Warning: This song will loop in your head for the rest of the day. It is called “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” and it’s the newest kooky viral video no one understands but everyone loves.
This super catchy diddy was crafted by Piko-Taro, a Japanese singer caricature crafted by comedian and DJ Kosaka Daimaou. The songs makes little sense, but that’s probably why we love it. I mean, who isn’t into pineapple-pens? It previously made internet rounds in the East but it’s just matriculating into Western internet circles.
And it’s already receiving parodies of others getting their own pen-pineapple-apple-pen on.
Will this short, goofy song become the next “Gangnam Style”? Quite possibly. Give the tune a listen. You won’t be able to forget it. No matter how much you try!
The 20-minute short stars Drake, hatching a plan to steal $1 million from a Johannesburg crime lord. Surprisingly, things go wrong. It loosely follows the plot of Indecent Proposal, but with buxom women and patois.
The video prominently features 26-year-old Belgian model/actress/singer Fanny Neguesha as Drake’s love interest, and singer Popcaan as his sidekick. Drake shared a short trailer for the movie, using the tagline “A film inspired by the album VIEWS.” As expected, it serves as music video for songs like “One Dance,” “Controlla,” “Summer’s Over Interlude,” and more. Producer Noah “40” Shebib also scored the soundtrack to the movie.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKzp1Jkj6TB/
Director Anthony Mandler depicts an underworld of sex, violence, and bloodshed. Mandler previously collaborated with Drake on music videos for “Over,” “Find Your Love,” and “Miss Me” from Thank Me Later.
Please Forgive Me is only the second video Drake has released from his 2016 album VIEWS, which recently became the first album to reach over 1 billion streams on Apple Music. Please Forgive Me and previous Drake effort “Child’s Play, ” both Apple Music exclusives, show off some serious gloss and money in the production department and continue Drake’s visual aesthetic of lo-fi vibes and moody atmospheres.
But Please Forgive Me leans much closer to a previous Drake video: “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” Both present Drake as an action movie star, rolling around, shooting things up. Though his acting remains high-quality, Drake doesn’t exactly make a convincing heavy, while flashing a gun and beating up baddies. He’s the sensitive crooner who confesses his love publicly, like to Rihanna on the VMA’s stage. In other words, in real life, he rarely appears intimidating, nor does he seem comfortable as violence swirls around him. He’s no Jason Bourne.
But does that matter? Not really, because guess who still wins in the end? Aubrey Graham. His star’s just too bright to fail. Even when fictional mob bosses and the media and other rappers try to defeat him, Drake stays on top. Don’t believe me? Just ask Meek Mill.
Unlike a certain former President, these boldfaced names are happy to champion the benefits of inhaling. From the richest man in the world to activists and pop stars, read on to learn about your new favorite cannabis fans!
Maya Angelou
Photo courtesy William J. Clinton Presidential Library via Wikimedia Commons
As a poet and Civil Rights activist, Maya gave us such soul-soothing nuggets as “Love recognizes no barriers,” and “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In her younger years, she “smoked marijuana with abandon,” according to a 2002 biography. In her autobiography Gather Together In My Name, she wrote about her first time smoking a joint, and how mind-blowingly good food and music were after that.
Susan Sontag
Photo by Carlos Alvarez / Stringer via Getty Images
A highly influential writer and political activist, Sontag preferred a toke over a shot. “I think marijuana is much better than liquor,” she told High Times. “I think a society which is addicted to a very destructive and unhealthy drug — namely alcohol — certainly has no right to complain or be sanctimonious or censor the use of a drug which is much less harmful.”
Sarah Palin
Photo by Flickr user Gage Skidmore
While we probably wouldn’t want to pack a bowl with Palin today, she told Anchorage Daily News in 2006, “I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.” But she doesn’t support legalization, fearing what message it might send her children.
Madonna
Photo by Flickr user Fiona Hodge
Remember when this OQ (Original Queen) dropped a red-carpet-bombing’s worth of “fucks” on live television? She dropped major science when she simultaneously pissed off the FCC, told David Letterman he ain’t shit, and admitted to smoking right before her Late Show appearance: “It wasn’t because I was excited about you. I think it may have had something to do with the joint I smoked before I came on.”
