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Check Out 5 Best April Fools Marketing Ploys Of 2018

Maria Loreto
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Check Out 5 Best April Fools Marketing Ploys Of 2018

So, the first of April happened, which means that you’ll need to be extra wary of what you read online for the rest of the week. Companies love April Fools, taking it as an opportunity to come up with creative and fun ideas for marketing while humiliating innocent and gullible people.

Even though it’s silly, April Fools can lead to some inspiring and cool content. We decided to round up 5 of our favorite April Fools prank; check them out: 

BritBox

Taking advantage of the fact that Americans simultaneously love and hate British accents, BritBox, a VOD service, introduced a feature called “Interp-Brit,”which allows users to toggle dialogue options between British and American accents. It’s amazing.

The details are also perfect, with that clip of Elizabeth Bennet tearing Mr. Darcy a new one with some sort of Californian accent. It might be better than the original.

Google

Google Maps always does weird stuff, but for this year’s April Fools they decided to turn their whole system into a Where’s Waldo adventure, which will last all through the week. On all apps, Waldo will appear in the background, giving you a friendly wave, and prompting if you want to start the game. Once you do, you’ll be on the lookout for Waldo and his friends, as if this were July 2016 when people were out of their houses and couldn’t stop wondering the streets on the look out for Pokemon.

Jeff VanderMeer

The Southern Reach Trilogy has been all over the news lately due to the release of Annihilation, the Natalie Portman starred film which is based on the first book of the trilogy. The movie has gotten positive reviews, but it’s definitely not for everyone, and it’s also very adult, which is why it was very surprising when VanderMeer announced that he’d rewritten the stories as books for kids, as a way of raising awareness about the environment and global warming. The fake covers of the book feature some cute animals that for some reason have scars and that look like they have ulterior motives.

Lego

The company decided to invent a vacuum cleaner that only cleans up Lego bricks and that sorts them by their shape and color. It also removes all dust. It’s kind of a genius invention, and Lego should really commit to it, for the sake of our backs and our feet.

Netflix

On April 1st, Netflix announced that they were acquiring Seth Rogen, claiming that they’d signed a deal with him where he’d transfer full ownership to Netflix over his personal autonomy.

Via Netflix:

“Hollywood, CA – April 1st, 2018 — World-renowned Canadian person, prolific marijuana-doer, and winner of the 2015 MTV Movie Award for “Best Kiss” Seth Q. Rogen has entered into a lifetime deal to transfer full ownership of his personal autonomy to Netflix, Inc.”

Rogen has a Netflix comedy special that’ll be released on April 6th.

Despite Legal Status, Texas Businesses Bet On Marijuana

Evan Eitzel
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Despite Legal Status, Texas Businesses Bet On Marijuana

Texas is oil country. Some entrepreneurs are betting it can also be CBD oil, and edibles, and dab, and flower — and so on — country.

Texas is a Red State, particularly outside the cities. However, voters there seem to be mellowing on marijuana use. A 2017 University of Texas poll found 83 percent favor medical use and 51 percent would vote for full legalization.

The Dallas Morning News has reported an uptick of cannabis-related businesses in the state. Some are servicing businesses in states where the substance is legal. Others are betting on eventual legalization at home.

One company found cannabis-friendly states came knocking, eager to employ their food quality testing products.

“If you buy into this and say cannabis is a miracle drug, it’s exciting as all hell because you sense you’re changing the world,” Peter Ricca, chairman of Ricca Chemical, told the paper.

He also said he hopes the experience would put his company ahead of competitors when the Lone Star State legalizes the substance.

El Paso was the first American city to restrict cannabis in 1915 following the killing of a police officer. In 2015, then-Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill allowing CBD oil to treat severe epilepsy.

CBD is one of the two major compounds in marijuana. The most well-known is THC, which contributes to the euphoria commonly associated with use. CBD helps with chronic pain and insomnia and in some applications won’t get a user that that feeling.

So far, three companies have applied for state permits to grow cannabis for use by epileptics. Compassionate Cultivation has one of the permits. CEO Morris Denton says there have been challenges working with the state, educating medical professionals, and even convincing his business partners.

“I don’t spend my days worrying about things I can’t control,” he said. “I can’t control what our federal administration does or doesn’t do. I can’t control what Jeff Sessions may or may not do. The only thing that I can control is the performance of this business.”

A bill to fully legalize cannabis in 2015 passed in a statehouse committee before running out of time for the full legislature to vote on it. It’s author, a Tea Party member and religious conservative said, “I don’t believe that when God made marijuana he made a mistake that government needs to fix.”

