Kim Kardashian may be “Reality TV Royalty” but who has more fashion star power: Mrs. West or Meghan Markle?
And which fashion powerhouse joined Queen Elizabeth on the front row at her first Fashion Week in London? Wearing a powder blue dress and jacket by Angela Kelly, Her Majesty was most definitely “in vogue.”
Fashion guru Dawn Del Russo also talks Royal fashion, Meghan’s style evolution and gives us some fashion tips to follow. Which color is tough to pull off (unless you are JLo of course) and what iconic dress you should toss from your closet ASAP?!
Hot peppers can make a big difference in this cannabis-induced syndrome.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition experienced by some heavy cannabis users. It is described as causing episodes of nausea and vomiting as well as the curious symptom of a craving for long, hot showers for temporary relief.
Doctors don’t yet understand the cause for this condition. We do know that cannabinoids can have paradoxical effects on the gastrointestinal system and central nervous system.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found both in the cannabis plant and naturally occurring in our bodies. THC and CBD are the two most well known and widely researched among these compounds. Ironically, the same cannabinoids that have helped bring relief of nausea to countless patients with cancer experiencing the side effects of treatment may also cause some to feel nauseous as in the case of CHS. While we don’t fully understand their influence, there is support to believe that cannabinoids play a role in the balance of the gastrointestinal system.
While uncomfortable, CHS is not life-threatening and seems to fade away with a discontinued use of the herb. However, an individual in the throes of nausea and active vomiting is not likely to be comforted that it will eventually go away. The typical treatment for CHS includes giving the patient fluids, opioids, lidocaine, and anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medicines to bring an end to the vomiting, though this can be ineffective for many patients. The medications used can also have side effects including muscle spasms and restlessness, diarrhea, blurred vision and more.
Photo by FotoCuisinette/Getty Images
The health community would likely welcome a safer therapy for CHS if proven to be effective and cost effective. So, the news that a safe topical product available may be a good alternative has created a stir in the medical community. The journal Pediatrics a retrospective medical record review of a small population of adolescents who found relief from CHS thanks to use of topical capsaicin, a product made from the active ingredients in chili peppers.
Anyone who has eaten chili peppers and enjoyed a variety of hot sauces is familiar with the burning capsaicin causes in the mouth and other mucous membranes like the eyes. It is the reason it is also a main ingredient in many pepper sprays used for personal protection. But that same compound suspended in lotions and creams has been bringing relief to people with arthritis and joint pain for years.
While the numbers of the data set are too small to draw absolute conclusions, the evidence points to the likelihood that it was a topically applied capsaicin cream at strengths between .025 and 0.75 that made the difference and brought significant symptom relief.
This could be fantastic news for the sufferers of CHS who one day could be advised to skip a trip to the hospital ER and simply buy an over-the-counter cream to remedy things. While much more research will need to be done to be able to offer such advice with full confidence, hot peppers just may be the key to stopping this peculiar condition in its tracks.
Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would invite over 2,600 members of the community into Windsor Castle, so the public could be a part of the wedding celebrations come May 19th.
Around 1,200 members from all sorts of backgrounds and ages will be invited from all over the United Kingdom, prioritizing young leaders and those who’ve done work for their communities. 100 of these guests will be students from two local schools, 200 will be from a variety of charities and organizations that are close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 530 guests will be from the royal households of Crown Estate.
Other public guests include residents of Windsor Castle and members of St. George’s Chapel community. These guests will be able to watch the arrivals of the bride and groom, other important guests, and the couple’s departure and carriage procession through the town of Windsor.
Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have said they want their wedding day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too.
This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the bride and groom.
The official guest list for the ceremony still hasn’t been released.
A study has been published that shows the potential benefits cannabis can bring to people with HIV. The journal Clinical Infectious Disease released data that shows cannabis may be able to reduce systemic inflammation and immune activation for those involved with antiretroviral therapy (ART). That could be life changing for some.
ART drug therapy is a combination of antiretroviral drugs used to slow the population growth of the virus known as HIV in the body. There are different categories of each medicine type because they affect the virus at varying stages of progression.
The goal is to limit the population of the virus, maintain the body’s immune health and prevent the opportunistic infections that can be particularly dangerous for people with HIV. The process is complicated and improper use of medications can help lead to the genetic mutation of the virus and cause further complications.
