Thread: "Beauty therapist" Corby gets extended sentence

You're entitled to all the un-biased reportng your money can buy. True all over the world. Good to see that it's not jsut reserved for poiiticos and corporations.
What was she bringing in, anyway?

Well I got to admit that if she is guilty, I was taken in along with all the rest of them. The conviction was made, after which her sentence was reduced and now, upon appeal from the prosecution, it is reinstated. No new evidence has been entered to my knowledge which changes what has happened. Just circumstancial stuff about her family and her history. Perhaps we will never know the truth. Well, maybe when her book is published upon her release.
The comparison you make with Van Ngyen is valid though in my opinion. Both sentences were way too harsh but we have to accept that they both apparently knew what they were doing and, I assume, the consequences.

I inadvertantly smuggled a wrap of speed into Thailand. a forgotten remnant of a previous party in my jeans pocket. Had i known it was there, I'd have guiltied myself up through shaking and sweating.
Need to be a cool son of a bitch to smuggle i reckon.

For any of the people out there that would be wondering why somebody would be trying to take dope to Bali, Aussie dope is worth $10,000 AUD a pound instead of the $3,000AUD a pound that they would of got at home.

from this I will infer that she wa bringing in weed. a pound of weed is big. There ain't no real money in it unless you're workin' with containers of goods. Then it's deniable as well.

The 'party' route between the Gold coast and Bali is well known.
The surfie crowd like to party over there and you don't have to be a bright boy at all to know that these guys want to smoke where ever they are.

There are quite a few Gold Coasters running parties and bars in Kuta.
What can be easier than getting your stupid mates to bring somein for you?

Innocent?

Of course!! She's a 'beauty therapist' for fuck's sake!

i jsut spent 20 fuckin minutes ragin' about drug laws and the like only to be told I had been logged out. I was fuckin' brilliant. Hell, it's written and gone. To sum it up yes the girl was dumb. But the "war on Drugs" is unwinable. there will never be a shortage of folks that want to get high in some way. as we criticize this stupid girl. let's not foget to direct a bit of our derision towards the laws and perceptions responsible for so much human tragedy. it is not the drugs nearly as much as the laws against them.

The war on corruption is unwinnable!
How do we legalise corruption?

Drugs are an option in life not a necessity. People don't have to take drugs.
If drugs weren't so destructive and people weren't so irresponsible, drugs would be legal.

Be great jumping in a cab with some one stoned or tripping wouldn't it?

The war on corruption has not taken any real toll, as there is no real war on it. It's all smoke and mirrors, man. Pap to feed the masses. How can you expect those that profit mostly from corruption to try and eradicate it?

The "War on Drugs" is also just so much bullshit. This "War on Drugs" forced on countries such as Columbia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and so many other countries by the US strong arm tactics then the US takes a drug dealer, gives 'em 3 years in prison and kicks 'em out in 18 months. Same violation here gets a motherfucker shot, hung or locked away for a lifetime. These countries want to be accepted, to be seen as taking a 'hard line' on drugs.

I would much rather get in a cab with a pot smoking cab driver than I would with one high on the most debilitating drug of all, alcohol. The ingestion of alcohol has caused more destruction, death and mayhem than all the other drugs combined; yet it is perfectly legal. The argument equating drug use with corruption or blaming drugs for the self-destructive behavior of some human beings just doesn't hold water.

People will always want to take drugs, drink alcohol or alter their consciousness n some way. It's as natural wanting to fuck. Given a choice a monkey will take Cocaine rather than eat until it has starved itself to death. Without reason, without 'self -awareness' or education any drug can be debilitating.

Folks been gettin' high long as there's been folks. They been gettin high on opium, ganja, mushroom, Peyote, and sundry others plants for thousands of years. Regulation, acceptance, proper education, without so much over the top propaganda, these are the required steps, not twenty years in prison of a hangman’s noose.

Drugs are not destructive. Human beings are. The behaviors blamed on drugs and/or drug use are just more dis-information forced down the throats the general population by governments unable to tax or profit from their use.

In my years of experience the 'junkies' are not the robbers and murders they are made out to be. They may take to shoplifting, dealing, whoring or other unacceptable behaviors, but rarely do they have the balls to rob a bank or set up a large network of dealers that require violence to keep in line.

