In December, Caroline Charter uploaded a video of her mother laughing hysterically as her daughter Suzanne repeatedly tries and fails to make it up an icy driveway. The video has since gone viral, and now has nearly one million views on YouTube
“This just made my Christmas,” Charter wrote on YouTube. “Ice rain storm made my parents driveway a little treacherous for my sister Suzanne, and my dad.”
“Hysterical laughing track provided by mum,” she added. “Must watch with sound up!!”
After the video took off, Charter spoke with the Mirror UK and told the full story behind the clip. “That day, I was hosting my husband’s family for Christmas celebrations, so needed to get back to prepare, she said. “I actually waited out the initial flash freeze, ice rain that was coming down, but was down to the wire on when people were going to start arriving so had to leave.
“Good news, is that the roads were salted, but their driveway is quite slopped and I wasn’t prepared for the wet ice, she said.That’s the thing about Canadian weather, it can be unpredictable but you still need to crack on with your day.”
“We are a very close family, so we laugh a lot and don’t think twice about mocking each other out of love,” she added. “Apparently, other people can relate. I am just glad my mums laughter has spread so much joy – that is all that matters.”
Charter has since added a update to the YouTube noting that a portion of the proceeds from the video will be donated to “raise awareness for mental health and depression.”
A woman who claims Chipotle used a 2006 photo of her in an advertisement without her permission is suing the restaurant chain for just over $2.2 billion, which represents all of the company’s profits since the photo was taken.
The Sacramento Bee reports the photo was taken in 2006 as Leah Caldwell ate at a Chipotle near the University of Denver. According to the lawsuit, Caldwell was approached by a photographer as she left the restaurant and asked to sign a release form, which she refused to do.
Eight years later, Caldwell says she walked into Chipotle in Orlando, Fla. and recognized a photo of herself on the wall; a few months later she claims she spotted the photo in Sacramento and Rosevill. According to her lawsuit, the photo was first used in 2006.
Caldwell has issues beyond the photo being used without her permission; she also claims the company, or the photographer, by editing in people and objects, including bottles of alcohol, that were not in the original photo.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., photographer Steve Adams, and Chipotle Chief Executive Officer Steve Ells were all named in the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento on Dec. 20.
Often, we don’t think before we speak. When you’re in a heated argument, or a soliloquy of sorts, the words tend to flow without fully processing. As a good friend likes to say, “The world learns what I’m about to say at the same time I do.”
But those words tend to define us and few places is this as true as it in Canada. Without reservation, you can always determine if you’re speaking to a Canadian through one simple phrase: “Eh?” (You really know you’re speaking to a Canadian when the “aboots” come out.)
Canadians are not particularly amused when you eagerly point out their “eh” habit, but the word has become emblematic of the country in a way that is now mostly out of their control. In response, some have embraced it, adopting it as an element of Canadian patriotism.
Atlas Obscura dove deep on the phenomenon. As they pointed out, the word finds various usages and meaning despite it being a small two-letter word. Adding it to the end of a sentence can turn a sentence into opinion, a form of criticism, a question, or a sense of surprise. It can also be added as a narrative tic, adding “eh” to the end of phrases to maintain a listener’s interest. Sort of how Americans will add “right?” or “you know,” or, “like” in sentences that don’t really warrant them. Like, you know, right?
But “eh” is considered a more rural tag and isn’t as common within Canadian cities. “It’s considered rural, lower-class, male, less educated,” said Elaine Gold, the founder of the Canadian Language Museum and a recently retired lecturer at the University of Toronto who’s studied “eh.” Though that hasn’t stopped the country from claiming the word as part of its fabric.
“It’s really come to mean Canadian identity, especially in print,” Gold later added. “Even though urban people might not be using it so much anymore, in print it’s huge.”
“Eh” may be associated with another stereotype of Canadians: the idea that they’re polite to a fault. After all, as [University of Toronto linguist Jack] Chambers noted, “eh” is a signal of politeness and seeking accord. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that an unfailingly polite population would make good use of “eh”?
