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Inside Dudeism, The Religion Inspired By ‘The Big Lebowski’

Maria Loreto
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Inside Dudeism, The Religion Inspired By ‘The Big Lebowski’

Dudeism is a religion inspired on Jeff Bridges’ character, The Dude, from The Big Lebowski. Have you seen the movie? The Dude has become a cultural icon over the years, a sort of Marilyn Monroe for the modern American persona. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve probably seen Jeff Bridges as The Dude, in all of his flip flop and bathrobe glory.

https://giphy.com/gifs/molly-welker-F3G8ymQkOkbII

Although the movie was a box office flop during it’s release in 1998, by the early 2000’s it had become a cult classic, screening in small theaters in Los Angeles and New York and having Lebowski fests, where dozens of Dudes would gather together to play bowling, smoke weed, drink White Russians and discuss and dissect the movie. The Big Lebowski is as quotable as a movie can possibly be, and even with all it’s silliness and weirdness, you can’t help but find some truth and meaning into The Dude’s lifestyle and creed.

Dudeism, also known as The Church of The Latter Day Dude, was officially founded in 2005, and has ordained over 220,000 “Dudeist Priests” from all over the world through their website, which is surprisingly well built and legit. Dudeism has a ‘Take It Easy’ Manifesto and it’s pick of the Great Dudes In History, which includes Snoopy, Quincy Jones, and Jennifer Lawrence.

While Dudeism in its official form has been organized as a religion only recently, it has existed down through the ages in one form or another. Probably the earliest form of Dudeism was the original form of Chinese Taoism, before it went all weird with magic tricks and body fluids. The originator of Taoism, Lao Tzu, basically said “smoke ’em if you got ’em” and “mellow out, man” although he said this in ancient Chinese so something may have been lost in the translation.”

Dudeism has appeared on ABC segments, on several commercials, and on a documentary that’s still in the making. While it may sound very silly, these people consider that Dudeism is not a joke but a lifestyle, where what matters is the here and now, and your attitude towards life. If you’re still unconvinced, here are some of The Dude’s greatest lines and moments. You can check out their website here.

So, Scientists Are Building An Artificial Intelligence ‘God’

Maria Loreto
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So, Scientists Are Building An Artificial Intelligence ‘God’

The Singularity is a term people use to infuse terror whenever they’re talking about the future of technology. It’s a scary word, because it talks about the moment – impending or not – when computers will finally be smarter than humans, rendering us irrelevant and unnecessary, and ultimately, transforming the way our world works. Singularity is the stuff of science fiction, and it’s scary because every year it feels more plausible.

Anthony Levandowsky doesn’t seem to share our fear of the technological singularity. A multimillionaire and genius from Silicon Valley, Levandowsky has worked for Google and has developed brilliant technological endeavors, including a self driving truck he sold to Uber for a lot of money. Among his creations, he’s also found time to develop a religion called the Way of the Future. Wired reports that the purpose of this religion is to “develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence”. Supposedly, this religion will also look for ways of improving society through the understanding and worship of the Godhead.

While some experts like Ray Kurzweil claim that the Singularity won’t be the end of us, instead opening up opportunities for humanity, others scientists like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking claim the opposite. 

Via Vanity Fair:

With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon. You know all those stories where there’s the guy with the pentagram and the holy water and he’s like, yeah, he’s sure he can control the demon? Doesn’t work out.”

Levandowsky hasn’t talked openly about his plans with Way of the Future, but his proposal of wanting to create, revere, and understand a Godhead suggest that he either doesn’t know what he’s getting into or he really does. Sadly, no matter how informed we are, this is a topic that will mostly be determined by the experts and by those who are involved in the industry. All of us, non-tech people, will be left looking on from the sidelines, waiting to see what happens.

Amazon Key Wants To Enable Deliveries & Delivery People Into Your Home

Maria Loreto
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Amazon Key Wants To Enable Deliveries & Delivery People Into Your Home

Amazon has been investing a lot of their time and resources into the development of in home appliances that improve your lifestyle and security. Their next endeavor, Amazon Key, is looking to simplify package deliveries by giving delivery men the ability to deliver packages without the need of a signature or without having to leave purchases unassisted at doorsteps. 

Amazon Key consists of an app, a camera, and a lock. Once you buy their service you’ll allow the company to install a new set of locks and a camera on your doorstep, which you’ll be able to monitor through your app. With this service, you’ll enable Amazon employees to drop off packages inside your home without needing a signature. On November 8, the service will be launched in 37 cities within the U.S.

