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A Good Day-Day
Comic and actor Mike Epps opens up about why cannabis is an alternative medicine.
features 12 It Takes Two Parkinson’s disease and PTSD could soon face a familiar new treatment. 14 The Age of Reason Research suggests cannabis can protect the brain from the effects of aging and disease.
departments 6 Letter from the Editor Some people just don’t understand the real meaning of pain and suffering. 8 News Nuggets Cannabis makes headlines here, there, everywhere—and we give you the scoop—PLUS our latest By the Numbers. 18 Legal Corner Attorney Denise Pollicella dissects the legal definition of “nonprofit.” 26 Strain & Edible Reviews Our ever-popular sampling of amazing strains and edibles currently provided by your friendly neighborhood dispensary. 28 Destination Unknown Visit Luang Prabang, Laos, for a glimpse of laidback locals and rice-hungry monks. 29 Profiles in Courage Our latest feature provides insight into the life—and struggle—of a medical cannabis patient near you. 30 Cool Stuff From the PUFFiT Vaporizer to the GravityLight, if it’s a cuttingedge product or cool lifestyle gear, we’re all over it. 32 Recipes Feeling presidential? You will be after sampling this inaugurationinspired menu. Happy Presidents Day! 34 Entertainment Reviews The latest films, books, music and more that define our culture.
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letter from the editor
Vol 4 IssUE 8
CULTURE Publisher
Jeremy Zachary
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Roberto C. Hernandez Editor-In-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Roberto C. Hernandez
Editorial Contributors
Dennis Argenzia, Omar Aziz, Ashley Bennett, Jake Browne, David Burton, Michael Carlos, Grace Cayosa, Jasen T. Davis, Stacy Davies, Rev. Dr. Kymron de Cesare, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Charmie Gholson, Michael Gifford, James P. Gray, Lillian Isley, David Jenison, Liquid Todd, Kevin Longrie, Meital Manzuri, Jane Mast, Sandra Moriarty, Damian Nassiri, Keller O’Malley, Paul Rogers, Lanny Swerdlow, Arrissia Owen
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Understanding
Pain If you’re human, you’ve experienced pain. Everyone does. Chances are, you might be in pain right now—which is likely the reason why you turned to God’s green plant for relief. And pain can take many forms. It can range from the soul-killing pain you undergo battling cancer, chemo and radiation treatments. There’s the excruciating, down-to-the-last-white-hot-nerve pain of a broken back or a cluster headache. There’s the profound pain and discomfort of diabetes, multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms. And there’s the crippling psychological pain of stress and anxiety. To paraphrase country music and cannabis icon Willie Nelson, stress “is the biggest killer on the planet, and the best medicine for stress is marijuana.” So, there are all types of pain, and, thank goodness, we can use cannabis to tackle it. Unfortunately, the fact that we experience pain and some of us opt to legally use a plant instead of an opioid to treat it doesn’t sit well with some people. Exhibit A: Arizona lawmaker John Kavanagh. The state legislator recently proposed a measure for the 2014 ballot that would rescind that state’s Medical Marijuana Act, which passed in 2010. What’s Kavanagh’s problem? Well, several things, but he’s upset over the fact that MMJ cardholders in Arizona say they use cannabis for, among other things (and those “other things” include cancer, hepatitis, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease and nausea)—
Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, Michael Gifford, John Gilhooley, Amanda Holguin, Khai Le, David Elliot Lewis, Mark Malijan, Patrick Roddie, Michael Seto, Kim Sidwell
pain! Yes, pain. More than 30,000 patients list cannabis as their med of choice for chronic pain. Ah-ha, Kavanagh (a former cop) must have thought, since, in his mind, “vague, ill-defined, impossible-to-disprove” pain complaints suggest abuse. “This is what critics feared: that [Arizona’s MMJ program] would be abused by people saying they had a bad back, and that’s apparently what we’ve gotten,” he told media outlets. So—let me follow the argument here—because lots of people decide to treat their pain with a plant instead of a pill, that’s bad and grounds for potentially shutting down an entire state’s voter-approved MMJ system?!?!?! Kavanagh’s so wrongheaded he won’t even allow an exception for cancer patients to use cannabis if his measure was successful. Wow. What do the “real” experts say about chronic pain? According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Such pain affects more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Pain costs our country anywhere from $560 billion to $635 billion in health care costs each year, according to 2010 data. Besides the terminal conditions, lower back pain, headaches/migraines and neck pain are the most commonly reported types of pain. Pain is real. Your pain is your own. Only you and your doctor can make a decision about how to treat it. And if you’re lucky to live in an MMJ state, you have the right to use cannabis for the health benefits it provides—don’t let others take that choice away. Never mind what John Kavanagh—and other wrongheaded prohibitionists—say. He’s just being a pain. c
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THE STATE Lansing the next procannabis city? Michigan legal in 2014?
Detroit. Grand Rapids. Flint. Ypsilanti. Activists say they expect more cities and townships in Michigan will approve cannabis-related measures in the near future—with statewide legalization possibly gearing up as early as 2014? Maybe. “We can look at polling numbers from as far back as the ’70s and see how support for legalizing cannabis and medical cannabis has done nothing but gain momentum in public support,” Brad Forrester, the Cheboygan director for Michigan NORML, told MLive.com. “Certainly by 2016, we would hope to get something on the ballot,” he says. “If things break our way, we’re open to looking at 2014. Right now, I am surveying pollsters and trying to get more information.” Among the 20 communities that could be targeted are Lansing, Jackson, Traverse City and Mt. Clemens. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero is a supporter of Michigan’s MMJ law.
initiative that decriminalizes cannabis possession. A judge has granted a temporary restraining order in order to sort out any issues, Mlive.com and Ganja News reported. Grand Rapids and the attorney for Decriminalize GR, the campaign behind the initiative, both say the measure was legal and should stand. “The city and City Commission have no power to change the charter, only the voters can change the charter,” Grand Rapids City Attorney Catherine Mish says. The case could ultimately end up at the state Court of Appeals. Last year, Grand Rapids voters passed Proposal 2 with 58 percent of the vote. The measure amended the city’s charter to make cannabis possession a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine for the first offense instead of a misdemeanor. The amendment was one of a total of five similar cannabis-related measures that passed last November, including one that allows three dispensaries in Kalamazoo.