Gold disagreed, which perhaps indicates Canadians aren’t as inclusive as the stereotype might indicate. So why do Canadians say “eh”? Definitively the truth is out. But like hockey and snow and politeness, saying “eh” just might be part of being Canadian.
“More than three billion in jackpots have been won on Wheel of Fortune slots, and more than 200 versions of the game have been produced and distributed around the world.”
I was talking shop with one of my siblings last week (he happens to work at Mohegan Sun Gaming Resort) and he mentioned something that I couldn’t shake from my mind. I wasn’t sure if my comprehension was askew from the funk of the skunk in my hand or if he was serious. He said, “Not sure if you knew this, but there are slot machines for Titanic (the movie), “Friends” (the TV show), and “Sex in the City.”
Convinced that this was part of the new “anything goes, no boundary, entertainment branding culture” we live in, I set out to learn how shows become slot machines. I discovered that skinning slot machines with entertainment properties isn’t new and that it dates back more than two decades.
The cerebral sativa strain in my brain was obsessed with understanding how someone like Betty White could wind up on a slot. After some investigation, I hit the jackpot when I spoke with Phil O’Shaughnessy (senior director global communications, gaming) at IGT: the leader in “gaming solutions that anticipate the demands of consumers wherever they decide to play.” Phil was friendly and full of information.
Galinsky: Phil take me to the beginning. When did this whole thing start? O’Shaughnessy: Licensed branding came to the slot machine business with IGT Wheel of Fortune slots in 1996.
Photos courtesy IGT Inc.
G: And are you licensing with “Wheel of Fortune” the show or…?
O: We license the brand from Sony, and in fact in 2016 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune slots. In that 20-year period, the concept of licensed brands in slot machines has taken off. More than three billion in jackpots have been won on Wheel of Fortune slots, and more than 200 versions of the game have been produced and distributed around the world.
G: What other TV-themed games have you developed?
O: At IGT, we have developed TV-themed EGMs-
G: EGMs?
O: Electronic Gaming Machines. We’ve developed EGMs ranging from “Sex & The City,” to “Family Guy,” and “Orange is the New Black”. At the big gaming show, G2E, we launched a pair of Betty White-themed slots to extend our premium licensed game portfolio.
Photo courtesy IGT Inc.
G: How do you determine what shows you want to brand on the machines? O: With all of these licenses, it’s not about just slapping a popular brand on a machine. It’s really about analyzing the brand, whom it appeals to, and of great importance, whether elements from the show translate well to a slot machine.
Photo courtesy IGT Inc.
G: So did Betty White call you and say “hey Phil! I ‘wanna be on slots in Vegas” or did you reach out to her?
O: We get approached by licensors who offer their themes, and we also pursue themes that we think will translate well to gaming.
G: Ok, then tell me how you decided to bring Ellen DeGeneres to slots. She doesn’t seem like an obvious fit.
O: When we created IGT’s “Ellen DeGeneres Show” themed video slots, the process started with multiple meetings with the show’s executive producers, gaining ideas and feedback, and then presenting concepts to them to ensure consistency and authenticity. They came to our Las Vegas location to play early versions of the games. Our game studio talent made sure to include iconic elements from the show – from visual elements that look great on reels, to games from the show that played well as slot bonuses.
G: So the shows actual executive producers are involved? O: Yes. As a result of this highly collaborative process, IGT created The Ellen DeGeneres Show Featuring Ellen’s Dance Party slots and The Ellen DeGeneres Show Featuring Twelve Days of Giveaways slots, building from extremely recognizable and popular elements from the show. Both of these games feature Ellen’s voice too.
G: And Ellen’s take on this? She is proud of gracing Vegas slot machines along side Betty White? O: Ellen has talked about the games on her show multiple times, and Ellen’s team features a game finder on her website so fans can find the machines in their favorite casinos. We even extended the Ellen brands to our social gaming app, DoubleDown Casino, offering players an opportunity to experience Ellen-themed slots on a mobile device in a free-to-play environment. Our latest iteration features a “selfie” camera so players can include their own image into gameplay.
Photo courtesy IGT Inc.
G: This is far more than window dressing a machine Phil.
