He wandered west to cook, and opened his Portland restaurant with a partner in 1994. I favor legalization, and not just of pot but of all drugs, including heroin, cocaine, meth, psychotropics, mushrooms and LSD.Decriminalization, as my colleagues in the drug reform movement hasten to inform me, takes the crime out of using drugs but continues to classify possession and use as a public offense, punishable by fines.I've never understood why adults shouldn't enjoy the same right to use verboten drugs as they have to suck on a Marlboro or knock back a scotch and water.Prohibition of alcohol fell flat on its face. Yet midway through her speech, a handful of protesters -- some of them supporters of the shah monarchy that once ruled Iran -- began yelling, calling her a liar, an apologist, an agent of the Islamic regime.Half a dozen hecklers were escorted out. Joining with other activists, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals complained to City Hall that the method was painful and illegal."Poisons cause immeasurable suffering and prolonged deaths for the animals who ingest them," the group contended.In February 2006, when cited again, the city tried pumping poison gas into the deep burrows where the squirrels live.After more public criticism, City Manager P. "I'm in love with Basquiat's work, the early obscure work in particular I love that innocent thing I'm going to own one, no doubt about it "Passion, he says, is what drives him "Once I get a passion for something, I carry it through. The Wall Street Journal and CNBC reported Monday that Maurice Greenberg would step down as chief executive of the group, as the insurance company attempted to distance itself from several regulatory inquiries.Near-term oil futures settled 52 cents higher at $54.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after climbing as high as $55.05 It was the highest close since Oct 26.

electionsVoter registration has grown over the past half-century, but not voter participation. It stayed there and Miller, who will begin his job as head pro at North Ranch Country Club on Wednesday, found out he made the cut."For about two hours we were just sitting in front of the computer and cheering and going, 'Oh, no!' " Miller said "We were stressed out. We have to just find it from within and get it done."Livingston suffered a dislocated left knee, tore three of four knee ligaments -- anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral -- and cartilage in Monday's victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. BAGHDAD Journalist Steven Vincent collected facts for his stories from the streets of Basra, not from official statements. "Judge Nash has been fantastic," says Judge Emily Stevens, a 15-year veteran of the dependency court. But when I asked Dresslar if, as has been widely assumed, Munitz's actions had led to Gribbon's claims, the spokesman replied (inaccurately but revealingly), "I think we pretty much came out and said that in the report." He added that Munitz had not been asked to compensate the trust for the Gribbon settlement because the expenditure was deemed a "proper" expense of the trust.

Security Council member countries are to meet today to consider a resolution that would press Syria to cooperate more fully in the investigation.The Bush administration has increasingly focused on Syria as a central obstacle to its goals in the region, and wants to use outrage over the assassination to force Damascus to halt the flow of insurgents into Iraq, loosen its grip on neighboring Lebanon and end its support of Islamic militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.But some Arab leaders and other allies say the Syrian government is already fragile and isolated. We huddled under the covers and waited for an errant pin to come hurtling through the bedroom window.That was summer Fall was enough dead leaves to smother a house pet. About three-quarters of the way through "Must Love Dogs," Sarah (Diane Lane) suffers her first big romantic setback, at which point my viewing companion keeled forward and croaked, "Oh my God. Laguna Beach city officials Monday considered more than a dozen proposals for financing reconstruction of the Bluebird Canyon slope where a June 1 landslide destroyed or damaged 20 homes and continues threatening more.Among the revenue-raising proposals aired during the special City Council session were a parcel tax, bond sale and increased sales tax."We have to start thinking creatively," Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider told fellow council members.Although city officials last week managed to free up $1 million for emergency repairs to the collapsed hillside, most believe it will cost about three times that much just to shore up the area in time for next winter's rains."That's a drop in the bucket," City Manager Kenneth C Frank said of the $1 million "That won't get us to Nov 1 ... Memorial donations may be sent to the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club, 2635 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031.. Helena, Calif., vineyard on Zinfandel Lane valued at between $5 million and $25 million. Bernard rushed 40 times and scored two touchdowns in the second half for the Beavers, whose 35-21 win at Memorial Stadium in 2003 was the most recent win by a visitor.The Beavers, who celebrated with their band and a large cheering contingent after the game, also ended an eight-game losing streak against ranked teams.