Dispensary chain reaching out to St. Clair County communities
A dispensary chain already operating in Detroit has contacted local officials in St. Clair County as part of a potential effort to expand, The Times Herald reports. The company, Greenworld Investments, LLC, had scheduled a public meeting last month with
the Emmett Township board after having sent a formal letter to the Planning Commission. “In all my years of being at the township, I don’t think we have ever had a company contact us like this,” City Clerk Beverly Brown told The Times Herald. “. . . Because of that, the planning commission thought we should hear them out.” Greenworld has reached out to other communities as well, according to the newspaper. Regarding any new dispensaries, St. Clair County Prosecutor Michael Wendling said, “If they’re going to do business here, they need to do business legally. If they do not, we would have to act and respond appropriately. We would cross that bridge when we come to it.”
THE NATION
slammed Kavanagh’s proposal. “We see a lot of patients, people who really use it as a medicine, people who are tired of taking painkillers and other pills that just do more damage to the body,” weGrow owner Sunny Singh told KTAR-FM. Kavanagh says the state Department of Health Services’ breakdown of MMJ applicants shows 90 percent of patients cited using cannabis for severe and chronic pain as opposed to terminal illnesses or cancer, for instance. Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Act passed in 2010.
Cannabis Unity Conference scheduled for the nation’s capital
In an effort to continue pushing the cannabis cause and fighting for patients’ rights, Americans for Safe Access, (ASA), has announced a “Unity Conference” aimed at bringing together activists and experts. The “Bridging the Gap Between Public & Policy
Arizona lawmaker trying to repeal state’s MMJ program in 2014 State Rep. John Kavanagh is proposing a ballot measure for 2014 that could end Arizona’s medical cannabis program, radio station KTAR-FM reports. The lawmaker alleges there is evidence that suggests provisions of Proposition 203 are being subverted by recreational users. But patients and activists
Temporary restraining order halts Grand Rapids decriminalization
Kent County Prosecutor Bill Forsyth has questioned the legality of the Grand Rapids voter 8 CULTURE • february 2013
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– Americans for Safe Access National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference is scheduled for Feb. 2225 in Washington, D.C. The event is also geared as a networking opportunity that will include exhibitors, scholarships and other events. Some of the discussions and presentations include “The Science of Medical Cannabis” and “Lobby Day,” in which ASA supporters will get an opportunity to advocate to members of Congress via face-to-face meetings.
THE WORLD More Mexican leaders leaning on the side of legalization
From a country long decried as the source of black-market cannabis, Mexico’s own political leaders—prompted by developments in Colorado and Washington—appear to be leaning towards
Lucas Oil Monster Truck Nationals a more commonsense approach to regulating the controversial plant. The country’s new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, recently told CNN that legalization measures in the United States might prompt his administration into “rethinking the strategy.” The governor of the Mexican state of Colima has proposed a legalization referendum. A left-wing lawmaker, Fernando Belaunzaran, has introduced a national legalization bill. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera called for a national legalization forum right before voters in Washington and Colorado approved measures allowing minor cannabis possession for adults 21 and over.
by the numbers
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The number of years that Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Act has been in place: 4 (Source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, [LARA]). The number of conditions that a LARA panel may consider qualifying for MMJ: 2 [Parkinson’s disease and PTSD] (Source: LARA).
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The proposed maximum amount (in ounces) of cannabis that would be legal to possess in Grand Rapids: 2.5 (Source: MLive.com).
The number of medical conditions that qualify MMJ patients in Connecticut: 11 (Source: Hartford Courant).
The total number of plants that cultivation centers in Washington, D.C., can grow: 95 (Source: The Washington Post).
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The number of pages of regulations governing Washington D.C.’s, MMJ program: 96 (Source: The Washington Post). The estimated number of Israelis who were licensed to use medical marijuana in 2009: 400 (Source: The New York Times).
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The amount of revenue (in millions of dollars) raised over five years if Michigan legalized cannabis statewide in a manner similar to Colorado and Washington: 2.8 (Source: The Compassion Chronicles)
The number of MMJ cardholder in Montana who rely on cannabis providers: 5,211 (Source: Department of Public Health and Human Services).
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The maximum amount (in ounces) of cannabis that a Michigan MMJ patient can possess: 2.5 (Source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs).
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The number of MMJ cardholders in Montana as of November 2012: 8,404 (Source: Department of Public Health and Human Services).
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The estimated number of Israelis who are currently licensed: 11,000 (Source: The New York Times).
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The percentage of Iowa residents who support the medical use of cannabis: 64 (Source: Des Moines Register Iowa Poll).
CARS! EXPLOSIONS! DIRT! FIRE! MANLINESS! We hope you’ve obtained a clear idea of what to expect from this event, but we’re more than happy to elaborate further. This is the monster truck rally of the year. After being gone for two years, the party is back in East Lansing where it belongs. In addition, stunt master Franz Harary has created a new deathdefying, mid-air technique for the show known only as “The Great Escape.” But aside from the tricks, old favorites will be back to compete for monster truck glory: Raminator, Chalkboard Chuck, Star Marshal, The Lucas Oil Stabilizer and crowd favorite Team Kid KJ. Each car brings their own dynamic style to the arena and they won’t go down easily. Be prepared for an amazing show where destruction and chaos are the norm and everything can happen. Try not to break your chairs as you grip on the edge of your seats, that can happen occasionally and the repair costs build up after a while. Just because the cars are wreaking havoc doesn’t mean you should as well.
