Page 752 – The Fresh Toast

Peppa Pig Is Causing Kids To Speak With British Accents

Maria Loreto

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February 14, 2019

Peppa Pig Is Causing Kids To Speak With British Accents

It’s no secret that kids parrot sounds and phrases that surround them. It’s a trait that teaches them how to act like humans, but it can become annoying when they’re modeling these things after an animated pig that snorts every other sentence.

Janet Manley, Senior Features Editor for Romper and mother of two, explains the toll that “Peppa Pig” has had on her family. She writes that after a 21 hour flight from New York to Australia, her kids had adopted Peppa’s British accent. “She was calling me ‘Mummy’ and finishing her sentences with Peppa’s trademark snort.” Cute? “Two years later, she still oinks in conversation. Call it the Peppa effect.”

The article mentions other parents who’ve also experienced this effect. In fact, there are hundreds of them all over social media.

Is watching Peppa Pig making US children talk with British accents?

This is Oliver Smalley, a three-year-old boy, who has picked up the British accent after watching the popular children’s TV show https://t.co/CcVI5F6XEv pic.twitter.com/UcGigdv9tn

— ITV News (@itvnews) February 12, 2019

Roberto Rey Agudo, the language program director at Dartmouth College, tells Romper that the rise in young Peppa Pig accents is due to Peppa’s incredible popularity. “Peppa Pig has been such a phenomenon with the 2 to 5-year-old crowd,” he says. This is also conveniently the age when kids start to develop their accents, making it the perfect moment for the Peppa effect to strike.

If you’ve never seen an episode of “Peppa Pig,” here’s a little taste of what these poor parents are going through:

Why Is New York City Embargoing CBD Products?

Danielle Guercio

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February 14, 2019

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Why Is New York City Embargoing CBD Products?

Just like Los Angeles in late 2018, America’s other big trendsetting city, New York, suddenly outlawed CBD infused food and beverages in a seemingly backwards snap. Announced the same week as the federal relaxations on hemp from the Farm Bill, New York’s Department of Health decided to crack down on cannabidiol dosed prepared food items— not tinctures or manufactured foods, which they see as dietary supplements, landing under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration. This means those CBD cookies, brownies, and lattes are cancelled, for now.

According to local news site Gothamist, “The DOH apparently does not consider CBD to be a food item unto itself, but rather an additive. The DOH did not respond to a question about who would be considered a “qualified expert” in order to have CBD approved.”

This sudden and silly turn against the tide is not going to do anything to make CBD safer. If New York regulators really cared about safety, they would follow the lead of states that already have lab testing requirements and make pathways to safe products rather than banning them outright due to a lack of information and infrastructure.

New York food bible Eater writes, “This will impact an increasingly robust market in New York, one that’s following a national swell of CBD food and drink sales. Bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries have all jumped into the game.”

CBD is seemingly everywhere from the corner bodega to the boutique shop, and preventing small businesses from providing it to their clientele is limiting in a grossly unfair way. It would take a simple testing initiative and some guidelines to bring the city up to speed, plus training for the on-site executors, but Mayor Bill DeBlasio seems more interested in beating out Governor Andrew Cuomo to become the first Italian American President in 2020.

This Sicilian American writer would prefer they both focus on the betterment of their existing constituency, which includes reinvesting in New York communities harmed by cannabis prohibition before adding more bans to the long list of no-nos. CBD can help countless New Yorkers dealing with pain, inflammation, addiction, and more, but it seems until they can find a way to permit and tax CBD activity, they’d rather partially withhold it from the public.

It’s no secret that NYC is a deeply capitalist city, and CBD entrepreneur and restaurateur Ron Silver used this angle to plea to the better senses of the metropolis’ financial sector. He opinesfor Crain’s Business New York, “If New York wants to compete in the most exciting growth industry in our lifetime, we must adopt a robust and affirmative stance on hemp-based extracts and CBD in foods and supplements.”

