Thomas Markle collaborated with LA photographer Jeff Reyner to stage photos of himself reading British books and magazines in preparation for the royal wedding. According to different sources, these photos were sold for thousands of dollars. Weird? Maybe. Bad enough to ditch your daughter’s wedding? Probably not.
The Daily Mail claims that witnesses saw the photographer and Markle arriving together at different locations, taking the images, and then leaving together.
The pair took a few pictures at a cafe, and then went to a tailor shop to photograph Markle getting fitted for a suit. Since the store was closed, Markle and Reyner asked for the help of an employee from a neighboring shop, who was paid to pose as a tailor. “I just went along with it. I was telling him the measurements, but he didn’t write them down or anything,” said the employee, David Flores. “It was really strange.”
According to Vanity Fair, Samantha Markle, Meghan Markle’s half-sister, took full responsibility for the staged photographs. “The bad press over my father doing staged photos is my fault,” she tweeted. “The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family. We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money.”
Kensington Palace released a statement saying that this was a “Deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”
While Jeff Reyner declined to comment, TMZ claims that Thomas Markle will not attend the royal wedding since he’ll be undergoing emergency heart surgery.
Will New York’s onerous stop-and-frisk method of law enforcement be coming to an end? On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the New York Police Department will unveil a plan within 30 days to drastically reduce arrests for marijuana possession.
“The N.Y.P.D. will overhaul and reform its policies related to marijuana enforcement in the next 30 days,” Mr. de Blasio said. “We must and we will end unnecessary arrests and end disparity in enforcement.” The mayor was not specific on details of the plan. Also not addressed was how law enforcement officials will handle any new directive from the mayor.
According to a story published on Sunday by the New York Times, black people were arrested on low-level marijuana charges in the city at eight times the rate of white people over the last three years, despite nearly identical usage rates.
Mayor de Blasio was vague as to what specific infractions would no longer warrant an arrest, but eliminating arrests for people with a clean record could reduce the number of arrests by an estimated 35 percent. But it’s not just putting citizens behind bars that de Blasio hopes to reduce. Those arrested on possession charges become a cog in the criminal justice system. And because people of color have been the primary targets in the city for decades, they are also more likely to have been arrested before on marijuana or other minor charges and have a criminal record in the first place.
The Brooklyn district attorney’s office, which in 2014 decided to stop prosecuting many low-level marijuana cases, is considering expanding its policy so that more people currently subject to arrest on marijuana charges, including those who smoke outside without creating a public nuisance, would not be prosecuted, one official familiar with the discussions said.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which last year decided to lighten penalties for some marijuana offenders, would decline to prosecute all but several hundred low-level marijuana cases annually under the plan, with some exceptions for people with serious criminal histories, a second official said.
It’s already legal to use marijuana for recreational purposes in Oregon and Denver. But now, there is another push — this time, for “magic mushrooms.”
Activists in both locations are working to decriminalize the psychedelics, which contain an active ingredient called psilocybin, which can cause hallucinations, among other things. Their main talking point is that this compound could perhaps be helpful in combating depression and/or anxiety.
Speaking toKaiser Health News, Kevin Matthews, the campaign director for the group working to legalize the mushrooms in Denver, said, “We don’t want individuals to lose their freedom over something that’s natural and has health benefits.”
Oregon backers will likely have a tough time with their cause, as they’ll likely need to hire signature gatherers, just like other statewide initiatives. That’s according to William Lunch, a political analyst for Oregon Public Broadcasting, who spoke to KHN.
Paul Hutson, professor of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin, who has specifically researched psilocybin, says he’s skeptical of decriminalizing magic mushrooms because their powerful active ingredient isn’t safe for everyone. He told KHN that he rejects the idea that “this is a natural progression from medical marijuana,” adding that mushrooms “are very, very potent medicines that are affecting your mind. In the proper setting, they’re safe, but in an uncontrolled fashion, I have grave concerns.”
These efforts to legitimize hallucinogenic mushrooms come at a time of renewed interest in the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics, including mushrooms, LSD and MDMA (known as ecstasy). Two small studiespublished in 2016 by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and New York University found that a single large dose of psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, helped relieve depression and anxiety in cancer patients.