IF YOU GO
What: Lucas Oil Monster Truck Nationals. When/Where: Feb. 9 at Breslin Student Events Center, 534 Birch Rd., East Lansing. Info: Tickets $15-$30. Go to www.breslincenter.com.
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FLASH
Good For What
Ails You
If approved, a new legal treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Parkinson’s disease IS ON THE HORIZON {By Charmie Gholson} Patients grappling with the effects of Parkinson’s disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may have new hope for relief. These ailments could be added to the list of qualifying conditions for Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Program. If accepted, the conditions will be the first added since the passage of the Medical Marihuana Act in 2008. The program’s Review Panel voted to recommend Parkinson’s disease to the list after its initial meeting in December, but did not recommend PTSD as a qualifying medical condition. The panel is requesting additional input on PTSD from the public, and citizen public testimony will be taken at a second meeting of the panel this month. The panel, however, does not make the final decision, but rather makes a recommendation to the
director of the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Steven H. Hilfinger The panel, composed almost entirely of physicians and health care professionals, will reconvene sometime prior to April 15 to make final recommendations to Hilfinger, who will issue the final decisions before May 20. Of the 13 members that make up the review panel, nine are doctors, one is a pharmacist, one is a psychologist and the last member is an MMJ advocate, according to Jeannie Vogel, who works for LARA’s communications department. Nine of the 13 panel members also served on The Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management. Michigan activist John Evans lobbied heavily for the review panel to convene. He assembled a presentation based on the most
relevant and up to date scientific data regarding PTSD and medical marijuana. Evans also organized veterans, who make up a large percentage of PTSD sufferers, to ensure their commentary on treating PTSD with medical cannabis be heard in Lansing at this month’s public hearing. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive, degenerative, neurological condition that causes muscular tremors, making walking, controlling movement and coordination highly difficult. Sufferers find increasing difficulty in moving their arms and legs. They develop tremors and facial tics, and gradually become more and more immobile. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. A few pharmaceutical drugs have been developed to control the symptoms, but as with many pharmaceutical drugs, the
side effects can be severe. Cannabis is a safe alternative to pharmaceuticals, and though it is difficult for scientists to conduct studies on cannabis, preliminary evidence indicates that it can serve as a powerful treatment for Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders. PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event (like war) that results in psychological trauma. Symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of situations associated with the trauma and increased arousal, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger and hyper vigilance. Autism and asthma are two conditions that have already been successfully submitted for a preliminary vote, scheduled to take place between March 15 and April 15. c
Getting a Point Across
At press time, even though Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Program Review Panel’s public hearing was scheduled for Jan. 25, written comments can still be submitted until March 11. Comments can also be made in person during the public hearing. Written comments can be submitted to: Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Health Care Services – Health Professions Division, Health Care Information Unit, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909. Any phone or email correspondence can be directed to Deborah Ingraham, secretary, at ingrahamd@michigan.gov or (517) 335-6557.
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BUZZ
Vital
Function New research suggests cannabis compounds can slow the degeneration of brain functions {By Jasen T. Davis} The usual stereotype perpetuated by the mainstream media, modern entertainment and government-sponsored propaganda is that if you ingest cannabis, your brain will fry like an egg in a hot pan. As this narrative dictates, we would certainly never expect that any living thing afflicted with a degenerative brain condition could possibly improve its condition after being exposed to cannabis. But that may not be the case. Dr. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, of the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Bonn in Germany, conducted a scientific study that indicates cannabis might be effective for maintaining normal brain functioning in mice suffering from degenerative brain conditions caused by old age and disease. The study, “The endocannabinoid system in normal and pathological brain aging,” was published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, the oldest scientific journal in the English-speaking world. Bilkei-Gorzo’s study found that when the cannabinoid systems in healthy mice were activated, an antioxidant type of “cleanse” resulted, which removed damaged brain cells. This also enhanced the mitochondrial function within the brain cells, resulting in more efficient cognitive functions than before.
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Mice—particularly white albino lab mice—are frequently used in laboratory experiments because of the species’ genetic similarity to humans. In previous experiments performed on mice by others, synthetic versions of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been used to stimulate cannabinoid receptors, leading to regenerative results similar to Bilkei-Gorzo’s study. Laboratory mice that have been genetically bred to lack cannabinoid receptors have shown rapid, degenerating brain functions as they age, specifically as a result of damage done to the hippocampus, an area responsible for memory and other vital functions. Eliminating certain cannabinoid receptors “leads to early onset of age-related memory decline, similarly affecting both reward and aversion-driven learning,” Bilkei-Gorzo wrote regarding other mice-cannabinoid experiments conducted prior to his own. Previous studies have also suggested that cannabis can play a
role in healing the damage done to the brain from disease and old age by reducing inflammation. This is of great interest to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses that can affect brain tissue. “Cannabinoid system activity is neuroprotective,” Bilkei-Gorzo says. Using cannabis compounds “could be a promising strategy for slowing down the progression of brain aging and for alleviating the symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders,” he adds. Another scientist involved in Bilkei-Gorzo’s study, Dr. Gary Wenk of Ohio State University, comments, “I’ve been trying to find a drug that will reduce brain inflammation and restore cognitive function in rats for over 25 years; cannabinoids are the first and only class of drugs that have ever been effective. I think that the perception about this drug is changing and in the future people will be less fearful.” Naturally, more research—on humans, preferably—needs to
Cannabis compounds “could be a promising strategy for slowing down the progression of brain aging and for alleviating the symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders.”
be done. Even the abstract for the study acknowledges this: “In preclinical models of neurodegenerative disorders, cannabinoids show beneficial effects, but the clinical evidence regarding their efficacy as therapeutic tools is either inconclusive or still missing.” c
Being Mindful Aging is a fact of life—and
it affects our brains, too. Once you pass 60, it’s not uncommon to experience declines in concentration, focus, judgment and memory. This may also signal the onset of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Also, as we age our brains decrease in weight and volume, likely the result of a loss of neurons and brain fluid. Keeping your brain busy as you get older (sign up for a class, learn something new, take up a new hobby) can help keep those nerve cells healthy. 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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By Denise Pollicella, Esq.
