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Pay for Marijuana Without Using Cash? CanPay Is An App For That

Al Olson
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Pay for Marijuana Without Using Cash? CanPay Is An App For That

If you’re lucky enough to live in a state where marijuana is legal, walking into a well-lit, clean retail store and buying a few grams of cannabis and maybe an edible is so, well, civilized and convenient. But the cash-only model is an outdated drawback.

Today, CanPay has launched the first debit payment solution for cannabis shoppers.

On the heels of eight states legalizing recreational or medicinal cannabis last week, Colorado-based CanPay is the only legitimate and stable debit payment solution for merchants legalized marijuana markets. CanPay is currently available in 15 retail locations across Washington and Colorado. Oregon is next on the company’s list of states.

Easier Than Ever To Purchase Marijuana

Even as more and more states legalize marijuana use, the banking system has been reluctant to participate in the industry.  Since the federal government still considers cannabis an illegal Schedule I drug, financial institutions refrain from servicing the industry for fear of hefty fines.  So cash is king at marijuana stores.

“CanPay is the future of payments for emerging industries, and is quickly becoming the preferred method of payment for cannabis businesses and banking institutions alike,” said Dustin Eide, CEO of CanPay. “As more and more states move to legalize medical and recreational cannabis within their borders, the time has come for a legitimate payment solution. With regulations being determined across the newly approved states, we will be expanding CanPay into each market in partnership with those institutions offering compliant banking to cannabis retailers.”

Consumers using CanPay will no longer need to carry large sums of cash into a store or use an ATM where the average fee is nearly $5 per cash withdrawal. Both merchants and consumers benefit from the ability of the consumer to decide what they are going to buy at checkout rather than predetermining their spending limit based on the cash in their wallet.

“CanPay offers us a quicker, more secure way of doing business while reducing the costs and hassles of cash.,” said Tim Cullen, Owner of Colorado Harvest Company in Denver, who has deployed CanPay in three retail locations throughout the state. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that cannabis businesses face a huge array of challenges that other industries don’t even need to consider. CanPay solves one of these pain points for us as a business, further enabling us deliver on our commitment to a great in-store customer experience by offering a highly-sought after alternative to cash that is free for our customers to use.”

Some of CanPay’s features:

  • It’s Fee Free: No “convenience” or other fees when you make a purchase.
  • It’s Convenient: No pre-planning to get cash or waiting in ATM lines.
  • It’s Safer: No cash to lose.
  • It’s Secure: Cutting-edge security means only you can make purchases with your account.
  • It’s Simple: Just generate a unique payment PIN in your CanPay app and you’re ready to make a purchase.
  • It’s Debit: A debit is made to your checking account in the exact amount of your purchase.

The CanPay App is available for both Apple and Android users by visiting here while on a mobile device.

Liquid Kitchen® Presents: Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

Kathy Casey
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Liquid Kitchen® Presents: Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

It’s getting cold outside, which means it’s the perfect time of year for spirit-forward sips! I am talking about those cocktails that are stirred rather than shaken. These aren’t meant to be gulped in a rush but rather sipped and savored with good company over long conversations. If you like Old Fashioneds (or are just discovering them for the first time), try switching up the sweetener with Real Maple Syrup for a wonderful fall flavor. Want to go a step further? Infuse your favorite aromatic bitters by adding a piece of cinnamon stick and an orange peel strip – let sit at least 24 hours — and voilà! — a super spiced bitters, customized for the season. So stir up that cocktail tonight and try to stay warm will ya?

Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ½  ounces REAL maple syrup
  • 1 dash of your favorite bitters or switch it up with 2 types like
  • Bitter Truth Orange Bitters and Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
  • Garnish: fat orange peel disk

Measure bourbon, maple syrup and bitters into a mixing glass. Fill 3/4 with ice and stir swiftly for 20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in an Old Fashioned glass. Express orange peel over the drink to release the oils, twist and add to drink.

