This week’s music features a cover by Sam Smith, La Roux’s last single and Nicki Minaj’s return to music, which also marks her debut in Reggaeton.
This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the weeks’ best, worst, and most interesting songs. We try to select songs of different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.
This week’s music features a cover by Sam Smith, La Roux’s last single and Nicki Minaj’s return to music, which also marks her debut in Reggaeton. Have a listen.
Pop
Sam Smith – I Feel Love
Doing a Donna Summer cover is basically just asking for trouble, especially when the song is “I Feel Love,” but this is Sam Smith and he somehow makes it work. The vibrant disco style fits well with whatever he’s doing now, which can be summarized as supremely gay music. It’s a fun experiment and I approve.
“International Woman of Leisure” is La Roux’s latest single. The song will be featured in her next album, “Supervision,” which is slated for release on February 2020. Despite the kind of hilarious and ridiculous name, the song is a upbeat break up anthem that’s fun and cool, if not a little reigned in.
Nicki Minaj & Karol G – Tusa
It was only a matter of time before Nicki Minaj jumped aboard the Reggaeton train, pulling out a single with Karol G, one of the biggest female Latin singers in recent memory. “Tusa” is fun, blending Raggaeton and hip hop easily. The two genres go well together, resulting in a proper song instead of a mish mash, which is what tends to happen on these occasions. I can’t say I’m impressed by Nicki Minaj’s Spanish, but hey, she tried and I’ve heard worse.
Just like any other job fair, an event hosted by cannabis industry representatives is an excellent way for people to hone in on the right opportunities and submit their resume to dozens of companies itching to hire.
Each time a state legalizes marijuana for recreational use, tens of thousands of brand spanking new jobs are created. This is perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the cannabis movement for those people who have dreamed for years about earning a living working with weed.
It can be difficult, however, to track down job openings in the cannabis trade. Sure, a real eager beaver can beat the streets in hopes of finding gainful employment in the field of ganja — they can even scour the internet for cannabis firms looking to fill positions in their neck of the woods. But the best, and perhaps the easiest way to find work in the world of weed is to hit the job fairs.
Just like any other job fair, an event hosted by cannabis industry representatives is an excellent way for people to hone in on the right opportunities and submit their resume to dozens of companies itching to hire. This is where even unskilled workers can go to find decent paying positions in cultivation centers, dispensaries, not to mention paraphernalia manufacturers and cannabis kitchens. Some of the leading jobs recruited during these events are budtenders, managers, sales representatives, growers and bookkeepers, according to the Vangst Talent Network.
But just because companies are hiring people to grow and sell marijuana doesn’t mean a job candidate should go in unprepared. These firms have invested millions of dollars for a chance to make it in the ever-changing business of cannabis, so it stands to reason that they want the best people on their side. Most of these companies would even prefer that their employees not stay baked all day. So maybe the best tip we can offer someone heading to a cannabis job fair is don’t go stoned.
As hypocritical as it may sound, most states require cannabis workers to be felony free – even if the conviction was only for marijuana. In some cases, a job applicant convicted of a pot-related crime could be blacklisted from the scene. States like Illinois are pushing to change this aspect of cannabis employment.
Even if you don’t have a record, it is probably best not to discuss any illegal activity. If you’re gunning for a position as a cultivator, it’s okay to talk about growing techniques and other details pertinent to the job. But revealing that your weed supplies the entire Southside of Chicago isn’t necessary.
Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images
Beyond that, someone interested in nailing down a position in the cannabis trade should ditch the tie-dyed shirt, clean themselves up and go in with a professional attitude. Always dress for success during these events and be polite. Crowds can be huge, and companies are literally talking to hundreds of people, so making a great first impression is essential. Please and thank you go a long way.
Regardless of whether you have any experience with cannabis or not, it is necessary to arrive at a job fair with a resume and be prepared to interview on the spot. A strong candidate will be ready to give interviewers an “elevator pitch,” which is a 30-60 second spiel that tells them what makes you the best person for the job.