American Airlines Pilot Claims UFO Flew Over His Aircraft

Maria Loreto
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American Airlines Pilot Claims UFO Flew Over His Aircraft

Two pilots from different airlines reported an unidentified flying object hovering over them as they were flying over southern Arizona. UFOS!!!

According to The Huffington Post, the incident began February 24, when a pilot from Learjet reported an object that gave off a “big reflection” while hovering over their aircraft. The pilot reported this to the Albuquerque Center of air traffic control, where they contacted a nearby pilot from American Airlines and told him to keep his eyes open and to report if he saw any strange objects.

The pilot, sufficiently spooked, didn’t understand the question. Minutes later he said, “Something passed over us, like a, don’t know what it was, but it was at least two, three thousand feet above us. Yeah, it passed right over on top of us.” The audio was initially released by The Drive. You can listen to the exchange below.

The reported altitude of the UFO puts the object above the range of the average droid, but it could have also been a Google balloon or an experimental aircraft. The sightings took place near the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Luke Air Force Base.

Lynn Lunsford, spokeperson for the FAA, said that the organization has “a close relationship with a number of other agencies and safely handle military aircraft and civilian aircraft of all types in that area every day, including high-altitude weather balloons.” In short, air traffic control should’ve known if there were any other aircrafts or balloons near the commercial planes.

Interestingly enough, Arizona is an area ripe for UFO speculation, having a history of some crazy sightings including the 1947 UFO crash at Roxwell, New Mexico, and the 1997 Phoenix Lights, which were witnessed by thousands of people. Authorities disproved both of these “sightings” claiming that the 1947 crash was a high altitude balloon and that the 1997 lights were military exercises.

Cannabis Oil In Iowa: These 5 Cities Are Selling It

Terry Hacienda
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Cannabis Oil In Iowa: These 5 Cities Are Selling It

Iowans seeking to treat their ailment with medical marijuana will finally get their chance, but they will have to wait until December.

The Iowa Department of Public Health revealed Tuesday the five cities where patients can go to get cannabis oil: Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo and Windsor Heights.

Patients will be able to purchase cannabis oil (such as a cream, gel capsule or oil) with a state permit; smoking marijuana remains prohibited. The qualifying conditions for patients include:

  • Cancer (with severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting).
  • Multiple sclerosis with severe and persistent muscle spasms.
  • Seizures.
  • AIDS or HIV (as defined in Iowa Code, section 141A.1).
  • Crohn’s disease.
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
  • Any terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of under one year (if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting; cachexia or severe wasting).
  • Parkinson’s disease.
  • Untreatable pain.

According to a report in the Des Moines Register:

The stores are planned by MedPharm Iowa in Windsor Heights and Sioux City; Have a Heart Compassion Care in Council Bluffs and Davenport; and Iowa Cannabis Company in Waterloo. MedPharm is based in Des Moines. The other two companies are based in Washington state, which has allowed medical uses of marijuana since 1998.

The dispensaries are to be set up under Iowa’s new medical marijuana law, which will allow sales of some types of marijuana-derived medications to people suffering from maladies such as epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease or intractable pain.

Cedar Rapids, the state’s second-largest city, was denied a dispensary. Nearby Iowa City — home of the University of Iowa, the state’s largest college, was also shut out. The entire Southern Iowa region was also denied participation in the program.

The Iowa Department of Public Health announced that cannabis oil sales would be permitted in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Davenport, Waterloo and the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights.

Permits will be required to purchase medical marijuana, with sales to begin by Dec. 1. Qualifying medical conditions could include cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, untreatable pain and painful terminal illnesses. Permits will be issued to adult patients living in Iowa and primary caregivers of patients living in Iowa.

Apple Reveals Plan For New Products That Will Attract Kids

Maria Loreto
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Apple Reveals Plan For New Products That Will Attract Kids

As a way of attracting schools, colleges and students, Apple is planning on releasing a lower priced iPad that’ll be introduced in Chicago at an event at Lane Tech College Prep High School.

At the school, Apple will film a one hour special for CNBC featuring Tim Cook, their CEO, and their plans for the future. The special titled, “Revolution: Apple Changing the World,” will air on April 6 and it’ll let the world know that Apple plans to invest in the future of schools and kids around the US.

This is a good thing for Apple, who, according to USAToday, is very behind when it comes to schools and students. Google, with their Chromebook laptops, is currently on top of the education market with a 59 percent market share. Windows follows behind with 25 percent, and Apple comes in third with 10 percent of shares.

Out of all the Apple products, the ones that students use most are iPads, which are the most convenient. The tablets are large enough to work on, lighter and much less expensive than Mac laptops.

The real issue here is product prices. Everyone loves iPads, but the cheapest one you can purchase costs 329$ and it doesn’t include a pen, a keyboard, or any form of protection. For that amount of money you could buy a Chromebook laptop that, even though is a little heavier and maybe a little clunkier, does the job just fine.

