Ready for a film that’ll inspire to you to the max!?!?

Check Out “Teressa Withers”….my thesis film. This cerebral dramedy is about Teressa, 30, whom once dreamed of being a rapper, but instead now carries on an unhappy, mundane life. Teressa’s imagination begins to manifest her child-like self in order to help save her from this fate, and encourages her to pursue her dreams.

Check out the trailer here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/teressa-withers

While you’re at it be sure you Like the film’s page here: https://www.facebook.com/TeressaWithersFilm :D

Have fun!!!

cannabis-alchemist:

I have been sent a Mock-u-mentary.  

It is about Cannabis… it is activism.  

The note from the people who shot the mockumentary is posted below in it’s entirety.  

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“If the words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” doesn’t include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn’t worth the hemp it was written on.”

-Terrence McKenna

“It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics, dope and all of that stuff. It is a thousand times better than whiskey. It is an assistant and a friend.”

-Louis Armstrong

My research on Cannabis revealed an extraordinary amount of facts that it would be extremely difficult to not write an entire book. It’s amazing to have learned how this plant has evolved with human beings in order to survive as it has for so long. However, I will attempt to cram in as much knowledge as possible in just a few pages. So without further ado, here is cannabis in a nut shell:

Cannabis was first discovered somewhere in India or China thousands of years ago. It was used heavily as a medicine, primary to treat for pain (which would make since; most people did extreme hard labor). It also was used for industrial hemp (we’ll get more into this later). It was used everywhere, including the United States, as a wonderful medicine to treat all sorts of medical issues.

It wasn’t until the turn of the 20^th century, that then term “marijuana” came into use, and that’s when all the trouble started. Cannabis was first use for recreational purposes by Mexicans. In the 1920’s when Mexicans started immigrating to the United States, marijuana was made illegal in hopes to put an end to the recreational use. However, in the southern parts of the United States, marijuana also made it’s stand. Also, the boom in jazz music was partly due to the assistance of marijuana in the black culture. Louis Armstrong felt marijuana enhanced his artistic ability to improv, and it help him grow as a musician. And then poof: 1937, Cannabis is illegal in the United States.

However, this plant is smart, and knows how to adapt with the times. It seems to have the consciousness of the present, and knows how to react. In the 1960’s, cannabis is reborn. It is at this time that the government decided to “crack down on pot.” Why? Let’s think, who were the ones using marijuana at this time? A lot of people who didn’t agree with the government. But as history tells us (and those that were there), this was an extraordinary time for art, as we saw the rise to artist like Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan and The Beatles, all of whom were cannabis users. But the war on Cannabis continues.

In 1964, the dominate compound in cannabis, Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), was discovered by Raphael Mechoulam in Israel. This was the first time in all of history that actual research was done on the plant. We’ll get more into this in a few moments. This led to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system that in embedded in all life forms. Allyn Howlett found this discovery in 1988. But we’ll get to this in just a little bit.

Since the “crackdown on pot” the American government has since been responsible for spraying and confiscating several fields of cannabis in the US and Mexico. To avoid this, the Cannabis plant had to adapt: move inside. The pioneers of indoor growing had to get smart.

We need to move off track for just a second to explain the two different types of cannabis. There’s the Cannabis Sativa and the Cannabis Indica. Here’s the physical difference: Sativa’s are tall plants; indica’s are short. However, there are differences in effects between the two. Sativa’s are usually more mentally stemulating; they pump you up. Indica’s produce more of a body high, and make you more relaxed; some can knock you out flat after just after use.

Since Sativa’s are so tall, and that’s what was grown in souther California and Mexico, growers decided to hybrid the seeds with an indica dominate strand from Asia, and then proceeded to move the plants indoors. This could have actually been the best thing for the Cannabis plant. Now that it doesn’t have to deal with the forces of nature, the Cannabis plant became very spoiled.

Once again, at the turn of the century Cannabis is starting to be reborn once more. Over time, this plant has evolved with us to second the consciousness of the times. It used to be a skinny plant, and now it’s a fat, spoiled bush. 

But what is the cause for this sudden change in attitude towards this plant, even after the relentless false propaganda over the past several decades?

The science between the medicinal properties of cannabis are starting to be discovered. In fact, there are over 200 known medicinal uses of cannabis. Let’s go back to some of the discoveries mentioned earlier.

The Endocannabinoid System is a system that has evolved from the Sea-Squirt. In our nervous system there are thousands of receptors that receive and trasnmitt signals, we all know this. Some of these receptors are specifically suppose to receive cannabinoids. It turns out that THC chemically binds to the receptor’s; like a key in a lock. These receptor’s are located all over the body in most organs including the brain. It is this system that makes cannabis so special to us.

