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5 Ways You Can Make The Internet A Better Place

The web is an amazing place…here is how you can make it better.

The Internet is amazing, offering dozens of resources and services that are just a few clicks away, but it can also be a place where you spend a lot of time doing nothing productive or fulfilling. Internet shopping, social media, and cat and dog videos are all amazing, but there are a dozen things you can do that’ll sometimes make you feel better and give you a sense of purpose, like you’ve spent your time wisely.

Here are 5 ways you can make the internet a better place. These are positive and fulfilling things which can to help others and help make the Internet and the online community a better place.

Edit Wikipedia

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Wikipedia has more than 20,000 new articles a month and millions of visitors a day. You probably visit the site once every other day, by either reading about a movie or doing basic research for a job. The one great thing (and possible drawback) from Wikipedia is the fact that it can be edited by anyone. You don’t even need to have an account.

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Click the Edit link at the top of the page and start making the necessary changes, or including more information. Once you’ve added something onto Wikipedia, you’ll become a member, and other editors can review your changes. By editing the site you can fix people’s mistakes, correct erroneous dates, check spelling, and provide links to verifiable sources. You can even pull pranks; just don’t add things that are wrong for the sake of being a dick.

Leave Reviews For Past Purchases

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Leaving an honest review of a product is a simple and effective way of helping a stranger out on the web. It’s the first thing most people look for when they’re buying or booking something online. These reviews are written by humans and, in most cases, they tend to be honest while providing details, images, and aspects that they liked and didn’t like about their experience. Reviews are mostly awful or amazing, but by adding reviews of experiences that were unremarkable or average you can still make a difference and help someone out. We need more of that online.

Promote Good Causes

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While a lot of people criticize online activism it does provide awareness on a topic that wouldn’t be discussed otherwise. The best results will be achieved by a combination of online promotion and contributing to a cause in real life.

Following social media accounts of charities and good causes will keep you informed about their latest fundraisers and events. Post about these online and add a personal comment or reason explaining why this charity means a lot to you, and why you want to share it with your friends.

Contribute To Google Maps

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Google Maps saves lives, helping travelers and veterans of cities when they’re lost and when they’re trying to get somewhere. The app encourages users to submit pictures and reviews of places, letting people know that they’re in the right spot.

To add information on Google Maps, click a place on the app and browse through the options, which will allow you to submit a photo, rate and review a place, or suggest an edit. The app is very helpful and intuitive, so it’s an easy process that doesn’t take a lot of time.

Beta Test Software

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Beta testers are people who try out a software before it’s released by a company, helping the developers capture bugs and mistakes that they might have missed. These testers report the issues free of charge, so that they don’t show up on the final product.

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To be a beta tester you don’t need to have knowledge about code or computers, you just need to be willing and observant, providing an honest account of your experience with the software. You can provide feedback for open source programs such as Mozilla Firefox, Android, and dozens of others, and you might get access to new features before anyone else.

Journalist Sy Hersh Admits Smoking Weed With Eugene McCarthy, Jerry Brown

Seymour Hersh is one of journalism’s most esteemed investigators—winning a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting when he exposed the massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai—but also “in turn talkative, churning, abrupt, zealous, egotistical and abrasively honest,” as Time regarded him in 1975. Hersh has a new memoir out, which came about after a failed attempt at a Dick Cheney expose when Hersh’s sources wouldn’t follow through on the record.

Hersh’s memoir, titled Reporter, is full of previously unreported news, as fans of the reporter might expect. According the New York Times, Hersh recalls one instance where Lyndon B. Johnson upset over a reporter’s article regarding the former President. So Johnson invited that reporter over to his Texas ranch, pulled down his pants, and pooped on the ground in front of him.

But one section of the book also reveals some major former political figures enjoying marijuana that we thought were worth highlighting.

Via NYTimes:

He remembers a night in San Francisco during the 1968 presidential campaign, when he was working as the press secretary for Eugene McCarthy. (Yes, Mr. Hersh, the reporter’s reporter, had a stint on the public-relations side of the game.) Mr. McCarthy had never smoked pot, so Mr. Hersh produced a joint; joining the group was Jerry Brown, the future governor of California. “The stuff did little for McCarthy, so he said, but it did much more for Brown,” Mr. Hersh writes.

A spokesman for Mr. Brown, contacted for this article, called the anecdote “a complete and total fabrication.” Mr. Hersh shrugged off the denial. “omg … why is he making a big deal of it?” Mr. Hersh wrote in an email. “it was the 60s, was it not?”

Jerry Brown and Eugene McCarthy, who would’ve thought?

