In a win for states rights and tax payers:

On Monday, President Obama kept a piece of that promise when his Department of Justice issued a directive ordering agency lawyers not to prosecute individuals who use or prescribe medical marijuana in states that have legalized the drug for that purpose.

"It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal," explained Attorney General Eric Holder. "This balanced policy formalizes a sensible approach that the Department has been following since January: effectively focus our resources on serious drug traffickers while taking into account state and local laws."

In the overall scheme of the drug-policy debate, this is a relatively small -- and cautious -- step.

But for medical-marijuana advocates, the administration's formal embrace of a more responsible approach represents a major breakthrough.

Read more from The Nation.

Just a reminder: We still can't grow mountains. Once they're gone, they're gone.

Mountain top removal doesn't just destroy the view, it also pollutes our streams and contributes to massive flooding. And, let's not forget about the mountain streams that are destroyed. (When you think mountain streams, think drinking water.)

Coal isn't cheap, clean or pretty, regardless of industry spin. Today's children will pay the consequences of our decisions for the rest of their lives.

Want to do something about it right now? Use less energy. Look around your office and home. What can you unplug and turn off?

Speak up. Let your state and federal legislators know you don't approve of these types of practices. Tell your electric company you're not willing to support their dirty habits, even if it means stapling solar tiles to your entire house. While you're at it, let them know you want green jobs in Charlotte.

P.S. Duke Energy, headquartered right here in Charlotte, burns Central Appalachian Coal. Approximately 50 percent comes from mountaintop removal. A Duke representative told me Friday, during an interview for another, unrelated story, that the company's Riverbend coal plant -- located a mere dozen miles from Uptown -- has a larger-than-usual pile of coal these days because of a contract. Even though energy demand is down and the coal plant doesn't run as often as it used to, the company's contract stipulates that they continue to purchase the coal until their contract expires. I'm told the company plans to look for other coal sources in the near future.

During the last two decades, mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia has destroyed or severely damaged more than a million acres of forest and buried nearly 2,000 miles of streams. Leveling Appalachia: The Legacy of Mountaintop Removal Mining, a video report produced by Yale Environment 360 in collaboration with MediaStorm, focuses on the environmental and social impacts of this practice and examines the long-term effects on the region’s forests and waterways.

At a time when the Obama administration is reviewing mining permit applications throughout West Virginia and three other states, this video offers a first-hand look at mountaintop removal and what is at stake for Appalachia’s environment and its people.

Watch the video here.

Learn more about Yale Environment 360 here.

Listen up: Unless you are pregnant or under two years of age -- physically, not mentally -- stay your happy ass at home if you think you have the flu.

You don't need someone to tell you that you've got the flu. If you've got the symptoms, assume you've got the crud and quarantine yourself. That means: Don't go to the emergency room either.

... swine flu has many on edge and wondering should you go the ER if you have symptoms? Dr. Gouzenne says it depends. "I have a muscle ache and I don't feel good, I have a runny nose, a little fever, you don't need to come to the hospital for that," says Gouzenne. She adds, "You don't need a piece of paper that says you have H1N1."

But there are two exceptions-- folks that should head to the ER with even slight symptoms. Dr. Gouzenne explains, "Pregnant women seem to be at very high risk with this virus". And she also points out, "kids under the age of two, boy it's hitting them hard."

More from MSNBC.com.

Maybe this little diddy will help you remember what you should do if you contract H1N1:

Why weren't any of former N.C. Gov. Mike Easley's shenanigans brought to light when he was in office? And, when can we the people throw him in jail?

As a four-year drought parched North Carolina into the middle of 2002, then-Gov. Mike Easley and his administration called it a major disaster. The governor urged people everywhere to save water, and he imposed stiff restrictions.

Except at Easley's exclusive private golf club in northeastern Chatham County.

New records and interviews show that Old Chatham Golf Club pumped millions of gallons from a creek leading to Jordan Lake, diverting water from one of the region's major drinking sources to help keep the greens alive.

Read more from Charlotte.com.

Remember when Andy Griffith stumped for Easley? "Governor, you're the man and you're doing right by North Carolina," he said.