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contents Vol 8 IssUE 5
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POSITIVE VIBRATIONS
Reggae icon Pato Banton is a musician with talent, charisma and a passion for cannabis legalization.
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ON THE COVER:
p h o t o b y J o h n G i l h o o le y
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feature 36 departments
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Charitable Contributions The cannabis community has roots in helping people feel and get better, and its amicable nature allows it to give back to local communities.
online Exclusive!
news 12 News Nuggets 13 By the Numbers 14 Local News reviews 16 Company Highlight 18 Holiday Gift Guide 20 Entertainment Reviews in every issue 32 Growing Culture 34 Destination Unknown
d Democratic Candidate for Utah Governor
35 Profile in Courage 36 Recipes 38 News of the Weird
Smarter in New Study
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Position Has a Plan for Medical Cannabis in the State d THC Recently Proven to Make You
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CULTURE M
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Publisher Jeremy Zachary Editor-In-Chief Evan Senn associate Editor Ashley Bennett Editorial coordinator Jamie Solis Editorial Contributors Benjamin Adams, Sheryll Alexander, Marguerite Arnold, Jake Browne, Cole Garrison, Jasen T. Davis, Alex Distefano, David Downs, Natasha Guimond, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Anthony Herrold, Pamela Jayne, Heather Johnson, Joe Jatcko, David Jenison, Kevin Longrie, Emily Manke, Tyler Markwart, Meital Manzuri, Sandy Moriarty, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, R. Scott Rappold, Paul Rogers, Joy Shannon, Lanny Swerdlow, Jefferson Van Billiard, Simon Weedn, Zara Zhi Photographers Kristen Angelo, Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Josué Rivas, Duncan Rolfson Art Director Steven Myrdahl production manager Tommy LaFleur Graphic Designer Tanya Delgadillo sales director Justin Olson Account Executives Jon Bookatz Eric Bulls, Kim Cook, Cole Garrison, Gene Gorelik, Teddy Helms, Beau Odom, Chris Thatcher, Vic Zaragoza general Manager Iris Norsworthy Office Assistant Angelina Thompson digital media Editor David Edmundson digital marketing Alazzia Gaoay manager Ctv Contributors Quinn Marie Distribution Manager Cruz Bobadilla
Culture® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 500 locations throughout Oregon. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. Culture® Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Phone / Fax 888.694.2046 www.iReadCulture.com
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NEWS
nuggets
Oregon Court Rules Against Unlawful Package Seizure by Police Back in 2012, an Oregon man named Max Barnthouse had Portland police officers show up as his door holding a package addressed to him. They had reportedly found the package as suspicious, had it examined by a drug sniffing dog, and went to Barnthouse’s home to inspect the contents of the package and to also search his residence. Barnthouse agreed to allow the officers to conduct their search, where they turned up cash and cannabis. The legal team who represented Barnthouse in this case claimed that this type of conduct by the police was considered to be unlawful search and seizure. According to a release by the Oregon Supreme Court, Barnthouse’s attorneys were correct. “ . . . the Court held, the police officers’ seizure of the package violated Article I, section 9, of the Oregon Constitution, and the trial court correctly suppressed the evidence discovered as a result of that seizure.” While the police confirmed that pulling packages that looked suspicious used to be a typical practice, they will be prohibited from doing so going forward.
Cannabis Possession Penalties Are Lowered in Memphis, Tennessee The city council of Memphis, Tennessee has moved to lower penalties on cannabis possession. The ordinance allows Memphis Police Department the ability to charge someone who was under the possession of cannabis a lesser charge than what is outlined by the state of Tennessee. Currently in the state, a person who is possessing half an ounce or less of cannabis can face a misdemeanor charge, up to a year of incarceration, plus a maximum fine of $2,500. Memphis’ new law allows an officer to instead charge the accused with a $50 ticket from the city. In the ordinance’s text, the council outlined the reasoning for this change. “Whereas, the City Council does not support or encourage the use of marijuana or any other controlled substance but finds that, when an individual’s only offense is possession or casual exchange of marijuana for personal use, criminal penalties imposed by state law and resulting criminal records for such as offense are disproportionate to the severity of the offense . . .” As the second city in the state to adopt much lesser punishment than Tennessee, it will be interesting to see if this will continue to happen throughout other local governments in the state.
Cannabis Extract is Recognized as Medicine by U.K. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the United Kingdom made a decision to recognize cannabis oil that is high in CBD to be medicinal. A letter sent by the MHRA shared its decision with producers and distributors of CBD products. “The MHRA has now completed its review and has considered all information available to it relating to cannabidiol (CBD oil) and having taken into account all the scientific advice and evidence, it has come to an opinion that products containing cannabidiol will satisfy the second limb of the definition of a ‘medicinal product’ . . .” This decision was reached after the proof that CBD oil is able to aid in physiological functions through its ability to affect a immunological, metabolic or pharmacological action. The next step is for the government to make sure the CBD products are regulated accordingly to protect public health.
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Oregon Bans Cannabis Names Like “Girl Scout Cookies” The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) announced on October 1 that cannabis products are not allowed to use names that are connected to products marketed by or to children. This means that common strain names like Girl Scout Cookies, Candy Land, Skywalker, Jedi Kush, among many others, will be banned. This comes as a shock to many in the cannabis community, because strain names have been a part of the industry’s culture. However, the intentions behind the OLCC are valid, as they were created to protect children. A press release by the OLCC stated, “We owe it to the industry and all Oregonians to make sure the integrity and safeguards of this system are intact and to keep faith with the will of the voters when they approved Measure 91. We are working hard to balance market needs with public health and safety to provide a reasonable transition for this industry to move into compliance.”
NEWS
The number of Oregon retail cannabis business licenses that were approved by the OLCC in late-September: (Source: The Register-Guard)
The estimated number of businesses licensed by the OLCC that were prepared to begin selling recreational cannabis on the first day of sales, (Source: Oregon which was October 1: Public Broadcasting)
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The number of attendees who visited Chalice Farms in Northeast Portland to learn about the science behind cannabis:
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(Source: Katu)
The percentage of Oregonian voters who think that legalizing recreational cannabis has had a positive impact on the state during the two years it has been legal:
The percentage of taxes made from recreational cannabis in Oregon that will be given to the Common School Fund: (Source: Mail Tribune)
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(Source: The Oregonian)
The percentage of Arizonans who favor cannabis legalization: (Source: AZ Central)
The amount of money, in thousands of dollars, that hemp soap company Dr. Bronner’s donated to an Arizona procannabis campaign: (Source: AZ Central)
The percentage of Mainers who favor legalizing cannabis for recreational use: (Source: Portland Press Herald)
The amount of cannabis, in ounces, that a person can now legally possess in Memphis, Tennessee after the city council agreed to reduce cannabis possession penalties: (Source: WREG Memphis)
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Oregon Growers Cup
WHAT: Oregon Growers Cup. WHEN/WHERE: Sat, Dec. 3. 540 Stearns Ln., Oakland. INFO: Visit www.oregongrowerscup.com for more information.
