alaskaguide

Turkey Girl This is seriously, so bizarre and disturbing to me that I don't even know what to make of it. If you will check out my postings, you will get the truth for yourself. I have ZERO, NO, NO DESIRE whatsoever to respond to her or to engage her in any way. She brought up my name in another posting and I told her to stop doing so. That is it. How am I even remotely in the wrong here? The whole situation is creeping me out. I don't come on here for this nonsense. It's ridiculous. All mods and admins, please advise her to not bring up my name in any way or fashion and nothing further will need to be discussed.

There's No Way There's no way you guys can buy this. There is just now way. Please, go and search my screen name and try and find anywhere where I have said anything remotely demeaning or uncalled for. I was personally attacked by this individual, completely uncalled for and unfounded. I have done nothing wrong and have only responded to defend myself, which I shouldn't have to do in the first place. This is all very disturbing and confusing to me.

You Can't Be Serious I have never said one thing about you in this forum. You attacked me and my reputation and have repeatedly brought my name into other postings. I do not wish to have any contact with you nor do I ever wish to respond personally to any of your postings. Please leave me alone and do not use my name in any further of your postings.

Not Again Kathleen, this had better be the last time you post anything unfounded about me. Show some class. You made slandering, unfounded remarks about me over a disagreement in another thread, where you did not attack my reasoning you personally attack my reputation, without any facts to back yourself up. After that attack, I had several emails and private messages that spoke of your character, one such email delivered to me a laundry list of public court records. I simply messaged you in private and told you it was outrageous of you to make slandering remarks, especially when they are unfounded. I also told you I wouldn't make any personal attacks on you in any public forum and also stated I didn't pretend to know your situation regarding the list of public court cases that was forwarded to me. I have no idea who you are and why you feel the need to keep continuing this bizarre conflict. It really disturbs and confuses me. Enough is enough.

Send me a message Sure thing, send me a message.

Awesome Hunt It was an awesome hunt. It was only 3 days, yet I saw almost 30 bears. I passed up on 10 different bears. My camp was on a sand bar right next to a very shallow river braid where Silver Salmon were spawning, it was easy for the brownies to pick them off. I had bear around me all day and all night. I have grainy video of a lot of the action. I could pan the camera during the evening and pick up several different bear from 50 to 400 yards down the river. All night long, while trying to sleep I heard bears chasing salmon and fighting over their catch. It was amazing and definitely not for the faint of heart.

Bear Rug Yep. I should have it back in March. I spent $3200 on bear rugs this year, one black and one brown. It's crazy how expensive taxidermy is getting these days, especially up here. Well, at least it will be worth it. I won't be shooting another bear unless it's a 7ft plus blackie, or a 10ft and a half brown bear. I have a solo brown bear bow hunt on the Alaska Peninsula this year and hope to take one well over 10ft. I am really looking for an 11 footer that would get made into a full life size mount. After that, I doubt I'll kill another brown bear. Although giant brown bear hunting is addicting!

Sheep That's a pretty sheep. What was the BC score? What length?

A sucker born every minute 1. I am familiar with them all, yet I do not believe these products have any real value for the true bow hunter. Especially the carbon products. I advise people to do some objective research on carbon and carbon activation, you'll see it's garbage. No way possible that carbon suits work. 2. None of them. I use XGo and Sitka gear and feel that daily washing and daily cleanings in the backcountry is a must to merely help the onset of bacteria build up. There's nothing you can buy that will truely get rid of the majority of human ordor. 3. Objective research and attention to quality and value. 4. Silver and various anti-microbials.

DXT I absolutely love my DXT.

I've heard Iowa is drastically increasing their non resident tag and licensing fees. Anyone have some facts on this? I heard is was something like up to near 800 bucks? That can't be?

Here's the Bear Here's a picture I found of the bear after skinning.

Just got my brown bear skull back. This was a 9 and a half foot brown bear taken on a solo hunt. I saw almost 30 bear and past up on 10 smaller boars. It was a wild night listening to bear chase Silver Salmon in the river a mere 50 yards from camp.