Michigan Marijuana Legalization Is Now Firmly In The Hands Of Voters

Michigan lawmakers failed to pass cannabis legalization law this week — and marijuana advocates are cheering the news. Yes, you read that correctly: Failure to pass a law is considered a success for Michigan cannabis consumers.

Now, the issue will be decided directly by the voters in November, and the initiative is more cannabis-friendly than what the state’s lawmakers intended to pass. Republican lawmakers in Michigan had hoped to pass a watered-down version of the law.

Cannabis insiders and industry leaders were wary of legislative interference with the law as proposed in the initiative. What the Republicans in the statehouse were fighting for was an “adopt-and-amend” scheme that would have allowed the lawmakers to adopt the initiative and then amend it with onerous changes and tighter regulations. According to state law, laws passed by the legislature can be amended with just a majority vote. But laws passed by voters require a three-fourths vote to change.

“The intent [of pushing it through the legislature] is not in the interest of public opinion,” Justin Strekal, political director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, told Rolling Stone. “It’s in the interest of political expediency.”

The original initiative was architected by the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol campaign. If passed in November, recreational cannabis will be legal in Michigan. Citizens would be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to keep 10 ounces in their homes without fear of arrest. The state will also allow residents to grow 12 plants at a time.

“Republican lawmakers wanted to have easier access to making changes, [which] might not have been bipartisan changes that are good for everybody,” Josh Hovey, communications director for the Regulate Marijuana campaign, told Rolling Stone. “Now any changes that are made should have to be far more bipartisan of a solution.”

Republicans had another motivation for interfering with the ballot measure: Voter turnout. Across the country, cannabis legalization initiatives have led to increased voter turnout, especially among younger voters and Democrats. Some GOP officials, already feeling trepidation over a potential “blue wave” in November, were hoping to minimize the damage by removing the ballot measure.

Roseanne Barr Gets Porn Offer From A ‘Weed-Infused Adult Film Studio’

Roseanne Barr doesn’t hide much. The actress is brazenly opinionated and doesn’t hide those views at all. You know the story by now—Barr tweeted a racist and offensive message indicating that former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarett was the offspring of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. Outrage came swiftly and ABC canceled its reboot of Roseanne.

In what it’s almost certainly a publicity stunt, the new adult-entertainment studio XBlaze has offered Roseanne an opportunity to star in its upcoming BBW specialty line, XXXLBlaze, reports The Wrap. For her trouble, the studio will pay the TV star $150,000 to star in its maiden scene. XBLaze calls itself a “weed-infused adult film studio,” though we’re not sure what that means. But Roseanne is a very public supporter of marijuana as we’ve previously reported, so it might be extra incentive? We’re not sure.

Here’s the letter XBlaze CEO Jeff Dillon sent Roseanne this week:

Part of what makes you unique as an actress, entrepreneur and media personality is your attitude, specific beliefs and openness in saying exactly what you think and feel. Sometimes that can get you into trouble, especially in this politically correct world we now live in.

[…]

While this is not your usual brand of mainstream entertainment, we are certain that someone like you, a superstar who still VERY influential in today’s pop culture, can pull off the performance of a lifetime as an adult entertainer in an industry that allows its stars to be themselves.

This isn’t the first time the adult entertainment industry has flirted with Roseanne Barr either, according to The Wrap. Back in 2013, following a different Twitter tirade about her frustrations with the TV and movie business, the actress announced her intention to start doing “geriatric porn.” Vivid Entertainment founder and co-chairman Steven Hirsch told The Wrap he’d love to launch the actress into the next phase of her career as a “GILF.”

“We would love to work with her,” Hirsch said. “She’s an iconic comedian who changed the world of television.”

MedMen Buys Florida Medical Marijuana Firm For $53 Million

Another big move by California-based MedMen. The company announced it has acquired a Florida cannabis license worth $53 million. The June 6 agreement allows MedMen to take over Treadwell Nursery’s cultivation facility located on 5 acres in Eustis, Florida and the right to open 25 medical marijuana dispensaries in the State of Florida.

“For nearly a decade we have been positioning ourselves to capitalize on enormous market opportunities like this,” says MedMen Co-founder and CEO Adam Bierman said in a statement, adding:

This acquisition is right in line with our strategy of establishing a presence early on in high potential markets with limited licenses and large populations. Florida is the third most populous state in the country with a medical marijuana market estimated to reach $1 billion in annual sales by 2020. MedMen has built the best-in-class brand, and we continue to invest in premium assets that solidify our dominant position in the most important cannabis markets in the world.