Although ART drugs are helping people to live much longer lives, the toll of the meds can be dramatic. The side effects include intense allergic reactions, bleeding, bone loss, diabetes, heart disease as well as damage to the liver, kidneys and pancreas. For this reason, many patients simply do not take their medications. The side effects often just make them feel worse.
Patients with HIV have been shown to be up to 300 percent more compliant with ART medications when also using cannabis. There is tremendous interest in the benefit the herb can bring these patients and a significant amount of money is being spent by American universities to learn more.
A collaboration between researchers at University of Washington and UC San Francisco is a good example of this continued interest. Patients with HIV in the study who were considered “heavy cannabis users” had an improved immune response over time due to the cannabinoids, active compounds found in the herb. The hope is that it could also lead to fewer related conditions to which those with the infection are vulnerable.
Specifically, the study author wrote:
Our work suggests that cannabinoids may have an immunological benefit in the context of HIV infection, as lowering the frequency of activated T cells could limit the risk of development of non-AIDS-associated comorbidities.
While research with this kind of detail may be lost on many in the public, the real promise it holds for those living with HIV/AIDs is significant. The lives of over one million people in America living with HIV may be positively impacted as a result. It is a sign of the times that HIV and cannabis, each of which has been subject to demonization and victimized by political agendas, may find a harmonious connection no one could have previously comprehended.
You may not have heard of Leagoo, a Chinese company that makes all sorts of devices, but they’re pretty gutsy. The Next Web reports that during 2018’s Mobile World Congress, Leagoo unveiled their latest device, one that takes advantage of all smartphones on the market.
The Chinese company created a miracle device that merges the best of the iPhone and the best of the Samsung Galaxy onto one smartphone called the S9. The cost? $150.
The specs of the device include a screen that measures almost 6 inches and that’s “HD+”, which doesn’t explain much about the technology and can mean almost anything. The phone includes 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, a 13MP rear camera, and Facial Access, which is the ability to do facial ID. Nope, they’re not copying the iPhone.
While Leagoo may face court in the near future, we’re curious to see if the device actually works. If it does, then why are the rest of the smartphones so damn expensive?
When it comes to that post-hookup regret we all experience at least once in our lives, the feeling is more common after consuming too much alcohol versus marijuana or ecstasy.
Published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality, the experiment examined 679 nightclub and dance festival attendees in New York City (ages 18–25) to examine and compare self-reported sexual effects associated with use of alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy:
Results suggest that compared to marijuana, alcohol and ecstasy were more strongly associated with heightened perceived sexual effects (i.e. perceived sexual attractiveness of self and others, sexual desire, length of intercourse, and sexual outgoingness).
Increased body and sex organ sensitivity and increased sexual intensity were most commonly associated with ecstasy use. Sexual dysfunction was most common while using alcohol or ecstasy, especially among males, and females were more likely to report sexual dysfunction after using marijuana. Post-sex regret was most common with alcohol use.
Study author Joseph J. Palamar of New York University, told PsyPost that few studies have examined the actual sexual effects of drugs and alcohol, saying, “Whether or not someone uses a condom while high is important. However, limiting research to this behavior really ignores the actual sexual responses associated with drug use that may in fact influence one’s decision to have sex with or without a condom.”
“Each drug is associated with its own level of sexual risk,” said Palamar. “Alcohol is likely the riskiest as use is not only so common, but also promoted throughout much of society.”
“Even if sex itself isn’t risky while on alcohol, post-sex regret is extremely common as users may hook up with someone they normally wouldn’t have sex with.”
Admitting the study was based on self-report, which is limited, Palamar told PsyPost, “Use of multiple drugs at the same time is also common in this population so it may have been difficult for some users to distinguish between effects of different drugs. Many drugs can also affect memory so recall of sexual experiences could have been impaired.”
Earlier in February, a months-long, seven-agency sting operation shut down nearly two dozen stores for allegedly selling illegal marijuana products that look like candy. But the misguided law enforcement sting appears to have backfired.
All charges are expected to be dropped after several stores in Rutherford County were padlocked and accused of illegally selling CBD gummies. But the candy in question contained CBD from industrial hemp, and law enforcement officials admitted the products did not contain any THC, the psychoactive substance found in cannabis.
