#mike champa

[oldpolicestories]

End of Watch: The death of Pensacola Police Officer Louis Champa

May 26, 1951 An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” by Mike Simmons, coming soon on Amazon. Louis was born on July 10, 1909, in Eveleth, Minnesota to Bartholomew and Meri Champa. In 1943 they moved to Pensacola and found a home at 168 Aragon Court. The same year, Louis began working on the Navy base as a patrol officer. In 1945 he applied for and was accepted as a Pensacola Police Officer.…

[mikechampa]

@commodorecliche tagged me to do this fun quarantine survey thing, I fuckin love this shit let's goooooo

Instructions: Tag 10 followers or people you follow who you want to get to know better.

Name: hannah (last name is soon to be VANCE!!!)

Gender: female

Star sign: scorpio/sagittarius cusp, idk anything about astrology really but I do know I tend to favor the scorpio side when I read horoscope stuff

Height: I like saying I'm 5'11 but I'm probably closer to 5'10. I think if i went to a chiropractor I'd be at least an inch taller, mama got awful posture

Sexuality: I used to say i was pansexual and I still feel most comfortable with that, but I just dont have the energy to explain it all the time so I just say I'm bi 😩

Hogwarts house: SLYTHERIN BEEEEETCH

Favourite animal: frogs raccoons bears and sharks!!!!!!!!!

Average hours of sleep: well I ain't doin SHIT rn so I get about 8 or 9 which is nice

Current time: 12:41 pm central time. I started doing this way before 1230 but I'm on my phone so I have to manually bold everything and I'm slowly losing my sanity

Dogs or cats: I prefer small dogs, but I also love cats

Blankets I sleep with: I love being in a cold house so I can just pile on the fuckin blankets. right now though its just a sheet and 1 extremely thick and soft comforter.

Dream job: when I was really young I wanted to be a paleontologist so fucking bad and now I just do hair lmao, I wanna fucking excavate dinosaurs god damn it

When I made this blog: like 2009 I've been here for ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ

Followers: 1001 and I'm super fucking pleased about it

Why I made my tumblr: some mall goth I (a humble mall scenekid) was friends with at the time, was telling me about it and I was like hmmmm ok

Reason for url: mike champa was the lead singer of my favourite band, for all those sleeping, but they broke up. it's really funny to be bc I have it on my twitter, where the real mike champa follows me, and has somehow never said anything about it? I tried really briefly to change it to "pussyvore" a couple months ago and wasnt able to and I think it was probably a sign that I shouldnt lmaoooo

10 people I either follow or follow me, if it strikes your fancy: @bakuraryxu @vzmp @violist @curiousdevice @spottycows @insomniac-arrest @cioudstrife @flyest-nihilist @the-void-has-spoken @harlequinqueen and anyone else who sees this and thinks hmm yes i should like to do a survey

[imacrowcawcaw]

hi there Lulu 4, 8, 18, 21, 28, 37

🎂 october - what month were you born in? May but I prefer not to talk about my birthday

👠 freckles - most-worn article of clothing? Probably my leather motorcycle jacket :) that thing is about 15 pounds of high quality leather from Milwaukee Leather Company and I wear it until I'm dying of heat stroke

🍯 honey - favorite term of endearment? I love (or would like to get the chance to) call someone baby or honey, it just feels so nice and settled, if that makes sense. And I like to be called by personalized nicknames, like the one my dad has for me or Honolulu (I seriously love that so much 💚)

🌹 paper - favorite children’s book? There are quite a few... Harold and the Purple Crayon, Silverspurs, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, the Nancy Drew Series, Where the Sidewalk Ends, everything by Jan Brett (such beautiful illustrations my goodness), The Magic Circus... I will stop myself lol

🍀 shampoo - favorite scent? Nag Champa incense, lavender, pine trees, caramel candles, chocolate, my dad's cologne...

🐾 plush - how many stuffed animals do you still own? Hmm lets see, I have a panda, a dragon, a zebra, and a bunny, plus the hedgehog and pug I gave to my cat. So 4 I guess

Thank you 😙💋

[fastest-hedgy-sonic]

do you have an rp wishlist?

「“Yᴏ ᴍᴜɴ! Tʜɪs ɪs ʏᴏᴜʀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ!”」

{{Huh? Oh right! Thanks man!}}

{{Honestly… I haven’t really thought of a true wishlist to be perfectly honest. But if I had to make one..

Well for Sonic characters, I have a LOT of characters I want to interact with thread wise. Including Sonic himself! Like Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Big, Shadow, Rouge, Omega, Gamma, Espio, Vector, Charmy (No bees left behind!), Silver, Blaze, Infinite, Eggman, Eggman Nega, Marine, Sticks, Gadget (The Sonic Avatar from Forces) and even Mighty and Ray! 

Sonic OC’S? YES!!!!!!!!!

Now for crossovers… Of course EVERYONE from Smash Bros Ultimate (Also Tabuu and Master Core), Ratchet and Clank from.. Ratchet & Clank, Sly, Carmelita, Murray and Bentley from the Sly Cooper series, Crash, Coco and the Aku Aku mask from the Crash bandicoot series, Toriel, Asgore, Sans, Papyrus, Alphys, Undyne, Frisk, Kris, Asriel, Ralsei and Susie from both Deltarune and Undertale (yes I’m a little bit trash. XD), Nick and Judy from Zootro- er.. Zootopia, Felix Jr, Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck It Ralph, Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc, Callie, Marie, Pearl and Marina from Splatoon and finally Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, Whis, Champa, Vados, Dyspo, Goten and Trunks from the Dragon ball series. (Not to fight though!)

