Sunday, June 28, 2026
Home Blog Page 983

Here’s Why The Queen Is Always Wearing Those Brightly Colored Outfits

Amy Hansen
-
0
Here’s Why The Queen Is Always Wearing Those Brightly Colored Outfits

In a family filled with tradition and protocols and proper etiquette, it’s refreshing to see The Queen step out in a neon colored outfit. But when you think about it, why does she chose those colors? Does she think they look good? Is she trying to defy her age? What gives?

Much like the Queen’s Day-Glo outfits, the answer is obvious. It’s so she stands out from a crowd, literally. Her Majesty has outfits in many shades of green, purple, blue and pink. And they all help members of the public spot her when she gets swallowed up by a crowd.

https://giphy.com/gifs/images-queen-elizabeth-2k4CSOMmoFZYc

The Queen’s daughter-in-law Sophie (aka Countess of Wessex), discussed this in the documentary The Queen at 90: 

“She needs to stand out for people to be able to say ‘I saw the Queen’. Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen’s hat as she went past.”

“The Queen has always been aware that she needs to stand out from the crowd, and it is for this reason that millinery has always played an important role in her wardrobe,” Caroline de Guitaut, the curator at the Royal Collection Trust, told the New York Times.

So the next time you see Queen Elizabeth wearing one of her signature colors, remember: you should consider yourself lucky you even got a glimpse of her in the first place.

Steven Spielberg Has Beef With Netflix Winning Oscars

Brendan Bures
-
0
Steven Spielberg Has Beef With Netflix Winning Oscars

Perhaps no living director represents Hollywood’s intersection of art and commerce better than Steven Spielberg. Responsible in some way for most of your childhood favorites — Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, E.T. — he’s also directed cinematic classics like Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and Catch Me If You Can. Spielberg understands moviemaking and the movie business better than most, which is why his opinion garners respect from fellow industry members.

That might not include executives at Netflix or Hulu anymore, however. To promote his upcoming film Ready Player One, Spielberg has made the interview rounds. While conversing with the UK’s ITV News, he touched upon technology’s disruption at the movies and his thoughts on the streaming industry.

An ongoing debate in the world of movies revolves around including movies that don’t receive a proper theatrical release into filmmaking’s most venerable institutions, like Cannes and the Oscars. The Cannes Film Festival recently changed their policy, stating a film must receive a theatrical release commitment to compete for its awards following controversy around Okja and The Meyorwitz Stories inclusion in 2017.

Spielberg agrees, stating his opposition in the tokenization of Netflix movies into recent award ceremonies.

“Once you commit to a television format, you’re a TV movie,” the director said. “You certainly, if it’s a good show, deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar.”

He praised the recent quality in TV writing and storytelling, while expressing concern about the streaming industry’s existential threat to moviegoers, echoing comments from Christopher Nolan. He compared the present situation to previous technological disruptions like when TV and the internet first started, but saysthe wounds are also self-inflicted on Hollywood’s part.

“The difference today is that a lot of studios would rather just make branded tentpole guaranteed box office hits from their inventory of branded successful movies than take chances on smaller films,” Spielberg said. “And those smaller films that studios used to make routinely is now going to Netflix.”

He says that missing middle-budget, artsier movie explains why he’s turned to making tense political thrillers in recent years like The Post and Bridge of Spies, in conjunction with something more wide-reaching like Ready Player One.

Who Is Going Around Biting Beyoncé: An Investigation

Brendan Bures
-
0
Who Is Going Around Biting Beyoncé: An Investigation

In what can only be described as a bombshell in celebrity gossip news, reports surfaced that an unnamed person bit Beyoncé in the face last December. That news come courtesy of Tiffany Haddish, who couldn’t help herself from spilling the tea in a recent GQ profile. At a party following a Jay-Z Inglewood party, an actress that Haddish wouldn’t name “bit Beyoncé in the face,” Haddish revealed.

When Haddish heard, she told Beyoncé she was “going to beat somebody’s ass at your party. I just want to let you know that.” Bey asked her not to and implored her to have fun instead. (Haddish leveraged the moment into a selfie opportunity.)

Okay, so with those facts established…who the hell bit Beyoncé!?

Luckily, some investigators have been on the case, starting with social media icon Chrissy Teigen. The well-connected model admitted on Twitter that she had a suspect in mind and that “she…is the worst.” But then Teigen apparently did some snooping and discovered her initial guess was wrong. She admits to knowing the identity of the Beyoncé biter but won’t divulge the name.

https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/978273960155545600

https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/978343738668912640

Around this time, Huffington Post dug through possible attendees of the Jay-Z party in question. The publication contacted representatives of actresses, hoping to narrow down the suspect list.

