The fundamental problem that we face is not the war on drugs… The war on drugs and the harm which it does are simply manifestations of a much broader problem: the substitution of political mechanisms for market mechanisms in a wide variety of areas…. The war on drug is a failure because it is a socialist enterprise.

– Robert Dowd on The Enemy is Us

In other words, prohibition on drugs, an impossible utopian dream of a drug-free America, is practically a nightmare in the making.

http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/the-joy-of-less

Avenue, enough time and money to take vacations in Burma, Morocco, El Salvador. But every time I went to one of those places, I noticed that the people I met there, mired in difficulty and often warfare, seemed to have more energy and even optimism than the friends I’d grown up with in privileged, peaceful Santa Barbara, Calif., many of whom were on their fourth marriages and seeing a therapist every day. Though I knew that poverty certainly didn’t buy happiness, I wasn’t convinced that money did either.”

Great article.  This is blog-worthy material.  My favorite quote was “Perhaps happiness, like peace or passion, comes most when it isn’t pursued.”  The author has a very unique, hypnotizing writing style.  Honestly, one of the happiest times I’ve had was when I was deployed.  No TV, no internet, no sports, etc.  But I had good friends and good books to read.  Good job, Thanh.  Keep sending me good thought provoking articles. — David

I’ve been so overwhelmed with the Black Friday hype all over the internet and newspaper ads that I decided to give in my “soul” to see what all the fuss is about. For the first time, Leavy and I went to Best Buy to wait in line at 1am believing that we were getting the best deals out there. Possibly a $400 laptop that was origionally quoted $1,000.00?! What a deal! Waiting in line was a drag but luckily I was surround by hilarious dollar shoppers. At one point I was covering my whole face with a blanket as Fox news asked a man standing behind me what he was shopping for. He replied, “I’ve in line since 1am to open up a Bust Buy credit card.” ROFL. 5 am rolled around the corner and I found myself running with the herds of dollar shoppers towards the laptop section in the very back of the store. I pushed. I pulled. I yelled. I was a beast!

Yet, none of the laptops really stood out. My mind kept on telling me I would come out as a sore loser if I had nothing in my hands at the end of the day. Now that think about it… I pretty much purchased my new laptop while I was half asleep. After three hours of clarity sleep, I immediately woke up to do some extensive online research only to find out I was being cheated. I got ripped out. I could have gotten a cheaper laptop for $250 less. Sigh… why…