This is cool. Maybe there is a God, because if this is true he threw me a big fuc%in' bone.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm

This one may answer why, but who really knows.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

All that and no hang over to boot. Yep Sol - According to the Rastas, you should partake of the sacrement of Rastafaria constantly as it puts you in touch with Jah as the herb was given by his hand to help with the healing of the troubles of mankind.
The only good thing to come out my trip to SE Asia was being introduced to Thai stick by a Marine in a bar in Vung Tau.

Who really cares?

Now I can claim "medicinal purposes only" after every geezer.

Good ol' science. The same people who told us that tomatoes were good for us because they reduce the rate of cancer, especially prostate. Oops, now they say, there is no effect against cancer.

I don't listen to that crap. If you want to have a drink, have a drink. If you want to light a bowl of chim-chim, fire away. Do your own thing. I don't think it really mattered anyway, did it Sol?

If the data showed the lung cancer rate among us Rastafarians was as high as it is for ciggarette smokers I'd at least think about cutting back. Glad that's not the case. I was currious enough to snoop around on Google because I've never known anyone or heard of anyone who smoked weed getting lung cancer. I've known a half dozen that died from cancer due to smoking ciggarettes, however. Kinda weird.

Here's a Gan-Jah download for you Sol..... burn it for burning.....

http://www.bloodandfire.co.uk/db/viewtopic.php?t=22698

Interesting read. It is also a scientific fact that spleef can turn the bite on, at least in my mind

Which is funny because alot of Jamaicans smoke Craven-A's which are the nastiest, noxious coffin nails ever produced.

Also after spending time in Jamaica, I wouldn't feel bad if a whole lot of them dropped dead.

And as far as I could tell, 90% of Jamaica's problems come from that violent, bloodthirsty, wackjob cult known as The Rastafari.

In the short time I was there, in that little backwater parish alone, there were 6 murders, one was a girl they suspected of of being pregnant with a "white man baby," another was suspected of being gay, one was a political assaination, and the rest were home invasion robberies, and ALL of them were macheted to death by several Rastas.

Wow, someone didn't enjoy there visit to Jamaica. Pretty harsh generalization

"Pretty harsh generalization "
True. I have no interest in starting a debate over your trip to JA and your post, Irie, but you may want to do a bit of reading about Rastfarians before you lump them all together. Rastafarians, by definiton and the teachings of their religion, are not into violence. The people involved in violence are often dreads but not Rastafarians.

I agree! I've always enjoyed visits there. The majority are a beautiful and sweet people. Plenty of talented and creative people there for sure.

All Rastafarian are not to be generalized as a " violent, bloodthirsty, wackjob cult." People like you will never experience the true Jamaica because of your preconcieved prejudices. First of all, give me your definiton of a Rastafarian. Does long dreadlocks make you a Rasta? Does listening to Reggae music make you a Rasta? Are all blacks with dreadlocks Rasta's? That's some vague generalizations if you ask me. Most of those people are doing the best they can with what they have, and still much nicer than most people I run into here in the states. You probably spend most of your time at Margaritaville with the rest of the snoobbish tourist, thinking thats the best that Jamaica has to offer. I've seen them, and most look pretty silly with their one up- Colonial plantation attitudes. I have been blessed to be connected to some of the most talented artist on that Island. I get the freshest of Reggae music as well as the marvelous works of many other artisians, by simply connecting on the human level.

Jamaica.....No Problem!

John Lee Hookum...
If you are into Reggae music, check out the website that the download I posted came from. It's connected to the Blood and Fire record label and the posters are primarily from the UK and Europe and there are a lot of djs, both sound systems and radio. They put up a lot of downloads that can be burned to a cd. I've been introduced to aton of artists and have bought several vinyls after I heard the tunes on the downloads.

I've got no problem with my fellow peace-loving Rastafarians.

Thanks Chuck, I will check it out. BTW, I have about 500 GB's of Reggae on my hardrive. From the Marley family and the classics.. Gregory Isaas, Black Uhuru, Third World, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh, Inner Circle, etc., to Anthony B, Sizzla, Bushman, Vybz Kartel, Capelton, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Midnight, Elephant Man, Michael Rose, Barrington Levy, Luciano, Big Youth, DMX, Groundation, Dub Syndicate, Cocoa Tea, just to name a few. I have many many more Albums and artists in my collection and always looking to add more. Thanks for the heads up. I will give the link a closer look.

Don't you just love having the downloads at the ready in your media center, all organized with each album and song catalog for your convenience. A long ways from the days of rooms filled with scratched or warped vinyl. Long live the Hard Drive!

Actually most Jamaicans dont listen to much Reggae. Thats like assuming All Americans listen to old Elvis records. They listen to a Reggae/Rap infusion along the lines of "Shaggy." Secondly, the closest I came to that *ucked up corporate mockery of Carib culture known as Margaritaville was walking by one at Sangster Intl. and noticing all the fat ass Texans and thier bratty kids and wondering to ourselves why anyone would eat such shyit when there is so much better food to be had all around. Jimmy Buffet is an asshole that has done as much to destroy his paradise as United Fruit Inc. We spent our trip in the Jamaican Backwater in Westmoreland Parish. The nearest airport was three hours drive away. The nearest bank was an 45 minutes away and had 2 M-16 toting guards out front. If you had any clue about Reggae, you'd know that one of Bob Marley's songs was about "kill da white people" and even he was a fruitcake of the highest order who would starve himself into hallucination in a remote cave to come up with songs that would make him more money, and he refused medical treatment for infection which cost him his ass.
lastly, I should clarify that my comments weren't directed at Jamaicans as a whole, just that segment of thier society that is causing the lot of them so much anguish.

Rastafarianism is right up there with Mormonism and Islam in thier militant dogma. What do you expect out of a group of illiterates that think Haile Sellasie (Thier "Lion of Judah") the dead, deposed king of Ethiopia is god incarnate?

Irie, mon, It's alright.

JLH....
I'm a lotech guy in a high tech world. I still buy vinyl and spin on the wheels of steel. Yep - vinyl. Zion's Gate on Capital Hill is a great source for vinyl as is Georgetown Records and Holy Cow in the Pike Place Market. I bought the Congos "Heart of the Congos" on 180 gr and sealed for $20. and now it's selling for $35 unopened. Wished all my investments went up like that in 18 months.
Trolling off Jeff head and listening to Kid Hops on Positive Vibrations in Saturday morning sunshine is one of the best things I can do.

Hey Irie, don't let JLH give you any worries... He's jumped on me before, accusing me of being racist when he had no grounds to do so. He is a knee jerk reactionist at the very least. Kinda like poking someone with a hot pin....

I've met Irie and I liked him.

"Rastafarians, by definiton and the teachings of their religion, are not into violence. "

I don't know about the Rastas, but I do know that if you exchange the word "Rastafarians" in the above quote with "Christians", "Jews", or "Muslims", it would be equally true, as the teachings of their religions, by definition, are not into violence, either.

We all know how well that works out in real life.

Fish on...

Todd

Exactly.

The feeling's mutual, Sol.