Tuesday, December 23, 2025
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Meghan Markle’s Dad Reappears To Call Her ‘Controlling’

After several months of blessed silence and no media coverage, Thomas Markle is back at it again, this time by making an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

E! News reports that Thomas Markle spent almost 20 minutes on the show, talking about Meghan’s controlling tendencies and the fact that she has completely “ghosted” him. He’s a cool dad.

Markle goes to lengths to explain that Meghan hasn’t answered his phone calls or his texts, and that he hasn’t been able to get in touch with her since they last spoke a month after her wedding took place. Thomas is adamant that there should be a place for him in her new life since he is, you know, her father.

Here’s what he said:

She has always been a very controlling person and that is part of her nature, but she has never been rude. She has always been in charge. I’ve been ghosted. I’m not sure why it’s happening. I love my daughter very much. I wish she would reach out, send me a text, anything.

Thomas addressed the Queen, who’ll surely respond, by asking her to act as a mediator, letting her know that all families, royal or not, should be able to spend the holidays together. As if the Queen was holding Meghan Markle hostage.

When asked if he’d like to say something to Meghan in particular, he said: “I love you very much. You’re my daughter and I’d really like to hear from you. Whatever differences we have, we should be able to work them out. We’re family. So, please reach out to me.”

Piers Morgan, one of the hosts of Good Morning Britain, said that Thomas wasn’t compensated for his appearance on the show. You can check out the full video below.

Mike Tyson Once Boxed While High…And Won

Slowly but surely Mike Tyson is positioning himself as one of marijuana’s newest celebrities. While it seems every slightly famous person has a cannabis brand these days, few have entered that rarefied air of cult status, ala Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, or Rihanna. Pitching a reality TV show about the ganjapreneur lifestyle and planning to build a marijuana empire, as Tyson is, will help you reach that level of high-minded celebrities, however.

Tyson has long announced an affinity for smoking weed. But in a recent interview with the Dan Patrick Show, Tyson admitted to smoking before one of his famous boxing matches—the “Showdown in Motown” in 2000, when Tyson took down Andrew Golota. Tyson owned Golota the first two rounds and won by technical knockout when Golota refused to answer the bell for the third round.

When Patrick asked how smoking marijuana before a match affected Tyson, he replied, “It didn’t affect me. It affected Golota.”

Then again, this news doesn’t come as any revelation. Tyson refused to submit a urine drug test prior to the fight. He then failed a post-match drug test when his sample came back positive for…cannabis. The TKO was later changed to a “no-contest” as a result. Tyson blamed his missing “whizzer,” a device that helped him provide clean urine for testing, on the failed drug test.

You can watch the whole interview, where Tyson also details his budding cannabis empire, below.

Teens Are Using Less Drugs But Won’t Stop Vaping

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A new study conducted by the University of Michigan surveyed over 45,000 students and found that 1 out of 5 high school seniors have vaped nicotine at least once during the previous month. This number is twice the amount of last year, representing the highest jump recorded in the survey’s 44 years of history, which includes the marijuana rise in the 1970’s.

Despite the fact that teen drug and alcohol use is declining steadily on a yearly basis, these increased numbers in vaping have also been reflected in other surveys, sparking a movement that demands for protective measures to be adopted in order to keep the teens at bay.

Juuls and vape pens are small and could look like hard drives and other everyday objects, giving students the chance to smoke while in school.

“They can put it in their sleeve or their pocket. They can do it wherever, whenever. They can do it in class if they’re sneaky about it,” said Trina Hale, a junior from South Charleston High School in West Virginia.

AP News believes that this surge in vaping nicotine is due to several factors, including how discreet the vape pens are, the novelty of the item, and the fact that vaping seems to be a solitary activity instead of a social one.

A leading theory believes that this decrease in teens’ drug and alcohol use is due to the fact that kids are now spending more time at home, preferring to communicate with their friends through their phones over hanging out with them in person. “Drug experimentation is a group activity,” said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

A rise in vape pens would also predict a rise in smoking cigarettes but as of this year it appears not to be the case. As it stands, teens believe smoking cigarettes is bad for you. Why this logic doesn’t extend to Juuls and other vape pens is a question that remains unanswered.

Miss Universe’s Pro Stance On Medical Marijuana Could Influence Philippines Legalization

Before she was crowned Miss Universe 2018, Philippines Catriona Gray was asked her opinions on marijuana legalization. Gray didn’t hold back, showing support for medical marijuana on the global stage.

“I’m for it being used in a medical use. But not so for recreational use,” Gray said Sunday. “Because I think if people were to argue, ‘What about alcohol and cigarettes?’ Well, everything is good but in moderation.”