Say What?
legal corner
There “are some benefits to marijuana, and this is more than just anecdotal evidence now.” —Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN
So You Think You’re A Nonprofit I get it. Your primary concern is the DEA. But if the IRS isn’t a close second, remember that Al Capone was a very real person who went to a real prison for tax evasion. This is the thing: If you are operating a dispensary, you’re operating a business, and it’s either for profit or it’s not. And if you think you’re a nonprofit but you really aren’t, you could be in trouble. Al Capone trouble. In defense of those who have opened dispensaries in Michigan, some have made a real attempt to do things correctly, but just as many have not. Most started as nonprofits because law in this country tends to move West to East, and everyone did what California was doing, because that seemed like a good idea at the time. But if you are going to hold yourself out as a nonprofit, you actually have to be
one, and that requires much more than putting a donation jar on the counter. The only basic difference between a for-profit company and a nonprofit organization is that a nonprofit does not pay income tax on most of its revenues. At the end of the year, when it has money left over, it can’t distribute the leftovers. So, here’s a little test. You’re probably not a nonprofit if: • You wink when you say “donation.” • You get your legal advice from your friend’s brother who worked at a dispensary in San Diego. • You don’t have or cannot locate corporate documents, bylaws, meeting minutes, resolutions, your federal tax ID number or board members; • You think you own the company; • You do not know your tax exempt status or • The last thing you did was file “some papers” with the state three years ago. Being a nonprofit organiza-
tion is a task, and calling yourself one is serious business. For years these organizations have been vehicles for all manner of corrupt activity, so the IRS review and audit standards are rigorous. You must adopt articles and bylaws with specific language. You must keep meticulous financial records. You must select a tax-exempt purpose and then use that purpose as an operational guide every single day. You must notify your contributors that their donations are probably not tax-deductible. And you absolutely must file an application for tax exemption. Nonprofits are a particularly excellent choice in Michigan; however, if you got into this for profit or don’t have the time, inclination or discipline to operate a truly nonprofit organization that can withstand an IRS audit, then you should not attempt it. The legal and tax implications are simply too significant. So, what’s it going to be: forprofit dispensary or a nonprofit organization? Time to decide. And act. c
Denise Pollicella, founder of Cannabis Attorneys of Mid-Michigan and a graduate of Wayne State University Law School, practices corporate law, business transactions and medical marihuana law in Livingston County. She can be reached via email at dpbusinesslaw@yahoo.com.
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Comedy may have saved Mike Epps’ life. Sure, many performers believe comedy rescued them from the wrong path, but Epps’ tale is not about some abstract future danger. A group of armed men robbed him and ordered him into the trunk of their car. With the stereo cranked to drown out any calls for help, they started to drive around town, possibly looking for a place to shoot him and dump the body. Epps had to think fast. “They were blasting the music the whole time, but the moment they cut the music, I started kicking on the seat,” Epps recalls. “They asked what my problem was, and I said I wanted them to play that song again. They started laughing and let me go. Without my sense of humor, there is no way to know which way this would have went. When it looks like your ass is not going to make it, you better use everything you got.” The Hoosier State native first made a name for himself with the Def Comedy Jam tour and broadcast, but he caught a huge break when Ice Cube cast him as Day-Day Jones in the two Friday sequels. As happened with Chris Tucker after appearing in the original Friday, Epps quickly became a hot commodity, and he racked up several big screen credits with major releases like The Hangover, Hancock, The Fighting Temptations, Soul Men, The Honeymooners and a pair of Resident Evil films. The self-professed “hip-hop comic” also hosted the last four BET Hip-Hop Awards and appeared in movies alongside rap royalty like Cee Lo Green, Method Man, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. Fittingly, one of Epps’ routines is even sampled in the Eminem and Royce da 5’9” track “I’m on Everything.” Epps, who reprised his Black Doug character for this summer’s The Hangover Part III, is currently on a stand-up comedy tour entitled Mike Epps Live. As befits a hip-hop comic, Epps recruited iconic rapper and beat boxer Doug E. Fresh to join him on select dates. Comedians like Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy were far edgier in their stand-up routines than they were on the screen. How are your shows different? I am one of those spontaneous comedians who works off emotional content. Whatever my day was like, whatever I’ve seen, you might 22 CULTURE • february 2013
get 30 minutes of that first. For example, I saw a pimp with a few of his hos, and they all had Christmas spirit, and I told him, “Merry Christmas to you and your hos.” I talked about that at the show. Wow, I never saw that watching Happy Days. As a performer,
you have a lot of crossover with hip-hop. How does hip-hop music and Mike Epps’ comedy fit together? The era that I grew up in is hiphop. Back in the day, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor were doing comedy in a funk era. People were playing funky music and
wearing bell-bottoms and afros. That is [why] Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy were compared to comedians like Dave Chappelle and myself. We are products of hip-hop as the music influences our comedy and our comedy influences the music. On my way to a comedy show, I’m listening 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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to 2Pac or 2 Chainz. You could call me a hip-hop comic. That is why Richard Pryor was saying, “Jive turkey” and “You dig” while the comics now are saying “Word up” and all kinds of slang like that. Everything that we do outside comedy influences our art. There are all kinds of rumors that the N.W.A. movie might soon be underway. Ice Cube was a controversial figure when the group came out in the ’80s, and a lot of people probably forgot that. Do you think an N.W.A. biopic would help or hurt Ice Cube in trying to get Last Friday made? I don’t know anything about the politics right there, sir. I cannot answer them questions right there. I just play my part in the movie and keep it pushing. I am not married to none of that shit. It’s a role that I played in a movie. If people like to see me play in Friday movies, I just come and do my job. Last Friday would be the final movie in the Friday series. Do you have any new information on the status of the movie or on what Day-Day Jones might be doing? I don’t know if they are going to do the movie. I don’t want to lie to my fans or hype them up to think they’re going to do another Friday. That Friday series, I keep saying it, but it’s like Dr. Dre putting out his [Detox] album. You have become a mainstay with the BET Hip-Hop Awards. How is it hosting an awards show compared to a regular stand-up performance? That goes back to your question about hip-hop. That is a perfect example of why they both benefit and service each other. There is nothing in the world like someone cracking a good joke in between songs. It is a perfect segue and hook. That is why they keep using me for the awards show. You opened the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards in character as President Obama. What is it like to portray the President knowing that he might actually see it? It was really fun. To play Obama is fun because you get the chance to say some shit that you would like 24 CULTURE • february 2013
