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16 Fine Line Colorado strives to find balance between medical and recreational cannabis.
18 A Global Affair The World AntiDoping Agency relaxes regulations on athletes using cannabis involved with the Olympics.
22 Plastic Planet Hemp may be the next eco-friendly plastic!
24 Miracle Man Stan Rutner beats cancer—thanks to MMJ.
Hot, young hip-hop sensation Mac Miller is on fire! ON THE COVER: Photo by Ian Wolfson
26 A Giant Leap Artist Mike Giant gets real with CULTURE.
28 Royal Flush Hot new hip-hop star Freddie Gibbs plays the hand he’s been dealt— and he’s winning.
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departments 8 Letter from the Editor Diversity makes us strong, our community keeps us strong.
News Nuggets
Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop— PLUS our latest By the Numbers.
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Destination Unknown
Spanish Barcelona offers great art, culture, history and so much more.
Profiles in Courage
Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle— of a medical cannabis patient.
Strain, Edible & concentrate Reviews
Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains, edibles and concentrates currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary.
Cool Stuff
From Sharetapes and iPhone macro lenses to Hisptirs, if it’s a cuttingedge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it.
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Recipes
Easy and Delicious—ease into Fall with these tasty dishes and dips.
shooting gallery
Here are the green-friendly things we saw you doing around town.
Entertainment Reviews
The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
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66 | LET’s do this 70 | NEWS OF THE WEIRD 6 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2013
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letter from the editor
Vol 5 IssUE 3
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
GET YOUR CLICK HERE
Editor-In-Chief
www.iReadCulture.com
Evan Senn
Managing Editor Byron Graham
Arts & Entertainment Editor Ashley Bennett
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ngaio Bealum, Sarah Bennett, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, James P. Gray, Victor Hussar, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Robin Johnson, Carl Koslowski, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Tommy Purvis, Paul Rogers, Jeff Schwartz, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen, Simon Weedn
Photographers
Steve Baker, Gregory Cannon, Kristopher Christensen, Michael Gifford, John Gilhooley, Khai Le, Ryan Mazrim, Kim Sidwell
Interns
Kim Johnson, Derek Obregon
Pride and Passion In the face of adversity, our diversity gives us strength
T
he revolution of cannabis and the struggle to access our freedoms is evolving. There are stories in our newspapers, online and on television every day on how cannabis is helping the world. Dr. Sanjay Gupta came out on one of the most credible news channels in the world and explained how he was wrong for misjudging the benefit of cannabis as a medical option. A fiveyear-old girl in Colorado finally gets relief from her incredibly frequent and intense seizures, and another man’s cancer is cured—all thanks to the natural relief of cannabis. Illinois has also recently become the 21st state in the U.S. to legalize medical cannabis. The world is changing every day, and it is important to keep up with it. Here at CULTURE, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of this revolution. With change there is, of course, some trepidation— the future is uncertain. But, the best of best roll with the punches, and adapt. I have faith in the people of this great nation, and given time, I believe the people will make sure our government’s legislature reflect the opinions of the people it serves, and cannabis will be accepted. Good things happen when you
Graphic Designers
Vidal Diaz, Tommy LaFleur
Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Saunders
open your eyes and mind to diverse views of the world; when you celebrate what makes people live well. Living well can mean something different for everyone. Regardless of our differences of race/ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, political affiliation, as a community we welcome diversity. A culture of inclusion and support makes a stronger community. And thus a stronger humanity. As CULTURE’s first female Editor-In-Chief, I want to take this time to remind us about what makes America so spectacular, in the first place—its diversity and its adaptability. I am proud to continue in this tradition of great journalism, up to the minute news, entertainment and amazing original content in the nation’s #1 cannabis lifestyle magazine, as we lead this revolution to freedom and compassion. I hope that this will remind you of what makes us strong, and an even stronger community—a symbol of our pride and passion. CULTURE, it’s our lifestyle.
Sincerely, Evan A. Senn
Editor-In-Chief
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Art Director
Steven Myrdahl
Regional Manager Kim Cook
Account Executives
Jon Bookatz, Gene Gorelik, Justin Marsh, Beau Odom, John Parker, Paulina Porter-Tapia, Dave Ruiz, April Tygart
Office Manager Iris Norsworthy
Office Assistant Jamie Solis
Social Media Manager Jamie Solis
IT Manager
Serg Muratov
Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes 40,000 papers at over 1,000 locations throughout Colorado. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark of Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 300 Center Drive #220 Superior | Colorado | 80027 Phone 888.694.2046 | Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com
CULTURE® Magazine is printed using post-recycled paper.
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now begin working on obtaining signatures in an attempt to gain a spot on the 2014 ballot. ARM, as well as various other pro-medical cannabis collectives are gearing up in preparation of the 2014 Arkansas vote. The group needs 62,507 signatures to be eligible.
or two ago. However this year, according to Denver Westword, the Colorado State Fair has one participating booth that’s bound to make it a memorable occasion: the Cannabis Patients Network (CPN). This year CPN aims to educate the 500,000 visitors who are estimated to attend. “The real goal here is to normalize [medical cannabis] and make the stigma Colorado medical cannabis go away,” states CPN director dispensary golf tournament Regina Nelson. There are plans to have volunteer patients man raises $40,000 for multiple the booth in order to emphasize sclerosis the validity of MMJ as treatment A charity golf tournament was and its positive effects on recently hosted by The Clinic (one patients. Although it’s legal, of the state’s prominent MMJ patients have still been wary of centers), celebrating its successful being labeled as “recreational charity golf tournament in its users” even after Amendment fourth year—which earned 64 passed last year, Nelson a whopping $40,000 for the states. “We are finally seeing a National Multiple Sclerosis split between recreational and Society. MS is a disease of the medical, and I think that’s really immune system which attacks good.” the nervous system and can cause a number of symptoms, including numb limbs, paralysis and even loss of vision (severity can vary dramatically from person to person). Studies are split Business symposium between whether or not medical to focus on legalization cannabis can be used to assist of medical cannabis in healing the disease, but there Huge possibilities await the are a number of cases proving cannabis industry in the coming its success. Representatives from years. In Illinois alone, the NCIA the industry, among hundreds of expects 1,000 new jobs generated other MMJ community members due to the recent legalization teed off together in support for of medical cannabis. These jobs the cause. include a demand for individuals
THE STATE
THE NATION
who can produce and package products like lotions and lozenges for patients uninterested in inhaling cannabis, as well as opportunities for people involved in accounting who can specialize in cannabis revenues. The list continues adding software providers, insurance providers as well as attorneys all being reputable fields in demand by the cannabis industry.
Arkansas voters could see multiple proposals to legalize medical cannabis on ballots
Feds OK cannabis legalization in 2 states
The Justice Department announced that it will make no attempt to block state laws that legalize cannabis (for now, at least). Following a conference call, Attorney General Eric Holder informed the governors of Colorado and Washington that the department won’t target or seize individual state laws, according to CNN. Federal law still deems cannabis illegal under the Controlled Substances Act but this is a huge stride forward for the industry at large. Essentially, the act requires the federal government to focus on major issues only, like preventing minors from using cannabis, driving while intoxicated, the rise of major drug trafficking and cannabis
Residents of Arkansas may be seeing the phrase “medical cannabis” on their ballots more than once in the coming months, according to the Kansas City Star. Recently, a measure from a group called Arkansas for Responsible Medicine (ARM) inched their way closer to state voters when Attorney General Dustin McDaniel certified its popular name and ballot title. The ARM collective can
First-ever medical cannabis booth to appear at Colorado State Fair Most state fairs are the same from year to year, offering a decent mix of interesting food, live music and carnival rides. Last year’s fair couldn’t be compared as drastically different from the year before or even a decade 10 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2013
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growth on public land. Holder also informed the two cannabis-friendly states that the Justice Department will also work to create necessary regulations that “fall in line with federal priorities, and still reserves the right to try to block the laws if federal authorities find repeated violations.” Not to mention that these guidelines help the major local cannabis businesses as well. A medical cannabis business can’t be targeted simply because of its size and profitability. Instead, prosecutors must also have proof of illegal acts before raids can proceed. How’s that for progress?
look highly promising for the President’s approval, as the initiative to legalize cannabis wasn’t spearheaded by activists—but by the President himself. Upon its approval, Uruguay will be the first country in the world to fully legalize the growing, selling and recreational use of cannabis.
THE WORLD
8th Annual Pret-A-Porter
Uruguay has taken a leap to legalize cannabis
Uruguay’s president has taken a huge leap in favor of cannabis. A bill to legalize cannabis has been passed by the House of Representatives and is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed off by President Jose Mujica, according to BBC. Chances
by the numbers cannabis patient is authorized to have at any given moment according to California state law: 6 and 12 (Source: The Sacramento Bee)
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The number of dispensaries in Denver compared to the number of Starbucks in the entire state of Colorado: 739 vs. 415 (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
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Amount of registered medical cannabis patients in Colorado: 107,000 (Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
The average percent range of roadway fatalities dropped within the first year of medical cannabis legalization in a state: 8 to 11 (Source: The Boston Globe)
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Square foot measurement of Middletown, Connecticut’s first city owned factory for growing cannabis: 15,000 (Source: The Sacramento Bee)
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Percentage of approved MMJ applicants that are male: 67 (Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
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The amount of mature and immature plants a medical
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Amount it costs (in dollars) to produce one pound of “pharmaceutical grade” cannabis vs. its value at retail price: 1,000 vs. 7,500 (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
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Percent of surveyed physicians who would approve the use of medical cannabis for a woman suffering from pain related to breast cancer: 76 (Source: The Sacramento Bee)
Percent of Americans who say the federal government should not enforce anti-cannabis laws in states that have opted for a new approach: 64 (Source: San Diego CityBeat)
Percentage of all registered Colorado MMJ patients that reside in the Denver-metro area: 59 (Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
Average age of all Colorado MMJ patients: 42 (Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
The percentage of studies solely focusing on the beneficial effects of cannabis, as calculated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta: 6 (Source: Fox News)
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Number of jobs the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) expects to be generated due to the legalization of medical cannabis in Illinois: 1,000 (Source: NCIA)
The percent of people who are in favor of making medical cannabis legal, as seen in recent ABC News-Washington Post poll: 81 (Source: USA Today)
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The percent of total global hemp fiber produced in China: 51 (Source: www.ipsnews.net)
A typical fashion show brings together famous designers and models who show off newly created clothing in a number of colors and styles. A normal Pret-a-Porter show is well-known for displaying countless women, dressed in the season’s fashion. However, Denver’s 8th Annual Pret-A-Porter takes creativity to an extreme level. It’s bizarre, it’s creative—and it’s wearable. Design firms pair up with product manufacturers to bring simple objects and themes to life in a wearable costume. “Lighting” has been a past product, which produced a number of abstract items of clothing. Each team submits final concept art that can be compared to the final product as each woman or man walks down the runway, debuting the piece. This year there will be a focus on the Art Deco era. While fashion might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s some serious appreciation to be had.