Matthews tells KHN that Denver would be a good testing ground for this initiative nationwide and that just getting it on the ballot would be a “huge victory.”
Q: It seems a ton of people are using person toys as a way to enjoy themselves. Curious on how to care for your personal toy so they last as long as possible? I know a lot come with a year warranty, but I’d rather it not break for even longer.
A: Thanks for the question! I’m glad you’re digging your new vibrator, and I have to say, I absolutely love this question, because it gave me a chance to investigate the answers for myself. I reached out to Stuart Nugent, Brand Communications Manager for LELO, to find out how to best take care of your luxury vibrator — and make it last. Granted, these suggestions are for the toy and brand you mentioned in your question, but I think many of the tips should prove useful for any high-end vibrator. Here are four questions you might have about caring for your vibrator, answered.
What’s the ideal amount of time to charge a luxury toy?
As you might expect, the answer varies from product to product.
“A useful rule of thumb is to charge the product for the same amount of time as you intend to use it: LELO products charge fast. There are exceptions. Two hours of charging LILY 2 should offer four hours of use, but it’s the other way around with our most powerful pleasure products, like the Smart Wand,” Stuart says.
He adds that the products all feature clearly blinking LED lights to tell you when the toy is still charging, so you’ll want to unplug it when those lights stop blinking. And, just like with your phone, allowing the battery to drain fully every now and then is actually good for its longterm battery life.
Does lube matter?
It sure does! “The majority of LELO pleasure products have some silicone in their design, which means, for a variety of fascinating but longwinded reasons, you can’t use silicone-based lubricants with them,” Stuart says. So make sure you check the material of your new luxury vibe, and only use lube with it that’s compatible. (Of course, LELO’s Personal Moisturizer will work with all their toys, but any non-silicone-based lube should be safe.)
If Your Vibrator Gets Weaker After A Year Of Consistent Use, Is That Normal?
If you’re noticing that your vibrator seems to be losing steam, does that just mean you’re having a lot of sex, that you’re overcharging it, or is that just normal?
“Common sense suggests you could expect a couple of horsepowers to drop off through use over the course of a year,” Nugent tells The Fresh Toast. But it’s possible that if that’s you’ve been leaving your toy on to charge for extended periods, you might cause a dip in battery capacity.
“That’s the boring answer. The fun answer is that maybe you have too much sex. The corporate answer is that all LELO products have a one year warranty and a ten year pleasure guarantee, so if you think you might have sexed it to death then we’ll happily help you out,” Stuart says.
It’s also possible that some lube could work itself into the motor and slow vibrations, though since most luxury toys like LELO’s are watertight, it’s unlikely.
How should you clean and store toys?
“This is the least fun – and most important – aspect of responsible sex toy ownership,” Stuart says. LELO recommends cleaning toys by hand (not in the dishwasher, for example), using an anti-bacterial gel and hot water. “Don’t use an alcohol-based cleaner, that can damage the surface of the product, and don’t rely on hand soap, as that isn’t always anti-bacterial,” Stuart says. I’d add to be careful about any soap that’s fragranced, since that can irritate if it leaves any sort of residue. LELO also has a toy cleaning spray that I’ve been using the past year and which seems to help keep things clean. (Fun fact: Stuart says it’s apparently also really good for cleaning glasses and computer screens.)
Once you’ve cleaned the toy, dry it with a lint-free cloth and store it in the bag the toy comes with, or in another hygienic container, until your next use. Keep toys at room temperature and out of sunlight.
So there you have it! If you don’t overcharge that new toy, keep it clean, and store it safely, you should have years of orgasms from your new investment coming! Pun very much intended.
It has been said that 2018 will be one of the best years for marijuana reform since Colorado became the first state in the nation to legalize the leaf for recreational use. President Trump has called off the dogs with respect to the possibility of a federal marijuana crackdown and more Congressional figures — those who opposed legalization early on — have changed positions.
There is no disputing the progress that has been made over the past year, but there are still some major roadblocks on Capitol Hill preventing the decline of marijuana prohibition at the national level. One of them is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Earlier this year, cannabis advocates nearly wet themselves when McConnell began pushing a bill intended to legalize industrial hemp. The consensus was that maybe the old coot had finally changed his tune on the issue of marijuana. And without this Republican nightmare standing in the way, there was solid possibility that any number of legislative offerings aimed at bringing the plant out of the underground could end up getting some much-needed attention in the Senate at some point this year.
