Photo by Stijn te Strake on Unsplash

With around 14,600 public and privately owned RV parks or campgrounds across America, there are no shortages of places to stop and roam the country with plenty of options to choose from. Traveling in a RV is more than just being transported from place to place, rather they’re a way of experiencing adventures in both comfort and style, just on wheels. After all, what’s not to love about hitting the open road with the luxury of having all amenities from right inside your home?

RV motorhomes come in a variety of styles, sizes and even floor plans for a custom designed motorcoach to suit your personal preferences. Interior options are pretty much endless so you can travel with all your home comforts right under one moving roof. There’s nothing quite like having a beautiful kitchen, snug living areas and calming bedroom to enhance your travels further. Whether you’re a group of friends looking into how to have the ultimate adventure this year or a family wanting to do something different for a vacation, jump in and find out more.

Sleep easy in your RV

When you don’t have a brick and mortar home, a RV becomes your inner sanctuary so having a good night’s sleep is essential after driving endless miles throughout the day. Make your RV your home by adding a pillow top mattress and soft bedding designed for a peaceful sleep and for minimizing any tossing and turning during the night. Treat yourself to buying from a reputable company for those extras that reflect your personality but also have the luxury you desire so that they review key features to suit your tastes and levels of comfort. Additionally, ensure the durability, thickness and materials of a mattress stands the test of time for excessive use every night..

Be entertained on the road

In between visiting places along the way, it’s likely you’ll be spending a great deal of time inside your RV so having the most up to date entertainment facilities on board is essential for your enjoyment and comfort. Although many of the audio and visual devices installed in a RV are much the same as you’d have at home, they will be adapted to ensure practicality; for example, having controls from a centralized command center. Think about installing a drop down flat screen, surround sound system, satellite receiver and signal booster for maximum entertainment.

The little extras

Having a top notch RV means you’ll also enjoy the smaller additions incorporated into a design to ensure you have everything you need. Storage is very important on a RV so built-in, overhead shelving and sliding compartment cupboards under the seats or bed are vital for keeping your possessions safe. Consider LED lighting with dimmer switches, and for your interior to always at a comfortable temperature with vented heating, air conditioning systems and the right kind of insulation. Similarly, premium appliances, top of the range cabinetry and rich leather furnishings will all add to keeping your RV home in perfect condition.

As with any home, comfort is the key element to enjoying the space but especially so when your home is on wheels so that you always feel pampered and everything is convenient for you to enjoy.

Embassy Skateboards
Model: John Gibson

Our Score: 4.5 out 5 stars

Looking to find that special something for the skateboarder on your Christmas list this year? Embassy Skateboards has just what you need to put a smile on that loved ones face this holiday season. Based deep within the heart of Texas and helmed by John “Tex” Gibson and Lee Leal the company has been churning out quality skate goods since 2009. From old school to new school Embassy has something for every generation of skater.

I had the chance to check out one of the brands John Gibson models and put it through the paces at our local skate park and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The board we received was a beautifully deep red dipped new school shaped board with a width of 8.5” and length of 32”. The screen printed graphics were vibrant and reminiscent of Pushead graphics of the 1980’s (a definite plus for an old school guy like myself) and after a quick set up I was ready to go. When just cruising around the board’s wide wheel base provided good stability and the mid depth concave gave a nice comfortable shape for your feet to rest in. The 7 ply Canadian maple offered plenty of pop and at times made tricks feel a touch easier given the boards responsiveness.

After putting the deck through a couple more sessions I can safely say that Embassy makes a quality product through and through. Detailed craftsmanship combined with great looks and functionality makes for a product you will surely be happy with and one that is built to last. At the time of typing this, the exact board we received was not currently available for order however there are plenty of other killer decks and products available. If you have ever tried to wade through the sea of online skateboard shops or made a trip to a certain sometimes pushy retail mall shop you know what a hassle it can be to find a good skate product. Save yourself some time and head over to Embassy Skateboards you won’t be disappointed.

To find out more about Embassy Skateboards click here

Every man needs some “me-time” every now and then, to just relax and rewind and deflate from all the stress and pressure of life. Some decide to go on a long drive, some just spend the day sitting lazily at home and others go out to a pub with the guys for a cold one. But according to most, the best solution to have a good and relaxing time of either solitude or togetherness with the best buds is to have a man cave.

But how would you go about decorating the perfect man cave?

1. The Type

The first thing to decide what type of man cave you want. Some prefer to have a small place to sit comfortably and read, others want a nice and cozy place to relax and watch their favorite flicks, And some like to have a good time with friends in the comfort and privacy of their man cave. Depending on the subjective choice, the first thing to do is to have a basic idea for the purpose of a man cave.

