Hello Tyler,
Thanks for supporting NORML and having a keen interest in NORMLs longstanding pro-reform advocacy efforts. Since 1970, NORML (and later, the NORML Foundation) assists the victims of cannabis prohibition as well as representing the interests and concerns of the tens of millions of Americans who responsibly consume cannabis.
THANK YOU, thank you very much for serving the US’ armed forces, especially serving in Iraq!
NORML Foundation’s TV ad campaign (and the donation meter that went with it) ended after April 20th, after nearly 8,000 TV ads were purchased with the $16,000 donated from NORML supporters such as yourself. Thanks again!
Approximately $2,000 in donations earmarked for ‘NORML TV ad campaign’ are escrowed for the next promotional ad campaign.
Your email and suggestion remind me of the need to send the membership/blog post about NORML’s ‘4/20’ ad campaign, its cost, reach and results. Please look for the report to be posted this week to NORML’s frontpage blog.
Tyler, education, legislation and litigation, none of it in support of reform is made possible without the support of stakeholders like you.
Kind regards and be safe in Iraq,
Allen St. Pierre
Executive Director
NORML/NORML Foundation
1600 K St., NW
Suite 501
Washington, D.C. 20006
www.norml.org
director@norml.org

2:06 AM, Tyler D. wrote:
Hey Allen,
My name is Tyler D., and I support NORML and what it stands for. Im from Louisiana, the land of constriction, and Im currently in Iraq. Im sending money to NORML, and buying things like my hemp daypack, tee shirts, and others. I send emails to the folks back home to be active, as well as the Governor, senators, and representatives. I want to know how far away we are from our goal of hitting mainstream commercials for NORML? I mean, it sounds all good and well, but give me an idea… Can you put a temperature bulb on the site somewhere that shows how close we actually are to seeing sense on television? I’d love to see advertisements go mainstream, as would a lot of others, but if there’s a large void, it would give me more incentive to give. If there wasn’t much left, then I would be excited to be that close. It’s a win/win. Just a thought…
Peace sir,
Tyler D.

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by David Stabler

Chris Horner walks his bike to the end of his driveway, swings a leg over the saddle and pushes off. The three-time national road racing champion and professional puller of men up mountains pedals out of the cul-de-sac, past desert-colored houses with toys in driveways and garden hoses on lawns. An easy, neighborhood ride, a ride he's done a hundred times.

Two weeks ago, it would have been impossible.

This is a test, the first time that Horner has ridden a bike since he crashed 6,000 miles away at the Giro d'Italia. He's been holed up at home in Bend, willing a hairline leg fracture to heal. Now, he has a month before the leg needs to support not only its owner, but also the best bike racing team in the world heading into one of sports' most grueling events: the Tour de France. But all that hinges on a phone call that could come as early as Sunday.

In his early 30s, he dominated U.S. road cycling, winning everything in sight. But he struggled in Europe, returned to the States, won more races and now, at the antique age of 37, he's making his second assault on Europe. To everyone's surprise, including his own, he's peaking on the Astana team, riding alongside seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador.

"My form keeps getting better and better," Horner says, explaining his late-career surge. "I'm enjoying racing more than I ever have."

Johan Bruyneel, Astana's team director, put it more plainly on his blog after Horner broke his leg in the Giro. "Chris is a big talent and really can do anything asked -- chase on the flats, go up the climbs with the leaders, provide good morale and team atmosphere, etc. If he recovers nicely, he'll definitely be a strong candidate for the Tour team. Simply put -- he's the type of guy you want to take with you to war!"

If he recovers nicely.

Horner has been riding well for the team this year, but he doesn't yet know if he'll make the final cut for the Tour. He's thought to be the only Oregonian to ride the fabled race, which he's done three times, but never on a team like this. And while he is on the strongest team, he still has to fight for one of just nine spots on the Astana squad that will start the Tour in Monaco on July 4.

With the clock ticking, can he recover his racing form at home, a place he comes back to between every race, but also the place with the most distractions?

"You're only as good as your last race," says Horner, who turned pro in 1995. At the advanced age of 37, he's still peaking. "I enjoy racing more than I ever have."