O: Indeed. The game hardware is extremely important to the experience as well, and with 4K displays for stunning resolution, the graphic elements really add to the entertainment experience. To cap it off, before our games go to casinos, they go through an extensive focus group research process to make sure that players like them, and that our casino partners can be successful. Those are some examples of games with licensed themes, but also, the collaborative process in creating great slot themes.
G: Which show is the leader in your portfolio?
O: “Wheel of Fortune” still stands out as the theme that has stood the test of time and generated huge international appeal. We even have a 3D version out now.
G: This sounds like it’s a fixture of the gaming casino industry that isn’t going anywhere.
O: You can definitely expect to see licensed TV brands continue in gaming, in fact, IGT delivers to legal, regulated public and commercial gaming operators across 100 countries on six continents.
G: When my TV show premieres next later this year (think it, believe it, it will happen) will you take my pitch for slots? O: If the elements of your show are fun and interactive, than it’ll be a no-brainer Galinsky.
What’s not to love about pugs. Their squished-up, dumb little faces, their oddly-shaped bodies, the confused way they cock their head to the side when they’re listening to you. Since we’ve all got nothing better to do, let’s watch a combined 16 minutes worth of hilarious pug videos together.
Guilty Pug – Bandit the Pug
In this clip, we see Bandit the pug reacting with tremendous guilt as his owner lists the ways in which he’s been a bad dog. But by the end there’s some hope as Bandit seems to agree to try his best to be a better pup.
Dog loses it after finding out he’s at pet store
Captain, which is a fantastic name for a pug, absolutely loses it when his owner informs him that they’re about to go into Petsmart. Captain is a clearly a very good dog, but he should probably calm down a little bit and also get his odd bark checked out.
Pug Loves Baby
Pugs and babies hanging out and doing fun stuff—who doesn’t want to see this?
Pugs, Pugs, Pugs Video Compilation
The YouTube summary says it all: “Pugs loving bath time, pugs eating ice cream, to pugs surfing in the ocean, these are just a few of the pugs you’ll find in this all pugs video compilation.” We can’t wait to watch.
Pug Goes Berserk After Meeting Long Lost Uncle
According to the YouTube summary, Baburao the pug hasn’t seen one of his favorite “uncles” in 10 months. When Babu detects his uncles scent, he promptly loses his mind.
Not to be outdone by KFC’s Double Down, fast food celeb Taco Bell has come up with a similar, newer model. It’s really just a taco with a fried chicken shell. No doubt taking mental notes on how ridiculous it looks to be eating their competitor’s sandwich — wrapping your greasy paws around two chicken breast “buns” stuffed with even greasier foodstuffs — the hivemind at Taco Bell decided to disguise their chicken by pounding it within an inch of its life into the shape of a taco shell. The result is the Naked Chicken Chalupa. And it will be available starting Jan. 26.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFkhOGeMUXH
But this is a far cry from some of the other edible cries for attention that fast food restaurants have “invented.”
Here are seven examples that would inspire Ryan Murphy to write an entire season of AHS around their gut-busting, satanic nature.
1. Shake Shack’s Double Smoke Shack Burger
A double bacon cheeseburger with some chopped peppers and ShackSauce on a regular ol’ bun. It’s the kind of burger vegetables run from.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLW4K85AzAk
2. Pizza Hut Pretzel Hot Dog Bites Pizza
Do you know how much media attention you get when you whore out your pizzas with a pretzel hot dog crust? A lot. Tip of the hat to you, Pizza Hut.
https://www.instagram.com/p/4FHN8Ttv4z/
3. Little Caesar’s Bacon Wrapped Pizza
You know that feeling when you get double-teamed by guilt and shame for ordering an extra large pizza? People who order the Bacon Wrapped Crust Deep! Deep! Dish can’t relate.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBWLtkQgdcq
4. Wendy’s T-Rex Burger
What originated as a joke made it onto the actual menu of a Wendy’s in Manitoba, Canada. At $22, it featured nine quarter-pound patties. It mob-style disappeared from the menu after receiving a warning from corporate headquarters and was never seen again.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVscbmQFDId
5. Arby’s Meat Mountain
This “sandwich” features every type of meat available at Arby’s. It includes, but is not limited to: chicken tenders, roast turkey, ham, corned beef, brisket, Angus steak, roast beef, bacon along with Swiss and cheddar cheese. Grab the dipping sauce. You’re going to need lube for this thing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ww8JzRuO3f/
6. Burger King Bacon Sundae
Remember when bacon was having its moment and everything had to have it as an ingredient? This is the result. YOLO? Not if they bring you back to life with a defibrillator.
