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That Time Beyoncé Went Shopping At Target And People Lost Their Minds

Like any other mom, Beyoncé went shopping at Target for a little holiday swag. Unlike any other mom, she drew a lot of attention.

Bey had one of her newborns, daughter Blue Ivy, and mom Tina Knowles in tow when she blew through the San Clemente, CA superstore on Thursday (Dec. 8) like a giant wind machine. But when Bey is browsing an endcap display, everyone else is invisible and it becomes a solo act.

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A few users were skeptical of Queen B’s motives, showing up to a packed megastore and all. But whatever. We’re all trying to save money during the holidays.

According to Metro, one shopper was quoted as saying Beyonce “was very low-key and didn’t request any special treatment. She seemed to just want to get her shopping done like any other customer.”

She was reportedly buying toys with Blue’s assistance.

Idiot-Proof Avocados Are Here Because People Keep Hurting Themselves

A high-end British grocery has figured out a way to sell avocados to people who otherwise might end up in the hospital. It’s a pitless variety dubbed the “cocktail avocado” and it’s only being offered at Marks & Spencer through December.

This smaller avocado with an edible skin grows in Spain in limited amounts. And while the obvious question is why would anyone want a smaller avocado, the answer is “avocado hand.” This Millennial injury is somewhat of a phenomenon, thanks to the rising interest in avocado toast, that’s due to people not being able to remove the pit successfully. They end up holding the avocado in one hand and slicing it open with the other. The injury is so prevalent, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons wants safety labels on the fruit to avoid the growing number of trips to the ER.

The cocktail avocado looks like a cross between an avocado and a cucumber and because it has an edible skin, it can be eaten whole.

Charlotte Curtis, a food technology specialist at Marks & Spencer tells The Guardian they’ve already sold mini and giant varieties of avocado, and now seems like a “ripe” time to offer an injury-free one, adding,”This amazing fruit has been on our radar for a couple of years and we’re very excited to have finally been able to get hold of some for our customers to try.”

Where have these stoneless avocados been hiding all this time? M&S says up until now, they were usually sent to high-end restaurants in Paris, but they were able to source a small supply.

MADD To Offer ‘Intoxicating Training’ To Canadian Marijuana Stores

As Canada prepares for national marijuana legalization, scheduled to begin in July 2018, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced that it will offer training to cannabis retail workers to help prevent intoxicated driving.

MADD Canada CEO Andrew Murie told CBC Radio that retail outlets need to be knowledgeable about the various cannabis products being sold.  “We want to have responsible service for cannabis, denying people that are minors that are trying to purchase and also anybody that might be intoxicated, whether by cannabis or alcohol,” he said.

Signs of cannabis intoxication are different from alcohol, Muries said. “It’s harder for cannabis,” Murie said, “and we don’t have decades of training and frontline experience to do it.”

MADD is also teaming up with Uber in an awareness initiative promoting safe and sober driving during the holiday season.

The campaign, which runs through December, will have Uber Canada make a $1 donation to MADD Canada for every “Compliment” badge riders send via the app to their driver, up to a total donation of $100,000.

“We’re excited to give our riders the opportunity to show their appreciation to drivers and help stop impaired driving by supporting MADD Canada,” said Adam Blinick, director of public policy and communications for Uber Canada. “As the official designated driving app of MADD Canada, we’re committed to fighting impaired driving and helping Canadians make smart transportation decisions as they celebrate the holiday season.”

As part of the initiative, MADD Canada also unveiled its latest public service announcement, which can be viewed here. With its overarching message—No mom should have motherhood taken away—this new PSA encourages viewers to consider how their decisions have a lasting impact on those closest to them. MADD Canada reminds viewers to make a responsible choice.

“This PSA shows the profound impacts that choosing to drive impaired can have on the ones we care about,” said Murie. “Having safe, convenient and accessible transportation options is critical, which is why we are so excited to partner with Uber to help reinforce this important message.”

According to MADD Canada, most impaired driving incidents happen at night and during the weekend. In cities where Uber operates in Canada, rush hour for ridesharing is not when people are getting to and from work, but late at night when bars close.

Your Nose Knows: How To Select The Right Marijuana For You

Terpenes are a huge part of Mother Nature’s spice kit. When it comes to marijuana, some types are energizing, some are sedating; some are better for pain, others for inspiration. When you take a whiff of a cannabis and like what you smell, chances are your body is telling you that this is what it wants. That’s right: Your nose knows.

Terpenes provide the fragrance of foods and herbs. When you take a whiff of basil, for example, what you are smelling are the terpenes. Cannabis strains also have unique terpenes that provide the aroma. Some strains smell lemony (limonene) or spicy (caryophyllene) or floral (linalool) or piney (alpha-pinene).