This shows companies that you have confidence and some sense of what you are trying to achieve. Not everyone who shows up at these events will be that ready to conquer. The ones who are, however, stand a better chance of going to the top of the pile.
Also, be sure to collect business cards from interviewers and don’t be afraid to make follow up calls. No one has ever been discounted from the hiring pool because they showed too much initiative and enthusiasm.
If you need some motivation to help get you off the couch and to a cannabis job fair, just know that most positions come with a starting wage of between $12-16 per hour. A report from Glassdoor finds that cannabis workers earn 11 percent more than the median U.S. salary of $52,863. And there is significant growth potential in the cannabis trade, as well. The person starting out at $12 per hour today as a laborer in a cultivation center could be quickly promoted and earn higher wages.
If raised properly, the American Pit Bull Terrier will not be the “aggressive” breed it is so often known for. In fact, they are extremely friendly, even with strangers.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is recognized as a purebred dog breed by the United Kennel Club and American Dog Breeders Association, but not the American Kennel Club. So, don’t expect to cheer on the APBT at the Westminster or National Dog Show.
Strength, confidence, and happy-go-lucky are all characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier. Eager to please, believe it or not, this breed makes for an ideal family pet. If raised properly, the American Pit Bull Terrier will not be the “aggressive” breed it is so often known for. In fact, they are extremely friendly, even with strangers.
It is true, the American Pit Bull Terrier has as much strength as any breed, but it is only when raised to be a fighter, neglected or abused, it will act violently.
Here, we find — what is more common than not — sweet and kind American Pit Bull Terriers of Instagram.
Overheated phones, laptops and tablets are a common occurrence. Here’s how you can prevent this from happening.
No matter what electronic device you’re using — handheld or desktop — you’ve definitely experienced overheating. This happens frequently, when you use your device for long periods of time, when you have several tabs open, or when you’re using a lot of apps at the same time. Playing games, watching videos, and using apps that enable your location and camera are among the dozens of reasons your device may be running hot.
Kevin Beck, Lenovo’s Senior Competitive Analyst, compares an overheated device with eating a really spicy hot sauce. The hotter the sauce, the harder it gets for your brain to process things and function properly. Beck explained to Mashable that all electronic components produce heat and have a built in tolerance for it. Nowadays, with laptops and phones becoming smaller and thinner, developers have to figure out ways of preventing and managing overheating in ways that don’t affect performance.
While errors in design or age may affect a device’s propensity to overheat, it helps if you know how to counteract this issue. Here are 6 things you can do to prevent your device from overheating.
By powering off your device, you’ll allow all the parts in it to momentarily shut down and stop producing heat for a few minutes. Wait for your system to feel cool to the touch and then turn it back on. If there are no underlying issues with the device, this trick should bring your device back to normal.
Electronics and the beach are a bad combination. Aside the fact that sand is scratchy and bad for screens, direct sunlight is terrible for devices, causing them to crash and overheat. This tends to happen a lot to our phones, which, when receiving sunlight, store it up and retain it.
Sometimes your devices overheat because the screen is on with the highest brightness setting. Lower the brightness to a level that’s still comfortable, and make sure to set your settings so that the screen turns off a few seconds after it stops being used.
GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are some of the features that consume the most battery power and that lead to overheating. It’s easier to turn off all of these features if your phone is the one that’s overheating, since you can still use its basic features without them.
All phones and laptops offer ways of knowing which apps, websites, and programs are consuming the most battery power. These programs are usually the ones that are also overheating your phone, so make sure to force quit them and check if your phone cools down after a minute or two.
Your phone and laptop case could prevent air from flowing freely in your device, especially when you’re charging them and they’re receiving extra heat. If you think your case might be causing extra heat, make sure to remove it when you’ve plugged in your device to an outlet.
Unlike petrochemical-based lubricants, hemp is a renewable resource that actually reduces carbon dioxide in the air.
A significant number of consumers are looking for products that are more eco-friendly from companies with more sustainable operations. Even investors are putting large corporations’ feet to the fire, expecting firms to not only be profitable, but also reduce their environmental impact. Some sectors of the economy, such as the automotive industry, also faces regulatory pressure to make their products more fuel efficient and emit fewer pollutants. Could hemp help automakers make their cars greener?