2. The Theme

Another purpose of having a man cave would be to pay homage to your favorite rock-stars, movies or any pop culture that you might be a fan of. Most Star Wars fans love to hang up posters of the movies and keep memorabilia on display in shelves and showcases. Queen fans like to put up photos of Freddie Mercury and have a jukebox which has all their songs loaded in it. Metallica followers prefer to have a guitar or two on display along with a drum set, an amplifier and a synthesizer kept, to play at their heart’s desire.

3. The Furniture

This is the most important part of creating a man cave. For the voracious reader, a small room with one wall covered by a bookshelf containing the most compelling pieces of literature alongside a cozy and snug chair would be a necessity. But, for a movie-addict, a large 50″ HDTV paired with a proper set of speakers and a large sofa beside a small refrigerator to keep the soda cold is just perfect. A gamer may have a similar setup, then having the only addition of an XBOX or a PlayStation.

Although there are some who like to spend time with their best friends and for such an inclination, a large home game room having either a Foosball table or a pool table with a big refrigerator holding a few packs of beer and some leather couches or bar stools would be proper. The addition of a couple of arcade games would make it excellent.

4. Additional Tips

Painting the man cave is essential to make it look perfect in every aspect. Addition of small decor like using special light fixtures to match the theme will make the cave absolutely impeccable. To remove any remaining imperfections, it would be best to take suggestions from friends and others who share similar inclinations.

At the end of the day, the man cave belongs to you and it is you who must decide how to decorate it. This is just a guide to help you along the way. Yet, keep in mind not to spend too much money on it as it is a commodity that is not easily got and must be saved wherever possible unless you’re a millionaire!

Any avid music player has been faced at times with the problem of not being able to access a music video on YouTube due to country bans. This can be very frustrating but surprisingly, a fast and permanent solution to this problem is free and just a few clicks away. This solution is represented by the multitude of VPNs providers (both paid and free).

The Functionality Of VPNs

VPNs are a fairly new cybersecurity technology on the market that comes with important side benefits. People normally use VPNs for staying safe or anonymous online. A good example would be those who visit OCG for NZ players and plan to stay anonymous throughout their online casino experience – starting with the registration process and payments to fill the balance and ending with retrieving the money from wins.

However, there is an important side benefit offered by VPNs, namely, the ability to bypass region or country-specific bans. The explanation behind this is the following: given that all the Internet traffic of the user passes through a dedicated VPN server and that this server can be located anywhere in the world (the user can normally select manually the country of interest), it results that the user can appear online as a resident of any country where the given provider has servers.

Of course, most of the users are interested primarily in the US or European servers, but only a combination of servers from different countries would enable a truly broad access (for instance, the user might be willing to watch certain Netflix shows available only in the US and certain anime series available only in Japan). VPNs can ensure access to:

• TV streaming services (Netflix, Sling TV);
• general video streaming platforms (YouTube, Vimeo);
• music streaming services (Pandora, Spotify, online radios);
• virtually any other website which does not explicitly ban VPNs.

Considerations For Registering For A Blocked Music Streaming Service

As stated, one area in which VPNs would work flawlessly would be unblocking YouTube videos. This is however valid for many other streaming services with some considerations. Thus, many services nowadays involve a registration step in which a code containing message is sent to the mobile phone number of the user. In case this phone number has to be country-specific, there is little one can do to solve the problem. Nevertheless, such activation mechanisms are usually used for more “serious” platforms, like social networks (which might have policies of confirming user identity in order to ensure greater safety for other users on the network).

Most of the times, registering for a music streaming service with a VPN is very straightforward and takes just a few minutes. From here on, users can start listening to music and building their playlists, waiting for the day when these streaming services would officially expand their coverage to include their home countries.

Search for a movie review and you will find numerous websites and blogs each offering articles on that movie. Over the years, thousands of websites have propped up; each dedicated to reviewing movie releases. Like many budding bloggers, you might have the same idea to start a blog writing movie reviews and then converting the blog into a registered website when you gained plenty of regular visitors. It is a good idea and many have used their writing skills to earn money this way.