Chinese Reporter Rolls Her Eyes On Live TV And A Meme Is Born

Maria Loreto
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Chinese Reporter Rolls Her Eyes On Live TV And A Meme Is Born

Liang Xiangyi had a moment of weakness in the middle of a televised event and it’s been immortalized on the Internet by way of memes, fanart, videos, and more. China is not happy about this at all.

During the National People’s Congress event that took place earlier this week, Liang, a reporter from a Shanghai-based business channel, can’t help but roll her eyes at the question that the reporter next to her asks.

According to The Verge, Zhang, the reporter next to Liang, introduces herself and directs a long and wordy question at a state council regulator. Her question, which was already long enough, is repeated twice and is filled with flattery, which seems to trigger Liang, who looks the reporter up and down, rolls her eyes, and looks away dramatically. Her face journey is absolutely epic.

When asked, Liang claimed that she rolled her eyes because the person next to her was being an idiot. We love her.

China is going through a bit of a rough patch lately, with some locals growing frustrated over the fact that President Xi Jinping’s term has been extended indefinitely. Anything that could be perceived as anti-government is being censored, including Liang’s facial expressions. Her name has been blocked on Internet searches and all videos of the incident have also been censored.

Still, the censoring hasn’t stopped the Internet from creating fanart, tribute videos, memes and gifs featuring Liang’s expressions, because they’re awesome and glimpses of humanity are always welcome, especially when they’re natural and not being forced down anyone’s throats.

Oregon Marijuana Retailers Pass Decoy Test With Flying Colors

Terry Hacienda
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Oregon Marijuana Retailers Pass Decoy Test With Flying Colors

The Oregon agency tasked with monitoring underage sales of cannabis gave the state’s retailers a perfect 100 percent compliance score following February’s undercover sting investigation.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) randomly sends minors into marijuana stores to try to purchase products. Last month’s operations targeted stores in Portland, Bend and Salem, all of which passed the test with a perfect score. Yes, regulation keeps cannabis out of the hands of minors.

“The OLCC performs marijuana sales checks in an effort to reduce access to marijuana by minors,” according to a press release from the agency. “During the sales checks, a minor volunteer attempts to purchase marijuana from a licensed business to see if staff are checking ID’s correctly and refusing to sell marijuana to anyone under 21.”

During the first test in January, 19 percent of the decoys managed to buy marijuana. “These overall results are unacceptable. This is a wake-up call to our licensed retailers. Oregonians have entrusted you with a responsibility that includes NOT selling marijuana to minors,” said Steve Marks, Executive Director of the OLCC, at the time.

According to Mark Pettinger, a spokesman for the OLCC,  the initial results suggested to regulators that the penalties for selling to minors — a 10-day license suspension or a $1,650 fine for first-time offenders — were too low. The penalties have since been increased to a 30-day license suspension or a $4,950 fine for a first offense.

“The industry has taken heed, and they’re doing a much better job of checking identifications to make sure that they’re not letting people who are under the age of 21 into their businesses and allowing them to purchase marijuana,” Pettinger said.

The compliance rate for alcohol sales to minors is much worse than cannabis. The compliance rate for those bars and liquor 78 percent statewide. The OLCC says booze-related stings are more difficult to manage because of the large number of outlets.

The Queen May Not Stick Around For The Best Part Of Harry And Meghan’s Wedding

Amy Hansen
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The Queen May Not Stick Around For The Best Part Of Harry And Meghan’s Wedding

The countdown begins for the big royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But come May 19, there will be one glaring absence on the dance floor during the couple’s reception: The Queen.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl, author of Harry: Life, Loss, and Love told “Entertainment Tonight” that the Queen will likely skip that part of the wedding all together:

I think when it comes to the evening reception and certainly the party, if the Spice Girls are performing then, I don’t think the Queen’s going to be on the dance floor.

It has yet to be confirmed whether or not the Spice Girls will even be performing, but if Markle didn’t get engaged to Harry just to watch Her Majesty get down to “Wannabe,” we wouldn’t blame her and feel her deep sorrow.

Even more disappointing is that, according to POPSUGAR, the Queen’s cousin, Lady Elizabeth Ansonit, revealed during a 2016 BBC special that music has “always been a part” of Elizabeth’s life and that she’s “a fantastic dancer” who’s “got great rhythm.” RIP all of our hopes and wishes for 2018.

Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be getting hitched at 7 a.m. EST at St. George’s Chapel. That’s noon U.K. time. The newlyweds will then catch a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor, just like Prince William and Kate Middleton did after their ceremony in 2011.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds, in their carriage, will undertake a traditional Carriage Procession from the Chapel through Windsor Town returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk. In a statement, Kensington Palace reported that “They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day.”

