In 1938 one of the most important influences in my life was discovered by Sandoz Pharmaceutical’s chemist Alfred Hoffman. On April 16, 1943 Mr Hoffman accidentally absorbed some through handling it and took that famous bicycle ride. LSD was off to a good start.

I have enjoyed this wonderful concoction many times over the years. By encouraging free thought it shaped the future of an entire generation. It was a blast at parties and concerts too. Wow!

Albert Hoffman died today at 102 years old. Thanks Al.

Wonder if Albert imagined things like this when he was going home that wonderful night.

Queen “Bicycle Race”

More David Peel

Cypress Hill

Rita Marley

Cab Calloway

Reefer Man

Pigpen shines on this version of “Easy Wind” from 1970. He was such a valuable part of the early Grateful Dead. I am sorry I didn’t get to see them when he was still with us.

The Grateful Deads Bob Wier with Kingfish. “Promised Land”. 5/28/89

The American College Of Physicians, with 124,000 members, are calling on the government to end the arrests of patients who use medical marijuana. They are asking Michigan voters to pass a bill in November barring the persecution of people in pain from disease or treatment of disease.

This and more on the story, complete with links, can be found at Cannibisnews.com.

I was surprised and confused last night when I saw the nomination for my blog in a post at Rotus. I first ran into Clark over there during Blogroll Amnesty Day. His site was great and informative plus he runs a book review site, as well as another blog that reviews music.

I read his blog often and was humbled that he would nominate me for an Excellent rating here in Blog World.

It seems that one of the conditions of this award nomination is to nominate 10 blogs myself. I started looking through my blogroll, as well as looking around to see what others I could add when I ran across another of my blogging hero’s post of his 2 awards for excellence. I was nominated for another award by Stephen over at Drinking Liberally In New Milford.

His Connecticut based blog was the first blogroll exchange I had after I started my humble site on Christmas Eve. I have gotten a lot of inspiration and knowledge from him if he knows it or not.

So in keeping with the tradition I had to come up with not ten but twenty nominations to pass along. I would have gladly given my top 2 nominations to them but I’m not sure they would have wanted to have to go into finding 10 more blogs to nominate so I guess they will have to just receive my thanks and know I will always be Gratefully Deadicated to keeping their blog sites in the forefront here on the big rig of insanity.

Now trying to find sites that are worthy of this award is easy. There are so many great opinions and writers out in Blog World it is hard to narrow the field down to just 20. There are political sites, humor sites and ones that promote the legalization of medical marijuana. Music sites, photo sites and just junk sites that make me laugh. I don’t know where to start.

I think the blogs that deal with the “War On Terror” and bringing our troops home while ending this stupid thing are my highest priorities so I will concentrate on them and try to keep this whole thing fair. Now the tough part. Narrowing the field down will be a task for sure. So here goes. Bear with me in my struggle.

In no particular order or level of priority they are;

Redneck Liberal

The man is out for surgery right now but he deserves this award based on the presentation and content of his blog site. I visit his site often and read his sometimes hilarious look at scary issues. (Get Well Soon)

The Political Cat

Obviously the love for cats can’t overshadow the love for our world and mankind.

ViceZilla

This blog proves the old Grateful Dead adage, “Sometimes you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right”.

My View Of “It”

Carol’s place for peace. Full of humor and political insight with a womans slant.

Clarks Picks

Reviews and stuff about music from blues to jazz. probably some other styles thrown in. I know this site brings me tuneage I have either forgotten about or never heard. Take a music break. Give it a listen.

Ted’s Soapbox 2.0

Along with an almost daily update from Ted’s life this blog takes you into the world as he sees it.

Guys From Area 51

Being from Roswell, NM myself I thought the name of this blog was interesting. (the Air Force moved the bodies and wreckage from here to Nevada after the controversial crash in 1947. many think area 51 is in Roswell when it is actually just north of Las Vegas, Nevada) After reading it I realized they were as serious about our world as I am. Looking at it through shattered glasses they present the news in an unique way.