Here are some tips I want to share if you are thinking to start a Movie Reviews Blog:

1. Be A True Movie Buff– You must be a movie buff; that goes without saying. You will not be able to write about movies if you are not a cinephile and are not passionate about it. There are a number of articles on blogs titled such as ‘7 Movies like Good Will Hunting’; one wouldn’t be able to mention 7 movies like good will hunting if he/she hasn’t watched coming-of-age feel-good movies about a guy finding his way in life. I suggest you pick out the famous directors and watch all their movies to begin with.
2. An Interesting Style of Writing– Every movie review you read, there is plenty of use of the words ‘must-watch’ ‘great’ ‘good’ and that becomes repetitive as you scroll through each of the reviews. You will need to create an interesting style of writing so to keep the visitors hooked to your content. If you have read Roger Ebert’s reviews, you will see that he always had something sensible to say and he always wrote it in an interesting way. You can take help from sites like Paperdoers, Essaywriter4u, TFTH or Upwork (to name a few) to get a review written for your blog, which will surely help you understand the way it should be written.
3. Proofread the Content– This one relates to the first point too; you must have watched plenty of movies before starting a movie reviews blog. You should have original and unique content to write about the movie. There might be an issue if you have watched five movies in a day that you really liked; you might have the same thoughts about them and similar content to write. You can pay experts at Top Assignment Experts and OnlineAssignmentWriting and ask them to write a review for you keeping in view the writing style you have. You could also use Grammarly to proofread the review yourself.
4. A Plethora of Movie Types– You must not only write on the popular weekly releases but also on indie movies, documentaries, and blu-ray releases of old movies. Movie buffs love cinema that is new and different from the previous ones they have seen; if you put that content on your blog, it will naturally attract genuine movie buffs who always looking to find a gem among it all.
5. Rating System– Every movie blog or website has a way of rating the movies it is reviewing. It is usually out of 5 stars or a rating out of 10. IMDB is the most popular movie rating website; you will find each movie reviewed out of 10 based on critic and viewer reviews. You should also create a rating system based on points given for acting, directing, screenplay, and soundtrack among other criteria you might want to rate the movie on. You can take help from websites such as AAHR or BestOnlineAssignmentHelp to figure out different ways of creating a rating system for the movies; they will help you at a cheap price.

4 Wise Tips to Start Blogging as a Career Successfully

Blogging has become one of the most popular forms of media these days. In case you have the passion and drive in writing, then it will be easier for you to create your own blog and curate content. There are tons of things to take into consideration before you can build your own blog.

Nowadays, blogging can be considered as a career. It is no longer just a hobby for those who love writing, rather a source of income, too. There is money in being a blogger and if you put your heart into it, you can succeed eventually. Simply follow these smart tips on how to effectively start blogging as a career:

Choose the right platform and domain

The first thing you need when blogging is to find where you are going to write. Choose a platform wisely and make sure that it is easy to manage and user-friendly. If you cannot decide yet, you might want to opt for one of the most common platforms, which is WordPress. It is free, simple, and efficient. Definitely, you are sure to blog conveniently through it. Additionally, you have to pick the right domain for your blog. Use a domain lookup first to ensure that your chosen domain name is unique and still available.

Know your blog wholeheartedly

It pays off to understand your blog well. Select a niche that interests you the most and you can create a strategic plan from there. Organize your content and keep a record of everything you put in your blog. This way, you can determine what areas you can improve your writing skills easily as well as have a control of all the things that is happening in your blog.

Get noticed

Blogging as a career won’t be successful if you don’t have readers. Exert extra effort to get your blog noticed to everyone on the Internet. This might be a tough job at first, but you will see its benefit in the long run. Focus on networking with other bloggers out there, engage with your readers, and attend events. This way, you can slowly let other people know about your blog and have an idea of what it is all about.

Diversify your skills

Blogging is more than just simply writing articles. In order to succeed in this field, you also have to diversify your skills. Think of other skills you can use to improve your blog, such as photography and design. Be sure to be as creative as possible when you begin blogging as a career. There is a greater possibility that you boost your career if you incorporate more skills into it.

Certainly, blogging as a career is not an easy feat. It might seem simple, but it takes a lot of patience, time, creativity, and perseverance to make it to the top. If you are serious about blogging, then consider these helpful tips mentioned above. You will surely see the fruits of your labor soon, just be patient and never give up.

File formats are one of the most common properties that let you distinguish between file types and check their compatibility even. Video files come in various formats like MP4, AVI, MKV, FLV, MOV, WMV etc. All these format types have compatibility with specific devices and thus, they can be played properly on supported devices only. One of the lesser known file formats is the TS, which is generally to store audio, video, and data on the Blu-ray discs. This file format is most non-playable on mobile phones and other portable devices, which is why people often ask questions about the ways to play these files on mobile devices.

How To Make TS Files Playable On Mobile Devices?