Terpenes not only provide the smell, they have essential therapeutic benefits, as well.

According to Martin A. Lee, author, cannabis authority and director of Project CBD, scientists have identified the molecular structure of more than 20,000 terpenes, which compose the largest category of plant chemicals. Nearly 200 terpenes have been found in cannabis. The terpenoid profile varies wildly from strain to strain.

According to Lee’s research, here are some of the most prevalent terpenes and their medicinal value:

  • Alpha-pinene (essential pine oil), the most common terpene in the plant world and one often found in cannabis, is a bronchodilator potentially helpful for asthmatics. Pinene also promotes alertness and memory retention by inhibiting the metabolic breakdown of acetylcholinesterase, a neurotransmitter in the brain that stimulates these cognitive effects.
  • Myrcene, another terpene present in numerous cannabis varietals, is a sedative, a muscle relaxant, a hypnotic, an analgesic (painkiller) and an anti-inflammatory compound. This musky terpene contributes mightily to the infamous “couch-lock” experience and is the one that gives off the skunky aroma.
  • Limonene, a major terpene in citrus as well as in cannabis, has been used clinically to dissolve gallstones, improve mood and relieve heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux. Limonene, an anticonvulsant, has been shown to destroy breast-cancer cells in lab experiments, and its powerful antimicrobial action can kill pathogenic bacteria.
  • Linalool, a terpenoid prominent in lavender as well as in some cannabis strains, is an anxiolytic compound that counters anxiety and mediates stress. In addition, linalool is a strong anticonvulsant, and it also amplifies serotonin-receptor transmission, conferring an antidepressant effect. Applied topically, linalool can heal acne and skin burns without scarring.
  • Beta-caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene found in the essential oils of black pepper, oregano and other edible herbs, as well as in cannabis and many green, leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective, good for treating certain ulcers, and shows great promise as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory conditions and autoimmune disorders because of its ability to bind directly to the peripheral cannabinoid receptor known as CB2.

So the next time you smell skunk, you’ll know it’s the terpene myrcene. Relax and chill.

Is Marijuana Powerful Enough To Fight Alzheimer’s Disease?

THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that gets you high, but the latest developments in research show that the compound is capable of more than just euphoria. A molecular study shows that THC induces the removal of toxic plaque in the brain, a contributing feature to the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

Alzheimer’s, also referred to as senile dementia, affects more than three million Americans per year. Memory loss, confusion and agitation are the main symptoms of the disease. While it is still unclear as to why people develop Alzheimer’s Disease, it is clear that it happens when brain cells and those cells’ connections degenerate and die. This leads to destruction of memory and other mental capacities.

THC can interrupt this process for the better. Cannabis’ powerhouse ingredient blocks the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChe) and prevents the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) from collecting. Abeta is a plaque that builds up on the walls of the arteries in the brain. This build up is detrimental for Alzheimer’s patients because of its ability to induce a toxic inflammation of cells that severely damage the neurons in the brain.

Luckily, THC’s anti-inflammatory components attack Abeta and give nerve cells the opportunity to survive.

A study conducted with animal models exhibiting a wide variety of diseases including stroke and dementia, outlined the powerful effects of cannabis. Researchers created a synthetic cannabis called J147 and noted that it activated the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and stopped the accumulation of plaque, death of nerve cells and inflammation.

Another study published this year found that doses of medical cannabis oil with a control amount of THC helped reduce symptoms of delusion, agitation, irregular sleep patterns and irritability for dementia patients. Although this study only examined 11 participants for four weeks, all of the patients noted overall improvements in mood and mentality. This small study alone is a huge step in proving cannabis’ important role.

Sex Before Bed Can Help You Sleep But Only If This Happens

It’s no secret that having sex before bed can wear you out, causing you to fall asleep easier. But there’s a catch: both you and your partner need to have an orgasm.

“This hormone among many other feel-good hormones has been said to act as a sedative to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep,” says Dr. Michele Lastella, a sleep researcher at Central Queensland University’s Appleton Institute for Behavioral Science in Adelaide, Australia, who recently found that a whopping two-thirds of people get better sleep after sex. But as The Advertiser (by way of Men’s Health) reports, this works best if both people achieved orgasms.

Says Lastella:

The project is based on some preliminary research evidence that, after humans have sex and achieve orgasm, we have a massive release of a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone among many other feel-good hormones has been said to act as a sedative to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

He says if it’s a good night’s sleep you’re after, turn off your electronics and turn on your partner. If you didn’t already realize it, when you’re having sex, you’re not usually thinking about other things; you’re not distracted like you are on a mobile device.

