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|| 6/17/2011 || 10:53 pm || + Render A Comment || ||
Today I setup the sound system for a somber vigil outside of the White House. Forty years ago today President Nixon declared a War on Drugs at a press conference and since then the United States has wasted trillions of dollars on an unwinnable war against the personal freedoms of American citizens. As you can read below, Nixon did not explicitly use the term "War on Drugs" at that press conference but instead used terminology that references combat. I can't help but wonder, how much longer until this war is over?
Richard Nixon speaking….
Ladies and gentlemen:
I would like to summarize for you the meeting that I have just had with the bipartisan leaders which began at 8 o'clock and was completed 2 hours later.
I began the meeting by making this statement, which I think needs to be made to the Nation:
America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive.
I have asked the Congress to provide the legislative authority and the funds to fuel this kind of an offensive. This will be a worldwide offensive dealing with the problems of sources of supply, as well as Americans who may be stationed abroad, wherever they are in the world. It will be government wide, pulling together the nine different fragmented areas within the government in which this problem is now being handled, and it will be nationwide in terms of a new educational program that we trust will result from the discussions that we have had.
With regard to this offensive, it is necessary first to have a new organization, and the new organization will be within the White House. Dr. Jaffe, who will be one of the briefers here today, will be the man directly responsible. He will report directly to me, and he will have the responsibility to take all of the Government agencies, nine, that deal with the problems of rehabilitation, in which his primary responsibilities will be research and education, and see that they work not at cross-purposes, but work together in dealing with the problem.
If we are going to have a successful offensive, we need more money. Consequently, I am asking the Congress for $155 million in new funds, which will bring the total amount this year in the budget for drug abuse, both in enforcement and treatment, to over $350 million.
As far as the new money is concerned, incidentally, I have made it clear to the leaders that if this is not enough, if more can be used, if Dr. Jaffe, after studying this problem, finds that we can use more, more will be provided. In order to defeat this enemy which is causing such great concern, and correctly so, to so many American families, money will be provided to the extent that it is necessary and to the extent that it will be useful.
Finally, in order for this program to be effective, it is necessary that it be conducted on a basis in which the American people all join in it. That is why the meeting was bipartisan; bipartisan because we needed the support of the Congress, but bipartisan because we needed the leadership of the Members of the Congress in this field.
Fundamentally, it is essential for the American people to be alerted to this danger, to recognize that it is a danger that will not pass with the passing of the war in Vietnam which has brought to our attention the fact that a number of young Americans have become addicts as they serve abroad, whether in Vietnam, or Europe, or other places. Because the problem existed before we became involved in Vietnam; it will continue to exist afterwards. That is why this offensive deals with the problem there, in Europe, but will then go on to deal with the problem throughout America.
One final word with regard to Presidential responsibility in this respect. I very much hesitate always to bring some new responsibility into the White House, because there are so many here, and I believe in delegating those responsibilities to the departments. But I consider this problem so urgent–I also found that it was scattered so much throughout the Government, with so much conflict, without coordination–that it had to be brought into the White House.
Consequently, I have brought Dr. Jaffe into the White House, directly reporting to me, so that we have not only the responsibility but the authority to see that we wage this offensive effectively and in a coordinated way.
The briefing team will now be ready to answer any questions on the technical details of the program.
Citation: Richard Nixon: "Remarks About an Intensified Program for Drug Abuse Prevention and Control.," June 17, 1971. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3047
Back in mid-May, late at night after a few of our friends had gotten out of jail after being arrested outside of the U.S. Capitol demonstrating in favor of voting rights & statehood for DC, Ally B., Adam E., and myself were discussing ways we could do another action. I brought up the idea of using Flag Day as an upcoming day that people could mobilize around and everyone agreed that there was enough time to plan & execute an event. Inspired by Shana Glickfield's collection of DC Flag tattoos, together we wrote the first press release and since Adam & I were busy working on other projects, Ally did the rest of the organizing for "DC Flag Day in the Flesh". In all, this was one of the best events I've ever helped to organize because we had such a great turnout and very positive media coverage. I'm looking forward to helping organize the second annual DC Flag Day in the Flesh :-) I'd like to get the folks from Guinness Book of World Records to come and document "the most tattooed 'state' flags in one location."
