I found them in a pile of old note books I was going through looking for a poem. They aren’t masterpieces by any stretch and my (real) artist of a sister would confirm this, but here they are anyway.

It’s been a while and these were the last attempt I can recall. That makes these illustrations six or seven years old. With the exception of a short lived art class in 201o I haven’t done any art since then. Maybe it’s time to start again.

Natalie Portman

Keira Knightley

Tonight 7:30pm
19 January 2012
Workroom 1.0

Over the summer I was afforded the pleasure of attending the premier of a new fashion line in Detroit. With the shadow of the city’s beautiful architecture falling over us we enjoyed the outdoor show and surprisingly cool summer breeze. The drinks were cheap, the fashion was inspiring (drawing it’s own from the ancient Greek and Roman cultures), best of all the people were full of high spirits and plenty engaging.

This show wont be outside and the cold wont be as welcome, but all the same I expect to have a great time. I understand there will be plenty to drink, hopefully as cheaply as last time. Merchandisers and designers will be selling their good stuff while models display Detroit’s newest fashions.

I’ve held back on publishing until I owned the domain but now that the time has come I will be posting a few stories and articles. Here’s a short list of what to expect over the next few days/weeks.

“Merry’s for Coffee and Beer”
A short story, a love story that takes place in and around Merry’s of Dungarvan, Ireland.

“Cigarettes and Sex Appeal”
A love affair with tobacco, cigarettes, and the United States of America.

“Chicago: Bloodstains, Train Wrecks and Mustaches”
A story about our journey into and out of Chicago. In December several large parties were thrown all over America and the World wrapping up a month long campaign aimed at raising awareness for testicular cancer and other men’s health issues. Being soldiers in the fight for men’s health we got our hands on ‘Golden Tickets’ and headed to Chicago.

“Sci-Tel Energies Inc.”
A non-profit group hoping to bring green changes to our State’s educational curriculum through interactive programing.

“Being a Model: A Profile”
An interview with model Rachel Smith sheds light on what it means to be a model and the modern pageant scene.

The novel centers on a group of young American journalists and expatriates, more or less, though they have relocated to Puerto Rico. The group, a mishmash of eclectic writers, all struggle to make a living working for a failing newspaper in San Juan. The plot receives added fuel from a twisted love triangle, full of jealousy and anger, fueled by alcohol.

Paul Kemp, the center figure of the story, and the rest of the cast are loosely based on Thompson and people he knew from his time in San Juan. Although the novel is a work of fiction, many of the misadventures the characters find themselves on are based on events that truly happened, though not necessarily to the extent of his journalistic work.

Last month, a long awaited film adaptation of Thompson’s novel was released in theaters to a generally warm reception. In true gonzo style we headed to the theater, rum in hand, ready for the ride.

To be clear, I don’t particularly endorse drinking at a theater, a fairly blatant violation of most reputable establishment’s policy. I would, in fact, discourage the drinking of rum, over crushed ice, at a movie theater. Granted our neighbors; behind, in front, to the sides, were all adults, most were actually quite a but our senior, there is still a very distinct and somewhat repugnant aroma to a large plastic cup full of cheap rum.

I wear my disguise well. That is to say I am very professional, most of the time. I take great pride in the way I encourage people to perceive who I am. My secret though: I may be more like Thompson than I care to admit. Being placed intimately at the core of the story, living in the world you write about, is more fulfilling. Do you write a review on a book without reading it? Of course not. Should you write about life, without living it? About sensation without sensuality? Perception without divergence? All that smells mildly of simple irresponsibility and feels like a crime I would not, do not, cannot commit.

So there I am, we are, a full glass of rum on the floor and a tropical disaster unfolding on the screen before us. Johnny Depp plays Kemp as well as any one would, especially after having mastered Dr. Thompson in Fear and Loathing. His support is well rounded and decently thrown together, if not as randomly and unimpressionably as the characters they play.

With an elicit nature not often found in writing, Thompson’s novel and the subsequent film tell the story of young American’s, down and out, trying to get by in the world, and of Paul Kemp’s classic struggle to be as far removed from the mediocrity around him as his talent will allow him.

Brothers (top) Josh Lelonek, Nick Rote, John Fenton, (bottom) Tony DeNardis, Ben Freund and Ed Niepoth wearing last Movembers mustaches.

This year Delta Tau Delta will be bringing the November tradition back and bigger than ever. Some have begun cultivating their awesome and manly upper lip hair already, while officially the growth does not have to begin until 1 November. Starting that day the brothers will not shave their mustaches off until 1 Decemeber and will host a number of events aimed at raising awareness and money for men’s health.