Alternate Brain

When I first linked to this site I wondered about the camoflauge and soldier oriented images. But with their military service in mind these guys are the ones who have the most to say. And they say it well.

Obsidian Wings

The winged folks claim to be the voice of moderation…I’ll let you decide if that is true.

Let me know if you think they are right.

Morningsideways View

How the world looks from New York. Educated and opinionated he writes it as he views it.

There are the first ten. Wheewww. That was time consuming yet not tedious. I looked at articles and video’s while I was getting this done. It is much more entertaining than I thought it would be. Actually I am enjoying the latest posts while I am making the decisions. Here’s ten more.

Grateful Dissident

Deadheads were sometimes politically outspoken even before Bob Wier and the remaining Dead endorsed Obama. This head’s views are open and are sprinkled with Jerrylicious Grateful Dead videos throughout this informative blog.

A Poetic Justice

Using poetry this blog begs folks not to burn the flag. Just wash it.

FreeDetainees

Linda brings those forgotten victims of the administration back into the light. Our mainstream media and even the Blog World has seemed to have forgotten the prisoners of “The War On Terror”.

The Daily Scare

A think tank of diverse writers contribute to this well presented blog. Lots of good stuff on here.

Left Wing Nut Job

Claiming the right to be left of center it is. Wishing I sometimes had the guts to shout the things they do.

The Liberal Doomssayer

Opening our eyes to impending doom…well, let’s fix it then.

the s.n.a.f.u. principle

Situation Normal. These posts are far from fucked up.

House Of The Rising Sons

Constitutional literalism at it’s finest.

I Was Just Wondering

After discovering this blog lately I have been wondering as well. It’s a newly found daily read for me.

Last Left Turn Before Hooterville

I clicked on this one from Drinking Liberally a while back. The fact that the author has a Great Dane mix caught my eye. As many readers know I just lost my Dane a few weeks ago so my tears from my loss clouded my reading. I kept reading though and was impressed this busy woman would have time to do such a great site. 2 cats, 4 kids and a Dalmation/Dane are a lot of work. Then add the husband factor…well maybe I should have put her at the top of the list.

Like I said though, No order or preference went into the list.

Again I thank Stephen and Clark for awarding these to me and I hope to live up to their expectations.

With legal weed on my mind I delved into this cool blog after coming across it Stumbling Upon it. I like it and added it to my blogroll and hope you check it out.

Although it is not all about the wonderful plant, it is definitely the cannablog.

After showing his ass before the Iowa and New Hampshire votes were cast President Bill Clinton quietened down for a bit. He has been appearing in public more lately after a brief hiatus. It seems he is becoming visible again in a much more subdued form. The dutiful husband form. The under the thumb form. The FORMER president form.

But the real Bill story is coming from Santa Fe it seems. The democratic front runners are courting the man who dropped from the race January 10. The man who can help them win. The one person who has the right experience in foreign relations. New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson.

Bill Richardson’s record on a local, national and international level is tremendous. He worked in the Bill Clinton administration as an Ambassador to the U.N. as well as 14 years as congressman. He was our Secretary of Energy under Clinton. While serving our country he visited many countries around the world promoting good relations with “troublesome” leaders. He did such a good job in the old days with leaders like Saddam Hussein that George W Bush sent him to North Korea last year to deal with Kim Jong il and the nuclear crisis. He came away with success. N. Korea agreed to stop producing weapons and invited the U N to send in inspectors.

In New Mexico he pushed for a medical marijuana law that was shot down 6 times before it passed on the 7th try. Although the Feds are giving growers and patients grief he is pushing for less federal involvement on the laws of our nation. Maybe if he had a position high in the federal government the D.E.A. and other cops would start leaving individuals alone. When asked how the MMJ laws would affect his presidential campaign he said it didn’t matter as “it was the right thing to do”.
He has made law here that gives incentives to homeowners and businesses that go with alternative energy to power their electrical needs. Passed bills requiring the big power companies to use solar or wind for a growing percentage of their output.