OC’s? As long as there’s no god modding involved then I approve. Same goes for Sonic OC’s by the way. 

Now. Do I have any muses that I wanna use? No not really. I was thinking about roleplaying as the Deadly Six from Sonic Lost World but I dunno. I don’t think I want to go through the trouble of making another account, make an entire blog theme for them and go through the trouble of finding and creating hundreds of reaction images. I just don’t have the time for it right now. (Speaking of which, has anyone seen people RP as The Deadly Six? I’m curious. I haven’t seen ANYONE RP as them!)

Welp. This is my wish list as of now!}}

{{Yo Sonic! How’s the frog hunting going?}}

「“I'ᴍ ᴀᴛ sᴇᴠᴇɴ!”」

[buttsandweenies]

15 questions thingy

Apparently @is-reggie-okay wants to know stuff.

Name: Michael

Nicknames: Mike, dude, dudarino, radical dude, dude, that guy over there, hair guy,

Zodiac sign: Taurus

Height: 5'9"

Languages spoken: English, drunk English

Nationality: American

Favorite season: the desolation of winter

Favorite scent: Nag Champa

Favorite color: any shade of blue

Favorite animal: house cat, close second is a specific squirrel.

Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate: coffee and then more coffee

Average hours of sleep: 5 to 6

Favorite fictional character: Tony Shalub

Number of blankets you sleep with: One, maybe two.

Dream trip: Taco Bell

Blog created: a bunch of standard time units ago.

Lovely friends I want to tag: I don't know I'll tag somebody later, I'm going to bed.

[go-redgirl]

Minnesota Democrat Mayors Endorse Donald Trump: Biden Did ‘Nothing’ for Working Class

DULUTH, Minnesota — Six Democrat Minnesota mayors endorsed President Donald Trump over former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday, asserting that Trump has improved the lives of Minnesotans, while Biden has moved too far to the left.

At a campaign rally for Trump’s reelection, Minnesota Iron Range mayors — Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, Chisholm Mayor John Champa, Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson, Eveleth Mayor Robert Vlaisavljevich, and Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich — endorsed Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term in office.

[madventurousblog]

Gizzy, WWOOFing, Onward

My rousing week in Gisborne with the extended Kiwi Family was a huge success! After my little "word vomit" rant around the holidays, I needed a good pick-me-up. The Gizzy video says it all.

Thank you to these wonderful hosts, Sher and Walt. And thank you ESPECIALLY to the not-pictured camera lady/friend/Kiwi sister/adventure partner Nicole for inviting me along once again.

After leaving Gisborne, I took a bus down to Hawke's Bay to stay in a backpackers called The Rotten Apple, hoping to find an odd job to keep me busy for a little while. I stumbled across The Rotten Apple over a year ago, as I researched and attempted to prepare myself for what was to come in my year in New Zealand. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), I didn't find what I was looking for. For one, January is a slow month for orchard/picking work. And two, the hostel wasn't really my style. (No quiet hours, no cleanliness, and they don't even give you keys to your room...?!) BUT the people were cool shit. I'll give them that much.

The people, man. These backpackers made me feel like I've been living a charmed life compared to what they work for. They're the real hippies, you know? I felt like I was peeking into the deeper side of the travel-work lifestyle. These people were a community of drinking, pot-smoking, sweaty, bra-less, hitch-hiking, broke, nag champa smelling nomads. Their lifestyle is impressive in its own right, but not one that I'm interested in becoming a part of. Good people, good conversation, but a way of life that's a few degrees different to mine. I'm just not on that level.

So, in a frantic need to get somewhere a bit more peaceful, I turned to WWOOFing and found a small family farm in Opotiki.

This was the view outside the spacious private cabin we had.

I shared the work and space with a lovely Spanish girl called Laura, who was an absolute blessing not only for her companionship, but also because I think I would shit my pants if I had to stay in that cabin all by myself.

The property was gorgeous. A river ran right through it with a nice sandy beach, the sheep roamed all over, the birds sang, the trees whistled - it was beautiful. Mike, our host, ran a working dog business - buying and selling sheep dogs - so the only thing that really took away from the atmosphere was the incessant barking of the 30-odd dogs. But you get used to it.

Laura and I were often separated when it came to work: one of us would babysit the children (18 month boy and 3 year old girl) while the other helped Mike with cutting and moving firewood. We usually finished work by mid afternoon and would spend the remaining hours lounging, reading, and enjoying the view. There was no wifi on the farm, and Mike only allowed us to use his computer "for 15 minutes every two days."

Yeah, he was like that.

Oh, Mike. Bless him, he will never read this, and even if he does, well... Mike, you're an asshole. Now truly, I can usually find a way to like an asshole, just like I can like my bitches, but you have to be able to ADMIT that you're an asshole (or a bitch). I don't think Mike had any idea; he was just a hard country man who wouldn't let you get a word or question in edgewise. His way was the only way, whether it came to hanging up laundry or throwing logs in the trailer. Laura and I often spent our afternoons regaling each other with stories about what he'd say to us, how condescending he could be, etc. Rather than being angry, as I probably would have been had I been alone, we just laughed, and were thankful we weren't the only ones to deal with his zero patience.