Inked and Non-Inked Gather in Dupont Circle
Celebrate Flag Day Tuesday, June 14, 6-8 pm
It is well known that thousands of District of Columbia residents past and present sport DC flag tattoos. In fact, George Washington, whose family crest is the source of the DC flag, would never have predicted that so many would passionately adorn themselves to show their civic pride. Over the years, the "Three Stars and Two Bars" has come to symbolize over 600,000 Americans who can not enact their own laws nor elect voting representatives to the House and Senate.
This Flag Day 2011 we encourage a large gathering of people with DC Flag tattoo's and those that support them as a way to get under the skin of America and bring attention to DC's lack of rights in Congress.
Come celebrate DC Flag Tattoos, paint large Give Me a Vote Hands, and find out what you can do to get DC equal representation in Congress.
WHO: Inked, non-Inked, and all who LOVE DC
WHAT: Flag Day DC Celebration, Speakers sponsored by DC Vote, Art sponsored by Give Me a Vote and Albus Cavus, and surprises!
WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 6pm to 8pm
WHERE: Dupont Circle, Washington DC, USA
"Home of Taxation Without Representation"
A couple photographs of me from BYT by Dakota Fine
DC Flag Tattoo Day – June 14 by Brandon Bloch
Video by Mike Flugennock
Video by Edgar Elmore
Video by Matt Bevilacqua
+ D.C. faithful get inked, rally for representation – Washington Post
+ D.C. Flag Tattoo Day: Show off your city pride – AP via Washington Post
+ D.C. residents to celebrate flag tattoos – AP via WTOP
+ D.C. residents to celebrate flag tattoos – AP via Federal News Radio
+ Tattooed DC Residents Push for Representation – WMAL
+ Flag day is for… showing off tattoos? – Seattle Post-Intelligencer
+ D.C. Ink: Flag-Tatted to Gather at Dupont Tomorrow – DCist
+ Photo Booth: D.C. Flag Tattoo Day – DCist
+ DC Flag Tattoo Day: Does it Matter If You're Not Punk? – Washingtonian
+ With flag tattoos, D.C. residents seek representation in Congress – Scripps Howard
+ D.C. Flag Tattoo Day mixes District flag with tattoos – TBD
+ D.C. Flag Day tattoos: The Polaroids – TBD
+ Got a DC Flag Tattoo? Celebrate Today – NBC Washington
+ Showing off some inked skin for D.C. – WJLA
+ D.C. Flag Tattoos We Don't Endorse, Even for Voting Rights – Washington City Paper
+ Welcome to Our Strife, Tattoo – Washington City Paper
+ Norton Commends Youth Activism and Achievements Today at Two Separate Events, DC Flag Day Tattoo Rally and Ballou STAY High School Graduation – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
+ DC Statehood advocates unveil DC flag tattoos for Flag Day – DC Direct Action News
+ Photos: DC Flag Tattoo Day! Go DC! #dcflagtattoo #dcvote – Vincent Gallegos
+ DC Flag Tattoo Day – Frank Turner
+ DC Flag Tattoo Day – Borderstan
From the Washington Post article:
When Allyson Behnke's friend was arrested back in May for rallying in support of District representation in Congress, she and a few others started brainstorming ways to raise awareness for the cause in a more entertaining way. Somebody mentioned Flag Day, and an idea tattooed itself on her mind.