Carl Sagan
Photo courtesy of NASA
Can you imagine showering with perhaps the greatest science educator of our time, super high, when he starts drawing gaussian distribution curves in soap on the walls? And then he jumps out of the shower and immediately writes like 11 essays on philosophy and politics? Yeah, me neither. But this is something Sagan did, according to his writings under the pseudonym “Mr. X.” He later shook off concern with being named, and became an advocate for legalization.
Martha Stewart
Photo by Flickr user David Shankbone
This might not come as a shock, but Martha Stewart’s no fool. So of course she shamed some kids on their sloppy joint, while on her way to an interview with Bravo’s Andy Cohen. When he asked her if she knew how to roll one, she replied, “Of course I know how to roll a joint.” Martha does not deign to consume anything short of perfection.
Morgan Freeman
Photo by Flickr user NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
A Guardian interview with Morgan Freeman was almost cut short because the iconic actor got too excited to talk about his favorite burning bush. When the interviewer promised his super lame PR handlers he’s change the subject to Nelson Mandela, they let the conversation continue, but not before Freeman quipped: “Never give up the ganja.”
Bill Gates
Photo by Flickr user Steve Jurvetson
William “Trey” Gates was born in often-laid-back Seattle, so perhaps it’s no surprise that he’s a mellow dude behind the business mogul lifestyle. He’s an open supporter of marijuana legalization, and announced a partnership in June between Microsoft and Kind Financial, a LA-based startup that’s working on ways to make cannabis-related transactions easier and safer. We’re not saying that smoking will make you the richest man on Earth; you’re free to come to your own conclusion on that.
Matt Damon
Photo by Flickr user Thore Siebrands
He scienced the shit out of potatoes on Mars, but could he put his hydroponics skills to use on some Cannabaceae? “The first time I smoked was at home with my mother and stepfather,” he said during an interview on BBC’s Johnny Vaughan Tonight. “They were like, ‘If you are going to do this, we’d rather you did this with us.’”
Justin Timberlake
Photo by Flickr user Gage Skidmore
Who could have guessed when his innocent face showed up on Mickey Mouse Club that he’d grow up to hit the bong? Okay, maybe everyone. But, still, he’s surprisingly open about his usage today. “The only thing pot does for me is it gets me to stop thinking,” the former NSYNC star told Playboy. “Sometimes I have a brain that needs to be turned off. Some people are just better high.” Indeed. So hit us up to chill sometime, JT.
We had planned to leave the Seattle area today and head east toward Colorado, but we just fell in love with The Great Northwest and decided to stick around a while longer. There is simply too much to see and do here – and so the marijuana retail shops are amazing!
After last week’s fun hiking in the woods, Tiffany and I hoped to drop our fishing line in the river. We heard that coho salmon were biting like crazy and there is nothing better than fresh fish while camping in our RV. We made an early morning stop at REI and while in the camping section ran into Lanell. Tiffany met Lannell and they spent quite a time talking about outdoor cooking recipes and then on the topic of reading. Turns out Lannell works at a weed shop in Seattle called Evergreen.
Later in the day we swung by Evergreen to check it out. Lannell was starting a late-afternoon shift and the store was full of people. We noticed that they take their time with customers to really help them understand the products and what they do. Of course, when we chatted with Lannell, it was another round of recipes and how to cook with cannabis for those nights under the stars. Tiffany has found a new friend.
Visit the Evergreen Market:
The Evergreen Market has two South Sound locations:
409 Rainier Ave North
Renton, WA 98057
402 16th St NE A 100
Auburn, WA 98002
Hours for both locations:
Mon.: Wednesday: 9 am – 10 pm.
Thu.: Saturday: 9 am – 11 pm.
Sun: 10 am – 8 pm.
It may be more popular than the Super Bowl. It will definitely stir up some feelz fer reelz. It could even help decide the course of our country. Yes, tonight is the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. There is a good chance you will be watching. But whether you are or you aren’t, you’re gonna need some help surviving this super epic moment that will change everything. (Or not.) We are here to help you not get so riled up, to remain chill if you will, and realize that we will get through this. And so, 50 years to the day since the first-ever televised prez debate—between Nixon and Kennedy—here we go. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy-ass ride.
1. Go zen. Try yoga or Buddhism. Something. Clear your mind. There are many, many benefits to engaging regularly in yoga, and the smarty pants at Harvard Medical School have documented them. Personally, I might just hang out in Downward Facing Log until this is all over.
