Happy Valentines Day!

I've been going steady with my lover MaryJane for about 7 years and I still can't believe how happy she makes me, how creative, how alive. I'm in love I'm in love and I don't care who knows it! Today is a day for lovers, and as a romantic i'd like to pay tribute to my lover, my muse, with a [parody] sonnet. Rick James sings it well, "I'm in love with Mary Jane, She's my main thang. She makes me feel alright, she makes my heart sing." I love my girl, but, also, she's Sexy As F*ck.

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Reinvented Landscape

To the neglected flower in nature—

The sight of her specimen makes me drunk

With desire, for her bud is so pure.

She cloths in crystals, so lavishly funk,

Still hiding her best gems keeping demure.

Better than a rose, she smells like a skunk!

A sticky touch- I cannot fight her lure.

Other grass may be greener, but she’s a red-haired punk!

To my love, my lust, my dear Mary Jane,

I shall forever protect your esteem.

You have burned your way into my brain,

Given unto me my wildest dream.

Slow this rapid world, discern all I see;

Addiction has set me free.

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Love You Babe,
                       Al

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this was inspired in part by Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire (i love love love this book). .... Does this make me a lesbian? ;)

Rene Descartes..a Stoner?

I take philosophy very seriously but I can’t help but wonder, How many of these guys were on drugs? The thought tickles me. Is there any evidence? Through own personal interest I have come across some individuals who are potentially the most famous stoners in history.

“I think, therefore, I am.” We’ve all heard it before. This famous philosophy was proposed by the French mathematician/scientist/philosopher Renee Descartes in the 1600s. But doesn’t it sound a little too familiar? Like maybe a stoner friend came up with it while sinking into the couch, eating Doritos, and tokin on some kush?

How could I possibly accuse Descartes, arguably the most important philosopher of modern era, of being a stoner? Let’s think about his world for a minute. Descartes spent much of his time in France and Holland. Many of his theories were about mind and body duality as well as the connection between geometry and algebra. He was born after the religious wars into a time period that was leaving the old ways of the world behind. New intellectual trends were taking over legal areas, politics, science, and philosophy. Tobacco was introduced into Europe in the mid 1500’s, gaining popularity among intellects and bohemians. You know that picture in your head of the writer who chain smokes? This is where it began. Descartes was a smoker. Smoking somehow stimulated these writers, and was described as a panacea for its medicinal properties. Although tobacco is somewhat stimulating, is it really a panacea, a cure-all? What is usually left out of history books is the coinciding rise in popularity of the use of hashish in Europe at this time. Marijuana’s medical properties and psychoactive ingredients were discovered in China in 2737 BC. From there, it spread to India and North Africa, where it was used recreationally (because Muslims couldn’t drink alcohol). The Middle East loved hashish (along with opium) and furthered the trend westward. Its alternative uses as fiber and hemp helped spread the marijuana plant. By 500 AD, hemp was introduced to Europe and quickly adopted for its medical purposes. By the 1600s in Europe, marijuana had been around and its uses spread to a wider population. Marijuana was smoked by Europeans as a spliff by crumbling up the hash and mixing it with tobacco. Cigarettes during this time were often made with both tobacco and hashish, which better explains why they were called a panacea (weed makes you feel good). In fact, by the time tobacco and marijuana came to the Americas, they were grown in fields alongside each other (including in Jamestown).

So, is it possible that Rene Descartes was smoking a doobie when he came up with ideas on modern philosophy? I think the answer is yes, it is very possible. It is known that he was a cigarette smoker influenced by the intellectual crowd during a time when tobacco and marijuana were often mixed. Yes, there is some information that has got to be missing and no, there is no concrete proof. But is it that hard to believe?

If anyone wants references, lemme know. I prefer to keep them out so maybe someday I can send a legit writing sample to High Times Magazine and have a dream job.