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Laney College's
Laney Tower Newspaper

September 22, 2013

I am a staff writer for the Laney Tower newspaper at Laney College in Oakland, California. I've written one opinion article for each of the first three issues. You can see the website here, but it needs to be updated with Fall 2013 editions. Meanwhile, you can read my articles below.

Sincerely,
Jason Gastrich


Medical Marijuana

Studies have shown the positive effects of marijuana and some states have already legalized it for medical reasons, recreational reasons or both. As the younger generation ages, more states will vote to legalize cannabis because kids are being raised with more facts and with less inaccurate information.

Attorney General Eric Holder recently said the federal government will not target medical marijuana users who do not have ties to violence or drug lords, but the United States government needs to reschedule it. Marijuana is still listed as a Schedule I drug alongside drugs like LSD and heroin, even though the American Medical Association told them several years ago they should consider changing it.

To be listed as a Schedule I drug it must have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use in treatment and a lack of accepted safety under medical supervision.

Marijuana may seem funny or trite to some, but to others it means something very different. Some people are suffering a lot and cannabis makes them feel better. Some patients do not want to take pharmaceuticals like Hydrocodone (Vicodin) with harmful side effects that also make them feel sleepy and slow. Others suffer vicious raids by several branches of the government, scattering patients, destroying nonprofit businesses and separating families and friends.

Even though it hasn’t been based on facts, the war on drugs has been a lucrative endeavor for the United States government. Local police, federal agents, public defenders and judges have profited. It has all been dishonest gain, though.

It is time for the government to be honest and admit marijuana doesn’t fit the criteria of a Schedule I drug. How can it be legal for medical purposes and at the same time have no medical value? Hundreds of doctors recommend it to patients every day.


Internet Searches

Nearly anything can be researched on the Internet, but there are some guidelines that will make your searches easier, quicker and more reliable.

If you are searching for a certain phrase, try entering the phrase in quotes. This will tell the search engine to look for it.

The major search engines like Google and Yahoo! spider the same web pages, but if you don’t find what you’re seeking, try the other one or even Bing. Google was the most popular search engine for the past two years, but Yahoo!’s searches surpassed Google’s last month.

When you need to find an image, click the Image link in the search engine’s tool bar. Click Video to search for videos. YouTube is Google’s popular video website, according to Alexa.com’s rankings.

A proxy server will let you search websites anonymously. Use a website like hidemyass.com or a browser plug-in. Mozilla’s Firefox browser is a little slower than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, but it is more configurable and it features free proxy server plug-ins.

Use Archive’s Wayback Machine to find an old web page that isn’t online any more. Since 1996, their website has archived websites. Archive usually stores web pages several times throughout the year, so if there were revisions, you can see the old information and layout.

Paid advertisements are sometimes at the top of web searches. They are usually optimized for your search, but they are not always the best search result.

Wikipedia’s online encyclopedia has countless topics with contributions from editors around the world and it is a large source of increasing information. If you click View History, you will see who has edited the page, when it was edited and what was changed.

Happy researching!


The Government Shutdown

If President Obama vetoes the U.S. government’s budget proposal, we will experience a so-called “shutdown” on October 1. Although it means serious changes, it might not be so bad. We might see how we can function without some costly services that we think are essential.

Like the sequestration cuts, most of the effects will be felt over time. If the government discovers how certain programs without funding really need it, they can find a way to fund them. This happened with air traffic controllers after the sequestration.

The shutdown, which is more like a “slowdown”, wouldn’t terminate government employees. It wouldn’t end Social Security or Veterans Benefits and it shouldn’t end unemployment insurance or welfare programs like the supplemental nutritional assistance program.

Government contractors could see payment delays because processors might be furloughed. Contractors might not get contract renewals.

Although the United States Postal system loses billions of dollars yearly, it is self-funded and could continue if it keeps borrowing money. Other federal buildings would probably close, but courts would likely stay open, although it could take longer to see a judge. Passport and visa applicants might experience processing delays, like when the government shut down for 21 days in 1995-1996.

Federal housing administration loans might not get processed and tax returns could be delayed. Government grants could also be delayed and some federal assistance could become dependent on state funds, possibly causing slowdowns or cuts.

The U.S. government is almost $17 trillion dollars in ever-increasing debt and still spending more money than it makes, so cutting some programs and slowly restoring vital ones sounds wise. There are many ways to do things. We could discover less expensive, more efficient ways. We might even get free universal healthcare like more than 20 other countries have.


Kids Should Finish Growing First

When I was 16 years old, my shoulder was damaged as I threw my "flipper" on the high school's JV football field. About three years earlier, I suffered a blindsiding hit playing Pop Warner football. It was a cheap shot that caused a pinched nerve in my back and it led to chiropractic adjustments. The hit also stunted my growth a few inches and it causes nerve pain and other somatic symptoms.

Playing contact football at any age is unwise. This week's National Football League injury list has more than 350 players on it. The lifespan of a pro player's career is brief because football is a violent sport. Many players have health problems for the rest of their life and they live a shorter, more painful life, sometimes dependent on pain medication.

I understand how football is a favorite American pastime that is loved by many people across the country. Growing up, on Sundays and Mondays, I watched it with my father and mother like a family ritual. My father has had San Diego Chargers season tickets for more than 30 years and I've been to many games. I still watch football on TV sometimes and I play fantasy football.

Despite our adoration for it and despite wanting to give kids an early advantage at a football career, kids shouldn't play full contact football until they're finished growing. If a kid gets injured like I did during or before a growth spurt, it could stunt growth and cause lifelong pain, problems and imbalance. A medical examination should be given to determine if an athlete has finished growing.

Some professional football players begin competitive football in full helmets and pads at a young age before they finish growing. Even if they're careful and follow the rules, debilitating injuries can occur and health problems can develop later in life. Every play is a serious risk.

Parents should avoid putting their children in spine-jarring situations until the spine is finished growing. Football is a competitive field, but if everyone played by the same rules, it would be safer, smarter and still offer equal opportunities.