You must be drivel instead of dribble. Dribble means to run or flow slowly, and wouldn't make any sense here. You must be drivel, a worthless message. I am not forgetting any of the facts. Yes, marijuanna is illegal, so is playing poker. How many of you have played back room or online Texas Hold'em? I have countless times. I love playing poker. It's illegal. I do not make my decisions based upon what's legal or not, although I would say I do use it as a guide. I do not make descisions based upon a reward, punishment system. I do no make decisions based upon a fear of going to a make believe ****. I make decisions based upon intrinsic respect of others, other's pursuits of happiness and a duty to myself, family, and society of doing the right thing, strictly because it's the right thing. Sure, I don't always do the right thing, but I fight the good fight. You wanna see what legality does? Take a look at a life long tobacco smoker sometime. Check out a bingo hall or casino sometime. These people look like they are on their death beds, old, wrinkled, weathered faces, hacking up pieces of lung, whizing, and yet all the while enjoying their completely legal cigarette. These people are beyond unhealthy, sick, individuals that can't even take a deep breath. The powers that be say that's ok, so you say it's ok. I am sorry, I just don't buy into the same delusion.

Like said once, and I'll say it again. I do not smoke pot. I have never smoked a cigarette. I very rarely have anything to drink. And I do not eat fast-food, drink soda, nor eat anything that does not have nutritional value. I work out 6 days a week and train almost every day of the year strictly to back country hunt. I shoot 60 plus arrows a day, 6 days a week. To be the best bow hunter I can be. You know what else I do, I read constantly. I read to become informed about issues that effect myself and society as a whole. Everything I do is to better myself, physically and mentally. I also think for myself and won't like other misguided people make decisions for me. I am a skeptic and question positions held by those that do not respond with logic and reason. I am a huge fan of our founding fathers and what they stood for. I am a fan of our constitution, one of the greatest documents ever created. I am also a lover of liberty. True liberty! You know what that means? Most of the people that are on the other side of this debate would be the first to spout old cliched phrases such as, "God Bless America", "Support Our Troops", "Amercia's the best country, land of the free, home of the brave". Liberty is defined as immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence. This is what I am talking about! I am a true believer in freedom of the real kind, not some illusion. Personal freedom to make decisions based upon self-findings, not unwarranted, arbitrary exercise of our government. Do you understand? I mean, I don't think I can make it much more clear.

Cabin Fever - One more First of, we put these labels on these false idols of worship, the athletes, the movie stars, the music stars. They are no different then Bob The Building or Paul the Painter. If I hear about these types of celebrities being role models one more time I am going to puke. How about this, you and your circle of friends be your kids' role models? How about that. If you raised your children right, you will have absolutely nothing to worry about, your kids more than likely will be ok. There is the real world out there and no you can't protect them from that, all you can do is lay the foundation of solid core values. I don't give one $$%$ about another man being my child's role model, it's ridiculous. These so called role models, simply entertain us, nothing more! They are a fantasty, an escape. Who gives a rip about what they do on their own time. Let's put them back in their place. Actors, they entertain us. Don't want to hear about their political beliefs, save it Susan Surandon. Musicians, they entertain us. Don't care about your take on poverty, Bono, take a hike. Atheletes, for god sake toss a ball around and make millions, they ENTERTAIN US! THAT IS IT!!! Get them off this bizzare pedestal you've put them on. Talk to your kids, take your kids camping. Best thing you can do for your kid is to take them hunting. A kid growing up in the outdoor/hunting lifestyle you'll never have to worry about. Sure he/she may have bumps in the road, but they'll always be strong enough to learn and move on and be better people for it. The outdoors builds character, you wanna role model, worship the outdoors and not these goofballs that are paid millions to merely entertain us. There are countless people from all walks of life, soccer coaches, teachers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, judges, accountants, construction works, etc. who all smoke pot, get over it. You just don't hear about it because of what these people will lose when people like you know about it. It's distubring. I live by this rule. I'll mind my house, you mind yours. And perhaps we'll have each other over for dinner.

