- Totally far out, dude. Apparently alcoholics can give up drinking if they take a hit of LSD, which is really rad. Doing LSD may create an entirely new set of problems, but researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology believe a dose of the hallucinogenic drug could be a solution for combating alcoholism following a thorough analysis of studies performed in the 1960s. Lead authors Teri Krebs and Pal-Orjan Johansen examined data from six trials and more than 500 patients and found a "significant beneficial effect" on alcohol abuse, with effects lasting several months after the drug was taken. Why does LSD have a positive effect on alcoholics (along with sending them to a far-out place)? It appears to work by blocking serotonin, which controls functions including perception, behavior, hunger and mood. By reviewing studies done between 1966 and 1970, Krebs and Johansen were able to draw additional conclusions based on recent medical advances. All participants in the studies were in alcohol treatment programs, but some were given a single dose of LSD of between 210 and 800 micrograms. In the group of patients taking LSD, 59 percent showed reduced levels of alcohol misuse compared with 38 percent in the group that did not receive LSD. "A single dose of LSD has a significant beneficial effect on alcohol misuse," the study authors wrote in their report. "Given the evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcoholism, it is puzzling why this treatment approach has been largely overlooked." Puzzling, indeed. Seeing rad colors, flying without leaving the ground and feeling totally trippy is something every alcoholic should be able to enjoy……….
- Everything must go! The Indianapolis Colts are going out of business and everything in their showroom is PRICED TO SELL! No reasonable offer will be refused! Wait…..the Colts aren’t going out of business? Then why the hell are they going fire-sale on their entire organization and cutting ties with anyone and everyone who has been a part of their mostly successful run over the past decade? First, they cut ties with general manager Bill Polian, who had been with the team since 1998, and his son Chris, another team executive. Next, head coach Jim Caldwell, who served on Tony Dungy’s staff before taking over when Dungy retired, was axed. The big shot came Wednesday, when future hall of famer Peyton Manning was cut one day before he was due a $28 million roster bonus for the coming season. In a matter of three months, the architect who built the team into a perennial contender (with the exception of this past season’s 2-14 record with Manning unable to play while recovering from neck surgery) was gone, the head coach was sent packing and the quarterback who almost single-handedly won them a Super Bowl and made the team successful enough to get a new stadium built, a stadium that allowed them to host this year’s Super Bowl, was cut. But wait, there’s more. The Colts followed Manning’s release cut cutting running back Joseph Addai, Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark, safety Melvin Bullitt, linebacker Gary Brackett and backup quarterback Curtis Painter. "These players all made tremendous contributions to the organization and will forever be members of the Colts family," Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a statement. "It's always difficult to make these decisions which the nature of the salary cap requires. Their legacies with the Colts will be forever remembered by the organization, fans and Indianapolis community.” But once again, there’s more. The best remaining player on the roster, Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, is on the trading block. Sources have confirmed that the Colts are fielding telephone calls from teams interested in trading for Freeney, widely accepted as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Why would the Colts trade a dominant pass rusher in his prime? Because Freeney has a $19 million cap number this season and is unwilling to restructure his contract, that’s why. Anyone trading for Freeney may also want to inquire about some of the furniture in the Colts’ offices and some of the video equipment in the team’s meeting rooms because at this point, everything seems to be up for sale………..
- Dammit, this is terrible news. Great traditions at college campuses all around the country are under attack from The Man and by great traditions, we’re obviously talking about the “undie run,” in which hundreds of (usually) liquored-up students gather on campus late at night, strip down and run like fools over a short course. The ass hats in the administration at UCLA canceled their students’ version of the run last year over supposed security concerns because (allegedly) many participants were not UCLA students, as if wanting to come out, get nearly naked and run with some hot sorority girls (and fraternity guys for the ladies) is a terrible thing. But never, ever could anyone have imagined that one of America’s foremost party schools would join this unsavory trend. Arizona State is annually one of the best party schools around, yet the ASU Undie Run is in jeopardy this year because of “security reasons.” Event organizers say school officials are demanding that they beef up security or risk not being allowed to stage the run. Just because 20,000 people showed up to run last year and one slightly violent fight broke out and video of it ended up going viral, now there’s an immense need for increased security? Organizer Natalie Fleming wisely pointed out one of the many benefits from allowing students to show up, take it off and go for a run. "At the event, students are able to take the shirts off their back and donate it to local charities," she said. Last year’s event was so successful that more than four tons of clothing were donated to local charities. This year there won't be an event unless Fleming and her fellow organizers can raise at least $10,000 to pay for security and other expenses. "It is fair to say it's in danger, we are really working hard to get more sponsorship," she said. Some of the real squares on campus are fine with the run not happening because they argue students could simply donate the clothes without stripping down for a late-night run. Of course, where is the fun in that………….
- Drunk cycling: It’s a problem that affects the whole world. Americans are not the only ones who rides bikes (or lawnmowers) while intoxicated and in the northern German town of Münster, drunk cycling is an issue that can no longer go unchecked. Town officials have taken a stance on citizens who get behind the handlebars while drunk and no longer will these scofflaws get off lightly. From this point forward, anyone caught cycling inebriated faces a ban from bike riding. That’s right, you will no longer be allowed to ride a bike of any kind, your license will be…..wait, cyclists don’t actually need a license, so how will this ban be enforced? Previously, only cyclists with driving licenses were punished for drunk cycling -- their car driving licenses were revoked. After five drunk cyclists died in accidents last year, town leaders decided something must be done. In addition to a cycling ban, those caught violating the law could be fined at least $656, said Martin Schulze-Werner, head of the town public order office. Once a person is cited for biking while intoxicated, they will need to pass a psychological evaluation before being allowed back on the road, similar to drivers banned for drunk driving, in the small town 296 miles west of the capital Berlin. Anyone who underestimates the severity of the problem clearly doesn’t realize that police in Münster stopped 135 cyclists who were over the alcohol limit last year. In the future, drunk bike riders of Münster, just hand the keys to the bike lock to a friend if you know you’re going to drink………
- The sets of Hollywood blockbusters are like CIA missions in terms of the desire of everyone involved to maintain the utmost in secrecy during the production process. Just ask the studio and producers of the final installments of the horrifically-acted, hunky teen vampire “Twilight” series about how difficult it can be to keep plot details quiet. The need for secrecy (and space) was so serious for the producers of the new “Lone Ranger” film starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer that the project will literally have many miles of wide open space all to itself. Producers have spent tens of millions of dollars creating an authentic-looking old west town in the middle of the New Mexico desert, complete with a saloon, a jail and a functioning railway. Images of the set show it to be in the middle of nowhere, literally miles from the nearest signs of civilization. In what could be a recipe for disaster if the film, as so many blockbusters do, goes over budget, the initial budget for the movie is reportedly more than $200 million. Maybe that total includes hiring a team of CIA operatives to maintain a total information blackout on location and ensure that no images or details from the project emerge until producers say so…………
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