From there, a reception will be held at St George’s Hall for the couple and the guests from the congregation.

Later that evening, Harry’s father, Prince Charles, will give a private evening reception for the couple and their close friends and family.

Marijuana Pop-Up Markets Thrive In The Legal ‘Gray Area’ Of Washington DC

Brendan Bures
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Marijuana Pop-Up Markets Thrive In The Legal ‘Gray Area’ Of Washington DC

Every night in Washington DC, you can find purchasable marijuana with the click of a button. All you need is a knowledge of the correct keywords and phrases, plug them into either Google, Twitter, or Instagram, and you will find listing for marijuana pop-up shops. Though a surprising development, the movement has exploded in the nation’s capital, according to the Washington Post.

To be fair, it’s somewhat of a self-created problem. In 2014, Washington D.C. voters passed Initiative 71, legalizing possession of marijuana up to two ounces for recreational use. However “attempts by advocates to create a system that would regulate and tax marijuana transactions were shot down by Congress,” writes the Post.

This meant D.C. residents could possess marijuana, but no legal path existed for them to acquire that marijuana. So how do people buy marijuana? That explains these pop-up shops, which operate in bars, empty office spaces, and private events. Interested parties will pay in “donation” for stickers, trading cards, or some other small trinket. Then the vendors will “gift” them an edible or other cannabis product.

Via the Post:

Many of the events are advertised as “I-71 compliant,” by not directly selling cannabis. “During my first pop-up,” [the owner of Bud Appetit, an edible company, Lisa] Scott said, “I said: ‘I have the solution. We’re going to sell merchandise and then gift.’ Technically, it’s against the law as well, but I don’t think it’s enforceable because who’s to say I can’t just give you something? I guess it’s the way you do it. I sell you socks for $20, then gift you something. How is that against the law? How is that enforceable? It didn’t seem to be a problem, so we kept doing it that way.”

At first, not much was made by the scene. Police and the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) stayed away. But consumer interest caused the scene to expand rapidly and entrepreneurs were all too willing to meet that demand. With the growing size and local complaints, police felt compelled to intervene. There have been raids and confiscations, but it all exists in a legal gray area.

In one case, 22 vendors were arrested with misdemeanor drug possession with intent to distribute. The club where the event took place was also charged. But weeks later, D.C. prosecutors chopped all charges. In fact, no cases have played out in courts, furthering the “gray area” in which these shops operate.

Where this goes remains to be seen. If D.C. prosecuted, “lab testing of vast amounts of edible evidence, having to examine hundreds of hours of police body-cam videos and questions over using a regulatory agency to conduct a warrantless search may add to the legal gray areas engulfing cannabis sales in the city,” one defense attorney theorized.

Of course, it would make things easier if the city would clarify its laws. Advocates urge the city to create a legal system of sales to purchase the marijuana consumers can possess. Demonstrations are being organized. Until then, the bazaar markets will continue to thrive.

Canadian Company Wants To Be Starbucks Of Cannabis In US

Amy Hansen
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Canadian Company Wants To Be Starbucks Of Cannabis In US

Last October, The Fresh Toast’s Cannabis Editor wrote: “Today, there are more than 25,000 Starbucks locations worldwide. Will there be a “Starbucks of Weed” and, if so, who will it be?”

If Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. is to be believed, they will be the “Starbucks of Weed” sooner than later.
Photos courtesy of Golden Leaf Holdings

Even though cannabis remains illegal in most of the U.S., the Toronto-based cannabis company has partially cracked the code by opening stores in Oregon. And now, their retail shop — Chalice Farms — has its first franchise request. As Bloomberg reports, venture firm BlackShire Capital has signed a letter of intent to franchise the model, setting a precedent for more stores across the country.

“Like Starbucks is to coffee, we believe Chalice will be to cannabis,” William Simpson, Golden Leaf’s chief executive officer, told Bloomberg.

Photos courtesy of Golden Leaf Holdings

He said the public’s response has been favorable to the tune of about $400,000 a month (in gross sales) at the company’s most successful store. The slowest store still does about $100,000.

As Bloomberg points out, “with marijuana prohibited from crossing state lines, every Chalice Farms won’t be able to offer the exact same products.” That means Golden Leaf will have to make its own products locally, or, according to Simpson, develop a list of approved manufacturers and products in each state or region as necessary.

For entrepreneurs trying to get in on this franchise deal, it’ll cost them $50,000 and a five percent royalty fee.

But again, as The Fresh Toast explains, because marijuana is still federally illegal, cannabis does not have a national market, unlike coffee or burgers or aspirin. And especially Starbucks.

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