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Kathy Casey is a chef, mixologist, and is known as the Original Bar Chef. Her newest book is D’Llish Deviled Eggs, which is a great accompaniment to any cocktail. Follow Kathy on Twitter and Instagram. For more great cocktail recipes, visit www.LiquidKitchen.com.

3 Cool A.I. Experiments That Probably Won’t End Of The World

Brendan Bures
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3 Cool A.I. Experiments That Probably Won’t End Of The World

When we envision artificial intelligence, we tend to go 0 to 100 real quick. Any basic machine learning inevitably leads to worried visions of Terminator or Matrix or “Black Mirror” future realities. In some ways this is fair. We should steel ourselves from this happening. But Google A.I. Experiments are much less end-of-worldy and more super cool.

RELATED: People Who Use Weed Also Do More Of Another Fun Thing

But A.I. doesn’t always have to be so doomsday. Imagine being alone in a different country where you don’t speak the language. You peruse the market, and find a delicious-looking Bartlett pear. How do you communicate the purchase of such an item when you can’t speak the language?

These Machines Are Here To Help (Don’t Panic)

This is an A.I. experiment called Thing Translator. It’s part of Google’s A.I. Experiments program featuring open-source projects that help coding newcomers and experts alike tinker and play with machine learning. As seen above, Thing Translator allows users to take a picture of a thing, like our hypothetical Bartlett pear, and translate it into various languages, sounding out pronunciation and displaying the written form of the word.

Another component of Google’s A.I. experiments has to do with sound. For human ears and brains, sound is a deeply complex and robust experience. Think of music. How many times have you heard something you’d qualify as percussion? A booming bass or a baseball bat ding or a high-hat rhythm. How would you describe the difference between these sounds? Furthermore, how would you organize them into searchable and similar categories?

Turns out machines are very good at this. The above experiment feeds hundreds of drum machine sounds into a computer without any indication or hints of what they are. To the computer, it’s just a conglomerate of sounds. But it can then cluster sounds that are similar together and organize them into a color-coordinated scatter plot through a process called t-SNE.

RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Most of these Google A.I experiments are simple, typically reducing data into a visualized component or vice versa. Be sure to check them all out, they’re certainly worth your time. Hopefully you won’t feel too much like you’re living in The Matrix while playing around with them.

 

The Emerald Exchange: Inside A Cannabis Farmer’s Market

Ben Berkowitz
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The Emerald Exchange: Inside A Cannabis Farmer’s Market

Like most people, I grew up with food bought from a vast supermarket. Then, farmer’s markets began to pop up everywhere. They may have always been there, but in recent years they’ve become part of our every-day routine, growing in abundance in both urban and rural areas. So it makes perfect sense that this now-ubiquitous, social and local/sustainable type of event translates to the rapidly growing world of cannabis supply and demand.

Last Saturday we set off for Malibu, CA., to experience the second installment of The Emerald Exchange, a farmer’s market for top-of-the line Northern California cannabis. Truly beautiful sun-grown flowers of all strains, and innovative 100-percent organic concentrates and extracts were all on display, with the benefit of one-on-one discussion and pro-tips from the farmers themselves.

Just A Day At The  Market

On this overcast, but bucolic day by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, 25 vendors from Trinity, Mendocino and Humboldt counties (a.k.a. the Emerald Triangle), showed their wares to over 500 attendees during the daytime event. Then 250 guests stayed for a ticketed private dinner.  Los Angeles is by far the largest market for consumers of cannabis in all shapes and types—and whatever your heart desires, from female and sexy products to cannabis-infused wine, the Emerald Exchange has got you covered.

Check-in services were provided by LoudCloud —as CEO and founder Robert Gillet checked our medical recommendation cards using his system, he seemed like a welcoming, chill guy, making the verification experience easy and streamlined for consumers. Once we were checked in and given swag bags containing a generous and wide variety of samples, we began to explore the majestic farm hosting the event—a perfect place to meet vendors and activate some of their wonderful wares.