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The statement was heard in the Philippines, where lawmakers are considering legalizing medical marijuana. The Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, which would legalize cannabis for medical purposes, currently awaits action before the House of Representatives. However, one lawmaker believes Gray’s comments could spur support for the bill and influence legislators.

“We are certain her (Gray’s) statement during the pageant will convince Congress to expedite passage of HB 6517 into law,” House Deputy Majority Leader Ron Salo told ABS-CBN News.

Earlier this month, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte caused controversy after joking he sometimes uses marijuana to help him stay awake. The joke was not taken in jest, as Duterte’s bloody War on Drugs has claimed more than 12,000 deaths, according to conservative estimates.

 

Medical Cannabis Businesses Finally Approved In Fresno

Medical marijuana patients in Fresno have a big reason to celebrate—the end of medicinal cannabis prohibition within city limits, though recreational users will still need to go elsewhere to procure their pot from a storefront.

On Thursday, the Fresno City Council approved marijuana business regulations that could create a space for two medical marijuana dispensaries within the different council districts. The regulations will also establish hubs that run along two major highways that will be used for commercial endeavors like cultivating, manufacturing and distributing.

One of the supporting councilmen, Clint Oliver, worked for the change in city regulations over grueling months of debate. He told The Fresno Bee that, “It’s important to show Fresno residents that their city officials aren’t burying their heads in the sand and pretending there isn’t an issue.”

And he’s right. Delivery services are popping state-wide, including in Fresno, so medical use isn’t the only issue on the table, it’s simply the issue that was addressed first. Oliver also said that adult use must be discussed at the next meeting of their minds.

A one-two punch might be just what the doctor ordered for Fresno. Experts project that the city could bring in up to $10 million a year with adult use tax revenue. And it’s a natural progression. Sure, it took a long time to get Fresno on board medically, but now that medical is green-lighted, it’s an easier step up to the recreational realm.

On December 6, both medical and adult use were brought up at the council meeting and it turned out to be too much for the majority of players. Proponents gracefully bowed out of pushing adult use as of yet and say they can wait. One member, Luis Chavez, suggested that the council take steps in stages to get to the bigger market of recreational. That medical be addressed first and allowed to become part of the city’s spectrum before making any more moves.

Fresno is a notoriously conservative city, but the residents did vote in favor of legalization for California. The new allowances for medical marijuana dispensaries do come with some caveats. Felons will not be able to open storefronts, nor will those who have been convicted of offenses for substances other than cannabis. All in all, though, it’s a big step forward for Fresno and could very well be the path toward allowing adult use next.

New Jersey Punts On Marijuana Legalization Until 2019

Although New Jersey wanted desperately to become one of the next states to legalize marijuana in 2018, the likelihood of the powers that be coming together on this issue before the holiday break is slim to none. Lawmakers are set to gather at the beginning of the week for the final day of voting in the session, which, according to a report from NJ Advance Media, will not include the bill to legalize marijuana. The state will apparently get into the subject of legal weed once again in 2019.

Ever since Governor Philip Murphy took office with the legalization of marijuana being one of his primary missions, lawmakers have been working to hash out all of this what, ifs and buts surrounding this reform.

But the state is far from agreement on how this should be done.

Lawmakers want to set it up similar to other states that have legalized pot in the past, giving adults 21 and older the freedom to purchase weed in a manner similar to beer. But now, dozens of municipalities throughout the Garden State have taken steps to ensure legal weed doesn’t become a reality within their respective city limits. As far as these places are concerned, it might not be possible for cops to bust people for weed, but cultivation sites and dispensaries will not be welcome.

The many facets of the issue have also prevented the bill from being pushed through this year. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and a number of other lawmakers had hoped to reach some kind of compromise with Governor Murphy’s office last week, but other issues, namely a proposal geared toward raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, prevented the legal weed debate from receiving as much attention.

Nevertheless, Sweeney said the discussion with the Governor was positive and headed in the right direction.

“We really had our first significant conversation today on it,” he said. “I wouldn’t classify anything today as negative. We had a pretty healthy conversation.”

So what is the main holdup? Well, it appears to be about the money. While lawmakers have been mostly in agreement over details surrounding delivery, cannabis lounges, and expunging criminal records, they just cannot seem to agree on taxes, according to an analysis by the New York Times.

As it stands, legislative forces are calling for a 12 percent tax rate on retail sales and the potential for a 2 percent excise tax for local communities. But Governor Murphy wants to tax weed at a straight 25 percent.

The negotiations between both houses and Governor Murphy are expected to get underway once the session reconvenes in 2019.

