About 80 percent of Americans approve of medical marijuana laws, but some conservatives are incensed that state legislatures keep passing them. In a recent column, George F. Will, the Washington Post’s bow-tied curmudgeon, decried the reefer madness he sees taking over California, sweeping across Colorado and perhaps even coming to a normal state near you. Read the full story

10 states face financial peril

Dropping tax revenue, rising unemployment and yawning budget gaps are wreaking havoc in states from Arizona to Wisconsin, a new report shows.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The same economic pressures that pushed California to the brink of insolvency are wreaking havoc on other states, a new report has found.

And how state officials deal with their fiscal problems could reverberate across the United States, according to the Pew Center on the States’ analysis released Wednesday.

The 10 most troubled states are: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Other states — including Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New York and Hawaii — were not far behind.

The list is based on several factors, including the loss of state revenue, size of budget gaps, unemployment and foreclosure rates, poor money management practices, and state laws governing the passage of budgets.

These troubles have forced these states — as well as many others — to raise taxes, lay off or furlough state workers and slash services. These actions can slow down the nation’s recovery, especially since these 10 states account for one-third of the country’s population and economic output.

“Decisions these states make as they try to navigate the recession will play a role in how quickly the entire nation recovers,” said Susan Urahn, managing director of Pew Center on the States.

In a separate study released Wednesday, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that states will likely have to make steep cuts in their fiscal 2011 budgets, which start next July 1 in most states. That’s because the critical federal stimulus dollars will run out by the end of 2010.

These cuts could take nearly a percentage point off the national gross domestic product and cost the nation 900,000 jobs, the study found.

Here’s a summary of what Pew found is plaguing each of the states:

California: The Golden State’s housing collapse — and resulting unemployment surge — has plagued the state’s economy. The weakening economy prompted revenue to fall by nearly a sixth between the first quarters of 2008 and 2009. State lawmakers have limited ability to deal with California’s massive budget gap due to several voter-imposed restrictions, including requirements that all budgets and tax increases pass the legislature by a two-thirds majority.

Arizona: The state depends heavily on a growing economy to bring in tax revenue, and lawmakers don’t have a lot of leeway to address budget deficits thanks to voter-imposed spending constraints. Lawmakers relied on one-time fixes to balance its budget instead of making long-term changes.

Rhode Island: The Ocean State has among the highest unemployment rates in the nation and among the highest foreclosure rates in New England. High tax rates, big budget deficits and a lack of high tech jobs are hurting its chances to pull out of the doldrums. State government has a poor record of managing its finances

Michigan: The state never climbed out of the recession that started in 2001, and matters only became worse during the Great Recession. Two of the Big Three Detroit-based automakers went bankrupt in 2009, sending shockwaves through a state on track to lose a quarter of its jobs this decade. The recession accelerated drops in state revenue, and has left Michigan’s government trying to deal with today’s problems on a 1960s-sized budget.

Nevada: Nevada is one of the recession’s big losers as its gaming-based economy suffered. Year-over-year revenue has fallen for two consecutive years, a record. But changing tax laws is tough because some are written into the state constitution.

Oregon: Oregon’s leading industries, such as timber and computer-chip manufacturing, have been hit hard in the recession. Lawmakers have approved more than $1 billion in new taxes to keep it afloat. But voters in January will have the final say on another $733 million in new income taxes.

Florida: For the first time since World War II, Florida’s population is shrinking — bad news for an budget built on new residents flocking to the Sunshine State. Lawmakers raised $2 billion in new revenue this year, but could face a similar shortfall next year.

New Jersey: The Garden State, which has been plagued by years of fiscal mismanagement, spends more than it collects in revenue. The collapse of Wall Street, which supports about one-third of New Jersey’s economy, has only made matters worse.

Illinois: Since the last recession earlier this decade, the state piled up huge backlogs of Medicaid bills and borrowed money to pay its pension obligations. The state’s current budget still relies heavily on borrowing and paying bills late.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin has a long history of budget shortfalls. It also borrows frequently to cover operating expenses, among other measures. Unemployment is climbing as manufacturing, the state’s largest sector, sputters.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal research group, says the states need additional federal fiscal relief to avoid budget cuts that will hurt both the economy and people. State and local spending accounts for about one-eighth of the GDP.

