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Civil Wars: Gus Kotka, Johnny Reb and Robert E. Lee

8/10/2014

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War Cry Heal Union: The series (7th of 10)
This is the 150th anniversary of US Army, 99th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Private Augustus Kotka’s last day on Earth … as a human, that is. He was killed skirmishing in the siege of Atlanta, 11 August 1864; it wasn’t a battle day ~ just one of those days. Kotka’s spirit is present today and meets with Johnny Reb for the 150th time as they discuss civil wars, Robert E. Lee and Nature.
PictureNowhere Sunrise (2014)




















“Hey Yank,” Johnny Reb said.
“Hey Reb,” answered Augustus Kotka [1833 to 11 August 1864: KIA US Army, Siege of Atlanta].
“Gus, this ain’t Georgia: where we at?”
“This is Nowhere,” Gus replied; “I didn’t feel like meeting there this time.”
“Nowhere’s nice,” Reb noted. “What’s up though? ~ Whatcha’ wanna know?”
“Who got me killed?”
“That’s the same question for 150 years Yank ~ with the same answer ~ you did.”
“No, really, who got me killed?”
“I did then.”
“You always say that ~ this year things are different though.”

PictureNowhere Thistle (2014)
“How so?”
“The Constitution … it should have worked by now.”
“You’re saying it ain’t working Yank?”
“I got killed fighting ‘For’ something, not ‘Against’ you.”
“Fair enough.”
“Right ~ ‘cept fair means both sides think it’s fair: I don’t think a civil war was fair in 1861.”
“You talking Representation?” asked Reb.
“I think so; what do you know?”
“Lots being a Spirit and all.”
“So how’s that make you feel?" asked Gus; "You know, not having Constitutional Representation and having a civil war over slavery and the three fifths clause and not George Washington’s thirty Thousand?”
“George was a Reb," answered Johnny, "and so was Henry “Light-Horse” Lee and his son Robert E. Lee; Virginia produced lots of rebels.”
“Yup ~ and lots of presidents too.”
“Four of the first five,” Reb added, “hey ~ maybe this Nowhere landscape can help us.”
“Okay.”
“Take this thistle here.”
“Ouch.”
“Right Gus ~ the thorns protect flowers so seeds can be made.”
“Okay.”
“And then look at these flowers …”

PictureNowhere Flowering Weeds (2014)
“… Look like weeds to me.”
“Flowering weeds then ~ yet they do it differently; they share space by numbers …”
“… And not thorns.”
“Right.”
“That’s our civil war,” followed Gus, “seems the founders intended something other than thorns; then what happened with Robert E. Lee?”
“Lee missed a great strategic opportunity,” said Reb.
“1862 Antietam? 1863 Gettysburg? Petersburg 1864?”
“No,” Reb assured, “Blair 1861.”
“Right. US General Winfield Scott, his mentor and fellow Virginian, had asked him to help the Union; and then President Abraham Lincoln, through his intermediary, Mr. Blair, offered US Colonel Robert E. Lee a promotion to Major General and command of an army to quell the rebellion.”
“That is so,” added Reb, “April 1861 was Lee’s moment for Civil Greatness.”
“How so?”    
“Try this on and see if it fits; if US Colonel Lee accepts President Lincoln’s offer, he buys the Union, Confederacy and Virginia a much valued commodity: Time. Lee had lots to work with: the prestige of his family, three decades of Union service, and was friends with Confederate President Jefferson Davis.”
“That makes sense.”
“If Lee takes command,” continued Reb, “he could have dawdled, played the newspaper game, or made a move ~ that would have been Civil and Strategic.”
“I see it Reb; it’s like he could have slowed things down, waited … and then what?”
“That is it ain’t it: then what?” pondered Johnny. “The way things were, with the slave states uniting and the non-slave states in turmoil, it’s not clear what would have happened.”
“Okay …”
“Though with his great abilities,” Reb imagined, “perhaps some big meeting with him and Jeff Davis in Fredericksburg Virginia.”
“Nice imagination Reb.”
“Thanks ~ it’s a fun thought that might have saved your life Gus.”
“And lots of Johnnies.”
“For sure ~ Lee would have had the loyalty of the Union and kinship with the rebellion at his hands; Lincoln would have looked like he needed Lee to make peace, and he probably did.”
“Interesting theory Reb …”
“Then see, Lee is a national hero,” Reb mused, “and he becomes President in 1864 ~ elected by the Union he saved.”
“You’re out there now Reb …”
“Not too far though,” continued Reb, “as no one expected a Nobody like Grant to become president.”
“Lee wasn’t into politics,” noted Gus.
“War is politics,” Reb clarified; “I’m just saying with his family name, being a Virginian that saved the Union … well, who knows how Great that might have been."
“Thanks for the line of thinking Reb ~ nice Ponderances.”
“Ponderances ~ I like that ...”