Ah, companionship is a wonderful thing.

At one point while we were cutting wood and loading the trailer, Mike stopped us to go get a drink. Instead of heading to the house, we walked over to a "stream" to sip from that. I've done this kind of thing before - drinking from natural waterways. I'm not opposed to it when I know it's clean and safe. The thing is, this stream was a fed by a drainage pipe coming from under the road, where farms dot the edges and you just KNOW that all sorts of animal and chemical waste are leaching into the water. I realize Mike has probably drunk from this place in all the time he's lived here, but ugh. I got up close to the water, saw all the algae and whatever else was growing in there, smelled something hot and rotting, and was completely turned off. I was thirsty, surely, but I wasn't convinced my stomach was going to be as tough as Mike's for this one. At the same time, I wasn't about to let Mike give me more shit for not drinking it. "It's the cleanest water in New Zealand." Bullshit, man, I've seen the glacial rivers. I'd drink from those any day, but not this. So I cupped my hands and brought the water to my lips and I PRETENDED to drink, despite my eager thirst. We finished up an hour later, so I knew I'd have access to my own water soon, but man. That was nasty.

I guess I did one thing right on my own, though. He told me to mow his lawn - all around his house, the driveways, the field in between, and around the cabin. It took around 4 hours in the hot sun and I was disgusting by the end of it, but would you believe he gave me a compliment?! He said it was the best mow job he's had anyone do for him. I'd like to thank my Nana for her very particular lawn-mowing requirements for that one! (Miss you, Nan.)

Five days into the WWOOFing at his place and I decided I'd had enough. I have to wonder about myself sometimes. Am I really as flexible and versatile as I think I am, or am I just a fickle bitch? Still working that one out, I guess. But my time is limited, and I just can't justify staying in a place that I don't enjoy if I don't have to.

As of now, I'm at a beautiful little hostel called the Funky Green Voyager in Rotorua. I'm in the process of lining up my next WWOOFing experience which should take me further north in a few days. Until then, I'm exploring the city and determining if I have enough time in between to do another multi-day hike!

Time is ticking. I'm doing my best to make the most of it. P.S. - I’ve been honest-to-goodness-full-on-RUNNING again for the last couple weeks! No more than 5 ks, but the ankle is holding up and I am so, so happy!

[unfilteredpatriot]

New Post has been published on Unfiltered Patriot

New Post has been published on http://unfilteredpatriot.com/mayoral-shock-minnesota-democrats-throw-their-support-behind-trump/

Mayoral Shock: Minnesota Democrats Throw Their Support Behind Trump

As the Democratic Party rushes to embrace the radical left, the ideas inherent in both economic socialism and cultural Marxism, and outright violence in the name of social justice, some lifelong Democrats have seen just about enough.

We’ve chronicled the story of Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones, who drew outrage from his party when he endorsed President Donald Trump. And we’ve spent some time talking about the Blexit movement; former liberals who now recognize how truly depraved the Democratic Party has become. But this turning tide isn’t over yet; in Minnesota, six Democrat mayors wrote an open letter this week throwing their support behind Trump.

Signed by Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, Chisholm Mayor John Champa, Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson, Eveleth Mayor Robert Vlaisavljevich, and Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich, the letter argued that the left-wing party had drifted well outside the boundaries of acceptable political discourse.

“Today, we write to formally endorse President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for four more years,” they wrote.

“Like many in our region, we have voted for Democrats over many decades,” the letter continued. “We have watched as our constituents’ jobs left not only the Iron Range, but our country. By putting tariffs on our products and supporting bad trade deals, politicians like Joe Biden did nothing to help the working class. We lost thousands of jobs, and generations of young people have left the Iron Range in order to provide for their families with good paying jobs elsewhere. Today, we don’t recognize the Democratic Party. It has been moved so far to the left it can no longer claim to be advocates of the working class. The hard-working Minnesotans that built their lives and supported their families here on the Range have been abandoned by radical Democrats. We didn’t choose to leave the Democratic Party, the party left us.”

The mayors said that Trump’s election led to an economic revitalization.

“Four years ago, something wonderful happened. Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States, and he stood up to China, implemented tax cuts and fought for the working class,” the letter continued. “Now, four years later, the Iron Range is roaring back to life and for the first time in a very long time, locals are hopeful because of this President’s policies and willingness to fight for us.”

The mayors said that Minnesota could not afford to put the economy back into the hands of the Democratic Party.

“Lifelong politicians like Joe Biden are out of touch with the working class, out of touch with what the country needs, and out of touch with those of us here on the Iron Range and in small towns like ours across our nation,” they concluded. “In this election, there is a lot at stake, but the biggest risk is our jobs, our economy, and our way of life. President Trump delivered the best economy in our nation’s history, and President Trump will deliver for us again. He will continue to fight for every American regardless of party affiliation and continue to stand up for the working class.”

This is a hell of a statement, and it proves that Joe Biden might have a tougher electoral hill to climb than he realizes.