This will offically be my last post on this issue I am hoping this doesn't offend you or anyone that is in disagreement, yet I feel I need to tackle your statement. Ok, let's get this straight, you've never done any drugs in your life except alcohol. So what does that exactly mean? By your own admission you have done a drug, as you stated, alcohol is a drug. So what you really meant to say is, the only drug I have done is alcohol. And you respect yourself WAY WAY too much to give into that kind of thing, huh. So, what I am gathering here is that it's ok to take one sort of drug, i.e. alcohol, yet you respect yourself WAY WAY too much to indulge in any other drug. Let's look at the facts, gentlemen. First, I will lay out some ground rules. The audience must know that OPINIONS ARE NOT FACTS, say it with me, O-P-I-N-I-O-N-S are not facts. So what are facts? Facts are data collected in a controlled environment performed by research scientists. These scientists use the scientific method and critical thinking skills to come to conclusions about hypothesises. An hypothesis is, a starting point, a question. Let's start with this question, "Is alcohol a much more dangerous drug than marijuana?" What a better place to start to form a well-reasoned opinion. Since I am no scientist and don't claim to be I will have to resort to the experiments and data collected by experts in the field of this kind of study, people with no self-interest in the outcome of their research. Not pro marijuana agents nor anti-marijuana agents. So on with the question, "Is alcohol more dangerous than marijuana?" Marijuana is much less addictive than alcohol. On from 0 -6, 0 being less serious and 6 being more serious, alcohol was rated a 3, while marijuana was rated a 1. Withdrawl: Alcohol 6 : Marijuana 1 Tolerance: Alcohol 4 : Marijuana 1 Intoxication: Alcohol 6 : Marijuana 3 Source: Jack E. Henningfield, PhD for NIDA Go ahead and Google Jack E. Henningfield and do a little research on this man to see if he's qualified to make such statements on the dangers of alcohol and marijuana. He's only the Vice President, Research and Health Policy Pinney Associates, Bethesda, Maryland & Professor of Behavioral Biology, Adjunct, and Director of the Innovators Awards Program Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Let's now turn to the statistics on alcohol and marijuana related deaths shall we? In 2001, there were 331 alcohol overdose deaths and 0 marijuana overdose deaths. Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) --- Just so you know, the CDC isn't some hippie front posing as our nation's Center for Disease Control. In 2004, at least nineteen people of college age died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose). Source: Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H. in Annual Review of Public Health. 2005, 26:259-279 I honestly could post several hundred pages worth of statistics on alcohol related deaths. If you don't believe me, Google, "alcohol related deaths". The numbers are devastating. Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States (1) and is associated with multiple adverse health consequences, including liver cirrhosis, various cancers, unintentional injuries, and violence. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported 20,687 “alcohol-induced deaths” (excluding accidents and homicides) in 2003. Read this carefully, this isn't drinking and driving deaths, this is merely alcohol-induced deaths by toxicity. How many marijuana-induced deaths has the CDC recorded EVER in the history of its existence? ZERO, no one, not one single death, not last year, not this year, not ever. Still not convinced? Alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs, and using just 10 times what one would use to get the desired effect can lead to death. Marijuana is one of – if not the – least toxic drugs, requiring thousands times the dose one would use to get the desired effect to lead to death. This “thousands times” is actually theoretical, since there has never been a recorded case of marijuana overdose. Source: Source: The American Scientist, the Magazine of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society Let's turn to physical ailments. There has never been a documented case of lung cancer in a marijuana only smoker, and recent studies find that marijuana use is not associated with any type of cancer. The same cannot be said for alcohol, which has been found to contribute to a variety of long-term negative health effects, including cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. 