If putin throws a dud nuclear weapon out, would that stop us from nuking them? Would we be like "oh bless your heart," and stick to traditional weapons, or would we be like "you fucked around, now find out why America doesn't have universal health care?"
amid increasing concerns that the lack of a ban on use is promoting drug abuse by young people.
This fucking backwards ass notion of weed as a "gateway drug" needs to die. Their reasoning for calling it that shows their idiocy, in that it's called that because it's cheap and harmless, so they think it will lead to people believing other drugs are similar. Imagine branding something as dangerous because it's (Checks Notes) cheap and harmless.
Although from personal experience, I'd say that weed is a gateway drug of sorts, in that if you're addicted to something far more dangerous (like alcohol), using weed can act like a "gateway" to sobriety.
When I traveled through Europe, I left Netherlands on a train, and ended up in Sweden with a couple hash joints left. I found a secluded area near train tracks to smoke, and even then it's like I could feel the illegality of it. It was made worse by the fact that everyone walks or bicycles there, so random passerbys kept coming along making me feel tremendously exposed. 1/10 would not recommend.
On the other hand, smoking a hash joint and chatting with friendly strangers in the weed cafe's of Amsterdam was sublime, 10/10 definitely recommend.
Man, high sex is so good though. For me, it's like I get tunnel vision around the sensuality, enveloped by sexual desire, where the only thing that exists is my partner, and for that time we are purely sexual beings. Every touch elicits goosebumps, every nerve at attention, like my entire body is a sexual organ in the throes of hedonistic pleasure. I never feel more connected to my partner, and for some reason it also lends itself really well to aftercare; like, once we've cleaned up and/or caught our breath, I just want to cuddle and continue to feel the safety and comfort of their warmth.
There's already a company looking to do just that, although they are focused on using it as a replacement for prison. i.e. instead of serving time in prison, the tech implants traumatic memories into your brain that are related to the crime. It wouldn't be a far leap to implant desirable memories, though I'm not sure it would actually help you do something like learn an instrument, as muscle memory isn't something you can implant (maybe?).
When I was a kid I absolutely loved movies with this format. It was like I was learning the story along with the characters on screen, and it just made it feel more real. Like the story was so old and with enough truth to it that they made a movie just about people learning about said story. It let you feel like the caring, kind old narrator was your adoptive grandpa, and he was revealing to you some ancient, fantastical part of our history. One that you could imagine really happened, even if the story had some exaggerations. Those opening sequences where they show a big old, leather bound book opening up to the first chapter (e.g. The Sword in the Stone)? HOOK IT TO MY VEINS
when everyone and their mother has a gun in the U.S., and you're hiding behind heavily tinted windows, then yes, it is a safety issue. It's not an unreasonable request to keep your window rolled down during a traffic stop.
It fulfills the same need of "something to mark a time of relaxation." while being much less detrimental to your health. Low temperature vaping and edibles are as low-impact as you can get to your lungs. Additionally, even if you opt for actually "smoking" the flower, you're only ever taking a few hits (or if you're like me, on most nights just one!) so it's exponentially less harmful than cigarette smoking.
I was 8 years old when my uncle raped me. Forced me to sit down, told me not to tell anyone, because they wouldn't believe me, and why would I want to put the family through that? He is my fathers identical twin, he said I would ruin my fathers relationship with him if I said anything.
I believed him. Didn't think anyone would believe me, and I didn't want to tattle, so I decided the best way to do it would be to act as sad as I felt, wait for my parents or teachers to ask what was wrong, and then I would tell.
I acted out for weeks, nobody noticed, nobody asked.
So, I decided that maybe they already knew, maybe they already beat him up, maybe I should just forget it ever happened and move on, try to enjoy my childhood. I forgot. I told myself to, remember telling myself to, even.
Decades later, $200k in student loan debt, struggling with addiction, suicidal thoughts, very uncomfortable and obtrusive sexual thoughts, I almost killed myself so. many. times.
Now I'm sober, in therapy, good job, stable-ish home environment living by myself, the memory came back.
Decided that I would confront him, decided that I would tell my parents first to get their support. They didn't believe me. I drove across the country seeking to confront the bastard in person, my parents got wind of it and warned him to stay away, protecting him.
It's been too long to seek actual charges in a criminal court, I was in the bottom of a bottle for almost a decade after the nightmares started.
There's no hope for closure. No hope for an apology, an admittance, compensation, nothing. I get nothing. He ruined my life, and I get nothing.
I wake up thinking about killing myself most days.
If I were you I'd try to switch off to smoking weed instead. Much healthier, no hangovers, no adverse side effects, and so much cheaper! A chronically inflamed liver leads to some bad things, and dying from it is not pretty or gentle
It's a good reminder before a big election that one side is actively attempting to govern, while the other side is blocking any and all actions so as to curry more favor with their billionaire backers.
That straight up sounds like a terrible time, I'm not gonna lie