PictureNowhere Sons Up (2014)

Johnny Reb then gave Gus Yank a Spirit speech: “You know Gus, the year 2020, with the decennial Enumeration (census), is a Time for We the People to build the United States of America the founders’ intended ~ and it’ll be even better than theirs because it fulfills their Spirit in a way they couldn’t …”
“… Representing the Unrepresented.”
“Right Gus; if we Represent in 2020, we’d be honoring our Republic by fulfilling the founders’ Constitutional Rebel vision: a House for We the People and a Senate for We the States.”
“Agreed.”
“Sun’s up Gus.”
“Sounds like ‘Sons Up’ Reb.”
“Sure does ~ Whatcha’ say we meet again?”
“Great.”
“Hey,” smarted Reb, “let’s meet ‘Somewhere’ next time.”
“Got a place in mind?” Gus chuckled.
“I do.”
“That’ll be fun ~ peace Reb.”
“Peace Yank ~ and see you again soon … ”
~
Video Adaptation:
Robert E Lee refuses command of the Union Army

*Extra/New WCHU series announcement from Ew Publishing: we’re adding one to the ten in the War Cry Heal Union series (see our 26 May 2014 release). The addition looks at Representing the Unrepresented “Stock of Abraham” via George Washington and the Hebrew Congregation of Rhode Island; it’ll be number 7.5 of 10 in one week, Monday 18 August 2014.
~
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner



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Indiscernible Cannabinoid System Science ~ Publius’ February 2014 Roundup

2/27/2014

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Picture
The Cannabis Papers: A citizen’s guide to cannabinoids (2011)
By Publius 


This roundup links to seven 2014 PubMed articles on cannabinoids modulating other systems in our bodies, such as: the olfactory, endocrine, vanilloid, serotonin, opioid, dopamine, and nervous systems. There’s also a bit of systemic science ~ getting a good night’s sleep.


I. Olfactory System and CS
“Thus, CB1 receptor-dependent control of cortical feedback projections in olfactory circuits couples internal states to perception and behavior.”

The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via olfactory processes.
  Soria-Gómez E, Bellocchio L, Reguero L, Lepousez G, Martin C, Bendahmane M, Ruehle S, Remmers F, Desprez T, Matias I,
  Wiesner T, Cannich A, Nissant A, Wadleigh A, Pape HC, Chiarlone AP, Quarta C, Verrier D, Vincent P, Massa F, Lutz B,
  Guzmán M, Gurden H, Ferreira G, Lledo PM, Grandes P, Marsicano G.
  Nat Neurosci. 2014 Mar;17(3):407-15. doi: 10.1038/nn.3647. Epub 2014 Feb 9.
  PMID: 24509429 [PubMed - in process]

II. Endocrine System (Hypothalamus-pituitary axis) and CS
“Whereas the effect on 3β-HSD was counteracted by SR141716A (Rimonabant) - a selective antagonist of CB1, thus indicating a CB1 dependent modulation - the effect on cyp17 was not, suggesting a possible involvement of receptors other than CB1, probably the type-1 vanilloid receptor (TRPV1), since AEA works as an endocannabinoid and an endovanilloid as well.”

