My Favorite Super Bowl 2011 Commercials.

No, I didn't die (unfortunately). I'm still wandering the wasteland that is my mind without much to show for it. I even managed to rip a disc in my spine, which has been breath-taking in pain. But, thankfully, I qualify for medicinal marijuana, which has been keeping the inflammation and pain to a minimum. It was a nice distraction to watch the Super Bowl, too. But, rather than bore you with details of the game, here is my top 3 list of Super Bowl commercials that I thought were the best:

1) Half Time in America by Chrysler: I thought it was great because it showed how the auto industry is roaring back. I liked how it called upon our "better angels" to unite again as one nation and keep this economic recovery going. It gave me chills. 




2). Vampire Party:
This commercial has all the things I like in a Super Bowl ad -- funny, creative and smart.


3). Betty White's cameo:
Betty White was hilarious in her cameo at the end of this commercial during the Super Bowl. I love her courage and spunk. I hope she's with us for many, many years. That lady is pure class bottled in comedic genius!!

NBC's The Voice - Kill Bill Parody - Super Bowl Commercial

-hbw

My New Motto:

                           

                             -hbw-

Bipolar, Fibromyalgia and Medical Marijuana.

As bipolar sunk its teeth into my brain, the disease began to rot away the rest of my body with fibromyalgia, which causes pain throughout the joints and muscles. The stress from the whirling emotions pound away at my muscles and joints until I ache like an old boxer whose body has endured one too many decades of abuse. When anxiety sets fire to my nerves, my body radiates with soreness from joint to joint. Each new pang feels like a hard punch landed by an iron fist. My hips, shoulders and lower neck take the brunt of the beating and it leaves me fatigued even after 10 hours of sleep each night!! I've tried stretching, and it helps while I'm doing it, but the minute I stop, the pain flairs back. The problem is that the pain is inconsistent and rotates from point to point. I use to take low-level pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol but they eat away at my stomach and take forever to work. Then, I tried medical marijuana and it was a revelation!!

I didn't want the smokiness of burning marijuana, so I converted into vaporized form and it instantly relaxed my tense body. Within literally seconds my inflammation melts away and unlike pain pills, it doesn't cause stomach pain!! In fact, the cannabis plant (marijuana) is known to calm the stomach. I use it whenever I forget to take my anti-depressant, Lexapro, because if I miss a dose, it makes me throw up. Terrible side-effect of those damn pills. But, once I realize I'm vomiting because I missed Lexapro, I vaporize some cannabis and it calms my stomach long enough for the missed does of Lexapro to take effect without inducing vomiting. I would take a different A.D. (anti-depressant) but Lexapro works so well for me that I stick with it. I've tried all the other A.D's anyway and none work like Lexapro. To be totally honest, marijuana doesn't have any negative side-effects on me except stimulating my appetite to where I eat too much!! But, I usually have little appetite because of anxiety, so that's really not a "negative side-effect" after all!!

Also unlike many of my so-called "approved" medications, marijuana isn't physically addictive. I can use it fairly regularly for months and then go on vacation for two weeks and have no withdrawals. The first day after I get a little headache and somewhat grumpy but by the next day or so I'm fine. A good side effect I discovered with medical cannabis is that it is a life-saver when I'm spiraling with deep depression. I vaporize some medical cannabis and my mood picks right back up until I can see my psychiatrist to adjust what needs adjusting. It's kept from out of the psych ward many times. I get the best results when I do my fibromyalgia stretches after vaporizing some medical marijuana. So, I don't care what any doctors or people in society say or think, marijuana has been a wonder drug for me and I think it's ridiculous that some states don't allow for medical marijuana use. Thankfully I live in Colorado where they allow it.

Personally, I think it should be legal for everyone. It's much safer than alcohol. Alcohol makes you want to act dangerously like driving or getting into fights. Yet, with marijuana, it makes you docile and calm. The last thing you feel like doing is arguing or otherwise fighting. How many times have you heard alcohol being related to a domestic abuse situation? Constantly. Now, how many times have you heard marijuana causing violence and fights? Hardly ever. But, yet, uninformed and self-righteous people still want to keep it illegal. The ones I have a problem with are those who haven't done any research of their own and just blindly oppose it because they've always opposed it. And, the "gateway drug" theory has long been debunked, showing alcohol to be the substance the majority of people try first. And what about caffeine?!! I've seen people get the shakes without their coffee but I've never seen that with marijuana!! Yet, marijuana is illegal?! Does that many any sense to you?! Anything can be abused if used the wrong way, even food. Are we doing to make chocolate illegal now?

