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The Woman Who Almost Came Between Prince William And Kate

Amy Hansen
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The Woman Who Almost Came Between Prince William And Kate

As their love story has been known to be told, Kate Middleton and Prince William met during college (university if you’re fancy), dated, then briefly broke up in 2007 before getting hitched in 2011. But there’s a caveat that’s usually left out of their Disney-like relationship timeline. Before the breakup, But what about the woman who almost came between Prince William and Kate? The heir had a monster crush on another woman, reportedly influencing the couple’s brief separation.

Her name is Isabella Calthorpe, and she hasn’t shed a tear since turning down William’s advances more than a decade ago. The 38-year-old went on to marry the son of business magnate and Virgin founder Richard Branson. Sam Branson is a different kind of heir. They type that’s going to inherit billions of dollars when his pops either passes away or retires. Whichever comes first.

RELATED: Eerie! Watch Kate Middleton’s Future Predicted When She Was 13

But Isabella’s pedigree isn’t too shabby. She’s the daughter of banking heiress Lady Mary Gaye Curzon and John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, (the son of Sir Richard Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 2nd Baronet). According to Marie Claire:

Royal expert Katie Nicholl wrote in her 2010 book William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls that William visited the Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe family home in Chelsea to see Isabella that summer and even contributed to Will and Kate’s decision to take a trial break from their relationship at that time.

Will reportedly tried very hard to woo Isabella, but was unsuccessful. She turned him down.

Doesn’t look like she’s too upset.

https://www.instagram.com/p/XWiJ9vL-KF

Back in 2007, a royal source told the Daily Mail:

He had fallen for her in a huge way and wanted to be with her. He propositioned her several times that summer and although Isabella was single, she knocked William back and said it would be too damaging for her and her career. She is a name in her own right and on her way to becoming hugely successful. In her view, being affiliated with William in a girlfriend capacity would be damaging for her.

Did we mention Isabella is an actress? She can’t let some “royal” ruin her rep. Her IMDB isn’t long, but she’s starred in a decent number of films such as How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, Night Wolf and the TV series Trinity.

RELATED: That Time Prince William Said He And Kate Shared A Dirty Sense Of Humor

You may actually be more familiar with her half-sister, Cressida Bonas, who famously dated Prince Harry from 2012 to 2014. It runs in the family! Isabella also runs with other royals. She’s BFF with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, both of whom attended her 2013 wedding.

It’s been reported the Isabella is the only woman Kate has ever really been jealous of because she knew how much William was into her. Going back to royal expert Katie Nicholl, she revealed in her book that Kate actually banned Will from contacting Isabella after their short break-up.

It was obviously the break that William needed, and by Christmas they were back together again, although Kate had a condition. Word had reached her of William’s visits to Isabella, and Kate insisted that William was not to contact her again.

But none of that shade stopped Isabella from attending Kate and Will’s royal wedding. That’s right. Just like Prince Harry’s exes (Cressida and Chelsy Davy) witnessed his vows to Meghan Markle, Isabella also watched her former suitor wed another woman.

If this isn’t a royal fairytale, nothing is.

Medical Cannabis Can Help You Heal From Hepatitis C

Richard Faulk
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Medical Cannabis Can Help You Heal From Hepatitis C

Although Hepatitis C can be treated effectively, and may even clear up on its own, there is evidence that cannabis can help heal the liver. But it’s vague. A 2005 review of the medical literature concluded that cannabinoids “appear to be involved in several aspects of acute and chronic liver disease.” Another review from that year was both more upbeat and less precise: Cannabis, it said, presents “an exciting interventional landscape.”

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver. Its symptoms are so mild that it is frequently undiagnosed, which is bad, because chronic Hepatitis C and lead to life-threatening conditions, such cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is spread through blood, so the primary channels are having sex (particularly if you already have an STD) and sharing needles.

Newer Hep C drugs work well and have mild side effects, but the traditional treatment can cause anxiety, depression, nausea, and diarrhea. If you’re lucky, you’ll just get flu-like symptoms.

But one interesting vein of research shows that the primary benefit that cannabis provides hep C patients is not medical but motivational.

A study from 2006 observed that the primary risk group for Hepatitis C is illicit drug users are. Not to trade in stereotypes, but that population, practically by definition, is one that is marginal and has little support. Accordingly, it’s easy for them to drop out of treatment—particularly when that treatment can be physically and emotionally grueling.

The study concluded that cannabis can calm the ill effects of hep C treatment, much as it does the side effects of chemotherapy. But also, it just makes people feel better. And if they feel better and more hopeful about their lives, they’re more likely to continue treatment.