As most of the mobile phones and media players support file formats such as MP4, AVI, MKV etc, you will need to first convert the TS file into one of these file formats. This can be easily done by using a video conversion or encoding software that offers such features & functionality. To understand better on how to make a TS file playable on your mobile phones, you can either click on this link www.movavi.com/support/how-to/how-to-convert-ts-video.html or you can follow the steps given below:

1. Download, install and launch a video encoder or conversion software on your Windows or Mac computer system.
2. Add the TS file by clicking on the ‘add media’ button & then ‘add video’ option. This will open a browsing window for you to browse, find and select the desired video file.
3. After that, you will need to select the file format of the video file to be converted. You can choose from various presets available for formats such as AVI, MKV, MPG, and WMV or a DVD compatible format. You can also save the file in audio format if you want by choosing from various popular formats like mp3, wma, wav etc.
4. Then you will need to choose the output folder where the resulting file will be stored and after that, you need to click on ‘Convert’ button to begin the conversion process. After the process is complete, you can check the converted file and put it on your mobile phone to watch it anytime.

Why A Video Converter Is A Great Tool?

We usually have a lot of videos stored on our computers or mobile phones. These might be small clips shared by friends, video lectures, informative videos, TV series episodes or full movies. Sometimes these videos are either non-compatible with our mobile phones or are too big in memory size. In such kind of situations, video conversion software is the best tool that you could have asked for. This software is basically designed to not only change the file formats of video files while preserving their quality but also to compress the size of these files. You can easily find the right video converter by check user reviews and ratings online and download the one that offers the right features, functionality, and efficiency.

When you look at the charts, you’d be forgiven for believing that gender inequality really isn’t an issue in the music industry. When you see the likes of Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Nikki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Adele, Rihanna etc it can be easy to make the argument that women get a fair enough representation. The list of successful Pop stars is endless, yet, do these female artists actually represent for women? Or are they just operating under a patriarchal agenda? You only have to look at the music videos and their choice of outfits at award ceremonies for the answer to that question.

Behind every female vocalist, there are quite likely to be hundreds of people behind them, getting them to where they are, producing the music, marketing the music, writing the songs, running the labels, merchandising, videography, tour management, event bookings… to name a few.

In this year’s list of the ‘Power 100’ as published by Billboard which lists the representative leaders of live, tech management and recording only 17% of the names on the list were female.

Gender inequality is an issue for female artists all over the world which was documented by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. They conducted their study in 2017 after looking into the lack of diversity in Hollywood, the findings leave little room for argument.

The Statistics of Gender Inequality:

• 2% of artists are male whilst only 16.8% were female.
• Of the 2767 songwriters surveyed, only 12.3% were female.
• Of the 651 producers surveyed, only 2% were female.
• Of the 899 musicians who were nominated to receive a Grammy award between 2013 and 2018 only 9.3% were female.

The board behind the study are committed to ensuring that there is better representation of minorities within the music industry after they have found the number of female artists is in decline. 2017 was a six year low for representation of female artists, so what is there to be done?

Gaining Balance
The first step will be to transform the view of the music industry and not allow it to carry on under the pretence that it a boy’s club. Currently, as men hold most of the top jobs in the industry women are facing gender bias and having to work even harder than their male counterparts to get noticed. It will take some brave women to step up to the plate and prove that women are just as capable as the men competing for the roles. The more women there are taking on these roles the more support and mentoring there will be for more women in the future to join the industry.

The second step will be to encourage new generations of women to explore roles in relation to music composition and engineering. Dispelling the myth that a woman’s only place is the stage. There is so much beyond what the average listener and music consumer actually sees and hears. Yet, not a lot of people get to find out just how much work goes into recording, production and live event management. It’s all kept fairly cloak and dagger and behind the scenes.

Lysandra Woods from Third Side Music in LA suggested that the best way for a woman to get a good chance of scoring their dream role as an industry member is to search for entry-level positions and mentorships within companies. Whilst starting off as a dogsbody is nobodies’ idea of fun, in the music industry you have to be prepared to prove yourself. No one is going to want to take your word for it. It’s a steep learning curve, but the only way is up from there. It is interesting to note that one of the key skills for working in the industry is relationship skills. Given that women generally possess better communication skills than men, it should be a given that there are more women in the industry.

By now, you’ve probably realised that for any changes to happen when it comes to which names appear on the album charts and stages changes must first be made to the industry members along with the general perception of who can be a music artist.

From a young age, women are discouraged to join a band or pick up their guitar, and they would have a safer bet if they used online betting casinos the odds of winning on slot games like Enchanted Prince and Starburst would definitely be more in their favour than being able to join a band. Maybe they would even have more chance of a success if they took a leaf from that slot game and tried to find a Prince Charming instead of going it alone.

