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Why Russell Westbrook And Taylor Swift Love Each Other

Brendan Bures
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Why Russell Westbrook And Taylor Swift Love Each Other

You wouldn’t think Taylor Swift and Russell Westbrook hold much in common. She sings catchy pop songs, he dunks basketballs like he’s John Wick and they just murdered his dog.

Westbrook won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. It was well-deserved. Russ practically played basketball 1-on-5 every game and won many game. His effort was both Herculean and Sisyphean in nature. You could argue he didn’t uphold the foundation of basketball chemistry and philosophy, not being a necessary nurturing force to teammates, but that would make you boring. (If the MVP actually went to the player who earned the moniker of being most valuable, the award would go to LeBron James for the past five years.)

Anyways, following Westbrook’s win, the Oklahoma City Thunder tweeted out a congratulatory video for the player. The video included no one from the organization Westbrook plays for. Instead, it was a video from Taylor Swift, who has been hiding in self-imposed publicity and media exile this year. Westbrook was worthy of leaving her cave it appears.

But this isn’t the first public displays of affection the two celebrities have had for one another. The two have been all too keen to shower each other with praise via social media.

2013: Westbrook sings T-Swift with his crutches

Russell Westbrook had a lot of down time in the summer of 2013. He’d suffered an ACL injury and was in recovery, meaning he had a lot of time to kill. That included jamming to Taylor Swift’s Red. In a Vine video (RIP Vine), Westbrook strummed his crutch like a guitar, quietly crooning along to Swift: “I’m pretty sure we almost broke out last night.”

2015: Russ loves “Bad Blood”

https://www.instagram.com/p/3ABgtwiiMI/

How do you know you really love a song? By blasting it in your car, singing along at the top of your lungs. How do you show you really love a song in the social media era? By blasting it in your car, singing along at the top of your lungs, and recording the scene. Check and check for Russ and “Bad Blood.” (Now Kevin Durant left the following year and they kind of maybe were getting along that year and if you were to diss a teammate publicly the last song you’d choose would be a T-Swift joint, but….was this a subtweet at KD???)

Taylor appreciated the post.

https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/601990735165038593

2015: Westbrook attends Swift concert at Staples Center

https://www.instagram.com/p/62fJXGiiIU/

Russ loved Swift’s 1989 tour as much as you did. He attended the concert in Los Angeles, showing off his excellent floor seats. His fandom apparently was limited to just attendance. No recorded moment of the two meeting up until this point.

2015: Westbrook Shares pregame ritual with Jimmy Kimmel

Russell Westbrook appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in September of that year. Walking onstage, the band played Swift’s “Shake It Off,” causing Kimmel to ask Russ about his Swift fandom. He replied that “Shake It Off” was “the best” and “her music is so catchy.” He also shared his pregame ritual of napping, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (wheat bread, toasted, cut in half only please), and calling his parents. Just adorable.

2016: Russ takes his love to Snapchat

Different year, different app. The old Westbrook showed his love on Vine and Instagram. But the new Westbrook filmed himself on Snapchat, singing along to “We Are Never Getting Back Together.”

2016: Westbrook AMA

That same year Russell Westbrook hosted an AMA on Reddit. He was asked various questions, revealing he enjoyed Orange is the New Black on Netflix and Goldeneye was his favorite video game. But it also showcased more Swift love. He shared that Taylor made the pregame playlist and he has “a lot of favorites of T.Swift.”

2017: Swift congratulates MVP win

Now we’re back where we started. It might have taken Russell Westbrook achieving the highest individual honor an NBA player could earn, but he received his Swift shout-out in return.

Cotton Candy Ice Cream Burritos And 7 Other Summer Dessert Mashups

Jillian Peterson
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Cotton Candy Ice Cream Burritos And 7 Other Summer Dessert Mashups

There seems to be a phase every year in which dessert companies try to come up with insane mashups fit for social media. This phase lasts about three months and is often referred to as “summer.”

If a waffle ice cream sandwich is made and no one is there to photograph it, does it really exist?

The front runner for 2017’s crazy summer sugar bomb is this ice cream burrito wrapped in cotton candy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVinnINFT79/

Foodbeast reports the hybrid is the brain freeze child of Sugar Sugar in Ontario, Canada. It’s three scoops of ice cream (bubble gum, birthday cake, cotton candy) atop a flattened cloud of cotton candy that’s rolled up like a damn burrito. Oh, and it’s sprinkled with UNICORN DUST WHATEVER THAT IS.

Here are 7 other dessert combos that are low-key crazy town.