https://www.instagram.com/p/MRcFiiDhh6
7. Pizza Hut’s Triple Treat Box
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK_V2zEjdGr
Too far, Pizza Hut. Too far. The Triple Treat Box was introduced around the holidays in 2015 so “every day can be a holiday.” The cardboard dresser set-up includes: two medium one-topping pizzas, breadsticks and Hershey’s ultimate chocolate chip cookie for just $19.99. Hope it comes with a gift receipt.
Guess it was the happiest place on Earth for two reasons!
Everyone seems to have a story about an experience with marijuana. Like the times Andrew Garfield had weed brownies and visited Disneyland. He shared his favorite birthday experience included two key components: Disneyland and his best friends. But it was really three key components. He had weed brownies, like brownies with pot in them. Brownies where sugar isn’t the only high induced. Brownies that really don’t taste as great as regular brownies, but every other food tastes better afterwards.
Spider-Man got spun out a bit on marijuana brownies.
We learned of the incident through one of his friends (it wasn’t Emma Stone), who told another person (still not Emma Stone), who shouldn’t have told this one gossip (James Franco), who eventually told us (okay it was Emma Stone).
In fact that very source was able to share some pretty revealing media to us regarding the high adventure. We included parts of Garfield’s transcript to provide context. Warning: these images may shock you.
Garfield: “I was with my favorite people in the world, eight of my closest friends. They came out to L.A. to surprise me and we went to Disneyland and we ate pot brownies. And it was literally heaven.
Garfield: “I freaked out on It’s a Small World. I was like, ‘it is—it is a fucking small world—it’s a fucking—it’s a really fucking small world guys, is anyone else seeing how small it is?’ ”
Garfield: “There was a moment where me and my friends found ourselves walking Fantasy Land, and there was a song that was playing coming out of the trees and we were all doing this dancing through and I think at one point we all started looking around going, ‘Why are we all doing the same dance, how did this happen?’ ”
Garfield: “We went back to my house and just kind of talked about insane that day was, because we were all having our own experiences, and I think we all came back and were like, ‘Were you thinking this at…’ ”
Garfield: “I think I almost bought a Chewbacca backpack, as well, I was that stoned.”
Garfield: “I’m not a big drug user, though, I just want to say that. I use it more for like ritual purposes.”
We need FDA legalization of medical cannabis so that it can be studied in the U.S. for effectiveness against multiple disease states and the risks of using it as treatment. At the same time I would want it to be taken out of the jurisdiction of the DEA and classified as a supplement or a natural product.
First we have to know the difference between the FDA and DEA. The FDA is a governmental body that licenses and inspects legal drugs, additives and supplements. The DEA is a federal law enforcement agency dealing with drug crimes.
The DEA classifies drugs based upon their “acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential.” At this time cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug in the same group as heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote. From a federal standpoint it is felt that there is no acceptable medical use. Many states do not take this position and have legalized medical cannabis.
It is unknown if or when the federal government will legalize cannabis. If it is legalized, we have to ask ourselves if we want it to be controlled by the DEA.
So let us examine some of the potential benefits and risks of FDA and DEA supervision.
A strong benefit of FDA approval of cannabis as a pharmaceutical is the study of drugs under its supervision. There are rigorous standards of safety and efficacy that have to be attained before FDA approval. This can prevent risking side effects. The cost of this is time. It can take years to achieve FDA approval.