The Movember movement focuses primarily on prostate cancer and other forms of cancer which affect the health of men. Partnering with the Livestrong Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Movember is one of the leading actors in the struggle to eliminate these health issues. Chapter Theta Xi decided to team up with Movember after their own philanthropy Bleed Purple was absorbed by Livestrong. Vice President Josh Klemm believes that, “Movember is something all fraternity men should be able to get behind. It’s about our health as men and the health of men all over the world.”

Each year the campaign grows in size and in the amount of money raised for the research and development of a cure. Klemm is hopeful that the same thing will be true at Eastern’s campus this year, stating that the fraternity has, “had fairly consistent turn outs and fundraisers for Movember over the last few years, but this year we want huge results.”

“Together, with the help of the EMU and Ypsilanti communities, I suspect that this year could be an improvement on earlier attempts.” Klemm added. He also points out that the issue never seems to, “get major publicity like breast cancer awareness month does in October.  Movember is an attempt to correct this.”

The fraternity will raise money all month on campus, at their house (125 N. Normal), and by reaching out to family, friends and community members. A gala party at the end of the month brings everyone together to show off their mustaches and to announce the total raised. Costumes are encouraged and MoSistas (women supporters) are invited to participate. The gala touts several mustache contests including; Best Stache, Best Costume, Best MoBro and MoSista Pair amongst other things.

This year the brothers will be raising money on campus and in Ypsilanti through a variety of activities including selling mustaches to women. In Klemm’s words these fake staches will, “show that they love balls as much as we love boobs.”

Future updates will follow the brothers of Delta Tau Delta as Movember progresses.

Proposed Master Plan for Masdar Developmet. Image Credit

Started in 2006 the Masdar Initiative (located outside of Adu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) is a fantastic attempt to create the city of tomorrow on Earth. The word in Arabic (مصدر) literally means the source, indicative of Masdar’s ambition to be leaders in the future of energy consumption. A several minute long video on the Initiative’s website, explaining the nature of the company Masdar, reveals the mission and vision of this forward thinking group.

Masdar controls five units or individual programs that work in unison to help develop cleaner, safer and more sustainable means of energy production and consumption. These units include:

Masdar Institute, bringing research and technology together to develop the must cutting edge solutions to environmental sustainability along with global partners.

Masdar Capital, brings together the worlds leaders in clean energy technologies to invest in the future and secure the longevity of funding.

Masdar Power, focuses on building and installing clean energy technologies, like solar panels and wind turbine, as well as the newest technologies.

Masdar Carbon, seeks answers to reducing the amount of pollution already present in the world.

Finally, is Masdar City, a major project focused on reinventing the future development of Earth’s cities.

The city, modeled after traditional Arabian cities is designed to be one of the most environmental and self-sustaining cities in the world. A massive number of renewable power sources are to be employed in powering the city every day. The first facility to be built in the city was a massive solar energy plant, which runs on its own power and helps in feed the energy needs of construction. The facility is expected to power the rest of the construction effort thus eliminating the majority of the carbon waste used to build the city.

As further buildings are erected in the city photocells will be installed on the rooftops of all buildings to power the rest of the cities energy needs. A second power producing project to be completed in the first stage of construction will be a wind farm in sections around the perimeter of the city. Masdar will also be the location of the world’s largest hydrogen power plant.

The use of water at Masdar City is also to be among foremost advanced system in the world, as the city will draw all of its water needs from a solar powered desalinization plant. It is also projected that the city will use up to 60 percent less water then other cities of a similar size due to extensive recycling procedures. The city streets will be completely free from automobile traffic and open only to pedestrians. An underground network of personal transportation vehicles will be employed like a subway system to bring people from one location to another within the city.

The biggest challenge facing the city is also one of its loftiest goals. Masdar will attempt to produce zero waste. All waste will be recycled for use as either fertilizer for crops, incinerated to create further energy for the city, or will be processed for reuse.

Not only will the city be a clean place to live but it will also become one of the prime educational centers of the world. The worlds first major technological universities, dedicated to the development of sustainability will call the city home. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is the first part of the city to open, helping to further improve developments.

Located roughly eleven miles to the east of Abu Dhabi the city will be located in close proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport. The city will be six square miles and house 50,000 people who will work and live in the city.

The Initiative has not been widely advertised or discussed in the United States and almost no media coverage of its progress exists.

Projected to cost nearly 22 billion dollars the project is expected to take eight years to complete with a hopeful completion date of 2014. Δ John Fenton

Medical Marijuana for Sale.

One year after the inception of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, citizens seek further clarity and reform regarding the advancement of the controversial policy.