2. Split town. We all know Airbnb can be a great and affordable way to explore the world. And what better time to turn off, tune out, and get the F outta here. The good folks at Refinery29 have helpfully put together this list of 44 highly interesting Airbnbs, from which you can decide not to think about what it all means.
3. Smoke out. One way to almost guarantee you will not want to think about what it all means is to get so freakin’ high that all you want to do is eat insane state fair foods and hit the burrito sauna. Toward that end, here are five strains of marijuana that will, apparently, “melt your mind.” Once it is unmelted, you will likely feel better about the state of our political discourse.
5. Write this. I once wrote a list of things I love in the world. And stuff I wanted to try. Even just writing that stuff down made me feel better. The first ten things on my list were:
1. Make a stranger laugh. 2. Give your kid(s) an extra hug and kiss. 3. Donate time or money or both to a good cause. 4. Find a rose and literally stop and smell it. 5. Wear exciting socks. 6. Wear exciting underwear. 7. Start a new creative project–even if it’s just a single sentence. 8. Tell someone you love them. 9. Buy a book from an independent book store. 10. Eat delicious cheese (or delicious bread — sup, vegans!).
By all accounts, Mia the dog is a good dog. “She’s lovable,” her owner Celinda Haynes said. “She’ll kill you with kindness.” That’s undoubtedly true. It’s also true she stabbed Haynes with a freshly sharpened kitchen knife last week.
KDVR reports that the incident began when Mia, a tall dog who appears to be a mutt, grabbed a pairing knife from Haynes’s kitchen counter with her mouth. Haynes tried to get Mia to drop the knife by giving her treats, but things didn’t go exactly as planned.
“When [Mia] went over to eat the treat, she ran the knife across my arm and cut a big old gash about four 4 inches long,” Haynes told KDVR.
Nurses at Platte Valley Medical Center in Hudson, Co., were naturally a bit suspicious, so they called the local Marshal’s office. “When dispatch said that there was a person who was stabbed by a dog, I had to make sure I heard that correctly,” Deputy Zach Johnson said. “Of course, my initial thought was what’s really going on here.”
Fortunately for everyone, there was no crime other than a good and tall dog trying to play. “Obviously, we’re not charging Mia with anything because she’s a dog,” Johnson said.
Last summer a single southern guy realized the world needed some more laughter, more music and a fresh look at cannabis.
Yes, cannabis, the much maligned, but quickly-becoming-legal-plant that over 45 million people in North America use every year. We found that some of our friends sneak to acquire it in order to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and disease, while others wax nostalgic about their experiences with the herb in college. We found that so many people are confused about marijuana today, and those who were confused often remained silent about the topic.
Whether or not you believe cannabis is a miracle drug is up to you, but at the very least we know that it is helpful. Our Highway and Rx sections help consumers to understand today’s marijuana and how to use it. We are lucky to have some great experts in medicinal cannabis who aim to clearly and concisely bring honest information to the public.
But The Fresh Toast is more than cannabis. Everyone needs to have fun, so we have packed the site with loads of cheeky information and giggles: food, drink, pop culture, sex, and much more.
The Fresh Toast wants to create smiles and spur conversation. We aren’t political—there is more than enough of that right now. We want to build community.
As our journey progressed, Eric Snow joined as CTO/COO and now President, building the site and company. Then along came Kelly Barbieri, our Editor-in-Chief, who is helping to build content you can enjoy and learn from every day.
We have a great team of writers, editors, photo wizards, and tech and sales masters, along with a variety of backers from a wide range of industries, backgrounds, and, yes, even political persuasions.
Our hope is you will explore The Fresh Toast and savor it each morning with your first cup of coffee—or whatever helps you wake up. And don’t be selfish, share the good stuff with your friends.
Call it the most exclusive alien mixtape. About 39 years ago NASA sent out the Voyager I and Voyager II, meant to travel through the far reaches of interstellar space. On board these spacecraft was a document that contained various aural representations of human civilization and Earth, including greetings in various languages, sounds of nature, and human music from multiple cultures. They called it the Voyager Golden Record.