He has demanded an end to the US occupation of Iraq. The return of our troops from the face of danger is a high priority in his political opinion. With 3970 American soldiers killed there so far he strongly supports the troops by calling for their rapid return.

President Clinton watched the Super Bowl with the Governor a few weeks ago. Mrs. Clinton stays in close touch with him. Barack Obama calls him often, on the average of every 3 days. They both have told him that they need him. His endorsement would swing so many votes their way and they both know his support would make the candidacy, and the election, theirs.

Richardson has said he is not going to put the offer of possibly being a Vice Presidential running mate or a Secretary of State appointment aside. He is staying in touch with both Obama and Clinton during their campaigns and is remaining friendly and non-controversial. No endorsements yet and thats probably a good thing.

If he were to become the VP nominee for either he would bring a lot to their campaign. Obama’s campaign would benefit from the experience and maturity he would bring. Clinton’s organization would be better off with his diplomatic attitude diverting the publics attention from the silly stuff her husband spews. The nation would be much better off with him as our Vice President what with his “progressive” ideas and policies. As Secretary of State he would be an asset to help heal the broken and bruised image of America the rest of the world has.

So with these thoughts, and others, in mind I am now going to make the Alien Trucker’s endorsement in this presidential race. I am saying, on the record, I am endorsing whoever Bill Richardson endorses. Especially if he is chosen as their running mate.

Does it really matter who I support? I don’t guess so but at least you know how I feel.

 Oakland, CA 12/28/1990. Sounds almost like they were coming out of Space when actually they did thid one right after “Brown Eyed Women” in the first set. The Wierdness of this song made it such a jammable number and you never knew what to expect when they broke into it.

“Am I The Victim Or The Crime” with the good ol’ Grateful Dead.

I felt like hell yesterday. I actually wished I had a pain pill. Oh yeah, I had a couple of bowls of weed, but thats not enough sometimes. But I’m honest about it. Unlike Nancy Reagan I have never even tried to say no to drugs.

I have my limits and don’t take the opiates anymore as I don’t want to become a “junkie” again. Withdrawals from Oxycodone and morphine were hell and I choose not to poison my body with liver damaging drugs. But pain can make you long for relief and sometimes a knockout drug can bring just that. Knocked out relief.

I am hoping, in the darkest recesses of my soul, that the evil bitch who promoted the “Just Say No” campaign from the White House in the ’80’s is suffering greatly from her fall on Sunday. At 86 Nancy may not even remember the hate campaign that our taxpayers over-funded and she yammered on about. In doing so, she set the re-legalization or decriminalization of marijuana back many years. Stopped progress of medical marijuana education, legalization and acceptance by our society. She also helped her senile husband, the Bush puppet Ronnie, declare war on his own people and say the war was on drugs.

The “War On Drugs” has cost the American taxpayer billions over the years. Many lives have been messed up after arrests of marijuana. In some places possession of even a small amount of the plant can catch someone a long prison sentence so the lives of their family, friends along with their own are messed up for a long time. Seizure of property is making the cops richer. Extra money has been put into drug task forces for local and state law enforcement agencies, special “drug court” in some states and the massive expansions of our penal system are results of this womans horrible anti-drug high horse she shouted hate from.

But now she is in a place where the drugs are necessary. Drugs from Big Pharm of course. The people who lobby and help fund anti-marijuana propaganda. The corporations who backed her “Just Say No” bullshit when she lived in Washington, D.C.. To relieve the pain she relied on her old money buddies.

I hope the medication makes her sick.