There are few things cherished in NYC more than the mighty dollar, and ignoring this multibillion dollar pocket of growth that is happening right now— not just a projection— is done at the peril of those who can’t accept cannabis’ place in our future.

Silver continues, “The informed public wants this product. And will get it. The smart localities will welcome it and reap the rewards in their tax base (or lose out, period). The market is moving and it is up to the local regulators to decide if they want to thrive with the industry or not. Because the industry will thrive; it will just relocate to where it is welcome.”

Should Voters Trust 2020 Democrats’ Newfound Support Of Marijuana?

Mike Adams

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February 14, 2019

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Should Voters Trust 2020 Democrats’ Newfound Support Of Marijuana?

Now that there seems to be increased support on Capitol Hill for marijuana reform, namely among those Democratic lawmakers taking a shot at the presidency in 2020, some cannabis advocates are splitting hairs over which of them supported cannabis reforms in the past and those who have recently jumped on the bandwagon.

Senators Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are part of this conversation. Both lawmakers were once opposed to progressive pot policies, but over the past few years have evolved.

But this shift in opinion could be an illusion, some advocates say. Although many states have legalized the leaf for recreational use and more presidential candidates are onboard with legalizing at the national level doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. If history has told us anything, it’s that the path can be reversed.

“A lot of people who were around in the ‘70s told me we went through this before,” Douglas Hiatt, a marijuana reform activist and attorney, told the Washington Examiner. “We had a big wave of decriminalization. Lots of states you wouldn’t expect were decriminalizing and things were looking good … then, boom, the whole thing got turned around in four years and Reagan restarted the war on drugs. Everyone thought it was over.”

This attitude appears to be one of those deeply rooted in old-timey conspiracy theories and sheer paranoia. Even if it wanted to, it unlikely that the United States could launch back into another full-fledged drug war scenario. There has been too much truth spread about these “failed” tactics to ever get Congress behind it, and the citizens would surely revolt against any rekindling of these hammer fisted ways.

Even Joe Biden, who has supported some questionable drug-related policies in the past, has said that his support on those matters was “a big mistake.” Biden is another potential contender for the Democratic nomination for 2020.

Other marijuana advocates are not at all concerned about the anti-pot records of Harris and Klobuchar. What’s past is past, in their opinion. But most still agree that Biden is too much of a political dinosaur ever to win the support of the cannabis community.

“No way, absolutely not, I would not support Biden,” said Adam Eidinger, a pot advocate who was instrumental in legalizing in the District of Columbia. “Until he sits down with me and begs for my support, I wouldn’t support him. I don’t trust him at all — he’s someone who could have done something in the vice president’s office, and they wouldn’t touch it.”

There are plenty of Democratic presidential candidates that have been consistently in the cannabis corner. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, have all stood in support of ending prohibition. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, too, has been a vocal supporter for marijuana legalization.

There is even speculation that President Trump will up the ante by embracing federal legalization to win another term. Democrats have said for months that they expect Trump will use this tactic if Congress doesn’t use 2019 to pass far-reaching pot reforms.

Want To Be 25 Percent Happier? Make Sure You’re Doing This

Amy Hansen

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February 14, 2019

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Want To Be 25 Percent Happier? Make Sure You’re Doing This

The next time you feel the urge to move to another city, or even another part of the city you currently reside, you may want to consult your BFF.

But before we get to the “why” of this statement, consider for a moment that a recent-ish poll found that only one-third of Americans reported being happy in 2017. That’s depressing.

The findings reveal that we’re all basically a bunch of stressed-out, lonely, overworked and unsatisfied people. But, as Best Life reminds us, we can all take comfort in the words of Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He says there is another reason we’re unhappy and it has nothing to do with how terrible we all are.

https://giphy.com/gifs/9wHtWs7MJct1u

According to Dolan, those who live within a mile of a close friend are 25 percent more likely to feel happy than those who don’t. As Dolan writes in his book, Happiness By Design, people around us are way bigger influences than we think:

We are wired, automatically and unconsciously, to mimic and absorb the emotions of others around us… Since other people matter so much to your behavior and happiness, the proximity of your family and friends is something to take into account when thinking about a new job or place to live. A basic starting question for any locational decision should be, ‘Where do the people who contribute most to my happiness live?’