Harry And Meghan Turned Down Staying At Wills And Kate’s Norfolk Home; Miley Cyrus Wore A Super Revealing Outfit And Twitter Is Losing It

Harry and Meghan turned down staying at Wills and Kate’s Norfolk home

Prince Harry and Meghan have snubbed Wills and Kate this Christmas, The Sun can reveal. The Sussexes will be with the Queen at Sandringham amid increasing rumours of a rift between the two couples. Harry and mum-to-be Meghan turned down the option of staying at Wills and Kate’s Norfolk home Anmer Hall, where they had a “fantastic” time with the kids last year.

 

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A royal source said: “There’s not a huge amount of room at Sandringham so it’s quite surprising. Maybe they just want their own space. Things are civil between the couples but they don’t spend much time together.”

Miley Cyrus Wore A Super Revealing Outfit And Twitter Is Losing It

iley Cyrus and Mark Ronson were the musical guests on Saturday Night Live, and performed their new song “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart.” And while they did an amazing job with the music, people are totally losing it over one of Miley’s outfits, which was revealing to say the least.

Miley wore a open Gucci jacket with no shirt underneath, leaving many to wonder how the heck the jacket was staying on her boobs.

A Doctor’s Tips For Marijuana Dosing So You Don’t Get Too High

Marijuana dosing, what is the trick? Here’s a story that newcomers can understand.

Years ago I drank large amounts of coffee. This improved my ability to work long hours and to keep up with my studies and work. Over time I found that I needed increasing amounts for the same energetic buzz. I also noted with larger amounts I experienced some irritability and mild tremors.

At that point I knew that I needed to take a break from caffeine. Months later when I had my first cup, I had the same energy as if I had previously had four cups without tremors. This experience is typical of caffeine sensitization and shows that increasing dosages increases the risks of side effects.  This also allows us to reflect on self-dosing regimens.

We have to be cognizant of dosing when using medical marijuana. There are many factors that have to be considered when using this as a medication. Generally the patient learns what dosage works for them. But this can be a variable effect based upon many factors including sleep patterns, variability of symptoms of the disease process, mental state among others.

Absorption of the cannabis is also a factor. Certainly it is easier to titrate the cannabis for effect when smoked or vaporized due to the fact that it is quickly absorbed, but unfortunately the effects do not last as long as when eaten. Consuming cannabis by eating it, drinking it or as a tincture has a more lasting effect, but learning a correct dosage is more difficult due to the fact that the full effect may not be felt to 1-2 hours.

Another issue to consider is the effective dosage itself. We know that for certain diseases such as anxiety, a low dose of cannabis can alleviate the symptoms whereas a higher dose can actually worsen the symptoms. This is a case where less is more.

At times we can run into problems with desensitization or tachyphylaxis. Desensitization is caused by a high-intensity treatment or often repeated stimulus bringing on a diminished response. This is certainly what I experienced with caffeine. We see this in long-term users of cannabis very frequently. They notice that they need a much higher dosage to have the same effect physically and mentally. This requires termination of the treatment for a while to allow the body and receptors to reset back to normal.

Studies have shown that the body and receptors will reset after two days. This unfortunately means that the symptoms of the disease may recur or worsen while the body is resetting. During this period of time the patient has to either tolerate the worsening symptoms or use alternative medications or non-medical therapies to alleviate symptoms. When the cannabis is restarted, a lower dose can then be used for the same effect.

Tachyphylaxis is a rapid decrease of response to a drug after a single or series of small doses. We can see this in the use of some pharmaceuticals. We find that increasing the dose may restore the initial response.

At this time, I do not know of any scientific studies that have revealed tachyphylaxis in association with cannabis. But we are still in the infancy of pure medical knowledge of cannabis.

So now we are in a conundrum. If my dosage is not working, do I stop the drug to reset or increase the dosage looking for a better effect? At this point I would first look at the time period in which the drug has been used.

If it has been days or weeks since initiating the medication with less effect, I would increase the dosage to the desired effect. If my symptoms have been stable of months and then are returning, consideration should be made towards a weekend away from cannabis. But we also would have to consider other factors than the medication itself.

Could the disease process be worsening? Are there other factors involved such as concurrent diseases or stresses in life? This is a situation where I would encourage the person with the disease to reconnect with their health care provider.

Wassail Prep: 5 Drink Pairings For Your Delicious Holiday Feast

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There’s no place like home for the holidays, and going home can prompt welcome nostalgia, mandatory merrymaking and, of course, the excess intake of alcohol (which usually triggers the first two). Give your drinking a cultured and complementary purpose by matching each drink you take down with an equally toothsome dinner course.