IF YOU GO
What: 8th Annual Pret-APorter When/Where: 7pm, Sep. 13. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1101 13th St., Denver. Info: $20-60. Check out iidarmc.org/signatureevents/pret-a-porter or call (720) 865-4220 for more info.
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FLASH
Colorado
Conflict By Byron Graham
Medicinal vs. Recreational
I
n medical cannabis news this month, the conviction of Dr. Joseph Montante, who made a questionable recommendation for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, has been criticized by state auditors for its lack of oversight. The health department hasn’t referred any red card-issuing doctors to the state medical board since 2011, a move which has allowed many ethically questionable doctors who are clearly profit-motivated to stay in business. There is a chance, however, that the passage of Amendment 64, which will supplant this cottage industry and reduce the recreational users in the MMJ registry.
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The demonstrable benefits of medical cannabis for the seriously afflicted has swayed public opinion in a more enlightened direction. Even Chris Christie, the obstinate Republican Governor of New Jersey, has softened his opposition to medical cannabis in response to the heartrending story of the youngest medical cannabis patient, Vivian Wilson—a twoyear-old girl suffering from Dravet syndrome. Cannabis is finally being taken seriously as an effective treatment, even by former naysayers like CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. In light of these encouraging developments, the imperative to distinguish medical cannabis from recreational cannabis grows ever more urgent. Medical cannabis and recreational cannabis not only require different regulatory
models, they often require different chemical compositions. Many seriously afflicted patients require CBD-based products in an ingestible form because they provide natural pain relief, while smoking high THC content plant matter itself is usually for psychoactive pleasure. Without the economic incentive to provide recreational cannabis to patients with dubious medical claims, caregivers will have greater freedom to develop medicine to suit the highly individualized needs of their patients, and reasonable Coloradans who want to buy recreational cannabis without supporting cartels or fearing arrest will no longer have to clog up the MMJ registry, or fear that their information is being shared with police. Amendment 64 inched a little closer to being a reality this month when Denver city council voted to approve 3.5 percent sales tax rate for retail cannabis, despite Mayor Michael Hancock’s suggestion that cannabis be taxed at 5 percent or more. While it’s reassuring for voters to know that state legislators are hard at work trying to pioneer a workable legalization model, any and all efforts to fulfill the promise of Amendment 64 are hamstrung by the lingering issue of cannabis’ federal illegality. Until cannabis possession is decriminalized at a federal level, Colorado legislators
and patients face tremendous uncertainty. Despite assurances from Attorney General Eric Holder, who commented last month that a federal response to legalization bills in Colorado and Washington was in its final stages of review, state officials remain fearful that they’re efforts could be trumped by a lawsuit from Justice Department. The real victims of the conflict between statewide cannabis legalization and federal prohibition, however, are Colorado patients. Another unwanted side effect of the conflict between state and federal law is the widely acknowledged profiling of interstate drivers with Colorado license plates. In neighboring Kansas, where possessing less than an ounce can mean a prison sentence, more than half of all cannabis arrests, including felony drug trafficking, are Coloradans. Lawyers in both states advocate ditching your medicine before you cross state lines, which is bad news for any drivers who have to traverse the bleak expanses of the Kansan hellscape without the relief of cannabis. c
Breaking all the Rules Speaking of the MMJ registry, a different state audit revealed that the CDPHE failed to comply with state law and keep patients’ names and information confidential. The audit exposed not only a total lack of security, but also direct violations of its patients confidentiality rights, the most egregious example occurring in 2012, when the department shared the information of 107 patients with law enforcement in a blatant breach of protocol. The continued regulatory headaches distract from the point of Amendment 20 in the first place, which is to help sick people.
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FLASH
A Higher Standard “out-of-competition”
The Olympics’ World Anti-Doping Agency relaxes rules on By Jasen T. Davis
M
illions of medical cannabis patients around the globe face discrimination at work, on the road, in schools and in the courts, but there’s one place it’s getting a little better: on the Olympic winners’ podium. On May 11, the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) amended its rules to raise the level of allowable traces of cannabis found in athletes’ urine from 15 nanograms per mililiter to 150 nanograms per mililiter. In a statement, WADA says they increased the limit because they don’t care what athletes do in their off-time, but they don’t want them to compete high. The effect of the change is that athletes have more personal freedom, experts say. A light “weekend” cannabis
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user who stays clean for two days before an in-competition test probably won’t face WADA consequences like suspensions of three months to a year, or the loss of a medal. (However, daily users might need up to three weeks abstinence to get under the 150 ng/ml limit, studies show.) Athletes and activists say raising Olympic standards for traces of cannabis use is a step in the right direction, but the race toward real equality is going to be an ultramarathon. Many athletes wonder why WADA considers cannabis a “performance enhancing drug” at all, especially given cannabis’ rising prominence in sports therapy. After decades of doping scandals, the Olympics created a formal drug monitor in 1999 called WADA. WADA seeks to ban
cannabis use
substances that meet at least two of three criteria: they enhance performance, they present a health danger; or they violate the “spirit of the sport.” WADA added cannabis to its list of banned substances (which include testosterone, speed, cocaine, heroin, etc.) in 1999, after Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in snowboarding in 1998. All Olympic athletes are subject to random drug tests with no notification. All athletes who make it to first, second or third place also have to pee in a cup. Rebagliati’s urine came back positive for 17.8 ng/ml of THC-COOH (a molecule created when the liver metabolizes THC—the main active molecule in cannabis). Officials yanked his gold.
Rebagliati appealed, arguing the cannabis metabolites in his urine were the result of secondhand smoke. In arbitration, officials restored his medal on a technicality: cannabis was not yet on the list of banned substances at the time of the contest. “I’m the only person to lose a gold medal and get it back again,” Rebagliati tells CULTURE. WADA’s relaxed, new attitude to “out-of-competition” cannabis use is part of a shift in society, Rebagliati said. Twenty-one U.S. states have medical cannabis laws and two have ended cannabis prohibition. Canada has a national medical cannabis system and more and more countries—like Colombia, Uruguay, not to mention The Netherlands, etc—every year break with the U.Sled cannabis prohibition. c
A number of studies show the naturally occurring components in cannabis like cannabidiol relieve pain and reduce inflammation. “Cannabis is a huge painkiller, a huge antiinflammatory, perfect for post-operation recovery,” Ross said. Ross’ Gold is developing a CBD-rich line of topicals for sore muscles and pains. “A lot of athletes could profit from cannabis use to relax sore and beaten bodies,” Gieringer said. The correlation between snowboarding—with its epic falls—and cannabis use is probably more than a vestige of its counter-cultural roots. “Cannabinoids play a major role in the extinction of fear memories by interfering with learned adversive behaviors,” the AJSM reports. “Athletes who experienced traumatic events in their career [like, say, a huge spill] could benefit from such an effect.”
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Did you
FLASH
A Sustainable
Future The perfect fiber could be the answer to our prayers
know?
Different kinds of plastic can degrade at different times, but the average time for a plastic bottle to completely degrade is at least 450 years. It can even take some bottles 1000 years to biodegrade! That’s a long time for even the smallest bottle. 90 percent of bottles aren’t even recycled. Makes you think twice about that water or soda, right? Bottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) will never biodegrade. And there are even more reasons to lay off the plastic bottles: about 1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to make the bottles, and even more oil is burned transporting them. Most of the time, the water inside the bottles has more contaminants than regular old tap water, meaning you could be drinking some serious problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has more strict standards on tap water than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does for bottled water, which is something to think about when you’re thirsty! And those reusable bottles? Make sure you’re not a collector, because those will never biodegrade.
By Jasen T. Davis
T
he relationship between hemp, cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component every patient knows and appreciates, is enough to make it mostly illegal in the United States of America. Cannabis is already a very bad thing to the federal government, but hemp is equally outlawed because despite its almost comprehensive usefulness, the plant still has very low amounts of THC. The plastic items and containers we use are corrosive to our environment to produce, difficult to reuse and once thrown into a landfill, the ocean or anywhere else on the planet, millennia will pass before it degrades. Plastic derived from hemp can replace everything we use, from Styrofoam coffee cups to the rings that hold cans when you buy a six pack at the supermarket. A field of hemp requires almost no toxic pesticides to grow and does so at a faster rate than trees. With a THC content of less than one percent compared to cannabis, it is nearly impossible to become intoxicated with the material, although growing hemp is still illegal for most citizens in America. The true power, durability and usefulness of the material stems from the fact that it’s made of plant fibers. While the fake plastic we create might come close to nature, the real secret is that normal hemp is made from cellulose, the same organic
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creation that gives wood like oak and ash its strength. Once the cellulose is rendered, a process that is cheap, easy and a lot nicer to the environment than anything involving harsh petrochemicals, it’s relatively simple to turn it into an incredibly strong, non-toxic material that can be used to make water bottles, billiard balls and even as a chassis for automobiles. One Austrian company called Zellform (www. zelfo-technology.com) has already patented a cellulose
material composed of hemp, flax and straw. They call their creation “Zelfo,” and use it to make everything from bowls to stereo speakers to office furniture. Because of the fact Zelfo is also water and weatherproof (thanks to the hemp cellulose ingredients derived from their stalks) Zellform is already looking into other markets for their substance. Another corporation, Hemp Plastic (www.hempplastic.com), has mastered an injection molding process for their version which is tough, affordable and completely biodegradable, thanks to fact that its all-natural. They claim that their product is five times harder than conventional plastic and is twice as durable, without the usual health risks. Hemp Plastic currently offers 100 percent hemp boxes, bowls, CD cases and even didgeridoos for the musically inclined. Henry Ford, the father of the modern American automobile, constructed his first Model-T Ford out of hemp plastic. Lighter and far cheaper to produce than anything else on the road at the time, the vehicle had side panels that were 10 times stronger than steel. Produced in 1908, the machine even ran on hemp oil, as opposed to petroleum-based gasoline. One hundred years later, it’s time to turn what’s currently illegal into something that can benefit the economy and the country, again. c
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BUZZ
Photos by John Gilhooley
A CULTURE Magazine EXCLUSIVE
By Roberto C. Hernandez Stan and Barb Rutner are no strangers to cancer. The married couple, both in their 70s, have run into it before. Barb battled bouts with breast cancer—twice. And about 20 years ago, Stan, a retired dentist with a thriving mini storage business, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. “I just thought I had a cold, flu, type thing. That was it . . . I wasn’t thinking cancer at all,” Stan recalls. Fortunately, after treating the lymphoma for about six months, it— like Barb’s successful battles with breast cancer—became a thing of the past. By 1989, it was a closed chapter. But in 2011, it came back. Like before, it struck Stan in the lungs first. Manifesting as a persistent cough, a doctor later revealed cancerous nodes in the lungs that
Regarding the chemotherapy and radiation that Stan underwent in March and April of 2011 for the lung cancer, what were the downsides? Barb: Nausea, fatigue, weight loss. What tipped you off to the fact that Stan might have acquired brain cancer after you had already found the lung cancer? Barb: His speech became labored and garbled. And when I called the doctor, she knew immediately what was going on . . . and then they did the scan. While cancer is a very serious disease, both of your previous bouts with it provided you with some great perspective, correct?
