MY WEATHERMAN IS CALLED ROB MCELWEE!

So now you know.

Here he is:

This is an old one now but it makes me happy for no discernable reason, especially when the kitty starts licking his chin. Aw.

Weatherman interrupted by cat during forecast

I promise it’s not going to be cat-based every day.

The History of Medical Marijuana Laws

in Lifestyle Politics by Bravo — October 25, 2009 at 9:17 pm

With the recent progress in medical marijuana laws and policy by the Obama Administration, we thought it would be a perfect time to take a deeper look at the history of medical marijuana legislation in the United States. The following informational graphic outlines the significant advancements, as well as setbacks, in America’s initiative for medical marijuana legalization. Learn all of the key facts and information about the progress of legalizing medical marijuana in the US. With much progress being seen in the past ten to fifteen years, we seem to be getting closer and closer to a nationwide policy reform in medical marijuana legislation.

Add this graphic to your site:
<a href=”http://www.muffslap.com/medical-marijuana-laws-history” title=”The History of Medical Marijuana Laws in the United States”><img src=”http://www.muffslap.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/history-medical-marijuana-laws-us.jpg” alt=”The History of Medical Marijuana Laws in the United States”></a><p><a href=”http://www.muffslap.com/medical-marijuana-laws-history” title=”The History of Medical Marijuana Laws in the United States” target=”_blank”>The History of Medical Marijuana Laws in the United States</a></p>

Major Changes in Medical Marijuana Laws:

1854: The US Dispensary lists cannabis compounds as remedies for medical problems.

1870: US Pharmacopoeia lists cannabis as a medicine.

1922: The Narcotic Drug Import and Export Act is passed by US Congress to eliminate the use of narcotics except for legitimate medical use.

1937: The Marijuana Tax Act passes and becomes law.

1941: Marijuana is officially removed from the US Pharmacopoeia.

1970: The US Controlled Substances Act is passed by Congress, which deletes the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.

1989: DEA Director orders that cannabis remain listed as a Schedule I narcotic, having no known medical use.

1994: US District Court rejects a petition for review of the rescheduling of Cannabis.

1996 (Nov): Voters in Arizona (Prop 200) and California (Prop 215) approve initiatives endorsing the legal use of marijuana under a doctor’s supervision.

1996 (Nov): Office of National Drug Control Policy issues a press release stating: “The decision to bring appropriate criminal or administrative enforcement action will be decided on a case by case basis.”

1996 (Dec): The Clinton administration announces its plan to institute criminal prosecution of physicians who prescribe or recommend marijuana in California and Arizona.

1997 (Jan): The Massachusetts Department of Health issues regulations to create an affirmative medical defense for patients who use marijuana for a legitimate medical need.

1997 (Apr): The Arizona Legislature guts medical marijuana provisions included in Proposition 200 by approving a law mandating that state licensed physicians may only prescribe marijuana after it has been approved by the FDA.

1997 (Apr): Federal DEA agents raid Flower Therapy, a medical marijuana sales operation. There were no arrests. This was the first federal action since California passed Proposition 215 in 1996.

1997 (Apr): San Jose becomes the first city in the United States to pass zoning laws regulating cannabis buyers’ clubs.

1997 (Apr): US District Court Judge rules that federal officials may not sanction California doctors who recommend marijuana to their patients in compliance with state law.

1997 (June): Rep. Barney Frank introduces legislation that eliminates the federal restrictions which currently interfere with an individual state’s decision to permit the medical use of marijuana.

1997 (June): Nevada state prosecutors drop felony marijuana possession charges against a California cancer patient. Legal analysts claim that this is the first interstate proceeding involving medical marijuana imported from California.

1998 (Nov): Alaskan voters pass Ballot Measure 8, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

1998 (Nov): Oregon voters pass Measure 67, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

1998 (Nov): Washington state voters approve Measure 692, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

1999 (Nov): Maine voters pass Question 2, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

2000 (June): The Hawaii state legislature passes SB 862, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation. This is the first law of this nature enacted by a state legislature.

2000 (July): Washington, D.C. moves marijuana from Schedule V to Schedule III, which means “The substance has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or the District of Columbia.”