But just because you live close to your bestie doesn’t mean you are automatically going to get happy. Instead, your happiness stems from the act of going to visit.

https://giphy.com/gifs/boy-meets-world-3o6gEdtXJp2BwTFdi8

As Best Life summarizes, “having a friend who you see on most days boosts your sense of well-being by the same amount as earning an extra $100,000 a year.

That seems a little incredible, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with being close to someone who, if nothing else, can provide a shoulder to cry on when you realize how unhappy you are.

Here’s How You Can Learn A New Language By Watching Netflix

Maria Loreto

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February 14, 2019

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Here’s How You Can Learn A New Language By Watching Netflix

It’s a known fact among bilinguals that watching movies and listening to music in other languages expands brains and brings people closer to understanding new words. Now, with the accessibility that technology provides, there’s never been a better time to learn a new language. There’s all sorts of learning apps available for download, and then there’s Netflix, an app that allows you to watch hundreds of shows in all sorts of languages.

While exposing your ear to different languages helps, in order to learn a new language from scratch you need some sort of guidance and a translator. Language Learning With Netflix is a free Chrome extension that allows you to select the language you want to learn and have its subtitles appear onscreen. These subtitles are accompanied by a translation in a language you understand.

The extension has several features that are also useful, allowing users to pick a level (beginner or intermediate) that will provide simpler or more complex vocabulary. If you hover over a word, the extension acts as a dictionary, allowing you to see its different definitions. You can also adapt the speed of the subtitles, allowing you to slow down the program for better understanding. It won’t make for the best viewing experience, but it beats Duolingo in terms of fun.

Although this tool isn’t the most apt to binge the new season of your favorite Netflix show, it’s a good idea for when you want to re-watch old favorites or want to watch a crappy movie and feel like you’re not completely wasting your time.

Photo courtesy www.quotecatalog.com

Maury Povich Once ‘Inhaled’ A Marijuana Strain Called ‘Connie Chung’

Brendan Bures

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February 14, 2019

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Maury Povich Once ‘Inhaled’ A Marijuana Strain Called ‘Connie Chung’

“What do you think, I’m gonna pull a Bill Clinton and say I never inhaled?” So said Maury Povich when asked recently if he had ever smoked weed. In other words, Povich isn’t playing coy about any past marijuana usage, as we’ve seen from other notable celebrities as of late. (That goes for Sen. Kamala Harris).

“Now it’s so legal, it’s like nothing,” Povich said during an appearance on Sirius XM’s “Sway in the Morning”.

Povich, one of the most popular daytime television hosts in America, isn’t a cannabis connoisseur by any means. But he did share a tale of traveling to Washington so he could smoke a marijuana strain named after his wife, veteran journalist Connie Chung.

The couple first learned of the strain from a friend, none other than comedian Lewis Black. According to Povich, Black was working on a story in Washington as cannabis was becoming legal in the state and, at some point, came across the “Connie Chung” in his findings.

“Lewis called up my wife and said, ‘Connie, do you know that there is a strain of grass called the Connie Chung?’” Povich said. “So you know, we had to try that.”

The couple actually addressed the Connie Chung strain once before, during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen”. The strain is “very soothing and tastes like burning campfire, wood, and spice,” Cohen discovered. According to Leafly, “This [hybrid] has proven to be a heavy hitter and guarantees to lower your eyelids substantially.”

Chung was tickled by the strain, too, and gave Cohen a sample to try.

“I’m very easy to grow, I require less attention and care, and I give good yield,” Chung said. “I’m perfect for daytime use when facing deadlines, need to be alert and imaginative.”

The Company That Promised To Send Humans To Mars Is Bankrupt

Maria Loreto

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February 13, 2019

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The Company That Promised To Send Humans To Mars Is Bankrupt

Mars One, the company that promised to take humans to Mars, has released a statement announcing that they’re bankrupt. There go our dreams of colonizing space.