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Stan: While it was taken very seriously, there was also an element of “Here we go again.” Barb: Yeah, I’ll interject something too. With both Stan and I, since we’ve been through cancer so much, cancer has become kind of a business with us. So, it’s sort of sometimes like business as usual. You know? Stan: We’ve got another chore to do, or another wheelbarrow full of dirt to carry up. You know it was just a job to do and that was all we concentrated on. The cancer and treatment took their toll on Stan, can you tell us how? Barb: Short term memory loss . . . Stan: Yeah, yeah. My handwriting
were the real culprits. “Yeah, [my doctor] was really diplomatic. He says, ‘You’re in deep shit.’ Or words to that effect,” Stan recalls. “Yeah, he didn’t sugar coat it at all,” Barb adds. As if that wasn’t enough, doctors later discovered that the cancer had metastasized to his brain. Like before, the Rutners were able to successfully battle—and beat— Stan’s cancer. But this time, after going through chemotherapy and radiation, they wanted to find a natural medicine that would improve Stan’s quality of life and maybe even prolong it. Medical cannabis did all that and more, surpassing anything they could have hoped for. CULTURE spoke with Stan, Barb, their daughter Corinne and her husband John about this intense and life changing experience with cannabis.
is getting better but it was awful at that time, I mean it was illegible, totally. Stan’s health and quality of life began to decline, even with treatment in full swing. Barb: After that he was wiped out. He was very thin. So we finished radiation to his brain on June 25, and on July 13 he entered the hospital for the first time with radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs due to radiation therapy), so pneumonia. There were three hospital visits during that time, and on the third they kept him for a week and started him on oxygen 24/7. And then he went into palliative care.
Things got bad. At one point, Stan was given six months to live? Barb: Yeah, yeah, I accepted it. He went on to hospice, I mean if you could’ve seen him at that time you would’ve understood. He entered hospice in August. [Generally] when you enter hospice they know you’re diagnosed with less than six months to live. But, Stan was given only weeks to live at that time. Throughout it all, the Rutners tried everything to beat Stan’s cancer. Barb: During the course of his radiation/chemotherapy treatment, [Stan] also had Reiki treatments and acupuncture. And he did attempt
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of doctors, friends and family, but we’ll always believe that cannabis turned the tide.
to do creative visualization but found that he wasn’t very good at it (Laughs). I had used it extensively when I was having breast cancer and it worked very well for me, but it wasn’t working for him. But he did quite a bit of alternative medicine.
Stan: No hesitation at all. Here I’m dying and getting nothing to change the course of things and so this thing has a pretty good track record in—what do you call it—in a non-medical world, so hey let’s try it. Got nothing to lose.
With Stan wasting away coupled with the grimmest of life expectancies, Stan and Barb’s daughter Corinne and her husband John started thinking outside of the box. Hearing that cannabis was an effective treatment for patients suffering from the crushing effects of chemotherapy and the pain that is common with cancer, John and Corinne decided to give it a shot.
About a week or two later, after trying the cannabis-based medicines, did anyone notice improvements? Stan: Everything improved. Barb: He started gaining weight. Stan: Sleeping better. Barb: Getting stronger. Stan: Yeah!
Barb: Corinne and John were becoming interested in medicinal cannabis but we were concerned that Stan was wasting away. He had lost so much weight and so we were anxious to get his appetite improved and help him with the nausea. So Corinne suggested a cannabis capsule infused with coconut oil; they’re yellow capsules that he started taking. He started taking those in early November of 2011 and in the beginning, he took about a third of a capsule in the morning, and it was about a week or two later that he was able to give up the extra oxygen that he had had 24/7. Was there ever a concern about using a plant that some view as non-traditional . . . or consider an outright illegal drug by the federal government? Barb: [Addressing Stan] You weren’t skeptical, were you?
Barb, you’ve told me before how stark and significant the changes were in Stan as a result of his use of medicinal cannabis. Barb: At one point, he was using a walker and then gradually he was able to help with loading a pickup truck and getting things moved. Now he walks up stairs, he does exercise classes, he doesn’t seem to get out of breath and he takes naps most afternoons. But his strength is so much better than it was. It’s remarkable. Eventually, after several months, a brain scan came back negative. No cancer. Same for the lungs? Barb: On January 27, 2013 we received the results of Stan’s brain MRI in an email from his oncologist, stating simply: “IMPRESSION: No evidence of recurrent disease.” The lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain in the summer of 2011 (and nearly taken his life) was GONE! The doctor calls him a miracle man. We are deeply grateful to his “team”
{Corinne and her husband John on Stan’s experience . . . } Could you tell your father was getting worse? Corinne: You know, I never saw it. He’s very healthy. Both my parents are young. My mom is 76 now, my dad is 79, but this was two years ago. February, my dad was diagnosed, but he looked great. 100 percent great, you would have never known, so when he told me it was a shock. I was surprised when he had a little bout with a cough, but it didn’t even seem to last very long. But he apparently took himself in and got a chest x-ray and they had said that they thought it was pneumonia, early stages, and when they cleared it up; they wanted to recheck him again because they saw some concerning spots. Were you a medical cannabis patient at the time your father decided to turn to cannabis? Corinne: I knew nothing about cannabis. I’ve always been one of the straight-laced people. So, if I didn’t have John, I have to say we would have never asked that question. We started my dad on a coconut oil infused capsule. We had heard you can freeze and cut them, so you don’t have to give the whole capsule. So you can actually cut those capsules and start out slow. Looking back, are you convinced that cannabis works as an anticancer medicine? Corinne: I’m 100 percent, no question. I believe that his brain tumor is gone because of the cannabis oil. John: There is no doubt in my mind that cannabis pulled my father-in-law out of the wasting stages of cancer and enabled him to gain strength, and in turn, fight this horrible cell malfunction with success. While many would say that the chemo and radiation could have played a part, he would never have lived long enough to find out without cannabis oil. c
“When Corinne’s mom (Barb Rutner) said to her, ‘You saved your father’s life.’—boy, that is a gift that Corinne will cherish the rest of her life,” said John Malanca, Barb and Stan Rutner’s son-in-law. “And if we can pass that on from our [web]site and do that to pay it forward, oh man. And that’s why we take so much pride in what we do and we speak to patients on a daily basis.” Corinne and John were so inspired by cannabis’ purported ability to treat—and cure—cancer, they started United Patients Group, an organization and web reference site devoted to sharing information and resources about medical cannabis to those looking for answers. It’s a discrete forum where you can talk directly to an expert about medical cannabis; find a beginner’s guide to using medical cannabis, and resources on everything from state laws to how to obtain a medical cannabis card. The team behind United Patients Group can also direct you to reputable marijuana clinics in your area and information on how cannabis can help ease the pain of specific health issues. unitedpatientsgroup.com
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www.mikegiant.com
Photo by Joshy D.
BUZZ
Giant Personality Mike Giant opens up about his new book, his Zen lifestyle and his ever-evolving
I
By Joy Shannon
n Buddhism they say “the path is the goal.” That path is pursuing enlightenment by living consciously in everyday life. If ever an artist embodied that pursuit, it’s Mike Giant. Giant, who expresses his artistic vision in numerous mediums from tattoos and graphic design to large-scale graffiti works, has built his life around his art, meditation and conscious living. He’s an outspoken advocate for various causes close to his heart like jumping cars with his bike and the benefits of medicinal cannabis. Having just published the biggest of his numerous art books to date called Eternal; Giant has reached an exciting new height in his art career. The book is a “cross section”
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artwork
of his “graffiti, tattoos, photography, commercial illustration, (and) mixed media work” over the about the last twenty years. Now Giant has relocated to Los Angeles from San Francisco with his clothing company Rebel8 and is embarking on new art work inspired by a new city. He is experimenting with creating music for the first time, continues to deepen into his meditation practice and is totally open to a new chapter in his creative life. Giant has been praised for his clean and confident line work, which one can see across the multiple mediums in which he works. He credits his style with having been developed from encouragement of his parents, who gave him magic markers when
he was a child to draw with: “I use sharpie markers for just about everything that I do on paper. It’s kind of a kid’s tool, it’s not really a professional art tool, but it’s always worked, so I stuck with it.” From working with a tool that one cannot erase, he developed a style that is not only visible in his ink drawings, but also in his tattoos and graffiti work. Giant finds balance and fulfillment in creating within these multiple mediums: “There’s something about being so constricted to work on a tattoo and then go out on a street and paint as big as I can. I need that balance.” Much in the same way that Giant finds the Zen approach to using spray paint, inking a drawing
or inking a tattoo, Giant has found a way to integrate his meditation practice into his art practice, “I sit on meditation cushions a certain way when I do the formal (meditation) practice and just about a year or two ago I started using the same cushions to sit when I draw, so my body knows that I mean business when it’s in that pose.” Additionally, Giant is openly an advocate for medicinal cannabis legalization, which can be seen in some of his artwork: “I’m a cannabis user. I’m really open about that too. I think it’s great. I think it’s the best medicine. I can’t take regular pharmaceutical drugs now because it wrecks my stomach, so cannabis is the only medicine that I can really use now. I think it’s really preposterous that a plant is illegal. I don’t like tomatoes. If it was up to me I would make tomatoes illegal, even though people love tomatoes, but that’s ridiculous for me to think that I have the power to just decide. It’s the same.” Giant has explored the use of cannabis and its effect upon his art practice: “I lived in Amsterdam for a while and was able to experiment between indicas and sativas and really have a good personal understanding of how those effect my life in general. I’m glad that America now is finally catching up.” In the end, when Giant reflects on how he incorporates all of his life experiences into his multifaceted artwork, he muses “It’s the only way I know how to do it. “ c
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FLASH
He Got
Game New hip-hop royalty
Freddie Gibbs is on the move
Multiple Personalities
By Dan MacIntosh www.freddiegibbs.com
F
reddie Gibbs has an unusual recent success story. Apparently, he doesn’t need any major label system to achieve strong sales, as his new album ESGN debuted at #7 on iTunes’ hiphop charts as a self-released record with virtually no radio play. So, just how did he do it? “I think it’s just due to perseverance, man,” Gibbs explains. “I just expect my core audience, that’s been with me since day one, to really grasp my music. And it seems like more people are grasping it. Every new fan is a blessing. I’m not tripping no matter what way it goes. I’m glad that people are receiving the music well.” The album’s acronym title stands for ‘Evil Seeds Grow Naturally,’ but the way it’s written out on the CD cover—in bright neon red, no less—looks a whole
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lot like one particular sports and entertainment cable channel. Not surprisingly, Gibbs is also a big sports fan. “I’m watching ESPN right now,” says Gibbs over the phone. He didn’t have to clear his album title with that particular network, however. “Hell no!” he replies, when asked if he checked with the TV giant first. “As long as I didn’t call it ‘ESPN,’ it’s all good. It’s totally different.” Gibbs would rather talk about sports, than sports business, anyway. “It’s probably a three-way tie,” Gibbs says, when pressed to name his favorite sport, “between basketball, baseball and football.” Gibbs is from Gary, Indiana, which has always traditionally been a basketball state. But this man loves all three major American sports, equally. “I played all three,” he recalls. “I’m probably best at football.”