The afternoon was spent with guys like Patrick from SuperBaked, who makes delicious baked goods with the motto “From Seed to Cookie, Organically,” and is branching out into low-CBD dog treats. And it was a fascinating benefit for me, as a supporter of innovation in cannabis tech, to meet farmers and manufacturers like Roxanne, whose company Legion of Bloom’s high-tech but affordable Terrapen setup creates a user experience that focuses both on the purity and strength of the vape pen, and on flavors that are a unique (and really cool) alternative to smoking.

On To Dinner

We have huge respect and appreciation for strong brand identity such as the all-female owned and operated Deviant Dabs. I felt the power in the mild but satisfying CBD rip I partook of with gratitude and enthusiasm. And as if all that wasn’t enough in one day, when the sun began to set, the DJs kept playing and the much-anticipated private dinner began. The food was delicious—focused on fresh local produce, and the option to infuse with cannabis or not. I most definitely adopted a “when in Rome” attitude and enjoyed the rest of the evening immensely.

As we are on the cusp of a great change in how our culture views cannabis, we need to remember: the real true OG are the folks who have been farming and creating outstanding products for generations. Getting to talk with second- and third-generation farmers like Matt from StarSong farms in Mendocino, who besides his great marijuana flowers also creates delicious cannabis-infused honey, is truly remarkable. Much like the folks at our local farmer’s markets want to ensure that we have fresh, sustainable produce and take pride in the protection of quality standards, we need these cannabis farmers to make sure the amazing opportunities and excellent products they have been cultivating remain available and sustainable for all of us to enjoy and support.

New Disney Movie Has Same Name As Italian Porn Star, Hilarity Ensues

Maria Loreto
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New Disney Movie Has Same Name As Italian Porn Star, Hilarity Ensues

It’s common for movies to change their names in other countries, due to a better fit for another audience or to avoid confusion with other shows and movies of the area.

In the UK, The Avengers is titled Avengers Assemble due to an existing TV show with the same name. Zootopia is called Zootropolis because studios believed that the new name would resonate more with British audiences.


via GIPHY

Moana, the 56th Disney movie which features the company’s first Polynesian princess, will go through a name change in Italy due in large part to Moana Pozzi. Who is Moana Pozzi, you might wonder?

Well, she’s one of Italy’s biggest porn stars and ’90s personalities.

The name says it all #MoanaPozzi#thoseeyes#thoselips#herhair#thatdress#

A photo posted by @enjoyingtheview51 on


The late adult film star appeared in over 100 movies, 50 different magazine covers and unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Rome under her own political party (aptly titled the Love Party).

Her estimated worth is 26 million euros and, reportedly, legendary Italian director Federico Fellini really wanted to work with her because she stimulated Italians intellectually too.


via GIPHY

She truly did it all.

“Moana” will be called “Oceania” in Italy due to the region the movie depicts. You can watch the non-sexy trailer below.

Metallica And Others Who Rocked The Tonight Show With This

Taylor Berman
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Metallica And Others Who Rocked The Tonight Show With This

On last night’s ‘Tonight Show,’ Jimmy Fallon and his band, The Roots, were joined by Metallica in the Music Room for a cover of “Enter Sandman” performed entirely with children’s instruments. Watching James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett perform their most famous song with kazoos, xylophones and recorders is certainly good and goofy fun, which is perhaps why a Facebook video of the performance has been viewed more than 31 million times in just nine hours.

But the California metal legends aren’t the first artists to visit the Music Room for a childish cover of their most well-known songs. Here are five others who rocked out with kazoos.

RELATED: This Epic Love Story Is Being Set To Music

Adele—“Hello”

Adele’s “Hello” was one of the biggest song of 2015. A song of heartbreak and resilience, “Hello” was a weirdly great fit for Music Room, in no small part because of the amazing power of her voice even in the most ridiculous settings. Also, it’s worth watching just to see Adele sing into a toy pink flip phone near the end.