12,360 in 2003 died directly from drinking too much alcohol. Source: Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years. Here's the best part. Studies find alcohol use contributes to the likelihood of domestic violence and sexual assault while marijuana has been found to not contribute to DV or sexual assault. Of the psychoactive substances examined, among individuals who were chronic partner abusers, the use of alcohol and cocaine was associated with significant increases in the daily likelihood of male-to-female physical aggression; cannabis and opiates were not significantly associated with an increased likelihood of male partner violence. …the odds of any male-to-female physical aggression were more than 8 times (11 times) higher on days when men drank than on days of no alcohol consumption. The odds of severe male-to-female physical aggression were more than 11 times (11 times) higher on days of men’s drinking than on days of no drinking. Moreover, in both samples, over 60% of all episodes occurred within 2 hours of drinking by the male partner. (page 1557) A Harvard School of Public Heath study found that 72 percent of college rapes occurred when the female was too intoxicated by alcohol to resist/consent. Comparisons between alcohol and marijuana with respect to sexual assault are very difficult. This is because it does not appear as if marijuana is a significant contributing factor. Alcohol is the most commonly used chemical in drug facilitated sexual assault. Source: Fals-Stewart , William, James Golden, Julie A. Schumacher. Journal of Addictive Behaviors. 28, pages 1555-1574. Intimate partner violence and substance use: A longitudinal day-to-day examination. Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York Studies find alcohol use contributes to aggressive behavior and acts of violence, whereas marijuana use reduces the likelihood of violent behavior. Alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication-violence relationship. Cannabis reduces likelihood of violence during intoxication… Source: Hoaken, Peter N.S., Sherry H. Stewart. Journal of Addictive Behaviors. 28, pages 1533-1554. Drugs of abuse and the elicitation of human aggressive behavior. Dept. of Psychology, University of Western Ontario. Dept. of of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University. Alcohol use is highly associated with violent crime, whereas marijuana use is not. About 3 million violent crimes occur each year in which victims perceive the offender to have been drinking at the time of the offense. Two-thirds of victims who suffered violence by an intimate (a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend) reported that alcohol had been a factor. Among spouse victims, 3 out of 4 incidents were reported to have involved an offender who had been drinking. Source: U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey 2002. That's enough. I could honestly go on for days on this subject alone. What I am trying to impart here is your opinion isn’t valid unless you have FACTS to back it up, merely saying, “this is bad or good” doesn’t make it so. I hope I presented myself in a reasonable fashion and if anyone wishes to disagree, please do so, this is what it’s all about, discussion is a good thing. What I want to clear up is I am not pro-drugs by any stretch of the imagination. Real drugs such as heroin, meth, cocaine, and prescription pills are VERY SERIOUS drugs and should not be tolerated as the risks and dangers exponentially out-weigh the positive. These drugs destroy lives; they destroy the user mentally, emotionally, and physically. I would highly advise to never experiment with any of these drugs, they will only lead to negative consequences. Marijuana desperately needs to be separated from this group as the evidence simply does not support its demonetization. Alcohol and tobacco are much, much worse substances that are tolerated and even celebrated. Yet I do not condone the recreational use of alcohol. There are many very serious dangers of drinking alcohol, yet I believe it’s an individual’s personal decision to make. Absolutely nothing wrong with drinking some beer with buddies or a little whiskey at deer camp. It’s not thinking reasonably and critically about these issues that has created this stigma around a substance that simply doesn't warrant it, especially not to take the freedom of over 700,000 of our fellow Americans in this year alone. I don't know about you, but I sure as heck do not want my government telling me what I can and can't do privately in my own home. We pat ourselves on the back on being a free country, Land of the free and home of the brave, yet where is the freedom for those that make their own personal choice to enjoy a substance that they believe is relatively safe. Real patriots and brave men stand up for what they believe to be fundamentally wrong, it's what our founding fathers did. Remember that when they try and take another unwarranted freedom from you. If you don't think they can't or won't take away our freedom to hunt, then you're dead wrong. All it takes is a changing, unwarranted perception of society, and our hunting freedom will be gone. That's why it's always a good idea, no matter how unpopular, to stand up for unwarranted government intervention. “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” --Arthur Schopenhauer