Whilst we may have a decent handful of successful Pop artists, within other genres the gender imbalance gets even more discouraging to aspiring artists. Especially within the Hip Hop industry, as female rappers are still seen as a novelty. Sure, you’ve got your urban icons such as Missy Elliot and Nikki Minaj, but when you compare that to the amount of male urban artists out there, their names are nothing but a drop in the ocean. Over in the UK one of the major Urban Grime festivals went under fire for introducing a new ‘female-only’ stage instead of allowing female artists take slots on the main bill. Women aren’t asking for special treatment, they are asking for their work to be respected based on the quality and not depending on what they look like or to be there to tick diversity boxes.

Often the first hurdle a girl will face when contemplating becoming a musician is when they walk into a music shop to purchase their first instrument. Often music stores are owned, ran and staffed by male members of staff. There have been countless reports of women walking into music stores only for them to be asked if they are shopping for their boyfriends. Once they establish that they are in fact shopping for themselves, they’re often then met with the assumption that they know very little about the instrument they are looking at. But every musician has to start somewhere. Male musicians are no exception to that rule. Sure, girls can purchase a guitar online and lose out on that special moment when they’re finally handed their guitars. Sure, they can learn by watching YouTube videos instead of seeking out a guitar tutor (yes, guitar tutors are predominantly male too) but this still means that female artists are operating in the same oppressive spaces. Even when women shop for records in the record store they are faced with pretentious staff.

So, it’s clear that each small change and each small step made by women will help to ensure we see more female representation across the music industry as a whole.

5 Reasons Your Game Isn’t Loading on Your Computer

You (or your little one!) sit down at your computer, excited beyond measure to start playing. The new game you’ve been waiting for released and it’s finally finished downloading. You click on it. Boot it up. Eager to capture the first impression of the user interface. Seconds pass and nothing happens, perhaps you even encounter some sort of error. You click again only to experience the same outcome. For whatever reason, your game isn’t loading and even after rebooting your gaming system, nothing changes.

To a gamer, nothing is more frustrating. However, before you panic or dive headfirst into the depths of frustration, it’s important to note that there are a host of reasons this could be occurring and, for the most part, it’s an easy problem to rectify. The below are common reasons why your game isn’t loading on your computer.

Anti-Virus or Anti-Malware Programs

Current anti-virus and anti-malware software is complex, deeply integrated, and often overruling. Being that these programs work in the background, often their basic setup will debilitate other software from running. Mostly, this is because the anti-virus solution deems this new software (in this case the new game you’ve installed) as a possible threat. In other cases, it is simply a communication issue between the different types of software. It’s encouraged, if you’re running into this problem, to temporarily disable the anti-virus solution while you run your game. If this rights the problem, then reach out to the anti-virus solution’s support team, or do some research to understand why it’s inhibiting your game from running properly.

Graphics Driver

New, trendy video games tend to stay at the forefront of graphics hardware and software. This is to say that, when graphics cards improve, so too does the game—aiming to complement the new capabilities of current units. Sometimes, your hardware is sound but the game still won’t run. In which case it’s wise to look into your graphics driver and discern whether you’re up-to-date or not. Simply installing the latest driver can fix bugs, patch issues, and bring your software up to speed in order to run the game properly.

The GPU

Graphics cards are not necessarily jargon in the computer world, being that they’re commonly referenced regarding games, design, and digital aesthetics. This may have you asking: what is a graphics processing unit (GPU)? Think of GPU as a part of the computer responsible for ensuring that your content displays and renders properly on screen. This includes games, applications, and webpages. If your GPU is outdated and can’t process or render the game at hand, it simply won’t load. This could very well be indicative of a hardware issue and it just might be time to replace your GPU. This point is increasingly relevant if the game which errored is brand new.

The Operating System (OS)

Although these cases are less common than others (especially if it’s a desktop you’re playing on and not a mobile device), there are circumstances in which a game has been engineered for a certain operating system that succeeds your current gaming technology. This usually occurs with massive changes, not updates; think Windows XP or Vista versus Windows 10. While this perhaps has nothing to do with your current situation, before researching other issues it’s wise to see if the game at hand has been formatted for a specific operating system—Mac or Windows alike.

Storage

Lastly, although this should error in the download stage, it’s paramount that you identify whether or not you have enough space on your hard drive to download and run the game. Without the proper storage, the game may download improperly and run incorrectly or not at all. This is where upgrading RAM can be beneficial to your computer’s processing speed as a whole and allow your game, at last, to boot up and run.