2000 (Nov): Nevada voters approve ballot Question 9, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

2000 (Nov): Colorado voters approve ballot Amendment 20, which removes state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana use, possession and cultivation.

2001 (May): The United States Supreme rules “There is no medical necessity exception to the Controlled Substances Act’s prohibition on manufacturing and distributing marijuana.”

2002 (July): The California Supreme Court votes unanimously to uphold Proposition 215, ruling that the medical marijuana initiative “renders possession and cultivation of marijuana non-criminal for a qualified patient or primary caregiver.”

2002 (Oct): US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled the Constitution gives Congress exclusive power to define the district’s legislative authority, giving Congress the right to block District of Columbia residents from voting on whether to legalize marijuana for medical use.

2002 (Oct): US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that “the federal government may not revoke a doctor’s license to dispense medications, or investigate a physician, for recommending marijuana to sick patients.”

2002 (Nov): Two state propositions, in Arizona and Nevada, that attempted to meld the medical marijuana issue with general use decriminalization failed.

2003 (May): Maryland Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich signed medical marijuana legislation into law today, marking the first time that a Republican governor has signed a bill to protect medical marijuana patients from jail.

2003 (July): US House of Representatives voted today to allow the Bush administration’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to continue raiding and arresting seriously ill medical marijuana patients and caregivers in states that allow the medical use of marijuana.

2003 (Oct): California Gov. signs S.B. 420 into law, which will create an ID card for medical marijuana users to show law enforcement officers.

2003 (Oct): US Supreme Court rejected an appeal of the 9th Circuit Courts decision, turning down the Bush administration’s request to consider whether the federal government can punish doctors for recommending the medical marijuana to sick patients.

2003 (Dec): US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that people who use marijuana for medical purposes cannot be prosecuted by the federal government so long as they grow their own or obtain it from other growers without charge.

2004 (May): The Medical Board of California marked a milestone for California consumers and physicians by adopting a statement clarifying that the recommendation of medical marijuana by physicians in their medical practice will not have any effect against their physician’s license if they follow good medical practice.

2004 (May): Vermont passes S.76, which is allowed into law by its Governor. This makes Vermont the 10th state in the US to decriminalize marijuana for medical purposes.

2004 (Nov): Montana is the 10th state to pass a medical marijuana law. Under federal law, it is still illegal to grow, sell, purchase, or use marijuana, even for health-related reasons.

2005 (June): Federal authorities may prosecute sick people who smoke pot on doctors’ orders, the Supreme Court ruled, concluding that state medical marijuana laws don’t protect users from a federal ban on the drug.

2005 (June): A week after the Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana laws in California and nine other states are no bar to federal drug prosecution, the House voted down an amendment that would have stopped the Justice Department from bringing such cases.

2006 (Jan): Rhode Island became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the US Supreme Court ruled in June that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law.

2006 (Jan): [San Diego] County supervisors sued the in an attempt at overturning laws that permit medical use of marijuana.

2007 (Apr): New Mexico Governor signed medical marijuana legislation into law, making New Mexico the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana.

2008 (Nov): Voters in Michigan approved a ballot measure allowing severely ill patients to use medical marijuana. The measure will remove state-level penalties for registered patients using medical marijuana.

2009 (Oct): The Obama administration issues a new policy stating the federal government will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis_in_the_United_States
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000143
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9mnrkJu2S7Mly9xuWs4p9_TRkdwD9BDT0701

Related posts:

1. The History of Halloween

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/medical-marijuana-longer-federally-prosecuted-states-legal-obama/story?id=8912772

—————————–

certified dealer education

STEPHANOPOULOS: Another trigger, that’s exactly right. But before we go,
another decision I think did not get as much play as maybe it should have
this week, the Attorney General Eric Holder announcing that the federal
government would no longer prosecute marijuana cases in states that have
approved medical marijuana laws.

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We will not use our limited resources in the
fight against the marijuana trade against those people who are using it
consistent with state law and to fight serious illnesses, such as cancer or
other diseases.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Right now, 14 states have medical marijuana laws. A lot of
others considering it. So this is a significant announcement.