Already, less than five months into fiscal 2010, several states are looking at additional budget cuts. Rhode Island announced Tuesday it is facing a revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year of $130.5 million. Gov. Donald Carcieri said the state must examine its aid to local governments, since it has already cut personnel and social service programs.

And in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that his state is facing a budget gap of up to $7 billion. The state will likely announce across-the-board spending cuts in January.

“So we just have to hang in there, tighten our belts and live within our means,” he said.

The center would like to see the federal government allocate another $50 billion, while economist Mark Zandi said about half of that would be needed. Congress should pass the additional aid now since states are currently crafting their fiscal 2011 budgets.

States received billions of dollars in funding from the Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus package, including $87 billion for Medicaid and $48.3 billion for maintaining education and other key services.

The stimulus funds plugged about 30% to 40% of the budget gaps states were facing, and created or saved more than 300,000 jobs, said Iris Lav, the center’s senior adviser.

But the economic downturn is greater than administration officials expected when the Recovery Act was passed in February, Lav said. That’s why more assistance is needed now.

Budget projections show that states could face deficits as large as $260 billion in 2011 and 2012 after stimulus funding is exhausted. State economies usually take up to two years longer to recover after the nation’s fiscal health begins to improve.

New budget cuts and tax increases “will be a serious drag on the economy at just the wrong time,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com.

Without assistance, the economy could slide back into a recession, he said.

A shooting in Valdosta has left nine people injured and one dead tonight.

Valdosta Police said around six pm, someone opened fire at 807 South Fry Street.

The unit is part of the Hudson Dockett housing community.

As of right now, there isn’t a known motive and no one is in custody.

Four victims were taken to South Georgia Medical Center by an ambulance.

Five others have gone to the hospital saying their injuries are also from the shooting.

The name of the person killed can’t be released at this time.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.

http://www.wctv.tv/

If Florida doesn’t suspend Brandon Spikes, then the SEC office should. Unless the video below has been doctored, this is simply unacceptable from a college football player. Spikes is a great player. He is also an emotional player. And he clearly let his emotions get the best of him when he stuck his hand inside Waushan Ealey’s facemask. My hope is that Florida coach Urban Meyer looks at the video, is horrified, and suspends Spikes for at least one game. Spikes needs a reality check. Look, I know enough former players who have told me that a lot of bad things happen in pileups. But this is right out in the open and everything was caught on camera. This is a player intentionally trying to hurt another player. It’s simple: If coaches are going to be held accountable for their actions and officials are going to be held accountable for their mistakes, then players must be held accountable for what they do. There is no place in the game for something like this.

http://blogs.ajc.com/barnhart-college-football/

4 killed, 1 missing in Turkish floods

(AP) – 5 hours ago

ANKARA, Turkey — The state-run news agency says heavy rains in northeast Turkey have triggered floods and a landslide that killed 4 people. One person is reported missing. Read the full story

Corps: Dam held down flooding

Official claims damage could have been worse Read the full story

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — A 20-year-old Cornell University student has died of complications related to H1N1 influenza, and influenza-type illness has been diagnosed in 520 other students in the past three weeks, the university reported Friday.

David Skorton, the college’s president, released a statement Friday evening saying that the 20-year-old, Warren J. Schor, died that day at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca. The student’s hometown was not immediately released. Read the full story

Read the full story

By Gerald Goodridge, NEWS 9 Sports

STILLWATER, Oklahoma — Everyone knew that the Cowboy’s offense was going to play well, but like years past, the defense would have to answer the bell if No.  9 Oklahoma State was going to come out on top in their season opener.