No, man; the destruction and blight on our society are the draconian drug laws that force those that use sell or transport drugs into the underworld. A world populated by professional crooks and killers. Doesn't anyone remember "The great experiment” the blood, the rise to power of those willing to kill to protect their 'market share?'

The destructive behavior is excused by years of indoctrination. Falsehood and propaganda offered as wisdom, excusing anti-social behavior, excusing living 'outside the norm' has set generations of folks to justify their actions because they use drugs. I submit it has even inspired anti-social behavior; the old "I'm a dope fiend, I'm not responsible" argument is heard all too often in courts and press.

Disinformation and suppression of accurate studies has been the course of action for 50 years. This has created and environment where those that use drugs become what the propaganda has told them they will. It's similar to being told daily that you are useless and ugly as a child, all you life you are told these lies until you begin to believe them. You become what you are told to become.

These folks, indoctrinated since birth, believe that they are outside the norm and that the must behave in an anti-social way OR having anti-social tendencies believe that being a dope fiend will re-enforce their anti-social nature.

By increasing the profitability of drug sales and transport and making it attractive to the cruel, the unscrupulous and amoral, drug laws are self-justifying. The consequences are such that violence is a viable alternative to detection. The profitability of drugs sales has created an industry in the manufacture of 'designer drugs.' If the drugs available for years had been less trouble to obtain, less profitable, the drugs like X, PCP, etc may never have had a reason to be introduced.

Heroin is not as addictive as alcohol; it is less of a health danger. Marijuana is nowhere near as destructive as tobacco.

Put simply; the most dangerous drugs on the market today are available over the counter at your local drug or liquor store.

Should there be regulation of drugs? Yes. Should folks be locked away or murdered for the transport, use or even sales of drugs? Fuck no.

There is no quick answer; no magic bullet that will eradicate the desire
to get high in folks. I wish I had an alternative plan, I don’t. I only know that the current methods are more costly in terms of human suffering than any bag o’ dope could ever be…

Great post as usual Frankie.

But I don't agree and many of your points are the usual trundled out in support of drugs.

I've used drugs for far too long in the past and I'm well aware of the negative aspects of drug use subsequently I'll always be 'anti-drug'.

If drug use was as widespread as alcohol the problems for society would be tenfold.

but it's just my opinion.

If drug use was as widespread as alcohol the problems for society would be tenfold.

i would disagree with that number. But, like alcohol drugs do have potential for abuse and yes in an ideal world no one would want to get high.
Do you agree then, with the current methods of drung control? To be real honest, the current perceptions I have described as destructive would take generations to turn around and I think we would see an increase in drug related issues in the short-term should we just turn the switch to leniency.

That the yong lady in question was foolish and should not expect any leniency is an acceptable fact. But aren't the current methods of regulation just a tad over the top?

The current anti-drug measures certainly aren't the answer.
The laws are a fuck up attempt to on one hand stem the desire to risk using drugs and to stop the money being made from the trade.
In each case it's failing badly.

I think the use of alcoholin the argument is irrelevant as booze has been used successfully in moderation for centuries.Alcohol is legal.
Drugs per se are a different matter.

Sufer dopeheads on the Gold coast can smoke on the beach without fear of breaking a law but they're not smart enough to say "I'll only do this at home" and so they get busted in Bali.
Is dope that necessary?
I can go days without a drink but dopers don't seem to be able to go without for a day.
They take the risks and should be prepared to pay the price.

To me the question is 'Drugs are illegal. If you use them you can't moan about the penalty' especially in Asia.

I figure, if a rule is clearly communicated and you decide through a conscious decision to break that rule, you deserve whatever the stated punishment is.

If I know that the punishment for kicking you in the balls is that you will punch me in the face after you get up, I should not complain when you punch me in the face after you get back on your feet.

On the other hand when I sober up I may have a more enlightened viewpoint.

Sufer dopeheads on the Gold coast can smoke on the beach without fear of breaking a law but they're not smart enough to say "I'll only do this at home" and so they get busted in Bali.
Is dope that necessary?
I can go days without a drink but dopers don't seem to be able to go without for a day.
They take the risks and should be prepared to pay the price.

