Weed Synonyms -- Broccoli?

I came across this long and kinda funny list of synonyms for "weed" on the Constitutional Patriots Opposing Prohibition website. Apparently they are working real hard to get people to sign a petition to legalize marijuana. Some of these names I've never heard in my life and the further down you go, the less recognizable they are. Still a great effort on their part.

"Cannabis, Pot, Hemp, Bhang, Marijuana, Joint, Reefer, Dope, Ganja, Smoke, Weed, Herb, Marihuana, Hash, Doobie, Sensemilla, Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, Leaf, Green, Greenbud, Bud, 420, Alaskan Thunderfuck, BC Bud, Hooch, Stash, Thai-stick, Thai-bud, Mexican, Panama Red, Columbian Gold, Bricks, Pounds, Kilos, Ounce, Gram, Bag, Baggie, Green-sticky, Dirtweed, Shake, Indian Hemp, Ganjah, Guaza, Cannabis Chinense, Ganeb, Kif, Hanf, Tekrouri, Chanvre, Hooter, Bonghit, One-hit, Shit, Kineboisin, hamppu [Finnish/Suomi], Kannabis, Bangue, Canamo, Canamo Indio, Chanvre, Ganeb, Han Ma, Hanf, Hint Keneviri, Hops, Huang Ma, Huo Ma, Kenevir, Kif, Ma Fen, Ma Jen Chiu, Mariguana, Qunnab, Ta Ma, Tchene, Dagga, Mary Jane, boo, grass, moocah, tea, Apocynum cannabinum, Ace, Acupolco (color) Afgani, Indica, African, Ashes, Aunt Mary, Bales, Bamba, Bhang, Bo, Bobo, Boo, Boo Boo Bama, Buddha, Bush, Buzz, Cannabis, Cest, Cheeba Cheeba, Chronic, Cryppie, Cryptonite, Dank, Diambista, Ditch, Ditchweed, Dobie, Domestic Don Juan, Doob, Doradilla, Draf, Fir, Flowers, Ganja, Gash, Gasper, Gold, Gong, Grass Green (ery), Griefo Grifa, Griffa, Gungun, Herb, Hawaiian homegrown hay, Herba, High, Homegrown, Indica, Indo, J, Joint, Kalakit, Killer, Leaf, Leño, Loco Weed, Mary Jane, Mari , Maui-Wowie, MJ, Mo, Mota, Number, Panama (Adjective), Parsley, PR, Pretendica, Puff, Ragweed, Rainy day woman, Rasta, Red Bud, Reefer, Roacha, Root, Seeds, Sinsemilla, Skunk weed, Smoke, Spliff, Stems, Stone, Texas Tea, ThaistickSwisher, Blunt, Trees, Twigs, Untoque, Wheat, Weed, Whacktabacky, Whackyweed, Wood, Yeh, Yerba, Yerhia, Yesca, Humboltd, Owl, Hocus Pocus, Method, Roach, Mor A Grifa, Mootie, Mooters, Moota, Moocah, Thumb, Thrupence Bag, Devilweed, Sweet Lucy, Stick, Stack, Snop, Smoke Canada, Shit, Rope, Shwag, Nuggets, Nuggies, Dosia, Diggy, Blunt, Ragweed, Sweet Wheat, BC Bud, draw, Chief, Cali, Bowl, Broccoli"

Lyric Raid -- "Brown Sugar" by D'Angelo

This one is an oldy but goodie. When the song first came out, it was assumed to be another love song--albeit a good one, still another love song. Not until you really listened to the lyrics and got past the infatuation of D' Angelo's voice did you realize he wasn't talking about some chick. He was in love with smoking that ish. He later cam out with a more obvious and sexed up "How Does It Feel", but "Brown Sugar was more subtle in its message. Great songwriting, but after reading it you kinda wish he was talking about you, not weed.

"Oh Sugar when you're close to me,

You love me right down to my knees.