Mariah Carey—“All I Want for Christmas”

Mariah Carey’s holiday classic fits right in on Music Room. It’s also, as far as we know, the only cover to feature actual children.

Carly Rae Jepsen—“Call Me Maybe”

Can you believe it’s been over four years since “Call Me Maybe” became a smash hit? Me neither. Time, man. Anyway, the insanely catchy pop tune is a perfect choice for Music Room, and Jepsen could have a second career singing kids songs.

Sesame Street Theme Song

As it turns out, a song written for children sounds great when performed by professional musicians using instruments designed for kids. Watch Elmo, The Count, Big Bird and the gang sing below.

RELATED: Marijuana Use And Guy’s Member

Meghan Trainor–“All About That Bass”

Meghan Trainor’s 2014 smash hit translates surprisingly well to a kid-friendly version.

Cops: Florida Man Stabbed IHOP Waiter In Retaliation For Food Poisoning

Taylor Berman
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Cops: Florida Man Stabbed IHOP Waiter In Retaliation For Food Poisoning

While inferior to Waffle House, IHOP is one of the best chain restaurants for a cheap, reliable breakfast. Pancakes are the way to go, in our opinion at least, but you’ll probably be happy with waffle or any of the standard egg options. But if for some reason you’re unsatisfied with your meal there, or feel sick after, do NOT do what a Florida man allegedly did last week, which is return to the restaurant so you can stab your waiter.

North Miami Police told the Miami Herald that Gene Hicks ate at the IHOP Friday morning. It’s unclear what Hicks ordered—the Miami Herald suggests he may have had “the Belgian waffle, the chicken cordon bleu or the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘n’ Fruity”—but whatever it was didn’t agree with his stomach, or so he later claimed.

Hicks left the restaurant but allegedly returned around 3 p.m. armed with a knife, which police say he then used to stab the waiter who’d served him. The waiter was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Hicks was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Messy breakups, deranged antics, pets gone wild. The Internet car-crash you can’t turn away from. For more, check out “New Zealand Man Takes His Homemade Jet Boat Out On Flooded Streets,” “Watch: Deer Trapped in American Eagle Store Smashes Through Front Window,” and “Man Chugged Axe Body Spray After He Was Pulled Over for DUI, Arrested Anyway.”

15 Super-Hot Sex Ideas To Celebrate Marijuana Legalization

Rachel Krantz
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15 Super-Hot Sex Ideas To Celebrate Marijuana Legalization

No, but really — how does a person have better sex or a better relationship? The Fresh Toast has enlisted Rachel Krantz, a sex writer and proud canna-enthusiast, to help readers out with some answers as its sex columnist. No question is off limits, and all questions will remain anonymous. Please send your super-hot sex and relationship inquiries to freshlove@thefreshtoast.com. Now, onto this week’s topic: ideas for having sex high.

Q: I live in California and recreational marijuana just got legalized! I’d been using medicinal before, but I still feel like celebrating. Both my girlfriend and I like to get high and have sex sometimes, and I was wondering if you might have any ideas for having sex while toasted I might not have thought of yet.

A: Hi neighbor! I’m also excited to be in California now that recreational marijuana is legal — it’s nice to feel like something most of us were doing anyway doesn’t have to be hidden in any way anymore. Your question is a fun one — having sex high happens to be one of my favorite topics (and hobbies). Used mindfully, marijuana is a substance that can really make for some interesting sex. Here are some ideas for having sex high you might not have thought of yet.