No Dope is not that necessary and nope, the drugs are not the driving force. let us no blame the ignorance and idiocy of these folks on the drug, they'd be stupid with or with out drugs.
Right or wrong, the laws are what they are and whinging bout being caught out is pathetic and useless.
I've been smokin' dope for forty years. I've done just about any drug you could imagine and some maybe you couldn't. The only thng it seems i've not been able to do without is nicotine; a weakness on my part.
I've got this bag o' weed. Stays locked up. 'bout once or twice a week. I might take a few hits. A needle thin joint will last me several days. And there will be weeks when it just sits in my drawer, like that bottle port or brandy. Many people will have their daily beer, whiskey or hit of the pipe. In fact I'd submit that most of the folks here on this forum will imbibe a couple alcoholic drinks each day!
So i'll agree with you That while the laws are draconian, expensive and inefficient, they are in cat, the laws with which we must live under. Cryin' about gettin' caught gets no sympathy from me. Nor do i endorse the release of the lass. She got caught. She knew, or should have known, the risks involved. Tough shit. Nothing more to add.
The "War on Drugs" is a sham and a waste of resources and humanity. it has achieved the opposite of the purported goals.
This is a "war" started by the United States and forced upon the weaker countries of the world. and in the US drug dealers go free or walked aways with wrists slapped while out here in the real world those countries are forced to fight a battle they can ill afford to wage. The penalties they hand down are completely out of proportion to the danger of drug traffic; out of proportion to what the puppet master hands down in it's own country.
The drug laws must change; the perceptions of drug use needs more truth and less extravagant hype. if you think drugs are dangerous then only by rethinking our (the world's?) approach can we eliminate the 'problem.' Sadly, the 'War' has created a problem that will take decades to rectify. The sooner the 'War' is ended the sooner we can begin.

Anyone read the book called "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey? Is a pretty neat book about additction....He describes the trip through withdrawl very well. Unfortunately it is an Oprah book club book but beyond that it is pretty good. One note is that though it was promoted as non-fiction some "facts" are in dispute. This does not take away from the books merit. A good read.

I think the use of alcoholin the argument is irrelevant as booze has been used successfully in moderation for centuries.Alcohol is legal.

Alcohol has been a factor in more road fatalities, domestic violence, child abuse and violent crimes throughout history than all other drugs combined this goes back to when drugs were not regulated.
I will not argue that the girl desrves any sympathy. I am simply trying to take a look at the current drug laws and theri ineffectiveness. legality of hte most dibilitating of all drugs doesn little to recommend it.

He describes the trip through withdrawl very well.

i'd love to see what he had to say about it. I was at the point of doing about a quater OZ of very clean, very good coke a day. I got in my truck with an eight ball and drove out of state. The eightball was gone in three hours; I was gone for about 6 weeks. When I retunred home, I never touched the stuff again.
Been involved with too many dope fiends and hop heads to think the physiology of 'withdrawal' is much more than 10%. It's all about attitude.

It is actually pretty neat...he is told... "re-use and you die."

He thinks..."Ok, I am fucked because I will re-use ....lets get this over with, where can I score."

Much better written in book but nice and stark and gritty....first half of book is amazing in parts...description of root canals with no anesthetic are inspired....back half of book can get a bit preachy.

Unfortunately the time to sit down and rationalise drug use is past.
The 'underground' movement that is youth today dictates that anti-parental advice is good and law breaking is good so any chance for openly discussing sensible drug use is no longer possible.
'Raves' where everyone is off their tits on 'E' was a must do every weekend for so many young people yet when they've hit their 40's with a couple of kids and an expanding waistline they couldn't think of anything more stupid.
Same goes for 'speed', mushrooms, acid.
It's a kid's thing to do when your young.
That's a big reason why drugs are always in the bad books. You young kids are the only ones doing it and we all know that you're only going to do it for a few years and then you'll give up as you see the stupidity of being out of it and feeling so fucked the next morning that you can't function properly.

Originally Posted by PoolCleaner.

You young kids are the only ones doing it and we all know that you're only going to do it for a few years and then you'll give up as you see the stupidity of being out of it and feeling so fucked the next morning that you can't function properly.

Clearly and much as i suspected, i have rather a lot of growing up to be doing.