Starter: Bacon-wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese and Founders Brewing Co. Porter

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When celebrating the birth of Christianity, you can’t go wrong by crushing an appetizer nicknamed “Devils on Horseback” and washing it down with a heavenly dark beer. Michigan brewery Founders receives a divine showering of praise for its silky smooth and sweet-smelling porter, boasting notes of chocolate, caramel and dried fruit to match the blue cheese, bacon and date to an angelic degree. Just remember when hoarding a platter of these dates to yourself in the restroom, what would Jesus do?

Side: Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Shacksbury 2014 Classic

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Sweet root vegetables relish in the bright and juicy acidity provided by a dry and tannic cider, brought to this dinner table by Shacksbury in Vermont. The ooey, gooey creaminess of mashed sweet potatoes (plus inevitable cream) makes the dish rich at the root, something a bold Old World-inspired cider can slice through with acid and ripe, bittersweet apple flavors. For added effect, throw in some herbs to the mash to bring out the savory side of the tipple and start quoting drunken cider lover Benjamin Franklin.

Main: Roast Beef and Anglim Winery 2011 Syrah, Paso Robles

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A customary slab of meat that is slow-cooked in a hot oven, roast beef seasonings can come in all shapes, sizes and flavors, from herb-crusted to a balsamic-mustard-coated. Your safest pairing bet is to focus on the beef itself: The minerally, juicy, sometimes-smoky and always-savory umami flavors are almost guaranteed to go with a similarly profiled Syrah. From California’s Paso Robles, Anglim Winery’s hits all the necessary marks with dried flowers, black fruits, pepper spice and even a little toasty aroma of cigar wrapper to rock that roast into 2017.

Dessert: Pecan Pie and 2Bar Bourbon

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Even though Thanksgiving is over doesn’t mean you have to shy off your ‘Murican pride. Dive even deeper with a pairing that is derived from Southern roots: pecan pie and bourbon. The pecan is native to North America, while the gooey-sweet nut dessert was first seen in Texas and Louisiana. And it’s hard to forget bourbon was born in Kentucky County. Expand your patriotism with the 2Bar bourbon made in Washington State, purely from Northwest ingredients. Cereal grains, browned butter and wood spice with notes of butterscotch and vanilla make this pairing your civic duty.

Late Night Binging: Santa’s Cookies with New Belgium Imperial Chocolate Coffee Stout

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You naughty little shit. You’re on the bad list for sure after this gluttonous act, so you might as well succumb to full-fledged hedonism and drink a 10 percent ABV beer while you’re at it. Wash down those chocolate chips and sweet dough with a bottle of New Belgium’s stout that is as billed: brimming with chocolate, coffee and dark malts. Smack those lips and savor the sweetness being polished by mild bitter hops and a crack of coffee astringency. Just as naughty: Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout and Chocolate and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale.

Which Area In The US Poses The Biggest Threat To Your Safety?

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With an abundance of natural disasters at the forefront of our minds, it’s reasonable to wonder which places in the country are the safest to live in. Wildfires, tornadoes, floodings, and hurricanes occur several times a year, leaving devastating consequences that take years and millions of dollars to recover from.

This question poses no easy answer. Different areas in the US consist of different elements and are thus prone to different natural disasters. Popular Science spoke with experts and mapped out the dangers that affect different areas of the country. “Volcanic eruptions are more common in the western states. Most are located in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.

Earthquakes are likewise common on the west coast, but also happen in portions of the central and eastern United States. In fact, a series of large earthquakes ripped through the area surrounding New Madrid, Missouri in 1811 and 1812.” Wildfires abound in the west, snowstorms are popular in the Midwest and on northeastern states, while hurricanes and tropical storms commonly concentrate along the eastern seaboard and near the Gulf of Mexico.

There’s really some sort of natural danger everywhere in the US, especially when you account for the fact that it’s such a large country with a wide variety of climates and landscapes. “If I had to pick one area that probably is the least risky, I’d go with eastern Montana,” says David Applegate, deputy director of the United States Geological Survey. “And I’m sure they could [still] come up with impacts in terms of extreme cold and potentially drought and prairie fires.”

According to an analysis that looked into the death and damages caused by natural disasters, researchers found that the places that had experienced the most expensive disasters include Florida (with damages caused by Hurricanes, flooding and fires) and California (with earthquakes, floodings, storms, and fires). When it comes to the most death caused by nature, Texas ranks in the first place due to severe weather and flooding, and Illinois ranks in second place due to it’s powerful urban heat waves.

In order to prevent such expansive damages and protect our properties and lives, the thing our representatives must do is device strategies that teach us how to behave on these situations. Technology is advancing and can help experts build special buildings that are earthquake and flood resistant.  Authorities are also working on devising better warning systems in case of emergencies that can gain us more time and save lives. As for your part in all of this, try to avoid stressing out, since it’s nature and it can’t be stopped. If you want to learn more, you can find more information on this website.

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