1. Ice Cream Stuffed Marshmallow

If Hostess ever calls a “do over” on their Snowball (and they should), it’ll hopefully taste like this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtzL-eALCg/

2. Churro Ice Cream Cones

Better than a traditional cone, because the doughy churro absorbs the ice cream.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSiDvNUF70D

3. Cookie Dough In A Cone

Stoners have been doing this for decades.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSCmqvFBlKD

4. Pizza Ice Cream Topped Pizza 

So meta!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVZ0P6Pg0vu/

5. Cotton Candy Ice Cream

It’s like a sweater for when your ice cream gets chilly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRZfLsbADmH

6. Spaghetti Ice Cream

Gelato pressed through a pasta maker and topped with strawberry syrup. Kinda gross, tbh.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVc7RH7AWOz/

7. Flan Topped Cupcakes

Truth: Frosting > custard hats. Always.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVcvnCoFFwL/

 

Gossip: Deep In Debt Tori Spelling Could Go To Jail; Rihanna Spent ‘Hundreds Of Thousands’ On Birthday Party

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Deep In Debt Tori Spelling Could Go To Jail; Rihanna Spent ‘Hundreds Of Thousands’ On Birthday Party

It appears Tori and Dean’s mounting financial problems have reached the critical zero hour. “All their debts, which just keep growing and growing, have put them so deep in the hole that it seems there may be no way out,” an insider says. “But what’s truly scary is how much they owe the government. Having their money actually seized shows just how serious their problems are. Tori’s running out of options, and the walls are closing in.” The situation is so dire, sources insist, the mom of five could find herself serving time behind bars.

Rihanna Spent ‘Hundreds Of Thousands’ On Birthday Party

A new report says the party featured a Louis Vuitton tent and a Chanel tent filled with expensive gifts from each fashion house. The party was “over the top.”

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

The Internet Is Really, Really Happy The Knicks Fired Phil Jackson

Brendan Bures
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The Internet Is Really, Really Happy The Knicks Fired Phil Jackson

As an employee of any sports franchise, your job is constantly under scrutiny. Fans love cherry-picking your decisions, believing you didn’t do enough, are incompetent, and should be replaced at various points over your career. For example, if you’re Phil Jackson, New York Knicks fans thought all those things at once.

ESPN broke the new Wednesday morning MSG executive chairman Phil Jackson and Jackson had “agreed to part ways.” This is the nice way of saying Jackson was fired. Questions abounded whether Jackson, 71, held the “fitness” necessary to fulfill his roles. Following public clashes with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and openly discussing up-and-comer Kristaps Porzingis, not to mention Jackson’s insistence the team run the obsolete triangle offense, you could say Knicks fans grew frustrated.

To say they’re ecstatic at Jackson’s firing is an understatement. Knicks’ fans exist in a state of euphoria currently. They are freed from incompetent management—obligatory mention that James Dolan remains with the franchise—and see hope with their team where they’re previously wasn’t.

What I’m telling you is this: If you’re father is a Knicks fan, ask him for that iPad you always wanted. In his manic high he will buy you anything you want. If you’re boss is a Knicks fan, ask for a raise or a promotion. If you’re a Knicks fan, don’t check yourself. You earned this. Buy yourself what your bank account can’t afford.

I mean, just look at how happy all these people are. From the celebrity Knicks fans to the media to the casuals. Everyone is really, really happy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV4cXCiD7cD/

https://twitter.com/RealLifeKaz/status/880065683307905024

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/880056626488672256

If people are this happy at your firing, you were bad at your job. Like really, really bad. In the spirit of all Knicks fans: Bye Phil Jackson. See ya never.

This Smartphone-Enabled Humidor Keeps Your Bud Fresh

Terry Hacienda
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This Smartphone-Enabled Humidor Keeps Your Bud Fresh

Do you really need a high-tech, smartphone-enabled humidor to keep your stash from drying out? The answer, clearly, is no. But would you love to have a beautifully built piece of craftsmanship that keeps your cannabis out of view, locked from curious children and perfectly calibrated for temperature and humidity? Of course you would.

Photo courtesy of Cannador

Cannador calls itself “a premium storage brand that focuses on functional design and balanced humidity for the home.” The uniquely designed airtight cannabis storage box preserves your cannabis by controlling humidity at the perfect ratio to maintain freshness and taste.

Yes, glass jars work. But translucent containers allow in UV light, which can damage the dried herb. And putting your bud in a humidor designed for cigars may leave it too humid.

Cannador recently partnered with Massachusetts tech firm, Blustream, to bring smartphone-enabled, relative humidity (RH) monitoring and temperature calibration to home cannabis storage.