One final point, if people are seriously worried about marijuana getting into the hands of teen-agers than they should push for legalizing marijuana. That might sound illogical but let me lay out my argument. Currently, teen-agers can get marijuana without having to show any proof of adulthood (identification). The drug dealer isn't going to ask for their identification, but if it's legal then the only places that would sell marijuana would be licensed stores. That means showing proof that you are 21 the minute you enter the door. That's currently how it works at medical marijuana dispensaries and how it would work if legal for recreational usage. Right now, your teen-ager can get marijuana easier than alcohol because alcohol is legal and thus requires identification.

Legal, licensed marijuana shops would put the marijuana black market out of business as no one would risk buying black market marijuana when it's legal in a local shop with proof of age. It would also slash the crime on the Mexican border since 60% of their "business" is transporting marijuana into America. Then there are all the schools, hospitals and kids food programs that the taxes on legal marijuana could create. Instead of wasting all this money on a little weed like marijuana, we could be benefiting from it in so many ways.

I'm not a medical expert but I know what works for me and what doesn't. I also know what medicines have the worst side-effects and marijuana isn't one of them. I'm not here to say that medical marijuana is what everyone should be using because that's ridiculous. Everyone's body reacts differently. Therefore, it's important that the doctor who prescribed the marijuana for you follow up on how it effects you. It's not for everyone and in some people with psychiatric conditions the drugged feeling can irritate them but for myself and many others I know, it's been an invaluable addiction to my treatment.

If you can see the benefit of marijuana then please support your local campaign to legalize marijuana. If you want more information go to: www.norml.org (click on the address and it will take you there). NORML is a well-respected national organization pushing for marijuana legalization. Colorado and California have legalization on the ballot this year, please consider voting for the campaign if you live in either of those states. Or, otherwise supporting these campaigns through financial donations.

P.S. - Click here to see how marijuana has reduced traffic fatalities

-hbw

The Denver Broncos or Denver Christians? Addressed to Tim Tebow.

In Colorado, Denver Broncos football is beyond religion -- it's a cult. I've been a loyal acolyte since I was old enough to understand football but this worship of the new quarterback, Tim Tebow is getting scary. If you've been blissfully unaware of Tim Tebow then please, count yourself truly lucky. You don't want his cult hopped up on Jesus juice coming to your town. So, what's the big deal you say? Well, Senor Tebow is a mediocre quarterback who is more lucky than talented. But, his most irritating quality is his hyper-religiosity.

I don't criticize someone for being Christian or religious but you can't watch a Denver Bronco game without seeing Tim Tebow kneel in prayer over every touch-down. If he's not kneeling in prayer he's looking up to the heavens. Apparently he even sings hymns while on the field. He's so into Jesus that's it's really kind of creepy. He's like a brainwashed Jim Jones follower!!

I don’t mind Tebow praying but doing so in public on national television each week seems prideful and arrogant. The Bible teaches to pray in private with humility, so as not to appear holier than thou. Not all fans are Christian but it’s beginning to feel like the Broncos are just for Christians now. Sports has traditionally brought people together, not created divisions. Football is enjoyed by people of diverse races, religious beliefs and non-religious beliefs. One of the missions of the Olympics is to unite countries of all classes and cultures to foster motivation to come together in mutual acceptance. It has united men from all backgrounds during Christmas for ages in America!!

But, now football has been taken over by Christian zealots. That’s not what football is about. What does religion have to do with sports? I understand privately praying for protection against injuries for everyone playing that day but do people really think God picks one football team over another? What about the Christians praying on the other team? Does "God" assess each player on both teams, assign a numerical value of worthiness to each one and tally them up to decide which team he chooses to win and which one to lose? Don't be ridiculous. And what about the games the "Denver Christians," er Denver Broncos, lose? Where was "God" that he couldn't sprinkle his "magic win dust"
around the team for that game? He seems pretty inconsistent for an all-powerful and perfect being!!