About the real meaning of ESGN, Gibbs explains, “It just embodies everything about what I do and what I am. I think I’m the natural bad guy, the black sheep of this industry, so I want to convey that with my brand. That’s the hand I’ve been dealt.” Whether good or bad, Gibbs certainly never slows down. In fact, he just finished a collaboration album with Los Angeles-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper and music producer, Madlib. “It’s called Cocaine Piñata,” Gibbs says. “It comes out in the fall, and it’s definitely a different experience for me. It was a challenging experience working with Madlib. And that’s what I’m up for, a challenge. It made me better as an MC. It made me take my lyrics to a level I hadn’t taken them to before because I’d never rapped on those obscure types of samples.” c
Gibbs truly enjoyed working with Madlib—a well-known L.A. based sampling genius. Madlib took a turn away from hip-hop music in the early 2000s, beginning a series of releases from Yesterdays New Quintet, a jazz-based, hip-hop and electronic-influenced quintet made up of alter egos or fictional musicians played by Madlib. Over the next several years, through several record releases on Stones Throw and other labels, the growing number of pseudonyms and fictional players came to be known as Yesterday’s Universe. Playing instruments live in his studio and then sampling and rearranging the results, the first Yesterdays New Quintet long-player, Angles Without Edges, dropped in 2001. Madlib, who is no stranger to pseudonyms, went so far as to name each of the fictitious players in his group (Monk Hughes, Ahmad Miller, Joe McDurfey and Malik Flowers, if you’re curious).
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destination unknown
By David Jenison
The Herculean City of One of the oldest paradise cities has something for everyone
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he mighty Hercules captured the hellhound Cerberus, slew the multi-headed Hydra and stole the man-eating horses of a giant, but did you know he also founded the city of Barcelona? According to legend, one of his ships got lost on its search for the Golden Fleece, and when Hercules found his men on the beautiful Catalan coast, they asked him if they could stay. Granting their wish, Hercules and his men founded Barca Nona, which would become present-day Barcelona. The story has as much basis in reality as a Kardashian series, but it highlights the diverse cultural history that energizes Spain’s second city. Foreign rulers have included the Carthaginians, the Visigoths, the Moors and the Charlemagne-era Franks, and Julius Caesar once governed the country. Traces of these cultures remain with ancient Roman ruins and dense concentrations of Gothic architecture, while national hallmarks include late 19th-century Moderenista works like Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia
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church. Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí is associated with nearby Figures, but the country’s other art icons, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, both spent time in Barcelona soaking up its ethos. Many impressive sights are found in Ciutat Vella (“Old City”), whose sections include the once-sketchy El Raval (think NYC’s East Village), the trendy La Ribera and its medieval heart, Barri Gòtic, featuring the famous pedestrian street La Ramba. The coastal La Barceloneta neighborhood, whose Mediterranean beach landed ink in Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, recently inspired National Geographic to name Barcelona the No. 1
beach city in the world. While the culture and architecture span many eras, Barcelona’s commercial profile is modern with dynamic clubs, restaurants, bars, fashion boutiques, wine havens, chocolate shops and gourmet markets. Likewise, within an hour’s drive, visitors can enjoy Roman-style thermal baths, the prestigious Penedes wine region, the Hamptons-style Sitges, the mountaintop Montserrat monastery and El Cellar de Can Roca, currently rated the No. 1 restaurant in the world. Barcelona sounds hot, but is it blazin’? According to the Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), Barcelona ranks fifth on its list of the world’s top cannabis travel destinations. America’s premier financial network, whose love of green apparently extends beyond Wall Street, directed smokers to Barri Gòtic hot spots like La Rambla, Carrer Escudellers and Plaza Real, the latter of which is the starting point for cannabis-themed walking tours. Down the way from Carrer Escudellars, George Orwell Plaza (a.k.a. “Plaza Trippy”) was a top smoke spot until officials installed a 24-hour video surveillance system to establish more control over the area. Clearly that is as darkly ironic as President Choom Gang cracking down on medical cannabis, but Barri Gòtic makes up for it with the Hash Marihuana Cañamo & Hemp Museum. Barcelona is also a major convention destination, and this includes cannabisthemed expositions. For several years, the city hosted the Highlife Fair, one of the largest cannabis events in Europe. Spannabis is currently the top annual event in Barcelona, and it will celebrate its 12th anniversary next March. The Highlife folks are giving them competition, though, launching the GROWMED medicinal fair last year in Valencia. Other national events include Spannabis Malaga and the Expo Cannabis in Madrid. The country even has an annual Medical Cannabis Bike Tour from Madrid to Valencia to raise awareness about medicinal use. Spain was one of the first European countries to decriminalize cannabis, and those who wish to medicate in Barcelona will find the city has first-rate plants from Morocco. However, Spain’s laws against trafficking are severe so never take stashes in or out of the country. c
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profiles in courage
Are you an MMJ patient from Colorado with a compelling story to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. Email your name, contact information and details about your experiences with medical cannabis to courage@ireadculture.com.
WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL CANNABIS?
Patient: Steve Green
AGE: 34 Condition/ Illness: Epilepsy, chronic pain and muscle spasms.
Using medical cannabis since: 2010
I had tried all the other traditional forms of controlling my epilepsy, and I was beginning to get proof of liver enzyme failure. The side effects of the list of prescription drugs made me incapable of functioning normally.
DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE CANNABIS? I tried several different diets—ketogenic, gluten-free, etc. I also tried a series of pharmaceutical anti-convulsion, anti-seizure medications. As far as my neurologist was concerned I had tried everything there was to try.
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTS?
Law enforcement issues, misuse of power and the lack of education. I think education is the most important thing though. Most people that I’ve had the chance to speak with say that they would prefer a natural medicine like cannabis if it would stop their pain or their debilitating condition.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT CANNABIS AS MEDICINE?
I would tell them that I was also skeptical when my doctor recommended medical cannabis. It’s hard to believe the something so basic that grows from the ground can be used to control such complicated neurological disorders and so many other wide ranges of varying diseases and conditions. I would also point them in the direction of learning more about the compounds that are in cannabis and not referring to the stereotypical thoughts. I would tell them my story and offer them other people’s stories as further evidence. c
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strain, edible & concentrate reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Magic Bars Do you believe in magic? Wana Edibles Magic Bars just may convince you. The salted caramel and pretzel seven layer bar in particular is a delight for pioneering snackers and patients in need of powerful relief. By combining pretzels, graham crackers, chocolate and salted caramel with 100mg of active cannabinoids, Wana Edibles may have created the perfect snack. A medible delicious enough to perpetuate its own never-ending cycle of eating and medicating and medicating and eating. The bars, manufactured by Mountain High Infused Products in Boulder, are the essence of scrumdiddilyumptious.
Rainbow Jones Provided by the good folks at Artisanal Medicinals, Rainbow Jones is a menu highlight with a name that sounds like a gay-friendly blaxploitation hero, and it tastes as awesome as that idea sounds. This indica dominant cross is comprised of 65 percent indica and 35 percent sativa. The strain is crossed from connoisseur genetics of Grandaddy Purple and Casey Jones. Artisanal lives up to their great reputation with this strain of organic hydro that’s jar-cured for a month before hitting the shelves. As its name suggests—beyond fighting jive turkeys in the name of marriage equality—the dense buds of this strain are splashed with reds, blues and yellows; buds too pretty to grind up, buds that make you a little sad that you have to light them on fire.
Pure Kush Kindly furnished by the fine folks over at Native Roots Extracts, the Pure Kush concentrate is gooey and viscous in texture— seriously, you’ll be peeling it off your fingers for hours—the Pure Kush is a dabber’s delight. Native Roots pride themselves on their clean, high quality hash. Translucent in appearance, the Pure Kush is perfect for dab rigs and sprinkles nicely over a bowl for more patients who prefer to remain old-school smokers, both pleased and perplexed and still relying on the kindness of strangers to figure out what all this dabbery business is about anyway.
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Oil Stix Hybrid Blend Cannabis Concept Corp Oil Stix Hybrid blend is a raw hash oil from pure CO2 extraction. The Oil Stix can be used to fill your vape pen and the syringe has marks on it, idea for dosing. It’s actually the ideal distribution method to apply the viscous and peskily sticky hash oil to a dab rig. For those intimidated by any activity that requires a blowtorch, the oil can also be used in cannabutter so it’s ideal for seasoned dabbers and culinary dabblers alike.
