marijuana superstore opens

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Some local wags are calling it the "Wal-Mart of Weed" or "Home DePot."

Seeking to capitalize on Arizona's newly enacted medical marijuana law, a California-based company on Wednesday opened a superstore-sized garden center in Phoenix catering to those who want to grow their own cannabis.

"We sell everything but the plant itself," said Dhar Mann, founder of weGrow, the company that began franchising its big-box stores with outlets in Oakland and Sacramento, California. "We sell the products and the services for people to safely and responsibly cultivate their medicine."

The 21,000-square-foot store offers some 2,000 products, including soil, grow lights and irrigation trays, specially designed for effective marijuana growing, Mann told Reuters.

A doctor also is on site to furnish eligible patients the initial medical approval needed to apply to the state health department for cards authorizing them to legally grow and use marijuana as treatment for a variety of qualifying ailments.

Alluding to some of America's leading big-box chains, the company's own press materials describe the weGrow franchise as the "Wal-Mart of Weed," while various media reports have referred to it as "Home DePot."

The store's opening came on the same day that Arizona was to have begun accepting applications from individuals seeking one of 125 permits the state plans to grant for the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. But that process was put on hold last week.

On Friday, the state went to federal court seeking to clarify whether its citizens were at risk of federal prosecution for participating in activities sanctioned under Arizona's medical marijuana act, passed by voters in November.

Arizona is the 16th state in the nation, plus the District of Columbia, to decriminalize marijuana for medical purposes.

But Dennis Burke, the U.S. attorney for Arizona, warned in a letter to state health officials last month that the cultivation, sale and distribution of cannabis, classified by the U.S. government as an illegal narcotic, remains a federal crime.

Since April, state officials have been accepting applications from patients and caregivers looking to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes.

Figures show that 3,696 people have obtained cards allowing them to possess and grow marijuana for a range of medical issues, chronic pain chief among them. Males account for more than 75 percent of those approved.

Mann said his Oakland-based company has big expansion plans for Arizona and nationwide as it looks to tap into what some have estimated to be a market worth billions of dollars.

He said the next franchise store will open in the District of Columbia in July, with additional outlets slated for Denver, Detroit and possibly Los Angeles by the end of August.

(Editing by Steve Gorman and Peter Bohan)

4 Kitchen wonders for common ailments.

Ginger

Good for: Sore muscles and aching joints

Ginger isn’t just for relieving unsettled stomachs and the common cold. In fact, ginger is rich in inflammation-fighting compounds, such as gingerols, which may reduce the aches of osteoarthritis and soothe sore muscles. In a recent study, people who took ginger capsules daily for 11 days reported 25 percent less muscle pain when they performed exercises designed to strain their muscles (compared with a similar group taking placebo capsules). Another study found that ginger-extract injections helped relieve osteoarthritis pain of the knee.

Salmon

Good for: Inflamed joints and troubled tummies

Preliminary studies suggest that omega-3s may help quell the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis. And that’s no surprise, since omega-3s are touted for their ability to reduce inflammation. In addition to soothing aching joints, omega-3s can also tame your troubled tummy (especially when caused by stress) according to a 2005 Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition study.

Coffee

Good for: Headache

Studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine—about the amount in 16 ounces of brewed coffee—provides relief from headaches, including migraines. But keep in mind that relying on caffeine long-term can backfire, since habitual coffee drinkers usually suffer withdrawal headaches when they cut back on the caffeine.

Sage

Good for: Sore throat

When your throat is scratchy and irritated, try sipping on a tea made from brewed sage leaves. It’s a remedy recommended by herbalists that has some support from clinical trials. A 2006 study found that spraying sore throats with a sage solution gave effective pain relief compared to a placebo.

Creator King: LEADERSHIP 101

Creator King: LEADERSHIP 101: "THE MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERSHIP The following are important factors of leadership:- 1. UNWAVERING COURAGE based upon knowledge of self, ..."

LEADERSHIP 101

THE MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERSHIP

The following are important factors of leadership:-

1. UNWAVERING COURAGE based upon knowledge of self, and of one's occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long.

2. SELF-CONTROL. The man who cannot control himself, can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one's followers, which the more intelligent will emulate.

3.  A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE. Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers.

4.  DEFINITENESS OF DECISION. The man who wavers in his decisions, shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully.

5.  DEFINITENESS OF PLANS. The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks.

6.  THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR. One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the  part  of  the  leader,  to  do  more  than  he  requires  of  his followers.

7.  A PLEASING PERSONALITY. No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a Pleasing Personality.

8.  SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems.

9.  MASTERY OF DETAIL. Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader's position.

10. WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY. The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed.

11.  COOPERATION. The successful leader must understand, and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for POWER, and power calls for COOPERATION.  There are two forms of Leadership. The first, and by far the most effective, is LEADERSHIP BY CONSENT of, and with the sympathy of the followers. The second is LEADERSHIP BY FORCE, without the consent and sympathy of the followers.

THE 10 MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP

We come now to the major faults of leaders who fail, because it is just as essential to know WHAT NOT TO DO as it is to know what to do.  

1. INABILITY TO ORGANIZE DETAILS. Efficient leadership calls for ability to organize and to master details. No genuine leader is ever "too busy" to do anything which may be required of him in his capacity as leader. When a man, whether he is a leader or follower, admits that he is "too busy" to change his plans, or to give attention to any emergency, he admits his inefficiency. The successful leader must be the master of all details connected with his position. That means, of course, that he must acquire the habit of relegating details to capable lieutenants.

2. UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE. Truly great leaders are willing, when occasion demands, to perform any sort of labor which they would ask another to perform. "The greatest among ye shall be the servant of all" is a truth which all able leaders observe and respect. 

3. EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY "KNOW" INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT WHICH THEY KNOW. The world does not pay men for that which they "know." It pays them for what they DO, or induce others to do.

4. FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM FOLLOWERS. The leader who fears that one of his followers may take his position is practically sure to realize that fear sooner or later. The able leader trains understudies to whom he may delegate, at will, any of the details of his position. Only in this way may a leader multiply himself and prepare himself to be at many places, and give attention to many things at one time. It is an eternal truth that men receive more pay for their ABILITY TO GET OTHERS TO PERFORM, than they could possibly earn by their own efforts. An efficient leader may, through his knowledge of his job and the magnetism of his personality, greatly increase the efficiency of others, and induce them to render more service and better service than they could render without his aid.

5. LACK OF IMAGINATION. Without imagination, the leader is incapable of meeting emergencies, and of creating plans by which to guide his followers efficiently.

6. SELFISHNESS. The leader who claims all the honor for the work of his followers, is sure to be met by resentment. The really great leader CLAIMS NONE OF THE HONORS. He is contented to see the honors, when there are any, go to his followers, because he knows that most men will work harder for commendation and recognition than they will for money alone. 

7. INTEMPERANCE. Followers do not respect an intemperate leader. Moreover, intemperance in any of its various forms, destroys the endurance and the vitality of all who indulge in it.

8. DISLOYALTY. Perhaps this should have come at the head of the list. The leader who is not loyal to his trust, and to his associates, those above him, and those below him, cannot long maintain his leadership. Disloyalty marks one as being less than the dust of the earth, and brings down on one's head the contempt he deserves. Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life.

9. EMPHASIS OF THE "AUTHORITY" OF LEADERSHIP. The efficient leader leads by encouraging, and not by trying to instill fear in the hearts of his followers. The leader who tries to impress his followers with his "authority" comes within the category of leadership through FORCE. If a leader is a REAL LEADER, he will have no need to advertise that fact except by his conduct-his sympathy, understanding, fairness, and a demonstration that he knows his job.

10. EMPHASIS OF TITLE. The competent leader requires no "title" to give him the respect of his followers. The man who makes too much over his title generally has little else to emphasize. The doors to the office of the real leader are open to all who wish to enter, and his working quarters are free from formality or ostentation.

AGE SPOTS

If you are noticing brown spots on your skin - up to an inch in diameter - you may have solar lentigos. These "age spots" are the result of years of sun exposure. Typically, they appear on the chest, face, or the back of the hands - areas of the skin that have been most exposed to the sun throughout your lifetime.The best ways to prevent age spots are to avoid sun exposure, especially sunbathing, and use sunscreen regularly (SPF 15 or higher). However, this won't help get rid of age spots you may already have.To reduce the appearance of age spots over time, see your physician or dermatologist. He or she can recommend a prescription or over-the-counter skin cream containing alpha-hydroxy or retinoic acid. If you use these, be diligent about applying sunscreen, since these creams can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun's rays. Laser treatment is also an option; while this approach is more costly, it does offer immediate results.Even if your age spots are not a concern, it is advisable to see a dermatologist about them. Occasionally, what appear to be age spots are identified as precancerous lesions that should be removed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.

"I WILL MOVE THE ROCK"

>                    "I WILL MOVE THE ROCK">>A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room >filled with light and the Savior appeared.  The Lord told the man he >had work  for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his >cabin.  The  Lord explained that the man was to push against the >rock with all his  might.>>This the man did, day after day.  For many years he toiled from sun >up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive >surface of  the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.  Each >night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that >his whole day had been spent in vain.>>Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan >decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's mind >such as: "You  have been pushing against that rock for a long time, >and it hasn't  budged. Why kill yourself over this?  You are never >going to move it.">>Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and >that he was a failure, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened >the man even more.  "Why kill myself over this?"  he thought. "I'll >just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be >good enough.">>And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a >matter of  prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the God.  >"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, >putting all my strength to do that which you have asked.  Yet, after >all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a >millimeter.  What is wrong?  Why am I failing?">>To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked >you  to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to >push  against the rock with all your strength, which you have done.  >Never once  did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.  >Your task was to  push.  And now you come to me, with your strength >spent, thinking that you have failed.  But, is that really so?  Look >at yourself.  Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed >and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your >legs have become massive and  hard.  Through opposition you have >grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to >have. Yet you haven't moved the rock.  But your calling was to be >obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My >wisdom.  This you have done.>>  "I, my friend, will move the rock," says the Lord.>>At times when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own >intellect  to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants >is just simple  obedience and faith in Him...>>"By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains; but it is >still God who moves the mountain."

GOING BANANAS

Bananas... This is very interesting. 
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again - 

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose 
combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial 
boost of energy. 

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a 
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit 
with the world's leading athletes. 

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also 
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, 
making it a must to add to our daily diet.

 

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. 
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body 
converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and 
generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The 
vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in 
the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. 

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium 
yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, 
the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to 
make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood 
pressure and stroke. 

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped 
through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and 
lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the 
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. 

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore 
normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. 

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana 
milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the 
help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk 
soothes and re-hydrates your system. 

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you 
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. 

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood 
sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. 

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the 
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it 
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. 

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. 

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria 
found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and 
crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese 
were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to 
avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels 
by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. 

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders 
because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that 
can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also 
neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit 
that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant 
mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because 
they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. 

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 
they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help 
the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. 

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, 
sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we 
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium 
levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. 

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 
"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by 
strokes by as much as 40%! 

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off 
a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the 
yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! 

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it 
to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three 
times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. 
It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. 

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so 
that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!" 

21Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl TechnologyHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1A World I Never MadeKindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl TechnologyPS Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!