[aleishadaniar-blog]

'' M A coach Mike Molieri said

Detachable strap with 21 1/2 drop for shoulder or crossbody wear. Compatible with Coach interchangeable straps. Imported. A local product, Tofa wore the armband for the Foothills side this season, tallying six goals and five assists in thirteen games while registering a staggering twenty two shots on target. He also tallied in the side's only playoff game. Prior to joining Foothills full time in 2017, Tofa earned caps at the university level for the UNBC Timberwolves. And Brown said such an opportunity would eradicate any problems country leagues had with top flight players committing to the representative competition. "We understand the players don get paid, but that the reality of it, so you can just ask them to play for the jumper, because those days are gone, he said. "There needs to be some sort of enticement for the players. A three star player according to Rivals. The No. 29 player in the state of Alabama according to SuperPrep Magazine. Guy is averaging a team best 13.9 points per game for top ranked Virginia. He has drilled 74 shots from 3 point range to rank sixth in the ACC and is shooting 87 percent from the free throw line. Guy has reached double figures in 24 games, including a career Coach Outlet Sale high 29 against VCU. He ran really well, the coach said. Of our young kids are really running well. Guys like Champa, Andrew Lauck and Ryan Lauck bring a wealth of experience to the team for such young guys. Not only that, but the Cardinals are getting worse. Since Arizona's Week 13 upset of Green Bay a result so infuriating that it precipitated the Coach Outlet Online Packers' decision to fire coach Mike McCarthy the Cardinals have lost three straight games by a combined score of 88 26. It's widely expected that the Cardinals will fire first year coach Steve Wilks at the conclusion of this season, When Chris Bosh and LeBron James came into South Florida, Beasley got shipped to Minnesota, where he's averaged more minutes, more points, and fewer embarrassing off the court incidents.No, he doesn't have the quickest feet or the strongest arm or the most accurate passes. No, he doesn't always throw it to his own team, and he doesn't always make the best decisions or any decision at all sometimes, staring blank faced into a viscous blitz. As a matter of fact, Chad Henne really isn't a very good pro quarterback at all. Friendly Links: New England Patriots Jersey | kanye west yeezy seasons zines 1 2 3 4

[theherblifeblog]

Spotlight Series: Mary Jane Gibson

Actress, writer and former lifestyle, entertainment and culture editor at High Times, Mary Jane Gibson is a force in the emerging cannabis industry. Her projects and interviews have earned her the title “one of the 15 most powerful women in the weed industry” by Complex Magazine.

You can catch her and co-host Mike Glazer on the top rated Weed+Grub podcast sharing laughs and stories from their insane lives, and interviewing fascinating guests from all walks of life.

Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

How did you get involved in the cannabis industry?

I was working as a writer and performer in New York and met the managing editor of High Times magazine at a party. She offered me part-time work as a copy editor, and from there I worked my way up to writing assignments. I was offered a full-time editorial position at High Times in 2014, and moved to Los Angeles in 2016 to help open the West Coast office. I left HT in 2018 to pursue other opportunities, and now write for several outlets, plus I record and produce Weed+Grub, the podcast that I co-host with comedian Mike Glazer—it’s my absolute favorite thing.

Tell us a little bit about your product or service

My co-host Mike Glazer and I smoke, snack and swap tales about cannabis, comedy, sex, cooking, pop culture—basically everything you already love. Weed+Grub is a free-flowing conversation between two great friends sharing laughs and stories from our insane lives, with fascinating guests from all kinds of backgrounds. We’ve interviewed Jim Belushi, Tommy Chong, trans icon Buck Angel, cannabis activist Amy Margolis, NYTimes bestselling cookbook authors Thug Kitchen, System of a Down’s Shavo Odadjian, and many more. We also have a Spotlight Series where we highlight brands and companies working to make the world a better place. Find Weed+Grub everywhere you get your podcasts—light a joint, grab a bite and come along!

What time does your day typically start and what does a normal day look like to you?

I’m a night owl, not an early-morning person, so I generally don’t get going until 9am. My cat Bobo usually howls at me to get up and feed him, so I don’t need to set an alarm. I make coffee and walk my dog Archie, and then I settle in at my desk for the day. Mike and I started a production company called Big Fat Content, and we have several projects in the works in addition to Weed+Grub. We drop two episodes of the podcast every week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, so we have a lot of recording and editing to do. And I’m usually working on at least two articles for publication—I write for several outlets including DOPE Magazine, Weedmaps, Leafly, Civilized and Rolling Stone. I try to wind down computer work by 6:30 or so and get out to enjoy an evening walk with Archie. Then I’ll come home and cook dinner—Mike and I are developing recipes for a Weed+Grub cookbook right now, so I have a lot of fun getting pleasantly baked and figuring out new dishes, usually while listening to a favorite podcast like My Favorite Murder. I love hanging in the kitchen and then eating on my patio under the stars.

What is your vision for your company going forward?

At this time next year, I’d like our production company Big Fat Content to have three shows on the air and two in production, in addition to creating content for cannabis brands and companies. Weed+Grub will continue to grow—we’ll travel all over the US and Canada, to Spain and beyond, documenting cannabis, cuisine, and culture around the world.

What would an ideal post-prohibition society look like to you?

