Right now, there’s a bigass fire not too far from the Synthesis office. Wull, it’s not like dangerously close (yet) but you can definitely see the yellow smoke billowing from the lookout of our little fire escape that we fondly call our  smoking balcony. It’s really sucky when there’s a fire in your town. Your eyes get all itchy and you get headaches a lot and oh, you have to evacuate your house cuz it might burn down. Suckee.

Pray for us.

[The following article was written by Synthesis Weekly columnist Julia Murphy. She can be reached at ninjatreehugger@gmail.com. She likes it when you ride a bike.]

Land Of The Gun

A gun is a tool, a tool of extraction. It is made to extract life from the body. Whether or not you use it for this purpose, this is what it has been engineered for. There are other tools of similar purpose, simpler and less remote, with a reliance on the inherent physical strength of the tool’s user. However, none of these other tools inspire the same cult or cultural worship that the gun does.
The ability to kill something, a very specific something, from a great distance is a manifestation of power. It also allows the luxury of ignorance. If you choose, you can cap something from 500 yards (theoretically, if you’re an ace shooter) and ignore it completely. “That’s good enough for me,” you might say. “I don’t need to walk up on that shit and see the whole Faces of Death routine.”
I sort of like guns, but it’s not an amicable friendship; it’s unwholesome. I don’t want to kill shit, I surely don’t. But I have to say, I’d love to be able to stop something that was about to eat or otherwise harm me.
However, this is sort of where it falls apart. I’ve made it through 38 years without packin’. Shit happens. If you have guns — if you carry and use and love the shit out of guns — how does that change how you act? Does it make you just a little more cocky knowing you get to play, in the words of PC Danny Butterman, “Judge Judy and executioner”? Does it make you a little less willing to negotiate?

Recently an article on Yahoo Green featured interviews with some folks who are lucky enough to have homes to homestead about their preparations for what they see as the societal effects of peak oil. The article cites stockpiling weapons as one of the actions these folks are taking “to defend their supplies against desperate crowds of people who didn’t prepare.”
We’re used to thinking in scarcity and fear. It’s what our society requires in order for us to keep our heads down and keep working. The option, as presented by the Man: “Anarchy, which would mean chaos and mob rules,” when the anarchists I know are some of the most responsible and respectful people I’ve ever met. Interestingly, Ammon Hennacy, anarchist homeboy of the late great Utah Phillips, had a jailhouse conversion with the Jeebus and, follow the logic: True Christianity means pacifism, and governments constantly make war, so to be a real Christian you have to be an anarchist. Interesting.

More leftist rhetoric after the jump. (more…)

The potency of marijuana increased last year to the highest it has been in 30 years. A report released by the White House said that this means there are greater health risks for those who view the drug as harmless. Analysis was done at the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project to track the average amounts of THC. Levels have more than doubled since the 1980’s due to sophisticated growing techniques, like hydroponic systems.

John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said there are risks of psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems and the potential to become dependent on cocaine and heroin. I just have to say I have never used marijuana then felt the sudden urge to pick up a needle but hey, whatever. There’s no data that shows the higher potency leads to more addiction. Marijuana withdrawl symptoms are said to be mild irritability, craving for weed and decreased appetite. Well then wouldn’t you just smoke some weed, be happy, end the cravings and eat a crapload of food? Being hungover from drinking way to many dollar beers or running out of coffee seems way worse. Like a psychology professor at the State University of New York said, “Stronger cannabis leads to less inhaled smoke.”

With all this talk about the Stimulus check and social empathy, I thought a nice lil music video would be a great way to tie it all together. I heard this spoken rap, by Lazy Boy, a few years ago and every once a year I am reminding of it, while waiting in the drive thru, behind twenty cars, when there is NO ONE inside, at the counter, or when I see a homeless man, asking for change. This is a great commentary on how we act towards each other, as human beings. So take a break from your day, sit down, and laugh a little, while being reminded that your underwear goes OUTSIDE your pants. He may be lazy, but this boy is def on to something!

In honor of season 4 of Weeds starting June 16 at 10 p.m. I thought I’d bring ya’ll back to the beginning (& I love Kevin Nealon)! Catch up on Weeds tonight at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

[The following horoscope, written by Synthesis Weekly's longest running columnist Kozmic Kev, is for entertainment purposes only. Or you can plan your life to it accordingly. Hey, it's your life.]

June 9th – 15th

Aries
Give back to your community. See yourself as a multi-talented person. Be a “Jack of all trades” and a “Jill of all Skill.” Challenge yourself by learning to speak Arabic, Chinese and English at the same time, or simply mix new food combinations. Your best chances for romance are midweek. Please don’t blow a good opportunity.

Taurus
Make more money. Save with coupons. Relate to crooks, thieves and liars. Imaginary safety encourages me to go into debt. Be ready to blow the lid on all these false values. It takes courage to strip down the fluff and to be happy with your needs being met. Write down your material goals on a piece of paper and mail them back to yourself.

Gemini
This is a week of renewal. Energy is building as we head towards father’s day. Mercury is retrograde and confusion is everywhere, yet there is a peace about making things happen in good time. Be ready to make extra effort. Wednesday and Thursday are creative power days for you. Put your best foot forward as you assure us of commitment.
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