But the situation was blown out of proportion. It turns out that McConnell, the long arm of the Senate, has no intention of so much as discussing cannabis reform anytime soon.
He said last week that he does not “have any plans to endorse the legalization of marijuana,” because hemp and pot are “two entirely separate plants.”
Hemp is known for its versatility. The plant, which only has trace amounts of THC, can be used to manufacture everything from paper to composite materials strong enough to build homes. In fact, Henry Ford, the man behind the Ford Motor Company, once constructed an automobile back in 1941 that was made almost entirely of hemp and ran on hemp-based fuel.
The United States imports over $6 million in hemp-related products every year, but the product is illegal to cultivate on U.S. soil. McConnell’s Hemp Farming Bill of 2018 is designed to change that.
But supporting industrial hemp and the legalization of marijuana are two completely different beasts, according to McConnell. The difference, at least in his eyes, is that one can get Americans stoned and the other cannot.
“It is a different plant. It has an illicit cousin which I choose not to embrace,” he said.
This anti-marijuana opinion did not set well with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who intends to introduce a federal marijuana legalization bill in the near future.
“Aw come on, Mitch,” Schumer said. “I think this is something that is long overdue. I would hope to see it happen. I would hope the feds would take the heavy hand off and let each state decide to do what it wants to do.”
No matter how many pieces of pot legislation are introduced this year in the Senate, the chances of any of them being given the appropriate consideration are little to none. McConnell, who has been called the “Swamp Captain,” will likely prevent the marijuana issue from progressing beyond the headlines. Some political analysts predict the issue will pick up the necessary momentum once the Democrats gain control of Congress later this year.
Imagine one day waking up to discover a giant R2D2 replica appearing in your favorite park. That’s what happened in Prague in a stunt that might remind you of something Banksy would do.
A long-standing air vent from a Cold War era nuclear fallout shelter had been a sight for sore eyes in Prague’s Folimanka park. But an anonymous artist, or group of anonymous artists, have re-purposed the vent into a massive R2D2 figure.
“The artwork was quite an undertaking, as two large concrete pieces representing R2D2’s legs were added on the sides, and other concrete details were added,” described Prague TV. “The entire domed vent was painted blue and white with other color touches to resemble the robot.”
Here Is A View Of The Sight Before
And Here Is What It Looks Like As R2D2
Currently there is no word if the city will maintain the repurposed Star Wars statue. Prague TV reported that a paper sign written in Czech urged by passers not to damage the artwork, though “it is not an official city sign.”
Thinking of getting into the marijuana business? It’s not a simple as slapping some green leaf stickers on your cool new product and calling it a cannabusiness.
Entrepreneur interviewed Nick Kovacevich, the co-founder and CEO of Kush Bottles, on what it takes to make it in this fast-growing industry. Here are his top five keys to success.
Embrace It
“Cannabis treats a lot of those same symptoms with none of the negative effects … and it’s a natural plant. It just doesn’t make sense why it has such a bad rep, so we decided we were going to be the ones who were really involved in this industry, specifically focusing on it.”
Do Your Homework
It’s different in every state, and cannabis laws are changing constantly, so you have to be super in-tune to what’s happening… You always have to look ahead, see what’s on upcoming ballots.”
Be Mindful Of Your Image
“I look like an entrepreneur. I try to dress like an entrepreneur. I don’t want to be associated with a traditional cannabis-stoner business owner, because that is all that the mainstream public has seen.”
Be Ready To Battle The Banks
“It’s impossible to get traditional funding from banks — no banks will lend to the industry. Since Kush Bottles concentrates on packaging, we’re a little bit better off than some of the cannabis companies, but we’re still fighting an uphill battle.”
Adapt To Change
“When we started the company in 2010, it was 80 to 90 percent cannabis flower that was being sold. Now, fast forward six years, and it’s only about 55 percent. You have a lot more concentrates, extracts, waxes and all the oils for vaping. Newer users want to eat edibles or do transdermal patches or Listerine strips. They don’t want to smoke.”
We’ve all been there. And if you haven’t, you might be the problem.