The study ends with this endearing attempt at nerd humor: “It may in fact be an ironical truth that those persons who contracted HCV [i.e. hep C] through a form of illicit drug use may be aided in ridding themselves of this, potentially fatal, virus by the use of another drug in addition to their HCV therapy.”

On Ecstasy, Typically Loner Octopuses Just Want To Cuddle

Brendan Bures
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On Ecstasy, Typically Loner Octopuses Just Want To Cuddle

Octopuses are not creatures we would characterize as being a good hang. Their abilities as escape artists, chameleonic shape-shifters, and all-around intelligent invertebrates withstanding, octopuses are loner maniacs. You know Travis Bickle, Robert DeNiro’s character in Taxi Driver? Imagine him as an octopus. Now you know what an octopus is usually like.

To help understand the intelligence octopuses have, scientists decided to give the creatures MDMA. Yes, the party drug that goes by names like ecstasy, Molly, and E. They wanted to understand how the animals would respond to the psychoactive drug. The study, published last week in Current Biology, showed that MDMA made loner octopuses want to cuddle. High on the drug, they became social, “essentially hugging.” Seriously.

“The brains of octopuses are more similar to those of snails than humans, but our studies add to evidence that they can exhibit some of the same behaviors that we can,” said Gül Dölen, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant neuroscience professor at Johns Hopkins and the lead researcher on the study. “What our studies suggest is that certain brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that send signals between neurons required for these social behaviors are evolutionarily conserved.”

Though our brains might be wired differently, the research could present promising findings about how social behavior is neurologically managed. Humans and octopuses have almost identical genomic codes for the transporter that binds serotonin, which is often associated with mood and depressive disorders. Because octopuses are separated by “500 million years of evolution from humans,” Dr. Dölen believes it represents an intriguing case study the relationship between serotonin and MDMA.

Judit Pungor, a neuroscientist at the University of Oregon, told NPR: “They have this huge complex brain that they’ve built, that has absolutely no business acting like ours does — but here they show that it does. The fact that they induced this very sort of gentle, cuddly behavior is really pretty fascinating.”

Scientists gave the octopuses MDMA by inserting them into sweater with doses of the drug. When the dosage was higher, the octopuses became super vigilant, changing colors frequently and angling themselves into the corner. But when the dosage was low, an amount more similar to the amount a human might take, the octopuses became more social, interacting with one another in a way they normally only do when matting. Scientists observed the effects the low dose of MDMA had on them was comparable to how humans might act on the drug.

The study could eventually lead scientists to discover treatment methods using MDMA to help those with PTSD or other depressive disorders.

“We need to be taking full advantage of these compounds to see what they’re doing to the brain,” Dr. Dölen told the New York Times.

Seattle Throws Out More Than 500 Marijuana Convictions

Mary Schumacher
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Seattle Throws Out More Than 500 Marijuana Convictions

The Drug War, as it relates to cannabis, is slowly coming to a halt, one step at a time. In an indicative move, a Seattle judged recently moved to vacate misdemeanor pot violations ranging from 1996 to 2010. The motion was filed by city attorney Pete Holmes, who decided to stop prosecuting minor cannabis offenses when he took office in 2010.

Holmes’ main concern was to clear the records of those most disproportionately affected by cannabis drug laws, such as black and brown persons, who are statistically more likely to be arrested for simple possession than white people, who consume relatively the same amount of weed (and other drugs).

All seven court judges agreed on the order, signing it and setting it forth to be executed. “Insomuch as the conduct for which the defendant was convicted is no longer criminal, setting aside the conviction and dismissing the case serves the interests of justice,” wrote the judges.

The ruling will affect well over 500 people who will be mailed notices and who will then have 33 days to either object or seek a personalized finding. After the 33 day grace period, everyone who has not objected or asked for an individualized findings will have their convictions vacated. In other words, those who receive notices need do nothing.

Holmes said in a statement that Seattle should, “take a moment to recognize the significance” of the ruling. “We’ve come a long way, and I hope this action inspires other jurisdictions to follow suit.” Cannabis activists in legal states and in states that are trying to make their way to the finish line would love to see further similar actions implemented in as many places as possible.

Having a drug conviction, be it a misdemeanor or not, can affect one’s life in many negative aspects, from the inability to obtain student grants and loans to the job application hurdle where it asks if you’ve ever been committed of a crime. The people whose cases are vacated will have fewer restrictions on their lives and can feel vindicated for simply utilizing a plant.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan added this, “For too many who call Seattle home, a misdemeanor marijuana conviction or charge has created barriers to opportunity—good jobs, housing, loans and education. While we cannot reverse the harm that was done, we will continue to give Seattle residents…a clean slate.”