In November of 2008, Michiganders were faced with two controversial proposals on the presidential ballot. While the second proposal, a reform of stem-cell research laws, failed make as many headlines, Proposal One was passed by a 63 – 37 percent margin as well as having been passed in all 83 Michigan counties. In December of 2008, Michigan became the 13^th state to legalize the limited use and cultivation of medicinal marijuana.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act provides protection for the use of medical marijuana as well as creating a system of registering identification cards for qualifying individuals and the enforcement of rules as determined by a state appointed administration. A recipient of an identification card provides an allowance of 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and an allotment of no more than 12 plants; if the recipient cannot or does not have the means to grow his/her own plants, then they have the right to appoint a caregiver for this intention.

Caregivers are subject to the same protection under state law as their recipient(s) and while they may receive compensation for their services it does not constitute the sale of a controlled substance. Caregivers are permitted to cultivate up to 12 plants for no more than five patients that must qualify them on their application for identification.

On April 6, 2009 the prescription and registration process began, and in one year’s time Michigan has received 23,724 applications and issued 12,323 patient registrations and 5,236 caregiver registrations.

Medical Doctor David Crocker opened the state’s first full-time medical marijuana clinic in Kalamazoo Michigan on January 15, 2010. It’s in clinics such as these that patients can get a consultation with a licensed doctor who can provide them the official paperwork and signature needed to apply to the state for their patient identification card.

The importance of clinics willing to supply patients with these things is limited. Dr. Crocker emphasizes this importance saying that “A vast majority of doctors are unwilling to sign the forms. The ones that work for the major medical corporations around here have essentially been told from an administrative level that they are forbidden to.”

Dr. Crocker is a fervent advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana and also a patient caregiver, “Marijuana has a constellation of beneficial effects that’s really rivaled by no other medication, and the safety profile is rivaled by no other medication. What other medication does so much, can be produced by the patient at very little cost, and is that safe. There’s just nothing that compares to it in the pharmaceutical area.”

It is in this area that the greatest opposition to medical marijuana exists. Considered one of the largest lobbying interests in the United States, the industry is reported by the USA Today to have 1,274 registered lobbyists in congress. “Marijuana is a threat to a lot of people’s pocketbooks” adds Crocker.

The legalization of the burgeoning cash crop has been hypothesized to have the capability to save infrastructures. Visiting professor of Economics at Harvard University Dr. Jeffrey Miron spearheaded a panel of 500 economists to come up with report for the federal government entitled The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States which concluded that “replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of legal regulation would save approximately $7.7 billion in government expenditures on prohibition enforcement — $2.4 billion at the federal level and $5.3 billion at the state and local levels.”

“It’s been difficult to get good research,” Crocker says about the medicinal aspects of marijuana, “research, up until fairly recently, had to be approved by the federal government and they were not approving it; they just don’t want to know what the real answer is. If they allow you to study it then they’ll realize that it really is good for you and there really is no excuse.”

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act contains a list of qualifying medical conditions approved for the prescription of Medical Marijuana. The statute contains cancer, glaucoma, HIV positive, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, and Alzheimer’s among others. “I think a lot of things are left out, predominantly the psychological ailments, it’s really good for bi-polar, anxiety and PTSD.”

Michigan native, and Iraq War veteran USMC soldier Nick Stevenson has been issued his green-card based on PTSD related ailments. “The government has trained me to be lethal when confronted by intense situations. When I’m around a large group of people, that instinct will come creeping back and marijuana is the only thing that will abate it.”

On a federal level, the use of Medical Marijuana is still a hot-button issue. President Bush’s administration appointed leader of the DEA, Michele Leonhart is notorious for masterminding raids on the homes of Californian recipients of the drug and single-handedly blocked applications from respected university researchers studying medical marijuana. Ms. Leonhart was allowed to keep her position upon the nomination of President Obama.

In the face of overwhelming voter response and the number of patients seeking official green-card legitimacy, communities in Michigan have begun seeking reforms to keep out what they consider bad business and a presumed criminal potentiality. In July of 2009, the Livonia City Council ruled in opposition to any business operating in violation of federal law under which the sale of marijuana is still illegal. City of Livonia Police Chief Robert Stevenson told the Michigan based Observer and Eccentric “We’ve been doing research on what has happened in California since the law was passed. There’s been a lot of violence out there, B&Es, shootings and murders at some of the dispensaries.” The issue was brought up after a visit by a DEA official to his offices; Stevenson told homelife.com the website of the Observer and Eccentric.

An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, Dan Korobkin, told hometownlife.com, “We’re going to keep a close eye on how the ordinance is interpreted and enforced in Livonia. It was a pretty overwhelming majority of state voters who approved this proposal. The city of Livonia is not allowed to overturn the will of the people in a state vote.” He explains that this kind of action is strictly a preemptive move designed to prevent the possibility of a dispensary ever opening.