WILL: What he’s saying is we will not pre-empt state laws with federal
poweras we could. What that means is where medical marijuana laws are enforced,
doctors will advertise, as they’re doing in California, that they will give
a prescription for medical use.

Now medical use can be marijuana to cure anxiety, to cure insomnia, all the
rest. And you will have what you now have in California, where marijuana is
essentially legalized. We have legalized gambling in this country over two
generations. It used to be considered a sin and a crime. With no national
debate, and no decision moment, we just did it. We legalized prostitution as
anyone who opens a telephone book and looks under “escort” can tell
you. And we may be doing, probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Good idea?

PODESTA: Well, I think that overstates the case. I think that what Eric
Holder did was to say look, we have scarce resources. We’re not going to go
after people with glaucoma or cancer or whatever on medical marijuana.
They’re still going with a vengeance really against the Mexican drug
cartels. So I think there’s — this is kind of a mixed bag. I think we
won’tsee a full legalization of marijuana until somebody figures out that if you
tax it, maybe you can pay for health care.

STEPHANOPOULOS: That might be what drives it.

WILL: Eighty percent of the revenue of the Mexican cartels is marijuana. If
you really want to go after the Mexican cartels and I’m not saying that is
the only criterion for public policy, you’d legalize marijuana.

STEPHANOPOULOS: We are seeing gradually the public more open to the idea of
legalization. It was in the 20 percent throughout the 1990s, hit 30 percent
around 2000. Now it’s well above 40.

INGRAHAM: Yes, I think all of us have either gone through cancer or family
members and it’s a terribly painful disease. I think you have a lot of
sympathy. There’s a lot of public sympathy for medical marijuana use.

I think George hit on it, though. It’s being prescribed for a whole
range of issues. Like if you have pain from Botox injection, you can get medical
marijuana. That means a lot of people in California must be toking up, OK?
No, I’m just teasing. Look, I just have one question, does this mean
brownies are going to be for sale at the CVS and Walgreens? Because that’s
always been a product that’s been missing.

STEPHANOPOULOS: In Los Angeles, I think it may be, that’s right.

HUNT: Well now that I no longer have a teenager, I have a little bit
different view, a bit more permissive. I don’t think it’s a great
utilization of scarce federal resources to be prosecuting pot. I am not sure
if it’s going to lead to what George suggests. I’m not sure that would
be a bad idea. But I was at the University of Mississippi a couple of years ago
and it’s interesting, they grow marijuana on the campus. So, times are
A-changing.

STEPHANOPOULOS: The times are changing. I was just thinking back, could you
imagine Janet Reno in 1995, announcing that I’m not going to prosecute
this,there would have been a massive uproar.

INGRAHAM: We had jobs.

WILL: There was one problem and that is we talked to the federal drug czar
which I have done, marijuana is getting much better. They’re growing and
making it better in the sense that the active ingredient is much stronger
than it used to be.

TUCKER: Well, I wished that I believed that this was going to lead to some
broader federal look at the whole futile war on drugs. But as John just
mentioned, Eric Holder followed that announcement with massive raids on drug
cartels, which isn’t a bad idea. I just don’t think that this is a
relook at the futility on the war on drugs. I really think instead of just acting in a
small way to say, marijuana isn’t such a bad thing. Let’s relook at
all ofour drug laws, the way we fight the so-called war on drugs, because it
isn’t working.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I think John may be right. What’s going to drive that in
the long run are budget issues. That’s all we have time for today. You guys
continue this in the green room. You all can catch it on ABCNews.com and get
political updates all week long from our daily newsletter which is also on
ABCNews.com.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003230573

********************

Sincerely,

Degé Coutee
Education & Advocacy Director
Patient Advocacy Network

www.CannabisSavesLives.com

Obama Administration’s New Marijuana Policy Sparks Serious Discussion

The Obama Administration’s New Policy on Marijuana Has Merit, Pundits Say

By KRISTINA WONG

Oct. 25, 2009— Pundits on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” took
a serious look at a new Obama administration policy that is a stark shift
from its predecessor’s — on marijuana.