The Second Annual Oregon Growers Cup is ready to return with cash prizes! Growers from the state of Oregon compete in three contest categories, showing off their indoor strains, outdoors strains and concentrates. There are three winners per category with first place taking home $500 in cash and prizes, plus a first place trophy. Cash, prizes and trophies are also awarded to the second and third place winners. Guests will enjoy tons of giveaways and can participate in the People’s Choice Judging Event.
Musical guests will be providing entertainment throughout the evening. Performers include The Resinators, Love Somebody and DJ Jeff Smith. There will also be guest speakers from within the cannabis industry, as well as a comedy set by Ngaio Bealum. Guests with the munchies will enjoy dinner provided by Smokey G’s BBQ and Wrapping & Rolling, which offers vegan and vegetarian options. Get your entries in today, and snag some tickets to ensure your spot at this exciting growing competition and party.
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NEWS
LOCAL
CANNABIS MOMENTUM
Cannabis tourism remains popular in Oregon
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by Jamie Solis regon State may not be ready for its cannabis tourism success, but it’s happening anyway. When Oregon legalized cannabis in 2014, it not only granted its residents who are 21 and over the ability to purchase and consume cannabis, the law allowed visitors the same freedoms. Although Travel Oregon has not promoted cannabis tourism, it doesn’t mean cannabis tourism isn’t popular. There are plenty of companies in Portland and other Oregon cities that have been offering tourists bus tours, lodging and other interesting events. Travel Oregon, which is “The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information” does not capitalize on cannabis tourism, as the website only has one quick mention about legal cannabis. “As of July 1, Oregon’s recreational marijuana laws are in effect,” the website states. “That means adults ages 21 and older can legally possess and use recreational marijuana.” The statement includes a link to whatslegaloregon.com. The website provides guides for tourists like “Oregon Food Trips” and “Oregon Wine Touring Guide,” but it hasn’t yet provided a guide for adult use cannabis stops. Oregon isn’t the only state with a tourism office that has yet to embrace cannabis tourism, despite its draw. Colorado Tourism Office has also stated they are not ready to promote it, despite releasing data that cannabis tourism is a driving factor for visitors to the Centennial State. Colorado Tourism Office was running an ad campaign called “Come to Life.” The office took surveys last October and November of people who had seen their ads and may visit the state in the summer. Out of the polled individuals, 49 percent of the visitors said they their decision to visit Colorado was influenced by the state’s recreational cannabis laws. Even if the Oregon’s tourism board
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“First, public use of cannabis is still illegal. This means that any type of consumption from smoking to vaping or edibles must be done on private property when permitted.” doesn’t attract visitors with information surrounding legal cannabis, there are still plenty of organizations and companies dedicated to doing exactly that. From cannabis-friendly bed and breakfasts to cannabis-friendly bus tours, the popularity of cannabis tourism in Oregon since 2014 cannot be denied. The Original Cannabus, Portland Cannabus, Bridge Town Weed Tours, Franco’s Finest and High 5 tours are just some of the cannabis-friendly tours that visitors and locals frequently enjoy. Websites like Kushtourism.com and potguide.com are both brimming with cannabis-friendly lodging, dispensaries, weed and wine tours and more throughout Oregon. Although recreational cannabis is legal for possession and consumption of an adult ages 21 and over in Oregon, there are still issues that can arise for cannabis tourism. First, public use of cannabis is still illegal. This means that any type of consumption from smoking to vaping or edibles must be done on private property when permitted. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission recently began licensing cannabis retailers and setting out stricter regulations on cannabis and cannabis products. It will be interesting to see if the industry that is starting to gain more and more legitimacy may soon become included in Travel Oregon’s marketing plan. c
“Weed Week” in Portland Get ready for a week full of cannabisthemed speakers, activities and competitions happening throughout the city of Portland. The kick-off event will be the PitchFest. This is an event where entrepreneurs and hopefuls have 60 seconds to pitch their idea for a cannabis business to a group of other innovators, entrepreneurs and investors. After PitchFest, head downtown for the Kickoff Party with music, food, networking and drinks. The following days will be full of cannabis-related seminars on everything from Hempology 101 to Cannabis For Pain, Cooking With Cannabis, Banking for Marijuana Businesses and much more. Various activities will be available as well, which will include Keynote Speakers, Higher Consciousness Yoga, Cannabis Cuisine and more. The week will end with the Award Show Mixer and Cannabis Classic Holiday Harvest Cup Award Show. WHAT: "Weed Week" in Portland. WHEN/WHERE: Tues, Nov. 28Sun, Dec. 4. Various locations throughout Portland. INFO: Visit goweedweek. com for more information.
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REVIEWs
company highlight
Urban Float Vancouver 104 Grand Blvd., Suite 110, Vancouver, WA 98684 (360) 718-7083 www.urbanfloat.com How would you describe your company? We are a float spa, aka sensory deprivation tank spa, that has six private float rooms with I-sopod float tanks. We create a sanctuary of peace and quiet in an overstimulated world; where you can get away from cell phones, television and even people to fully rest and connect with yourself. By removing external stimuli, you afford your mind the necessary quiet it needs to reboot and reset. What is your specialty? Simply put, we provide the ultimate relaxation therapy available. With six private rooms with showers, bath products and beautiful float pods that are heated to 16
skin temperature, holding 300 gallons of water with over 1,200 pounds of dissolved medical grade magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salt), all you have to do is show up with an open mind, we have everything else taken care of. What do you offer consumers/clients that others don’t? There aren’t many float tank centers in the United States compared to other self-care facilities (ie: massage, gyms and yoga), so our offering is pretty unique. How and why did your company start up? Urban Float opened its doors to bring float therapy to the every-man, not just the elite,
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movie stars or athletes. Float therapy can do so much good for everyone, stress relief, improved sleep, better focus and creativity to name a few. It can even offer relief to people suffering from anxiety, depression and there are current studies on how sufferers of PTSD can use floating to reduce their symptoms. What are the goals and vision moving forward, for your company? As the first franchisee for the company we want to make our corporate HQ proud, and outperform their stores. We want to help propel the float industry forward, making float therapy a common form of self-care, we want to do for floating accessibility what Massage Envy did to make massage more accessible. Long story short, we want everyone to float at least once in their lives.