While some cities like Livonia, Garden City, Green Oaks and Saginaw seek proposals like these, others pursue more forward options. Chuck Ream, a former kindergarten teacher and congressional candidate, is currently writing a city ordinance for Ann Arbor that would make it the first city in Michigan where dispensaries could legally operate. Ream supports his proposed ordinance saying that, “Voters in a few Michigan cities are ready to approve an initiative to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in their town.”

Ream also believes that a Lowest Law Enforcement Priority is an essential step. He says that, “Lowest Law Enforcement Priority initiatives have been passed in Seattle, many California cities, and in less glamorous places such as Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Missoula, Montana. Marijuana arrests are reduced after LLEP’s are passed.” These kinds of initiatives, he says, can help to redirect funds from the Drug War, which was started by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, and then furthered by the creation of the Drug Enforcement Agency created in 1973, to help fight what he calls “real criminals”.

One of the places that Ream makes reference to as prepared to pass a Lowest Law Enforcement Policy initiative is Kalamazoo. There are two Students for Sensible Drug Policy groups in Kalamazoo, one at Western Michigan University and the other at Kalamazoo College. These chapters are a part of an international grassroots organization that encourages young people to engage in the political process by giving them the tools to help combat a counterproductive drug policy. The organization maintains a neutral position on drug use and instead focuses on reducing the effects of harmful drug policy.

According to Alexander Lanning, president of the Western Michigan University SSDP chapter, there are two things their organization is supposed to do upon initially establishing a chapter. The first is to establish a drive safe program, which serves to educate individuals on several traffic safety concerns, including but not limited to, the dangers of alcohol and drug use while driving. The second duty of any SSDP chapter is to establish a medical amnesty policy. Policies like these protect individuals from legal punishment when seeking medical help in a situation involving drugs or alcohol.

Since both of these had already been established in Kalamazoo, Lanning says that they “are currently working on researching how to pass an alcohol and marijuana leniency policy, or a Lowest Law Enforcement Priority, which would allow universities to handle instances of marijuana or alcohol use and possession internally.”

Currently he says the university will “call the police if you are in possession of marijuana.” Inversely, WMU’s policy regarding the illegal use or possession of alcohol is one that is handled internally, without involving law enforcement in all cases. By using the wide range of new medical research results regarding the use of marijuana medically, Lanning hopes to change what he calls a “hypocritical policy” so that the same policies apply to marijuana that apply to alcohol.

Lanning adds that, “The greatest purpose of SSPD is to educate the student body and to empower them to be engaged in the political process.” Proposal One passed by a three to one margin in Kalamazoo and SSDP helped to collect 5,000 signatures to get Proposal One on placed on the ballot.

Even as a controversial topic Lanning says that his chapter sees very little vocal opposition. “We never have any picketing or anything like that. It’s only a few faculty members that give us a rough time. We never have any people protesting what we do.”

This becomes a general theme that extends to the clinics spread out over Michigan as well. In Jackson, Michelle England, a secretary at The Medical Marijuana Clinic, had thought there would be what she calls “some community apprehension” and adds that she “was afraid that we’d have problems when we first opened”. However, she maintains that there has been zero protest and absolutely no crime related problems.

At Michigan Holistic Health there has also been no visible or vocal opposition like the kind one might find at an abortion clinic. Dr. Crocker says that the community response has been “mostly positive” and that he sees and hears almost no opposition. “The police even stopped by on one of our first days to let us know they are around if we have any problems. We haven’t though.”

After one year of the effective Michigan Medical Marijuana Act the issue remains one that is without a doubt controversial. Even so it is seems apparent that whatever groups oppose it, the 37 percent of voters who decided to cast a negative vote, they are indeed far and few between and are not often heard nor seen. The changing attitude and newly engaged medical opportunities have made it increasingly difficult to maintain an effective argument against marijuana as something with medically beneficial effects.

A loosely written and heavily regulated law allows, deliberately, the expansion of an industry that is, as of now, untapped. The very law itself places the medication in the hands of the patient, from growing it or purchasing it from caregivers. The result is a cost effective and easily maintained industry that is out of the hands of large pharmaceutical companies and remains un-regulated by insurance. The so called medical marijuana movement will watch closely with the American people as the November elections approach in California waiting to find out whether or not legally regulated and taxed marijuana can become a possibility in this country. This too seems like the next plausible step in the process here in Michigan. Until then, many thousands will continue to benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana while a few will oppose it and continue to spread misinformation.

My overhaul of the alumni newsletter for chapter Theta Xi of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. Was principal writer and editor for nearly all of the content. For pages 2-3,

page 2page 3