Inhale, Exhale, Repeat With his lungs he probably iron lunged it and cashed the entire bowl.

Dead Sorry for coming across like a jerk. The issue isn't really about pot for me, it's about thinking critically about issues that effect real people. Too many of us, including myself, are way too quick to jump to conclusions about issues where if we are honest with ourselves we just don't have good solid information to base our opinions on. Too often we allow hear say, agenda propaganda, and other unsubstantiated opinions to form our concrete opinions that we latter accept as fact.

I am quoting reviews, scientific reviews. Please, if you can find any objective data based reviews post them. I will always listen and read with an open mind. If you make a solid reasonable point, I will be the first to agree with you.

......"ALASKAGUIDE"...........:rolleyes::rolleyes: ....This is the second time I have been away from the forum here for a few days, with things I have had to deal with here on the homefront.....finally able to get back on the computer here and join my second family here, in conversation, learning, and sharing...... .......AND HERE YOU ARE, WITH YOUR SAME BULL CRAP, PICKING SENSELESS IDEALOGICAL FIGHTS AND INSULTING MY FRIENDS......:mad::mad: : -Don't you have anything else better to do???? -As I stated in my previous lengthy post to you on the Jeff Foxworthy Dall sheep thread in the Big Game room a couple of weeks ago that was deleted...(I understand completely that it was best deleted , Texastrophies,-I know I went a little overboard on that one...and yes, I'll just pm it to him now, since this intellectual, argumentative idiot is STILL here acting juvinile -)- ....."Alaskaguide"....-YOU are no Dall sheep guide.... -It is people like YOU who taint the image of big game (and Africa) hunting .... -It would have been nice to have another active member here on the RT forums from Alaska... but, personally you dissapoint and embarass me...... -Now: clean up your act and try embodying some assemblage of a decent, contributing, respectful member on this forum, or LEAVE... -Geesh! -by the way, I could easily post right here for all to see ...the truth of your "guide" status...and the reputation of your fishing charter business..... -but, I'm giving you a chance to apologise and wise up.... YOU are no Dall sheep guide! -don't even try to pass yourself off as one.... -Kathleen Christenson PO Box 2351 Seward Alaska 99664 224-8604 You know absolutely nothing about me whatsoever. Why on earth would you attack me personally and not attack me based upon my reason or my points of view? So, I can not have an opinion that differs with the majority? So, I can't speak my mind? You can say and state anything you wish about me or my company. Doesn't make a bit of it true, and if it was I will be the first to admit it. Throw out everything you got, dear! I have nothing to hide. But, certainly don't think you are going to scare me off because you live in the same general area. In this business up here, everyone whines and complains about everyone, no one is good enough, lots of insecurities. This thread was about an idealogical debate, not one about hunting or the like. How am I off base here, because I am passionate about my viewpoint? What makes you think you can silence my opinion by basically stating you "know" me and that you'll tell the audience the truth. Not only will I not apologize, I'll tell you to stick your self-righteousness where the sun don't shine. Now, with that said. I do agree with the point that was made about coming on and spouting idealisms. Yes, I have done that. It's venting. And yes, I would gather some folks would get tired of hearing idelogy. Perhaps, I should come on and make more substantial posts and offer more in the way of knowledge and positive feedback. There's always room for improvement. As for being a guide, I am the baddest man on the planet. I live with integrity and have an unmatched work ethic in the back country. I live to hunt, it's my life. There's no one on earth that will work harder for their clients to take a trophy of a lifetime and have a memorable experience. I haven't been at it long, but rest assured I will make a mark on this state's hunting heritage.

Myth: Marijuana Kills Brain Cells. Used over time, marijuana permanently alters brain structure and function, causing memory loss, cognitive impairment, personality deterioration, and reduced productivity. Fact: None of the medical tests currently used to detect brain damage in humans have found harm from marijuana, even from long term high-dose use. An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four to five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year. The claim that marijuana kills brain cells is based on a speculative report dating back a quarter of a century that has never been supported by any scientific study. Heath, R.G., et al. “Cannabis Sativa: Effects on Brain Function and Ultrastructure in Rhesus Monkeys.” Biological Psychiatry 15 (1980): 657-690. Ali, S.F., et al. “Chronic Marijuana Smoke Exposure in the Rhesus Monkey IV: Neurochemical Effects and Comparison to Acute and Chronic Exposure to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Rats.” Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 40 (1991): 677-82. I don't wish to extend this topic any further as I know you will more than likely not revise your position due to reason and fact and abandon your misinformed arguments. Very rarely will a man listen or read differing opinions with an open mind and then evolve his current position to reflect a more sound reasonable frame of reference, man usually reacts and only processes information that will uphold his current view point or position. It's simply easier that way.

Myth: Marijuana Can Cause Permanent Mental Illness. Among adolescents, even occasional marijuana use may cause psychological damage. During intoxication, marijuana users become irrational and often behave erratically. Fact: There is no convincing scientific evidence that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness in either teenagers or adults. Some marijuana users experience psychological distress following marijuana ingestion, which may include feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia. Such experiences can be frightening, but the effects are temporary. With very large doses, marijuana can cause temporary toxic psychosis. This occurs rarely, and almost always when marijuana is eaten rather than smoked. Marijuana does not cause profound changes in people's behavior. Iverson, Leslie. “Long-term effects of exposure to cannabis.” Current Opinion in Pharmacology 5(2005): 69-72. Weiser and Noy. “Interpreting the association between cannabis use and increased risk of schizophrenia.” Dialogues in Clincal Neuroscience 1(2005): 81-85. "Cannabis use will impair but not damage mental health." London Telegraph. 23 January 2006. Andreasson, S. et al. “Cannabis and Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal study of Swedish Conscripts,” The Lancet 2 (1987): 1483-86. Degenhardt, Louisa, Wayne Hall and Michael Lynskey. “Testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 71 (2003): 42-4. Weil, A. “Adverse Reactions to Marijuana: Classification and Suggested Treatment.” New England Journal of Medicine 282 (1970): 997-1000. If you are going to debate, you should really separate fact from mere opinions. OPINIONS are not fact.