Where do you see your company in five years? We hope to personally own three stores in the greater Vancouver area, with many franchises popping up over the US. This can bring this amazing, healing therapy to most people in the country. What do you hope to accomplish in the MJ/MMJ industry? What we hope to accomplish is to offer users of cannabis a place to complement their medical treatment, a place of healing. Our facility is clean, quiet, and focused on offering exceptional guest services. As such, people suffering from the many ailments that are relieved by use of cannabis, can also find additional relief with adding float therapy as part of their prescription to health and relief. c
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Toker Poker
GU IDE! 2016
Get the hottest gift item of the season—the legendary Toker Poker! Finally your poker/ dabber, tamper, hemp wick and lighter are all in the same place. This 420 multi-tool has everything you need to vape, dab, roll and toke. Its ergonomic design provides the most basic but essential tools for any smoker. Glow in the dark, chrome and other limited editions are now available online. Sure to be a stocking stuffer hero! Use “CULTURETP16” at check out for 20 percent discount online at TokerPoker.com (offer expires 12/31/16). Price: $7.95 Website: www.tokerpoker.com
Grow For Vets USA
To honor, give thanks and give back to U.S. veterans, O.penVAPE has created a fund raising promotion with our partner Grow For Vets USA. We’ve designed two batteries, one customized with a camouflage design and the other an American flag. Both will be sold online and in retail outlets across the country. For every battery sold, one dollar is being donated to Grow For Vets USA. The organization’s primary mission is to save the more than 50 veterans who die each day from suicide and prescription overdoses. Grow for Vets provides veteran heroes with a safe alternative to deadly prescription drugs. Helping wounded veterans to receive the respect and dignity of life that they deserve is a mission we are proud to be part of. Price: $24.95 Website: openvape.com
My Bud Vase “Daily Bread” Water Pipe
This beautifully crafted My Bud Vase is a water pipe fashioned from a traditional flower vase. Made from high-grade ceramic material, this delicate but lovely pipe has a large bubble chamber to help filter the incoming smoke and a wide mouthpiece that allows for a pleasant smoking experience. These vase-pipes are the perfect gift if you’re searching for both a highquality bubbler that can double as a nice centerpiece for a kitchen table— and it’s the kind of gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Price: $119 Website: www.dankstop.com
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Cannabis Leaf Track Jacket
It’s time to help cannabis fashion transition from the stereotypical hippie-inspired garb to some new articles of clothing that are classy and trendy instead. Treat your cannabis-lover with a gift like this cannabis leaf track jacket. This particular jacket is made of thin spandex and meant for light weather, allowing the wearer to literally wear their love for cannabis on their sleeve. Your giftee can simply zipup and head out into the world with confidence that cannabis is on the rise. Price: $26.95 Website: www.originalhoneystraw.com
PAX Era
Give the gift of sleek design and effortless medicating with this cutting-edge vaporizer. PAX Era pocket-sized vaporizer is the slimmest, most portable vape to hit the market. You can consume cannabis discreetly and on-the-go with this innovative, light-weight device. Working exclusively with its PAX Era Pods, your vaping experience will surely be elevated to a personalized level. The PAX Era offers consistency and density with each inhale, thanks to its groundbreaking dual-end wicking feature. Tech-savvy individuals can even personalize their PAX device by downloading the PAX Vapor App to their smartphones. The device comes with a one-year warranty. Price: $59.99 Website: www.paxvapor.com
GUIDE ! 2016 .cont
Handmade Lush Green 4” Wooden Dugout with One Hitter Bat Tomahawk Glass Peace Pipe
Another one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece, this Tomahawk Glass Peace Pipe is a generous gift of functional glass art that will dazzle even the pickiest of collectors. Made with borosilicate glass that has been sandblasted with linear and swirl patterns, this pipe is a unique piece of artistic expression. Adorned with feathers, bone beads and leather, one will surely find peace of mind and body upon putting this glorious pipe to use. Whether you choose to gift this to that special someone or simply gift it to yourself, the Tomahawk Glass Peace Pipe will be the shining star in any collection. Price: $169.99 Website: www.etsy.com/shop/ boglass
We all know that handmade gifts are the most meaningful. Does the same go for when you’re not the only one who actually crafts the gift by hand? Either way, this handmade lush green dugout makes an ideal gift for your friend who likes to take a couple hits of flower on-the-go. This gift will really score you a homerun in the friend department, as the dugout comes with a one-hatter bat made out of pure silica quartz, glass or metal for your choosing. Since each dugout is handmade, the patterns and colors for each piece will be a one-of-a-kind shade. Price: $9.99+ Website: www.etsy.com/shop/quickpremium
Black Ops Plazmatic X Lighter
There’s no need to invest in old technology. If Apple can remove the decades-old headphone jack from their phones, then companies like Prazmatic can reinvent the lighter. The Black Ops Plazmatic X isn’t called the “original dual beam lighter” for nothing. This unique gadget is eco-friendly, with its ability to recharge via USB, and it can work in any weather or condition—and also saves buyers a ton of money from buying old disposable lighters. This electric lighter offers 50-100 lights per charge, and it only takes 1-2 hours to complete a full charge cycle. Price: $69.96 Website: www.plazmatic.com
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REVIEWs
entertainment
BOOK
Marijuana: A Short History
MOVIE Release Date: November 29 Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
John Hudak
GAME
Brookings Institution Press
Final Fantasy XV
John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution traces the history of America’s laws and attitudes toward cannabis in his new book, Marijuana: A Short History. Hudak offers a unique and up-to-date summary of how this natural plant with a seemingly controversial history has emerged from the shadows of subcultures and secret illegal use to become a seriously treasured medicinal public policy issue and source of legal revenue for states, businesses and government. Hudak goes into detail about why attitudes have shifted and what the future for cannabis is in our ever-changing political world. (Alex Bradley)
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Square Enix Business Division 2 Square Enix Final Fantasy XV (FFXV ) is proof of how far the series has come since the original game released in the late-1980s. During a time of war on a planet called Eos, almost all countries are controlled by the empire of Niflheim, leading the heir of the only free kingdom, Noctis, to travel on a journey to save his homeland. FFXV is an action-RPG that takes place in a beautiful open world, and features like a new battle system, along with the familiar unique weapons and magic types. Needless to say, this game is worthy of its legacy title. (Nicole Potter)
Ghostbusters
MUSIC
Dir. Paul Feig
Cody
Columbia Pictures
Joyce Manor
The debate regarding the value of re-making classic films and re-launching iconic film franchises like Ghostbusters has been a contentious one. However, for those who are able to eschew measuring it against the 1984 original and accept it for what it is, then the film can be quite enjoyable. This film is a fun reimagining of an awesome premise meant to introduce new, younger fans to a great comedic film series, with the most striking difference being it’s all female leading cast. Filled with gut busting slapstick comedy and enough subtle references to the original to please old fans. (Simon Weedn)