RiNo’s Royal Kush Organically grown the RiNo Supply Company, named after the hip, graffiti speckled Denver neighborhood it calls home, the Royal Kush strain is fit for a king. Smokers will notice the pain relief wallop Royal Kush is packing right away. Comprised of 90 percent indica, this a late-night strain will keep you couch-bound when you find yourself watching hours of Voltron. What sets RiNo’s strain from others is its unique parentage: Bubba Kush, NYC Diesel, OG Kush all fuse together, not unlike Voltron, into a kingly strain that is as delicious as it is potent. One hit of the Royal Kush and you’ll realize this is no pretender to the throne. God save the Kush.
Sunshine 4
-RETRACTIONIn last issue’s reviews section, we incorrectly labeled the active cannabinoid in Keef Cola. Keef Cola uses ice-water hash extraction in all its beverages, not CO2, as we originally printed. CULTURE regrets the error and apologizes for the misprint.
The Sunshine comes from The Herbal Cure medical cannabis center, a Denver mainstay whose playful Kokopelli logo is visible from I-25. The Herbal Cure is worth a visit, for their friendly budtenders, vast collection of top quality cannabis, and for the cool historic train boxcar that stands outside the MMC’s main building. The Herbal has an impressive selection and wheel of prizes, but a true highlight is the Sunshine 4. Potent enough to make its namesake Grateful Dead Rock-Doc watchable, Sunshine 4 is composed of 70 percent indica and 30 percent sativa, from Sunshine Daydream and Chem 4, offering powerful pain relief without knocking you out.
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White Berry This sample comes from Walking Raven Dispensary, one of the remaining stalwarts of Denver’s Broadsterdam area, a dispensary hub for patients who like to comparison shop. Anyone who walks into the Walking Raven will be cheerily greeted by a fine array of medicinal cannabis to treat an even wider array of medical ailments. While the strain’s heritage may be kept secret, the fruity jarsmell that its known for satisfies when smoked or vaporized. White Berry is a perfect strain for relaxing in a bathtub with a red-cardholding paramour and jamming out to some White—Barry White. The White Berry strain is a satin soul love theme for your brain.
Healthy Creations Edibles - Mini S’mores Available on the shelves of Trenchtown medical cannabis center, the Mini S’mores from Healthy Creations Edibles are a camping trip for your brain. A delicious and suprisingly potent medible, these delicate little bon-bons have very little medicinal taste and a big s’mores taste. They’re made of surprisingly simple ingredients too, with nothing but chocolate coating, coconut oil, graham cracker and sweetened with honey oil on the culinary end of things. On the brain-camping end of things, the s’mores have 200mg of active cannabinoids, comprised of 193.56mg THC, 7.28mg of CBD and 1.8 mg CDN. It’s refreshing when edible manufacturing makes the effort to be transparent and every batch of oil is tested by Herbal Synergy before formulation. We’d like s’more now.
Legal Disclaimer
The publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical cannabis concentrates. The reviews listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only when medical cannabis is not a violation of state law. Please consume responsibly. Concentrates are legal and covered under Washington’s State Medical Use of Cannabis Act (Measure 692), SB 6032 and SB 5798, and are considered a form of medical cannabis (WRC 69.50.101). Without a medical professional’s recommendation, possession of concentrates can be a felony (WRC 69.50.204).
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Photo by Ian Wolfson
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The music Mac Miller makes has the seriously cool spirit you only get growing up fast on the city streets. If you lacked a proper electrical source you could keep everything in your icebox chilled by plugging it in to Mac Miller’s latest album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, an audio joy ride full of spine-vibrating bass, kick-ass lyrics and the kind of beats that can make driving fast and cool on any highway in America easy. Culture was fortunate to talk to Mac Miller about life in the success lane as he tours from city to city in support of his latest and greatest creation, Watching Movies with the Sound Off. Born Malcolm James McCormick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the young hip hop artist released But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy in 2007 at the tough age of 15. Shortly thereafter he signed up with Rostrum Records and released a series of mixtapes that proved that the powerhouse from Penn state had the potential to easily knock down other hip hop heavyweights with stunning grooves and hard-hitting lines that belied his youth and revealed and man who knew how to handle a mic for any crowd, anywhere. In 2011, the young musician unveiled his first LP, Blue Slide Park, a certified gold album that hasn’t stopped gaining fame since it hit the web. His second LP, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, released just a couple months ago, in June 2013, has taken his career to a whole new creative stratosphere.
Mac Miller is the kind of artist who isn’t afraid to talk about drugs, and what he has to say isn’t a simple yes or no. His answers possess a stark integrity which a person only gets after walking up and down that particular road, and it isn’t always fun. Does the mighty Mac Miller care about cannabis? In a conversation with online music journalist AndPop, the artist spoke honestly when asked about what him and his friends talk about when he uses cannabis. “When we get high we talk about, fuck, big, prolific shit,” Mac Miller says. “When I’m high with my homies, we always talk about deep shit … conspiracy theories and religion craziness, science . . . ” Mac Miller isn’t the first modern musician to confess to finding philosophy with the assistance of cannabis. Like most guys, when he smokes with his friends he’s serious about it. “We’re not dumb,” he says, describing some of the deep talks he’s had while medicating. “We don’t just talk about bitches and alcohol and weed, man. We have thoughts.” When Mac Miller raps about cannabis, he’s just talking about life in his particular big city. That’s what his lyrics are all about. “It’s just about everyday life. That’s what we try to do. We try to talk about what we do every day. So if we’re smoking a lot of weed every day, then we’re going to rap about smoking a lot of weed every day. But I just bring a message of positivity that can speak to as many people as possible.” SEPTEMBER 2013 • CULTURE 47 SEptember
career, and he really knows my style so it’s easy to put together.
Although you are still a very independent artist, the work you have done has already given you some serious fame and fortune. At this point in your career, after everything you’ve done, what is the most important thing to you? Well I think it’s about not getting too big too quick. That’s the key to staying a real person even with success. I’m taking things step by step. Everyone wants to go straight from point A to Z, not realizing that everything in between is just as important if you want to be able to make it. A lot of your music is upbeat. I like how you write a lot about the fun, cool details every person experiences growing up. I also like how you rap about the hard times, too. Do you sometimes feel like you have to perform some sort of happy act, because of the lighter material on your previous albums? A lot of people see an artist as a person that’s always happy, always positive, but there are a lot of ups and downs in this world. There are a lot of valleys. Sometimes things aren’t awesome, but you have to go through every step of it. It’s tough when everyone expects you to just be that happy guy. I rap about that, too. Listening to Watching Movies with the Sound Off made me realize how much your style had changed since anything you did before 2010. It had a very relaxed sense of confidence. I think this album came to me at a point when I didn’t want to accomplish anything. The first album had to be big. I wanted to really accomplish something. With this one, I felt like I had more time to think about what I was saying. It must have been cool being able to make an album without the pressure of it being the absolute totally greatest epic hit of your young human existence or else. I did Watching Movies with the Sound Off mostly for fun. 48 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER SEptember 2013
Have you had any training? Watching a lot of your moves, it seems like you’ve done a lot of improvisational comedy or even stand-up comedy. Does that just come from spending a lot of time onstage and being interesting during interviews? I guess I’ve practiced a lot doing shows. I really like comedy. I listen to a lot of stand-up on the road. Aside from music, humor is something that’s always been interesting to me. I’ve watched a lot of stand-up comedy and things like that on YouTube and the radio.
This seems a lot less commercial than your previous hits. A lot of the material on the new album seems a lot more personal. I wanted to create an album that had more purpose to it than just trying to be successful. Some people say West Coast, some people say East Coast, but we both know that there are many different hip-hop styles out there to choose from. How would you classify your hiphop? I think it’s just a little bit of everything, even beyond hip-hop. I’m just trying to do everything I can. I hope nobody can classify my style or me. It’s very cool that you aren’t afraid to talk about the downside in your music or during interviews. Now that you’ve been around, what’s the worst thing can happen to you as an artist? Writing a song you really like. Sometimes you think no one
likes it but you. It’s tough when people don’t like it at all. How do you get through that? You make a song that is just the real you. When you are creating music and putting your soul into it, then you realize it doesn’t matter who likes or doesn’t like it. Some of my favorite songs don’t get a lot of hits. Other songs might get popular, whether I think they deserve it or not. Your music videos not only have some very stylish cinematography, but are also very funny. Whoever your working with really knows how to get some good shots from you, and the jokes you work in from your lines are genuinely funny. Everything we do is just kind of made up at the last second. I don’t get directed to do anything. Everything I do comes from me. I work with a director I’ve worked with my whole
A lot of other hip-hop artists have turned their acting ability into some serious film roles, like Ice Cube, Common, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent. Have you ever thought of trying that, yourself? You’ve had plenty of experience, because of the number of music videos you have on YouTube cannot easily be counted. If the right stuff came through I’d definitely do it. I don’t mean maybe. I’ve talked about it with a few people, but I haven’t heard anything interesting yet. I’d do a film if it was a good one. Now that you are older, tougher and wiser, what veteran advice would you offer to a young artist who wants to make it in an industry that isn’t always nice to the people in it? I would tell them to not listen to anyone. You have to trust yourself with every decision, whether it’s your image or your music or your life. You are going to go through life surrounded by people who are going to tell you things like they really know who you are, but you have to know yourself to handle that and actually make it. c V I S I T U S AT i R e a d C u l t u r e . c o m
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January 1992 Born Malcolm James McCormick in
Pittsburg Pennsylvania to mother Karen Meyers, a photographer and father Mark McCormick, an architect.
1998 By the age of six Mac Miller had
learned how to play several instruments including the piano, drums, guitar and bass.
2007 Releases first mixed tape under the pseudonym “EZ Mac” titled But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy at age 15.
2008 Records second mixed
tape as part of the duo “The Ill Spoken” with fellow Pittsburgh rapper Beedie titled How High.
December 2009 Releases solo records The Jukebox and
The High Life where he began to generate buzz in the music industry.
Jul y 2010 Lands a record deal with Pittsburghbased Rostrum Records alongside rapper Wiz Khalifa.
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June 2013
Releases sophomore album Watching Movies with the Sound Off featuring collaborations with Tyler the Creator and Jay Electronica.
March 2012
Mac releases seventh mixed tape Macadelic, later releasing “Loud”, “Onaroll” [produced by Pharrell Williams] and “Thoughts From a Balcony” as singles.
November 2011
Releases debut album Blue Slide Park that shoots to number one on the Billboard 200 list.