When he's in Bend, Horner is a fulltime dad to Aarika, 11, Kali, 9 and Garrett, 7. That means backing the bike training down to three or four hours a day instead of five or six. It means waking up the kids at 6:30 a.m., making breakfast and driving them to school. Squeezing training rides in before picking them up again. Then homework, dinner, showers, bed.

Born in San Diego, Horner has lived in Bend for the past nine years. He chose the high-desert town because it has what he wants: a kid-friendly lifestyle, good rides at altitude, decent weather and a degree of anonymity.

Racers turn self-absorption into an art form, but instead of the typical pattern of all-day training and recovery (stretching, massage, napping, noshing, lying around) Horner is spending Saturday afternoon jumping up and down on the reluctant kickstarter of Aarika's motocross bike in the middle of the desert.

Horner is a racer, but he's also a dad, so the sacrifices come on both sides. Between training camp in January and the end of racing season in October, he's away from home for weeks at a time. When he's gone, the kids stay with their mom across town.

"The sacrifices are huge," he says. "You don't get to see your kids. You don't get to see your girlfriend. The kids are the funniest thing because you get to the end of the driveway and you already miss them. When you come back home from a race, they're the first thing that gives you a headache."

Horner runs all the scenarios in his head. He's one of the world's top climbers -- light, wiry, inexhaustible -- which makes him invaluable in helping either Contador, who is favored to win this year, or Armstrong, who has defined his career by dominating this race. But will his leg hold up over three weeks, 2,200 miles and climbing the equivalent of three Everests?

He can't imagine he won't get the call.

"In May, you think about the Tour every day," he says. "In June, you think about it every minute."

10 on the pain scale

Horner bends all the stereotypes of an elite cyclist. He's one of the oldest racers at the front of the pack. A single dad. Owns two trucks. Inhales junk food like a teenager. Lives in Bend instead of cycle-mad Europe.

"He's one of the smartest bike racers out there," says Levi Leipheimer, an Astana teammate who is a close friend and is among the strongest American riders expected to be in the Tour this year.

"He's very strong, a versatile rider. He can be there in the mountains, he can be there in the sprints. He's great at a lot of things."

Last week, Horner, Leipheimer and Armstrong got in some high-altitude training in Aspen, Colo. Leipheimer said Horner was riding well. "He's taking great care of himself. Still skinny. He's in the process of recovering. I don't think he's that far off."

In big races, Horner yanks Leipheimer and other teammates up the Alps and the Dolomites, cutting their wind resistance and preventing breakaways by other teams. He's a rider who sacrifices his own glory for the good of the team. He has no aspirations to win the Tour himself.

"I don't work on sprints in my training because I know that's never going to be what feeds the munchkins," he says. "So, you want to pay the bills? You gotta work on what you're good at, and that's climbing. They're paying me to climb well."

On a bike, Horner looks steely, coiled. The muscles on his pencil legs undulate under his skin like cables. At home, he's animated, talkative, easy to like. He has a boyish laugh and chats easily about trucks, bikes, diets, raising three high-spirited kids and retirement. A farmer's tan brings out the freckles on his arms and legs.

But racing requires mental and physical toughness beyond imagining. Even in a sport where crashing is common, Horner's season has been a brutal trade between injury and success. His three major goals this year were to ride in the Tour of California, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. In February, he injured a knee in a crash at the Tour of California. Then, four days back into racing in April, he crashed in the Tour of Basque Country in Spain, fracturing a shoulder and a few ribs.

Still, he was "smokin'" when he arrived at the Giro last month, one of cycling's three Grand Tours, like pro golf's four major tournaments. The Giro is every bit as challenging as the Tour, but it's more dangerous. So dangerous that Armstrong and others protested one of the stages this year.

Halfway through it, Horner, who was in 11th place in the overall standings, was near the front of the peloton, rounding a downhill curve at 40 mph. Suddenly, two riders in front of him went down. He swerved to avoid them, but the turn was too tight and he slammed into the hillside, hitting his head, left knee and a still-sore shoulder.

On a scale from one to 10, the pain was a 10, he says.