Until last night I doubted that I would ever see an extra terrestrial craft. I never doubted they were there and when I was driving trucks I saw flying lights in the distance and imagined they were UFO’s but because of last night I know.
Not being able to sleep I bundled up and went to Dennys. After drinking about 3 cups of mud I decided to take a walk. The conversation was uninspiring and the wind had died down so I decided my own thoughts would be better than the oldsters at Denny’s counter.
Walking east on 23rd I quickly got into the neighborhood that has warehouses and is totally uninhabited by man at night. I figured my walk was about half over so I sat on a brick wall that used to hold a sign of some type. Lighting the joint I was carrying I looked around at my surroundings.
An abandoned building sat a ways back from the street across a gravel parking area overgrown with brush and leaves. Broken liquor bottles and used condoms were scattered in with the paper litter that had blown in on the wind. Everything was quiet but I could see the occasional car on Country Club Road. My view down 23rd ended at the dead end a couple hundred yards to the east. I could see clear to Main street looking west and knew I could eat the joint before anyone could reach me in a car. Smoking in public, even at 3:30 A.M. in a small town like Roswell, makes me cautious so I pre-plan. Nothing I had ever planned for prepared me for the rest of the night.
Suddenly the big doors on the warehouse behind me flew open and I was bathed in a weird greenish blue light. Despite the initial scare of the doors banging open I was instantly covered with a sense of peace. I felt no threat and slowly turned to see what was going on in the warehouse. Two men were approaching me.
As their outlines became filled with features I stood getting ready to explain what I was doing there. The biggest guy spoke with a heavy accent. Asking if he could get a hit of my weed they both smiled. It hadn’t occurred to me to ditch the roach when they arrived so I offered it to him. When I asked what they were working on in there They invited me to come take a look. Inside we all went.
In the center of the floor stood a weird looking van. Somewhat resembling an old 60’s style VW bus it was longer and rounded on both ends. I figured these freaks were building a float for some parade here. Thanksgiving and Christmas parades aren’t about UFO’s…but this IS Roswell.I didn’t see any wheels so I guessed it would be pulled on a trailer.
Then, to my great surprise I realized that nothing was holding it up. It was suspended in a pool of that same green/blue glow that had flooded the parking lot. This was cool. I hoped to learn more and said so.
They said they would show me how it worked because without a degree in astrophysics I’d never understand.
The door slid back and we got inside. Although cramped it was comfortable.We sat down and the short guy handed me back my roach. Its good schwag and we all had a little buzz.
“A friend of mine grows this shit back home” he said pulling a little cigarette case out of his coveralls.
I lit the proffered joint and immediately started choking.
“Lets ride to the club.”, he said to his buddy.
” K “, was the answer.
Suddenly, not in any way jolting or fast, just suddenly, we were above Roswell. I can tell it was Roswell because the “skyline” is easy to spot if you’ve ever come into town at night. Then the only light that we saw was the green/blue glow. Still that easy, calm feeling. No worries about abduction, where we were headed or anything. The weed he had offered was the best I’ve ever smoked and I quit after 3 or 4 puffs. Suddenly lights were below us and they formed a city quickly. A city I thought I recognized from the road patterns. A big city, not a town like we left only a few seconds ago.
Damn! That interstate system looks like Oklahoma City! How did we get here in seconds? Or was I so stoned I thought it was a short time? Would clubs be open in Okie City at this time?
We arrived at the “Club” where a covered parking area was filled with vehicles similar to the one we were in. When the door opened I couldn’t walk well and ambled stonededly (is that a word?) into the building with them.
.There were men of all races in the club but no women.
“Great”, I thought. No chicks. A gay bar for sure. A guy in a business suit asked me if I wanted a drink. Not really so I asked for a Coke. Fuckin’ Okie’s cant make decent coffee but Coke is the same all across the country.
I saw a door on the far side of the room. The sign said “PROBING ROOM”. many people stood in line waiting while others came out of the door with a satisfied look on their faces.
Then it hit me!! Aliens really did inhabit the earth. They even had their own social clubs. The rumors and actual accounts you hear so much about are true! The abductions and probes aren’t bullshit.
It really goes on.
I walked around and found the guys I had come with. I told them I understood everything.
The big guy asked me to look in his eyes and think the truth I had come to in my mind. If it were right I’d be returned immediately to Roswell. If I was wrong I’d have to become the probee in the Probe Room.
I looked into his eyes and sent a thought to him.
I was sitting on the brick wall on 23rd finishing the joint and getting ready to smoke that menthol before I walked home.
I realized I knew the secret of aliens. I had known and when I sent the telepathic message to my host he kept his promise.
Although they didn’t tell me not to say what I learned I still feel funny telling anyone.
Just don’t tell anybody it was me who told you.
Aliens can take the shape of humans or already look like us anyhow. All of them are male and reproduction is a man thing.
One more thing I saw at the club. Posters for upcoming alien events were all over the place. The Roswell event for the July 4 anniversary celebration will be attended by space men. They come for the party every year
No wonder the government silenced the knowledge about the 1947 crash outside of Roswell.
Don’t ask. Don’t tell.

