesel engine without modification. Bio diesel runs much cleaner than petro diesel, has better lubricity than petroleum based diesel and can be produced locally. This will accomplish a number of benefits. Besides reducing carbon emissions, bio diesel feedstock production will be a boost to agriculture as Rudolph Diesel said in 1911, “ The Diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it.” In 1912 Dr. Diesel said, “The use of plant oil may seem insignificant today. But such products can in time become just as important as kerosene and these coal-tar-products of today.” His foresight is inspiring, but after his untimely passing in 1913 his engine was developed to run on petroleum based diesel, which at the time was cheaper. Today, non food crops, such as hemp and others, should be used and converted into bio diesel, a carbon neutral fuel. By planting these crops and producing the fuel locally would not only improve local or regional economies, it would also save huge amounts of fuel as transportation distances would be cut by thousands of miles, compared to crude oil from Saudi Arabia, for example. Of course, National Security would be enhanced, as well as eliminating disruptions from hurricanes as during storms like Katrina in 2005. Cellulosic ethanol is another fuel that can be made from hemp and help us in reducing our dependence on foreign fuel sources.
Of course the ‘drug warriors’ will be quick to argue that Industrial Hemp fields would be used to camouflage pot for smoking, which is absolute nonsense, as Industrial Hemp is grown quite differently from marijuana. Industrial Hemp is harvested at a different time than pot and lastly cross-pollination between hemp and pot plants will almost completely reduce the THC content of the pot plant making it useless for smoking.
These are but a couple of suggestions for possible amendments to Rep. Frank’s courageous and long overdue bill. For more on Industrial Hemp check this link:
http://www.naihc.org/hemp_information/content/hemp.mj.html

http://www.gangaji.org/satsang/schedules/sched.asp

Gangaji – and a little about Isaac Shapiro
Sarlo: may I give you my personal experiences with some of the PapaJi Advaita teachers? By virtue of living in Northern California, I am able to see just able everyone who comes through the Bay Area. I have spent a lot of time with Arjuna Nick Ardagh as he lives close by in Nevada City. I have also sat with Mira, PapaJi’s long time devotee and romantic interest; Hanuman; Vartman; Neelam; GangaJi; and Isaac Shapiro.
Although I benefitted from interacting with them all, it is the later two that I champion the most. GangaJi is the sweetest, most powerful teacher. I consider her my main teacher. I have spent a lot of time with her in public satsangs, semi-private meetings, and week long silent retreats. She is of the highest integrity. Virtually every word I have heard her utter in satsang has the special, deep meaning of an Awakened Master, one who is a direct mouthpiece for the Beloved Friend. The Presence at her gatherings, and surrounding her mortal body, is Silent Peace itself.
I had an extraordinary ‘experience’ of Open Awareness the first time I met her. It was Dec 1997. I had seen one of her videos and was immediately attracted. I had lost some heart in the TM Siddhi program I had been doing for 23 years (why wasn’t I enlightened yet, why is Maharishi always needing money for a new project?). My brother had died of cancer at an early age and I had even started drinking over it. I was in a real life crisis.
The morning of satsang day I awoke in an irritable mood with lots of physical discomforts. It was such a bad day I almost didn’t go. When I arrived at the satsang venue I was beset with self-criticism and a bad case of ‘cranking mind’. I entered the hall, sat quietly will 250 others and awaited her entry.
She came and we all meditated. At first my mind raced even more than earlier. Then it happened...so unexpectedly. Everything STOPPED. No mind, no ego, no body, only I AM. Time and space disappeared. ‘I’ was so FREE, I never wanted to open the eyes again. Nothing was desired, nothing was needed. At some point she began to speak, with a rare, soft, sweet power to her voice. I opened my eyes and sat mezmerized by her every syllable for the next hour. I had had ‘experiences’ of Self in TM, but nothing as dramatic and unmistakeable as this.
The Bliss Kiss ended in a few days and ‘crap’ appeared in experience again, and still does. But my association with her the last 4 years has been so special to me. She has guided me Spiritually deeper and deeper into the True Nature. Now when unpleasantness is happening in the present moment, I am more successful at not resisting, and keyed to sink deeper into Self. I am eternally grateful to her. If you get a chance to see her sometime, it is well worth your time. Even if she isn’t your True Teacher, the interaction with the One Heart of the entire room is so wonderful.
I have really rattled on here, but I must mention Isaac very briefly. I just finished seeing him in Berkeley. My 3rd set of satsangs with him. His essence is so sweet...Kapha Enneagram 9...unflappably loving and Present. He is so surrendered to, and dedicated to What Is. He is so inspiring.
It’s good that you have GangaJi at 3 units, at least. She is definitely a cut above. But I really would like to see her at 4 units or higher. She is the real thing, the whole thing. And she has a delivery that is very appealing to a wide audience. She is at the vanguard of what I think is a new wave of Awakening. Plus, Isaac deserves at least 3 units.
Well Sarlo, I just wanted to give you a personal report of my experiences. Keep up the good work with your site. I read you and Nonduality Salon very often. Thank you for the website.
Namaste, Cullen Anderson

Well done, board.