And whenever you let me hit it,

Sweet like the honey when it comes to me.

Skin is caramel with those cocoa eyes,

Even got a big sister by the name of Chocolate Thai.

Brown Sugar babe,

I gets high off your love,

I don't know how to behave.

I want some of your Brown SugarSugar.

Now that'd be how the story goes,

Brown Sugar got me open, now I want some more.

Always down for a menage troi,

But I think I'ma hit it solo,

Hope my niggaz don't mind.

Stick out my tongue and I'm bout ready to hit this pretty gritty bitty with persistence.

Yo, I don't think ya'll hear me.

Brown Sugar babe,

I gets high off your love.

I don't know how to behave."

Michael Jackson Artwork

Dan Johnson


Sean Leonard

Robert Venosa

Ben Sloat

I was curious how much artwork has been done on Michael Jackson. Of course a lot so I thought I'd post some of it that has done by different artists over the years.

Metal Taboo June Giveaway -- "Fucking Genius"

Every month, Metal Taboo offers a giveaway of one of its items to members of its mailing list. For June, we are giving away our "Fucking Genius" teardrop bracelet. This bracelet can be worn by guys or gals and will be adjusted to fit the sex of the winner. To enter, click here. Good luck!

Newsy Taboo -- R.I.P. MJ

Michael Jackson certainly has made his mark on the world and it's hard to think of an artist who pushed the envelope more than him over the decades. He has been a part of so many taboos over his career that we thought the best way to pay tribute to him is to focus on some of his contributions to different taboo subjects--good or bad.

* Sex--crotch grabbing, gay rumors

* Criminal Behavior--DUIs, molestation charges

* Plastic Surgery--you get it

* Overindulgence--Neverland Ranch

* Drugs--valium, painkillers

Regardless of these different issues (some true and some unproven), Michael Jackson was a legend and is one of the most well known people in the world. Taboo or not, that's gotta be respected. RIP Michael Jackson. You will be missed.

Love Love Love Love Love -- Hellz Bellz

I always make fun of people who say "love" more than two times in a row. In this case, my imitation is NOT a form of flattery. Anyway, Hellz Bellz has been one of my favorite clothing companies for a while now. They make great stuff with very strong statements. Head designer and owner Lanie Alabanza-Barcena has always come off as shy and reserved in her interviews, but she obviously has some deviance going on in that mind. Love love love love love.

Art Spotlight-- "The Real Reason" by Big Pixels

Big Pixels' art explores fairy tales with not so good endings. This piece shows what really destroyed the Princess and Prince Charming's relationship--Prince Charming #2. For some reason his website is down, but hopefully it will be back up so I can post more fairy tales and art from him in the future.

Not Your Average Tramp

Tattoos in general have become accepted and probably are not considered a taboo anymore. The lower back tattoo has become the most redundant of the artform and is somewhat frowned upon in the tattoo community. It has even been coined "tramp stamp" because it has become the tattoo of choice for women who want to flaunt a tattoo in a bikini. I'm not judging here. I have one too. So I thought I'd post a few pics of non-typical tramp stamps. Not sure I love them all but they are different at least. Which one is best? Anything Jolie gets my vote so I'll go with hers.

Newsy Taboo: Justified Ass Whooping?

Is there ever a good reason to beat someone's ass? I think so and most people probabby think so. I guess the question is moreso how far does someone have to go in order for the ass whooping to be justified?

This is sparked by the recent ass whooping of super blogger Perez Hilton. Allegedly Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas and their manager Polo "assaulted" Hilton. This was apparently followed by the Black Eyed Peas confronting Hilton about his overly strong opinions posted on the blog. To which Hilton told Will.i.am that he "didn't respect" him and proceeded to call him a "faggot." What happened next isn't clear as both sides have their account of the incident.

So was this a justified ass whooping? If you make your living talking shit about people should you see an ass whooping coming? Just curious. Read more about the story here.