February 2011
Featured in hip-hop magazine XXL issue “Freshman Class of 2011” alongside 10 other up-and-coming rappers.
January 2011
Mac goes on his first tour “The Incredibly Dope Tour”.
August 2010
Releases debut album K.I.D.S. under Rostrum Records, catapulting him to stardom, the title inspired by the 1995 film.
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cool stuff MicroMax LED Pocket 100X Microscope For iPhone Make your bland days at work more exciting. You’ll uncover wonders with this microscope, which fits easily onto the back of a special iPhone 5 case, for easy snapshots and viewing of the microbial world. Think of the up-close textures and life you’ll discover on your keyboard, the communal bathroom door handle or even that cricket that lives under your desk. You might look odd but you’ll get some respect when your coworkers have seen their office equipment . . . up close. ($19.99) www.thinkgeek.com
Hipstirs by Matthew Hoffman Enjoy the limited edition stir-stick creation by artist Matthew Hoffman’s Hipstirs! There’s only 100 of these little neon beauties available, shaped in the likeness of human hip bones and packing the brightness of five flourescent colors. Put your left and right “hip” in, and shake it all about. ($30.00) www.colossalshop.com
Sharetapes Remember the beauty of a perfectly composed mixed tape? Remember the painstaking attention to detail and crescendo of the mixed tape song order? It is a thing of beauty. Sharetapes are the perfect reinvented mixed tape—they are physical cards that contain NFC (Near Field Communication) chips and QR codes so they can play mix-tapes on Smartphones and tablets! Using your existing platforms like Spotify, YouTube, 8tracks and more, you can create personalized playlists which will then be saved onto your very own Sharetape(s) by hitting record at sharetapes.com. ($6.99 for a pack of 5 sharetapes) www.sharetapes.com
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Sandy Moriarty is the author of Aunt’ Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Body & Mind and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Oaksterdam University. She is also the co-founder of Oaksterdam’s Bakery.
Menu:
VEGETABLE & BEEF KABOBS BÉARNAISE SAUCE CRANBERRY WINE SAUCE
By Aunt Sandy
VEGETABLE & BEEF KABOBS
Takin’ It Easy
CRANBERRY WINE SAUCE 1 1/2 cup cranberries 1 cup Cannabis Infused Simple Syrup 1/4 cup orange juice 1/3 cup red port wine 1/8 teaspoon salt In a 3 quart saucepan, whisk all ingredients together over medium heat mixture to boiling, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serves 4 1 pound of beef, top round steak, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks 2 medium sized onions cut into quarters and separated into pieces 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon dry sherry 2 tablespoons Cannabis Infused Oil 1 tablespoon chili sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 medium zucchini 1 medium sized yellow straight neck squash 1 medium sized red pepper 1 medium sized green pepper 1/2 cup Cannabis Infused Italian Dressing In a medium sized bowl, mix the first seven ingredients. Cover mixture and refrigerate at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. One hour before serving, prepare grill for barbecuing. Cut zucchini and yellow squash into 1 inch chunks. Cut red and green peppers into 1 inch pieces. On 2 long skewers alternately thread zucchini, yellow squash and red and green peppers. On 2 other skewers alternately thread beef chunks and onions, reserving the marinade. Place the vegetables and meat skewers on grill over medium heat, cook 10 minutes, brushing the vegetables with cannabis infused Italian dressing and the meat skewers with the remaining marinade, frequently and turning the skewers occasionally, until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked to preferred taste. To broil in the oven about 3 hour before serving, marinade the beef about 30 minutes before preheat broiler. Cut vegetables and arrange on the skewers as above using all metal skewers. Place arranged skewers on rack in broiling pan. Broil for about 15 minutes, turning and basting occasionally.
BEARNAISE SAUCE 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon minced green onion 11/2 teaspoon tarragon 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 2 egg yolks 1/4 cup Canna Butter 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
In a double-boiler top, combine wine vinegar, green onion, tarragon and pepper. Over high heat bring to boiling. Boil 3 minutes as the mixture reduces. Place double-boiler top over hot not boiling water in the bottom pot. Whisk in egg yolks and cook beating constantly until mixture thickened slightly. Add butter, a tablespoon at a time, beating constantly until butter melts and sauce thickens. Stir in parsley. Serve hot as a dipping sauce.
Legal Disclaimer Publishers of this publication are not making any representations with respect to the safety or legality of the use of medical marijuana. The recipes listed here are for general entertainment purposes only, and are intended for use only where medical marijuana is not a violation of state law. Edibles can vary in potency while a consumers’ weight, metabolism and eating habits may affect effectiveness and safety. Ingredient management is important when cooking with cannabis for proper dosage. Please consume responsibly and check with your doctor before consumption to make sure that it is safe to do so.
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For our complete recipes go to ireadculture.com.
Summer has been fun but it’s easy to get bored of that same old summer flavor. So let’s give ya some easy and tasty choices! With a variety of dips and sauces to pair with some delicious skewers—take some time to take it easy. Make the transition into fall by embracing some new tasty eats in celebration of easy livin.’
DRINKRESPONSIBLY
CULTURE
Much like medicated food, these drinks are extremely potent—avoid drinking the whole thing in one gulp. Aside from the directed consuming information on the bottle’s label, try drinking a small dose and wait a while to see if you’ll need more later on.
Keep your medicated drink away from kids or other unsuspecting drinkers. Many of these bottles look similar to your average bottle of Gatorade, soda bottles or other beverages at first glance. Whether you’re actively drinking it or even when it’s unused in the refrigerator, make sure you’ve labeled the bottle or keep it out of reach.
Most of the beverages will likely be labeled with information about the cannabis used to make the drink. If it’s not, be sure to research the drink’s target ailments or ask an expert for help finding the right drink for you.
Like any other medicated edible, the best way to stay safe is to only drink at home or in a trusted environment. It takes between 45 minutes to an hour for the effects to start. Never drink a dose when you know you’ll be driving, at work or in public areas when your medicated drink kicks in.
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Illustrations by Vidal Diaz
Whether you’re medicating with medibles or with cannabis-infused beverages, they are still medication and should be used with caution. There are many different tastes and styles available when it comes to medicating with beverages. Juices, tea, lemonade and many more concoctions are at your fingertips that assist in healing a number of ailments. Here are some tips on drinking medicated beverages safely:
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Shooting Gallery Bongathon
Photos by Joel Meaders
VaporFest
Photos by Joel Meaders
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GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
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entertainment reviews Goldfrapp Tales Of Us Mute Records English electronic act Goldfrapp have returned to delight the masses with their sixth, and perhaps most sonically vast, studio album, Tales Of Us. Ever stylistically diverse, Goldfrapp’s last full length release, Head First saw the group embracing the most danceable of ‘80s pop as their muse. However, the new record sees the duo returning to sparser, ambient, acoustic ideas from their fourth record, Seventh Tree, as well as their debut, Felt Mountain. Tales Of Us draws on these previous influences and blends them with incredible string arrangements to create a record of ten songs that are absolutely stunning in their fragile beauty. Vocalist Allison Goldfrapp’s sultry, breathy, pure voice dances and floats like snowflakes being carried on the breeze that is Will Gregory’s productions and compositions. While the record is certainly not devoid of foot stompers, one comes in the form of the dusky tune “Thea,” the vast majority of the album is dominated by pristine, delicate stunners like “Annabel” and the lead single “Drew.” While fans of the groups previous, more dance oriented work, might find this record a bit lacking in that department, anybody that listens to Tales Of Us will certainly mesmerized by the record’s sublimely gorgeous song craftsmanship. (Simon Weedn)
Marijuana Smoker’s Guidebook: The Easy Way to Identify and Enjoy Marijuana Strains By Matt Mernagh Green Candy Press
As medical cannabis becomes more mainstreamed and more easily accessable throughout our great nation; sometimes even for the experienced patient, the plethora of choices can be a bit overwhelming. Enter Canadian medical marijuana activist, journalist and web-caster Matt Mernagh with his new educational text, Marijuana Smoker’s Guidebook: the Easy Way to Identify and Enjoy Marijuana Strains, to make selecting the right type of marijuana an easier task for you. Mernagh takes the reader through a journey of 150 cannabis strains that they’ll most likely encounter, reviews them much like a music critic reviews a record, and includes hi-res, full color photos, to help you distinguish one type from another. The book does a good job of making sure to note strains with specific medical benefits, such as chronic pain relief. It might have been interesting to see the author give a bit of background on each strain but Mernagh accomplishes exactly what he sets out to do with Marijuana Smoker’s Guidebook; clearing away some of the residual haze from medical cannabis strains for his readers and making finding that perfect plant much more simple. (Simon Weedn)
Oblivion Universal Pictures Dir. Joseph Kosinski While designed with beautifully epic visuals and sound design, the sci-fi adventure film Oblivion with Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman ultimately proved to be like a gorgeously wrapped present that leaves you slightly confused. The epic and intricate story could have been better suited for a miniseries, because, edited down into a film, some of the interesting details about the character’s stories seem to get lost. Yet, the film’s design is so gorgeous and lush that if you love visual effects and futuristic space adventures, you can just enjoy the ride. Tom Cruise impressively helmed this film for the most part on his own, but he had quite an impressive cast supporting him, including the magnificent Morgan Freeman and the badass Nikalaj Coster-Waldau, better known as Jamie Lannister. It was nice to see the stunning Olga Kurylenko in a lead role, since she first awed adventure-film audiences in Centurion as the intimidating Pict warrior Etain. English actress Andrea Riseborough, who played the famous Wallis Simpson in Madonna’s W.E., perfectly embodies the future here in this film. In the end, even when the unwieldy script made this film a bit confusing, the visual effects ended up saving it from “oblivion.” (Joy Shannon) 62 CULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2013
“Cut & Paste” Some of the most intriguing artistic expressions are collages—pieces that are composed of various unrelated works juxtaposed together. In the past, the only way to create a captivating collage was by physically cutting and mounting various shapes and forms together. Times have certainly changed, with artists now able to utilize technology and create digital collages as well. Eight artists have brought together their contemporary manipulations of both physical prints and digital images to make up the exhibit “Cut & Paste.” One artist, Mario Zoots, uses black and white photographs out of a single book to create his desired illusions. Another creator named Jeff Raphael allows his musical background to shine through in his works, depicting scenes using various lifestyle and music magazines paired with religious and political icons. One of his collages entitled Geisha Bath brings together obscure images to create a piece that would pass as an original print—a beautiful fair-skinned geisha in a robe next to a man who looks like a horse jockey. Whether each piece individually conveys a political message or is simply put together to create a one-of-a-kind beautiful piece, this entire collection is utterly fascinating and worth a visit.