If cannabis is legalized and controlled by the DEA, I would expect that is would then become listed as a Schedule 2 drug. This would put it in the same category as Vicodin, cocaine Dilaudid and Dexedrine. If it became listed as a Schedule 3 drug, it would be in the same group as codeine and anabolic steroids.
At this time, depending upon the state, medical cannabis can be prescribed by MDs (although they may then put their DEA license at risk or find themselves in legal jeopardy), DOs, ARNPs, physician assistants and naturopaths. Having the DEA control cannabis would limit the type of healthcare provider who could write a prescription.
I am hopeful that medical cannabis will soon be federally legalized. I would also want it to be reclassified as a natural product and taken out of the jurisdiction of the DEA. This would allow the science of cannabis to be studied in the U.S. in a more deliberate fashion without handcuffing patients into waiting for the studies to be completed and the preparations to be available.
The argument against listing this as a natural product and not as a pharmaceutical would be the abuse potential. I feel the need for scientific studies outweigh this potential risk. Furthermore, having cannabis as a scheduled drug would put us backwards into history with its use mainly as a black market drug.
Now with a new administration governing us, we can only wait to see in which path they will proceed with medical marijuana.
Although liberating Connecticut from marijuana prohibition might look like a long shot on the watch of Governor Dannel Malloy, one of the state’s most influential legislative forces still fully intends to peruse the issue of statewide marijuana legalization in the 2017 session.
Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney recently introduced a piece of legislation aimed at allowing adults 21 and over to purchase marijuana in the same way they do with beer. The goal of the measure is to bring the state up to speed with other New England jurisdictions – Massachusetts and Maine – that successfully passed marijuana ballot initiatives the November election.
“There seems to be a national trend moving in that direction,” Looney told the Wall Street Journal.
There is a distinct possibility the proposal could be well received this year in both chambers of the legislative brass. However, even a miracle such as a completely agreeable legislature does not guarantee it will find its way in the book of law. That’s because Governor Malloy just cannot seem to wrap his head around the progressive concept of selling weed legally as opposed to perpetuating its distribution on the black market.
It wasn’t long ago that Malloy called the legalization of marijuana a “mistake” and pledged watch how Maine and Massachusetts handle the situation before taking similar action. He predicts states that have legalized the leaf will spend more trying to recoup the cost of the public health crisis that is sure to arise than could ever be made from legal sales.
“The proposal that passed on the ballot in Massachusetts was written by the people who want to grow and sell marijuana,” he said. “It’s an entirely different tax package, and quite frankly, will not make the kind of money available to Massachusetts that will be made available in Colorado. … I suspect that the monies that will be generated in Massachusetts will not pay for the programs necessary to treat the people who will become problematic.”
Yet, Malloy’s opinion on this issue is a bit schizophrenic. Right after the November election, he told reporters that a reexamination of his personal beliefs might be necessary.
“I have never been an advocate of that,” Malloy said. “On the other hand, of course, when multiple states move in a direction you have to re-examine your own personal thoughts on the issue. I’m just like anybody else.”
Although Senator Looney understands that it could be an uphill battle pulling Connecticut out of prohibitionary times, he still believes the issue could break in the coming months.
“I’m hopeful that we might get him to change his mind, especially given the fact that it could be a significant revenue source,” Looney said.
As it stands, Connecticut is suffering from a $1.5 deficit. Some lawmakers, mostly Democrats, believe legal marijuana could be a way to remedy this problem.
Yet, Republican Senate president pro tempore Len Fesano recently said that his side of the fence does not have any interest in selling “our soul to fill our coffers.”
Connecticut decriminalized marijuana possession in 2011 and then legalized medical marijuana a year later. Governor Malloy has said that is as far as the state is going with respect to legal marijuana.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) rope-a-doped his way through two days of grilling during his confirmation hearing without suffering anything close to a knockout blow, or really saying much about legal marijuana.
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s embattled nominee for Attorney General, an ardent opponent of legal marijuana, provided vague answers to questions about his approach to the issue. Despite the grilling from Democratic senators, Sessions suggested that he would not radically shake the status quo. But there is a lot of tea-leaf reading in between the lines.