There are several cannabinoids in cannabis. The one everyone knows about is THC, as it is the most prominent cannabinoid present. It’s the cannabinoid that is responsible for the psychoactive effects; the “high.” However, this cannabinoid is useful for several medicinal purposes: it can treat nausea; help control appetite; it has anti inflammatory properties that work 20 times better than aspirin; it’s also an anti-oxident; One big medicinal use is for post-traumatic strees syndrome; it’s been also proven that THC can reduce and kill cancer cells when properly given the correct dosage (think about it, how much cancer was going around BEFORE 1937? Not much…); It’s been proven to help treat turrets, depression, and works 70% better than all perscription drugs for ADD/ADHD. There are several other medicinal purposes, these are just a few.

What’s funny about THC is the way that the cannabis plant produces it. The female plant is the one responsible for producing THC in hopes to attract a male plant to pollinate it. In other words: a higher amount of THC means a very sexually frustrated female cannabis plant.

Now there is a cannabinoid very similar to THC that is responsible for the body that is now starting to get studied. It’s called cannabidiol (or CBD). The biggest difference is that CBD has no psychoactive effects. It has some of it’s own medicinal properties: It has anti and preventive inflammatory properties; it can be used to help treat seizures, diabetes and MSRA; Most important, CBD can bind to cancer cells, and cause them to eat themselves or committ suicide; it also protects nerves endings, and can inhibit the nerve-damaging process; because of this, CBD can be used to protect brain injury. Once again, these are only a few medicinal bennifits.

THC can be found in more sativa dominate strains, while high amounts of CBD can be found in indica dominate strains. There was a study done where patients were given a higher dose of THC, and then given a dose of CBD. The CBD turned the negative effects of THC around, and also worked it’s own magic. There are other cannabinoids also currently under study (CBC and THCV), but there isn’t much information on it yet. However, they also have their own medicinal purposes which include anti-cancerous properties, depression and diabetes.

The most harmful way of using cannabis treatment is also the most known way: smoking. However, there are safer and better ways to use cannabis. Vaporizers allow you to inhale the cannabinoids without inhaling the burning plant matter in the process. Edibles are good for CBD ingestion. The best way: Oil. Rick Simpson discovered a great way to extract the oil from the plant, and gave it away to his community for free. Several people that used this oil were cancer patients, including Rick Simpson himself. All are cancer free now. Rick Simpson is in exile in Europe due to the Canadian government not agreeing with pure science.

Industrial Hemp could save our entire ecosystem. Hemp is the male part of the plant, and can be used to make pretty much anything from food, to clothes, to biofuel. It can even be made into a dense fiber board that can be used in construction. Buildings made with hemp are very stronger and lighter than wood, and can work with virtually any weather. Hemp is very high in protein, and very good to eat or drank (Hemp Milk, yum yum). Hemp can be use for clothes and paper, making them much more durable and sustainable. The Declaration of Independence is actually written on hemp paper, which is why it’s in such good condition for being a few hundred years old.

Honestly, I want to see what this plant can’t do. If the government was at all interested in stabilizing the economy (which they’re not), the full legalization of the plant should be first on their list. Not only would it generate a lot of money from the buying and selling of cannabis, but we would save million’s of dollars in law enforcement. In 2010, New Yorkers spent $75 million on small drug busts. If the prohibition was non existent, wouldn’t that $75 million go to something more important…like education?

There is so much more to discuss about the cannabis plant, but this is the summery of my research thus far in a nutshell. I will continue my research on Cannabis, and do what I can to push for the end of prohibition. Watch out NYC! Cannabis is about to really become our best friend.

Consciousness. The very thing that defines us, I think. I’m about to give you a new line of thought. All I ask is to keep your hearts and minds open. After reading this post, you can think what you like, and do as you please, but I urge you to think critically.

Consciousness. The world is waking up. The consciousness is expanding. How? 

It is my belief that we are consciousness. Consciousness, or awareness, is one the few things in the world that we know what it is before we know the name.

-Think about this for a moment; Most of the time it’s the other way around. Example: We hold an orange in our hands. We ask “what is this?” The answer is an orange, and we say, “okay, this is what an orange is.” With Consciousness: I know what this is, but what is the name for it? We get the answer “It is called consciousness.”

Because we are what we know through our experiences, we always know consciousness, so therefore we are what we refer to be consciousness; and human nature is the pure instinct to figure out how to survive. The more we expand our consciousness – the more we become aware of our environment that we are not separate from – the more we are able to problem solve our way through any obstacle. It is from there that we have the ability to create; the ability to make something out of nothing. (and it is this reason that I think every single human being as the ability to become a great artist….but that is for another time).

Now let’s take this a step further.

I do not believe in coincidence. Even the bible tells us that everything happens for a reason; it’s in Ecclesiastes (for those of you that follow the Bible). But what else could explain this phenomenon of what we refer to as “coincidence”?

Human Beings are social creatures. We need other human beings in order to survive. It’s actually proven that if you do not touch an infant, then it will die. We relate to each other through relationships (parents, siblings, offspring, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, fiancees, husbands, wives, grandparents…the list goes on). And what is another name for relationships? Connections. Because we are socially connected through each other, we are able to communicate based on our level of connection. Does that make since?

I strongly believe that it is this social connection that allows us to “feel” each other. I’m not talking about telepathy. 