It's like when a hurricane wrecks everything in the town except the church. The fervent Christians claim it was "God" who saved the church. They sometimes say the church is saved it's because the worshipers were praying to ask "God" to save the church--and he did!! However, when a hurricane or tornado destroys a church, you don't hear people saying that was "God's" work too, do you? Do they question why their prayers weren't answered? Nope. They just say things like, "Oh, it was 'Gods' will that the church was destroyed." Oh yeah? Well, if the church was the "House of God" like Christians believe, why would an all-intelligent "God" destroy his own house?! That's not very intelligent. And if "Gods" will is done regardless, why bother praying in the first place, TIM TEBOW?!! 

You see what I have to put up with around here? Some Christians say it was a "test" from "God" that they lost the game or that the church was destroyed. They're all about tests until you ask them to run some science tests to prove the actual existence of God in the first place!! All of a sudden, then the test doesn't matter and they'll conveniently, (for them) switch to saying "there is no test to prove "God" because it comes down to faith." Well, if it comes down to just having faith, then why doesn't "God" have any faith in his worshipers that they are worthy enough to save that church, or whatever the context may be. They say he's our father, but what kind of father makes his children pass tests to prove that they are worthy of his help? Especially if that test involves the possible loss of your house in a natural disaster?!! Or, the possible loss of your child?!! Well, if you're suffering from Tebowitis like I am then watch this "Saturday Night Live" skit of Jesus talking to Tebow and teammates in the locker room before a game. It's hilarious. Even Jesus is a bit annoyed with it all:

-hbw

Traditional Marriage According to the Bible.

I Want This Artwork on my Wall.

I especially like the little people sitting on the top edge of the frame.

--click picture to enlarge--

Poll: Marijuana Legalization Support Reaches New High.

PHOTO CREDIT: "Cannabis" by M. Bartosch for Free Digital Photos"

In a new poll from Gallup, a majority of Americans now support legalization of marijuana. Fifty percent now favor the end to prohibition, whereas 46% oppose it. Just last year, that support for ending prohibition was at 46%. Americans are finally seeing through the propaganda that has incorrectly labeled marijuana as a dangerous drug.

Not one person has ever over-dosed from marijuana; compare that to alcohol, and yet alcohol is as available as Starbucks coffee. Marijuana isn't physically addictive like tobacco and yet tobacco can be easily purchased at convenience stores!! Anyone who says marijuana is physically addictive is misinformed and has obviously never tried the herb. I do not currently use it, but I have used marijuana throughout various times in my life and it has never been hard to stop when I wanted to.

Then there is the fact that marijuana pacifies people and therefore you just don't see the violence associated with it that you do with alcohol. Think about all the violence on the border with Mexico over drugs; sixty percent of that drug trade is in marijuana!! If we legalized it then that crime would drop drastically. Some people say that drug cartels would still have other drugs to sell but who in their right mind would oppose putting a 60% dent in their business?!!!

And, the cost to tax payers of enforcing a failed 70 year prohibition in police resources has been atrocious. That is time that the police could be chasing violent criminals and solving cold cases. In addition, we already clogging up our already crowded prisons with non-violent marijuana users and growers while pedophiles and rapists get light sentences!! The warehousing of those marijuana "offenders" also costs the tax payer ridiculous amounts of money. The money is flowing the wrong way--out of our pockets; legalization and regulation similar to alcohol could be bringing in millions (if not billions) to state and federal coffers to balance budgets and fund schools.

The last time I checked, America was a country where we have a right to personal freedom and unreasonable searches and seizures. Tax paying, law-abiding citizens should have the freedom to enjoy small amounts of marijuana in the privacy of their own homes. Whatever happened to the pursuit of happiness?!! For these, and many other reasons, marijuana should be legalized and it appears that America is ready to do it. The tipping point is upon us and now it just looks like it is being opposed by "do-gooders" who oppose it purely on religious, moral grounds. However, a religion shouldn't have the right to deny others personal freedoms; this is a country after all that allows for the practice of no religion, too. Even amongst the religious there are many who agree with legalization, so the time is now.