Safe and fair access to cannabis for all. All records for non-violent drug offenses expunged. Social equity programs offering assistance to people whose lives have been ruined by the War on Drugs. Cannabis research and clinical trials. Public school education programs teaching the next generation about cannabis. Corporations that profit from legal cannabis donating a large portion of their proceeds to arts funding. Interstate and international cannabis trade, just as we have with wine, so everyone around the world can taste glorious California weed. The right for everyone to grow their own. And lots of dinner parties with great friends enjoying the herb together.

What was your first experience with cannabis like?

It was hash, rolled in a spliff. Growing up in Newfoundland, we didn’t have much access to weed—if you could get a gram of hash, that was fantastic. I still love the smell of tobacco and hash, mixed with a little Nag Champa. That’s the scent of my teenage years. I remember getting stoned at a friend’s house during a snowstorm, listening to Copper Blue by Sugar, and watching the snow drift across the St. John’s harbor like swirls of plankton. It was magical.

Tell us about some of the challenges you face working in the cannabis industry

As the landscape shifts and evolves, there’s a lot of jockeying for position. The industry is uncertain, and wildly exciting—it’s still illegal under federal law but 11 states have passed adult-use consumption laws. How bizarre is that?! Companies can flourish and fail in a matter of months. I’m positioned as a chronicler of the industry, both as a writer and with Weed+Grub, so I haven’t been affected by ever-changing rules and regulations, but I certainly see friends and colleagues fighting to navigate this new frontier of legal cannabis.

What are some solutions you've found?

Weed+Grub is working to destigmatize and normalize cannabis—and we try to hold everyone accountable for the role they’re playing in this new landscape. Is it fair that former Speaker of the House John Boehner is profiting from legal cannabis while people are suffering in prison for non-violent drug offenses? No—and it’s everyone’s job to call out hypocrisy and ensure that this burgeoning industry is fair to everyone, not just wealthy white people. We talk a lot about that—and we also have a great time fighting about whether milk chocolate is better than dark (it is). It’s that combo of fun and real info that people tune in to hear.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about cannabis? 

That, even if it’s not for you, it’s helped someone you know. Whether or not you consume cannabis, you should never judge anyone who does—you should be an ally for cannabis consumers to have safe and fair access, whether it’s as medicine or a safer alternative to a glass of wine at night. Don’t judge.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your product or service?

I hope that anyone checking us out for the first time listens to a few different episodes—because, while we get baked and silly, we also tell important stories and speak to fascinating people from all walks of life about heavy-hitting subjects. We have fun in order to reach the most people with our message: cannabis is normal and cool, however, you’re choosing to use it.

If you could go back in time and do it all over again, what (if anything) would you do differently?

I’d stand up faster and harder to the few people who questioned my ability to contribute to the cultural conversation. Don’t ever doubt your own worth. Otherwise, zero regrets—apart from not hitting that blunt when Wiz Khalifa handed it to me at a High Times cover shoot.

What is your favorite way to consume cannabis?

Tincture before a hike. Smoking a joint with friends. A low-dose edible before bed.

Concentrate or flower? Why? 

Flower, because my tolerance is low and I only need a little bit to get that perfect lift. I did a dab at a dinner party on a ranch in Malibu once and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life, but on the daily, I dig a sweet hybrid pre-roll from Lowell Farms or a little nug of homegrown in my Summerland apple pipe. I also really like the new cannabis oil vape from Lowell.

Do you think cannabis legalization will change the world for the better? Why? 

I really want to say “no duh, of course it will,” but it’s serious. Yes, cannabis legalization will change the world for the better. When people are no longer going to jail, losing their families, when cannabis is available as much-needed medicine to anyone who needs it, when the world can breathe a collective sigh of relief because the plant is free, we’ll all be much better for it. If you don’t like cannabis, take another look at it and examine your prejudices. And at the very least, educate yourself on why it’s illegal in the first place—because of racism and fear. We need to liberate the leaf for a better world.

What advice would you offer to another woman who is looking to get into the industry?

Join NORML. Get involved with local meetups. Educate yourself on the history of the War on Drugs and why cannabis is illegal in the first place so you can be an effective advocate for legalization. Make friends who love cannabis as much as you do, and organize salons with them. Start from a place of education and inspiration, and the rest will flow.

[mikechampa]

i still love mike champa dont get me wrong but I wish I had the vadereloha @ so all my social media would be the same

[papermoth-bird-blog]

Ontario: Toronto the not-so-terrible-afterall.

When asked where I am from, I have varied answers. Not, because I am confused, but because mind my races with what is true for the version of myself I am speaking from. These days, I usually respond with Halifax, though that is not strictly true. I mean, it is true, when speaking to people from outside the province. My adulthood, my current nature, is a direct result of having spend the last 7 years on the eastern coastline. For someone who has come-from-away, I have sunken pretty thoroughly into that identity. Alas, I wasn’t born on the coast. 

I was born in the big city of Toronto, Ontario- an east-end girl. The Danforth, Riverdale park, the farm, the beaches. That was my childhood. I experienced a lot of trauma growing up (which I won’t go into here) which has always stained even the happiest memories associated with this city. Making it extremely difficult for me to come back here. I haven’t been home for Christmas in a couple years, I really haven’t been back for more than a week in 6 years. And yet, there it is, I still call it home- though in a very small voice that rarely escapes these days. That concept is so utterly wrapped in fear for me- the centre of capitalism, the place where I am triggered the most, the place where I had always felt most small in the world. 