But for human hands, it’s a musical artifact as rare as they come. Only 12 known copies are in existence. Two of those reside aboard the Voyager spacecraft. Then-President Jimmy Carter received one, but the others were scattered amongst NASA and other institutions. The genius who spearheaded the project, Carl Sagan, didn’t even receive one.
But now thanks Boing Boing editor and Institute For The Future research director David Pescovitz, human ears may finally get the chance to hear what we sent to extraterrestrial lifeforms.
The Kickstarter project (that’s already fully funded!) sees Pescovitz teaming with Amoeba Music manager Timothy Daly and graphic designer Lawrence Azerrad to release the Voyager Golden Record. Unlike the original gold-plated copper disks meant to withstand a billion years of space travel, the pressing will be on gold vinyl. The 3xLP remastered set will cost $98 plus shipping and will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Voyager launch.
You can participate in the Kickstarter here and check out a full tracklisting below.
Voyager Golden Record: 40th Anniversary Edition audio tracks:
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor
Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown
Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle
Zaire, Pygmy girls’ initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbull
Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes
Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México
“Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry
New Guinea, men’s house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan
Japan, Shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguch
Bach, “Gavotte en rondeaux” from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux
Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor
Georgian S.S.R., chorus, “Tchakrulo,” collected by Radio Moscow
Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima
“Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven
Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow
Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor
Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano
Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor
Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska
Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes
Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London
Solomon Islands, panpipes, collected by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service
Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen
China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu
India, raga, “Jaat Kahan Ho,” sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar
“Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson
Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Opus 130, Cavatina, performed by Budapest String Quartet
Greetings from the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim
Greetings in 55 languages
United Nations greetings
Whale greetings
The Sounds of Earth: “Music of the Spheres” by Laurie Spiegel, Volcanoes, Earthquake, Thunder, Mud Pots, Wind, Rain, Surf, Crickets, Frogs, Birds, Hyena, Elephant, Chimpanzee, Wild Dog, Footstepts, Heartbeat, Laughter, Fire, Speech, The First Tools, Tame Dog, Herding Sheep, Blacksmith, Sawing, Tractor, Riveter, Morse Code, Ships, Horse and Cart, Train, Tractor, Bus, Auto, F-111 Flyby, Saturn 5 Lift-off, Kiss, Mother and Child, Life Signs, Pulsar
Pot brownies have, historically, been the go-to treat for the cannabis-curious. (Or, for fans of The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book, fudge.). But a new generation of chocolatiers are beginning to do something about that. They’re raising expectations when it comes to desserts with benefits.
These low-dose (10-25 mg THC) cannabis edibles are some of the most modern candies on the market. Their bon bons are a thing of beauty, but it’s the color splashed Alt bars that deserve a spot at Fashion Week. Beneath the glam design lies a soft, truffled center and crunchy Cocoa Krispies-like base. Cool factor: the THC is actually stamped into the chocolate. Indica and Sativa are the flavors du jour.
The truffles at this Seattle-based confectionery are legendary for a reason: they’re absolutely beautiful. They’re the perfect gift for any occasion, even if that occasion is a Netflix binge of “House Hunters”. Available in Sativa, Indica, CBD and their famous Sunset Sherbert.
The best part about Crowns, besides the fact that they resemble a Perugina Baci, is that they can (in theory) be cleanly split in half and enjoyed separately. Here, a Belgian semi-sweet chocolate shell is filled with caramel and a candied almond and topped with a second candied almond, because texture. Each chocolate is filled with 30mg of THC.
If the term “bespoke” was an edible, it would be made by Marigold Sweets. Composed entirely of organic ingredients, including recycled packaging made by a hydroelectric factory, Marigold is a nod to Alice B. Toklas’s 1950s recipe for “hashish fudge.” The chocolates come in two varieties, Peanut Creme and Fleur de Sel caramel, and are available in doses ranging from 5mg to 25mg of THC.
The passion fruit and matcha green tea truffles pack the most punch at 40mg of active CBD each. Unlike the mystical Lindt Master Chocolatier, these beauties are handcrafted by a real life MC, who we can only assume would rather toke than wear one. Even more visually mesmerizing than these lacquered chocolates is the video showcasing their production. As usual, the Pixies deliver on the chill soundtrack.