Fun and stoney cookies can come from using the weed butter recipe I posted a couple of days ago. Used as medicine these cookies give a whole body high to relieve pain. Follow your medical professionals recomendations.

Cookie Ingredients:

Frosting Ingredients:

Combine 1 cup weed butter, sugar and egg in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and vanilla; mix well. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking powder. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds; wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (2 to 3 hours).

Heat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-third at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8 to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely.

Combine powdered sugar, 1/3 cup weed butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency. Frost and decorate cooled cookies as desired.

Recipe Tip
If you use a 4 to 5-inch cookie cutter, recipe will yield approximately 2 dozen cookies.

Butter Recipe

First off, wintertime is a good time to cook goodies. The oven heats the house nicely and many memories of gramma’s house come wafting via the smells of chocolate, cinnamon or fruit. So many recipes that taste good can also be medicine. If the ingredients are right.

I advocate the use of marijuana for medicine. Especially if your doctor says so. Smoking isn’t always feasible so when its time for you to take your meds eating it can be a good option. It can be eaten many ways but making butter is the most versatile. It can be used to cook with, spread on toast and drizzled over popcorn.

I have used butter for years in making brownies that seem to be a hit at parties. After my injury in September of 2000 I supplemented the pig drugs the doctors pushed with weed. Mostly smoking but often with food. The butter is a great way to get through the day because eating it gives a body high as well as the good head.

When cooking it is important to remember not to eat too much until you know how you react to the potency. Also it takes more time to effect you than when you smoke so be aware that you don’t eat more than a little and wait about 45 minutes to an hour before you eat more. Never eat a lot if you have something to do later. It might not ever get done.

I mix the butter in any recepie that calls for butter, vegetable oil or margarine. I substitute the oil with melted butter and cakes, brownies and other things come out fine. It is good with salad dressings that use oil. It is good on pancakes and biscuits. heck, it’s good everywhere.

Pot is a fat soluable drug that bonds well with the fats in butter. It can be used in vegetable oils and margerine but doesn’t do well in fat free types of spreads.

Here’s how I make it;

Slowly melt a pound of butter in a nonstick pan over a low heat. Stir it often to prevent scorching.

Take an ounce of good buds and/or leaf. save your sticks and seeds as they also have THC and oils in them that contain other cannibinoids. Grind the weed into a fine powder in a coffee grinder sticks seeds and all.
When the butter is melted stir the powder in. Over a low heat simmer the mixture for at least a half hour stirring often. Longer is much better and you can see the mixture go from yellow to green to an almost black/green. Thats when it is best.

Remove from heat source and let cool. This next step involves handling it and it WILL BE HOT!!! so WAIT TIL IT COOLS TO PROCEED!!!!!!

Place a piece of cheese cloth in a bowl. WHEN THE MIXTURE IS COOLED pour the butter into the bowl. carefully lift the corners of the cloth to form a “Bag” to keep the powder in. Squeeze and resqueeze the cloth straining the butter into the bowl while keeping the powder in the cloth. Throw the greasy cloth and powder away.

Refrigerate the butter. melting small portions for use in recipes or soften it for spreading.

I will post good recipes and tips in the days to come.

Get the butter ready and check back soon. If you just can’t wait go get your favorite brownie mix that uses oil and substitute the amount of oil with the butter.

Enjoy.

 The Easybeats from 1967. “Friday On My Mind”.