1. Make Getting High Romantic

In general, setting the mood is a recipe for success — the right lighting, scent, and a clean bed can work wonders for relaxing anyone — but especially women, who are proven to have an easier time orgasming when they are warm and cozy. When you’re having stoned sex, this goes double. Light a candle or three, make sure the room is clean and warm, and put on some music you both like. Lay on the bed and vape or smoke together, cuddling. This makes getting high in itself a romantic and intimate activity, and will create a nice atmosphere for foreplay. Take it slow, and don’t make your partner feel like there’s any rush at all to get down.

via GIPHY

2. Dance Up On It

Even if you think you’re a bad dancer, getting high can eliminate some inhibitions. If you don’t want to dance standing up together, challenge yourself to each play a song that you’d like to give the other a lap dance to. If a full strip tease seems to intimidating, one person could simply lay down and the other could sit up, as in Cowgirl position, and dance on their lap that way. Or, you could try “horizontal dancing,” where you’re both laying horizontally and grinding to the music. If it seems hilarious at points, that’s awesome! Embrace laughing. This is all about having fun and getting horny.

3. Stretch Out Second-Base For As Long As You Can Take It

In case you can’t tell yet, most of my tips for high sex have to do with slowing things down. Too often, we rush to the finish line during sex — but getting high is a good reminder that there doesn’t need to be a rush. Challenge each other to stretch second base out as long as you can, until one of you caves. Make-out the way you used to when you were a teenager. Dry hump, play with her boobs, grab her ass until she goes crazy and needs you to take her clothes off.

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4. Channel The Munchies

If she’s at the point where she’s begging for more, channel the munchies into oral, and taste the snack that is your partner’s genitals. The 69 position is also great when you’re both high — it will feel super-intense for both of you. For extra points, when you taste her, tell her what you taste, and why you like it. Women are socialized to have shame around their genitals, and this is a great time for you to describe just what you love most about her pussy.

5. Try To Really, Really Tease

If you’re having sex with a woman, this is a tip you need to try — high or not. With her legs spread, take your pointer finger, and stroke her clit as lightly as you possibly can, asking her along the way if she wants any more pressure. You’ll be amazed at how much a super light, teasing touch will drive her absolutely crazy. Go slowly and gently, be patient, keep things feather-light, and try not to stop until her hips are bucking up and down off the bed like a madwoman.

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6. Use Mirrors

If you don’t usually have a mirror by the bed, I highly recommend it in general. It will increase both your body positivity, and it’s hot as hell. If you or your partner has felt self-conscious in front of the mirror, being high is a great time to begin to unlearn that and challenge yourself to see the erotic nature of what it actually looks like to get down together.

7. Play ‘Anything But’

Another great way to tease, you can set a limit by playing “Anything But.” For example, you could say you’re each allowed to do anything but touch each other’s genitals, and the first person to cave “loses.”

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8. Try Mutual Masturbation

Sometimes, when you’re stoned especially, you just feel a little lazy. If that’s the case, go for some mutual masturbation, and kiss each other. If she normally uses a vibrator, encourage her to break it out. If you have a penis, be sure to use lube or lotion to also make things extra smooth and easy for you.

9. Try A Silent Session

If you decide to do the deed, it can be fun to challenge yourself to a totally silent session ahead of time. Women especially can be slightly performative during sex, making it hard to sort out which moans are genuine and which are just imitating porn. Being silent can take a lot of that pressure off — and it also forces you to communicate without words, and to focus on your breath and the present moment. It’ll feel really intimate and intense.

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10. …Or Just The Opposite

On the flip-side, if you live somewhere that permits it, having really loud sex while high can be really liberating. Tell your partner you want each of you not to hold back any sound. Go beyond moaning, and allow for grunting, heavy exhales, laughs, and whatever other noises come out. Remember, this is all about challenging each other to be more authentic and raw.

11. Play ‘1, or 2?’

This is a great time to bring some unfiltered truth into your sex life. If you’ve always wondered exactly what your partner’s preferences are, you can play “1, or 2” — which is a game I just made up. It’s like when you get an eye exam, and they ask you which one is clearer: “1, or 2?” — only for this, you’re asking their sexual preferences. So, for example, you could say “1?” and lightly nibble their nipple, then say, “Or 2?” and suck on it for a bit. Let them answer which they prefer, and if they can’t choose, go back and do it again before moving onto the next choice.

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12. Don’t Forget The Lube And Chapstick!