Why Does Humidity Matter?

When storing cannabis, an excessive amount of humidity or moisture can lead to mold and mildew. Not enough humidity or dryness can turn buds crumbly. The herb will also become harsher and less potent as the trichomes and terpenes fade.

If cannabis gets hit with humidity in the upper 70s or above, mold could become an issue. A rule of thumb is to keep marijuana stored at about 60 percent humidity. Above 65 percent may present a problem with mold. One study found that by maintaining a relative humidity of 62 percent, the terpene content of cannabis by 15 percent. Terpenes are a vital component in cannabis for many reasons, including taste. Dried out terpenes will leave your bud less flavorful.

Photo courtesy of Cannador

In most homes, trying to keep cannabis in a controlled, consistent, stable environment can be difficult to do and even more difficult to measure. Which is where Cannador’s value becomes clear.

The Blustream Sensor and App syncs with a small sensor, which includes a hygrometer and thermometer that is placed inside of your humidor. The app communicates with the sensor to let you know the RH and temperature in real time. The app tracks the RH and temperature every hour and displays this information on a timeline that you can scroll through.

Perfect For The Tree-Hugger

And if you are an environmentalist, this is a brand for you. According to its website:

“As part of our corporate social responsibility, we have pledged to plant one tree for every Cannador purchased. As citizens of the earth, we believe in replenishing what we take and therefore have a responsibility to create a better planet for future generations. Plant-It 2020 is a non-profit in Colorado dedicated to properly planting, maintaining and protecting as many indigenous trees as possible. We will be working with Plant-It 2020 to help meet their goals in promoting sustainable reforestation.”

So if you’re looking for a classy, high-tech way to store your cannabis — and help plant a tree — check out the Cannador.

PotBot: A Virtual Budtender That Helps You Find The Perfect Marijuana

Terry Hacienda
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PotBot: A Virtual Budtender That Helps You Find The Perfect Marijuana

Two of the hottest sectors in the Silicon Valley economy — based on Internet buzz and mainstream news headlines — are artificial intelligence and cannabis. Put those two scorching hot industries together and you get PotBotics, a startup that uses AI to to provide medical marijuana recommendations to patients.

Probotics, which has offices in Silicon Valley and New York, promises to “guide [medical marijuana] patients to the appropriate cannabinoid levels, medical cannabis strains, and consumption methods for their specific ailment.”

For patients searching for the right type of cannabis for their individual needs, this scientific approach is much better than the random trial-and-error method or the “it-worked-for-me-so-it-might-work-for-you” method.

In many states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal, budtenders provide an important customer service. But budtender training is spotty at best and may offer advice that simply does not work for you.

Probotics claims its technology is a blend of “artificial intelligence, DNA analysis, and cannabis research” and it can zero in on the data available to benefit patients.

“We want to help patients get better consulting and advice when considering medical marijuana,” said Dr. Boris Goldstein, the company’s founder. Another co-founder is his father, Baruch Goldstein, who previously worked on AI projects after receiving his PhD in mathematics.

“We don’t talk about taste, flavor, or smell, and we stray away from strain names,” Boris Goldstein told Fast Company. “Strain names aren’t tied to medical benefits because certain strains at different dispensaries don’t give the same therapeutic relief since their cannabinoid levels are different.”

On the company’s website, it explains why its technology is preferred by patients:

“Patients who are recommended medical marijuana are given very little information on the different strains available to them on the market. There are more than 750 strains of cannabis to choose from and many methods of consumption such as tinctures, dabs, edibles, lotions, vaporizers and sprays. Choosing the wrong strain and form of ingestion can aggravate symptoms instead of alleviating them.”

Launched three years ago, PotBotics claims to be the first biotech company to merge robotics and artificial intelligence with cannabis. Its first product offering, named PotBot, is an artificially intelligent avatar that can understand organic speech, engage in two-way communication, and assist patients with tailoring strains to their specific needs, the company says.

The PotBot app is available in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store. There is also a desktop app available. The company reports that more than 600,000 smartphone users already have tried the technology.

Last year, the company was named in Entrepreneur Magazine‘s ‘Top 10 Startups in Cannabis You Need To Watch’ for its innovative approach to patient health.

How Does It Work?

It’s pretty intuitive:

  • First, the patient provides a few pieces of basic information (age, weight, gender, state of residence, etc.)
  • Next, the patient selects the ailments it is hoping to treat with cannabis.
  • The PotBot will then provide recommendations for the marijuana most appropriate for your specific condition.
  • The app will also locate a nearby dispensary or retailer near you. It will also search for a doctor in your area.