The funniest response, by the way, was Shirley MacLaine’s rep. “No, Shirley did not bite anything. She’s 83 years old, for God’s sake,” a spokesperson responded over the phone.

https://twitter.com/maxwellstrachan/status/978645221310369792

Two primary suspects soon emerged on social media: Sara Foster and Sanaa Lathan, both of whom were believed to have attended the December party. Foster eventually posted on Instagram asserting her innocence, writing the following tongue-in-cheek caption: “Flattering that anyone thinks I could get this close to Beyoncé.”

TMZ then reported Tuesday that its sources swear the biter in question is Lathan. The gossip site stated the multiple sources said Haddish has been telling people it was Lathan. “One source said it was not an aggressive bite … it was playful and noninvasive, but still caught Beyoncé off guard,” wrote TMZ.

Via TMZ:

The story goes … Sanaa was talking to Jay in a way that made Bey uncomfortable. Beyonce went over to Sanaa who brushed off any insinuation of inappropriate conduct and then gave her a jokey bite.

Tiffany told Beyoncé she was going to kick Sanaa’s ass, but Bey told her to let it go.

In the funniest troll a website has ever committed to screen, TMZ then included a picture of “Sanaa Lathan’s chompers.” You know, just so you can get a closer look of the alleged teeth that bit Bey.

Lathan responded on social media, defending her innocence against the slander. “Y’all are funny. Under no circumstances did I bite Beyoncé and if I did it would’ve been a love bite,” she wrote, including a lipstick kiss emoji.

This did not satisfy the sleuths on the case, who called out the suspicious phrasing of Lathan’s post.

Which…we kind of agree! Why would Sanaa Lathan include that unnecessary tidbit!? Unless she did in fact bite Beyoncé and is trying to get in front of this mess!

For now the case remains unsolved. But investigators will not rest until they know who bit Beyoncé. The world needs to know.

Edibles Producers In WA State Have Been Slapped With New Annual Fee

Amy Hansen
-
0
Edibles Producers In WA State Have Been Slapped With New Annual Fee

If they want to continue making edibles, producers in Washington state must now pay for a special endorsement on their business licenses which costs $895 a year.

According to a press release, the extra money will allow the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to focus on ensuring these types of cannabis operations comply with state sanitary processing requirements.

Since Washington’s recreational marijuana law began in 2012, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has been responsible for regulating marijuana infused edible (MIE) processors.

And according to the WSDA:

Last year, the Legislature provided for WSLCB to share authority to regulate these businesses with WSDA through its Food Safety Program, which already licenses and inspects most types of food processing facilities in Washington to protect public health from risks in the food supply.

And while the Department of Agriculture will enforce sanitary standards, the WSLCB will continue to license and regulate marijuana processors and edible producers.

Businesses can visit www.bls.dor.wa.gov beginning March 29 to complete the application online. The change takes effect April 1, but businesses have until April 30 to obtain the endorsement and pay the fee

Edible makers can expect to see an increase in inspections and outreach under the new system, all covered by the additional fee.

Currently there are 127 edibles businesses listed in Washington state.

Why Is GOP Senate Leader McConnell Supporting Hemp Legalization?

Evan Eitzel
-
0
Why Is GOP Senate Leader McConnell Supporting Hemp Legalization?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will introduce legislation to make hemp — a variety of marijuana mostly associated with industrial uses that has a long history in the US — a cash crop nationwide.

Hemp is cultivated in some states legally in sanctioned programs, but is currently considered a controlled substance by the federal government.

During a stop in Frankfort, Ky., CNN quoted McConnell as saying:

I just had an opportunity to see some interesting and innovative products, some of which you see here on the table, made with Kentucky-grown hemp … Sunstrand, based in Louisville, contracts with farmers in Henry County to grow hemp that they process into a number of consumer products including home insulation.

Imagine, instead of pink fiberglass, we could use Kentucky grown, environmentally sustainable hemp to insulate our houses. This represents just one many uses that Kentuckians are finding for this versatile crop.

So I will be introducing, when I go back to the Senate a week from Monday, a bipartisan bill in the Senate to continue to support this important Kentucky industry; it will be the Hemp Farm Act of 2018. What will it do? First and foremost, this bill will finally legalize hemp, legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances.

The federal government defines hemp as Cannabis sativa with a THC content below 0.3 percent. THC is one of the major compounds in marijuana and the one most associated with the euphoria a user feels when consuming it. Another compound, CBD, has eased pain in some medical users. Some hemp-based products such as ointments have been sold for such a purpose.

As one pundit put it, “you’d have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole to get high on it.”

Cultivation of Hemp in the Americas predates the United States. George Washington grew it at Mount Vernon and for much of the 18th and 19th centuries, it was common in rope and clothing.

Cultivation fell out of favor amid antidrug sentiment in the early 1900s and it was eventually made illegal federally. A 2014 law opened the door for cultivation in certain states. McConnell’s proposal would make growing it legal throughout the US.

