Welcome to Thunderdome

GORDON wrote:Where'd you learn that Cheech, drug school?

I have a honorary degree from there and I still hold emeritus standing among their faculty. Unlike the fuckwits 2-3 decades ago that decided to pull shit like this.

Because of her role as a middle woman between a cocaine buyer and supplier, Jones was accused of being part of a “drug conspiracy” and should have known that the powder would be converted to crack — triggering a greater penalty.

Her sentence was then made even more severe with a punishment tool introduced at the height of the drug war that allowed judges in certain cases to “enhance” sentences — or make them longer.

Jones was hit with a barrage of “enhancements.”

Her license for a concealed weapon amounted to carrying a gun “in furtherance of a drug conspiracy.”

Enhancement.

When she was convicted on one count of seven, prosecutors said her testimony in her defense had been false and therefore an “obstruction of justice.”

Enhancement.

Although she was neither the supplier nor the buyer, prosecutors described her as a leader in a drug ring.

Enhancement.

That has resulted in this.

The Justice Department is set to release about 6,000 inmates early from prison — the largest ever one-time release of federal prisoners — in an effort to reduce overcrowding and provide relief to drug offenders who received harsh sentences over the past three decades.
...
Federal prison costs represent about one-third of the Justice Department’s $27 billion budget. The U.S. population has grown by about a third since 1980, but the federal prison population has increased by about 800 percent and federal prisons are operating at nearly 40 percent over capacity, Justice officials said.

Drug school provides an incomparable education.

The problem there is that for prosecutors there is no such thing as justice. They don't give a flying shit who actually did what and if it was illegal or not. They only care about winning every case they are given using any means necessary. And the bigger the sentence the bigger their winning score, so tack on everything that can possibly apply.

Criminal court is supposed to be adversarial, sure, but not like this.



Edited By TPRJones on 1444162842

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Ain't seen that flick in forever.

Malcolm wrote:I'll stop jacking

I bet you'll never stop jacking.

TheCatt wrote:

Malcolm wrote:I'll stop jacking

I bet you'll never stop jacking.

Your mom can't stop jacking.

Let's update this one for Stranger. Here are some tips:
1. Gamble downtown (Old Vegas). The corporations are too greedy. They even started paying 6 to 5 on blackjack instead of 3 to 2. Fuck that. That's stealing money out of your pocket. Everything is cheaper downtown.
2. If you're serious about gambling, hit websites run by locals and you'll figure out where the slots really are loose. I had heard the Palace Station, which is off the strip by a couple of minutes and on the way to Capo's, is where locals go. That would indicate it's where you should gamble as the slots will be the loosest there.
3. Eat the sea bass at Tao's in the Venetian.
4. Eat at Capo's Speakeasy. It's a 10 minute ride away from the strip, but it's worth it.
5. Weed is legal, but your hotel won't help you get it. Also, don't expect to be able to vape or blaze in the casino. That's a no-no still.
6. Wheel of Fortune is still the best slot machine, but it's hard to find the right one. You want the $.25 a line machine that does 5 lines and still has physical wheels. Electronic slot machines suck.
7. Some of the best people watching occurs just walking around the strip.
8. The Fuel Bar sits in front of Wahlburgers. You can get 2 for 1 drinks there. There is a story...
9. The Rock House (I think that's what it's called) sits in The Venetian and they have karaoke with a live band. Yes, you singing whatever song and a live band playing it while you sing.
10. Buddy's bakery is right around the corner selling his "world famous" canollis and other things. The line is usually super long. Here's the thing: They suck. Mass produced, overhyped trash.

For 5. Don’t know where you are staying, but I’ve been to Reef and Planet 13 which are near the north end of the strip. Off the strip about. To 15 minutes walk. Reef was first, but Planet 13 is fancier. They scan your Id, and there is a purchase limit, but you probably won’t hit it if there for only a few days. I bought 20 10mg gummies without issue. I don’t like to smoke, just edibles.

Hah, looked on the map. Reef and Planet 13 are on the same block as Spearmint Rhino, a semi-famous strip club. One-stop debauchery shop :p

Also right behind the Trump Tower; so it's probably The Best Weed and Strippers.

thibodeaux wrote: Hah, looked on the map. Reef and Planet 13 are on the same block as Spearmint Rhino, a semi-famous strip club. One-stop debauchery shop :p

Also right behind the Trump Tower; so it's probably The Best Weed and Strippers.

Never been to the Rhino, but hey, I'll be back in December, so who knows.

Also, there's a sex museum abblock away too

[quote="TheCatt"] I'll be back in December, so who knows./quote]

Re:Invent again? Yogi Berra-style, we pretty much stopped going: it's too crowded.

thibodeaux wrote:

TheCatt wrote: I'll be back in December, so who knows./quote]

Re:Invent again? Yogi Berra-style, we pretty much stopped going: it's too crowded.

Yep. Trying to get my wife to come with this time.

I'll go every year. It's like technology Christmas, with free food + drinks.

For me the main purpose of Vegas is a convenient airport for good hiking and stuff.

GORDON wrote: For me the main purpose of Vegas is a convenient airport for good hiking and stuff.

A couple of friends are planning to hike post-conference, and invited me. We'll see.

I guess if work was paying for it, I'd go. But we only get one trip a year and I already blew it on something else :/

thibodeaux wrote: I guess if work was paying for it, I'd go. But we only get one trip a year and I already blew it on something else :/

Which one? AWS is about the thing relevant to what I do. Unless I went to some crappy python convention.