IF YOU GO
What: “Cut & Paste” When/Where: Thru Sep. 15. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St., Boulder. Info: Admission $5. Go to www.bmoca.org or call (303) 443-2122.
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liner notes
H
By Kevin Longrie
ip-hop has a longstanding tradition of sampling, whether it is taking an infectious beat from another artist or a melody line from a popular hit in another genre. (The ‘70s are, of late, being mined heavily.) But not everyone who signs over their “hook” understands what it’s being used for or why it’s needed in the first place. JOHN DENSMORE, drummer for The Doors, has recently revealed that when JAY Z approached him over a decade ago for a sample of “Five to One,” he (Densmore) didn’t see the point. “Hip-hop was just coming on, and I was like, ‘What is this stuff? There’s no melody,’” he told NME. But what he got back was a very real answer from Hova. Jay Z wrote him a letter explaining the reason why hip-hop artists were writing the songs they were. Jay Z pointed out to the aging drummer generational struggle from an emerging youth class was present in both of their music. Densmore seems to me to have been in a very privileged position to have one of the kings of the industry send him a personal letter of explanation. On the off chance that I, myself, can one day be this lucky, I have decided to include a list of things I would like explained to me by their own skilled creators: those little ceramic, cherubic dolls that moms buy (the ones that pop up in clusters on the shelves of Goodwill); the website Buzzfeed (buzzfeed.com); and maybe singing plastic fish that people hang on walls. I will also accept letters about any of those topics (and more!) from Jay Z, himself. DAFT PUNK has been making some daft decisions lately. Recently, they cancelled an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s “Colbchella” due to, allegedly, a conflict with a “surprise” appearance on MTV’s VMAs. Colbert had a lot of fun with the “controversy,” throwing together a great video in which he and several celebrities danced to “Get Lucky” (which Colbert had previously dubbed the “song of the summer”) and a last-minute appearance by ROBIN THICKE, who sang the “real” song of summer, “Blurred Lines.” Now, MTV has come out against Daft Punk saying that the decision lay with them and their management and that they, MTV, did not force the cancellation. I’m sure there’ll eventually be some sort of apology on Colbert’s show with a big amicable,
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joke-filled segment and a performance of a song; but it might not come for awhile and it certainly won’t go as viral as Colbert’s highkicking, star-studded Colbchella. ALLEN LANIER, co-founder of BLUE OYSTER CULT, died recently at the age of 67 after succumbing to pulmonary disease. His friends and family say that it was not quite a surprise, but that the loss of someone who worked with other iconic musicians like PATTI SMITH and THE CLASH, is still a loss felt throughout the musical community. At time of press, there are no indications that Lanier feared, at any point, the reaper. The biggest story of the year, though, might be that PRINCE started using Twitter. The tiny pop sensation started tweeting under the handle of his band (@3rdeyegirl). He’s tweeted things about Chappelle’s portrayal of him, songs he likes, and even his “first selfie” which was simply a picture of smoke. This has great implications for the internet, though.
There are two main reasons why Prince being on twitter could save a lot of us a lot of time. I, like most people, send Prince a letter every two weeks just to catch him up on my goings-on and ask if he’ll write me a song. I have yet to receive a reply, and I’m guessing it’s because of the high cost of postage. Here’s to hoping my tweets are answered. The second reason is because after hearing stories from Charlie Murphy and Kevin Smith about the eccentricities of Mr. Purple Rain himself, I am eager to see them in action. Will he live-tweet the dissection of a rhino? Will he post horoscopes with chilling accuracy? Will he post photos of Anthony Weiner’s bulge? Only time will tell—and maybe Morris Day. c
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let’s do this Our picks for the coolest things to do around town MGMT, Sep. 6
This very popular band knows how to sell out shows because, lets face it, what’s not to love about its music? Is it the electronic beats, the intoxicating blend of electronic rock or the mind blowing psychedelic pop? You decide. The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver www.fillmoreauditorium.org
Immundo Burlesque & Variety at The Bar, Sep. 7
You may not know this, but the definition of Immundo is unclean or ceremonially impure (you know, the boring stuff in life). This show has none of that! Just the tasteful tease from lovely women adorned with feathers and glitter. The Bar, Denver www.immundo.net
A Day to Remember, Sep. 11
It’s the very special house party tour, and you’re all invited. This bands music manages to harness the power of catchy pop-punk with brutal hardcore breakdowns to create the perfect storm of sound. 1st Bank Center, Broomfield www.1stbankcenter.com
The 2013 Southern Colorado Film Festival, Sep. 12-15
The beauty and landscape of Southern Colorado is best highlighted when shown through film. This festival will cultivate a conversation that enriches the spirit and creativity of relevant issues through diverse independent films. Adams State University, Alamosa www.socofilmfest.com
Oddball Fest starring Dave Chappelle and Flight of the Conchords, Sep. 13
This one-of-a-kind festival has some of the best entertainment bang for your buck. Not only do you get to see the hilarious comedy of Dave Chappelle, you will also be serenaded by the music of Flight of the Conchords and many other talented comedians. Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Englewood www.oddballfest.com
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Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Sep. 13-15
Ride on down to party with two of the best things in life: brews and blues. Mellissa Etheridge, Jim James, The Black Crowes and many more will make for an unforgettable weekend. Telluride Town Park, Telluride www.tellurideblues.com
Downtown Boulder’s Fall Fest, Sep. 13-15
When the weather begins to change and the colors of autumn are vibrantly brought to life, it’s best to get outside and really take it all in. Throw in some local food, microbrews, music and artisan booths and you’ve got a great weekend. Downtown Boulder, Boulder www.boulderdowntown.com
The Lumineers, Sep. 15
These home grown Denver heroes are going to light up the Red Rocks with some of the hottest music out there. The rustic folk sound does a superb job at taking a simplistic approach with simple ideas in a world that’s complicated and confusing. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison www.redrocksonline.com
Kid Cudi, Sep. 16
The laid back raps from one of hip-hops most creative artists is making his presence felt. Don’t worry, he’ll be sure to leave the rock band side project known as WZRD at home.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison www.redrocksonline.com
Muse, Sep. 17
The vast sound of Muse will have you enthralled with a wall of sound that can only bring delight to your face. Its fusion of space rock and progressive rock sounds like no one else and its live shows are known to be energetic and extravagant. Pepsi Center, Denver www.muse.mu
American Artifact: The Rise Of American Rock Poster Art, Sep. 19 We’ve all seen the images from ’60s rock posters and wondered what kind of drugs influenced those designs. We may have an answer as this documentary chronicles the rise of poster art through the artists themselves. SIE Film Center, Denver www.denverfilm.org
Method Man & Redman, Sep. 21
Seeing one of hip-hops most respected acts at its finest is one thing, but there’s much more to this night. The SMOKEDOWN tour will have multiple cannabis companies and vendors at the show, giving away $3,000 in merchandise. Ogden Theatre, Denver www.ogdentheatre.com
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A
ctress Anna Faris is setting aside her typecast blonde-girl acts for an opportunity to really let her inner comedienne shine. Most recognize Faris from her humble beginnings as a main character in the horror spoof comedy movie Scary Movie (2000) as well as other movies on her track record such as Just Friends, Waiting . . . and The House Bunny, most of which feature innocently one-dimensional characters. Of course our favorite Anna Faris hit is the Sundance Film Festival project Smiley Face (2007) where her character devours an entire plate of cannabis-infused cupcakes (a role she was awarded “Stoner of the Year” at High Times magazine’s Stony Awards back in 2008). Now, Faris plans to trade in her roles of ditzy blonde for personas with more depth and the potential to grow—although she will of course keep up that classic comedy charm. Last August, Faris and her husband Chris Pratt (who plays the dumb but lovable Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation) welcomed their son Jack into the world. Now shes trying her skills at television. This newfound career in television begins with CBS’s comedy series called Mom (debuts this September) where Faris plays Christy, a 40-year-old waitress who is a recovering alcoholic, mother of two—her life just hasn’t gone quite as planned. Although the premise sounds dark , Faris’ acting experience certainly brightens up the mood. She welcomes a role with more depth, which is a golden chance to mix her experienced comedy talent with a character that has a future of progression. c
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Chuck Shepherd's
Newsof the
Weird
LEAD STORY—ROACH MOTEL ; At age 20, Kyle Kandilian of Dearborn, Mich., has created a start-up business to fund his college expenses, but it involves a roomful (in the family home) of nearly 200,000 cockroaches. The environmental science major at University of Michigan-Dearborn breeds species ranging from the familiar household pests, which he sells on the cheap as food for other people’s pets, to the more interesting, exotic Madagascar hissing roaches and rhino roaches, which can live for 10 to 15 years. (Kandilian told the
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Detroit Free Press in July that of the 4,000 cockroach species, only about a dozen are pests.) Why not choose a more conventional “pet”? Because “[m]ammals smell,” he said. (Missing from the Free Press story: details on the likely interesting initial conversation between Kyle and his mother when he asked if he could have 200,000 cockroaches in the house.)
CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE ; A 55-year-old woman in the Netherlands seemed to be experiencing orgasms emanating from her foot, she said, and
Dr. Marcel Waldinger of Utrecht University (writing in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, online in June) produced a possible explanation. The applicable left foot nerve enters the spinal cord at about the same level as the vaginal nerve, Waldinger wrote, and the woman’s recent foot injury might have caused the nerves to cross. The woman reported “five or six” orgasms per day that felt exactly like “regular” orgasms and, she said, were making her feel terribly guilty and embarrassed. After treatment with a nerve anesthetic, she reported being orgasm-free (in the foot, at least) for eight months. ; The intersection of West Gateway Boulevard and North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla. (pop. 60,000), is nine lanes wide, busy even at 11pm on Sunday night, as it was at that time in July when a 2-year-old girl darted across, a combination of good fortune and sometimes-rare Florida driver alertness allowing her safe arrival on the other side without a scratch. “It’s a miracle,”
said Harry Scott, who witnessed it. “I’m telling you the truth.” Mom Kayla Campbell, 26, was charged with felony neglect, as she appeared “oblivious,” said police, to the child’s absence from home. ; An unnamed restaurateur from Nagoya, Japan, has filed a lawsuit against an affiliate of the country’s largest organized crime syndicate, Yamaguchi-gumi, demanding a refund of “protection” money she had been paying for more than 12 years (in total, the equivalent of about $170,000). The affiliate, Kodo-kai, burned down a bar in 2010, killing people, in a similar protection arrangement that went bad, and the plaintiff said she, too, was threatened with arson when she decided to stop paying. According to an expert on Japanese “yakuza,” a relative of one of the victims of the 2010 fire may also sue Kodo-kai.