“Woody Harrelson is really happy about it,” joked Fox News contributor and
radio show host Laura Ingraham, who appeared on “This Week” as a guest
commentator. She likened it as the “Cheech and Chong initiative” of all the
Obama adminstration’s initiatives.

Last week the Obama administration announced it would not seek to federally
prosecute individuals or dispensaries who use or provide medicinal
marijuana, as long as they complied with state law. Instead, a Justice
Department memo said state prosecutors should pursue “significant
traffickers” of illegal drugs, including marijuana.

“We will not use our limited resources in the fight against the marijuana
trade against those people who are using it consistent with state law and to
fight serious illnesses, such as cancer or other diseases,” Attorney General
Eric Holder said last week.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration’s,
which called for enforcing federal anti-marijuana laws, regardless of state
laws.

Using and providing medicinal marijuana is legal in 14 states: Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada,
New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Conservative columnist George F. Will predicted marijuana usage would go the
way of alcohol and gambling.

“We have legalized gambling in this country over two generations. It used to
be considered a sin and a crime. With no national debate, and no decision
moment, we just did it. We legalized prostitution as anyone who opens a
telephone book and looks under ‘escort’ can tell you. And we may be doing,
probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana,” Will said.

“Now medical use can be marijuana to cure anxiety, to cure insomnia, all the
rest,” he said.

Marijuana Is a ‘Mixed Bag’ for Many

But John Podesta, who was White House chief of staff for President Clinton
and is the president and CEO of the progressive think tank Center for
American Progress, said the attorney general is looking at a broader
picture.

“I think that what Eric Holder did was to say look, we have scarce
resources. We’re not going to go after people with glaucoma or cancer or
whatever on medical marijuana. They’re still going with a vengeance really
against the Mexican drug cartels. So I think there’s — this is kind of a
mixed bag,” said Podesta, who also served on President Obama’s transition
team.

“The United States has the highest prison population of any country in the
world, and I think that largely has been the result of mandatory prison
sentences as a result of junk laws, and I think that these changes that
we’re seeing now probably will ripple back,” he continued. “And I think
that’s a place that people really have to consider whether they want to
incarcerate this large number of people and the cost of that in our
society.”

Al Hunt, Washington, D.C., bureau chief for Bloomberg News, agreed that
resources could be better spent elsewhere.

“Well now that I no longer have a teenager, I have a little bit different
view, a bit more permissive. I don’t think it’s a great utilization of
scarce federal resources to be prosecuting pot. I am not sure if it’s going
to lead to what George suggests. I’m not sure that would be a bad idea. But
I was at the University of Mississippi a couple of years ago and it’s
interesting, they grow marijuana on the campus. So, times are A-changing.”

Taxing Pot to Pay for Health Care?

However, there was one circumstance under which Podesta thought “full
legalization” could occur.

“I think we won’t see a full legalization of marijuana until somebody
figures out that if you tax it, maybe you can pay for health care.”

Will also said taxing marijuana could be a way to go after Mexican drug
cartels.

“Eighty percent of the revenue of the Mexican cartels is marijuana. If you
really want to go after the Mexican cartels, and I’m not saying that is the
only criterion for public policy, you’d legalize marijuana,” he said.

Public Sympathy on the Side of Medicinal Marijuana

Legalizing marijuana remains controversial, but the public is less divided
on medicinal marijuana. A March 2001 Pew Research Center poll showed that
nearly 75 percent of those polled were in favor of allowing doctors to
prescribe marijuana for medical purposes to treat their patients.

“I think all of us have either gone through cancer or family members, and
it’s a terribly painful disease. I think you have a lot of sympathy. There’s
a lot of public sympathy for medical marijuana use,” said Ingraham.

Cynthia Tucker, political columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
newspaper, called for a broader view of the administration’s policy change.