Common [Heavy Metal]While I will spot you the respect of obvious philosophical differences I must point out one glaring and important fact...smoking dope is illegal, period. And I've been to drug school. I've also counseled many families whose underage kids are so emotionally and mentally retarded because of pot they are impossible to reason with and control while hooked on it. ----- Those kids more than likely would of been losers no matter what they were goin to be doing. That's life, a few winners and a whole lot of losers. The losers whine and cry and make excusing and love to be victims of circumstance. Hahaha, you say, hooked. Do you honestly believe that people get hooked on pot? Are you watching a different channel? Captain crunch, hot dogs, bigmacs, pop, and hunting are not illegal. They also don't destroy lives and families, kill brain cells and make kids and adults stupid, lead to crime and death/murder. ----- No, that's what I am saying, they aren't illegal, but with the exception of hunting, the rest builds a foundation upon which your child will base his/her eating habits upon. I'd rather see an in shape athlete that smokes pot, than a fat, sloppy teenager that can't barely walk up a hill. Believe me I get all kinds of people up here that can barely hike a mile without passing out. Boy, you are so out of touch, it's scary. This is what scares me to death about our voting public, they just aren't objective, critical thinkers. The emotional and mental growth stunting that occurs in kids under 18 from alcohol and pot on a recreational level is staggering. It’s also permanent. Those are weeks….months….years of development they will never get back. ---- You are blowing that way out of proportion. How about you state some scientific reviews that have been done on your meager opinion. You simply stating your opinion doesn't make it true. No, its people like you that want to smoke whatever you want, whenever you want that are always….100% of the time, misinformed and ignorant. First of all, before you put away your good guy badge. I don't smoke pot, nor do I put anything in my body that I deem harmful. I work out every day of the year and guide over 100 days of the season. Every single act I do is to become the best possible hunter/outdoorsman on the planet. So, let's not jump to conclusions, that's just simply what weak, common people do. No surprises there. I do not agree with young people smoking pot or drinking alcohol or eating poorly. It has the strong possibility to stunt their ability to unfold their potential and it's at a time in their life where they aren't as mentally ready for alterations in perception. This is the same mentality that was widely prevalent in the dark ages where the church and a sphere of influence maintained that the world was not heliocentric and that the earth was in fact flat. People believed it without questioning it, absolutely no difference, same ole, same ole social conditioning, you would think after ooh 500, 1000 years that the status-quo would smarten up, but a las they have not. And for those of you that state it's a no no because it's illegal, that's about the most weak, lazy argument you can make. Does anyone dig deep anymore and think critically? Not many. Slavery was legal at one point. Legality isn't what's wrong or wrong, just what's popular at the time. So, when the anti-hunters decide that hunting isn't ethical and therefore becomes illegal, then what will you say? Ooh well, hunting is bad because it's illegal. Grow a backbone. This issue is about individual rights. How are you doing to tell a grown adult he can't smoke a joint in the privacy of his own home? Or that he can't play a game of Texas Hold'em because in most states that's illegal as well. You shouldn't do or not do things because they are legal or illegal, you should discern between what's right and wrong based upon intrinsic values based upon respect. "Our fundamental ethical duty is to treat people with respect, to treat them as equally capable of living an autonomous life. But since each person has this same fundamental duty towards others, each of us can be said to have the right to be treated with respect, the right to be treated as an end and never as a means only. I have the right to pursue my own autonomously chosen end as long as I do no in turn treat other people as means to my ends." I don't poach because it is illegal. I don't poach because it's not the right thing to do because it directly infringes upon the rights of others.

Surprised Wow I am surprised and happy to see that there wasn't too many folks that wanted to jump down a guy's throat for smoking the ganja. There's a heck of a lot worse things in the world than smoking weed. I bet I could go into any home in America and list 50 - 100 things or activities that are worse than smoking marijuana. It's ok to shove McDonalds, Doritos, and Twinkies down America's throats, or drink 15 watered down Bud Lites, or smoke a pack of Marlboro Reds, or get so stressed out a work that you die of a heart attack at 45. Don't forget heart disease is now the leading killer in America, but that doesn't stop most parents from feeding their kids Captain Crunch, hot dogs, doughnuts, McDonalds french fries, and all the Mountain Dew they can drink. So before you start judging a grown man for smoking pot, look in your own house. More good people need to stand up for "pot rights". There are countless professionals from every walk of life, doctors, judges, scientists (Carl Sagan), athletes and many other good people that are forced to "live in the closet" and often get their freedom taken away simply because of misinformation and society's misrepresented fears. It's sad. It's no different then those that wish to take away our hunting rights. There are a lot of people that are misinformed about hunting and would love to see it illegal. How would we feel if we were forced to "live in the closet" because of a group of folks didn't think hunting was in society's best interest?