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT ; In June, following his guilty plea in Corpus Christi, Texas, to possession of child pornography, Jose Salazar, 70, offered to per-
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form public service to reduce the 12-year sentence a federal judge had handed him. Salazar said he “had a lot to offer society,” according to an Associated Press story, and could be “useful” in mentoring children. ; At Atherstone, England’s, Twycross Zoo, a program is underway to try to teach quarter-ton giant tortoises to speed up. An extended outdoor pen had been built for Speedy (age 70), Tim, 40, and Shelly, 30, but that meant it took a longer time to round them up for bed at the end of the day. The Leicester Mercury reported in June that zoo officials were trying to use the lure of food to get the tortoises to significantly improve their wayunder-1-mile-per-hour gait. ; Actually, It Might Enhance the Experience: The British sex toy manufacturer Ann Summers issued a recall in June of a certain model of its popular Ultimate O Vibrator because of a problem with the electrical charger. The company said it was being cautious but that the risk of danger is low.
INEXPLICABLE ; Tina Marie Garrison, 37, and her son Junior Lee Dillon, 18, of Preston, Minn., were charged in June with stealing almost $5,000 worth of gopher feet from the freezer of a gopher trapper in Granger, Minn., and selling them for the local offered bounty of $3 per pair. Garrison, Dillon, and the victimized trapper were friends, and it was not clear why the thinly populated gopher-foot market would not have deterred Garrison and Dillon. ; Louann Giambattista, 55, a 33-year-veteran American Airlines flight attendant, filed a lawsuit against the company in July alleging that it had subjected her to baseless hassles because of coworkers’ accusations that, argued her attorney, were wrongly “making her out to be a nut.” One of the accusations was that she was “hiding rats in her underwear.”
STRANGE OLD WORLD ; The Best of the International Press: (1) In July, the governor of
Gorontalo province in Indonesia decreed that female secretaries should be replaced immediately with males. He was responding to a recent excessive spate of extramarital affairs by male bureaucrats with their female secretaries. (“[O]ld women who are no longer attractive” could also be hired, he said.) (2) Japanese media were abuzz in June describing the social trend of teenagers who lick each other’s eyeballs as a sign of dating commitment (roughly equivalent, said the website Japan Crush, to “getting to second base”). Health authorities said it is also an excellent way to spread “eye chlamydia” and conjunctivitis.
PEOPLE WITH ISSUES ; (1) Gerard Streator, 47, pleaded guilty in June in Waukesha, Wis., County Court to public lewdness and placed on probation after his arrest last year of going through the motions of intercourse with a discarded couch on a public street. An off-duty police officer thought initially that he had caught a couple, but on closer inspection, he realized Streator (who was aroused) was alone. (2) The day before, in Ostersund, Sweden, a 35-year-old man was arrested after a surveillance camera revealed him to be the one who repeatedly punctured Per Edstrom’s bicycle’s tires and who that evening was seen sitting on the bicycle pleasuring himself.
UNDIGNIFIED DEATHS ; (1) A 28-year-old man was accidentally killed in Shelby, N.C., in April. Police say he had trespassed on a salvage lot at 5 a.m. and was underneath a wrecked car trying to steal a catalytic converter when the jack slipped, and the car fell on him. (2) A 42-year-old man was shot and wounded while on his front porch in Antioch, Calif., on Friday morning, June 28. He was treated and released, but then walked out on his porch the next morning and was again shot, this time fatally.
A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC ; When Alcoa, Inc., prepared to build an aluminum smelting plant in Iceland in 2004, the government forced it to hire an SEPTEMBER 2013 • CULTURE 71
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expert to assure that none of the country’s legendary “hidden people” lived underneath the property. The elf-like goblins provoke genuine apprehensiveness in many of the country’s 300,000 natives (who are all, reputedly, related by blood). An Alcoa spokesman told Vanity Fair writer Michael Lewis (for an April 2009 report) that the inspection (which delayed construction for six months) was necessary: “[W] e couldn’t be in the position of acknowledging the existence of hidden people.” (Lewis offered several explanations for the country’s spectacular financial implosion in 2008, including Icelanders’ incomprehensible superiority complex, which convinced many lifelong fishermen that they were gifted investment bankers.)
RECURRING THEMES ; To commemorate its 500th “deep brain stimulation” surgery in May, UCLA Medical Center live-Tweeted its operation on musician Brad Carter, 39, during which he was required to strum his guitar and sing so that surgeons would know where in his brain to plant the electrical stimulator that would relieve his Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Carter had developed hand tremors in 2006, but the stimulator, once it is properly programed and the surgery healed, is expected to reduce his symptoms, restore some guitarplaying ability, and reduce his medication need. (And, yes, patients normally remain conscious during the surgery.) ; Americans stage dog shows, and Middle-Easterners stage camel beauty contests, and in June, the annual German Holstein Show took over the city of Oldenburg, with the two-day event won by “Loh Nastygirl,” topping bovine beauties from Germany, Luxembourg and Austria. The event is also a showcase for the cow hairdressers, who trim cows’ leg and belly hair (to better display their veins). Said one dresser, “It is just like with us people—primping helps.” Groomed or not, cows with powerful legs, bulging udders and a strong bone structure are the favorites.
; Fruit of any kind retails for outlandish prices in Japan, but some, such as Yubari cantaloupes, are so prestigious that they are often presented as gifts to friends or colleagues, and it was only mildly surprising that a pair of the melons sold in May for the equivalent of about $15,700 at auction at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. The melons appeared to be perfect specimens, with their T-shaped stalk still attached. The record melon-pair price, set in 2008, is about $24,500 measured at today’s exchange rate. ; Still Unclear on the Concept: Briar MacLean, 13, of Calgary, Alberta, was reprimanded by school officials in May (and then also lost an appeal) after he stepped between two students because one, holding a knife, was bullying the other. The vice principal appeared to regard Briar’s action as equal to that of the bully, telling Briar’s mother later that the school does not “condone heroics,” and that it was “beside the point” that Briar might well have prevented a slashing (which could have occurred if he had left the boys behind to go find a teacher). ; First-World Crises: It is not quite to the level of the $15,700 Japanese melons, but the behavior of women descending upon New York City stores in June for the annual “sale” on designer shoes is nonetheless a spectacle. The event makes the city’s upscale commercial district look like “an insane asylum of very well-dressed women,” reported The New York Times. The shoes’ everyday prices require, wrote the Times, “the willful suspension of rational thinking.”The average transaction at Barneys is $850, still far below, for example, a pair of wicker-basket-like sandals ($1,995 by Charlotte Olympia) or a certain Christian Louboutin pump ($1,595—$4,645 if in crocodile). Prices are so unhinged, according to the Times, that standards from the iconic “Sex and the City” designer Manolo Blahnik are now low-price leaders, holding at about $595. ; Among the oldest classic stories in News of the Weird is the hapless burglar or bank robber who inadvertently incriminates himself SEPTEMBER 2013 • CULTURE 73
at the scene of the crime. Recently, (1) Korey Harris, a defensive lineman for West Virginia University’s football team, was arrested in July for a home invasion he allegedly committed while wearing his practice sweatpants emblazoned with his jersey number (96). (2) Police in Boston are confident that Zachary Tentoni is the man who robbed a woman in the yard of Harbor Middle School in June because, as he grabbed her purse and fled, he dropped two bags he was carrying. Among the contents: Tentoni’s birth certificate and a letter from his mother. ; Zero-Tolerance Alive and Well: Second-grader Josh Welch’s twoday suspension in March was upheld on appeal in June by Park Elementary School officials of Anne Arundel County, Md., even though his offense was that he had nibbled a pastry into the shape of a gun, which he then waved around. Said Josh’s attorney: “If this (school system) can’t educate a 7-year-old without putting him out of school, how are they going to deal with 17-year-olds?”
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GOVERNMENT IN ACTION ; The National Security Agency is a “supercomputing powerhouse,” wrote ProPublica.org in July, with “machines so powerful their speed is measured in thousands of trillions of operations per second”—but apparently it has no ability to bulk-search its own employees’ official emails. Thus, ProPublica’s Freedom of Information Act demand for a seemingly simple all-hands search was turned down in July with the NSA informing ProPublica that the best it could do would be to go one-by-one through the emails of each of the agency’s 30,000 employees—which would be prohibitively expensive. (ProPublica reported that companywide searches are “common” for large corporations, which must respond to judicial subpoenas and provide information for their own internal investigations.)
BREW NATION ; Pro-nationalism English Defence League activists seemed to be itching for a street brawl to break up a scheduled
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anti-nationalist demonstration in downtown Birmingham, England, on July 18, causing the city to mobilize more than 1,000 police—when officials arrived at a solution. Police shepherded “hundreds” of rowdy EDL operatives into the popular Bar Risa pub at 11am, confining them for three hours, until the anti-EDL rally had dissipated. (Given British habits, many EDLers decided to enjoy their confinement with a brew.) As a result, police reported only sporadic street scuffling. (Bar Risa, perturbed by police pressure to host alleged “fascists,” donated its profits to the Midlands Air Ambulance service.)
CULTURAL DIVERSITY ; In Shenzhen, China, one of the country’s richest cities, services are being openly advertised by “wet nurses” to supply adults with breast milk, either directly from the source or after pumping (and purchased by either the infirm or just rich people overconcerned with nourishment). These milk “suppliers” can earn at least four times the average personal
income, with healthy, attractive women earning even more, of course, according to a July Agence France-Presse dispatch. Comments on China’s social media ranged from “It’s just a business” to “People become perverts when they are too rich and tire of other forms of entertainment.” ; Because Zimbabwe is reputedly among the world’s most corrupt countries, bribery is normal and makes the news only when innovators go above and beyond. The anti-poverty organization Transparency International reported in July that one hospital in Harare had recently been imposing a $5 charge on mothers each time they screamed during childbirth (in addition to the $50 delivery fee). Furthermore, it has long been rumored that hospitals in Zimbabwe (and other countries) may detain mothers and their children at the hospital if they cannot pay the fees. (Transparency International reported several days later, after finally obtaining a meeting with a government official, that the perscream charge will be lifted.)
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