Ganja Vibes Blog

DJ Apollo

DJ APOLLO is a hip hop legend and musical pioneer who helped lay the foundation for the subculture known as turntablism. Born in the Philippines and raised in San Francisco, Apollo is a jack of all trades known for his many musical styles, from hip hop to soul, funk, breaks, 80's & disco to name a few. He was one of the first DJs to experiment with the turntable as a musical instrument, which helped elevate the skill into an art form and turn the DJ into a musician. Because of this, Apollo also became one of the first DJs to be member of a live jazz band. One of the founders and original members of the Invisbl Skratch Piklz (ISP), Apollo helped introduce a revolutionary art form to the music world. The Piklz created the first turntable band: an art form in which turntables become the instruments that form all various sounds. The crew comprised of Apollo, Mix Master Mike and Qbert (also known as the Rock Steady DJs), and each artist possessed the skills to play various musical roles. These included the role of the drummer, bass player, lead scratch or turntablist. The combined talent of this team earned the group the titles of Disco Mixing Club (DMC) United States And World Champions (1992), which is the highest honor a DJ group can earn. The original ISP won them on both the national and international levels. With the success in the DJ battle circuit, Apollo's talent caught the attention of musical geniuses in the jazz and hip hop arenas. Apollo became the official DJ for Buckshot Lefonque, a band led by jazz legend Branford Marsalis and co-produced by DJ Premier of Gangstarr. Apollo also landed the DJ spot for Oakland based hip hop collective, Souls of Mischief of the Hieroglyphics and his musical work is featured on the group album "No Mans Land." Another defining moment in Apollo's career has been his experience with hip hop jazz trumpet player, Russell Gunn, and recorded tracks for Gunn's albums Music Ethnocology, Volumes 1 and 2. Apollo is currently the DJ for another Oakland native, the diva of the Bay Area, Goapele. Apollo is one of the few DJs in the world that has appeared on the three major late night talk shows, including David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. He is also featured in Scratch, a 2001 documentary film, directed by Doug Pray, that examines cultural and historical perspectives on the birth and evolution of hip-hop disc jockeys, scratching and turntablism and includes interview with some of hip-hop's most famous and respected DJs. Both national and international publications continue to highlight Apollo throughout his career, including Vibe, Rolling Stone, URB, DJ Times, and The Source to name a few. Some of his awards include the Technics DMC DJ Hall of Fame Award and Inductee (1999) , the International Turntablist Federation (ITF) Grand Wizard Theodore Award (2000), and the Hip Hop Slam Hall of Fame Award (2002) presented by Billy Jam. In 1999, Apollo joined up with two other legendary DJs, Shortkut (Beat Junkies) and Vinroc (5th Platoon), to form the super DJ group Triple Threat DJs. The only collective comprised of all turntable champions from major turntable crews. Triple Threat strive to master as many musical styles as possible as they produce tracks, compose music on the ones and twos, and rock a party with three times the power of your average turntable legend. Triple Threat has expanded into a music label and events promotions company as well. On an individual level, Apollo also continues to create and master new forms of turntablism. He has an ongoing series of highly coveted mixes and projects that incorporate different genres in live gigs and studio beats, and spreads his musical acumen with DJ gigs throughout the world. If you want to KNOW what GOOD is, check out DJ Apollo's Dancehall Reggae Mix. Ya Welcome! Go To: http://www.mixcrate.com/mix/66378/DJ-Apollo-Reggae-Dancehall-Classics DJ Apollo supports the cause, being one of the many fine entertainers at this past years West Coast Cannabis Expo!

Weed as a cold, flu & virus deterrent?

When I was a kid, I was sick all the time. Lactose intolerance, colds, viruses and the list goes on. Ever since I took matters into my own hands, I have been without illness but maybe 2 times in almost 2 decades. As the cold & flu season approach, all the advertisements for shots and pretreatment medications begin popping up everywhere. I can't help but be reminded of how I am feeling great! I don't feel as though anything can penetrate my blissful well-being. I attribute it all to my copious cannabis consumption. IF stress is the main cause of most illness, and marijuana helps people to experience OCD with regard to cleaning, what a winning combination to stay in tip-top health! Low/No stress & an immaculate household make for a healthy lifestyle!