But pros don't quit when they crash. If they can't finish a stage, they're out of the race, so Horner got back on his bike. His left leg hurt like a charley horse, but for the next 115 miles, he raced on, relying on his right leg for 70 percent of his power.

His doctor, who has treated plenty of Horner's injuries, was stunned after diagnosing him back in the States. "I cannot believe you finished the race after the injury by riding 100 more miles," Dr. Allen Richburg wrote to him in an e-mail.

Horner downplays his toughness.

"You live your whole career to do races like that. You always crash, but if you can still pedal and get a good night's sleep, you'll probably heal up OK."

He didn't. The next morning, he couldn't even stand on the leg.

"Redneck"

There's nothing unusual about the gray, single-story house Horner rents in Bend for $800 a month. Until you look in the garage. You'd expect a couple of bikes, but 21? Some of them belong to his kids and his girlfriend, Megan Elliott, 27, a former national road champion herself. Still, it looks like an REI sale: road bikes, mountain bikes, a lemon-yellow time-trial bike, motocross bikes, gear bags, wheels, tools, bike stands and an air compressor cover the floor and walls.

All the stuff -- plus a rental house in Spain and one he's buying in San Diego -- suggests he's well paid (he won't say how well), but it leaves no room for his Chevy Silverado 3500 crewcab, the one with dually wheels that gets 17 miles per gallon.

"I love that truck," Horner says. "That's my baby. She's my big booty girl."

He also owns another truck and three cars, prompting Armstrong to nickname him "Redneck." He and Armstrong also joke about their ages, but Horner is quick to point out that the other guy is one month older, making them the two senior citizens on Astana.

Horner may be the only redneck who shaves his legs.

And keeps breaking the same bones.

"He has the worst luck," says Elliott, who's been with Horner for almost four years. "But he always bounces back."

For a lot of cyclists, often younger racers, setbacks can seem like the end of the world. Not Horner. "Maybe the rest of the day he's bummed," Elliott says, "but already, he's looking forward to the next race, the next opportunity."

At 5-foot-11, Horner is tall for a racer, but he weighs a mere 140 pounds, the lightest he's been as a professional. Astana lists him as 154, but while recovering from this year's injuries, he began a strict diet to lose weight so he could climb faster. He consumed just 2,000 calories a day -- less than prisoners in Texas get. Breakfast was tea and toast.

"I can't train any harder," he says. "I'm at the max of what the body can handle. I've tried everything else and this is the only thing left."

Elliott, who just finished her first year in law school in San Diego, is his unofficial nutritionist, and doesn't worry about him sacrificing power in the name of shedding weight. "He's good at reading his body," she says.

Now back on the bike, he's doubled the calories. He'll increase that to 6,000 to 6,500 a day for races, but he earns his Belgian nickname honestly. They call him "Snickers man." Amateur riders, hide your eyes: Before a 50-mile ride, he downed a Dr Pepper and a chocolate chip cookie.

Dad duty

Trouble. The instant Horner walks in the door from that 50-miler, he finds Kali with her head down on the kitchen counter. Elliott put her in a timeout for going to the park by herself, a big no-no. When she sees Dad, she bursts into tears.

Still sweaty from the ride, Dad sends her to her room, telling her that she can't have her allowance and can't motocross with the family that afternoon.

"And I was thinking about getting you a new bike tomorrow," he says. "That's not going to happen."

Horner is a hands-on dad, says Elliott, who met him when they raced on the same pro team. "It's funny, he's an optimist. He always assumes the best in his kids. He adores his kids, but sometimes, I have to pull him back to reality. They're still kids, they're not perfect. When he's gone, he worries about them, maybe their lives aren't that stable. They're the one area of his life that he sacrifices the most for."

Later that afternoon, just as he promised, Dad drives the kids 25 miles into the desert for an hour of motocross. As her siblings buzz back and forth, Kali entertains herself by gathering colored rocks. Horner's eyes never leave Aarika and Garrett, who zip expertly up and down the jumps.

"That bike's getting too small for him," he observes. And Aarika needs new motocross pants. The kids are growing.