Watch the video:

What’s Happening With Traffic Searches In Legal Marijuana States?

Mike Adams
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What’s Happening With Traffic Searches In Legal Marijuana States?

In states that have legalized marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, law enforcement agencies are conducting fewer roadside traffic searches, according to the latest data provided by the Marshall Project and the Center for Investigative Reporting.

For decades, the criminalization of marijuana has been a feather in the cap of police departments all across the nation. Since the herb is the most commonly used illicit substance in the world, it has been relatively easy for cops to establish probable cause to search vehicles for drugs during routine traffic stops.

From personal experience, highway patrols in areas of prohibition have been able to use the presence of items such as a French fry (thinking it was a joint) as a means to conduct a search.

However, in states like Colorado and Washington, where marijuana is now legally sold to adults 21 and older, police officers no longer have as much incentive to shakedown motorists in an effort to pull weed off the streets.

“After marijuana use was legalized, Colorado and Washington saw dramatic drops in search rates,” the study’s authors wrote. “That’s because many searches are drug-related. Take away marijuana as a crime and searches go down.”

But this doesn’t mean that every citizen is in the clear – racial disparities in these legal jurisdictions still exist. The report finds that while it is essentially safe to be a white driver in legal states, blacks and Hispanics are still being subjected to vehicle searches at a much higher rate. There is speculation that the situation is even worse in urban areas.

Although marijuana advocates often argue that legalization is necessary in order to bring an end to these kinds of injustices, legal experts say this policy change alone is simply not enough.

“Legalizing marijuana is not going to solve racial disparities,” said Mark Silverstein, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado. “We need to do a lot more before we get at that.”

The latest data is consistent with other studies showing a decrease in marijuana-related arrests in states where it is legal. In fact, a 2016 report from Colorado’s Department of Public Safety shows that arrests for marijuana have dropped off by almost half since weed became a part of taxed and regulated commerce. Yet, blacks are still getting busted at a rate of nearly three times more than whites.

A report from the ACLU shows that 88 percent of the drug arrests in the United States are for marijuana possession. This means that legalizing the leaf at the national level may be the most common sense approach to combating the war on drugs.

Gossip: Alden Ehrenreich Needed ‘Acting Coach’ During Han Solo Movie; Duchess Kate Is Hiring ‘Super Nanny’ To Deal With ‘Tantrums’

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Alden Ehrenreich Needed ‘Acting Coach’ During Han Solo Movie; Duchess Kate Is Hiring ‘Super Nanny’ To Deal With ‘Tantrums’

You can read the THR piece here. Here are the highlights:

Kennedy tried to support Lord and Miller by adding extra helpers. Anxious to avoid an outright rupture, Kennedy is said to have made attempts first to support and eventually to supplant Lord and Miller to some degree, as happened with Gareth Edwards on the troubled Rogue One. In that case, screenwriter Tony Gilroy took on significant duties with the cooperation of Edwards; in this case, sources say, Kennedy attempted to cast Lawrence Kasdan in that role. Unsurprisingly, Lord and Miller were less accommodating than Edwards, still a novice, had been.

Lord & Miller were always a “mismatch” for the Star Wars universe. Some insiders say that while the talent of Lord and Miller is undeniable, nothing in their background prepared them for a movie of this size and scope. These sources say they relied too heavily on the improvisational style that served them so well in live-action comedy and animation but does not work on a set with hundreds of crewmembers waiting for direction. “You have to make decisions much earlier than what they’re used to,” one of these sources say. “I don’t know if it’s because there were two of them but they were not decisive.” Production department heads began to complain. While the pair appeared to listen when told of festering problems, this person says their approach did not change.

Alden’s Han Solo isn’t good enough. Matters were coming to a head in May as the production moved from London to the Canary Islands. Lucasfilm replaced editor Chris Dickens (Macbeth) with Oscar-winner Pietro Scalia, a veteran of Ridley Scott films including Alien: Covenant and The Martian. And, not entirely satisfied with the performance that the directors were eliciting from Rules Don’t Apply star Alden Ehrenreich, Lucasfilm decided to bring in an acting coach. (Hiring a coach is not unusual; hiring one that late in production is.) Lord and Miller suggested writer-director Maggie Kiley, who worked with them on 21 Jump Street.