Epitaph Records Over the last several years, Joyce Manor has established itself as one of the strongest and prolific bands in the pop punk scene. So it’s no surprise that the band’s new LP, Cody, finds the quartet continuing to evolve its sound and pushing itself in new directions. While a couple of the songs see the band revisiting its tried and true minute-and-a-half burst of sonic intensity, Cody also sees the band stretching itself both literally and metaphorically into longer songs and an even more varied sound. (Simon Weedn)
Pato Banton is a famed reggae musician, profound community leader and cannabis advocate by Paul Rogers Reggae star Pato Banton was in the midst of his biggest-ever tour—a global trek for Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD organization in 2000— when he learned that two of his sons had been injured in a drive-by shooting in his native England. He immediately put his burgeoning career on hold to go hunt-down the perpetrator. Gunman found, he then turned his outrage and sorrow into the impetus for award-winning community and educational initiatives which would consume the next six years of his life. Reading like some gritty screenplay, this extended episode epitomizes a man whose fourdecade public presence has increasingly transcended music to convey a singularly positive and often spiritual message. Emerging from a working-class community in Britain’s second-largest city, Birmingham, in the 1970s, Banton is now based in Southern California, from where he continues to tour extensively while simultaneously serving as a mentor (and sometimes minister) to fans worldwide. Banton was almost born into a world of reggae sound systems, with his Jamaican DJ stepfather hosting illegal house parties in his childhood home at which the preteen served as a lookout, doorman 2222 november november 2016 2016iReadCULTURE.com iReadCULTURE.com
and ultimately, performer. Born Patrick Murray, Banton’s nocturnal musical escapades earned him the nickname “Patoo,” a Jamaican word for owl (“Banton,” meaning formidable lyricist, was added by music producers later). By his late teens, “Ranking Pato” had been declared his hometown’s number one MC seven years in a row and was touring Europe with a local reggae band. But it was his performance on The Beat’s 1982 album Special Beat Service that put him on the mainstream map. Appearances on UB40’s 1985 Baggariddim and Little Baggariddim releases confirmed Banton as a major toasting talent and imminent solo force. Banton’s debut solo album, ‘85s Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton, is still regarded as a genre classic. A string of hits including “Absolute Perfection” and “Handsworth Riot” followed. By the mid 1990s he was topping charts internationally with a cover of Eddy Grant’s “Baby Come Back” (featuring Ali and Robin Campbell of UB40) and collaborations with Sting (a remix of “This Cowboy Song” and a remake of the Police’s “Spirits in a Material World”). Throughout, Banton has been an outspoken promoter of p h o t o s b y J o h n G i l h o o le y
cannabis (referencing how he “smoke up the ganja” on his second single “Allo Tosh,” and that he “only smoke the sensimilla” on 1987 classic “Don’t Sniff Coke”). A famously charismatic, inclusive live performer known for evocative storytelling and comic vocal characterizations, Banton threw himself into philanthropic work after his sons’ shooting, founding community projects, becoming a qualified music teacher, and setting up his own School of Musical Arts and Technology in Birmingham. He has earned numerous accolades for his musical and humanitarian accomplishments, including the BBC’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Upon returning to musicmaking a decade ago, Banton embarked upon a mission to spread positivity, spirituality and universal love. He has two new albums slated for release in February and will be touring in the U.S., U.K., Africa and Asia next year. He just re-recorded “Baby Come Back” with Ali Campbell for a new UB40 release. CULTURE chatted with the affable Banton about his music, message, and long relationship with cannabis. >>
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Starting out in Birmingham in the 1970s, would you ever have pictured yourself still having a thriving career and living in sunny Southern California nearly four decades later? I would not! I had a lot of doubts about my future, but music was always my hobby . . . So it’s really just been an evolution of fun and just a continuation of my love of music and never really felt like an “official” career. Can you paint a picture of the sound system scene from which you emerged? We’d have our sound system in [a living room] with our music box with all the records in it and a speaker box that took up half the room! And we’d be playing music just really for our friends in a dark room and just going on the microphone and chanting lyrics, ‘til eventually it emerged for us to be in nightclubs doing the same thing. What does a typical week in the life of Pato Banton look like these days? Getting the band together . . . hitting the road; doing shows [and] doing interviews while I’m travelling. Writing lyrics. And I’m on my computer every chance I can get—I’m reaching out to new promoters, booking shows for months ahead, because I do my own bookings, I shoot my own videos, I record my own songs in my own recording studio. So it’s really non-stop. You seem to tour constantly. Is that the best part of the job? I get great pleasure out of meeting people—meeting my fans; meeting other artists in the industry; seeing new places. And one of my main motivations is to make people feel better, so I get a chance to meet my fans, talk to them, uplift their spirits—while I’m performing and in person. So I’m not just trying to build a fanbase—I’m actually building a spiritual family as well as I travel, and to me that’s the ultimate goal. Your live shows are unusually participatory experiences. What is your approach to concert performance? It’s not about me just going on stage and doing a rehearsed show—it’s about saying ‘how can I get this entire crowd of people . . . involved in this experience, connected to each other, and get everybody feeling good.’ We never have a set list . . . So it’s really a personal experience for the crowd and no two nights are the same. >> 24
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“The medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabis are so obvious now and so globally recognized now that it is insanity not to allow it to be explored and understood at increasingly deeper levels.�
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How has your sense of humor helped you spread your message? I think the sense of humor is very important, especially considering that most of my lyrics are pretty serious . . . [It] allows people to let go of the stress and drama, enjoy the moment, but also reflect on subjects that are meaningful. From your earliest days recording with Ranking Roger and UB40 to your later hits with Sting and recent work with Mystic Roots, collaboration appears crucial to your creativity. Why is that? It’s friendship when I bond in the studio with another artist . . . And then creating something new, to me, is just very, very inspiring. You touch their audience with your style and then touch your audience with their style. I can do albums by myself, but it’s just much more fun when you go into a situation where someone who has a totally different style to you; a totally different approach to writing to you. Your career straddles the old music business, dominated by major labels and radio play, and the new era of downloads and social media. What have been the pros and cons of these two contrasting landscapes? The pros with a major label really are that you have a team . . . working on every single avenue of your career, because of their investment into you. The cons of a major label are that they only give you less than 10 percent of everything you earn. With downloading, the new era that we’re living in now, there’s no real control of your music . . . But the sales that you do make, you make 100 percent of your own sales. And so for me, as a live touring artist, I sell most of my CDs on the road . . . And, once I release my music digitally now, I own it 100 percent, rather than a record label owning my music. In May, you held your 4th annual Spiritual Gathering in L.A. Just what is Pato Banton’s Spiritual Gathering? A lot of people who are not in religion or in churches are looking for some kind of community . . . We give participants a 30-minute slot to give a presentation to everybody. And these presentations can be on prayer or a spiritual subject or a global subject that has a serious meaning to everybody. And then, in between each speaker, we have people who can sing or play instruments play some music. >> 26
