Charlie Clean
Forgive the parochialism, jspun. RA = Republican Army, IRA. Gbh = grievous bodily harm. One UK journalist who met Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams described him as having 'gbh eyes', but prudently kept the comment out of his story.
Hey Louis, Runctions Ian Paisley is a great man.


Thanks for the educating me Charlie.
Ironically, the Catholics were fighting the Protestants during the troubles. I think that the Irish Catholics in Ulster were feeling marginalized, but it seems like the troubles also had an ethnic component. Its my understanding "protestants" were actually settelers from Britain that the crown sent over to Ireland to solidify their hold on the Island.
Anyway, just got back from New York. Its an exciting city but I find myself happy to be back in San Diego- its a beautiful city we live in. I don't know if the program has been stoped but several hundred irish would come here every summer and stay in pacific beach- a place that has alot of young people. I don't know if it was sponsored by the government or some other entity but this program was in place as recently as the summer of 05 or 06.
I saw a nat geo documentary called camp leatherneck about the main USMC base in the Helmand province. On the documentary a few marines standing over dried, previously scared poppy pods stated that its not there mission to go after poppy farmers- in the USAs hearts and minds campaign, farmers are often valuable allies providing infi on IEDs and Taliban movements in exchange for US protection and we all know what the major crop is. I think the UK is worried about the opium crop. I think the USA's worried about the Taliban's share but stamping out opium is not its primary mission. Still Obama's war strategists- MCrystal, Patreus, the former Sec of Def, had opium eradication and crop substitution as part of their "nation building plan," in Bob Woodward's book on the war.
This summer would give every indication of resuming supplies based on reports I hear. London and Brum are probably the Hubs for gear comming in. Don't know if anyone read my first link but its a good model for how the dope market works- its actually an interesting read. I predict it will just take some time to get throughout the markets of the British Isles.
Its kinda Ironic that the Republic of Ireland gained its Independence only to be re joined together to it in effect with the establishment of the EU.
The One region of the British Isles that I haven't seen too much posted about is about the dope scene in Ulster. You would think that it would be bomming in Belfast and Londonderry after years of trauma anyone know about the situation in Ulster? If there was a scene of any note in Belfast?
As for Irish Americans and the War on Drugs- Joseph McNamara, Chief of police in San Jose started out as a cop in NYC. He is of Irish-Ancestery. As I mentioned previously he is a sharp critic of prohibition and the drug war. But what sets him appart is that unlike most of the contemporary critics of the drug war that are ex cops, or ex judges, or ex politicians, he did so at a time when it wasn't fashionable to do so in this country- in the 80s during the 80s years and he had the courage to do so while holding his office. This was even before the Frankfurt Resolution and the Zurich Needle Park experiment which started in 1986. The two other major critics were the mayors of Baltimore and Washington, DC. The latter was marion Barry who unfortunately got taped in an FBI sting smoking crack with Hookers in a Hotel. That kinda effected his credibility alittle but he served a 6 month jail term in the early 90s and was then reelected as mayor of this nations capital for one more term! I think his slogan was "Marion aint perfect but he's perfect for DC."
In Chief McNamaras case is was able to express his views on the drug war and keep his job because there are alot of intelligent people in the bay area (it has the highest concentration of noble prize winners, and i belive pulitzer prize winners of any region in the world. One needs to be easily brainwashed and unable to think for themselves to subscribe to drug prohibitions punitive approach. Conversely, those of us who don't buy into drug propaganda tend to be people capable of creative, independent, and critical thinking.
My wife is of Welsh, English, and "Scotch-Irish" decent. I thought she had Irish blood because of her temper but it turned out that the Scotch-Irish was the name given to the Ulster protestants that moved here. The UDA arent saints either.
But anyway I know that there was plenty of gear throughout Britain in the UK but how was the scene in N. Ireland before the drought. You would think that it would be decent being part of the UK and with the influx of immigrants over the last 10-20 years.
Blondin
london always use to be the best junk city in EU - like you said ive met many spanish,italian junkies here (the spanish are the most hardcore imo) we always seem to have the right balance of price and quality but that was all before the dreaded drought - Im just waiting for the first multi tonne drop to happen then every dealer will be selling proper gear at proper prices cos of tge competition.
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trip 2 the moonI used to argue with a mate about it being a buyer's not a seller's market, so if someone had shite you would move on. I can't believe my argument eventually came back to bite me on the arse...
Based upon what I heard about the drought of 2001 it would seem that after afgahnistan was invaded and the opium started flowing again- growers selling opium at a discount to pay creditors that it became a buyers mountain again in time... by 02' probaly improving through 07'? If thats correct and brown is staring to flow again then it will be a matter of time before things are back to normal. Usally prices take a while to fall- in this country gas prices sometimes stay high even after supplies of petroleum are restored and prices for crude fall. Eventaually enough supply comes in that price wars ensue and the price of petrol falls. The price is high now like 08' but the price ended up being cut in half by the recession it caused. The drought probaly caused a number of users to quit. Less demand when price resumes means more competition for fewer customers hence better price and quality.
unscrupulous dealers will sell bashed over priced gear as long as they can get away with it.
Brimz
You sure it wasn't me ! sounds like me lol!
So your the culprit eh Brimz!


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