It was in Mexico, that those thoughts started to unravel. Katie stopped me in the midst of a thought spiral about “going back to Toronto”. She said, something helpful for me, might be re:phrasing my travels to Ontario- “Stop saying ‘going back to’, just saying ‘going to’”. It’s true, the words you unleash on the world act as spells. They create our reality in the fundamental way they fill in the narrative that we (whether we realize it or not) are writing about our lives. And, I found my own narrative become undone, by a simple shift in prospective. 

Suddenly, I was going “to Toronto”. A place that was big, new & held the possibilities any other one of the cities I recently visited carried. Instead of dragging my feet around the places I knew, I was determined to remind myself of the places I’d forgotten, and the ones I had yet to see. For as much of the city, I have met, it has changed & is filled with so much more that is still strange to me. 

The same, could also be said for the way I am able to interact with my family. I could see them as the same as always, or I could keep my eyes open to the ways they are trying to evolve. Though, not naively. With confidence in my own ability to discern what I can handle in any given moment & being able to assert what is good for me. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My first day in the city, I found myself practically skipping down the street. My mother & I walked around the Danforth- a street that I’ve long felt I knew every inch of. It was strange (but not altogether shocking) to see how much it had changed. The Tim Hortons that had me the local hangout for those too young for bars was boarded up. From what I heard from my sister, it was still the same high school haunt as of last summer, and suddenly it is no more. It’s strange how much it stirred me. A few weeks ago there was a fire, that burned the local dinner to the ground too. And yet, there are things that are still the same. Unchanged, in the way that small-town institutions can be sometimes. Alchemy, sells the same Nag Champa-infused hippy clothing. Mikes music, still smells like the old stuffy record shop it has always been. The display in the front, faded with age, but unchanged otherwise. We stopped for lunch at the cafe my mom loves best- Mocha Mocha. The art on the wall had changed, the menu prices a few dollars more than I remembered. I ordered an Orangina to drink while my mom ate her veggie club- the same way we had since I was three. But we spoke about more adult things, how our lives had changed in the time I’ve lived away. All the good, and some of the worse. I hummed along to the memories of 70s roadtrip music my mom had been playing that morning as I hunted for treasures in our old tickle-trunk. 

I braved the deeper city & called Mia to join me. The stink of the subway evoked an alien fondness, that I’m sure will subside again soon. I was filled with a rush of what it meant to be in this city again. All the times I had come home late from parties in the east end. The times we roamed around aimlessly in the west end. The half-complete project Ali & I had set out on to collect a transfer from every station on the subway lines. 

I found myself re:routing a few times along “secret paths” between houses that no longer existed outside of my memories. But, I also found myself doing things out of long standing habits I had entirely forgot about until I was in the moment again. I brushed my boots on the edge of the escalator, I whistled softly along to the subway chimes and  held my breath over the bloor-danforth viaduct. It was if I started playing a game with the ghosts of my former selves. Repeating the same behaviours, because I saw myself doing them before (with more specific, superstitious purpose then). 14-year-old me stuffed into the seats with my friends from high school. 11-year-old me “surfing” in the aisle when I couldn’t get a seat. 5 year-old me jumping dramatically over the yellow line, into the car, because I thought the yellow was bad luck.  I laughed to myself, as if I was playing along with the games my former selves motioned through. 

I met Mia in Kensington market, one of my all-time favourite spots in the city. We sat in Jimmy’s coffee and talked about transitions again- shifting of perspectives & the things that brought up there. We picked through racks of our favourite vintage stores. Dreaming up occasions to wear the excessively-fringed outfits, or the lace ball gowns. We laughed about the fact that we had both already bought wedding dresses for occasions we never intended to follow up on. 

Courage My Love has long been my favourite shop in Kensington. The walls are drapped in strings of bead, silk scarves & victorian undergarments. I found a postcard that reminded me of the moment we were in. As I wrote on the back of it, I fell into reverence for the wonderful nature of this city. All the colour, and all the different kinds of people that made this city their home. All the joy I had had walking around San Francisco, was met here too. I hadn’t allowed myself to stay curious with Toronto, and so I had fallen out of love with it entirely. Mia & I walked along Dundas for a long, long while. My eyes, your rather mind, opened to witness everything as brand new again. It was like falling in love with an older lover all over again. My difficultly with Toronto was about many things, outside of the city itself. It was a comfort I could find myself lost & in love with it again. 

The next morning, I woke early to make pancakes for everyone. It was even more strange to find myself lost in my parents kitchen. All the reflexes that had long been programmed, needed re-orienting. It allowed me to be more present & objective with my visit, something I hadn’t realized I needed so badly until just then. 

Over breakfast, my mother & I fell into heavy conversation over our mutual love for the radio. I supposed, that to highlights our mutual eagerness for nostalgia. A funny thing in itself - and a marker, in part of our shared difficulties in being fully present. The conversation had a different flavour, by the end of it though, as we both became so filled with optimism for the future. As I watched my mother move through her house, I saw the reflection of my mother in me- one that long scared me, but one I was becoming more comfortable with. My mother’s fondness for pottery from the 70s. Her love for old, rusty farm tools. The pile of gorgeous wool sweaters she has along her shelves. But also, her habit of telling stories in a thread of tangents, and the way she reaches to put on a record, as soon as we are back home. 