The transaction is expected to close within 90 days and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of state regulatory approvals. If certain regulatory approvals are not obtained, the Company and Treadwell Nursery will have the right to terminate the Agreement.

Jeff Sharkey, founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida, told The News Service of Florida that the deal “reflects the belief nationally and internationally that Florida is a very strong medical cannabis market, even though it is in its infant stages,” and that  “Acquisition by these types of companies will bring a high level of professional expertise into the development of products and the ability to deliver high-quality medicine to patients.”

MedMen, which aims to be the “Apple Store of weed” recently announced plans to not only expand throughout the U.S., but to offer weed delivery.

The company went public on the Canada Securities Exchange on May 28, stating in a regulatory filing that it “plans to engage in delivery operations either through the development of its own delivery infrastructure and network or through the use of third-party services focused on the delivery and e-commerce market.”

Bipartisan Bill Would Finally Put An End To Federal Interference Of Cannabis Laws

A bipartisan effort to end the senseless federal war on cannabis was launched on Thursday as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) joined forces to hammer out a comprehensive piece of legislation. The bill would allow individual states to determine their own policies regarding marijuana legalization without the threat of federal interference.

The far-reaching Senate bill – and companion legislation introduced in the House – would amend the Controlled Substances Act. The bill, called the “Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act” (STATES Act), would protect cannabis consumers from federal prosecution if they are complying with state cannabis laws.

“There’s not enough support in the U.S. Congress to repeal the ban on marijuana outright, but this gets the job done for Massachusetts and for other states that have legalized marijuana,” Warren said. “This isn’t some compromise where we stop here forever. This just lets states that want to move forward, to move forward.”

Warren and Gardner worked on drafting the bill shortly after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a cannabis policy reversal in January. In protest of Sessions’ crackdown on state cannabis regulations, Gardner essentially stymied Senate confirmation votes on Justice Department nominees. In April, Gardner coaxed a promise from President Donald Trump to steer clear of interfering with states which have voted to approve adult recreational cannabis.

Gardner spoke to Trump on Thursday and said the president confirmed his earlier promise. “We can’t go backwards. We can only go forwards,” Trump said, according to Gardner.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised that the bill will be heard on the floor of the Senate, according to Warren.

After waffling for years on the question of legal cannabis, Warren is now firmly in support of regulating adult recreational consumption. She sees it as a winning issue for Democrats this November. “I’ll be pitching it at Democratic lunches,” Warren said.

According to Warren, “The laws on the books make it harder for veterans to get treatment for chronic pain. They keep children with chronic diseases in agony and they make life miserable for individuals struggling with terminal diseases.

“The science is clear: Medical marijuana treatments are effective,” Warren added. “There is absolutely no reason patients should be prevented from seeking scientifically approved care, but right now, that is the reality for millions of people across the country. These archaic laws don’t just hurt individual people. They also hurt businesses that are in the marijuana business from getting access to banking services. That forces a multi-million-dollar industry to operate all in cash. That’s bad for business and bad for safety.”

As for Gardner, he believes that “our founders intended the states to be laboratories of democracy. Many states right now find themselves deep in the heart of that laboratory. As the president said in a conversation with me, ‘We can’t go backward. We can only go forward.’ The ketchup’s not going back in the bottle, as the old saying goes.”

7 CBD Skincare Products That Will Change Everything

It was only a matter of time before CBD skin care began flooding the market. CBD helps reduce pain and inflammation, so, theoretically, it may treat skin issues like acne and eczema as well. The Fresh Toast perused a plethora of product expos from New Orleans to New York, as a genuine product tester, rather than a paid influencer, to discover the latest in CBD skincare offerings.

Here are the top 7 takeaways:

The CBD Skincare Co.

They may not win any points for their simplistic brand name, but perhaps they are going for the Honest Company approach. On the plus side, they are entirely women-owned. Women who are in favor of breaking the grass ceiling, while smelling scrumptious in the process, will love their scented, CBD soaps. They smell so yummy that it is tempting to take a bite out of the bar. (Please don’t.)

With culturally appropriated cannabis scents like Purple Haze and Black Magic Woman, they are tempting to bathe with, whether they contain CBD or not. Their infused body bar contains 50mg; however, there is no telling how much the skin absorbs with each wash. Their company claims their soap treats acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and soothes muscles and joint pains. A bar of Green Power may induce singing in the shower.

Da Crema Botannicals

The sales rep at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition, was reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century traveling apothecary. His far-fetched claims were pure snake oil salesmanship. “I’ve been making my products since 2014. No other company at the CWCBE can claim that,” he boasted.