Contestants From ‘The Bachelor: Vietnam’ Dump Bachelor For Each Other

Maria Loreto
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Contestants From ‘The Bachelor: Vietnam’ Dump Bachelor For Each Other

Unscripted reality TV shows are known for their scheming producers who manipulate all sorts of variables until they concoct the most entertaining show they can manage. But no one could have predicted a twist like the one from “The Bachelor: Vietnam”, which went viral and sparked a conversation among the LGBTQ community the minute it was uploaded online during the past week.

In the clip, contestant Mihn Thu declares her love for Truc Nhu, another fellow contestant. In an awkward and earnest declaration, Mihn Thu cries and begs for Truc Nhu to come home with her, while the titular bachelor of the show and the other female contestants watch on with their mouths gaping. Both women walked off-screen together, a view that had never been explored in all of the different “Bachelor” programs throughout the world.

“I almost had a heart attack behind the monitor. I’ve watched the show for years, and I didn’t even know you could give back a rose once you’d accepted it!” producer Anh-Thu Nguyen told Vulture, claiming that the moment was completely genuine and that not even the other participants saw it coming.

For devoted fans of “The Bachelor,” this means that maybe the show isn’t as dumb as we all thought it was. “It’s such a brave, courageous thing, that these two women made this powerful gesture,” continues Nguyen, highlighting how important visibility is for LGBTQ people in Vietnam. “To see a moment that’s unequivocal, where someone is saying that they love someone else … I think it’s going to be very powerful for young people.”

People Are Still Getting Popped For Pot Despite Rapid Legalization

Mary Schumacher
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People Are Still Getting Popped For Pot Despite Rapid Legalization

While more states are legalizing and medicalizing marijuana, more people are also still getting arrested for the plant. A new report by the FBI finds that someone gets arrested on a cannabis charge approximately every 48 seconds in the U.S..

According to the data, police are back to targeting those in simple possession, rather than focusing on those selling or distributing the yet federally illegal weed. The answer is sad as it is obvious: money.

Cannabis arrests accounted for 40.4 percent of America’s 1,632,921 drug arrests in 2017. That’s a lot of arrests and that’s a lot of money filtering into private prisons, boosting their numbers on the stock market, which have already doubled since Trump took office.

Not to say that all arrests lead to imprisonment, in most possession cases, defendants are held in county jails or are released soon after arrest. However, every arrest made that is in regards to a victimless crime, such as marijuana possession, it is a drain on our tax and law enforcement resources. There are far more important things to be prosecuting than pot.

In the FBI’s National Crime Trends for 2017, even the FBI arrestees are predominately drug related, with the next closest number — nearly half that of drug arrests — being weapons violations. That means that if we’re to stick to the percentages, roughly the same number of pot users were arrested by the FBI in 2017 as weapons violators.

It seems that even as activists and advocates of cannabis rejoice in a new world of fast spreading legalization that the original intent cannot be forgotten: keep people out of jail for a plant. There is still work to be done on that end, clearly, and the states that need it most are the states getting the least amount of attention because they aren’t nearing the legal threshold as of yet.

And, as ever, there are far more pressing issues. As federal policies director for Marijuana Policy Project told Tom Angell at Forbes, “At a time when more than 100 deaths per day are caused by opioid overdoses, it is foolish to focus our limited law enforcement resources on a drug that has caused literally zero.” And has purportedly saved many…

HBO Wants To Turn ‘Game Of Thrones’ Sets Into Tourist Attractions

Maria Loreto
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HBO Wants To Turn ‘Game Of Thrones’ Sets Into Tourist Attractions

HBO appears to be plotting a lifetime of profits from “Game Of Thrones.” Not only is a spin-off in the works, but now several attractions in Northern Ireland where the show was filmed will be available to fans. These locations will provide gorgeous sights that will allow fans to get close to the sets where the show was shot, featuring iconic spots such as Castle Black, Winterfell, and Kings Landing.

Page Six reports that HBO plans on having these parks ready by 2019. Referred to as “Game Of Thrones Legacy,” these attractions will feature visits to different sets and tours through Linen Mill Studios, where guests will see important pieces from the show such as wardrobe, art files, models, and other production materials, while also learning more about the behind the scenes process.

“HBO is thrilled to celebrate the work of the ‘Game of Thrones’ creative team and crew by preserving these locations and inviting fans to visit Northern Ireland and explore Westeros in person,” said Jeff Peters, HBO’s VP of licensing and retail. “The opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s pivotal role in the life and legacy of the show and share its culture, beauty and warmth is also a huge inspiration behind these Legacy projects.”