The company’s statement explains that they are actively looking for a solution to bankruptcy and that they’re in conversations with potential investors who could help them secure their mission’s next steps.

Via Mars One:

Mars One will redirect its focus. For the execution of the actual voyage to Mars, the company will continue to seek strategic collaboration with renowned companies and organizations involved with the travel to Mars. Mars One itself will focus on the even more inspiring ‘being there’, the adventurous story of humans actually living on Mars, making The Red Planet their new home.”

Mars One was an ambitious project that gained a large following quickly, although many experts and scientists doubted them from the beginning. The project was first announced in 2012, gathering over 200,000 signatures from people who wanted to volunteer for the program. The initial goal was to send a rover to Mars by 2018 and land a ship and crew by 2022. Over the years, the project faced many hurdles, eventually forcing the company to realize their initial ambitions were way too optimistic. They first pushed the voyage to 2026 and then ultimately 2031.

CEO and founder Bas Lansdorp was criticized for presenting misleading information and for never explaining how he planned to get passengers to Mars. At one point, he suggested the development of a reality show of the project as a way of funding it.

Mars One was devised as a settlement mission, finding passengers who’d be willing to leave Earth and stay on Mars for a good amount of years, gathering data and creating a life in space. Although there are now several movies and shows set on Mars and everyone is interested in space travel, we still have no clue how to get there. Elon Musk? NASA? Are we getting to Mars before global warming consumes us all?

This Couple Has Created A Sex-On-Demand Button

Amy Hansen

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February 13, 2019

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This Couple Has Created A Sex-On-Demand Button

So much for foreplay. A couple, married for 15 years, has created a “love button” that signals to your partner when you want to have sex.

Ryan and Jenn Cmich created LoveSync about a year ago when, according to Jenn, “our relationship was in a little bit of a lull.”

Ryan says he was lying in bed one night and found himself thinking that “there’s a good chance that [Jenn’s] stressed about work, tired, and just not interested in having a little fun. But I couldn’t help but think maybe I’m wrong. And maybe she was thinking the same thing that I was. Maybe we were missing out.”

He admits to being a little bit of a wuss since making his desire known to his wife made him vulnerable to rejection “or worse, I add to her stress by making her feel bad that she’s shooting me down.” And while no babies were conceived that night, LoveSync was born!

Fortunately, Ryan is a robotics engineer so he was able to design a device that lets you know when your partner wants to have sex. Communication in a relationship is so 2018.

Here’s how LoveSync works.

Step 1: Place a button on each one of your nightstands.

Step #2:

Step 3: Similar to Tinder, if your partner also taps the button, it’s go time! If they don’t? Sorry, loser.

According to the product’s Kickstarter page, “It provides the most benefit for couples who tend to not be as frequently outward about their sexual desires, BUT even those with above average drive have room to improve!”

The couple exceeded their Kickstarter goal of $7,500 in just two days.

Spike Jonze And Jesse Williams Are Shooting A Secret Project For MedMen

Brendan Bures

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February 13, 2019

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Spike Jonze And Jesse Williams Are Shooting A Secret Project For MedMen

If you want people to watch a short film about your product, you hire Spike Jonze. The legendary filmmaker behind “Her” and “Being John Malkovich” started as an in-demand music video director in the 1990s, working with a variation of iconic artists including Kanye West, The Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, R.E.M. Beck, and more. He’s taken a recent turn into directing short films with celebrities that act as branded content for various companies.

MedMen, one of the biggest names in cannabis, took notice and recruited Jonze to direct such a short film featuring “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jonze and Williams were seen last week in Los Angeles shooting for the project.

Here’s what Hollywood Reporter found out about the premise of the film:

Little is known about the short film aside from this basic plot: The project chronicles the history of cannabis in America from the pre-prohibition era through today. MedMen is often referred to as “the Apple of weed,” and the company maintains 19 licensed locations in California, New York, Nevada, Florida and Arizona, per its website.