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After your sons were shot back in Birmingham in 2000, you successfully set out to find the gunman. Tell me that story and about how it impacted your life. I was blown away . . . I thought to myself ‘wow, here I am doing so much for underprivileged and troubled communities around the world [with WOMAD] and I haven’t had a chance to do anything for my own community.’ That really bothered me. I went back home; I found out who shot my kids and it was actually a friend of mine—his son was trying to kill somebody else and my two sons got in the way . . . But, about six months later this kid went and shot somebody else and was caught and ended up getting a life sentence. I took my recording studio that I had at home and set it up in my community center locally and then started inviting all the kids off the streets. That became such a hit that local authorities . . . asked me to set up the same program in 16 other communities . . . Then that became such a huge hit that the local college invited me to set up a music department. Tell me about your personal history with cannabis and how it has impacted your life and music. Growing up in a Caribbean community in England, cannabis, marijuana was just a part of our culture . . . I started smoking myself about the age of 14, 15, but very casually. One thing I enjoyed about my experience with marijuana is that it always made me think deeply . . . my thought becomes profound; my reflections become deeper and my perspective becomes deeper. In reggae music [and] the Rasta community . . . they see marijuana as a sacrament. So it’s done with reverence—we smoke with reverence and respect for the plant.
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“In reggae music [and] the Rasta community . . . they see marijuana as a sacrament. So it’s done with reverence— we smoke with reverence and respect for the plant.”
What are your opinions about both the medicinal and recreational value of cannabis for society as a whole? Both approaches . . . are very, very important for society. Y’know, society needs a different option than alcohol, that’s for sure. [Cannabis] should be legalized and decriminalized and fully accessible—not just to an industry, but also to the individual in their own backyard. The medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabis are so obvious now and so globally recognized now that it is insanity not to allow it to be explored and understood at increasingly deeper levels. For you, how does cannabis enhance spirituality? When I was younger and when I smoked it, it made me think. Thinking is necessary for any kind of progress and profound thinking; deep thinking is necessary for us to go even further in our own personal and social development. So I think that, when I started my spiritual journey, marijuana helped me to become more thoughtful and more self-aware. I hardly smoke anymore; very rarely—I’m more into edibles now . . . but I will say that, when I do eat it, I still have awesome experiences of deeper meditation and deeper thinking.
What are your thoughts on current cannabis legislation in the U.S. and how do you foresee this changing? I feel like the legislation across the U.S. is muddled, confused, and between the federal state and the independent states there needs to be harmony. I think it’s changing and I do see some progress, because this can only go on while a minority of the states have got [cannabis] legislation . . . Once the majority of states slew towards legalization, the federal government will have to back off. Outside of making music, what are the great passions in your life? I do ministry [but] I don’t belong to a church; I don’t belong to any religion. If you want to have the most, you’ve got to give, and so I decided that I wanted to be a minister . . . I’m always serving my fans. I’m performing weddings; I’m christening people; we have spiritual gatherings [and] study groups at my home. Apart from that, I enjoy shooting videos . . . my own videos and I do videos for other people. Your last album was Destination Paradise in 2008. What’s on the horizon for you, musically? I’m working on two albums right now and one of them is basically done . . . It’s called Love is the Greatest and it’s coming from all different aspects of love. And then I’ve got another album that I’m working on called BrotherFriend which is more of a heavy album dealing with world issues. I have a third album as well that I’m working on which is called The Words of Rastafari, which is a three-CD album where I am narrating the words of Haile Selassie over some Bob Marley rhythms. c
“[Cannabis] should be legalized and decriminalized and fully accessible— not just to an industry, but also to the individual in their own back yard.”
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CANNABIS GIVES BACK Great benefits come from providing support to our local communities by Addison Herron-Wheeler
We’ve already seen all the good that cannabis can do. From providing medical relief and safe recreation to generating tax revenue thanks to astronomical sales, more and more people all the time are starting to come around to the idea that cannabis is a good thing that can do good for the community. But in addition to all of this, there are many
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programs within the cannabis industry that go a step further, intentionally using products and profits to make the world, or at least the local community, a better place. Here are a few ways that cannabis is giving back and helping contribute to positive change. >>
Environmental Stewardship The double meaning of “going green” that makes cannasseurs chuckle is more than just a clever pun. The industry has been seeking ways to be more environmentally sustainable when it comes to things like growing large amounts of cannabis and extracting oil. The recent Cannabis Sustainability Summit in Colorado brought leaders in the industry together from across the country to talk about how to make the green more green. Also, an initiative in legal states has many local dispensaries sponsoring highways in order to keep them clean and litter-free.
Helping Underserved and Marginalized Communities In addition to helping out the environment, many cannabis businesses go out of their way to serve communities that otherwise would be passed over. Good Chemistry, a dispensary with production facilities in Colorado and Nevada, participates in many LGBTQ-friendly events because they hit close to home. “I became involved in the medical marijuana industry when my father and my father’s partner were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS,” stated Matthew Huron, Founder and CEO of Good Chemistry. “In 1996, when medical marijuana became available in California, I saw firsthand the symptomatic relief patients experienced from this alternative medical treatment. In 2000, I began growing medical marijuana for AIDS patients throughout the state, founding and operating a nonprofit medical marijuana co-op.” Now as a Denver-based dispensary, Huron makes sure to participate in the AIDS walk and One Colorado’s Ally Awards, in order to actively help the LGBTQ community. Additionally, Good Chemistry supports Urban Nights, a fashion show that benefits the homeless youth of Colorado, and many other organizations. “To be an industry that is not only accepted but also valued, we must extend our support to other communities and causes,” explains Huron. “We must continue to fight for other underserved communities. Good Chemistry Nurseries would not exist without the support and advocacy of others, and we prioritize giving back.”