FYI, buddy, there are plenty of products that have pioneered CBD years prior to 2014; but they had to wait for regulations to be in place to tout them in the mainstream marketplace. (Heck, even The Body Shop had a hemp salve back in the 1990s.)

However, despite their outlandish claims, Da Crema’s products are worth a look, as they are fun. CBD massage oil might come in handy on date night, whether it is beneficial or not. Likewise, their dead sea-salt scrub, which contains activated charcoal to assist lymphatic drainage and pull toxins out through the pores, is a stimulating exfoliant.

Dr. Hartridge’s CBD Bath Soak

It was designed by an actual female doctor, unlike other products that use the title gratuitously. Dr. H created her bath salts with pure relaxation in mind. “With SOAK, my goal was to make a product that would not leave your tub in need of a cleaning,” she said. After all, a bath isn’t quite as relaxing as it should be, if it leaves a ring around the tub that needs to be scrubbed off. Hardly anyone wants more chores to tackle on their personal time.

Dr. Hartridge also wants her clients to feel free to customize her bath salts with whichever essential oil is their favorite, which is why her CBD and Epsom salt formula is unscented. While CBD is the new kid on the bath time block, Epsom salt has been around for generations, and is renowned for treating aches and pains. They are a winning combination to combat drudgery and malaise.

The Legion of Bloom

This Sonoma County, California-based cannabis company serving sustainably grown, pesticide-free products to medical patients and adult consumers. Zana is the Legion of Bloom’s wellness & beauty line. Zana Lasting Beauty Facial Serum, incorporates the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, with the modern application of non-psychoactive cannabis. Zana’s Aruvedic, CBD- infused transdermal roll-on contains 65 mg of cannabis-derived CBD per bottle, along with organic sunflower oil, carrot seed, rosemary, geranium, frankincense, clary sage, lavender, blue tansy, and peppermint. The roller can be applied directly to the face, neck, and décolleté to refresh and perfume the skin. Zana also claims to alleviate sore muscles, aches, and pains. Anyone who was a fan of Aveda’s discontinued essential oil roll-ons will appreciate Zana.

Miracle Nutritional Products’ CBD advanced wrinkle cream and CBD advanced wrinkle eraser serum contain 500mg and 300mg respectively of full spectrum hemp oil blend. Both are paraben-free and are tested on humans, not animals. The cream is water-based, and is suitable for people with oilier skin, whereas the serum is oil based, and is most likely more appropriate for dry skin, depending on which texture is preferred. Both contain Spanish lavender and skin savior hyaluronic acid, but the cream also contains diamond powder.

Shira Adler, the author of an essential book, The ABCs of CBD, created Shira Synergy essential oil and CBD facial mists, in a variety of scents and themes, with a distinctly Wiccan vibe. Smile Synergy spray contains CBD, Vetiver, rosemary, and lavender to “anchor focus and create a feeling of connection, calm, protection and focus,” while Clear contains Himalayan Cedarwood and white sage to “lighten, brighten and transform your energy and mood.” Nurture has cinnamon leaf, camphor and cumin to “warm, soothe and comfort,” while Inspire has peppermint, Bulgarian Rose, and Ylang Ylang to “encourage creativity and productivity.” At the very least, her mists are refreshing and smell delicious. If Shira’s synergy mists brighten your day, or put a bit of pep in your step, so much the better.

Treat Yourself’s CBD Rich Brightening Eye Serum

sExcellent for slathering on under eyes, to replenish fatigued eyes, in the morning and evening. In addition to full spectrum CBD, it contains Jojoba oil, prickly pear seed oil, rosehip seed, CO2 extract, vitamin E, and Somalian frankincense.

It is doubtful that minuscule amounts of topically applied CBD products are substantial enough to be genuinely beneficial; however, it can’t hurt to use everyday products such as massage oil, serum, face spritz, exfoliant, and soap, that contain tiny amounts, especially if they smell lovely.

Use This Travel Hack To Get Your Luggage First At Baggage Claim

As you begin to make travel arrangements for the holidays, keep this travel hack in your back pocket: there’s a simple way to ensure your luggage will be one of the first on the carousel at baggage claim. Have we got your attention?

Travel + Leisure has a couple of tricks up their sleeve to make sure you’re not spending your vacation waiting for your suitcase to arrive.

One way is to kindly ask for a “Fragile” sticker from the check-in attendant. Says T+L:

Bags that are marked as fragile will typically be loaded later and come out before the other bags. Plus, they’re also likely to get less wear and tear. The downside with this tactic though is that once in a while, these stickers may not be seen or noticed by staff.