You can get extra dehydrated and dry when you get high, so don’t forget to drink water, and use extra lube and Chapstick so that you’re both comfortable during your extended sesh.

13. Follow Your Spontaneous Instincts

Challenge each other to try new positions, sensations, and ideas as they come to you. Of course, you don’t want to suddenly go into some intense power or pain play without consent, so make sure you have a safe word, keep checking in with each other, and don’t try anything too intense for the first time when you’re high. But go into the kitchen if you’ve always wanted to try that countertop, ask her to let you watch her masturbate, watch porn together if you’ve always been too shy! Follow your spontaneous consensual desire.

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14. Flip The Usual Dynamic

Another fun thing to do is to flip your usual sexual power dynamic. If you tend to be more submissive, talk before about trying to be the one who drives the session this time. You could even make it into more of a trippy game by challenging each other to role play “being” the other person. It will help you empathize with their feelings during sex — what would they want right now? What would they normally be doing? How would they do it? (A word of caution: if you have any sore spots about your sexual dynamic, this could end up causing a more serious discussion than you intended.)

15. Don’t Be Afraid To Pause

Sometimes, high sex can get intense! You might get in your head, lose your hard-on, or even feel emotionally overwhelmed. Make it clear to your partner that they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for a pause at any time, and vice-versa. Go back to cuddling, and only resume when or if the other person is ready. That goes for all sex, obviously (enthusiastic consent, people!) but with high sex, you need to take extra care to keep checking in with one another.

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Have fun!

Marijuana’s Hot Investing Opportunity? It’s Real Estate

Al Olson
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Marijuana’s Hot Investing Opportunity? It’s Real Estate

November has been a game-changing month for the cannabis industry, in both political and financial circles.

On Election Day, four states approved recreational marijuana for adult consumption and four other states voted yes on medical marijuana programs. It was a clear, historic mandate for marijuana enthusiasts and patients from Maine to Florida to California.

History was also made in the financial markets this month when the New York Stock Exchange approved the first publicly traded cannabis REIT: Innovative Industrial Properties.

A First For The Country

A REIT, or real estate investment trust, is a company that owns income-producing real estate. Typically, REITs are commercial real estate entities that own office buildings, apartments, shopping centers, hotels, timberlands, etc.

Innovative Industrial Properties, based in San Diego but incorporated in Maryland, will become the first of these cannabis-related companies to be traded on the NYSE. It’s listing will be IIPR.

The move represents a milestone for the nascent industry and opens the door to institutional investors looking to participate in the fast-growing category.

“The marijuana sector is in the early innings and investors are looking for opportunities to invest in the industry. This will be the first ever marijuana-related IPO to be listed on NYSE,” said Carter Mansbach, president of Jupiter Wealth Strategies. “It’s a big step forward.”

Because marijuana is still considered federally illegal, banks are reluctant to participate in the industry. Investing in businesses have been fairly risky, making capital difficult to come by for budding companies. Real estate investing could be a game-changer.

“Our real estate investments will consist of primarily properties suitable for cultivation and production of medical-use cannabis,” company executives wrote in the prospectus filed in October with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Innovative Industrial Properties will be purchasing large-scale industrial grow operations in various states to build its business — and provide much-needed seed money for the farmers.

Innovative Industrial Properties On The Forefront

The company has already made its first major investment with its purchase of PharmaCann’s New York cultivation facility. It also has non-binding letters of intent to purchase a cultivation facility in Illinois and four in California.

Other REITS exist,  but this will be the first on the NYSE.

For more, read Diana Olick’s story on CNBC.

 

Highway is an essential source for cannabis science, how-to stories and demystifying marijuana. Want to read more? Try these posts: 71% Of NFL Players Want Marijuana Legal, Why Your Marijuana Smells Skunky and A Drag Queen’s Visit To The Cannabis Store.

Double Take Offers Laughs As Much As Brains In Zombie Universe

Joe Mortimer
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Double Take Offers Laughs As Much As Brains In Zombie Universe

So often within the zombie world, we focus on the bad and the drama. We wonder how—or even why—people could survive in such a bleak, bleak world.