HBO has already made several attractions for “Game Of Thrones,” including the Game Of Thrones Live Concert Experience and the Game Of Thrones Touring Exhibition. A spot with attractions and the official locations of the show will surely prove to be very profitable and could even become a long term theme park.

This DIY Impossible Burger With Cannabis Special Sauce Is Unreal

Danielle Guercio
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This DIY Impossible Burger With Cannabis Special Sauce Is Unreal

When it comes to fast foods, vegetarians are often forced to choose between fries and onion rings as their entree. Even people who want to eat less meat are often out of luck during road trips or travels; usually fresh food isn’t an option. It’s no secret that bean and rice-based veggie burgers are no object of lust to most omnivores, but technology and some very intensive taste testing have led to the creation of some very delicious meat analogues.  And this DIY Impossible Burger with cannabis special sauce is unreal – delicious and relaxing!

The Impossible Burger started as an outlier but just made a huge expansion with the announcement of White Castle Impossible Sliders’ nationwide availability. Using legendary cannabis pop culture figures like Ghostface Killah and Kal Penn to much fanfare. It’s hard not to drool until you can buy it in stores, but it’s available at more than 3,000 restaurants.

RELATED: The Best Hydrating Cocktails For A Hot Weekend

We got our hands on a few patties to play with, perfect for that iconic double decker burger that vegetarians might be missing, with cannabis in the special sauce, another fast food pipe dream that should be reality.  

Photos courtesy of Danielle Guercio

Lil Mac

Danielle Guercio, 2018

(Estimated 10mg THC per Tablespoon of Special Sauce)

1 Impossible Burger patty

1.5 Sesame seed hamburger buns

Shredded Lettuce (optional)

Vegan American Cheese (we used Daiya)

Sliced dill pickles

Diced white onions

Cannabis Infused Vegan Special Sauce

(makes about ½ cup, enough for 3 servings)

¼ tsp sweet paprika

¼ tsp onion powder

¼ tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp sweet pickle relish

¼ tsp pickle juice

1 tsp yellow mustard

½ tsp tomato paste

⅓ cup Veganaise

1 tsp cannabis glycerin tincture*

Prep the Impossible Burger into a double patty by cutting horizontally with a sharp serrated knife as soon as you take it out of the fridge. Stash back in the fridge to re-chill while you make your infused sauce. Impossible Burgers have chunks of coconut oil embedded in the ‘meat’ blend, which means they to keep their shape they have to go right from the fridge into the pan.

Photos courtesy of Danielle Guercio

It’s not a big secret, “Special sauce” is really a mixture of mayo, mustard, relish, and spices. In the fast food joints, it comes out of a big metal gun like a caulking tube, and that’s not as attractive as making your own version. I also like a little dose of quick DIY ketchup which you can whip up by adding a slightly sweet glycerin tincture to tomato paste and pickle juice. Mix everything together and use right away.

RELATED: How To Make Excellent Vegan Cannabutter In The Oven

Once you have your sauce and accoutrements at the ready, heat a non-stick pan on medium heat to prepare the patties. No oil is needed, as you want a little char on the outside, plus they already have a good bit of oil inside. Don’t move the patties around the pan! You want to quickly sear the outside. Lightly toast all of your buns, without browning, to keep the sesame seeds at optimal toastiness.

Be sure not to overcook the patties as this faux meat cooks much faster than the real thing. Flip once, and immediately drop a slice of vegan cheese atop each patty. Cook for two more minutes and then turn off the heat and cover the pan briefly to let the cheese continue to melt.

Assemble your triple decker burg in the following order: bun bottom, roughly half a tablespoon of special sauce, lettuce (optional), cheese side up patty, pickles, bun middle, another half tablespoon of special sauce, optional lettuce, cheese side up patty, diced onion, bun top.

*Cannabis Glycerin Tincture

Decarboxylate 3.5 grams of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put cannabis in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and ½ cup vegetable glycerin. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least one hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes.

Try not to devour it before you can snap a photo of your glorious creation. This also makes a great build-your-own meal for a small gathering, the patties can fly off the pan in less than five minutes so it’s easy to prepare a whole (adult) family’s worth at once.

Jennifer Aniston Is Avoiding Former Friend Emma Stone; Asia Argento Says She And Bourdain Cheated On Each Other

Naughty Gossip
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Jennifer Aniston Is Avoiding Former Friend Emma Stone; Asia Argento Says She And Bourdain Cheated On Each Other

JENNIFER ANISTON WANTS TO AVOID ANY RUN-INS WITH HER FORMER FRIEND EMMA STONE

Aniston, 49, went strong after Stone, when the 29-year-old started canoodling with the “Friends” star’s ex-husband Justin Theroux.