Hypothalamus-pituitary axis: an obligatory target for endocannabinoids to inhibit steroidogenesis in frog testis.
  Chianese R, Ciaramella V, Fasano S, Pierantoni R, Meccariello R.
  Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2014 Feb 21. pii: S0016-6480(14)00053-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.02.010. [Epub ahead of print]
  PMID: 24566122 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

III. Vanilloid System (Schizophrenia) and CS
“Our results indicate that the schizophrenia-like behaviors displayed by SHR [Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats]  are differently altered by cannabinoid and vanilloid drugs when compared to control animals and suggest the endocannabinoid and the vanilloid systems as a potential target for the treatment of schizophrenia.”

Effects of cannabinoid and vanilloid drugs on positive and negative-like symptoms on an animal model of schizophrenia: The SHR strain.
  Almeida V, Peres FF, Levin R, Suiama MA, Calzavara MB, Zuardi AW, Hallak JE, Crippa JA, Abílio VC.
  Schizophr Res. 2014 Feb 17. pii: S0920-9964(14)00062-0. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.01.039. [Epub ahead of print]
  PMID: 24556469 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

IV. Serotonin, Opioid, and Dopamine Systems and CS
“In this review we highlight the evidence for the physiological role of such constitutive GPCR [G protein-coupled receptor]   activity (in particular for cannabinoid 1, serotonin 2C and mu-opioid receptors) in the ventral tegmental area and in its output regions like the nucleus accumbens. We also address the behavioral relevance of constitutive GPCR signaling and discuss the repercussions of its abolition in dopamine-related psychiatric diseases.”

The vital role of constitutive GPCR activity in the mesolimbic dopamine system.
  Meye FJ, Ramakers GM, Adan RA.
  Transl Psychiatry. 2014 Feb 11;4:e361. doi: 10.1038/tp.2013.130.
  PMID: 24518399 [PubMed - in process]

V. Sleep, Systems and CS
“Overall, these findings demonstrate that the EC [Endo-Cannabinoid] system actively regulates cortical up-states and important features of NREM sleep such as its duration and low frequency cortical oscillations.”

Endocannabinoid Modulation of Cortical Up-States and NREM Sleep.
  Pava MJ, den Hartog CR, Blanco-Centurion C, Shiromani PJ, Woodward JJ.
  PLoS One. 2014 Feb 10;9(2):e88672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088672. eCollection 2014.
  PMID: 24520411 [PubMed - in process] Free PMC Article

VI. Central Nervous System and CS
“In the present study, we discovered that 2-AG significantly protects CN neurons in culture against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response.”

Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Protects Primary Cultured Neurons Against LPS-Induced Impairments in Rat Caudate Nucleus.
  Lu Y, Peng F, Dong M, Yang H.
  J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]
  PMID: 24510751 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

VII. Nervous System (Alzheimer’s/Dementia) and CS
“The altered CB1 levels appear, rather, to be age-and/or pathology-dependent, indicating an involvement of the endocannabinoid system in AD pathology and supporting the ECS as a potential novel therapeutic target for treatment of AD.”

Altered Expression of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
  Bedse G, Romano A, Cianci S, Lavecchia AM, Lorenzo P, Elphick MR, Laferla FM, Vendemiale G, Grillo C, Altieri F, Cassano
  T, Gaetani S.
  J Alzheimers Dis. 2014 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]
  PMID: 24496074 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

~.~
February's Video
What if Cannabinoids in Cannabis Cured Cancer & Other Diseases?

  Posted by bwb.

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Thereafter ~ Part 1, 5a: Ice has an "It" experience

10/26/2013

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Excerpt from thereafter (Or, the crows of Wicker Park)
(2013)
The character “Ice” has an “es” (It (body)) experience
Part 1, 5a

Ice walked from the west-side art loft to downtown; he didn’t leave until 5:30 p.m., so he got downtown around 9:00. It was a beautiful evening; his trip took him to “Center-Camp” (Wicker Park’s six-corners) for a cup of coffee, down Milwaukee Avenue to Blommer’s chocolate factory, then east on Kinzie Street, which slopes downhill to railroad tracks, an underpass, and then a bridge over a branch of the Chicago River. That’s where “It” began …