“I really think instead of just acting in a small way to say, marijuana
isn’t such a bad thing, let’s relook at all of our drug laws, the way we
fight the so-called war on drugs, because it isn’t working,” she said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/medical-marijuana-longer-federally-prosecuted-states-legal-obama/story?id=8912772

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our green flag pot dealer school is about understanding
the green flag compliance obligations as they evolve and develop

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will get you answers, vendors, resources,
and continual access to updates

our how to become a pot dealer school
certified version
will cost
$ 420 per person,
available to:

law enforcement, city county & state officials
caregivers, patients, doctors, dispencaries, growers
cooperative organizations, non-profits, compassionate care LLC’s

we provide a comprehensive
online compassionate care tutorial
unlike anything currently available
for medical marijuana compliance

we will make it simple for you

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Weather forecaster Michael Fish is to appear on GMTV, 22 years on from his supposed gaffe over the 1987 hurricane…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: hurricane report. For a different topic see fun soup recipe. The blog is also related to: hurricane george.

So after a month of sunny dry and 70 degrees, the first day of fall came. Welcome to 50 degrees and rain. So just like that it was time to break out the umbrellas, and the ponchos. Welcome to fall.

So how do you know when the evil seasons of fall and winter are approaching? Well I don’t really know, but the Amish always can tell way before the rest of us. What’s there secret? I believe it is is the beard.

Pictured is a typical Amish man in his natural habitat telling the locals that the end of summer is near.  Nice footwear dude!

I say rain like its a bad thing. But sometimes it can be good. I mean nothing is better then a nice refreshing acid rain bath. For some of us on the other hand…. We get a bit too excited for rain…..

I didn’t realize this weatherman goes balls-out for weather…. I am not an expert but according to your map, it looks like a case of the herp’s are moving through the middle of the state….

Source: FSM

September 17, 2009

Cliff Kincaid

I remember once imagining what my life would be like, what I’d be like. I pictured having all these qualities, strong positive qualities that people could pick up on from across the room. But as time passed, few ever became any qualities that I actually had. And all the possibilities I faced and the sorts of people I could be, all of them got reduced every year to fewer and fewer. Until finally they got reduced to one, to who I am. And that’s who I am, the weather man.

One of my favorite movies of all time is “The Weather Man.”  I feel that not too many support my views on this particular film’s merits.  It sort of came and went in theaters not generating too much buzz of any size, shape or form.  I believe that it’s because it’s depressing as fuck.  People don’t typically want to rush to a theater to watch the protagonist fail miserably at everything he attempts.  It’s painful to watch at times, it truly is.  Time after time shit things are happening to this guy, who is kind of a dick but only due to environmental factors and other such circumstances, and yet you are pulling for it to all turn around.  And just as things look up for Dave, played by Nic Cage, it all backfires and he comes out worse than before.

It’s a dark dark dark bleak bleak bleak comedy.  I laugh my ass off while watching it, but the same time my heart is aching.  I think it’s intensified by the fact that I see so much of myself in this character.  We both try to do right.  We both try to support those we love.  We want to be cared for and respected.  We know that we are meant for better things, but just could not seem to grab hold of them long enough to enjoy them.  We just go through life trying to survive, holding on to a sliver of optimism that things will turn around, always attempting to impress those who we look up to.

I remember seeing this film in theaters.  I will always remember and cherish the moment–it was one of the very few times my sister and I went out and did something together during the year or two we lived together as adults.  We both truly dug the movie.   But for me, personally, it affected me long after we pulled our feet off of the sticky coke coated floors of the theater.  I couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks after my first viewing.  The synthesized soundtrack, the stark frigid atmosphere captured beautifully by the cinematographer, the way you can almost  FEEL the bitter cold brushing up against your cheek from the imagery on the screen, the acting that is at once unrealistic and yet still feels seeped in mis-en-scene.  The dialogue itself is punchy, clever and flowing.  There are quite a few quotes that you will want to pocket and recite to yourself when you need a laugh or a bit of sound advice.

I realize that a lot of people watch a movie to escape reality.  They don’t want to be depressed as a form of entertainment.  But, for those that can appreciate a movie as a work of art–a work of fiction.  And that can appreciate Nic Cage calling his ex-wife’s fiance a dildo, pork fuck.  Then perhaps you will enjoy it.