Getting Underprivileged Patients Education and Access to Medicine Another great way for the cannabis community to help support those in need is for organizations to provide medical cannabis to those who don’t know
“To be an industry that is not only accepted but also valued, we must extend our support to other communities and causes.” about it as an option or can’t afford it themselves. Missouri’s NORML is currently spearheading Project 22, an initiative that combines efforts between Saint Louis, Kansas City and Denver’s NORML organizations. NORML is currently collecting funds to educate local leaders by taking them on trips to Denver so that they can witness what legalization is actually like first hand. Additionally, they are raising money through Kickstarter and other means in order to purchase cannabis for veterans that suffer from PTSD.
Feeding the Hungry Last but not least, Denver NORML is currently raising money to contribute to the Denver Rescue Mission, which will be buying Thanksgiving meals for the homeless. They also plan to collect cans during the Holiday season that they will turn over to the Rocky Mountain Food Bank. Simple charity initiatives like this can be done without much money, yet still prove that cannabis enthusiasts are the first in line to lend a helping hand. This Thanksgiving season, it seems that more organizations than ever are stepping up to the task of giving back. c
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culture growing RECIPES UNKNOWN
by Ed Rosenthal Last month I started an experiment trying to produce pollen from female plants. Because female plants carry only female sex genes any flowers pollinated using this pollen will result in seeds that will all become female plants. Three different chemicals were tried: 30PPM colloidal silver sprayed daily, silver thiosulfate (which is a combination silver nitrate and sodium thiosulfate sprayed three times) and a commercial product advertised for the purpose that was sprayed daily. Each liquid was sprayed on four plants, one each of Blue Dream, Candyland, Sour Diesel and Girl Scout Cookies. After 30 days the only plants that responded in any way to the treatments were the four plants that received
the commercial spray. It has been 30 days since the experiment was started and on the four plants sprayed with the commercial formula the male flowers are large and profuse. They look like they are about to open and to release their pollen. These plants have grown no female flowers. My plan is to collect the pollen from each of the bearing plants and then to use this to pollinate unsprayed females. The “unaffected” sprayed plants will also be pollinated to see if they are fertile and capable of producing seed. While this is happening, I am setting up another two groups of four plants to try different versions of the colloidal silver and silver thiosulfate experiment: Rather than use the colloidal silver at 30 ppm daily, the concentration will be increased to 100 ppm with daily spraying.
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Rather than just spraying the silver thiosulfate weekly, the plants will be sprayed with a different regimen. Several are being considered. All of them involve more frequent spraying. I was disappointed that the colloidal silver and STS didn’t work, but I attribute it to a flaw in method since both are successfully used all the time. The new plants will be clones transplanted to 6” containers placed in a 4’ x 4’ tray. They will be given continuous light for three days. Then they will be placed in the flowering section, which is a greenhouse that will get between 11 and 10 hours of sunlight daily, dwindling as autumn progresses. The sun is supplemented with a 1000 watt HPS lamp that is on for 12 hours daily. As the new plants commence flowering, the seeds resulting from the successful pollen production of the earlier experiment will be maturing. Shortly after they mature, representative samples will be germinated and flowered in standard 10” x 20” trays to check their femaleness and for hermaphroditism. At the same time, it will be a study in flowering plants directly from germinating seed. c
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Experimental garden. Three rows were treated with masculinizing agents. The fourth was used as a control.
Each row held four varieties—Blue Dream, Candyland, Sour Diesel and Girl Scout Cookies and coded with different colors for each spray product .
A Sour Diesel treated with the commercial spray switched sexes completely.
Bud of Sour Diesel female plant treated with the commercial product shows no indication of female flowers, just males.
Female flowers of Candyland treated with colloidal silver showed no effects.
Copyright by Ed Rosenthal. All rights are reserved. First North American Magazine rights only are assigned to culture Magazine. No other reproduction of this material is permitted without the specific written permission of the author/copyright holder.
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TIP OF THE MONTH
Some gardeners have refrigerated or frozen the fresh fan or trim leaves from the harvest and manicuring. This leaf can be used to make a special bubble hash. In the living plant there is little THC. Instead the plant holds it as an acid, THCa. It only becomes psychtropically active when it dries and decarboxylates, becoming THC. When the glands go through the liquid sift as bubble hash is made, the THCa never has a chance to change over to THC. If the hash is burned or vaporized, the heat will quickly convert the THCa. However, if I used in preparations in which it is kept cool and moist or wet, most of it may remain as THCa. Since it is not psychotropically active, THCa can be used medically in large doses. To retain these qualities, it should be used in formulas or recipes that are not heated.
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Time to Go: Fall Weather: Cold with intermittent showers Budget: $$$$$
if you go: Prague may sound like a cannabis lover’s dream, but it isn’t as easy it is sounds. A tradition of using cannabis as medicines goes back thousands of years, so medical cannabis has always been accepted as a true medication. But like most European countries, it isn’t truly legal. However, Prague is the most openly accepting European city for growing your own and toking in public (just don’t do it in front of the authorities). Cannabis growers here do it privately and the best buds can be found by befriending cool locals. Just remember to ask politely and expect to pay top notch prices for whatever you can find.
Prague Magically Lights Up in November
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Cannabis enthusiasts visiting Prague, Czech Republic in November’s shoulder season can expect less tourists and more affordability, as well as an opportunity to witness the city’s famed Christmas markets that literally light up the chilly outside while club, concert, ballet, opera, black light and marionette theatre season gear up at indoor venues. Prague may be Europe’s most cannabis-friendly city, but it doesn’t wear its cannabis pride on its emerald sleeve, unlike nearby Amsterdam. As in most European countries, cannabis is still illegal and medical cannabis patients are left in limbo land without proper licensing or access to lab-tested premium meds. Still, Prague residents and visitors can rather easily obtain decent-to-excellent flower bud strains from private home-tomedical grade growers (see “if you go” section for buying recommendations).