The service will be provided for Prime members exclusively and it’ll cost 250 dollars for initial installation. Once Amazon Key is installed, you’ll receive a notification when your package is about to be delivered, establishing a four hour window where you’ll Amazon Cloud Cam will be active and ready to record the drop off. When the delivery man arrives, your door will unlock and you’ll be able to watch the delivery in real time or to watch the recording afterwards.

Amazon has tried to make their service as safe as possible by establishing a secure and encrypted lock system for your doorstep. The company also claims that the footage captured by the camera only lasts for 24 hours and that it can only be viewed by you. The main downside of the service – and it’s a big one – is the fact that you’ll be letting a stranger into your home. Even if employees are forced to get thorough background checks, does the company deserve so much of your trust? 

Gossip: Duchess Kate Keen To ‘Carve Out More Serious Role For Herself’; Lindsay Lohan Trying To Get Close With Rob Kardashian

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Duchess Kate Keen To ‘Carve Out More Serious Role For Herself’; Lindsay Lohan Trying To Get Close With Rob Kardashian

The statement issued by Duchess Kate was this:

The Duchess is keen to develop an understanding of the issues surrounding maternal mental health, and to learn what support is available. At least 20% of women are affected by mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. If left untreated, maternal mental health problems can have significant and long lasting effect on the woman and her family.

Lindsay Lohan Trying To Get Close With Rob Kardashian

A new report says that Lindsay Lohan has been reaching out and trying to get close again with her old friend Rob Kardashian.

But insiders say she has an agenda! The source says she “sees it as an opportunity to become relevant again.” What does Rob’s family think? The source says, “They want him to stay as far away from her as possible.”

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

For This South Carolina Grandmother, Cannabis Is Worth The Risk

Trey Reckling
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For This South Carolina Grandmother, Cannabis Is Worth The Risk

Carrie King is a wife, mother, grandmother and cannabis user. It’s not just for kicks. It’s the best medicine she has had, but it’s been a long strange trip getting to this point.

In 2004, Carrie was having terrible headaches and something was just not right at all. Her husband rushed her to the ER. Carrie didn’t realize she had suffered a brain aneurysm. While the doctors worked on her, she suffered a second one. Doctors induced a coma with opiates and she stayed in that state for over a month.

It quickly upended her life. “I had really bad short term memory memory problems following this,” King shared. The cycle of opiates and refills that followed didn’t help. Depression led her to a scary point where she realized something had to change. She sought help to get away from the opiates and put all of that behind her, and she did with the help of friends and support.

Photo courtesy of Carrie King

In 2014, she was diagnosed with cancer. Carrie had two surgeries, followed by chemotherapy. “They pump you full of all kinds of medication and fluids. It’s an 8-hour process and I would be so swollen after a session.” Her oncologist wrote her a prescription for Marinol, synthetic THC. It made her very high. Too high.

A friend suggested she consider becoming a medical marijuana patient. Carrie works at a local hospital teaching yoga to people in substance abuse recovery. Worried that marijuana could be a problem for her, she approached friends working in addiction services. They assured her that there are many in the recovery community who are on the “marijuana maintenance program” and doing well. 

She made some calls, got the hookup and started smoking weed. “I’m not loaded down on a bunch of medications and I can function and be a normal person.” 

As a resident of South Carolina, Carrie puts herself at risk from law enforcement by being a cannabis user. It is a risk that she is willing to take. “Why can’t I smoke a bowl, have a good evening and go to bed? I am in my 50’s and just starting to see what this plant can do. We need to legalize this plant.”

Carrie just wants to be as pain free as possible and lead a fulfilling life. She believes many other people can benefit in the same way and vows to continue to share her story with others. “I will continue to voice my gratitude for this plant for helping me through a tough time and for teaching me something.” 

More Patient Stories: 

Survey: War Veterans Want Medical Cannabis More Than Ever

Mary Schumacher
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Survey: War Veterans Want Medical Cannabis More Than Ever

A just-released survey from The American Legion, the largest group of war veterans in the nation, shows that they overwhelmingly approve of the legalization of medical marijuana and almost every member who took the survey is in favor of cannabis research.

Veterans tend to make up an older, more conservative demographic, but a demographic that’s been to or readied for war. There are too many cases of PTSD to count, missing limbs, missing men and women and a whole lot of suffering that can be eased with medical marijuana. In other words, they really get it.

In fact, earlier this year the Legion adopted a resolution requesting the federal government to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to be able to discuss and recommend medical cannabis in states where it’s legal.

Last summer, the Legion attempted to put their hefty influence into the political cannabis ring in an effort to take marijuana off of the Schedule I list, hoping to allow for more research. Though they do have a powerful voice, the plant remains in Schedule I – for now.

