Calls for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana grew louder this week, coming from a highly unlikely group: the police. In a 180-degree shift in position, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents, along with police chiefs and elected sheriffs from around the state announced their support for the legalization and taxation of marijuana.

“Weed is good.  Weed is right.  Weed works,” said Dorchester County Sheriff B.D. Squire, spokesman for the group. The change comes after calculating how much tax revenue could be produced by legalizing marijuana.

“There was a half-million dollar bust a couple weeks ago in Berkely County,” said state Agriculture Secretary Hugh Weathers, “if that pot was taxed at anything near the rate of tobacco… well that would be about $500 million straight into the state coffers. Can you imagine what kind of income we’d pull in if it was planted on proper farms and not just in little patches in the woods? We wouldn’t be having a ’stimulus’ debate because we wouldn’t need the money.”

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If you’ve ever had an interaction with the police, you know how frustrating it is to be completely helpless from their bullsh*t power – especially when they’re arresting and won’t tell you why. So I completely understand this weird nerd’s pleas. His singing, I don’t quite get. But whatever – he makes up for that entirely after getting Tazered, then getting away! It’s awesome.

Growing up I was such a huge fan of the show “COPS.” High paced action, guns drawn, street fights, hookers dressed in neon leotards getting nailed turning tricks, hilarious down and out crack heads trying to talk the cops out of bringing them “downtown,” sweet adrenalin fueled police brutality and how about the theme song – the show was f**king genius.

Well now “COPS” is back! Kind of. MTV’s BUSTED takes the “COPS” formula and applies it to your favorite major college campuses across the country. (more…)

We are nearing the point where a Josh Howard for Ron Artest swap would have been a character upgrade for the Mavs.

In a recent YouTube video, Josh Howard was filmed at Allen Iverson’s charity flag football game in July ‘voicing out his true colors’ during the American National Anthem.

When the camera panned to the direction of the recently extremely-troubled Maverick small forward, he states, ” ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is going on. I don’t celebrate this [expletive]. I’m black.”  He then goes on to make a comment about Barack Obama.

This was first reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, and has allegedly been ‘handled’ already by Dallas owner Mark Cuban by means of “communication-skill sessions” during camp in upcoming weeks.

Add this to his admission to marijuana use and his arrest for speeding and reckless driving in North Carolina, and now the Mavs are biting their hands when they realize that they probably could have landed defensive menace Artest from the Kings in exchange for Howard.

Who would have ever thought that Artest would ever be the better character guy in a one-for-one swap in any NBA trade?  The Mavs certainly didn’t think so at the beginning of the summer, but now they might be starting to change their mind.

(Image: D210.tv)

The Internet’s favorite pastime is judging anything and everything, from music and tattoos to girlfriends and professors. So it was only a matter of time that armchair critics took the law into their own hands, and Rate My Cop fills that gap, however suspect the idea is.

Rate My Cop rates various police forces around the country from best to worst, according to users who submitted their scores. In practice, it’s no different than rating a professor – praise the best, bash the worst – but when does our need for judging go over the limit? (more…)

• Recent studies show that it’s the lack of exercise, not body fat, that’s unhealthy.

• Experts break down the health pros and cons of drinking.

• Disappearing man reappears five years later, claiming amnesia when arrested for fraud.

• A gasoline tanker explodes in Everett, Massachusetts, leaving cars and buildings ablaze.

• Burglars in East Kansas City, Missouri make a big mistake when they unknowingly break into a police officer’s home.

VIDEO/AUDIO: Not only did the Indianapolis Colts lose against the New England Patriots 24-20 but they also used Milli-Vanilli-esque fake crowd noise…caught on video/audio.

NPR launches its snazzy new music site with great success!

A bonafide shocker: women smell better when they’re ovulating.

How many points does one get in Buck Hunter for this gem?

Cops stumble upon a marijuana wonderland (and the owners of said wonderland) when searching for missing hikers.

Guy in Australia gets charged for DUI. Three times. In 24 hours.

Joey Bishop, the last living member of the Rat Pack, died today at 89. Don’t worry, Joey – heaven will be waiting with martinis, lounge music and broads upon your arrival. (Yahoo)

Hannah Montana tour tickets are in demand; Ticketmaster blames demand on brokers for reselling tickets at over twice their original value (front row for $2500 a pop). That’s insane…Hannah Montana tickets are in demand? Who the f*** is Hannah Montana? (College Candy)

This guy is taking cat naps to a whole new level. (Daily Mail UK)

In the event that a cop pulls you over, pull out your ID…not hashish. (Gulf Daily News)

Cigarettes taxed more to reduce sales of cigarettes to impressionable youth. (CNS News)

Man finds $100K in attic, ends up fighting cops, widow, demon inside him that says “f*** it all, move to Fiji and marry a hot Sweden chick.” (Sun Sentinel)

Damn! Teachers really are horny these days – do any of them have the decency to keep their cream-colored pantsuits from TJ Maxx on? (MSN News)

Baby’s first sleepover: a day care in Canada, like, totally forgot that a 3-year-old was inside, so they locked her in overnight. (Edmonton Sun)

When the Big Cheese teaches the Little Cheese, it’s turns out rotten. (Gawker)

“11 Things to Do When You’re in Traffic Gridlock” (SF Gate)

Jones Soda presents: Dirt and Sweat Soda. Seriously. (BusinessWeek)

Britney Spears VMA comeback will include hordes of dancers zipping around in harnesses mid-air and a “Disappearing Act” through a set of mirrors courtesy of magician Criss Angel. It’s great to see Spears back in music. (NY Daily News)

Two bozos busted by cops over sketchy marijuana broccoli exchange. Apparently, oregano was out of stock at the local supermarket. (The Morning Call)

IBM is developing a chip no bigger than a speck of dust that can hold about 1,000 trillion bits of data. World domination is only months away! (Information Week)

Forbes releases top crop of the world’s most powerful women. Surprisingly, strippers were omitted from the list. (CNN)