Edibles and other ingestion methods such as vaping are still quite rare, but cannabis tinctures and salves are another matter. In fact, it is legal for citizens over 18 to grow up to five plants for medical use at home. This is why most Czech grannies and grandpas have grown their own for centuries to provide a fresh store of smoking bud as well as soothing transdermal medications to sick friends and family. The city’s famous Christmas Markets rev up this year starting Nov. 26 although Prague’s holiday lights and window dressings magically transform the city by mid-month. Both Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are open from morning to late evening with dazzling decorations along with holiday shopping, charming carolers, traditional foods and warm drinks such as mulled wine and hot chocolate. c
Fun-Filled Facts Day tripping using Prague as a central base is one of the delights of this ancient city as it sits just slightly northwest of the country’s dead center. One of the best day trips is located just two hours north by train to a mountainous forest oddly enough called Bohemian Switzerland, which is actually sits on Germany’s south border. 1
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Prague’s O2 Arena is one of Europe’s best and biggest concert venues. Lit-up like a jewel at night, “The 02” rocks late fall with the world tours of Rod Stewart (Nov. 7), Jean-Michel Jarre (Nov. 8), Justin Bieber (Nov. 12), Petr Hapka (Nov. 24) and Elton John (Nov. 26). 2
If you are visiting the Czech Republic on Nov. 17, remember this is a national holiday called the Day of the Struggle for Liberty and Democracy. This no-work day commemorates a famous student protest in 1939 against the Nazi occupation and also celebrates the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Most tourist-laden businesses are open for the holiday, but shops frequented by locals will probably be closed or have limited hours. 3
Jack Splitt
Age: 15 Condition/Illness: Severe Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy with debilitating Dystonia, chronic pain and nausea Using Medical Cannabis Since: July 2014 - August 24, 2016
Why did Jack start using medical cannabis? Stacey Linn: When Jack hit puberty his Dystonia (constant, severe muscle contractions all over his body that caused contortions, pain and vomiting) became unmanageable. He was taking up to 10 pharmaceutical medicines, most of which were not specifically for Dystonia. All
of the medications sedated him to the point of being unable to think, or even keep his mouth closed, or smile. Jack was nonverbal and dependant on a specially molded wheelchair to sit up. He could not use his arms or legs. Cannabis started working for Jack immediately and I was able to wean him off 85 percent of his medications. He returned to being his bright, engaged self. He was relieved of a great deal of pain and anxiety associated with the Dystonia. He was also healthier in general. In the years prior to cannabis he was constantly hospitalized for respiratory
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients? The scariest issue facing MMJ patients right now is the effort by cities and counties to create policies that circumvent the state constitutions that legalized medical marijuana and allowed patients to grow their own medicine. There are many ballot initiatives this November that restrict the ability of patients to grow their own medicine by limiting plant counts and ban the manufacture of oil-based medicine. MMJ patients like Jack need large quantities of oil concentrate to treat their illnesses. What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine? “So was I!” We have all been raised with the antiquated prohibitionist attitudes
about marijuana as a dangerous drug. In fact, cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years— and was quite commonly used in this country until it was criminalized in 1937 for political reasons. The ensuing propaganda taught generations the wrong idea about marijuana. It is safe and non-toxic. There have been zero reported deaths from marijuana use to date. Compare the safety of marijuana to the epidemic of deaths from pharmaceutical overdoses—not to mention the addiction problems and dangerous drug interactions. Jack and thousands of others are living proof that medical marijuana works. It stops seizures, pain, muscle spasms, treats cancer and PTSD where traditional pharmaceuticals fail and/ or cause additional harm. It causes no harm. Allow yourself to be educated. Meet some real cannabis patients. Listen to their story of recovery and see with your own eyes what cannabis has done for them. Reversing the false information will only happen by learning the facts. Contact me at CannAbility, my foundation, which has a broad constituency of medical marijuana patients. Talk to them. We can give you countless research on the efficacy of marijuana medicine. Read it. Do this even you are fortunate enough not to have a debilitating condition. Please be compassionate. c
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disease. The first year on cannabis he was only admitted to the hospital twice for respiratory illness, whereas previous years he spent, on average, 10 weeks in the hospital. While on MMJ, Jack was able to lobby with me, his mother, to pass a groundbreaking law in Colorado to allow children like him to take MMJ at school. He was able to sit for hours through committee hearings and visit legislators to help educate them on the benefit of MMJ and the necessity of being able to take it at school. His bravery and bright, engaging spirit changed thousands of hearts and minds.
Are you an MMJ patient 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.
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culture growing
Relishing in Fall’s Bounty
Yield: 16 Mushrooms, 8 Servings Serving Size: 2 Mushrooms
Menu:
Thanksgiving Stuffed Mushrooms
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Cranberry Walnut Biscotti
recipes by Laurie Wolf The Fall bounty, which in my world includes harvesting outdoor cannabis, lends itself to the earthy, rustic flavors found in these recipes. Of course you can make them any time of year, but seasonal and local is how we like to roll. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Stuffed Mushrooms
Directions
This is the recipe for the folks who can’t get enough of the flavors of that food crazy American holiday. You certainly don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to try it, everything is available year round. A tasty mushroom for sure.
Preheat oven to 325̊ F. Clean mushrooms using a paper towel to remove any dirt. Do not run under water. To prepare mushrooms: Remove stems, finely chop, and set stems aside. Lightly coat each mushroom with olive oil, salt and pepper; and place cap side up on a baking sheet for later use. In sauté pan over medium low heat, add 2 tablespoon olive oil and cook garlic, shallots, and celery until translucent but not browned. To same pan add turkey sausage, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and poultry seasoning. Continue to cook until turkey sausage is mostly done cooking. Turn the pan to low and add the dried cranberries, applesauce, mascarpone cheese, cornbread and panko breadcrumbs. Blend until thoroughly combined. Blend in the canna-oil and mix for two minutes, ensuring the oil is evenly distributed. Fill mushroom caps with 1½ tablespoon of the filling and bake at 325̊ F for 20 minutes.
Ingredients 16 extra-large white button mushrooms
1 tablespoon chopped poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped dried cranberries
1 ½ tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cinnamon applesauce
1 large diced shallot
3 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
2 minced garlic cloves
1/4 cup crumbled corn bread
1 stalk celery
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
¾ pound turkey sausage
8 teaspoons canna-olive oil*
november 2016 iReadCULTURE.com
Turkey Meatballs Medicating these glorious meatballs is achieving food perfection. This recipe is inspired by the brilliant chef Mario Batali, and acquired through my friend Freddi. These are now our go-to meatballs. They are amazing. And they are turkey. Go figure.
Yield: 10 Servings Serving Size: 2 Biscotti
Ingredients: 10 slices of day old bread
½ cup chopped parsley
2 lbs. ground turkey
2-3 tablespoons canna-olive oil*
¼ lb. prosciutto, diced ½ lb. Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 eggs
Salt and pepper
½ cup Romano cheese, grated
2 cups tomato sauce
Directions: Heat oven to 340° F. In a medium bowl cover the bread with water. After five minutes, drain the bread well. In a large bowl combine the turkey, prosciutto, and sausage. Mix well. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley, oils, salt and pepper and mix very well. Place the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Use an ice cream scoop to form into meatballs and place onto the parchment. They will be a little flat at the bottom but that’s okay. Bake for 40 minutes. Warm tomato sauce over medium/low heat. Toss meatballs with warm tomato sauce.