“People ask ‘aren’t you a law and order group’. Why yes we are,” said the Legion’s Executive Director Verna Jones at a press conference with Congress members. “But we’re also a group that takes care of veterans. And when veterans come to us and say a particular treatment is working for them, we owe it to them and listen.”

However, the Legion’s also made it clear that they aren’t in this battle to win the recreational side of marijuana law reform. In a statement they made it clear, “It is very important to note that The American Legion is NOT advocating for recreational use of marijuana.”

The survey was of 802 persons, 513 of them veterans and 289 their caregivers. When the numbers shook out, nine out of 10 were in favor of medicinal research and four out of five were in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. Sixty percent of those surveyed were 60 or older.

“It is also clear from the survey that veterans are accessing cannabis to assist them in states with and without medical marijuana programs,” added Five Corners Strategies, the group that conducted the surveys for The American Legion.

The Link Between Cannabis, Kidney Health And Obesity

Trey Reckling
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The Link Between Cannabis, Kidney Health And Obesity

A recently released study funded by the German-Israeli Foundation helped scientists have found what may be a link between obesity, nephropathy and kidney disease. Compounds like those found in marijuana seem to play a preventative role. 

Obesity can worsen hypertension and increases the risk of chronic kidney disease. Renal dysfunction occurs early as someone becomes obese. This is further complicated since the condition also increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Men over 50 are more likely to be affected. But older men are just one segment of this affected population.

Obesity is a major healthcare challenge throughout the world. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.4 billion people in the world are overweight. In the US alone, two-thirds of Americans are overweight and almost one-third are obese.

The challenge to doctors has been understanding how the connection happens. In this study scientists focused on the endocannabinoid system, the innate system we share with all vertebrate animals. Receptors connect like a lock and key with specific, naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar in chemical structure to those found in the cannabis plant.

The CB1 type receptors were targeted and ‘knocked out’ for the lab mice. The modified mice were then fed a high calorie diet to make them obese. The same diet was fed to the control group, wild mice with non adjusted genetic codes. All mice became severely overweight but all were not equally healthy.

There was less incidence of both inflammation and compromised, fibrous tissue in the knockout mice. Additional markers used to measure the likelihood of kidney disease were also found to be lower in the genetically modified group. Increased fat droplets in the tubes leading to the kidneys and increase in enzymes related to kidney disease were found in wild mice but not those whose CB1 receptors had been affected.

Researchers concluded that targeting the CB1 receptors could be crucial in helping obese patients minimize this kidney condition. This could be huge news for both people with obesity related renal disease and those who are at risk of developing it. After all, marijuana for medical purposes has continued to prove to be an effective and even safer alternative for many conditions than existing therapies.

There is no shortage of people who could benefit if this study foreshadows the effectiveness of marijuana and its compounds to ward off renal damage and disease. Considering the number of people worldwide who suffer from this condition, we can expect to see much more interest in this rather novel approach to minimizing risk to the kidneys.

New Jersey Court: Marijuana’s Health Benefits Are ‘Glaringly Apparent’

Terry Hacienda
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New Jersey Court: Marijuana’s Health Benefits Are ‘Glaringly Apparent’

A New Jersey Appellate Court earlier this week claimed the health benefits of cannabis are abundantly and glaringly apparent now,” forcing the state lawmakers to review its medical marijuana program.

In an unprecedented ruling, two out of three judges on the appellate court panel essentially confirmed that marijuana is medicine, saying that Gov. Chris Christie and his administration are required to revisit the legal status of the state’s law regarding marijuana.

For more than four decades, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug under federal and state laws. The classification means that the herb has a “high potential for abuse” and is in the category as heroin and LSD.

The court’s ruling said that Steve Lee, the former director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, had the state’s legal authority to reclassify marijuana, despite the federal mandate. In 2014, Lee, citing the 1971 federal law, refused the rescheduling request from plaintiff Steven Kadonsky, who was serving a life sentence for trafficking. Kadonsky’s defense team claimed that marijuana was incorrectly scheduled under New Jersey law. 

The judges, noting that New Jersey had allowed medical marijuana since 2010, agreed. If New Jersey citizens were allowed to use cannabis to treat pain, PTSD, and other qualifying conditions, the state had standing to consider rescheduling.

The court’s ruling does not change marijuana’s legal status in New Jersey and the Attorney General’s Office plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. But the decision could be an impetus for rescheduling marijuana.

Judge Michael Guadagno, who wrote the majority opinion for the appellate panel, is married to Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, the Republican front-runner in November’s governor’s race. Although the gubernatorial candidate is an ardent opponent of recreational marijuana, she has gone on record as saying she would make it easier for people to have access to medical marijuana. 