And for those who don’t enjoy anything but popcorn flicks–well it’s directed by the guy that did Pirates of the Caribbean! ZOMG!  FOR REALZ! JOHNNY DEPP! SQUEEEEE!

Tenía rato que no escribía en este blog por falta de tiempo pero aquí estoy de vuelta y espero estarlo más seguido.

A ver que les parece el video.

“you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows” – Bob Dylan

She forecasts a Snowstorm
And I’m in a Heat wave
She says clear and sunny
And I need an umbrella
…I’m in love with the weatherman
‘
She flirts with Todd
At the News Anchor desk
To make me jealous
As I spy through my TV
…I’m in love with the weatherman
‘
I sent her flowers
At the TV station
She calls me a Stalker
but I’m just a huge fan
… I’m in love with the weatherman.
,
Which way the wind blows
is in the opposite direction
of the way that she pointing
she just laughs and says
“oh, woman make the best weatherman”
…Oh I’m in love with the weatherman

[Did That Just  Happen?]

Do you remember Are You Afraid of the Dark? episodes on YTV? I certainly do.  And I certainly remember this face:

Ross Hull, or better known as “Gary”, one of the story tellers. Do you often wonder what happens to these people? I only wonder this sort of thing when it comes to old school Degrassi High characters, and especially loved it when I saw Pat Mastroianni (“Joey”) randomly appear in a commercial a while back.

ANYWAY, I’m watching the news today just to see what the weather is going to be like (I usually straighten my hair and listen to it like the radio, I don’t usually watch the television in the mornings) and I hear this voice I recognize. I have no idea why I recognize this voice. So, naturally, I have to park myself on the chair and check this out. Low and behold, it’s Mr. Hull on Breakfast Television Calgary and he’s telling me about how my city’s weather is looking for the next week. I sat there and blinked at the screen a few times. Then, I think I sent out about two or three text messages wondering when this happened and wondering what the heck is going on. I felt like Brodie from Mallrats when he was hit in the face by a stage piece in The Mall, “Where the hell did that come from? What’s going on here?” (♪ soundclip )

This is absolute insanity. I still can’t get over this. Anyone close to my age who comes near me this morning is going to hear about this. Am I bitching? Not at all. I’m just surprised, and I must share that with the world. Immediately. I even @replied BT_Calgary on Twitter this morning letting them know my whole world just turned sideways because of all of this. In an awesome way, of course!

A string of TV weathermen has appeared on various Fox News shows over the past few months to deny climate change. The producers at Fox News sure know how to bypass the best and the brightest for the mediocre. I mean why call up an actual researcher with years of climatological experience to give you the global assessment, when an annoying, local TV, blow-hard can reduce a complex subject into anecdotal bite-sized nuggets? It’s cool and breezy at the beach today, as compared to last year at the same time, so global warming must be a liberal, socialist lie. Now back to you, Tom Tucker.

At least some people are speaking up against the stupidity. And others have made insightful videos.

Although Tom Brown and Tamara Taggart are nothing more than local TV weatherpeople, they might soon appear in millions of TV screens across Canada and the United States.

Brown, from CTV Toronto, and Taggart, from CTV BC, are semifinalists in the “Live! With Regis and Kelly From Local to LIVE: Co-Host for a Day” contest. They are both competing against 20 other local broadcasters from Canada and the US for a chance to fill in for Regis Philbin or Kelly Ripa in the popular morning show.

“It would be such a thrill to fill in for Kelly Ripa on LIVE!” said Taggart in a statement. “I am a big fan of hers and would love the opportunity to represent British Columbia in The Big Apple!”

For his part, Brown wants to use this opportunity to promote how great his city is. “I would be thrilled to share what makes Toronto special with fans across the continent,” he said

Both Brown and Taggart now depend on your vote in order to make it to the Big Apple. Online voting is taking place right now and it closes tomorrow July 28 at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The two winners -one male, and one female- will be announced on Wednesday July 29 during Live! With Regis and Kelly.

You can vote for Tom at ctvtoronto.ca and for Tamara at ctvbc.ca

The best of luck to our two Canadian semifinalists .

[tsoya]