It’s the incredibly unsophisticated and downright rude behavior—intentionally or not—you exhibit when you take a long time to respond to someone’s text message. And it’s called cricketing, the sound you hear when someone takes forever to respond to your text message. We’re guessing “tumbleweeding” was too clunky a name.
The term was born recently when dating site Plenty of Fish listed it as a major complaint amongst daters:
Cricketing (/krik-it-ing/): Leaving someone on “read” for too long and taking much too long to continue the conversation.
The majority of singles (67%) revealed to POF that they’ve waited patiently for a reply from their date, only to receive it much later than expected. Just like using the eggplant emoji, this behavior is not going to get you laid.
Weekly I hear partners complain about communication problems in their relationships connected to texting. It’s usually either that their partner is ‘blowing up my phone’ or ‘I don’t get a response. I see both sexes equally guilty of misusing texting and just as likely to use passive-aggressive behavior like cricketing.
But cricketing goes beyond romantic partners. The cold shoulder applies to anyone in your life, from friends to parents to in-laws.
https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-zkHlXPWH5HHnG
Not surprisingly, older texters have a harder time understanding texting etiquette. Remember when you were mid-conversation with an aging relative who seemingly threw their smart phone in the trash after their last text to you? That was fun, huh?
Diane Gottsman, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life: Master All Social and Business Exchanges, tells Huffington Post:
I recently had a client who told me that her parents were the worstcricketers. She said she could be having a smooth exchange with them but as soon as she asked if they were still OK with babysitting the kids for the weekend or with giving her a ride to pick up her car from being serviced, she’d get nothing but crickets.
Couples therapist Carin Goldstein tells HuffPo, “Take 10 seconds and write the person something like, ‘I will definitely get back to you in the next day or so ― just so swamped today. The key is to say something that shows that the other person deserves to be acknowledged just as much as you.”
Digital assistants are always listening. That’s a really disturbing thought once you’ve processed it. While we assume that actively recording our conversations is something that they’re unable to do (and that’s also illegal), these devices are still awake, attentive, and waiting for you to call their names and give them something to do. Like Googling something, playing something on Pandora, or buying something from the grocery store, which is when things get fishy.
Digital assistants are becoming more and more complex and helpful, meaning that they’re capable of storing your bank accounts and all sorts of relevant information so they can carry out complex tasks without asking for your guidance or permission every few minutes.
A new study (first reported by the New York Times) reports that a song or even commercial you listen to could hijack your device with commands that are undetectable to human ears, and that it’s possible to hide codes within these bits of audio. This is known as a “Dolphin attack” due to the fact that dolphins are capable of listening to frequencies that human ears don’t even register.
Luckily, tech companies are well aware of these risks and have features that could prevent an attack like this from happening. Google, Apple and Amazon expressed to the New York Timesthat they had countermeasures for these security threats, even though they didn’t provide any specifics.
Does Oprah use weed? We knew that Oprah dabbled with marijuana at one point, but now her best pal and “CBS This Morning” co-anchor Gayle King has confirmed the suspicions. During an interview on “The Ellen Show” earlier this week, King discussed how she’s never personally indulged in marijuana, though her best friend Oprah can’t say the same.
“Oprah has also smoked a little marijuana, too. I don’t mind saying that,” she said. “I’m not telling tales out of school.”
However, when Ellen pressed her on the matter, King didn’t elaborate. “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate her . . . It’s not something that happens on a regular—I’m going to change the subject,” she said.
Again, King didn’t exactly leak the Oprah-related scoop of the decade. Cannabis is legalized for recreational usage in California, where Oprah lives. She previously revealed to David Letterman in 2015 that she hasn’t smoked in 30 years, though her munchies of choice were a “sleeve of Oreos.”
Andy Cohen also pressed the media mogul about her cannabis usage during an appearance on his show. Oprah repeated what she told Letterman—she last smoked in 1982—though she may have hinted at her true hand when she told Cohen, “I hear it’s gotten better!”
Recently Oprah shared “We both have a dream in life and that is to get Gayle to smoke weed,” Winfrey said of her best friend, while talking with Schumer on a recent episode of her podcast “Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations.”
Schumer agreed, saying, “Have an edible, Gayle, something!”
I guess to answer the question – does Oprah use weed? Heck yes and is encouraging her friends!