Her likely Democratic opponent Phil Murphy wants to “legalize marijuana so police can focus resources on violent crime.”

Here’s 10 Types Of Marijuana You Can Take To Focus

Maria Loreto
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Here’s 10 Types Of Marijuana You Can Take To Focus

For every cause, there is an effect. For every bud you smoke, there is a reaction. The key to combating these effects such as sleepiness, hunger and extensive euphoria is knowing which type of strain is perfect for what you’re trying to accomplish.

For example, marijuana that’s higher on the THC side might have you feeling happy and euphoric, but also might have a dizzying cerebral high that’s not too great if you want to socialize with people or be productive. (FYI, I’m talking about you Blue Dream).

Know that there are multiple ways to consume marijuana, you can eat or drink it, rub it into your skin, vape, smoke and much more. Ask the budtenders at your local store which products have the strains listed and then pick how you want to put it into your body.

via GIPHY

Need help finding a store? We got you. Just visit our directory.

The following are 10 strains you can order to help you focus.

Harlequin

Harlequin is the answer to your prayers. This sativa strain is spicy and herbal with a higher dose of CBD that will get your mind right on track. Plus, you’ll feel relaxed without becoming too sedated.

Blue Widow

Blue Widow is a hybrid strain that’ll even make the most mundane task, seem interesting. You can focus and get some enjoyment out of whatever it is that may require your attention. The strong sweet buds will definitely put you in a good mood, too

Ghost Train Haze

No you won’t be taken on a spooky, scary ride. In fact, Ghost Train Haze is the perfect combination of concentration and happiness. Plus, the sativa-dominant strain has a complex collection of flavors that’ll satisfy your senses.

Kali Mist

A lightweight sativa strain that’s part earthy and part sweet, Kali Mist is just what you need to be productive and sharp throughout the day.

Allen Wrench

If there was ever a sativa strain that would make cranking out hours of paperwork, dealing with obnoxious colleagues and insane management, slightly less gruesome, Allen Wrench is it. It’s citrusy and woody and the perfect happy high for concentration.

Blueberry Headband

This hybrid strain is 50/50 sativa and indica that produces a great cerebral high. You’ll feel happy and uplifted without the jitteriness to interfere with your productivity.

Super Sour Diesel

This strain is perfect for cranking out at-home projects. (It’s super dank and pungent smell might not be the best bud to indulge in before work).

Permafrost

Permafrost is actually great for treating patients with ADD/ADHD because of it’s relaxing, calming abilities that will have you focused, but not too fixated. The pine-like aromas are also very, very soothing.

Jesus OG

This herb deserves an amen. The lemony aromas create a nice high that call for clarity and functionality. Jesus OG is a sativa-dominant strain so you’ll be uplifted and inspired, while focused and driven.

Cherry Bomb

Cherry bomb is a fruity hybrid strain that’s explosive in the best way possible. It’s musky and berry, but it’s strong sativa buzz makes it a great daytime companion. You’ll feel happy, relaxed and have enough energy to concentrate fully.

The 80/20 Principle Could Help You Lose Those Extra Pounds

Maria Loreto
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The 80/20 Principle Could Help You Lose Those Extra Pounds

You might have heard of the 80/20 principle. Many celebrities claim that it’s one of the most successful methods of maintaining and losing weight. More than a fad or strict diet that people struggle to maintain for a couple of weeks, the 80/20 principle is a lifestyle and something that, once you commit to it, can be maintained for really long periods of time.

Without getting into the math of it, the focus of the method is to eat clean and healthy foods for 80 percent of your meals, leaving you with a 20 percent window where you can do and eat what you please. If you eat 3 meals a day, that means that during your week you have 3 meals where you can go crazy. A lot of experts suggest that, when starting off the method or when looking for weight loss, you should follow the 90/10 rule, which leaves you with a more strict plan that has less cheat meals per week. Once you find your groove and get to your desired weight, you can add more cheat meals and be more lenient. 

The 80/20 method is a smart way of changing your relationship to food and of helping you be more comfortable with yourself. Popsugar interviewed Yumi Lee, Jessica Alba’s trainer, who vouches for this meal plan, claiming that it’s the reason why the actress is able to maintain her weight while also having a life. 

“You can’t be a 100 percent all the time, but you can be 80 percent all the time.”

It’s understandable why this diet has so many followers and devotees. Diets and weight loss programs encourage people to eat healthy and to limit themselves, but this gets harder the longer you’ve been trying to lose weight, which is why the 80/20 rule sounds so great. Instead of limiting yourself and setting unrealistic goals for your diet, the rule suggests a change of lifestyle, which, even though it takes work, will probably provide better and longer lasting results.

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