BANGKOK, Thailand -- A chubby Thai woman sits on a plastic sheet on
the ground, meticulously hand-sewing colorful wristbrands embroidered
with the words, "CUNT PAIN" "FUCK MY LIFE" "FREE BOOM BOOM" and an
array of similarly poetic declarations.
   Other females, wearing the bubbly silver hats of Thailand's
minority ethnic Akha tribe, are selling gaudy gewgaws while stroking
wooden frogs which produce an obnoxious but attention-getting,
croaking sound.
   Nearby, giddy foreigners chew fat black scorpions and other fried insects.
   Some people are getting tattoos or having their hair braided with
bright plastic beads.
   Throbbing and wondrous, Bangkok's amusing Khao San Road flaunts
itself at the swarms of sweaty culture-shocked tourists who are
walking and gawking at their first revelations in Thailand, hours
after arriving by air.
   Other travelers are wistfully saying farewell during their last
night in Bangkok before departing to less vivid destinations.
  The desperate, decadent touts have seen it all.

In The Putin Interviews, a new series beginning soon on Showtime, Oliver Stone asks Vladimir Putin if he’s ever seen Dr. Strangelove. Putin hasn’t. So, Stone sits him down and shows it to him. Even Vladimir cannot quite keep his poker face. He says the problem depicted in the film, the risk of nuclear holocaust, is accurate but more dangerous now than when the movie was made. Stone gives Putin the DVD case, and Putin opens it to find it empty. “Typical American gift,” he jokes.

Early in the series there’s a good deal on Putin’s personal background, and a good deal of flattery from Stone, but hang on because the interesting questions are coming. Putin’s views on history and current politics are generally consensus views in Russia, but they will largely be new to U.S. viewers.

ermont, of all places, offers the latest example of how marijuana makes people crazy, the people in this case being the Republican governor and most of the Republican Party. For all the “Reefer Madness” propaganda from governments over the past century, the real madness comes from opponents of marijuana, not its users or proponents. 

Vermont governor Phil Scott waited until the last possible moment on May 24 to issue his veto of the 24-page bill (Senate bill S.22) passed by both houses of the legislature (Senate 20-9, House 79-66): An Act Relating to Eliminating Penalties for Possession of Limited Amounts of Marijuana by Adults 21 Years of Age and Older. The bill stops way short of full legalization, treating marijuana like aspirin, but it represents a major shift toward sanity and scientific reality that American populations seem to be slowly insisting that their governments address. 

The new movie, War Machine, on Netflix starring Brad Pitt begins as a hilarious and satisfying mockery of General Stanley McChrystal, circa 2009, as well as of militarism in general. Hilarious because of the deadpan sincere idiocy. Satisfying at least to those of us who have been screaming “What are you idiots doing?” for the past fifteen-and-a-half years.

Should we be glad that a Hollywood movie can still be made mocking the murderous malevolence of true believers in militarism, or should we be disturbed that theaters won’t show such movies and they have to end up on Netflix? Should we be glad that a war satire set in Afghanistan didn’t have to wait decades for a different war, in the manner of Mash, or should we be disturbed that most viewers will not know a current war is being mocked because they either believe the war on Afghanistan has ended or they simply can’t keep up with the proliferation of wars?

So stop whining about Trump and Russia undermining your democracy—a cynical fabrication of the Deep State and its tentacles in the Democratic party and media.  That will not get you single payer healthcare and free college.  That money has already been spent on wars.  They gave it to the banks, oil companies, privateers and war mongers.  It is time to stop eating Cheetos, get up off the couch and hit the streets.  Demand an end to wars.  Demand social and economic justice.  Stand up for economic freedom.  Show your dignity.  That is the Palestinian war.

Palestinians are among the most oppressed people in the world.  They live under an illegal brutal fascist occupation.  Every day Palestinians must face down their oppressor.  Israel has the tanks, bulldozers and the guns.  And a world-class air force. Palestinians only have stones and their bodies.  Their message is:  you can steal our land and olive trees; and you can wall us in, block us off, lock us up, and kill our bodies…but you cannot take away our freedom and dignity unless we surrender it.

 

 

 

 

Rainbow background with words UGANDA

Wednesday, June 7, 7-8pm
King Avenue United Methodist Church, 299 King Ave.
Stonewall Columbus Presents “LOVE WILL WIN: From Uganda to Columbus” in collaboration with Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). “LOVE WILL WIN” is created and shared by two Ugandan refugees who escaped religious and governmental persecution of their sexual orientation. Our presenters will share their powerful stories about their journey to the United States in hopes of finding safety, compassion and acceptance. 

This year, in lieu of a Pride Grand Marshal, we will recognize a group of brave individuals as our Community Honorees; the LGBTQ refugees who have fled their homelands for fear of persecution of death and now call Columbus home. Through our own refugee program and in partnership with the Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) and other local non-profits, Stonewall has worked diligently to support LGBTQ new Americans. After landing in Columbus with few or no resources, Stonewall assists through the creation of an Emergency Relief Fund and with connections to our great Central Ohio LGBTQ community.

Comfest logo, a white fist in the air against black background

Columbus Arts Festival– June 9-11, Friday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artist booths close at 9 p.m.)
Between Broad Street and Rich Street along the river

Riverfest – June 10-11
Downtown riverfront, in conjunction with Columbus Arts Festival.

Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival– June 16-18, Friday 5-11pm, Saturday 12:30-11pm, Sunday 12:30-6pm.
Creekside Park & Plaza, 117 Mill Street, Gahanna, OH 43230

Columbus Pride Parade and Festival– June 16-17
Parade June 17 – step-off at 10:30am, Goodale
Festival at Bicentennial and Genoa Parks

Picture of taco in background and words Taco Tuesday June 6

Tuesday, June 6, 5-9pm
The Kitchen, 231 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Join us for a fun night of Keep Wayne Wild themed tacos and live music from Freedom and Folk Revival at The Kitchen in German Village! This fundraiser will benefit our all volunteer organization's efforts to combat oil and gas development in Ohio's only national forest.
More details to come!
Learn more about Keep Wayne Wild at www.keepwaynewild.com

“Libertarian” Phil Scott enforces nanny state values — wtf? 

ermont, of all places, offers the latest example of how marijuana makes people crazy, the people in this case being the Republican governor and most of the Republican Party. For all the “Reefer Madness” propaganda from governments over the past century, the real madness comes from opponents of marijuana, not its users or proponents. 

Cover of Undoctored book, with an apple with a prescription pasted on it

I have to confess I feel a bit like a middle-aged groupie, but I just can’t stop telling people about William Davis’ new book, “Undoctored.” Dr. Davis is a Milwaukee cardiologist known for his New York Times bestselling “Wheat Belly” books.

And in case I’ve already lost you or am at risk of doing so, let me just quickly share this:

“Excess fat melts away effortlessly, joint pain and skin rashes recede, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms reverse within days, fibromyalgia and ulcerative colitis begin a powerful retreat.”

This is what he witnessed, as more or less unexpected side effects, after he’d convinced his patients to give up wheat for 30 days for their heart health. Imagine if these were the side effects you or someone close to you experienced from something the doctor or, more likely the physician’s assistant, had prescribed.

The health benefits were so dramatic, and his book so successful, it launched a new career for him: from cog-in-the (broken)-system cardiologist to personal health empowerment crusader.

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