Venice, CA 2011

Sex Toys

What are sex toys? Sex toys can be an exciting way to spice up your sexual life, whether using them by yourself or with others. There are many misconceptions that sex toys are only used by people who choose to remain abstinent, do not currently have sexual partners, or by gay men and lesbians. The truth is, people of all types use sex toys. Some choose to use them when they are alone, on their sexual partners, or on themselves while partners are present. Whatever you choice, it’s important to understand how to best clean the toys and how to protect yourself against STIs if you choose to share sex toys with others. Sex toys can range from objects that tickle and vibrate, to various products that are inserted into the vagina or anus. Some sex toys are meant to be used more gently, while others are used for sexual acts involving dominance and submission (BDSM) such as restraints, blindfolds, and whips. Some examples of sex toys are vibrators, feathers, dildos, harnesses, butt plugs, cock rings, and anal beads. Check out Toys in Babeland for more information on what’s out there and how to use it. How can I bring sex toys into my relationship? Sometimes it’s hard to communicate our sexual desires to our partners, especially when wanting to bring something new into a sexual relationship. Some people may feel threatened by the thought of having sex toys added to their sexual life or they have stereotypes about who uses sex toys. Honesty and open communication are the best strategies for talking with sexual partners about sex toys. Your partner needs to understand where you’re coming from, what you’re interested in doing, and how you will respect their boundaries, in order for sex toys to be a healthy, pleasurable part of your relationship. What’s the best way to use sex toys? No matter what sex toy you choose to use or how you choose to use it, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the experience pleasurable and help protect yourself from STIs. Before using the toy check, for any imperfections, including rough seams, tears, or cracks. Using lubrication is a great way to help enhance the pleasure and safety of sex toys. Ask your salesperson which lube is best for the toy or follow the instructions that come with the toy. For example, silicone lubes break down silicone toys after awhile. Flavored lubes may cause yeast infections for some females because the sugar can disrupt the balance of pH in the vagina. Oil-based lubes will break down latex condoms and dental dams, which will increase your risk for contracting STIs. If sharing sex toys, such as dildos, butt plugs, or vibrators, use condoms and dental dams to help prevent the spread of STIs. If switching the toy to another person, make sure to use a different condom or dental dam. Remember, soap alone is not effective for removing STI bacteria or viruses from the toy. Don’t insert a sex toy in the mouth or vagina if it has been used in the anus without a condom or without being washed properly. This could spread bacteria and viruses and cause infections in the urinary tract (for females) or intestines. If a condom was used with the sex toy, replace the condom with a new one before inserting the toy in the mouth or vagina. If it hurts, stop! If you are using toys with a sexual partner, earn trust with one another. If you want to try again, relax and add extra lube if needed. What’s the best way to clean sex toys? Proper cleaning of sex toys is essential to avoid bacterial infection or transmission of STIs. While some STIs die once the fluid they live in dries, others (such as hepatitis and scabies) can live for weeks or months outside of the body. If you want to prevent pregnancy, it is also important to be remove sperm that may be on the sex toy before using near or in the vagina. It’s important to keep the instructions for cleaning the sex toy and to follow them carefully. If you feel that cleaning the toy properly would be too time consuming or unrealistic for you, think about buying a different toy. The information provided below gives a general overview for cleaning different types of toys and isn’t meant to replace the manufacturer’s instructions. For basic toy care, remove any batteries. Never submerge electrical components in water. Use a damp, soapy washcloth to clean your electric toys, preferably with anti-bacterial soap. Keep toys stored in a container or pouch (to keep them clean) and in a cool, dry place. Cleaning non-porous materials: glass, stainless steel, hard plastic, and silicone Glass: Wash glass toys with soap and water. Pyrex toys are dishwasher safe. Do not expose glass to extreme temperatures. Stainless Steel: If attached to an electrical device, use warm soapy water, being careful not to submerge any electrical components. If there are no electrical components you have 3 options: Boil or soak in a bleach-water solution (50:50 ratio) for 10 minutes, or place it in the dishwasher. Hard Plastic: Clean with anti-bacterial soap and water. Do not boil. Silicone: You can choose from 3 options to clean a silicone toy. Either boil for 5-10 minutes, put it in your dishwasher (on top rack), or wash with anti-bacterial soap and warm water. Do not boil silicone vibrators because you will destroy the vibrator mechanism. Cleaning porous materials: rubber, vinyl, cyberskin, nylon, and leather Rubber materials: Rubber materials are porous and difficult to clean. In addition, their composition is not always known or may contain phthalates, chemicals which have been shown to be harmful to your health. For these reasons, it is recommended to use condoms with these types of toys. Cyberskin and Vinyl: Cyberskin is soft and porous, often used for dildos. Wash cyberskin and vinyl toys delicately with warm water only. Air dry and powder a small amount with cornstarch to keep them from getting sticky. Nylon: Nylon harnesses and toys can be machine or hand washed with a mild anti-bacterial soap. Leather: Wipe leather products with a damp, soapy cloth or with leather cleaner. Do not soak leather. After cleaning, you may recondition your toy using a leather conditioner. Protect metal parts from tarnish by applying a coating of clear nail polish.