That night, my younger brother Isaac had a show with his band ‘Roovs’. He asked me to help him pick out an outfit. As we played dress up, we talked about our lives up until now. Though all my siblings are close, my brother is by far the most difficult to keep up with. Not because he’s really quick moving, but more so because he is a super quiet character.  Isaac was 10 when Ali & I moved away. Even outside of the fact that he’s grown almost two feet in height since then, he’s changed a lot. He threw himself into music in a fairly quiet way, but it is much of his life now. His primary instrument is the bass guitar- but he can pretty much figure any instrument out by now. In his high school band he plays trombone, tube, sousaphone & some piano. The ironic thing is, that Isaac is the one member of my sibling group that never took music lessons. He is entirely self taught & has a profound musicality that can’t be bought.  He’s really quite about it though and is pretty critical of himself. It’s good while he is still striving, but I worry that he can’t appreciate the things he’s achieved so far. 

We settled on him wearing the light brown velvet shirt I bought in Nashville. Subtle, but special. He went to go meet up with his band, and I went to meet up with Mia. We had been dreaming of a craft day since I saw her in California. We scrambled around her house, digging out all the re:purposeable bits we could find. I fell feverishly back into an embroidery project (with the limited amount of thread I managed to salvage). I am happy to be able to keep my hands busy again, in a midly-escapist way. 

Both of our mothers met us for dinner & we indulged in a large spread of Indian food. It was actually refreshing to hear our mother’s talk about mental health stuff & see they are both slowly chipping away at some of their traumas. I suppose progress doesn’t always keep a steady pace, but it seems both of them are taking mental health a little more seriously these days. I suppose they would though, after Ellie’s passing. 

We worked our way over to the beaches, where Isaac was performing. By the time we got there, the pub was already past capacity- which did not stop us from pushing in. I was actually amazed at how many people were there (I think Isaac was too). Before the show, he kept saying “oh I don’t think anyone is gonna show up to this one”, but it was so nice to see that wasn’t the case. It seemed like a lot of his classmates were there- even the ones he isn’t friends with. The boys all met at music camp the previous summer- though Isaac and Matt have been playing together for 4 years now. They are loud, and all of them so terrifically talented- I’m not just saying that as his sister. All of them (but Isaac) switched around instruments like musical chairs. There originals are fun & heavy & so full of energy. I only wish there had been more room to dance- especially during the improvised blues songs. I was getting itchy to swing dance. They clearly have a wide reference range (jazz standards, daft punk, zeppelin, the velvet underground). It was really impressive on a musical level, but further still, was the fact that the band feeds so well off one another. It was so nice to see them all so full of life & expression. Especially Isaac, who can be so stoic. He was hiding his smiles, but I could tell how proud he was & how hard he worked for all of it. I was beaming.

I flashed-backed briefly to my own very mediocre high school experience. I think mine was what it needed to be- nothing more, nothing less. I was glad to see Isaac was having a good one though. He’s always been pretty firm in his boundaries and not down for any of the bullshit that teenagers part take in. It seems he’s around good people & feels a part of something though, and that’s all I could ask for. When the gig was over, I could tell there were stirrings of an after party. Though I obviously wanted to fan over the show, we all decided to give him his space to be with his friends & went home. 

Just before we got out the door, Isaac turned to me & made sure we made plans to hang out the next day. He had said that he’d cancel any plans to spend the day with me- which almost made me cry. I’ve never wanted to make anyone proud the way I want to impress my little brother. It’s actually ridiculous. I can feel how much he loves my sisters & I. Though we can get caught up in our Halifax lives, I want to make a point of really making sure he knows how much we love him & are rooting for him in everything he does. And I really do. I believe in him being able to make the music thing work more than any other musician I’ve come to know. 

[miamibeerscene]

This Oregon Beer Spa Will Change How You Feel About Spas

craftbeer.com

April 17, 2017

You know beer makes you happy, but a lot of people ask the question: Can beer actually be good for you (in moderation, of course)?

One Oregon therapist will wholeheartedly tell you “Yes!” Her latest venture, among the first beer spas in the country, was founded around the health benefits of beer and hops — and it’s attracting men and women alike.

(MORE: Top 50 US Craft Breweries)

Hop in the Spa is Born

In late 2015, inspiration struck when Sally Champa, a naturopathic practitioner, herbalist and massage therapist, treated her client (and now business partner) Mike Boyle after a car accident, offering therapeutic massages to hasten the healing process.

She was eager to have him help market some of her homemade products, while he raved about beer spas after a trip to Prague. They both knew Oregon’s strong culture of small and independent breweries made it an ideal spot for their beer-based spa concept.

(RECIPES: CraftBeer.com’s Big Online Recipe Finder)

“Hops is a fantastic herb, but I don’t think many people have caught on to that,” Champa notes. “We started making these bath brews with beer and hops and barley, plus some of my herbs, in a proprietary blend.”

When Boyle personally tested the soaks, he reported a much faster recovery. The pair had hit on a winning formula. Hop in the Spa was born.

Sally Champa, co-founder, inside Hop in the Spa. (Credit: Hop in the Spa)

Restorative Power of Beer and Hops

Construction was soon under way for Hop in the Spa, America’s first beer spa. But the concept wasn’t about gimmicks or novelty; Champa envisioned a true wellness center utilizing the restorative properties of beer and hops.