“I won’t commit to never enforcing federal law,” said Sessions, responding in a double negative when asked if he would spend precious federal dollars and manpower to prosecute people for consuming cannabis in accordance with state laws. “But absolutely it’s a problem of resources for the federal government.”
Sessions also suggested that the guidelines provided by his predecessors Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch were “truly valuable” in maintaining an appropriate balance.
The testimony that made the biggest headlines occurred on Tuesday when Sessions challenged Congress to do its job as the legislative branch of the federal government and pass a law if it wants to put an end to the incongruity of state and federal policies. Until then, he maintained, he was adamant that he would follow current law “in a just and fair way.”
“It is not so much the Attorney General’s job to decide what laws to enforce,” Sessions said. “We should do our job and enforce laws effectively as we are able.”
Some policy wonks and marijuana legalization advocates were cautious in their criticisms of the testimony. On one hand, his answers were innocuous and non-threatening. But on the other hand, Sessions has a decades-long reputation of anti-marijuana rhetoric.
Marijuana Majority: “It’s a good sign that Sen. Sessions seemed open to keeping the Obama guidelines, if maybe with a little stricter enforcement of their restrictions,” said Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority. “The truth is, his answer was skillfully evasive.
Drug Policy Alliance: “Jeff Sessions is a nightmare. He is a threat to progress, especially marijuana reform, sentencing reform, and asset forfeiture reform,” said Bill Piper, senior director of national affairs for the DPA. “It is clear that he was too afraid to say the Reefer Madness things he said just a year ago, but he left the door open to interfering in the states. I think he will follow Trump’s lead, whichever way that goes” Piper said, adding that Sessions’ performance was “wishy-washy at best.”
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws: “If anything, his comments are a cause for concern and can be interpreted as leaving the door open for enforcing federal law in legalized states,” said Erik Altieri, executive direction of the NORML. “If Sessions wants to be an Attorney General for ALL Americans, he must bring his views in line with the majority of the population and support allowing states to set their own marijuana policies without fear of federal intervention,” he said.
Marijuana Policy Project: Sessions “chose not to commit to vigorously enforcing federal prohibition laws in states that have reformed their marijuana laws. He also recognized that enforcing federal marijuana laws would be dependent upon the availability of resources, the scarcity of which poses a problem,” said Robert Capecchi, director of MPP.
During a Senate hearing in 2016, Sessions vehemently urged the federal government to act against the legalization efforts, declaring that “good people don’t smoke marijuana.” He also took a swing at Obama’s pragmatic approach to the issue, saying:
“We need grown-ups in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it is in fact a very real danger. To make it socially acceptable creates increased demand and results in people being addicted and being impacted adversely.”
If confirmed — which seems almost a forgone conclusion at this point — Sessions would run the Department of Justice, the agency that enforces federal marijuana law. He would have the authority to roll back decades of progress in marijuana policy.
But would Sessions — of Trump for that matter — want to wage a battle against eight states that have legalized full adult recreational use and another 29 states with medical marijuana programs? Cannabis is even legal in Washington D.C. It would appear to be a waste of resources to re-engage in this battle.
Polling is clear that the American people are in favor of legalization. States are collecting huge revenues from fees and taxes on marijuana sales. It is conceivable that Sessions would take a tepid, hands-off approach to the issue. At least one Congressman thinks so.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), a legalization proponent, believes it would not be in Sessions’ best interest to interfere with states that have legalized marijuana on the books.
Rohrabacher is co-author of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, which prohibits the Justice Department from spending federal funds to enforce the federal prohibition laws in states where medical marijuana has been legalized. Some legalization advocates express worry that there will be pressure applied to Congress to eliminate or change this rule. Rohrabacher dismisses such chatter.
“Jeff Sessions is a loyal man with integrity, he will do what his boss wants him to do,” Rohrabacher said. Trump, during the wildly contentious presidential campaign stated that he believes states should decide on marijuana legalization for themselves.
“In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state by state,” Trump said.
Incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, agrees. “When you come into a Trump administration, it’s the Trump agenda you are implementing, not your own, and I think Sen. Sessions is well aware of that,” Spicer said.