Recreational edibles are easy to come by in Seattle, and Verdelux is quickly making a name for itself in this arena. Handmade in Bellingham, WA (about 90 minutes north of Seattle), the Famous Meltaway got its notoriety, not from being gluten-free (oh, Seattle), but for its indulgent texture and flavor. It’s equally firm and soft, like the perfect piece of fudge. Flavors include dark and milk chocolate, peanut butter and peppermint. Each truffle contains 10mg of THC.
Hiring an award-winning chocolatier and pastry chef to oversee the production of your chocolates is not only a brilliant marketing move, it guarantees credibility in an burgeoning market. Sam Christopher is the guy we have to thank for not only making these French truffles, but coming up with irresistible flavors such as Peanut Butter & Pecan, Frosted Red Velvet Cupcake, and Coconut + Dark
As the days grow quicker, so does my palate. And with the cooler weather comes the desire to drink lip-smacking beverages that stimulate my appetite. Why stimulate my appetite? To make the foods of the fall taste even more robust.
With that said, may I suggest adding a touch of pickle juice in your craft cocktails? What? Pickle juice? Didn’t that fad go out in the mid-2000’s? Believe me when I tell you, preserved vegetables have never gone out of style. Take it from anyone who has spent any time in hot climates or even in places where the temperature always hovers around freezing. The refreshing crunch from pickles, may they be from cucumbers or even beets can add a lovely dimension to your mixed drinks.
Gordy’s has just introduced pickle brine, specifically made for cocktails. Here are five to get you started.
Whiskey is the Message
(There is sweet and sour in this little firecracker!)
½ oz. pickle brine
2 oz. Straight Bourbon
½ oz. Fruitations Cranberry: Soda and Cocktail Syrup
2 oz. Seltzer (plain)
pickle spear
lemon bitters
Prep: To a Boston Shaker filled ¾ with ice, add the pickle brine, the Fruitations cranberry syrup, the Straight Bourbon and then cap. Shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with one large cube of ice. Top with a bit of seltzer. Dot with lemon bitters. Garnish with a pickle spear.
Can’t Catch the Maine–Brace
(Rum takes the front seat to perfectly brined bread and butter pickles that are muddled with fresh lime and Thai basil to make this twist on the classic daiquiri.)
½ oz. pickle brine
several ‘bread-and-butter’ pickle slices
1 lime, cut into quarters
Rhum agricole (100 Proof White Rhum from Martinique)
1 oz. cane sugar syrup
Prep: Muddle the lime with the bread and butter pickles. Add the pickle brine. Add the cane sugar syrup. Add the Rhum agricole. Stir again and serve with a fresh ‘bread and butter’ pickle slice floating on the top.
The Ashtray Continuum
(A take on the classic mint-julep. Here, it’s made with gin instead of whiskey and a float of pickle juice for mystery!)
3 oz. London Dry Gin (think Beefeaters)
1 oz. dark cane sugar syrup- 2:1 ratio Demerara sugar to boiling water
½ oz. pickle juice
fresh mint (slapped, never muddled)
Prep: Slap the mint. Add it to a julep cup. Add some ice. Add some more slapped mint. Add a layer of dark cane sugar syrup. Add a layer of pickle juice. Add a layer of ice. Add a layer of gin. And repeat to fill. Garnish with fresh mint and float some pickle juice on top for fun!
Dr. Roberts Dilemma
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. roasted beet juice
½ oz. pickle brine
1 oz. roasted tomato juice – roast tomatoes @450 for an hour, cool, core,seed, peel and juice
½ teaspoon fresh horseradish
Prep: As you would make a Bloody Mary, prepare this cocktail, but do not shake it. Ever! Roll your Dr. Robert’s Dilemma and garnish with the pickle brine and fresh horseradish.
Vietnamese Sugar Cane juice and pickle brine
(nước mía or mía đá is the common name in Vietnam for this sweet confection known to cool the body from the inside out. I’m very fond of adding some kind of vinegar to mine, making the drink both sweet and sour- helpful on a cold day to warm you.)
2 oz. Vietnamese sugar cane juice – nước mía or mía đá
½ oz. pickle brine
1 oz. brandy
½ oz. orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)
Prep: To a Rocks glass with one large cube of ice. Add the brandy. Float the orange liqueur over the top. Spoon the pickle brine over that. Pour the sugar cane juice over to finish.
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Warren Bobrow, a.k.a. The Cocktail Whisperer, is the author of four books, including his latest: Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics.