What is Cannabis?

BBC Health A guide to cannabis, how it is used, how it works and what the risks are. Dr Trisha Macnair last medically reviewed this article in March 2010. Cannabis is a drug produced from the Cannabis sativa (commonly known as hemp) or Cannabis indica plant, which is related to nettles and hops. It's believed to have originated in the mountainous regions of India, and grows wild in many parts of the world. The plant contains more than 400 chemicals, including cannabidiolic acid, an antibiotic with similar properties to penicillin. The different chemical derivatives of the plant can be used for medicinal or recreational purposes. The recreational drug cannabis comes in many forms – herbal (dried plant material), resin, powder, hash, tinctures and oil - and is known by many slang terms, including weed, pot, mary jane, grass, ganja, reefer, marijuana and hash, among others. Dried Plant Material Resin Powder/ Kief Kief Hash Oil/ Ear Wax Tincture/ Extract Effects and uses of cannabis Cannabis is most widely used as a illegal street drug for its relaxing properties. It is usually rolled into a cigarette known as a joint, but can also be smoked in a pipe, brewed as a tea or mixed with food. The main active ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabino (THC). One type, skunk, can be particularly potent as it contains two to three time as much THC as other types. Cannabis acts as a mild sedative, leaving most people feeling relaxed, chilled out or just sleepy. It also: Has mild hallucinogenic effects, causing a distortion of reality Makes some people become more animated Releases inhibitions, making people talkative or giggly Can cause nausea in some people (despite the fact that cannabis can have an anti-nausea effect), while it quite often makes others feel hungry Cannabis or its derivatives may also be used as a medical treatment. There is some scientific evidence to suggest it may be useful in a wide range of conditions. But the complex nature of the substances contained within the plant makes it difficult for medical research to establish clearly its safety or efficacy, so its effects are far from proven or well-understood. The active chemicals within cannabis (known as a group as cannabinoids) are gradually being identified and wide-scale trials testing the safety and efficacy of these cannabis extracts (or synthetic forms of them) are currently underway in the UK and elsewhere. For instance, cannabis appears to be able to help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatment, although not more so than other already established medications. The drugs used to treat cancer are among the most powerful, and most toxic, used in medicine. They produce unpleasant side effects, such as days or weeks of vomiting and nausea after each treatment. Some cannabinoids relieve nausea and allow patients to eat and live normally. Extracts also seem to benefit patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, although most of the benefit seems to be from people feeling more relaxed when taking a cannabinoid or medical derivative of cannabis. Recent research showed no reduction in muscle spasticity. Claims have also been made for its use in treating: Migraine Headaches Asthma Strokes Parkinson's disease Alzheimer's disease Alcoholism Insomnia Risks of cannabis There's increasing evidence that cannabis use is linked to a number of health risks. It damages the ability to concentrate, decreases motivation and more than occasional use in teenagers can affect psychological development. Users can become anxious, suspicious and even paranoid. Heavy use increases the risk of serious psychiatric illness. Users of skunk, a stronger and increasingly more available form of cannabis, are seven times more likely to develop a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, than people not using cannabis or using the more traditional forms. Cannabis also interferes with coordination, causing problems with balance, walking and driving. There are other side effects of the drug, but they vary considerably and are less predictable, partly because cannabis has more than 400 active ingredients. They may include effects on the heart, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, and damage to fertility. People who smoke cannabis are also exposed to the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke. People may become dependent on cannabis and find it difficult to stop using it, experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they do stop such as cravings, agitation, mood changes, sleep problems, appetite disturbance and other symptoms. The debate over the use of cannabis in medicine is highly controversial and emotive. Supporters of the drug claim it has wide-ranging benefits, but opponents say it is a potentially dangerous substance that can actually damage health. Cannabis and the law The use of cannabis remains illegal (except for prescribed cannabinoids as described above). It is a Class B drug. As a result, the penalties for getting caught with cannabis, especially on repeated occasions, can be severe. A report by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee recommended the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) did not give the report 100 per cent support and believes only cannabinoids - carefully identified chemical derivatives of the cannabis plant - should be used in medicine. TheGovernment says it will not consider legalising cannabis for medical use until clinical trials had been completed. Advice and support Occasional users of cannabis may be able to give it up, although they may find it harder to give up the general smoking habit. However, heavier users may need expert help to stop. Talk to your GP or local community drug agency or clinic.