After touring local hop farms, she experimented with blends for soaks made with beer ingredients, then tapped the plant’s power for massage oils, sugar scrubs and facial products. Now, its menu offers a series of craft beer soaks, hop oil massages, hop body masks and herbal hop steam services, among other beer-based treatments.

“Hops is a great moisturizer and ideal for any skin condition, including psoriasis and eczema,” Champa explains. “But hops is also helpful internally, so drinking it offers additional benefits: It helps with the digestive system, calms the nervous system and is great for insomnia. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, perfect for body massages on clients with aches, pains, rheumatoid arthritis and skin conditions.”

Nestled in a rustic three-story house, Hop in the Spa brews its soaks in the basement for pumping into the tubs on the main floor, where treatment rooms reside. Out back, the Hop in the Garden beer garden pours brews, while Hop in the Cup serves up hop-infused coffee and tea, German sausages and pretzels.

Deschutes Brewery, one of central Oregon’s largest and best-loved small and independent craft brewers, made the ideal partner, and today its beers grace the spa’s tubs and taps.

(MORE: 9 Breweries You’ll Want to Follow on Instagram)

The Growing Market for Beer and Health

Hop in the Spa may have been first to capture the niche market of the beer spa concept, but it certainly isn’t alone in touting the mantra that beer is good for you. Beer spas and skincare products are surging in popularity around the world. Another beer-focused spa is being planned for Columbus, Ohio—think hop-infused face masks and malted barley massages.

A Longmont, Colorado-based skincare company, Colorado Aromatics, incorporates hops into its products and hosts spa nights at a local brewpub, where therapists incorporate beer into facials.

“Hops can decrease dermatitis, increase water content of skin and decrease inflammation,” explains Cindy Jones, Ph.D., a biochemist and owner of Colorado Aromatics. “Xanthohumol, one of the bitter acids in hops, helps to stimulate matrix proteins of the skin, including collagen, elastin and fibrillins. Various hop-containing preparations can reduce hot flashes, making them particularly good for women.”

Other components of beer, she adds, are also beneficial: Malted barley is rich in minerals and B vitamins, while brewers yeast also boasts plentiful B vitamins and can help moisturize the skin.

Jones notes that beer and its ingredients are versatile, making them ideal for a range of applications: in a face mask, steam bath, foot or hand soak, hair rinse or salt scrub.

(MORE: Northern California’s Up and Coming Hot Spot for Beer)

“In our Beer Spa program, we use beer in a clay mask that attendees apply to their face; then they can sit back and enjoy a beer,” she says. “We also use hops extract in products, including an aftershave lotion and a beard oil.”

Lauren Eckert Ploch, M.D., M.Ed., FAAD, a dermatologist at the Georgia Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Augusta, Georgia, adds that hops have been used in herbal medicine in the past, since they contain essential oils and a pleasing fragrance.

“Some people find the fragrance to be relaxing, so hops are touted to have benefits for anxiety,” Ploch explains. “Hops also have antimicrobial properties.”

No surprise, then, that skincare companies are hopping on the bandwagon: BioClarity, a health-science startup in San Diego, uses oat kernel (used for brewing oatmeal stouts) in its acne treatment gel; the ingredient calms inflammation, moisturizes and soothes irritation, while treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis and dandruff. And SMD Cosmetics, a Korean skincare brand, incorporates beer yeast extract in its Saromae Radiance line; a solid source of selenium, chromium, protein and B vitamins, the extract contains essential amino acids, smooths skin, improves moisture, and revives tone and texture.

(MORE: Everything You Want to Know About the American IPA)

Beer for Soaking and Sipping

Clearly, beer and its components are establishing themselves as proven superstars when it comes to soaking, sipping and slathering on skin.

Hop in the Spa started as a labor of love and fittingly celebrated its one-year anniversary on Valentine’s Day. The concept now attracts hordes of loyal locals, traveling beer buffs and spa lovers alike.

Champa already has plans to offer beer lovers even more when they visit. This summer, the spa will be adding beer tours of central Oregon as well as beer classes hosted by a certified Cicerone. New beer-infused treatments and products are perennially in the pipeline, too (beer shampoo, anyone?).

“We’re the ‘un-spa’—you can come in, have a beer, relax, soak and get massaged,” Champa says. “People say it’s the best massage they’ve ever received, or that they feel so amazing after a soak. We get rave reviews.”

Tracy Morin

Tracy Morin is an award-winning freelance writer and editor based in Oxford, Mississippi. An avid food and beer enthusiast, she writes for numerous publications within the professional beauty industry; serves as senior copy editor for PMQ Pizza Magazine; and is a boxing ringside reporter for FightNews.com. Read more by this author

The post This Oregon Beer Spa Will Change How You Feel About Spas appeared first on Miami Beer Scene.

from This Oregon Beer Spa Will Change How You Feel About Spas

[lightisrecovery]

Welcome to America, don’t let our hate fucking consume you. Welcome to America, land of the ignorant, but if we only knew.

Mike Champa— “The Return (feat. J. Rad)”

[king-for-a-weekend]

For All Those Sleeping - Incomplete Me

[mikechampa]

that feeling(tm) when the Real mike champa likes one of ur tweets