“Sex and sleep are among our most basic of needs and essential for our overall health,” he says, “so it’s interesting to find out to what extent they can have provide mutual benefits.”

Woman Parks In Police Chief’s Parking Spot While Smoking Marijuana

Authorities report that a woman was charged with possession of marijuana in May, and was charged again later for smoking marijuana while parked in the town’s chief of police’s spot.

While reporting to the courthouse for the first charge, the 26-year-old was caught smelling of marijuana while parked in the local police chief’s spot. A more detailed explanation of the event shows how she got caught in the first place.

ABCnews.com reports that while she was arriving to her court appearance, she cut off a police car while talking on her cell phone. She then pulled into the parking spot that was clearly marked reserved for the town’s chief police. When the policemen who saw all of this approached her, she lowered her window letting out a whole lot of marijuana smoke. Way to break three laws in the most obvious way possible!

Aside for the first charge she was ticketed twice more, for talking on her cellphone and for smoking marijuana.

We wish her better luck for her next appointment at the courthouse.

VIDEO: Jeff Sessions Derides DOJ Intern Who Challenges His Marijuana Policies

To all future interlocuters like “Dr. Whatever Your Name Is,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions does not like being questioned regarding his stances on marijuana, as this video obtained by ABC News shows.

The video in question is from a June 2017 Q&A session where the attorney general fielded questions from Department of Justice interns. Following a cellphone video leak of the private event, ABC News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the full recording. In clips from said recording, DOJ interns fling hard-hitting questions at Sessions regarding police brutality, gun ownership and marijuana policies.

From the video, it’s clear the interns and Sessions don’t hold similar views on these issues.

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“You support pretty harsh policies for marijuana and pretty lax gun control laws—I’m not even sure where you stand on the assault weapons ban,” one intern questions Sessions. “So I’d like to know, since guns kill more people than marijuana, why lax laws one versus the other?”

Sessions responded forcefully, stating that more fatal accidents occur from drugs than alcohol, and reminded the intern that the American Medical Association is “crystal clear” in its opinion that “marijuana is not a healthy substance.”

The intern went on to challenge Sessions on that claim, but instead he cut her off and dismissed her as “Dr. Whatever Your Name Is.”

“I don’t think America’s going to be a better place if marijuana’s sold in every corner grocery store,” Sessions said.

 

 

Why Cryptocurrency Is Gaining Acceptance In Cannabis

As bitcoin’s price continues its meteoric rise, which has seen the cryptocurrency skyrocket in value from just under $1,000 at the start of 2017 to above $10,000 in November, a number of companies have taken steps to benefit from the growth of the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry.

One area of the industry that appears to offer significant growth potential is the application of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to sectors of the economy, such as the cannabis industry, that is blocked from accessing banking services.

The intersection of the growth of the cannabis and cryptocurrency markets has created a promising environment for firms looking to capitalize on the robust growth currently occurring in these industries. Legalization of the use of cannabis for medical and recreational use by governments around the world has led to powerful demand for the product, which shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. This is reflected in a report by Grand View Research, which projects that the cannabis market will reach $55.8 billion by 2025.

RELATED: Bitcoin Can Make You Rich, But What Is It

Similarly, the ability of the blockchain to provide a decentralized, encrypted ledger to store records in an efficient, verifiable manner without requiring assistance from intermediaries has facilitated growth in the cryptocurrency market. The blockchain serves as the backbone of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, and its radical transparency has enabled the use of bitcoin to process high risk transactions, such as those in the cannabis industry. In a sign of the growing mainstream acceptance of the cryptocurrency, the U.S. CFTC recently gave approval to the CME CBOE exchanges to start trading bitcoin future contracts on Dec. 18 of this year.

Watch Thomas The Tank Engine Get Fast And Furious

Holiday season is here and with it comes the powerful concoction of tradition and nostalgia. For a swath of millennial boys and girls, Thomas the Tank Engine stirs up familiar emotions, being such a cultural touchstone and all.

The two are connected because those same millennial boys and girls likely received a Thomas the Tank Engine train set for Christmas, which was like the toddler version for Hot Wheels. Similar to what Toy Blocks were to Legos.

But one YouTube channel is bucking that wonderfully executed simile by showing off Thomas the Tank Engine as a stunt master. Pulling jumps and breaking through walls, Thomas and friends show off their full potential.

Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Fast and Furious move over, because there’s new game in town and his name is Thomas the Tank Engine. Like those franchises, let’s hope YouTube channel 5MadMovieMakers produces like seven hundred sequels to this new, exciting original IP.

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