It’s Often an Easy Fix

Computers are complex, multifaceted, and downright overwhelming to the novice user. With so many parts communicating simultaneously, identifying root problems that are causing issues can be a daunting task. Yet, when it comes to games not loading, the reasons are often common, easy to identify (especially through the process of elimination), and even easier to fix. Don’t let your current situation frustrate you and know that there is, most likely, a quick and easy solution to your problem.

Playing games at a casino offers fun that is worthwhile. But at some point in time, one must take some time to consider the appropriate behavior to put up at a casino.

For newbies who have never had an adventure in a casino, it is necessary for them to learn some casino etiquettes just in case they find themselves in one at any point in time.

We’ve made the job easier and have provided a list of the acceptable dos and the unacceptable don’ts in a casino. Meanwhile, if you’re not comfortable with the dos and don’ts, you can opt for an online casino. Try Novibet casino.

THE DOS OF PLAYING AT A CASINO

1. Dress appropriately

You have to learn to dress for the occasion to enable you to fit in easily.  You must not go to the mall and acquire expensive outfits just because you want to visit a casino. Just plan your outfit and try to appear semi-formal.

 2. Toe the line of politeness

You might find yourself in a winning or losing position in a casino at any point in time. Nevertheless, you must always be polite and try not to be carried away by the euphoria. Regardless of whether you’re winning or losing, you must keep your cool and stay calm.

3. Ask if you can be allowed to join a table

Every newbie will definitely wonder which games and table to opt for on their first visit to a casino. However, once you identify any table with events that appeal to you, you should ask if you can join. Once you join, you must do well to take breaks at intervals to keep your mind and body refreshed.

THE DON’TS OF PLAYING AT A CASINO

1. Never sit at a table if you won’t play

Just in case your motive to observe, then it is advisable not to sit at a table. Only do this when you have identified a table and are ready to play. If you’re supporting a player, then you can stand behind him and cheer on. Seats are reserved for only players.

2. Don’t give your money to a dealer

You must understand that dealers at a table are not allowed to handle your money or chips directly. Therefore, you must not hand these over to them. Once you get your chips, place them on the table.

3. Phone usage is not advisable at a table.

Phones can be a distraction to players at a casino table they want to remain focused on the game at hand. Therefore, it’s rude if your phone then acts as a distraction. It is wise to switch off your phones or walk away from the table if you want to receive or make a call.

The world of cannabis is certainly complicated for a newbie, with all sorts of variations to experiment with. In this article, our focus will not just be on non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) products, but those that are made from the hemp plant. These are legal in all 50 US states, unlike cannabis-derived CBD products which can only be purchased by the public in states that have enacted recreational legislation.

An introduction to hemp-based CBD

Hemp is a plant from the cannabis family, but it has a markedly different cannabinoid profile to the strains that we are most familiar with. Hemp contains very low concentrations of THC, but more substantial amounts of CBD – products, therefore, only have therapeutic and dietary uses, and cannot be recreationally abused. When the Farm Bill was passed in the United States in 2014, allowing the sale of hemp products with a maximum of 0.3 percent THC, the CBD market was born – and it has since grown tremendously.

Before going further, it should be noted that hemp-based CBD products are unregulated, which makes quality that much more important. The best companies seek to assure customers by having products tested by a third-party laboratory – companies who don’t do this, or claim to carry out testing themselves, should cause alarm. Moreover, products made using the supercritical CO₂ extraction method are likely to be safer and of higher quality, as this process more effectively filters heavy metals and toxins from the extract. These unwanted substances build up in the hemp plant as it grows because the plant is a bio-accumulator – they are picked up more quickly than they can be excreted.

Now let’s take a closer look at the most popular hemp-based CBD products, and how they can be used beneficially.

Full-spectrum hemp-based CBD products

These tend to be the most popular hemp-based CBD products as they offer the maximum therapeutic potential possible sans THC. Research from Dr Ethan Russo and others has shown that cannabis is more effective when a full extract is used, rather than isolated cannabinoids. For instance, the psychoactive effects of THC are not as extraordinary when CBD is also taken, as the CBD reduces the strength of the bind that THC makes with the CB₁ receptor.

Hemp contains an array of non-psychoactive cannabinoids, in addition to THC, and also some useful terpenes, such as pinene and linalool. Pinene has traditionally been used to treat wounds and infections, while linalool can help to counteract anxiety.

The vape industry is thriving among ex-smokers and also cannabis users, and hemp-based CBD vape oil and e-liquid is very popular. New CBD users are advised to start on the weaker potency bottles, as this helps them to become familiar with the effects, and also to establish how much is necessary to treat a certain ailment. Some conditions require small doses, others require bigger doses. Due to a lack of clinical research on CBD for most illnesses, it can be a case of trial and error.