Marijuana Vs. Methamphetamine: How To Best Treat ADHD

Trey Reckling
-
0
Marijuana Vs. Methamphetamine: How To Best Treat ADHD

Could cannabis one day be the go to medicine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD? Approximately 10 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the condition.

Common symptoms include difficulty sustaining attention, inability to focus, being easily distracted or unable to perform quiet tasks. It can affect job performance, personal relationships and lead to a sense of frustration, guilt and even depression.

What is the typical medical treatment for children and adults troubled by this this condition? Speed. Not just speed, but professionally manufactured amphetamines and methamphetamines (meth), known by commercial names like Ritalin, Adderall and Desoxyn.

Why speed? Stimulants are known to improve dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, helping the individual to focus attention. But long term stimulant use can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack risk, hallucinations, mood changes, addiction and a host of other complications.

There has not been a great deal of research on cannabis as a remedy for symptoms of ADHD.

Thirty adults in Berlin with ADHD who were unresponsive to typical meds were given cannabis in a scientific trial. Most reported feeling a better sense of control and focus. The researchers concluded that, “For adult patients with ADHD, who experience side effects or do not profit from standard medication, cannabis may be an effective and well-tolerated alternative.” 

The thought of cannabis being able to help someone “turn down the volume” of a condition is not unheard of. A leading theory of endocannabinoid deficiency explains that an imbalance of our body’s natural or endocannabinoids may be enough to cause migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders and a number of physiologic conditions. Cannabis as a medicine is known for being remarkably safe, a lower risk factor than common prescriptions for people with ADHD.

Duke researchers were drawn to a growing online library of anecdotal info from people self-medicating with cannabis. These scientists led a unique qualitative research study that scoured the responses of adult patients and caregivers in online forums discussing the impact of cannabis on their ADHD symptoms.

The test sample showed that three times as many respondents believed cannabis improved or reduced ADHD symptoms than believed it had an adverse effect. Comments such as “Cannabis helps me focus” and “I find I’m able to concentrate so much better after a bit of cannabis” were typical of participant feedback.  

Could cannabis be an effective and much safer alternative for adults with ADHD? Once again it seems that the patient feedback is ahead of the research as it has been in so much of the resurgence of medical marijuana.

If recent history is any indication, it means we must listen to patients as we advocate for more research. After all, patients aren’t usually trying to sell us a product, they are just sharing their experience in hopes that we learn from it.

Former Chief of National Republican Committee Fighting For Medical Marijuana

Terry Hacienda
-
0
Former Chief of National Republican Committee Fighting For Medical Marijuana

Add another Republican leader who is urging his party to do the right thing for patients seeking medical marijuana: Michael Steele, the former Republican National Committee chairman.

In an opinion piece published in The Hill, Steele took aim at fellow Republican and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, chastising the longtime drug warrior for rescinding the Cole Memo, the Obama-era guideline giving the legal marijuana states some breathing room.

In the story, Steele wrote:

I was dismayed to see Attorney General Jeff Sessions (AG) recently rescind the Cole Memo, a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) document providing guidelines to United States attorneys in states that have chosen to legalize cannabis. This memo provided protection to states whose voters and duly elected legislatures have legalized some form of marijuana use.

While I may not be in favor unfettered adult use for individuals over 21 years of age, I am a strong supporter of medical marijuana. Numerous friends and acquaintances benefit from the medicinal properties and pain relief provided by cannabis. I favor state-based access to medical marijuana from both a philosophical and policy standpoint. I also support the reform of our federal cannabis laws to bring conformity to federal regulations and state laws.

Steele is concerned that the politicians in his party are refusing to listen to the will of the people. He cited a Quinnipiac poll from last year revealing that 94 percent of Americans favor, “allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it.”

This same poll, Steele wrote, found that 73 percent opposed government interference into states that have legalized marijuana; basically, three out of every four Americans are against the federal government enforcing cannabis prohibition laws in states that have legalized some form of marijuana use.

Steele offered a shout out to the GOP leaders who have taken a stand with the majority of the American people on the issue:

Rep. Thomas Garrett authored the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to reschedule marijuana. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), a longtime GOP champion of reform, drafted the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) Small Business Tax Equity Act would bring tax equity to the cannabis industry.

Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are leading the way in the United States Senate to increase research opportunities and allow marijuana businesses access to traditional banking services.

Steele, who now appears as a pundit on MSNBC, reminded us that President Trump said on the campaign trail that he supports medical marijuana 100 percent. It remains unclear if Trump will keep his promise.

Calling Your Parents Can Help Them Live Longer

Amy Hansen
-
0
Calling Your Parents Can Help Them Live Longer

For some aging adults, losing connection with their family is a huge hit to their mental well-being. As feelings of loneliness and depression creep in, not having regular contact with those closest to you can not only lead to isolation, it can have an effect on your physical well-being, too.