During our initial dive into Double Take’s comic universe, an expansion upon the world created by Night of the Living Dead, we focused on the imprint’s more dramatic offering. But surviving in a world full of mind-munching zombies can be funny, too.

Now while all the books seem to embody a light and funny attitude, several titles seem especially geared toward the funny, while still telling an interesting story set in the fictional Evans County, Pennsylvania. The first 3 issues of these stories and others can be read for free at Double Take’s website.

Through these very funny titles, Double Take really captures its expanded universe ethos, including fake ads and a letters page called Coast to Coast. They also include recipes which usually consist of two ingredients: 1 item of food (i.e egg roll, hamburger, meat pie etc.) and 1 slice of pizza. You’re then instructed to wrap the food item in the slice of pizza. It’s added “silly” things like this that make you feel like you’re in on a joke with a team of creators that are truly having fun.

Home Vol. 1: Lighter than Air

Cover art via Double Take
Cover art via Double Take

This would rank as my favorite book from Double Take so far. The conceit is somewhat of a switcheroo. The Foster family appears to be a typical 1960’s television family (think Leave it to Beaver). They’re all well-spoken, often quoting bible verses. From the beginning you get the sense that something is off about the Fosters.

That suspicion is confirmed when, during a trip to town, Paul and Claire Foster’s son Kevin is bitten by a zombie at Beekman’s Diner. They rush to University Hospital, where the doctors discover that Kevin is different and begin to dissect him. Luckily, the come to the rescue.  In a daring car chase, eldest Foster child Linda and her boyfriend Tim rescue Kevin, and return to the Foster Family Farm. They head for the hay silo, which—plot twist—is actually a spaceship.

The Fosters are secretly aliens attempting to fit in on Earth. So, they head for the next town where hopefully the story is continued for a second volume.

The artwork is consistent throughout and the book is filled with fun running gags, like Linda and boyfriend Tim, typical hormonal teenagers, always sneak off to “do it” but get interrupted every time. Tim must have the bluest balls in comics’ history.

Remote Vol. 1: Dead Air

Cover art via Double Take
Cover art via Double Take

As a lifetime Howard Stern fan, any stories about radio DJ’s immediately catch my attention. And that’s what Dead Air is really about. During the zombie attack on Evans County, Samantha Stanton is stuck in her radio station, and the show must go on. She remains on the air and puts her zombified crew back to work, training them to push buttons and do small jobs for “yum yums.”  As the hours pass, her ratings keep increasing, probably because she only has competition from two other radio DJ’s: a rock DJ and a Christian radio show.

The longer Samantha stays on the air, the raunchier her show becomes. Unsurprisingly, this upsets the Christian radio show host Virgil, who rounds up a posse of Hard Right Conservative Christians to march an attack on Samantha’s radio show. Their offensive succeeds, but I won’t spoil how Samantha survives. Though it’s a fun journey, the artwork seems a bit inconsistent from issue to issue, a detail that might smooth out with a second volume.

Dedication Vol. 1: Checked Out

Cover art via Double Take
Cover art via Double Take

Dedication is set in George’s Grocery Store which has been featured prominently in other titles. It’s a pretty light fare about how the store is run in the face of the ghoul outbreak. The ghouls barge into the grocery store after hours, eating poor George out of house and home. But this is a zombie universe so expect the unexpected: The teens working for George acquire super powers.

George switches gears and attempts to capitalize on the ghoul outbreak by buying up all the stores in town, forming his own conglomerate, making huge profits as a result. (A nice continuity touch: They play Samantha’s radio show from Remote: Dead Air throughout the story.) As bad as the ghouls are, the true monsters in this narrative are the humans. The regular non- customers are legitimately more of a pain in the ass than the zombies.

This book boasts the best cover art of all the Double Take titles and the artwork inside is great as well. The coloring really stands out, making it that much more enjoyable.

 

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