After holding No. 14 Georgia to 95 yards rushing, some of the critics might be silenced. Read the full story

Disclaimer: The OP listen to all types of music, including agressively harsh music. This write-up is not meant to minimize any other type of music

The Mozart Effect refers to research results linking the effects of classical music to

* increase in intelligence
* reduction of violence
* heightened performance
* increase in well-being

Ive seen the Mozart-effect in action on two occassions: In a city I lived, classical music was deployed in the subway-systems of the entire city, resulting in a notable drop in violence and crime. This made the newspaper headlines back then. Read the full story

Should those who break marijuana laws in Georgia be caned or executed depending on the offense? A Georgia  lawmaker’s e-mail response suggests these should be the correct punishments.

via NORML’s blog (click here for the original article)

Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning, Executing Marijuana Offenders

[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up for NORML's free e-zine here.]

State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) favors “caning” minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent.

In a July 29, 2009 e-mail (which was voluntarily forwarded to the NORML office), Rep. Benton wrote: “Thanks for the email. We will have to agree to disagree on this and whether or not money is wasted (by mandating the state to prosecute minor marijuana offenders). I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers. [emphasis NORML’s] That would solve the problem as well. That is what they do in Singapore and they don’t have a drug problem.”

Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal.

Rep. Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed with his political viewpoints to local law enforcement.

He wrote: “You and your cronies want it (marijuana) legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested. I have forwarded your email to the Lowndes County sheriffs [sic] office so that they can be on the lookout for you. [emphasis NORML’s] Consider this my last correspondence on the the [sic] subject to you or anyone else who shares your similar “conservative views’.”

Benton was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005.

Knowshon Moreno, the Denver Broncos’ top pick who was the first running back selected in the NFL draft, ended his eight-day holdout on Friday, agreeing to five-year, $23 million deal that includes $13 million in guarantees.

Moreno, who rushed for 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons at Georgia, was the 12th pick over all in the draft in April. Read the full story

This seems a little fishy given the importance August 7th, 2008 has for Georgian/Russian history….

Web attack ‘aimed at one blogger’

A “massively co-ordinated” attack on websites including Google, Facebook and Twitter was directed at one individual, it has been confirmed.
Facebook told BBC News that the strike was aimed at a pro-Georgian blogger known as Cyxymu.

The attack caused a blackout of Twitter for around two hours, while Facebook said its service had been “degraded”.

Google said it had defended its sites and was now working with the other companies to investigate the attack.

“[The] attack appears to be directed at an individual who has a presence on a number of sites, rather than the sites themselves,” a Facebook spokesman told BBC News.

“Specifically, the person is an activist blogger and a botnet was directed to request his pages at such a rate that it impacted service for other users.”

Botnets are networks of computers under the control of hackers.

The machines were used to mount a so-called denial-of-service (DOS) attack on Thursday.

The BBC reported that the blogger was “pro-Georgian”

Today is an important day in Georgia’s history…..

Georgia marks anniversary of war

Ceremonies are under way in Georgia to mark one year since the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region.

Midnight bonfires were lit in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and other towns. A minute’s silence was held and church bells rung to remember the dead.

A march and candlelight ceremony in South Ossetia are also planned.

Russia’s president said the decision to go to war “was probably the hardest thing, but eventually we did it right”.

Some 30,000 people remain displaced because of the conflict, according to Amnesty International.

Among the day of events in Georgia, several hundred people formed the Georgian flag in the grounds of Gori’s medieval fortress, at a ceremony attended by President Mikheil Saakashvili.

The town was hit by Russian airstrikes and then occupied by Russian forces last year.

The Georgian national anthem was played as the flag was formed.

Mr Saakashvili also visited a war cemetery in Tbilisi to lay a wreath, and is due to address the nation later on Friday.

Speaking to the BBC during the day of events, Mr Saakashvili also said it had been a hard decision to mobilise troops a year ago, but that if he had not acted then “we would have had much worse atrocities than had been committed”.

He said that now, diplomacy was the only way to “expel Russians” and shift the balance of power in the region.

In an interview to be broadcast later on Russian TV, his Russian counterpart spoke of the decisions he made on 7 August, 2008.