And that’s exactly why you should make a habit of talking to your parent(s), even if it’s just a phone call. The far reaching effects are numerous, according to  a study from the University of California-San Francisco that researched 1,600 seniors (average age of 71) for six years (2002-2008) to study the mental and physical effects of loneliness.

Related: 5 Reasons To Share Your Stash With Grandma And Grandpa

What they found was quite sad: 23 percent of adults who reported feeling lonely died within the span of the study, compared to 14 percent of those who had companionship. The study also revealed that 43 percent of those over 60-years-old reported feeling alone. And that among participants who were older than 60 years, loneliness was a predictor of functional decline and death.

They also found that while lonely subjects were more likely to live alone, the majority of lonely persons lived with someone. Moreover, while lonely subjects were more likely to be depressed, most lonely subjects were not depressed.

While persons who are lonely are more likely to experience depressive symptoms, feelings of loneliness are only weakly associated with enjoyment, energy, and motivation—emotions that are central to a diagnosis of depression. Loneliness is also distinct from several quantitative measures of social isolation such as living alone, marital status, and number of relationships. For example, it is possible for persons who live alone to not feel lonely, while some who are married or living with others will still experience loneliness. Loneliness can be explained as the discrepancy between one’s desired relationships and one’s actual relationships.

Researchers conclude that given the number of health and social issues that health care providers must prioritize, the identification and amelioration of loneliness may seem to be outside of the scope of medical practice. “Yet, by separating suffering and distress into medical and nonmedical spheres, health care providers may be missing a key risk factor for poor health.”

Is This The Future? Cannabis-Focused Co-Working Space In LA

Evan Eitzel
-
0
Is This The Future? Cannabis-Focused Co-Working Space In LA

Los Angeles is a city known for trend-setting innovation. One of the newest ideas coming out of the Tinseltown is a new cannabis-friendly co-working space.

Paragon Space — a facility for established companies, cannabis startups and individuals in the marijuana community — is scheduled to open by this summer.

The firm behind the venture is Paragon, a cannabis-centric blockchain technology company. Why a shared office for cannabis?

Here’s how Paragon sees it:

A place for the modern busy bee and like-minded individuals to cross-pollinate great ideas. Welcome to Paragon Space!

We know how hard it is for those in the cannabis industry to rent office or desk space, so we are providing you a helping hand. Even if you aren’t working in the industry, you are still welcome too 🙂

Paragon Space is a unique and bold concept, befitting to the modern crypto world. Paragon Spaces offer co-working desk and office space, as well as a café, conference spaces and an in-house lab.

The cost of membership is based on the amount of space needed, but the company promises that the average rent will be in the range of current similar facilities. According to the company website, space will be accessible to anyone who is part of the Paragon community, but services will only be available to PRG coin holders. PRG is the company’s cryptocurrency offering.

Members of the community will also have access to conference rooms to host their own events and meetings. The lounge and outside area of the building will function as an additional space for meetings, events, and a communal area for members to relax and network. Additionally, there will be a Paragon Café with food and drinks available for purchase in PRG.

Watch Tyler Perry Teach Seth Myers About Using Marijuana As Sleep Aid

Brendan Bures
-
0
Watch Tyler Perry Teach Seth Myers About Using Marijuana As Sleep Aid

Tyler Perry recently stopped by “Late Night with Seth Myers” to promote his upcoming movie with Taraji P. Henson called Tyler Perry’s Acrimony, where he spilled some details from the film and insights into working with the typically fierce Henson. But Perry also divulged about his short-lived experiences with marijuana and how it will inspire his next movie.

As you might expect from someone as prolific as Perry, his mind is always running, so he has trouble sleeping at night. To assist with the issue, he admitted to a friend he might drink some vodka for a sleepy-time nightcap. The friend then suggested cannabis and bought Perry a pink lemonade “weed drink,” as he called it.

Perry’s experience eventually turned gnarly, as he consumed too much before bed.

“I’m sitting there and my legs started growing,” Perry said. “I couldn’t open my mouth, and I was wondering if it was still there. The [my friend] facetimed me and I was hiding behind the camera because I didn’t want her to see me.

“I said to God, ‘If you get me out of this, I will never do this again in my life.’”

For fans of Perry and his Madea character, he told Seth Myers the experience would definitely spill into his films. Cannabis, of course, remains a helpful sleep aid if used properly. To learn more about marijuana’s potential to combat insomnia, read this.

1...982983984...1,476Page 983 of 1,476

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.

Stay informed with exclusive news briefs delivered directly to your inbox every Friday.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

The Fresh Toast is an award-winning lifestyle & health platform with a side of cannabis. We work hard each day to bring uplifting and informative information about culture, weed, celebrity, tech and medical marijuana.

© Copyright @2020