When Mr. Alipour didn't return home that night, his parents began to worry. All day, they had heard gunshots ringing in the distance. His father, Yousef, first called his fiancée and friends. No one had heard from him.



At the crack of dawn, his father began searching at police stations, then hospitals and then the morgue.



Upon learning of his son's death, the elder Mr. Alipour was told the family had to pay an equivalent of $3,000 as a "bullet fee"—a fee for the bullet used by security forces—before taking the body back, relatives said.



Mr. Alipour told officials that his entire possessions wouldn't amount to $3,000, arguing they should waive the fee because he is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war. According to relatives, morgue officials finally agreed, but demanded that the family do no funeral or burial in Tehran. Kaveh Alipour's body was quietly transported to the city of Rasht, where there is family.

Quote by Scoopster:

I have a bone to pick.. on the new tobacco bill.



First off, the big new rule about flavorings applies only to cigarettes and components of cigarettes. Not flavored cigars or cigar wraps that are popular for rolling up some weed. Not flavored pipe tobacco that my grandpa used to always smoke. Not the mini-cigars like Capones that have cognac flavored wrappers. Hell they don't even apply the no-flavor rule to fuckin' chewing tobacco which is FAR more dangerous than cigs in the short run.



In other words, this bill does next to nothing to address the issue of flavored tobacco products other than eliminate most foreign competition ESPECIALLY Djarum, an Indonesian company. As far as I know, the ONLY US-made brand that has fruit or spice-flavored cigs that will be impacted by this is Camel (#9s & their turkish/arabic blends).



Also, I smoke cloves exclusively now. Not all the time - it's a kind of stop-n-go thing. I can't stand the taste of regular cigs and menthols are too buzzy. You don't usually find cloves at a gas station either - you have to go to a specialty store, package store or cigar/tobacco shop. They're already a couple bucks more per pack than other cigs because they're imported. And aside from the trendy younger crowd, the only people who regularly smoke them are connossieurs who like the taste, foreigners or naturalized citizens (particulary from Asia or the Middle East), or those with such foreign heritage. Why not just limit their sale to cigar shops, which are already kinda rare and usually a lot more serious about their clientelle?



This is a gift to Big Tobacco, nothing less. They don't give a shit if they can't market light cigs or those nasty neon-pink Camels anymore - they'll have more people to smoke Marlboro Reds and Newports.

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Scoopster:

I have a bone to pick.. on the new tobacco bill.



First off, the big new rule about flavorings applies only to cigarettes and components of cigarettes. Not flavored cigars or cigar wraps that are popular for rolling up some weed. Not flavored pipe tobacco that my grandpa used to always smoke. Not the mini-cigars like Capones that have cognac flavored wrappers. Hell they don't even apply the no-flavor rule to fuckin' chewing tobacco which is FAR more dangerous than cigs in the short run.



In other words, this bill does next to nothing to address the issue of flavored tobacco products other than eliminate most foreign competition ESPECIALLY Djarum, an Indonesian company. As far as I know, the ONLY US-made brand that has fruit or spice-flavored cigs that will be impacted by this is Camel (#9s & their turkish/arabic blends).



Also, I smoke cloves exclusively now. Not all the time - it's a kind of stop-n-go thing. I can't stand the taste of regular cigs and menthols are too buzzy. You don't usually find cloves at a gas station either - you have to go to a specialty store, package store or cigar/tobacco shop. They're already a couple bucks more per pack than other cigs because they're imported. And aside from the trendy younger crowd, the only people who regularly smoke them are connossieurs who like the taste, foreigners or naturalized citizens (particulary from Asia or the Middle East), or those with such foreign heritage. Why not just limit their sale to cigar shops, which are already kinda rare and usually a lot more serious about their clientelle?



This is a gift to Big Tobacco, nothing less. They don't give a shit if they can't market light cigs or those nasty neon-pink Camels anymore - they'll have more people to smoke Marlboro Reds and Newports.

You have a very interesting point there Scoop. I didn't know those details.

Quote by clintster:

Thankees. I thought about doing something vet related, but 1) Tri does it so much better, and 2) the Runaway Gov pinata was hanging too low for me to resist.

Quote by velveeta jones:

Morning all.



What is the world coming to? Jon and Kate? Aunt Azalea 'splained them to me this morning. Its just the typical man making babies then whining that he is missing out on his life: "gotta go"





Checking on my DC buddies. Mala? Hope and pray that this doesn't turn out as bad as they are saying.

Quote by Scoopster:

I have a bone to pick.. on the new tobacco bill.



First off, the big new rule about flavorings applies only to cigarettes and components of cigarettes. Not flavored cigars or cigar wraps that are popular for rolling up some weed. Not flavored pipe tobacco that my grandpa used to always smoke. Not the mini-cigars like Capones that have cognac flavored wrappers. Hell they don't even apply the no-flavor rule to fuckin' chewing tobacco which is FAR more dangerous than cigs in the short run.



In other words, this bill does next to nothing to address the issue of flavored tobacco products other than eliminate most foreign competition ESPECIALLY Djarum, an Indonesian company. As far as I know, the ONLY US-made brand that has fruit or spice-flavored cigs that will be impacted by this is Camel (#9s & their turkish/arabic blends).



Also, I smoke cloves exclusively now. Not all the time - it's a kind of stop-n-go thing. I can't stand the taste of regular cigs and menthols are too buzzy. You don't usually find cloves at a gas station either - you have to go to a specialty store, package store or cigar/tobacco shop. They're already a couple bucks more per pack than other cigs because they're imported. And aside from the trendy younger crowd, the only people who regularly smoke them are connossieurs who like the taste, foreigners or naturalized citizens (particulary from Asia or the Middle East), or those with such foreign heritage. Why not just limit their sale to cigar shops, which are already kinda rare and usually a lot more serious about their clientelle?



This is a gift to Big Tobacco, nothing less. They don't give a shit if they can't market light cigs or those nasty neon-pink Camels anymore - they'll have more people to smoke Marlboro Reds and Newports.

Quote by clintster:

Ahhhh, so Runaway Gov likee the federally funded Appalachian Trail, the stimulus funds to keep it going... not so much.

Quote by wickedpam:

Opinions - should I twit this response to -



johnboehnerFive months after passing the trillion-dollar "stimulus," where are the jobs? http://is.gd/1adZK







@johnboehner Its only been 5 MONTHS. you are expecting to get back all the jobs that were lost in 8 years?

Quote by livingonli:

Damn KTLK stream seems to be wigging out today.

Quote by wickedpam:

Opinions - should I twit this response to -



johnboehnerFive months after passing the trillion-dollar "stimulus," where are the jobs? http://is.gd/1adZK







@johnboehner Its only been 5 MONTHS. you are expecting to get back all the jobs that were lost in 8 years?

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by velveeta jones:

Quote by wickedpam:

Opinions - should I twit this response to -



johnboehnerFive months after passing the trillion-dollar "stimulus," where are the jobs? http://is.gd/1adZK







@johnboehner Its only been 5 MONTHS. you are expecting to get back all the jobs that were lost in 8 years?

@johnboehner Its only been 5 MONTHS. you are expecting to get back all the jobs that were lost in 8 years during the Republican raping of America?

I agree with the sentiment, might be a little strong for me - I'm a marshmellow remember ;)

Quote by Raine:

How cool is this photo?

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

How cool is this photo?

I raise your cool with an adorable

Quote by Raine:

Just a heads up: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/



Presidential Press Conference at 12:30