Saturday, August 15

In the news:


FDA denies patients benefits of medical marijuana

On April 20, the Food and Drug Administration released an advisory claiming that smoking marijuana serves no legitimate medical purpose. In yet another instance of politics trumping science in the Bush administration, the advisory cited no new scientific research and contradicted the most comprehensive government review of the health benefits of marijuana that has been conducted to date. Read more...



Congress sputters out gas “˜solutions’

There aren’t many things I like more than free money. And there aren’t many things I hate more than losing money. It might seem to you, then, that I should be jumping for joy at the GOP’s new plan to would dole out $100 checks to American citizens burdened by high gas prices. Read more...



Israel, U.S. celebrate together

As Israel reaches its 58th anniversary of statehood, Americans have come to enjoy many things Israeli. The software for the instant messaging program ICQ and cell phones, as well as the firewall and anti-virus programs that keep our computers safe, are all originally from Israel. Read more...


Many downtowns hold L.A.’s heart

In the movie “Collateral,” Tom Cruise’s character spews unsolicited urban-design criticism that Los Angeles is a fragmented city without a center. The city’s character appears to intensify this assassin’s psychosis and make him more interesting. Read more...