Hemp’s use in the making of automobiles is not new; manufacturers such as Ford experimented with using the plant to make and fuel cars. Although Ford making a car almost entirely out of hemp is a stoner myth, the automaker’s founder and namesake wanted to find ways to help farmers financially afloat during the Great Depression.
Metal, plastic, fabric, even lubricants and fuel can be made out of hemp. Carbon fiber panels, popular on sports cars and as aftermarket performance upgrades, can be replaced by interwoven hemp fabric and epoxy. Hemp plastics are strong, durable and lighter than steel or aluminum. Creating lightweight vehicles increases fuel efficiency, as it takes less fuel to move less car, while increasing range, critical for small electric cars. Interiors can be made out of hemp fabric, which BMW has started doing with their electric model i3. Even faux-leather can be made out of hemp.
Cars are full of moving parts, and those parts usually require some kind of lubricant to perform smoothly and trouble-free. Hemp, especially the seeds, can be processed into oils and greases, and unlike petrochemical-based lubricants, hemp is a renewable resource that actually reduces carbon dioxide in the air, absorbing the greenhouse gas and emitting oxygen.
Photo by Anton Petrus/Getty Images
That’s not to say industrial hemp is not without its ecological drawbacks, including polluting waterways with agricultural runoff. And like all plants, hemp requires water to grow. Despite these potential issues, farming cannabis for hemp is less destructive than strip mining bauxite for aluminum, a common material used to make automotive parts.
Synthetic fabrics and plastic parts found inside a car are usually made from plastic derived from non-renewable petroleum. Hemp can also be produced domestically, making it immune to potential price hikes and supply issues stemming from trade wars or oil prices.
Avoiding all ecological damage is perhaps as unavoidable as it is impractical for many to replace their automobile with a bicycle or buss pass. Mitigating the consequences of modern convenience that cars provide is the next best thing and hemp shows much promise in that respect.
Networks have struggled to produce a marijuana show for the legalization era, so they’re bringing back an old friend.
Back in 2005, “Weeds” debuted on Showtime and introduced mainstream America to the underground dealings of black-market marijuana. Thanks to a standout performance from Mary-Louise Parker, the show grounded the moody drama found in shows like “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad”, with a lighthearted jolt. After all, this was a story of a widowed mother just trying to provide for her family.
Thanks to marijuana’s newfound popularity and an insatiable demand for relatable content, the show is receiving a revival at Starz. Parker will star and executive produce the sequel, which is being called “Weeds 4.20”, though series creator Jenji Kohan will not return. Instead Victoria Morrow, a writer and co-executive producer on the original series, would helm the project. Lionsgate Television will produce the show.
“We’re thrilled to be back in business with series star and producer Mary Louise Parker on what we’re calling ‘Weeds 4.20,’ already in active development at Starz, as we prepare a comprehensive and integrated rollout for one of television’s most beloved properties,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer on a company earnings call Thursday.
Photo via Flickr user Gage Skidmore
This revival represents two truths about entertainment today—every show, movie, video game, and board game is capable of being rebooted in today’s content landscape. “Weeds” was a stellar show for its first three seasons, but seemed bored with itself in its final iteration.
But it also shows the paltry attempt others have made at capitalizing on marijuana’s new mainstream status. “Cooking While High”, Netflix’s “Disjointed”, “Pimp My Grow”, and “Mary + Jane” have all struggled to break through as the new marijuana show. Meanwhile, properties that began as successful web series before making the leap to cable networks like “Broad City” and “High Maintenance” remain culturally relevant today.
Either way, we’re eager to see how the “Weeds” team refreshes the show. The story will pick up 10 years after its original run ended and we’re sure they’ll be plenty of talk around marijuana legalization and corporate cannabis.
Artist Robert Crumb created the famous Keep On Truckin’ image and the X-rated Fritz the Cat. The highest price paid for his work was $717,000 in May 2017.