Previously, Jonze has memorably partnered with Margaret Qualley for fashion house Kenzo, FKA Twigs for Apple’s HomePod, and Idris Elba for Squarespace. We were big fans of the bonkers Qualley-Jonze production, so our hopes are high for the MedMen production.

MedMen found itself in hot water this month following allegations from former CFO James Parker, who claimed higher-ups at the company used racially inappropriate slurs and demeaning language to Parker. He also alleges the company asked him to engage in shady business practices and went behind his back in searching for a new CFO.

“These are baseless claims and we’ll defend ourselves vigorously in court,” MedMen spokesman Daniel Yi said.

However, these allegations were serious enough for the New York Cannabis Industry Association to sever ties with the company. MedMen, with its “Apple Store Of Weed” on Fifth Ave., has firmly established itself in the New York market in recent years. A short film from Spike Jonze will surely help rehabilitate MedMen’s image, though how the company responds to these allegations will be more important for its brand moving forward.

MedMen Facing Serious Backlash Following Allegations Of Racism

Mike Adams

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February 13, 2019

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MedMen Facing Serious Backlash Following Allegations Of Racism

MedMen, the California-based cannabis firm that has made headlines over the past year for securing the Woodstock logo and seeking the exclusive rights to the word “cannabis,” is now in the news over allegations of racism and other unsavory behavior. This supposed corruption among the company’s leading executives, made public in a lawsuit filed by former MedMen CFO James Parker, was deep enough for the New York Cannabis Industry Association (NYMCIA) to sever ties with the company earlier this week.

It’s a smear that threatens the company’s position in the Empire State. Just last year, MedMen opened a revolutionary new cannabis dispensary on Fifth Avenue in New York City, a spot that has been deemed “The Apple Store of Weed,” with plans to open additional locations throughout the metropolis soon. As of now, the company holds 10 cannabis dispensary licenses in New York state.

There are obvious risks to the life of any business that engages in the cultivation and sale of marijuana – namely things like market uncertainty and DEA raids — but name calling doesn’t rank high on the list.

Nevertheless, the lawsuit alleges that MedMed CEO Adam Bierman once referred to a Los Angeles city councilman as a “midget negro,” and that comment has been enough to squash company’s standing with the NYMCIA.

“The [New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association] has a zero-tolerance discrimination policy for any of our members who engage in this type of despicable behavior,” the NYMCIA wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state officials.

This is not the first time the company has been faced with a lawsuit. Several others have been filed against MedMed over the past several months, some of which are claims made by former employees over unpaid wages.

Although MedMed was initially asked to step down from its place with the NYMCIA, the company refused. It was ultimately forced out over what it calls frivolous allegations. But just in case there is a chance it can get back in, company representatives handled the removal with diplomacy.

“We still support the org (NYMCIA) and its cause,” MedMen spokesman Daniel Yi told the New York Daily News. “We have already addressed these allegations publicly. They are patently false. They were made by a disgruntled employee and are untrue.”

MedMed will continue its work in New York in hopes of getting in on the deal once the state makes a move to legalize the leaf for recreational consumption. Governor Cuomo has proposed such a deal – something that is expected to be sealed up by the end of 2019 – yet there have been some snags.

More on this issues is supposed to be hashed out later this week when legislative forces gather to discuss making legal weed part of this year’s state budget.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Peppa Pig Is Causing Kids To Speak With British Accents

Why Is New York City Embargoing CBD Products?

Should Voters Trust 2020 Democrats’ Newfound Support Of Marijuana?

Want To Be 25 Percent Happier? Make Sure You’re Doing This

Here’s How You Can Learn A New Language By Watching Netflix

Maury Povich Once ‘Inhaled’ A Marijuana Strain Called ‘Connie Chung’

The Company That Promised To Send Humans To Mars Is Bankrupt

This Couple Has Created A Sex-On-Demand Button

Spike Jonze And Jesse Williams Are Shooting A Secret Project For MedMen

MedMen Facing Serious Backlash Following Allegations Of Racism

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