to hear him say. You know what I mean? I know he’s not going to say this, but let me say it for him. Speaking of Obama, after the results came in on election night showing that Washington and Colorado legalized cannabis, you tweeted, “It feel like I can sell [cannabis] in the middle of the street!” Can I assume you were in favor of these propositions? Yes, you can assume. It is real. Do you believe in the medical use of cannabis? I do believe in medical use because so many of us Americans have a lot of mind-altering problems, and we all know that the pill world is really big and makes a whole lot of money. Not everybody can take pills. Some people’s stomachs cannot handle the pills or they cannot handle them mentally. Marijuana is an alternative. If you do not want to take pills, you
Shining
Star If you think you’ve seen all Mike Epps has to offer, you haven’t seen him shine in his most recently released movie, 2012’s Sparkle, a remake (the original was released in 1976) starring Whitney Houston that told the story of The Supremes during the Motown era. For the role, the comedian adopted a new persona that’s crude, lewd and abusive. The role was also noteworthy as it happened to be the last film with the legendary Houston before her passing.
You could call me a hip-hop comic.
can smoke something and calm down or dig deep into something. When it comes to comedy, do you think there is something inherently funny about smoking cannabis? Yes, it is very funny. When I smoke [cannabis], I get a chance to have some options on my thoughts. When you smoke, you sometimes makes decisions that are not exactly the ones you really wanted to make, but they can be the best decisions. It ends up being the best move for you versus the move you wanted to make. It just turned out all good. You portray Richard Pryor in the upcoming Nina biopic about soul legend and activist Nina Simone. Is it difficult to play such a comedic legend? It was definitely not easy to capture a guy like that because he was so complex and a crazy motherf@#ker. For a minute, I thought I had to be crazy to play him. Then I thought about it and realized if I go crazy to play Richard Pryor, it defeats the art. I really don’t do that kind of acting where I become something for weeks at a time before it’s time to shoot some shit. I like to challenge my art by not becoming that until it is time. That’s what I think. You tackled a dramatic role in The Supremes-inspired remake of Sparkle, which came out last August. Do you see yourself pursing more dramas? I have many shades of myself, and
I really love doing drama. I think comedians can make some of the best dramatic actors. I do want to do more dramatic parts, but I want to be selective and do the right dramatic parts. I don’t want to do them just because they are in my face and I want to prove myself. It just has to be something that I love. Anything you can tell us about Black Doug’s role in the new Hangover movie? Yeah, I’m playing another black guy in the movie again. I’m playing Black Doug. I think the third installment is really going to be good. To be brought back into a large comedy, the biggest comedy movie ever, is impossible for me to top. That is the biggest shit I might ever do unless they want to cast me in the next Avengers movie. It was an honor to come back and work with those guys. Do you have anything else coming up? At the end of the year, I plan to put out Still Can’t Catch Me. It is a documentary of my journey to become a comedian. I’m going to show Hollywood who I really am because they don’t know who the f@#k I am. They just cast me and deal with me face front. I have been keeping it a secret as to who I really am, but I am getting to that point where I want to show them where I come from and how I did it. I think it will be out in winter 2013. c
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strain & edible reviews GET YOUR CLICK HERE
www.iReadCulture.com
Plush Berry Opening up a jar of Plush Berry is a treat. Before I even touched the meds, I picked up on the strain’s strong black-cherry scent and musky overtones. This is an 80/20 indica-dominant strain grown from TGA Subcool Seeds, and can be found at Meme’s Green Dream in Burton and Michigan Chronic Relief in Detroit. Plush Berry’s parent strains are Blackcherry Soda and Space Queen. Covered with abundant burnt orange pistils, woven throughout the heavily trichomed, dark-green leaves, this is a visual feast. Using a water pipe brings out the subtle berry flavors and accentuates the creamy finish. Considering its indica-dominance, I was surprised this strain didn’t trigger my anxiety. PB is great for getting you to bed about three hours after consuming. Body effects kick in after about five minutes; clearing out joint pain and releasing tight muscles. I also found this strain to work quite well on my chronic pain and stress.
Gayle’s Valentine’s Goodie Box Receiving this box of chocolate edibles made up for the last 17 years worth of crappy Valentine’s presents. Made by Gayle’s Ganja Goodies and available at Club Medz in Flint, each of these five different pieces of candy is made with 22 percent active cannabutter. With such per-candy high potency, these chocolates are carefully crafted and deliver powerful medicating effects. The candies are available individually or packaged. These candies are strong. I’m a chronic pain patient and was thrilled to find that Gayle’s Ganja Goodies Chocolates are not only strong enough to counter my relentless pain, but consistent enough in dosage to maintain relief all day. The extent of the cannabis taste varies, but should be able to accommodate every patient’s palate. Folks who like that robust “green” taste with their meds will love the Milk Chocolates and Peanut Clusters. Patients who’d rather go without tasting their butter will enjoy the White Chocolates (which I don’t usually prefer, but these were scrumptious). The Dark Chocolate Raspberry treats are my favorite, with lovely, gooey red raspberry filling and enough medicine for several hours of relief. Valentine’s Day is this month so give the gift of chocolate—and healing. It’s the perfect give for someone you love. Including YOU!
