Basil and the Cannabis Connection.

Cannabis

Basil

Thee pictures above are of two plants that to some might seem a world apart.

First we have an unknown variety of Drug Cannabis, which to me particularly exhibits like squat and dense morphology of Cannabis Indica (or some type of Indica-Sativa Hybrid).

Secondly, we have a variety of Basil. I do not know much about basil, except that I grow what can be described as Sweet Basil... oh which the above picture of Basil looks strikingly familiar.

Admittedly, I know much more about Cannabis than Basil, so if there are any Basil experts that happen to stop on by, please feel free to enlighten me about this wonderful plant. =)

Now, what in the world could be the link between said plants? One is predominantly used for its medicinal, recreational and ceremonial/religious qualities -- While the other is used as a seasoning or a garnish.

It should also be mentioned that Cannabis is a Schedule 1 Drug in the United States, federally prohibited in all forms, not even recognized for its legion of medicinal qualities. Sad but true for those who have been enlightened enough to realize this tragedy. Basil however is completely legal and unregulated, so it's yours to have as much of as you like.

However, what could these two plants have in common? Well, to cut to the chase, they both contain copious amounts of Cannabinoids. Well, what the hell is a cannabinoid and why should you care?

Cannabinoids function in the body as neurotransmitters (chemical signals) whose job it is to regulate mental and body processes. In every one of us, our bodies create what are known as endocannabinoids (endogenous cannabinoids). These are critical in pretty much every bodily function.

Cannabis works by activating CB1 receptors (located in your brain), which are responsible for any effects that you feel 'in your head'. At the same time Cannabis also functions on the CB2 receptors (located throughout your immune system), which is responsible for the pain-relieving and immune boosting qualities of Cannabis.

Those people who wish to quell the symptoms of an endocannabinoid deficiency may consume the Cannabis plant to supplement their bodies own natural cannabinoids. Certain herbs like Basil and Oregano have been found to be CB2 agonists (at least, partially), which although is absent of CB1 activity is still a good way to boost cannabinoid levels.

This is why Cannabis, as well as herbs like Basil and Oregano have been used for thousands of years because of their medicinal properties. There's more to Pesto than just good taste.

The compounds in Basil for example have been found to have potent antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral and antimicrobial qualities. Thanks Wikipedia.

I like the idea of supplementing CB2 levels by consuming herbs like Basil, Oregano, or any others that contain the aromatic terpenoids. However, I even more prefer the idea of consuming Cannabis to supplement both CB1 and CB2 levels. 

It just depends on what you like. I think that more people should experience, grow, and support Cannabis. Cannabinoid therapy, AKA 'smoking weed' (or consuming however) is a masterfully efficient method in which to prevent and destroy cancer cells. Oh, lets put it this way, THC and CBD (primary drug cannabis cannabinoids) are also anti-oxidants. Said cannabinoids are also anti-bacterial. I found an interesting little article called Killing Bacteria with Cannabis.

That's quite a bit of info (and time I've put into this), so maybe I should just chill for now, publish the article and continue watching America's Next Top Model.

Until next time...

Ciao *kisskiss*

Provocative Posters of this Lovely Boo Girl I know...

To our friends and family, it's not news that we (my luscious Boo and I) like to take lovely pictures of said Boo.

Boo likes to model, and I like to shoot her... with our camera. I only shoot my Boo with a camera or Love Bullets.

Anyways, we were thinking about exploiting some of these pictures for the fact that they're very visually appealing... to certain groups of people. The Amish may want to look away.

We would like to know if there might be a market for wall posters made of these images. My Boo is very beautiful, and she would be an elegant way to seductively adorn your favorite wall. We thinks this could be a good idea for a business venture.

I don't promise profanity (shit...), or obsceneness. So, any more pictures in the future will be very tasteful, yet provocative ;-)

Keep in mind, most of these are completely unedited aside from a quick crop. They will really shine when edited, and I couldn't be bothered to do that right now because I needed to get the blog up first. The polish shall come later. If you want to see our editing skills, head on over to http://www.theothersideofthemushroom.com and you'll get a real good idea of our aesthetic.

Here's a taste of some select pics...

So, in closing I'd like to ask again, would anyone out there in cyberspaceville be interested in ordering medium/large wall posters made of any of these lovely Boo images?

I'm not sure what the pricing will be like, that all depends. The fact is, you'd have a classy provocative girt to hang on your wall. That's probably more than many of you would achieve anyways. You should be so lucky ;-)

Project Runway Season 8, Episode 12 Contestant Review...

Project Runway Season 8, Episode 12.

Did you watch it? Here's my rundown on the contestants =)

April Johnston.

April was eliminated, and really, I think she stayed a bit too long.

Her level of craftsmanship (from afar) appeared solid, and she has a solid work ethic... at least enough to get the garment done. That's really all I saw from her.

She played the role of the tortured soul, so apparently blinded by experiences in the past that it seems she has lost the ability to look forward. 

Her designs are quite modern, I agree, but that's something completely different than being 'forward' when it comes to fashion.

Where's the color, where's the love? 

This girl didn't need to be the David Bromstad (HGTV's Colorsplash) of high-fashion, however she does need to bring something else to the metaphorical fashion table. 

Something other than a rather sadly played out, boringly burton-esque splinter of a perspective. I do not 'hate' on this girl, I just call it as I see it, and this is nothing new to me. 

She's a young designer, and she's had a troubled past concerning her parents divorce. My parents divorced when I was 10, and it was not easy, but it's certainly no excuse to lock yourself up in a shell of some cheapening dark aesthetic that has little to no possible client base.