“Emma’s tried to reach Jen to explain that situation with Justin, but Jen’s not giving her the time of day,” an insider told Radar.

“Jen may say publicly that she’s not heartbroken over the split but she definitely knows how to hold a grudge and Emma’s out.”

ASIA ARGENTO SAYS SHE AND ANTHONY BOURDAIN CHEATED ON EACH OTHER

In her first interview since the celebrity chef’s death, Asia Argento tearfully recalled the series of emotions she felt following Anthony Bourdain’s suicide.

Argento told DailyMailTV she first felt anger immediately after the death of Bourdain, whom she dated for two years. The “Parts Unknown” host was found dead in the bathroom of his French hotel room in June.

“Now, the anger kept me alive because otherwise this desperation has no end, there’s no end,” Argento recalled while wiping away tears.

“And then I was angry [at Bourdain], yes, for abandoning my kids,” Argento said, referencing her son and daughter from previous relationships.

“Now it’s been replaced, just by this loss, this hole that cannot be filled by anything,” she said.

Argento also reacted to the hateful comments she endured after Bourdain’s death.

“I understand that the world needs to find a reason. I would like to find a reason, too. He was so deeply loved,” said Argento, who went on to address allegations that she had cheated on Bourdain.

“People need to think that he killed himself for something like this. He cheated on me, too,” Argento claimed.

“It wasn’t a problem with us,” she continued. “He was a man who traveled 265 days a year. When we saw each other, we took really great pleasure in each other’s presence. We are not children. I cannot think of Anthony as somebody who would do an extreme gesture like this for something like that. What I do feel terrible about is that he had so much pain inside of him and I didn’t see it. I did not see it. And for that, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

CHRISSY TEIGEN GAVE IT UP ON THE VERY FIRST NIGHT

The model revealed on Monday night’s Watch What Happens Live that she and her now-husband ‘closed the deal’ on their first date, after making his music video for Stereo.

‘We were on a music video set all day together, and then I went to one of his shows, and then… yeah,’ she grinned.

Report: Cannabis Industry Experiencing Hiring Frenzy

Mike Adams
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Report: Cannabis Industry Experiencing Hiring Frenzy

There has been a lot of discussions lately over cannabis stocks. Some crazy developments have taken place; people are throwing money at anything that moves and, more likely than not, some of the less experienced in the trading game will end up broke as a joke before it is all said and done. But the cannabis industry itself continues to grow. A recent report from the California-based employment agency Vangst finds that employment rates for this sector are on the rise and hundreds of thousands of people are going to work in above average paying positions.

The latest report, aptly referred to as the “cannabis salary guide,” finds that the business of growing and selling marijuana is on a hiring frenzy – more so than any other business sector in America. There has been a 690 percent leap in cannabis-related job listings since the beginning of 2017. And the pay keeps getting better. The average salary for these positions increased by more than 16 percent over the past year and a half. The report shows projected growth of 220 percent for 2019 — a signal that there are no signs of a slow down.

“The industry is rapidly taking off, and cannabis companies continue to compete to recruit and retain the best talent,” the report reads. “We believe hiring and holding onto the best talent will be the differentiating factor between good cannabis companies and great cannabis companies.”

In upwards of 160,000 people are employed with the cannabis industry in the United States, according to a report realized over the summer by Marijuana Business Daily. This means there are now more full-time workers dealing in legal weed than there are librarians and teachers. And as for Donald Trump’s vision to bring back coal, we’ve got news for him: Cannabis is the new coal. The business sector employs approximately three times as many people as the whole of the U.S. coal industry, the report shows.

But how much do these cannabis jobs pay? Well, on the higher end of the spectrum, one of the hottest posts in the market is Director of Cultivation, which has a salary range from $47,000 to $250,000 per year. But this position is pure agricultural — it demands extensive knowledge of growing and harvesting routines. This position also requires the leadership to guide a team in producing the best possible crop. At the lower end, bud trimmers (laborers) and budtenders (retail clerks), positions that can be obtained with little to no experience, can pay between $11.50 and $16 per hour.

Although states like Colorado and California are often viewed as the “place to be for cannabis jobs,” experts say these positions are becoming more widespread in other parts of the United States, as well. Illinois is perhaps the most overlooked and up and coming market, according to Forbes.

So while investors try to strike it rich in the cannabis space, it appears talented people are the most substantial investment.

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