To avoid confusion, writing a journal on each CBD dose can help with settling on a preferred dosage. Some opt for refillable cartridges, which allow for short and long vapor draws, but those who want an exact dosage could try CBD cartridges. These are designed to only release a specific quantity of CBD with each draw.

CBD-isolate products

Despite full-spectrum CBD products arguably having more therapeutic value, there remains a big market for CBD-isolate products. As the name indicates, these are made to only contain CBD, and none of the other cannabinoids and terpenes found in a full-plant hemp extract.

CBD-isolates are perfect for those who know that they only need CBD to treat their condition, or for those who have concerns about drugs tests at work, or elsewhere. It’s important to note that testers only look for THC and not CBD, but since full-spectrum products may have traces of THC, the amount in the system can accumulate if taking high doses multiple times per day. Thanks to the much-higher amount of CBD entering the body, there still won’t be any psychoactive effects, but in an unfortunate scenario, where the test has a low THC threshold, there is some scope for a failure. This can be enough to encourage users to switch to CBD-isolates to eliminate that risk entirely.

It’s no surprise that CBD concentrates are some of the best-selling CBD-isolate products, as this the fastest way to take a huge dose. Concentrates are usually dabbed but can be mixed into vape oil and even ingested – the effects will be slower but last for longer if ingested.

CBD products infused with terpenes

CBD products are sometimes tagged with a “hybrid,” “sativa” or indica” description – and these aren’t for show. These products are normally CBD-isolates, that have been enhanced with a specific array of terpenes, to encourage a certain reaction.

This can be useful in a few ways. An indica for example, will provide more sedation, which is suitable if using CBD as a sleeping agent. These relaxing terpenes have a soothing influence on the muscles and the mind, promoting rejuvenating sleep. CBD works to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, boosting the amount of deep sleep where the most significant regeneration takes place.

On the other hand, a CBD product with a sativa slant is great in the mornings, or for a mid-afternoon slump. The pick-me-up effect is akin to that of caffeine, without the headache later on. Patients with depression who take CBD for the chemical adjustments which facilitate a mood boost may be benefitted further by the energizing nature of a sativa-dominant CBD product.

Final thoughts on hemp-based CBD

Most cannabis activists rightly call for all components of the plant to be legalized, at least for medicinal use, but the rich list of benefits that can be derived from hemp-based CBD means many have to suffer no longer. If anxiety is holding you back from enjoying your best life, then vaping CBD to release calming GABA neurotransmitters into the brain will break the shackles. If chronic pain is proving troublesome, then vaporizing or applying CBD cream to the most painful spots will deliver much-needed relief.

And researchers have barely scratched the surface. Just recently, a study from the University of British Columbia found that there may be more cannabinoids in cannabis, and therefore hemp, than we originally thought, after discovering 21 compounds that were yet to be identified. This throws up a new set of interactions and possibly new cannabis-based products in the future. It also suggests that the effects of cannabis on the body are even more complex.

Now is the time to start the holiday shopping for the 2018 season! I always like to try and be done before Thanksgiving that way we van enjoy the holidays and get to relax. At Media Mikes, we try to find the newest and coolest items to help you get the best gifts during the holiday season. 2018 is shaping up to be one of our busiest years to date with product coverage. Check out below for just a few of the must-own  products this year!

One of this year’s top items to keep an eye out for would be the MIQRO vaporizer. Da Vinci has already delivered amazing products and the MIQRO has an all zirconium ceramic vapor path and mouthpiece which allows you to draw the purest vapor you’ll ever taste in a vaporizer. What makes Da Vinci stand out is that these vaporizers they stand behind their legacy on perfecting the purest flavor. This vaporizer is 33% smaller than its predecessor and with a fully functional adjustable oven, this small vaporizer is sleek and simple!

While you are using your amazing MIQRO, would better way to relax than to kick back with a screening of “The Big Lebowski”. Well, get ready for this holiday season because there is an amazing 20th Anniversary Limited Edition debuting for the first time ever on 4K Ultra Combo Pack that also includes Blu-ray™ and Digital via the digital movie app Movie Anywhere on October 16, 2018, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is the perfect gift for any fan and the exclusive set includes a collectible bag, bowling ball pencil holder, polishing cloth and sweater packaging offering delivering the perfect gift for any fan.