One of my goals for the trip to Colorado was to return to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. After some cursory planning, my step-father & I decided to spend three days in the backcountry near Buena Vista, Colorado. The ultimate destination was Kroenke Lake, which is situated at the base of the continental divide in the San Isabel National Forest. The plan was to hike as far as possible the first day, setup camp for the night, the following day hike to Kroenke Lake, and the final day hike back to the trailhead. While we were expecting there to be some snow still on the ground (it's June after all), we were not expecting to hit dense snowpack within the first mile of hiking toward our destination. We ultimately pitched our tent on a snow bank that was nearest to dry land about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. Earlier this year I purchased snowshoes and by the end of the trip I sincerely wished that I had brought them! All in all, I love backpacking in this part of Colorado! My next goal for this area to is to climb one of the Collegiate Peaks.
View of Mount Princeton from Buena Vista, Colorado.
Photographs of Rock Climbing in Pike National Forest
I'm not a big into rock climbing, but my mom really wanted to take me to one of her favorite climbs "Madacat" in Pike National Forest. I used borrowed climbing shoes, which were slightly too small, and while I didn't fall once while climbing, my feet were in severe pain by the end of the day.
The Aphid Invasion of the Escarole
For the last month my broadleaf escarole plant (an Endive, or type of Chicory) on my balcony has been invaded by tiny insects. Mostly aphids, I believe. I opted to not use any pesticides or neem oil to remove the infestation simply to see what damage such pests can do to the quasi-everlasting plant.
Photographs of Pink Green Bean Flowers, Basil, and Smokey Bronze Fennel
Tonight I took some more photographs of the "VIP" (very important plants) that I'm growing in my bedroom. I look forward to planting these outdoors later this month.
Close-up Photograph of the pink Green Bean Flower
Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives: Hearing on the District of Columbia's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget: "Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability"
Today I went to Capitol Hill to attend "the District of Columbia's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget: Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability" hearing dressed in colonial attire. You can see me in the screen shot from the start of the 2nd Panel:
Mayor Gray, Chairman Brown to testify to Oversight Hearing on D.C. Budget
WASHINGTON- The House Committee on Oversight and Government D.C. subcommittee will host the top two at-large elected officials in the District on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown will testify at a hearing on the District's Fiscal Year 2012 budget.
The subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-SC., has called the hearing to examine the fiscal sustainability of D.C. spending. In 1995 the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act established a five member "Control Board" to oversee financial matters. The Control Board was disbanded in 2001 when District had achieved four consecutive balanced budgets and met other criteria. There are seven separate "triggers" which would automatically revive the Control Board.
In addition to the two elected officials, D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi will testify on a separate panel. Full witness list and hearing information can be found below. Testimony will be posted as it becomes available at http://oversight.house.gov/
WHAT: The District of Columbia's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget: Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability
WHO: Subcommittee on Health Care, DC, Census, and the National Archives, Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-SC.
WHEN/WHERE: 8:45 a.m. on Thursday May 12th in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
Panel I
• The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor, District of Columbia
• The Honorable Kwame Brown, Chairman, DC City Council
Panel II
• Dr. Natwar Gandhi,Chief Financial Officer, District of Columbia
• Mr. Jim Dinegar, CEO, DC Board of Trade
• Mr. Matt Fabian, Managing Director, Municipal Market Advisors
• Dr. Alice M. Rivlin, the Brookings Institution; former Chair of the Control Board
Below are three YouTube videos of the hearing followed by photographs I took at the end of first panel.
Blooming Pink Chives & the Air Conditioner
I've become a big fan of the perennial pink chives (Allium schoenoprasum) that I started growing a few years ago. I'm going to save these flowers to harvest their seed for next year's garden.
Related Gardening Entries:
Springtime photographs of sedum telephium 'Autumn Joy'
|| 4/6/2011 || 3:27 pm || + Render A Comment || ||
Last years growth with this year's new growth.
The leaves trap small droplets of water.
Basil Sprouts
Using last year's seeds I was able to quickly germinate this year's supply of sweet basil.