San Fernando Valley OG Kush San Fernando Valley OG Kush strain—from Canna Cure in Ypsilanti—is ridiculously frosty. It looks like it was dropped into the sugar bowl and generously rolled around. Although our sample was quite dry, the tight, thick buds released an earthy lemon smell when squeezed. I cannot stress enough how sugary this strain is. It’s gorgeous. A 90-percent indica strain (grown from Cali Connection seeds) with OG Kush and Afghani #1 parents, this baby gives immediate pain relief that lasts for about two hours. I used a glass pipe for this medicine and was grateful: no harsh hits or coughing afterwards; it’s quite smooth. The pain relief also worked equally well on muscle spasms. The body/head effects are about 60/40—and the euphoria helps with pain as well. Despite being a heavy indica, the initial effects were uplifting, followed by sleepy time three hours out. San Fernando OG Kush also swept anxiety away. Overall, this strain gifted me with lovely body pain relief and calming effects. It is a lovely sight to behold, and well worth the trip to Ypsilanti.
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destination unknown
Story and photos by Dennis Argenzia and Grace Cayosa
Lush Landscape Travel through Luang Prabang for eco-minded tourism and religious traditions
5:31 a.m.
Through barely open eyes, we spy a silent, steady march of orange figures just below our window. An army of not-dead Kennys have come to visit us in our fuzzy dream state. But they’re not Kenny, and we’re not in South Park.
One Day Earlier
We find ourselves standing on a peninsula where the Khan and Mekong rivers meet, and thinking, “Weird, this kind of looks like Los Angeles.” Or at least, like a French-inspired outdoor mall somewhere in the county. But we remind ourselves that we’re in Southeast Asia, and this place—Luang Prabang—predates any tweener hangout by at least a hundred years. Once the political capital of Laos, Luang Prabang now holds the more relaxed title of cultural capital. It is home to gold-leafed Buddhist wats (temples), traditional Lao stilt houses, teak-trimmed French colonial architecture, lush green landscape and some of the most laidback locals you will ever meet. We start our day with an elephant ride just outside Luang Prabang. As a rule, elephants pressed into the service of man usually get a bum deal. But at the Elephant Village Sanctuary, abused pachyderms get a second life. As a bonus, local employees learn trade skills, and eco-minded tourists get a short ride atop nature’s Monster Truck of mammals. After a 60-minute jungle stroll, during which our beloved elephant decided to tear her own route back to the village, we were transported by boat to the nearby Tad Sae waterfall. Now, we love water28 CULTURE • february 2013
falls, but Tad Sae appeared strangely fake. It is a stepped limestone waterfall, but looks suspiciously like a theme park contractor decided to build foam pools for blue dye water. We were assured they were real, and then were promptly whisked back to Luang Prabang. We dawdled the rest of the day away in prime tourist manner—wandering the quaint streets, practicing English with young Laos at Big Brother Mouse, getting wicked foot massages from steel-armed local women—until the night market finally opened. The night market is the place to get all sorts of goodies: wax-lined paper parasols, Buddhist prints, “I Heart Beer Lao” T-shirts, whole fried fish on a stick and, of course, green stuff. Cannabis is readily available from tuk tuk and mototaxi drivers, and is clearly wild grown. Quality is generally good, but seeds can be a problem. On paper, Laotian law treats drug possession very seriously: possession of up to 22 pounds of marijuana is legally punishable by a maximum fine of US$2,500 and 10 years imprisonment. For quantities over 22 pounds, punishment is death. In reality, practicing discretion should keep you safe, and if not, a steep bribe should set you free. Early the next morning, we witness
an endless column of orange-clad monks shuffling quietly by our balcony. This is tak bat, or the Theravada Buddhist tradition of silent alms giving. Every morning, the monks leave their monastery, lined up with the most senior person in front, and travel along a set route through Luang Prabang, silently receiving small offerings of food—usually sticky rice—in their bowls. Through tak bat, the monks get their daily meal rations, and the givers earn merit (the religious karma kind, not the Boy Scout kind). There are definitely rules: men can stand, but women must kneel or sit, and both must be respectfully lower than the monks; don’t wear shoes, shorts or tank tops; don’t touch the monks; and, for heaven’s sake, shut up. This is a silent tradition. Rejuvenated by alms giving, awesome French baguettes and Laotian coffee, we rent a motorbike for the day. Our first stop is the Pak Ou caves, about an hour’s ride north and full of Buddha statues, followed by the Kuang Si waterfalls. These are the impressive big brother of the Tad Sae: larger pools, taller falls. You can even climb 200 feet to the top of the main cascade, stand in the rushing water and look over the edge. Yeah, we thought of death too. Our day ended with a minor crash and a rushed repair job. We were certain our passports would be withheld . . . until we heard the singing. It was our motorbike vendor, happily buzzed on Beer Lao. Motorbike and passport were exchanged with a smile, and we watched him ride off, steady and loud, into the beautiful Lao night. c
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profiles in courage Patient: Jon Otto
AGE: 47
Condition/ Illness:
Photo by Michael Gifford
Anxiety, agoraphobia, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, aortic aneurysm, enlarged left ventricle
Using medical cannabis since: April 2012
Are you an MMJ patient from Michigan 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?