Ron Howard is trying to be a nice guy about it. Stepping in to replace directors who have been fired is not something that many filmmakers would want to do. Ron Howard is probably one of the few who could and would — at least, in this particular set of circumstances. Insiders say he was concerned about how Lord and Miller would react and has been emailing with them; another source says the two have been “very supportive, very elegant.” Howard arrives in London on June 26 and shooting, which began in February and was supposed to be completed in July, will continue into the first week of September as Howard captures new material. Still, an insider says much of what Lord and Miller shot will be “very usable.”
[From The Hollywood Reporter]

Duchess Kate Is Hiring ‘Super Nanny’ To Deal With ‘Tantrums’

Prince William and Kate Middleton have hired a ‘super nanny’ for George and Charlotte, just three months before George starts school, according to Grazia magazine. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have previously described their son in interviews as ‘a little bit of a rascal’.

And sources have now reportedly told Grazia that Will and Kate have hired a ‘£250,000 super nanny’ for Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 2. The new nanny, who’s yet to be named, will work alongside George and Charlotte’s current nanny, Maria Borrallo, the source revealed.

The decision has come three months before George starts at Thomas’s School in Battersea, South London. The source told Grazia: ‘The new nanny is a graduate of Bath’s prestigious Norland College. She’s fluent in six languages and will speak to the children in French and Spanish, as well as using her skills as a qualified child behavioural specialist to help Kate and William deal with tantrums and other issues.’
[From Grazia via NetMums]

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

Is Smoking Marijuana Bad For Your Eyes?

Maria Loreto
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Is Smoking Marijuana Bad For Your Eyes?

Bloodshot eyes are probably the easiest way to tell if someone’s been smoking marijuana. The THC in cannabis has a role in lowering your blood pressure, which then dilates the blood vessels and increases blood flow throughout your entire body. Your eyes aren’t exempt from this, which is why they get really red.

A lot of people worry about their eyes when they consume marijuana, wondering if this can lead to broken blood vessels or other problems. The truth is not quite like that; marijuana dilates the vessels in your eyes, but it doesn’t increase the risk of them breaking. If you do have a broken vessel in your eye, smoking marijuana will definitely delay the healing process because of the increased amount of blood that’s circulating, so avoid cannabis while you’re healing. Strong coughing fits and sneezing are known causes for broken blood vessels, so when smoking marijuana be sure to inhale only as much smoke as your body can handle.  

https://giphy.com/gifs/tom-cruise-nicole-kidman-eyes-wide-shut-c60HGapXhQiic

While these symptoms seem innocent enough, we wanted to know if there were any other ways in which cannabis affects or impairs your eyesight:

Peripheral Vision Is Impaired After Smoking

This issue is only temporarily, lasting for a couple of hours, but the presence of cannabis in your system definitely influences the corners your eyesight, making your retinas take a longer time to process their surroundings. Driving and other activities that require you to be aware of the environment are not recommended.

It Takes More Time For Your Retinas To Process Information

Several medical journals claim that regular cannabis use leads to a 10 millisecond delay for our retinas to pass along information to our brain. These changes are minuscule though, and other things that we encounter in our day to day lives, like lack of vitamins and looking directly into the sun, present a larger threat for our eyesight.

Unconventional Medicine: Cannabis Suppositories

Al Olson
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Unconventional Medicine: Cannabis Suppositories

When it comes to cannabis delivery systems, is the posterior superior?

The answer to that question depends on your ailment and what pain you are hoping to alleviate. If you just want to get high, this approach is not for you. But cannabis suppositories are an excellent option for patients suffering from:

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Prostate cancer
  • Irritable bowel disease
  • Endometriosis
  • Kidney diseases

The rectal administration of cannabis is effective because the active ingredients (THC and CBD) present in the suppository absorbs quickly as it travel through the local rectal and pelvic veins and lymphatics, according to Dr. Allan Frankel.

Oral administration (marijuana edibles, beverages, smoked or vaped matter) needs more time to travel through the body before arriving at the damaged area. Suppositories allow the membranes to absorb and deliver the cannabinoids more effectively.

Before cavalierly placing a federally illegal substance up your rectal cavity, there are some important caveats to consider:

  • If you want to get high, you will be sorely disappointed. These products are loaded with CBD — the non-psychoactive component of cannabis — and are low in THC — the intoxicating cannabinoid. So if getting a buzz is your desire, you’ll be disappointed.
  • Do NOT use a suppository that has not been tested. It should be obvious to most adults that a black-market product should not go anywhere near your posterior, let alone inside it. Mold, pesticides or other foreign compounds can make whatever you are suffering from even worse. So it is advised that you find a legitimate product from a licensed provider.

Since cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug by our federal government, the FDA cannot and will not sanction the medical efficacy of this method. But anecdotal evidence suggests this is an emerging market for the medical marijuana field.

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