Example: My roommate thinks “I love chocolate” in his head. As of right now, it is impossible for me to “read his mind” and understand “i love chocolate.” However, I think I can understand emotionally what he’s thinking about. Does that make since?

Because of this close connection we share with other human beings, we can kind of operate under the same brain wave, and therefore we can almost understand each other on a more human level. The stronger the connection, the more you can relate; think of it this way: because you have a certain level of connection with another person, you automatically share a deep level of personal thought.

Another example (this happens all the time with my friends): My roommate, Kevin, and I will talk about a certain topic. Then later, another close friend of ours (my bestie ^.^), Brandon, comes over, and says, “you know what I was thinking about today? blah blah blah…” And it turns out that Brandon was thinking about the exact same thing that Kevin and I were discussing earlier that day. 

Another example: When Kevin and I were making a short a couple weeks ago, I told him, “watch. Within 3-5 minutes of finishing this, Brandon’s going to call, and say he’s downstairs.” So…without even talking to Brandon before hand, guess what happened 3-5 minutes after Kevin and I finished our film?

It is consciousness that connects us; and because we are so connected, we start operating on a more human level. The world is waking up. The world is becoming more conscious. And because we are connected through consciousness, the fact that I’m even putting it out there, and that ONE person reads this, the more conscious we have become. We are one. More and more people are becoming more and more connected through the whole of “what is.”

So…ask yourselves: What IS? 

Thank God for the internet. Because of this wonderful thing, the consciousness of the world is expanding. How quickly does news get spread because of programs such as Facebook or Twitter? Consciousness through technology…gotta love it for what it is.

I propose a challenge:

Once you heard the word consciousness, it’s hard to forget it, don’t you think? So, spend an entire day, and just notice things around you. What are you conscious of every single day? And I mean EVERYTHING. And then when odd “coincidences” start appearing, know that there is no such thing; it is Collective Consciousness in motion. 

I hope this was helpful, and informative. We must embrace this new thought. I know it’s new and strange, and it requires a totally new line of brainwave. But remember, the mind of a human being is very powerful. We are very imaginative creatures, and we have the ability to be intelligent. Once before, Human Beings thought that the Earth was flat, and at another point, we thought that the Earth was in the center of the universe. After new concepts had been introduced, the People of Earth found new truth in their lives. This is very similar to those times. 

Collective Consciousness: the thing that connects us, and the thing that will help us survive. 

Nobody could predict the invention of the internet. Who could ever had thought that we would have a cyber world through computers, modernizing our way of communication by letting information flow through the airways? Right now, because of a precious connection, you are reading my words, and receiving information through an invention that is only about 15-20 years old. If you’re older than 25-30, what was life like before the internet? 

Think of what the internet has done for us. It has given us email, news, entertainment, social networking, and other wonderful ways of communication. Just as an exercise, you should count how many times you use the internet every single day. This also includes an 3G/4G network that you use on your phone. 

Even now, forces against our control are trying to take this free flow of information away from us. The SOPA and Protect IP Act is becoming dangerously close to being passed. The government tells us that it is to prevent piracy on the internet, but anyone who is intelligent can tell that this is a lie. If this is passed, this means that the government will now has the legal right to censor our internet. 

Did you know that the American Government has tried to censor our internet 6 times more than China? We, the capitalist, tried to censor the internet SIX TIMES more than China, the commies. Sound odd? It is.

I believe that nobody should be denied the access to information. I believe that if we seek truth, then we will find it. I see the truth behind this act, and I am OUTRAGED that the government would even think of doing such a thing. Remember Winston’s job in the book 1984 was to rewrite history. How is this any different? If this act is passed, then the government will be able to start saying what we look at on the internet, what we watch, what we listen to, and what we read. I guarantee you that after this is passed, Most if not all of the #OWS video footage will be deleted from Youtube, but yet sites like “Youjizz” will stay untouched. I guarantee that any Anonymous message to the people will be removed, but yet FOX news will be able to continue to lie to us. 

The internet, for better or worse, is collective consciousness. It is an essential part of our lives, and we cannot allow this tool to be taken away from us. This is the invention of the people, and it will stay in the hands of the people. 

There is a way that you can help. Senator Wyden has requested the help of the people. He is willing to give a filibuster in Congress to help stop the bill from being passed. But in order to give his filibuster flight, he needs the people to share their voice. Here is a link to a petition:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet/?rc=fb

Every single person who signs this petition will have their name said during the filibuster. They’re asking for 1.5 million names, and already after a day or two it has reached over 980 and a half THOUSAND names from ALL OVER THE WORLD!

“As concerned global citizens, we call on you to stand for a free and open Internet and vote against both the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act. The Internet is a crucial tool for people around the world to exchange ideas and work collectively to build the world we all want. We urge you to show true global leadership and do all you can to protect this basic pillar of our democracies worldwide.”

I have signed this petition, and I have taken a stand. I am participating in my government, and that is true democracy. I know that the government no longer represents me, so I am taking democracy into my own hands. I want my voice to be heard.

What will you do?