Testing cannot determine whether the gummies were made from industrial hemp CBD oil –which is legal – or from marijuana CBD oil – which can be illegal. As a result, prosecutors cannot make the case in court, and charges are expected to be dropped. If that happens, the cash and gummies will be returned to the merchants. NewsChannel 5 has also learned that several of those merchants are considering lawsuits.
“TBI [Tennessee Bureau of Investigations] is no longer willing to testify that this is a Schedule VI substance. We have no choice but to dismiss,” District Attorney Jennings Jones said on Wednesday.
“We were notified Friday that the DA is dropping the charges,” Stacey Hamilton, a store owner hit by the sting, told the Daily News Journal. “I’m elated and angry, very angry. From the moment I found out what they were doing, I knew I had committed no crime. This has caused an enormous cost to all the store owners,” Hamilton added. “I don’t think they’ll apologize in nearly as public a way as they condemned us as drug dealers.”
“The Talk” is a legendary, awful experience for parents and kids alike, but it’s kind of a rite of passage for families—one where everyone can come out better for it, bond over shared awfulness, and have a deeper understanding of each other.
No one wants to do it, but is paying someone to do it for you crossing the line into weird territory? The New York Post reports that a couple that has been struggling to have the talk with their kids is willing to pay someone $3,500 to do the job for them.
The kids are an eight-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, and part of the education they’ll receive will include information on different areas of sex, ranging from foreplay, penetration, gender identity, puberty, menstruation and rape culture.
That’s a lot of information to drill into the brains of young kids.
Both parents are from England and claim they don’t trust the school to provide these services to their kids, while also arguing that this is something they can’t do by themselves. They wish for the expert to provide a thorough background check, since they’ll be left alone with the kids, and expect the sessions to be recorded, just in case they need a refresher of the topics that were covered.
Though much of cannabis advocacy has progressed by divorcing the drug from its stoner, hippie past, there’s one holiday where indulgence is strictly encouraged. That would be 4/20, the annual day of celebration for all things marijuana.
Perhaps no pop-up experience honors weed’s psychedelic past more than the Magic Bus Experience. Never heard of it? No worries. For the uninitiated, MBE is a 60,000 square foot adult wonderland “comprised of multiple whimsical environments inspired by marijuana culture.”
The event hits all the wonderful stereotypes you might expect from an event like this. You can explore through a “Hotbox” white-out maze or snuggle up in a massive adult-size Pillow Fort. Feeling inspired or creative? Trek down Artist Avenue, where you can witness artists working and contribute to the Giant Coloring Book.
But perhaps most important of all is something called Munchie Mountain, described as a “a floor to ceiling snack bar” sure to satisfy your cravings. If you need more, purchase the event’s VIP package and you’ll gain access to an all-you-can-eat Chicken Nugget and Tater Tot Bar.
Those lucky enough to live and die in LA can attend the event on 4/20 itself, as MBE will be in town throughout the holiday weekend. You can find out more about the experience and buy tickets here.
Oh, sweet sweet internet. It’s a land where famous last words can come back to bite you in the ass, over and over again.
Back in 2013, Justin Theroux took questions from GQ readers and his answers couldn’t be more relevant today.
One of the first questions he tackles is how to make a long distance relationship work. Now, if you hadn’t heard, Theroux just split from his famous wife Jennifer Aniston, who lived in LA while Justin preferred to spend most of his time in NYC. According to reports, it was a major reason the two broke up (or at the very least, it didn’t help matters). He responds, “You have to go visit her. You just have to go put the time in and you have to go visit this person.” Okay, Justin.
Theroux, who, along with Aniston, is a cannabis supporter, likely felt much more at home with this question: “My boss asked me to buy pot for him. What should I do?”
Theroux’s answer:
Buy him pot! It’s basically legal everywhere now, so go get him some pot.
More softball questions are asked including “Can you hit on a woman you meet at yoga?” His obvious answer: “No, you can’t. They’re there to do yoga. They’re not there to see your sweaty face trying to hit on them.”
As for when you should split a check, Theroux says it’s a classy move when you’re treating a lady or a person younger than you. But if you can’t afford to pick up the tab, “do that stalling thing and hope the older, better-off person picks it up for you.”