Marijuana millionaires or even cannabis companies flush with public money may have the chance to buy a rare R.Crumb piece of art titled “Stoned Agin.” The iconic comic art will be available for the first time ever in Heritage Auctions’ Comics & Comic Art Auction Nov. 21-24 in Dallas, Texas, and is expected to go for over $250,000.
Heritage Auctions described it as the “Holy Grail” among serious collectors of artwork by the iconic Crumb and dates back to 1971. Robert Crumb was part of a group of counter-culture artists in the last 1960s and early 1970s located in the San Francisco Bay Area. He created the famous Keep On Truckin image and the X-rated Fritz the Cat. The highest price paid for his work was $717,000 in May 2017, which was a cover he did for the Fritz the Cat book dated in 1969.
“The consignor received the artwork directly from Robert Crumb,” Heritage Auctions Senior Vice President Todd Hignite said. “After moving to Northern California in 1970 and getting to know Crumb through friendships with other underground cartoonists, a trade was arranged with the artist, swapping some rare old blues 78 records for the artwork. The original has remained in our consignor’s personal collection ever since, buried away and securely stored for more than four decades, which has only added to the appeal and demand among collectors. This art is not only the great “lost” Crumb but an incredibly key image for the 1960s and 1970s counter-cultural history. Such powerful images that have been seared into the imaginations of so many very infrequently come up at auction.”
Hignite thinks that the declining stigma around cannabis has increased broader interest in Crumb’s work. “Personally, I can’t imagine a piece of artwork that would appeal more to cannabis entrepreneurs,” said Hignite. He expects a great deal of interest in this particular piece as it is considered an iconic image from the era. “Thousands of copies hung in dorm rooms and head shops around the country,” he added.
Heritage Auctions has sold Crumb’s work for the last 20 years. The company noted that this art is in ink on Bristol board, with an image size of approximately 12 by 8 inches on paper measuring 13-7/8 by 10-7/8 inches. The artwork is even accompanied by the cardboard portfolio in which Crumb delivered the artwork; the portfolio has a handwritten “to do” list in pencil, possibly written by Hytone publisher Don Donahue.
This year’s ABC live musical was mocked more than usual due to a really unfortunate Flounder puppet.
Another year, another awful and awkward live musical adaptation from ABC. This year, “The Little Mermaid” was the unlucky source material. Although casting directors certainly tried their best to make things enticing by hiring an eclectic mix of talent (Queen Latifah, Shaggy, Auli’i Cravalho, John Stamos and one of Ariana Grande’s ex-boyfriends), the whole musical was really bad.
There was also a fake Flounder, which left many of us baffled.
This is not the adorable Flounder that lives in your childhood memories and was best friends with Ariel.
Puppets are a hard trick to pull off. When done well, you get The Muppets, which are lovely and hilarious. When done wrong you get, well, 2019’s version of Flounder, who looks like a scary wet sock.
Calling 911 for any marijuana-related situation really only stands to make matters worse for the average Joe.
There was once a time when the mere thought of involving the police in matters of marijuana was absolutely, positively unheard of among the cannabis community. Doing so not only meant taking on some unwanted heat, a heat that no one in their right mind would ever dare unleash upon themselves, but it also exponentially increased the chances of being treated like a hardened criminal and tossed in jail.
Therefore the unspoken code of the street, regardless of the situation, was one of simplicity. It was to never, ever, get the police sniffing around in any snag where weed was involved. But somewhere down the line, things drastically changed. Now, not a week goes by where a distraught person isn’t chatting it up with the boys in blue because they’ve either had their pot stolen or they’ve consumed too damn much of it and need the cavalry to come riding in with a rescue.
It’s embarrassing.
The thing is, calling 911 for any marijuana-related situation really only stands to make matters worse for the average Joe. Although marijuana is becoming increasingly more legal across the United States, it is still considered a banned substance in most parts of the country. Police are not being any more lenient toward pot users now because several states have legalized it for medicinal and recreational use.
In fact, law enforcement arrested more people for weed in 2018 than in the previous two years. Don’t fool yourself, the drug war is still on. Their job is to continue dealing with this plant in accordance with their respective state laws, which means 911 marijuana calls can be a recipe for disaster.