I knew from past experience that cannabis may not kill the pain, but knew it would at least make me forget about it. I also knew cannabis would turn a raging fight-or-flight anxiety attack into a sit-back-and-relax Big Mac attack in about 90 seconds . . . MMJ has, without a doubt, saved me from many more ugly situations and places.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
Yes indeed. I have been fighting this spine of mine for a quarter-century and have run the gamut medically from every nerve block shot known to mankind, manipulations [and] many prescription narcotics which I’m happy to report that, due to MMJ, I am down to one pain medication. For me [and] my friends, that is fantastic! I am down to one anxiety med as well. Again, unheard of for me.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients?
The biggest issue facing MMJ patients is really two-fold. First is general lack of acceptance of the American people that marijuana is, in fact, medicine and may very well have saved or prolonged one of their loved one’s lives, or at least made their final months bearable if given the opportunity, which brings my second point: uniform laws nationwide. I pray those that have a need for MMJ and cannot legally get it are able to do so soon. I started signing petitions back in the ’70s and will stop when my heart does.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
To the skeptical one: Reefer Madness was propaganda! If you or someone you love is wasting away to nothingness due to no appetite—step out of the box [and] give MMJ a chance. c
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cool stuff PUFFiT Vaporizer It may look like an asthma inhaler, but the PUFFiT is actually the next generation of portable, discreet vaporizers offering patients another level of personal medicating. Made to vaporize dry, finely ground flowers and herbs, the PUFFiT offers up to eight temperature settings, up to 30 uses per charge and a 90-second automatic shut-off feature . . . in case you get forgetful. Discretion just got redesigned. ($139.99) www.discreetvape.com
GravityLight Designed as an alternative to kerosene lamps in Third World countries, the bleeding-edge GravityLight utilizes the universal power of attraction between objects to illuminate the future. A bag filled with rocks and dirt and suspended by a cord below the light provides weight that is then converted into energy—about 30 minutes worth. Truly “green” technology. (MSRP: $5) www.gravitylight.org
Sumo Lounge Time to ditch that ‘ol bean bag. Sumo Lounge has mastered the science and art of comfort to provide weary bones the perfect way to relax and unwind after a long day. To say this is a super-comfy bean bag—made of rip-proof nylon—is a total understatement. This might just be the best bean bag chair (or piece of furniture!) you’ve ever sat on. Chairs, you’ve been warned. ($229, Sumo Couple Microsuede) www.sumolounge.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: Just a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated President Obama and the 57th Presidential Inauguration. With this timely event in mind—plus the fact that Steven Spielberg’s historical drama Lincoln made it on quite a few bestmovies-of-the-year lists, we bring you a dinner menu drawn from The Great Emancipator’s 1865 inauguration.
Oyster Stew Pot Roast Charlotte Russe Cake
By Aunt Sandy
Oyster Stew 2 quarts of oysters Hot water (about 1/2 cup) Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons Canna Butter 1 pint of milk Oyster crackers
Drain the liquid from the oysters. In a saucepan, add the hot water and salt and pepper. Once it comes to a boil, add the oysters. Let it come to a boil again, add the Canna Butter. Once the butter melts, stir in the milk. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Serve hot with oyster crackers. Hint: If you need to thicken up the stew, add more crackers.
Charlotte Russe Cake Pot Roast
1 beef roast (about 6 lbs.) Water 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons Canna Butter 1/4 cup flour for dredging
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1/2 tablespoon Canna Butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Lady fingers or sponge cake 4 eggs 4 tablespoons sugar Lemon or vanilla flavoring
Whip the cream until stiff in a large bowl or dish and set on ice. Soak the gelatin in a little cold milk for two hours. Boil the milk and pour it gradually over the gelatin until it is dissolved and strain. Once the cream is cold, add the whipped cream one spoonful at a time. Sweeten the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract and add the Canna Butter. Line a dish with lady fingers or sponge cake. Pour in the cream and set it in a cool place to harden. To make the meringue for the top, beat egg whites with sugar and lemon or vanilla flavoring. Spread mixture over the top and brown slightly in the oven. 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.
Place beef roast in a pot with just enough water to cover it. Set the roast over a slow fire and allow it to stew for an hour. Add salt and pepper to taste and continue to stew it slowly until the meat becomes tender. Add onions. Do not replenish the water as it boils away. Once the meat reaches desired tenderness, remove the meat from the pot and pour the remaining gravy into a bowl. Add the Canna Butter to the empty pot and dredge your meat with flour. Return the meat to the pot to brown, turning it often to prevent it from burning. Take the gravy in the bowl and skim off the fat. Then pour the gravy in with the meat and stir in a spoonful of flour that’s been moistened with a little water. Let the gravy boil with the meat for 15 minutes and then pour the gravy into a gravy dish. Serve the meat hot on a platter.