Yield: 2 Dozen Meatballs, 12 Servings Serving Size: 2 Meatballs
Cranberry Walnut Biscotti With a cup of tea or coffee these biscotti will kick your butt, but only in the best way. Biscotti are fun to make. It’s a process, but it has a great pace and it’s cool to see the transformation of the dough.
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour
concentrate
2/3 cups sugar
1 tablespoon orange rind
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup sugar
½ cup dried cranberries
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 egg white
3 1/3 tablespoons canna-oil*
Sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice
Directions: Heat oven to 340° F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla and add to dry ingredients and mix until moistened. Add walnuts and cranberries and knead into dough. Flour your hands, as the dough will be sticky. Divide dough in half and shape into two 10 x 2 ½ inch logs with floured hands. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Cool loaves on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Place on a cutting board and slice into one-inch pieces on the diagonal. Place the cut side down on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes on each side until light golden brown, a little longer if you like crisper biscotti. Cool completely on wire racks. 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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Chuck Shepherd's
News of the
Weird LEAD STORY—THESE SHOES WEREN’T MADE FOR WALKIN’ u The upscale clothier Barneys New York recently introduced $585 “Distressed Superstar Sneakers” (from the high-end brand Golden Goose) that were purposely designed to look scuffed, well-worn and cobbledtogether, as if they were shoes recovered from a Dumpster. The quintessential touch was the generous use of duct tape on the bottom trim. Critics were in abundance, accusing Barneys of mocking poverty.
GOVERNMENT IN ACTION u The Drug Enforcement Administration has schemed for several years to pay airline and Amtrak employees for tips on passengers who might be traveling with large sums of cash, so that the DEA can interview them—with an eye toward seizing the cash under federal law if they merely “suspect” that the money is involved in illegal activity. A USA Today investigation, reported in August, revealed that the agency had seized $209 million in a decade, from 5,200 travelers who, even if no criminal charge results, almost never get all their money back (and, of 87 recent cash seizures, only two actually resulted in charges). One Amtrak employee was secretly paid $854,460 over a decade for snitching passenger information to the DEA. u Update: In August, the Defense Department’s inspector general affirmed once again (following on 2013 disclosures) that the 38
agency has little knowledge of where its money goes— this time admitting that the Department of the Army had made $6.5 trillion in accounting “adjustments” that appeared simply to be made up out of thin air, just to get the books balanced for 2015. (In part, the problem was laid to 16,000 financial data files that simply disappeared with no trace.) “As a result,” reported Fortune magazine, “there has been no way to know how the Defense Department—far and away the biggest chunk of Congress’s annual budget— spends the public’s money.” WAIT, WHAT? u In August, the banking giant Citigroup and the communications giant AT&T agreed to end their twomonth-long legal hostilities over AT&T’s right to have a customer service program titled “Thanks.” Citigroup had pointed out that it holds trademarks for customer service titles “thankyou,” “citi thankyou,” “thankyou from citi” and “thankyou your way,” and had tried to block the program name “AT&T Thanks.” u In July in the African nation of Malawi (on the western border of Mozambique), Eric Aniva was finally arrested—but not before he had been employed by village families more than 100 times to have ritual sex to “cleanse” recent widows—and girls immediately after their first menstruation. Aniva is one of several such sex workers known as “hyenas” (because they operate stealthily, at night), but Malawi president Peter Mutharika took action after reading devastating dispatches (reporting hyenas’ underage victims and Aniva’s HIV-positive status) in The New York Times and London’s The Guardian, among other news services.
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u The July 2012 Aurora, Colorado, theater shooter, James Holmes, is hardly wealthy enough to be sued, so 41 massacre victims and families instead filed against Cinemark Theater for having an unsafe premises, and by August 2016 Cinemark had offered $150,000 as a total settlement. Thirtyseven of the 41 accepted, but four held out since the scaled payout offered only a maximum of $30,000 for the worst-off victims. Following the settlement, the judge, finding that Cinemark could not have anticipated Holmes’s attack, ruled for the theater—making the four holdouts liable under Colorado law for Cinemark’s expenses defending against the lawsuit ($699,000). WEIRD CHINA u Misunderstandings: (1) “Mr. L,” 31, a Chinese tourist visiting Dulmen, Germany, in July, went to a police station to report his stolen wallet, but signed the wrong form and was logged in as requesting asylum, setting off a bureaucratic nightmare that left him confined for 12 days at a migrant hostel before the error was rectified. (2) In August at a hospital in Shenyang, China, “Wang,” 29, awaiting his wife’s childbirth, was reported (by People’s Daily via Shanghaiist.com) to have allowed a nurse to wave him into a room for anesthesia and hemorrhoid surgery—a procedure that took 40 minutes. (The hospital quickly offered to pay a settlement—but insisted that, no matter his purpose at the hospital, he in fact had hemorrhoids, and they were removed.) u Evidently, many Chinese wives who suspect their husbands of affairs have difficulty in confronting them, for a profession has risen recently of “mistress dispellers” whose job instead is to contact the
mistress and persuade her, sometimes through an elaborate ruse, to break off the relationship. For a fee (a New York Times dispatch said it could be “tens of thousands of dollars”), the dispeller will “subtly infiltrate the mistress’s life” and ultimately convince her to move on. A leading dispeller agency in Shanghai, translated as the “Weiqing International Marriage Hospital Emotion Clinic Group,” served one wife by persuading the mistress to take a higher-paying job in another city. IRONIES u Flooding from rains in August tore down a basement wall of the Connellsville (Pennsylvania) Church of God, wrecking and muddying parts of the building and threatening the first-floor foundation, but under the policy written by the Church Mutual Insurance company, flooding damage is not covered, as rain is an “act of God.” (Church Mutual apparently uses a standard insurance industry definition and thus recognizes, contrary to some religious beliefs, that not everything is caused by God.) u In 2005, India enacted a landmark anti-poverty program, obligating th government to furnish 100 days’ minimum-wage work to unskilled laborers (potentially, 70 percent of the country’s 1.3 billion people). Programs often fail in India because of rampant corruption, but a recent study by a Cambridge University researcher concluded that the 2005 law is failing for the opposite reason --anticorruption measures in the program. Its requirement of extreme transparency has created an exponential increase in paperwork (to minimize opportunities for corruption), severely delaying the availability of jobs.
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