Another tactic, according to ramp worker and gate agent Thomas Lo Sciuto (via Quora) is waiting to be the last person to check in. Says Sciuto, “Bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts, so if you check in last, your bags will be in the last bag cart, which will make them the last on the aircraft, and the first off the aircraft at your destination,” adding:

If they are the first off the aircraft, they will most likely be the first on the bag carts and then the first to be unloaded at baggage claim.

So, how does one make this happen? Sciuto says one of the best ways is to ask to gate check your bag.

Of course, these hacks are all dependent on airline, size of the airline and/or baggage handlers. So don’t be too disappointed if you follow these tips and your bag doesn’t get first placement on the carousel.
As T+L explains, there are only two “surefire ways” to guarantee your bags arrive first: either book a first or business class flight or join an airline’s frequent flier club to receive a priority tag on your bag.

5 Interesting Things Apple Didn’t Clarify About iOS 12

During Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company warned against the excessive use of their devices while also taking the opportunity to introduce several features that we’ll be able to use once we download their latest software. IOS 12 promises to improve devices’ performance, provide you with an experience unlike any other, and finally solve the iPhone’s problematic battery issue.

While a lot of interesting factors were discussed in detail, such as Memojis and Siri’s new capabilities, others were left up to the user to discover once they interact with the device. Mashable compiled a list of these features and how different they are when you interact with them directly; Here are 5 of our favorites.

Memojis Have No Gender

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Related: Will The ‘Do Not Disturb’ Function On iPhones Really Save Your Life?

One of the most discussed features of the iOS 12 is the Memojis, which are very similar to Snapchat’s Bitmoji, but with much more flexibility. Since these avatars are part of your device’s software, you’ll be able to use them in Messages, FaceTime, and others.

Apple was smart in choosing to avoid giving gender to their Memojis. You start off with an androgynous looking Avatar, which you can customize until it looks like you. Sort of. You’ll be able to modify facial details, hair, skin color and face shape.

Group FaceTime Has Some Serious Power

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Group FaceTime is one of the features that has been more eagerly awaited and it’s pretty impressive. Group FateTime is able to link video calls between up to 32 people, beating out the numbers of Skype and Google Hangouts which max out at 25 users. Of course, when you’re video calling with 32 people, the quality of the video won’t be the best, and your phone will only display four major video bubbles on your screen. The rest of the bubbles will be seen on the bottom of the device.

Parents Have A Lot Of Control Over Their Kids’ Phone

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Related: Apple Wants To Help You Manage Your iPhone Addiction

Thanks to Screen Time, parents will now be able to monitor how much time their kids spend on certain apps. They’ll also be able to set time limits on these apps, blocking them out and preventing them from sending out notifications.  Another interesting feature is Downtime, which suggests when it’s time to put the phone down.

Screen Time will now be tied to an account, meaning that parents will be able to restrict and block out certain apps from being used on several devices, such as your kids’ phone and iPad.

Gestures Are Coming To All iPhones

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Gestures were one of the best features of the iPhone X. Now, with the iOS 12, other iPhones will have Gestures of their own, such as swiping anywhere on the Dock to get to the Home Screen and swiping down from the right side to bring up the Control Center.

Siri Is Going To Be All Over Your iPhone

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Related: 5 iPhone Easter Eggs You’ll Want To Find Immediately

One of the biggest changes of the new iPhone software is Siri’s presence. Siri Shortcuts will now allow you to ask Siri to do anything from anywhere on your phone, such as add an item to your shopping cart. If you do this a lot, a text suggestion will pop up asking you to take some action. This is all done with the objective of developing Apple’s AI and getting more people to use Siri for complex tasks.

Elon Musk Announces Free Trial For Tesla’s Self-Driving Feature

No matter how controversial Elon Musk is and how many times he makes the news for bizarre reasons, his plan to make cars as technologically advanced as possible is moving forward, promising to deliver an Autopilot feature that customers will be able to test for free.

According to Mashable, Musk introduced this feature during Silicon Valley’s annual shareholder meeting, where he talked about Tesla’s Model 3 production details, and his plans to build a Gigafactory that creates batteries in Shanghai. Then he mentioned that for the next month, Tesla would be offering free trials of the car’s Autopilot feature, which is a semi-autonomous software that allows self-driving. The site describes this feature as “hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.”

Musk said that the Autopilot software is currently being worked on every day and that it’s reliability and capability would improve within the next 6 to 12 months.

While all of this sounds very promising, the Autopilot feature, which costs 5,000 dollars to install, has lead to some serious crashes over the past few months. Tesla defends themselves by saying that these incidents are mostly due to human error and, even though Musk didn’t address these issues directly, that Autopilot’s improvements will be dramatic in the near future.

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