2 tablespoons gelatin Cold milk 2 cups rich cream 1 cup milk Whipped cream 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
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entertainment reviews La Costa Perdida Camper Van Beethoven 429 Records In the recent movie This Is 40, actor Paul Rudd rocks a vintage Camper Van Beethoven shirt he dug up from his own collection. For CVB, this is actually 30, and Rudd is one of many Generation Xers giving the indie rockers their due on their 30th anniversary. The pioneering Northern California group recently released its first new album in nine years, La Costa Perdida, and the name certainly fits. The album conjurors up images of a hippie Brian Wilson trying to make a Pet Sounds-sized leap with Hunter S. Thompson producing. The harmony-packed “Northern California Girls” is the lead single, but “Too High For the Love-In” is arguably the best song with a psychedelic-teased riff and crazy-ass lyrics, including a “make me a sandwich” chant. The title track also stands out with a quirky, upbeat folk narrative that epitomizes CBV’s trademark depth and diversity. (David Jenison)
Hempology 101: The History and Uses of Cannabis Sativa 4th Edition By Ted Smith The International Hempology 101 Society To bring us up to date on the history of cannabis, author Ted Smith takes us waaaaay back in time when ancient civilizations (not surprisingly) revered the plant’s psychological, physiological and spiritual properties just as much as we do today. And while Smith does a great job detailing how cannabis figured prominently in Vedic, Mesopotamian and Hellenistic traditions, Hempology 101 is no dry, imposing academic tome suited for clinical scholarship. Rather, it’s a coherent plainspeak examination of virtually every facet of the plant’s existence: from the “Hemp For Victory” era, the many uses, products and materials (“hempcrete?”) that can be derived from the plant, its links to counterculture and—surprise, surprise—its medical benefits. Well-researched and with informative flair, Hempology 101 does an intensely readable job of boiling down the ins and outs of cannabis sativa clearly and intelligently. (Matt Tapia)
Thrive: What on Earth Will it Take? Clear Compass Media Dir. By Foster Gamble Ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a movement that aims to improve humanity’s lot in life. Then feel free to look into what the Thrive Movement has to say about human history, forgotten secrets and ways to liberate ourselves through knowledge. In the documentary, director Foster Gamble narrates about how we humans are destroying our own world before leaping headlong into a voyage of discovery that is familiar to those steeped in The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Raiders of the Lost Ark and “ancient astronauts” theories. While the computer graphics could use an uptick in production values, Gamble charges ahead and makes connections between something called the “Vector Equilibrium”—a pattern showing the primal structure of space—and the I Ching, the Hebrew alphabet, Kabbalistic thought and the Cheops Pyramid, among others. It is the secret of the “Vector” that can help us access the “life force” and transform our society . . . and our minds. (Matt Tapia)
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Terror in concert No, we’re not talking about Justin Bieber. Terror is essentially one tough-as-hell, meanas-hell hardcore band destined to get your torso mangled in the pit. With a style reminiscent of saladdays era Agnostic Front with a dash of Hatebreed metalcore melee thrown in for good measure, this band’ll scare the Green Day T-shirt off your girlfriend. Frontman Scott Vogel—of hardcore legends Despair and Buried Alive—has toured the world and knows how to put on a show, and shred his vocal cords at the same time. Expect plenty of stagediving and non sequiturs so random that they’ve earned a name of their own: Vogelisms. Even better, they won’t be touring alone. Fellow hardcore heroes H2O, Backtrack and Code Orange Kids will be taking The Majestic by storm. Crank up “Overcome” before you head out to this show, grab your Black Flag T-shirt and break . . . it . . . down.
IF YOU GO
What: Terror in concert. When/Where: Feb. 24 at The Majestic, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Info: Tickets $15 advance, $17 day of. Go to www. majesticdetroit.com or call (313) 833-9700.
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let’s do this Our picks for the coolest things to do around town Coheed and Cambria, Feb. 8
Following the long awaited release of the second part of its double album entitled The Aftermath: Descension, Coheed and Cambria keeps its fans prog-rockin‘ out. The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit thefillmoredetroit.com
Michigan Beer and Wine Festival, Feb. 9
The finest breweries and wineries are banding together to bring you diverse tastings of the best fermented fruits and grains this state has to offer. Drink up. Treetops Resort, Gaylord www.michigan.org
Rock of Ages, Feb. 20-21
Rock of Ages—also known as the greatest rock and roll love story of the ‘80s—is still partying on. When the small town girl meets a big city rocker, she trades in her girl next door look for spandex pants and teased hair. The Whiting, Flint www.thewhiting.com
Passion Pit w/Matt & Kim, Feb. 21
Put on your hipster shoes for the high energy performances by Passion Pit along with indie darlings Matt & Kim. Enjoy all the songs that made it to your iPod playlist (except for the Doritos Locos song) live and onstage. Compuware Arena, Plymouth www.compuwarearena.com
Immigrant Movement International, Feb. 21
Tania Bruguera is a performer who relies on the influence that political activism has on art, hoping to spark conscious debate amongst anyone who engages with this new perspective of the modern immigrant. Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor www.michtheater.org
HellShovel, Acid Baby Jesus and Craycrays, Feb. 27
With such insanely creepy band names you can rest assured they will deliver a menacing show. HellShovel’s minimalist, stripped down rock will surely compliment Acid Baby Jesus’ “space punk.” Majestic Detroit, Detroit www.majesticdetroit.com
Tiësto, Feb. 27
Although Tiësto is world-famous for pumping out the trance hits du jour since the ‘90s, there’s nothing old school about this DJ. If you’ve never had an epic experience under the spell of Dutch dance music royalty, this night will be your chance. EMU Convocation Center, Ypsilanti www.emich.edu/convocation february 2013 • CULTURE 35
Chuck Shepherd
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY— THREE-STAR ROOM THAT’S A DUMP
; The usual 20,000 or so visitors every year to Belgium’s Verbeke Foundation art park have the option (365 of them, anyway) to spend the night inside the feature attraction: a 20-foot-long, 6-foot-high polyester replica of a human colon created by Dutch designer Joep Van Lieshout. At one end, of course, another body part is replicated (and gives the installation its formal name, the Hotel CasAnus). The facility, though “cramped,” according to one prominent review, features heating, shower and double bed, and rents for the equivalent of about $150 a night. The 30-acre art park is regarded as one of Europe’s “edgiest” art destinations.
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LEAST COMPETENT PARKING ENFORCERS
; (1) The week before Christmas, a Nottingham, England, officer wrote parking tickets to drivers of two ambulances that were taking too long to board wheelchairusing schoolchildren who had just sung carols for an hour downtown to raise money for the homeless shelter Emmanuel House. (Following an outpouring of complaints, the Nottingham City Council revoked the tickets.) (2) An ambulance on call, with lights and siren, pulled into the parking lot of Quicky’s convenience store in New Orleans in November to treat a customer, but one employee nonetheless obeyed what he believed to be his employer’s no-parking rule and applied an immobilizing “boot” to the ambulance. The man, Ahmed Sidi Aleywa, was later fired. A co-worker said Aleywa was an immigrant who had said he was not familiar with “ambulances.”
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