But the drugs that are available now are much more potent than those of 20 years ago and the risks of permanent psychological or physical damage are that much greater, youngsters also have in general a lot more disposable income to spend on drugs.

Actually the drugs of todayare no where near the potency they were when I was in my heyday. BUT there are more fo the white powder type drugs availabe and in common use. The very laws that pohibit them are the reasonfor their growth in popularity. Thoughout history these pohibitions have been the cause of increased potency and/or lethality (new word for today?) In phobition the drinking of beer and wine was all but eliminated whielthe consumption of whiskey and adulterated concoctions such as cut down wood alcohol increased. The potency increased, the profitiabiltiy increase, the risk decreased.
The very pohibitions that are supposed to 'control' cause an out of control spiral of potency and impurity. The war on drugs has created a situation where needle sharing is a necessity, where drugs adulterared with poisons and impuritys is common.
While is all well and good to talk being 'out of your skull' and 'addicted' to drugs these concepts are, repeating myself, the product of propaganda and disinformation. By reinforcing the idea that 'you will be addicted', 'you are lost with out rehab', 'drugs are an inescapable pit' etc. the laws and anti drug warriors are creating a problem that shouldn't exist. Education (based on fact, not fear), regulation and even legalization wold go so much further in combating a 'drug problem.'
The drug 'problem' of today is not the use of drugs or addiction. The 'problem is one caused by the nature of dealingin illegal substances. Going after the 'big boys' is a joke, the makers/growers, the dealers and smugglers are only respobding to a demand that is not being suppressed. A demand that for thousands for years has not waned. Drug laws are a waste of money. The 20 some-odd billion dollars spent a year could go a long way that could be spent on education, health, any number of services for those in need.
Those of you convinced by the powers that be that drugs are the root of some evil, that drugs are the core of societies problems are being duped and your pockets are being emptied to line the pockets of thos in the Anti-Drug enforcement industries. I have watched the DEA in action. I have spent years with those supposedly 'addicted' to drugs. those that were crooks usually were crooks before there was any drug use. I have also know drug users that have held responbsible positions in society for decades.
Addiction is an excuse losing control of your life and blaming drugs is an accepted manner to escape resposibility for your own fucking life. An excuse provided you by your friendly neighborhood narco agent. it is all bullshit folks! and the sadest thing of all is that even the majority of folks that use drugs fall victim to the bullshit and end up believing it.
This massive brainwashing effort is not out of any care of the population or the folks using drugs. It is there solely to justify the actions, and cover the mistakes, of the lawmakers and those that encforce the policies.
You are being lied to. You are being ripped off; and some of you appear to be applauding the very theives and liars that are doing it to you.
Drug information and laws are one of the biggest lies of the twentieth century and if something isn't done about it will continue to escalt the cost in human suffering into the twenty-first.

^

I tended to lump all drugs (other than alcohol) into one basket so I stand by my statement that the overall potency of the currently available basket of drugs has increased. Even the cannabis (regarded as a 'soft' drug) which is now being sold is reckoned to be 10 times as potent as the stuff that was around twenty years ago. Of course that might be political propaganda but I think not.

Whether the above is due to the eradication attempts by the various anti-drug agencies is a moor point, I am sure that licencing of production and control of quality would produce a unified product but I'm not sure if that could be obtained for a product where so much of the raw material is imported (I am thinking about Coke and Opiate derivates).

I very much agree that attempting to eradicate is futile and that far more effort needs to be put into understanding the 'why' of drug use but we could probably talk about from now till doomsday and still not have a definitive answer. Although as I said above, the media, which talks up the antics of a few celebrities for the benefit of simpletons must carry a burden of responsibility.

And 'yes' I am aware that there are some who are able to function and lead normal lives while having a serious drug dependency - good luck to them. But I suspect (and I have no statistics Frankie) that for each one who functions nortmally, there are five or more who have lost all semblance of dignity; and that is something that I DO see everyday.

Nor do I think drug use is the root of all evils or the core of societies problems. Rather drug use is an integral part of the society we live in and one that we need to understand how to deal cope with.

Yes, there will always be drug users just as there will always be alcoholics because there will always be those for whom day to day life is either too stressful or too hm drum to tolerate without an escape.

But I no more believe that legalising drugs will eliminate the problem than I do legislation will eradicate it.