Ice had been thinking of Major Andrew Leitch, KIA 16 September 1776, and how he “needed” Leitch in his life. Ice would get stubborn with the Unknown (overly doubtful Ice could be); the Unknown sent the spirit Leitch to watch his back. It’s a place in Ice’s mind where Leitch is real. Ice thought of how the Quran says if you die fighting in the Unknown’s way (in Allah’s way), you don’t really die. Major Leitch fits that definition: rebel volunteer from Virginia, fighting in New York, and taking three bullets to the chest in the battle called Harlem Heights. The battle is remembered (not all battles are) as the first day the British Redcoats turned and ran from the rebels. Ice was thinking these things and about how Major Leitch never got a homecoming – just like the dead Illinois Vietnam veterans Ice was walking to visit at the downtown memorial. (He goes there to read the engraved names aloud.) Ice also thought of the name of Leitch’s daughter, Sarah; he said her name and even shed a few tears. Ice continued to the memorial and read the names aloud for the last three months of 1967. The last engraved name from ’67 has an asterisk – which means the body didn’t return to Illinois. As Ice finished his ritual a family approached the wall and fountain – the father splashed the children with water and the mother told them to stop. Classic. Ice imagines/sees the dead vets sitting on the terraced grass as the family plays. He has a thought of soldiers seeing their deaths in meaning – a peaceful death dream. Ice leaves the memorial and heads-up to see the statue of George Washington (Leitch’s commanding officer, the one who ordered him into battle and to his death), and then back on the trail home. Ice has thoughts of walking to the House of Blues to see if anything is happening; the thought had been on his mind and he even looked for the bridge on his way to the memorial. He walks several blocks to find the bridge to the House of Blues. Upon finding it he notices some activity; two hippies are on the bridge, as well as two “moderates” standing to the side and talking on cells. The hippies are frantic and something is wrong; the male hippy, in brown dreads, is waving his hands over his head and exhibiting all the signs of a crazy hippy (which won’t work for long in downtown Chicago). The female hippy is pleading for her friend to calm down, but he can’t. Ice approaches and decides to get involved; he catches a glimpse of her eyes – “Hey, can I help?”

The woman spins and is bewildered.

“What’s up?” Ice asked.

“He’s having a diabetic low!” she rushed, “He doesn’t know what he’s doing!”

“I have a cookie – a cannabis cookie?”

“Great!” was her response.

Ice pulled a bag of cookies from his cargo-pocket and gave her one; the woman took the cookie and grabbed her friend by the arm – “Here Michael! Eat this!” Michael stopped waving his arms and paused. He looked at her, the cookie, Ice, and then grabbed the cookie; he tossed it into his mouth and took-off toward the House of Blues – once again waving his arms, screaming in agony and pulling his dreads. The woman began after him; Ice said go and that he’d watch the bags.

“Michael! – Michael!” she yelled as she nodded yes to Ice. He waited on the bridge for a couple of minutes. He thought of the moment, how he had thought the hippy was freaking out from a drug – just hadn’t thought it would be sugar. The woman returned without Michael. She tells Ice Michael’s run-off and she should follow him, that they’re in from out of town and Michael is embarrassed to take his insulin in public. Ice and the woman pick-up the bags and cross the bridge to the House of Blues.

She asks his name: “Ice,” he says.

“Sarah,” she replies.

(Ice learned that day just how fast It happens: from Sarah Leitch to “Sarah on the bridge.”)

The two walked down to Kinzie and then Michael found them; he was shaken but no longer ranting and raving. He remembered Ice and the cookie and thanked him for it. The three parted ways, with Ice walking west on Kinzie to the chocolate factory – that’s when he remembered he had been crying shortly before about a woman named Sarah he had never met – Major Andrew Leitch’s daughter Sarah.

Thereafter (2013)

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    Author

    Brickner has a 1997 political science doctorate from Purdue University, cofounded Illinois NORML in 2001, and was a 2007 National NORML Cannabis Advocate Awardee. He is also publisher and coauthor of the 2011 book banned by the Illinois Department of Corrections – The Cannabis Papers: A Citizen’s Guide to Cannabinoids.

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