People ask him about retirement all the time, he says. Someday, he might coach, direct a team, do commentary or get into sales and marketing. But not yet. "I think a lot of people retire a little bit before they need to. Most people retire more because where they're at mentally than where they're at physically. Look at Lance. I'll push it off as long as I can."

So, for now, he attacks another climb on Mount Bachelor. With the wind in his face and views of forest and mountain rolling to the horizon, the uncertainties fall away. His legs are strong, the pace is fast, the road is smooth.

"There's no reason to panic," he says.

And no reason to doubt he'll get the call -- the one he's sacrificed so much for -- this week.

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The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists has its 53rd annual convention in Seattle this year and Jack is attending. He'll be back Monday with this week's caption cartoon. It's Independence Day weekend and its all about freedom so submit whatever fireworks you wish in whatever form that suits you. Remember, they can light up the sky or blow your fingers off.

Welcome to The Oregonian's caption contest. Here's how it works:
The Oregonian's award-winning editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman draws a cartoon.
You supply the proposed captions by selecting "Post a comment" below. (Full directions after the jump.)
Editors pick the finalists and you vote for the best idea. The winner receives a signed ink drawing of the completed cartoon.

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Prada Man. Prada for Men has a very masculine scent, not too overbearing like some mens fragrances.
Notes: Vanilla and SandalWood
I honestly cant choose between the other because both fragrances have managed to make a long term impression on me. I give Prada credit for creating two great colognes for men. In my opinion, both Infusion D Homme and Prada Man have potential to become classic fragrances. If youre serious need of an update in the fragrance department, then these two colognes are just what you need. Dont miss out!
Infusion D Homme Gift Set :
3.4 oz. Eau De Toilette Spray
3.4 oz After Shave Balm
Prada Man Gift Set:
3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray
3.

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When Islander Keith Dameron entered “Scams Senior Citizens” on a Google search recently, he received 454,000 listings within one second. “There seems to be no end to the crafty creativity of scammers when it comes to employing scams for their most vulnerable targets…seniors,” Dameron said. “It’s today’s reality but awareness can make all the difference in thwarting it.”
Thankfully, protecting oneself is possible through a number of simple actions as Dameron will assure when he presents, Outfoxing the Senior Scam Sham, at Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health, at 7:00 pm on Monday evening, 15 June, 2009. The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are recommended due to space limitations.
“On Monday, June 15, we’re observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at Sanitasole because advocacy and education is what we’re all about,” said Paula Camposano-Robinson RN, Vice President of Clinical Services. “Everyone is encouraged to wear the color purple as a sign of solidarity with our elders. Keith is so attuned to issues that could threaten their safety –especially economically- and we are thrilled to have him as our guest to do this important presentation.”
As Vice President Bank Manager at the Marco Island branch of Orion Bank, Dameron’s affable, statesmanlike presence throughout the community has become his trademark. His presentation will focus on the types of scams that have been and ARE being perpetrated in our area: Sweepstakes’ telephone scams, jury duty scams, lottery scams, ATM devices capturing card information, check fraud, credit card “swiping” devices, work-at-home scams including “mystery shoppers,” pyramid schemes and identity theft.
“While there certainly are other important topics that can be covered, I don’t want to create too much confusion-or fear,” Dameron explained. “By creating greater awareness, the vulnerability factor is reduced considerably.”

What: “Outfoxing the Senior Scam Sham”
Where: Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place of Senior Health
218 South Barfield Drive, Marco Island, Florida 34145
Why: to raise awareness of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
When: Mon. 15 June (6:30 – 7 pm Meet Greet /light refreshments)
Presentation begins promptly at 7 pm
RSVP recommended: 239.389.6100 or email probinson@sanitasole.net
To learn more about the many programs for seniors at Sanitasole, visit www.sanitasole.net.
Background
The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to world-wide prevention of abuse and neglect of older adults.
The United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, April 2002, clearly recognizes the importance of addressing and preventing abuse and neglect of older adults and puts it in the framework of the Universal Human Rights.
INPEA is dedicated to supporting the plan of action. As part of INPEAs research agenda, they launched a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to be held on June 15, 2006.  This project was in partnership and collaboration with interested individuals, agencies, organizations, NGOs, governments and corporations.

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