High fashion is about creativity, expression, pushing limits, but most importantly, making people look and feel beautiful. I don't believe that April is yet at the point to fully understand these things, and I'm very glad that she didn't get to take a talented designers spot at Lincoln Center for Fashion Week.

I wish her the best in her evolution.

Michael Costello (Michael 'C')

I wasn't sure what to think about this guy from the beginning, and not for the same reason that many other people 'weren't sure what to think about him'. I never held the desperate type of contempt for him that many of the designers (and viewers, I'm sure) seemed to eager to embrace.

I wasn't sure what to think of him because he seemed a bit ambiguous... in every way. I'm still not sure about his particular point of view, although I see that he does like enjoy the ancient art of fabric draping.

For someone that seems so scattered at times and inexperienced, he turns out some very wearable clothes that are simple and elegant. There's a definite reason that he's won so many challenges, the judges see the marketability of his clothes and his potential as a designer.

He might not 'have it all together', but he's very creative, very humble, and very nice when not spat upon (Attention: Ivy) and cursed. I'm glad he was able to overcome the adversity of the bigoted monster (Ivy, Valerie, AJ, April...) that was created, and eventually destroyed on project runway. 

Gretchen was a major player of Team Bigot against Michael C., however she has since realized (along with Mondo) that Michael Costello is indeed very talented and deserving of this chance of a lifetime. Good for them. They didn't like him at first, but were able to understand that maybe they really didn't know him at all. They gave him a chance, and were able to realize his value and potential as a designer and person. That's the kind of thing I like to see. It's inspiring.

Mondo Guerra

I really enjoy the garments that Mr. Guerra has crafted on this season. His ability to mix and match bright colors and prints is something that sets him apart from the other designers. 

The creative part of this guys brain is really on overdrive. His ability to sew and finish is impeccable, and he really has that type of unstoppable quality to him. 

The garments he creates, placed on the right lady could easily stop traffic. 

He stands a really good shot of winning at Fashion Week. Along with whichever other contestants place in the finals, I'll surely be rooting for Mondo.

Along with Michael C., and Gretchen, I think that Mondo has grown considerably as a person and a designer. For example, the team challenge when he had to work with Michael Costello. 

Mondo thought it was going to be a disaster because he misunderstood Michael C. as a person. But when they started conversing and working together, Mondo easily realized that Michael was just very misunderstood and misrepresented by the designers that had it out for him. I was really proud of Mondo for just being totally real, and not letting the other designers bigoted opinions cloud his judgement. I'm glad he's friends with Michael C. It's nice when things work out the way they should =)

Andy South

I don't know what to say about Andy... because I don't particularly enjoy his aesthetic, and I think he does himself a disservice by incorrectly walking (hobbling, more like it) that thin line between sexy and slut.

He presents a good finish, and his skill level I believe is definitely up to par... however it's the whole taste thing that really gets him. I'm sure it will come to him in time. All it takes is the ability to understand what actually enhances and compliments the female body.

For example, those asian-inspired excessively-puffy shorts and pants that he loves to create -- they have a market, it's just not in high fashion. It's in costume design, and that's fine, just don't pull that skill out when you're working with high fashion.

And I don't strictly think that puffy-pants like that can never have a place in high fashion, they just need to be done correctly in order to fit in to what high fashion embraces. Does Heidi Klume want puffy legs? Think about it Andy... and make it work!

Gretchen Jones

This girl... this Gretchen... she's okay. She's definitely grown during this process, and that's really awesome. If nothing else, you come out more humble, more understanding and less quick to make excuses. Not that Gretchen was a terror with those types of things, but she definitely exudes a more learned personality now than at the beginning of the show.

Her garment was... interesting, although depending on your point of view you might just think it's boring. Perhaps a little too commercial for high-fashion? I suppose that's a result of her losing much of her steam.

It's a tough competition, really tough. The remaining contestants have certainly proven themselves to be tough, and Gretchen needs to keep her strength about her if she hopes to show at Lincoln Center for Fashion Week.

I'm excited to see what she has to show us, because for the most part I like her designs when she does them well. She definitely has the potential to win.

Katsan is a crazy monkey!

Our boy cat, Katsan.. he's so majestic.
Laying patiently on the windowsill, back supported by the headboard of the bed, soaking in the slowly fading late afternoon sunlight.

He doesn't have the best diet, I'm sure, so his back skin hangs off of the sill, almost like he's dripping towards the ground. Drippity-drops of cat deliciousness -- he's really very cute =)

Even though it might appear to some that there is some excess skin and/or fat that allows for that drippiness, I wouldn't call him the F word. You know, Fat.
Although I do, sometimes... but it's in a loving way. And really, everyone is 'fat', in the way that everyone has fat -- regardless of the amount.

I'd like to have him on a better diet, and play with him more, so he stays healthy. If I want him to live a long and full life, he needs to be fed well. I'm not sure our current food is up to snuff... In fact, I know it's not, it's not even fit for humans to eat. Would you want to settle for something that contained chicken by product meal?

That's not to infer that I want to eat my cats food, but if it was good enough then why not? Maybe I should just cook for him like I do myself... maybe I should do all kinds of things that I don't currently do. Then, there's life.
In time, I say. Slowly crawling my way through the mud.

We'll get there, she and I. Cats-in-arms(or papoose of sorts), filled to the brim with cannabinoids, fighting the urge to expire at any second. Where is there? Elsewhere. A home we may call our own.
Life is more cats, and we're headed that direction!