Now if you want to win the holiday season, head over to Forever Collectibles (FOCO) because they  just released their first series of Bluetooth enabled ugly Christmas sweaters… That’s right I said, Bluetooth Ugly Christmas Sweater.Now if a sports fan, get ready to make that purchase because the time is now! The officially-licensed knitted NFL team light-up Bluetooth sweaters for the 2018 holiday season are a must have for all sports fans there are a ton of amazing professional and collegiate sports to choose from. I know the point of the “ugly sweaters” is to be ugly but these shirts look amazing as well as add a little extra cheese factor. The Bluetooth lighting is an amazing addition to the ugly sweater tradition. You are able to display blinking lights on front so you can light up the room and keep the party going all night!

Since the season is just starting off, this piece is only the beginning for us here at Media Mikes, we will have many more gift guides for you to check out this holiday season. Don’t get caught out of time and without a gift. Hopefully this gift guide allows you to get a jump on the shopping this year and makes your loved ones very happy in return!

It’s estimated that 115 people per day die in the US per day from opioid overdoes. The economic burden for opioid abuse alone costs the United States $78 billion per year. If you factor in alcohol and illicit drug use that number totals around $740 billion per year. Needless to say, this is a significant epidemic in American society that currently lacks a practical solution. 10% of American adults have a substance use disorder that they struggle with yet 75% of them never receive any form of treatment.

Removing the Stigma of Addiction

Much of the reluctance from those suffering from substance abuse disorders to seek treatment stems from the stigma associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Many view addicts as lacking moral character and those with substance abuse issues often experience deep-seeded feelings of shame and guilt. Emerging science and research has pointed to a number of physiological and genetic differences that play a significant factor is a likelihood of developing a substance abuse disorder. In addition to epigenetics and physiological traits, childhood trauma and painful life experiences also play a significant role in someone’s likelihood to abuse drugs or alcohol. Shaming or stigmatizing addicts fails to offer a solution to the drug epidemic and only seems to serve as a deterrent from seeking the treatment they need.

Addiction Treatment

Many options exist for those that do decide to seek treatment. Depending on the severity of the substance abuse issue, there are different levels of care best suited for the condition. The first step for someone who has been abusing drugs intensively or for an extended period is typically detox. Detoxing from drugs that the body has become adapted to can be a dangerous process which is why this form of treatment usually takes place in a medical setting for a short term of a few days to a week. In-patient or residential treatment is the next level of care where someone usually spends 30+ days living on-site at a facility where they abstain from drugs and alcohol and receive some form of counseling along with a wide range of complementary treatments depending on the facility. These types of facilities often come with a very high price tag, making them inaccessible for a large part of the population who either can’t afford them or don’t have insurance that will cover treatment. An outpatient rehab may be an alternative for someone who requires a lower level of care and who doesn’t have the time to spend living on-site for a month-long residential program. Outpatient rehabs allow you to live at home and attend to work or family obligation while still receiving treatment.

Methods for Treating Substance Abuse

Conventional – Medication Assisted Treatment

The current existing model for treating drug addiction involves the use of psychotropic pharmaceutical drugs that activate much of the same circuitry as illicit street drugs. These drugs are often seen as a much safer alternative to street drugs, however still only really serve as a band-aid for a deeper underlying condition. With the rise of medical assisted treatment (MAT) (MAT) pharmaceuticals have taken the forefront of drug addiction treatment. Many addicts come into therapy in bad shape and pharmaceuticals can be incredibly useful in adding detox, and to help get someone back to an even baseline; however the long-term consumption of these substances can create mental and physical imbalances, and come with many side effects.

Holistic – Whole Person Treatment

Addiction can be viewed as a complex disorder that affects the mind, body, and spirit. It is in many ways the symptom of a deeper underlying condition. A holistic drug rehab model that treats the whole-person may be the best option for addressing the multitude of factors that contribute to addiction by offering a wide range of tools that treat the whole person vs. isolating symptoms.  Holistic drug treatment combines traditional interventions and modalities for treating substance abuse disorders and combines them with alternative and complementary therapies that help heal underlying physical health conditions, help reduce stress and help reestablish balance to the mind and body. There a number of physiological issues that can contribute to addiction such as nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, imbalanced gut bacteria, food allergies, and heavy metal toxicities. Holistic addiction treatment looks to correct these issues which in turn helps to establish a more balanced mood state.

The need for more resources.

Taking measure to offer education, prevention tools, and affordable treatment options need to be made a bigger priority in the US. The statistics regarding drug abuse in American are shocking, yet there is still a large part of the population that remain unaware of the severity of an issue that is occurring right in their own backyard.  Substance abuse is an issue that affects all walks of life and those suffering with it are not merely a “junkie,” “alcoholic,” or “crackhead,” but possibly a neighbor, friend, or loved one. Shame and guilt will never take the place of effective measures for treating and preventing drug abuse.

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