Some reports indicate that emergency room visits are up now that marijuana can be consumed in edible form. People are getting ahold of these products, disregarding the recommended dosage and the advice of their budtender, and biting off more than they can chew, so to speak. And then come the bad times.
Photo by Gigih Hardhia/EyeEm/Getty Images
Getting too much THC rattling around in the old head is a sure-fire way of spawning vicious bouts of anxiety and paranoia. It’s the kind of feeling that can have even the most experienced pot connoisseur crawling under the coffee table and begging for help. This is where people, a lot of times, make the mistake of calling 911. They believe that it is the best possible way to ensure their chances of survival. But if this action is taken, not only is an ambulance coming, so are the police. This isn’t a big deal in places like Colorado and California, where weed is legal, but if your cannabis-induced panic attack happens in Indiana, it could spell trouble.
Listen, the only thing first responders can do for a person who is experiencing a savage freak out moment because they consumed too much marijuana is dose them with anti-anxiety medication to get them to calm down. That’s it. EMTs do not have some magic concoction that will make all of the high horrors vanish within seconds after their arrival. You’re just going to have to ride it out. But if there is more weed in the house or on any of the other guests, the cops could start making arrests for pot possession. There is even the possibility that the police could swoop in a seize personal property, as well, setting the owner of the home on a misery installment plan that could last for years.
There are also those people who feel the need to involve the police when someone steals their weed, or when they get ripped off by a street dealer. We have no clue what this particular breed is thinking, but law enforcement is never going to be on your side in affairs related to black market pot commerce.
It’s not that they can just drag a person to jail for calling 911 and complaining about their stash being lifted, but it does give the police access to their home and permission to snoop around. If there is more contraband in the house, the situation is going downhill, and fast. And even if they do catch the person who stile the weed, it’s not like it is going to be returned to its rightful owner. Nope. It’s going into evidence, and the person who had it is going to jail.
Make no mistake, the rules of prohibition should still apply. It’s never a good idea to call 911 about marijuana.
The properties of CBD are a good match for lip balms, specifically for people who have sensitive lips or spend lots of time exposed to harsh weather.
Over the past couple of years CBD has become a huge draw for the beauty and wellness industries, being added onto make up, lotions, oils, serums, and more. Now, it’s being added onto lip balms, providing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that do a great job of keeping your lips healthy and looking good.
Although it can be argued that CBD is being added into all sorts of products nowadays because it’s trendy and it’ll sell, the properties of the compound are a good match for lip balms, specifically for people who have sensitive lips or spend lots of time exposed to harsh weather.
Chapped and dry lips are generally caused by either low or high temperatures, or when people constantly lick their lips. While dry lips can be a symptom of an underlying issue, such as diseases or a nutrient deficiency, they’re generally a minor concern and pretty easy to treat.
Photo by ljalbert via Pixabay
CBD is a compound that’s been used regularly in lotions and creams, treating skin blemishes and surface cuts. In fact, most CBD lip balms could also be used to treat minor cuts located on your hands or face. Most good quality CBD oils contain different vitamins, such as vitamin A, C, and E, which all promote the growth and development of healthy skin. Lip balms containing CBD should heal chapped lips faster than other balms, requiring only a few applications to see results.
After reading all this information, you may wonder why people don’t use CBD lip balm all the time. For starters, some people are still a little wary of applying something to their lips that they think may get them high. This is obviously not true. CBD lip balms tend to also be more expensive than average lip balms, a serious concern for people who don’t want to cash out 30 bucks over a tube of chapstick.
There’s also the fact that most of these products have a particular grassy smell and taste, which is not something people generally want on their lips. Still, there are plenty of CBD lip balms out there that have added flavorings and scents, keeping the taste of CBD or hemp to a minimum.
Although they tend to be expensive, there’s still a lot of benefits to be had with CBD lip balms. If you’re curious and feel like trying out something new, do some research on popular brands and compare and contrast prices. You might be surprised with your findings.