Taboo's Definition

Captain James Cook, spreader of "taboo." There's a tiny bit of irony in the fact that we want to explore taboo and the word was introduced to us by an actual explorer.

In order to explore Taboo, we must disclose an overall meaning of it. This is Wikipedia's definition:

"A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. The term was borrowed from the Tongan language and appears in many Polynesian cultures. In those cultures, a tabu (or tapu or kapu) often has specific religious associations. It was a word brought back by Captain James Cook in 1777 after a long sea voyage to the South Seas and introduced into the English language.

When an activity or custom is classified as taboo it is forbidden and interdictions are implemented concerning it, such as the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals. Some taboo activities or customs are prohibited under law and transgressions may lead to severe penalties. Other taboos result in embarrassment, shame, and rudeness. Although critics and/or dissenters may oppose taboos, they are put into place to avoid disrespect to any given authority, be it legal, moral and/or religious."

Of course it had to be an uptight English man who introduced the term. To them, it seems everything is taboo!

Shitty Fathers

On this Father's Day, can we talk about shitty fathers? I came across this article from SPARC (Separated Parenting Access & Resource Center) about the "myth" of the Deadbeat Father. The article explains the condition of most of the men who who not pay child support or lack relationships with their kids.

The summary read: "62% of custodial mothers do not receive child support. However, of that number, three-fourths of them simply do not want child support, have not asked for it, have accepted other financial arrangements instead of child support, or the father does not have the money. Only 11% of those custodial mothers who do not receive child support, is because of "deadbeat dads.""

Maybe I'm not very sympathetic, but it seems many of the non-11% reasons still fall under the Shitty Father category. I know there are always exceptions to the rules, but regardless of the reason behind it, kids are being neglected. 62% is a lot.

On that note, I'm very happy and thankful I didn't have a shitty father. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Lyric Raid -- "The Fame" by Lady Gaga

Music probably celebrates our Taboos more than any other artistic medium. So it's only fitting that we will have an ongoing stint of posting song lyrics that celebrate our vices. It's called Lyric Raid and we'll start it off with one of the most indulgent artists at the the time, Lady Gaga. I actually love her and you'll probably see her lyrics often.

"I can't help myself,

I'm addicted to a life of material.

It's some kind of joke.

I'm obsessively opposed to the typical.

All we care about is runway models, cadillacs and liquor bottles

Give me something.

I wanna be Retro glamour, Hollywood.

Yes, we live for the fame.

Doin' it for the fame,

'Cause we wanna live the life of the rich and famous.

Fame, doin' it for the fame'.

'Cause we gotta taste for champagne and endless fortune."

--Lady Gaga, "The Fame"

Welcome to Much Ado Taboo: A Letter to Readers

Dear Much Ado Taboo Readers,

Welcome. As stated in the intro, this blog was created to examine the Taboos of the world. Nothing is off limits. I'm not exactly sure what the overall vibe will be after the blog builds steam. The main reason for the uncertainty is that participation from the audience will determine whether this takes on a light tone or heavy one. I've purposely allowed comments from everyone whether a registered user or not. If someone legitimately comments on the content and is not blatantly offending with no substance, it will be left there for all to see and respond. I have also included a Taboo Level checklist on each post so you can vote on whether the post's content is just plain fun, an extremity, or full blown taboo. That way, if you don't want to leave a comment, you can still be heard and voice your opinion. I want to have minimum involvement is editing the comments. This may bite me in the ass later, but I think a blog about taboos from a designer that uses profanity in her designs would look silly censoring people!

The only things I will have control over are the posts so I can tell you more about the tone of those. The content will range in mood. There will certainly be serious posts, but mostly light to medium ones that either expose a taboo or poke fun at one. Topics will range from the forever and ongoing love of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll to social issues, news topics, and anything else that sparks fury and uneasiness in people. That being said, suggestions of topics are encouraged. So stay tuned! It's gonna get interesting.

--Tiffanie