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Hemp Leaf Vs. Marijuana: What is the Difference Between the Two?

Did you know that the recreational use of marijuana is legal in 11 states for adults that are over the age of 21?

While 33 states legally allow the use of medicinal marijuana, if your state doesn’t allow you to grow marijuana plants, you may have looked into learning more about hemp as an alternative.

However, if you have come across the term ‘hemp leaf’ within your research, you may be wondering what the difference between a hemp leaf and a marijuana leaf is. If you’re wondering what the difference between these two plants is, we’ve created this quick guide to help you better understand the differences.

Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Marijuana?

Marijuana is the term used to refer to the strain of cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC. When ingested, marijuana can produce both euphoric and psychotropic effects, creating the high but is commonly associated with marijuana usage.

While marijuana does contain CBD, the levels of THC that produces are much higher than the CBD that can be found inside of this plant.

What Is Hemp?

Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant. There is a wide variety of purposes that hemp can be used for, some of them including Making clothing, paper, farming protein, fiber, oils, and for their smokable portions.

You can harvest the seeds, the flowers, the herds, the leaves, and the bast fibers from a hemp plant. While the hemp plant does produce a small amount of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC that’s found in marijuana, there is not enough of this chemical to produce any sort of high when you ingest a product from a hemp plant.

However, hemp plants are rich in CBD. CBD is a therapeutic compound that’s being used for medicinal purposes. The United States defines industrial hemp as a plant that contains less than 0.3% THC.

Are you looking to purchase a high-quality strain of hemp? Click here to shop this kush remedy hemp seed.

Hemp Leaf Versus Marijuana Leaf

Many people will often confuse marijuana and hemp leaves. There are many similar characteristics that hemp and marijuana share, so the untrained eye will often confuse the two.

A hemp leaf will have skinny leaves. Marijuana leaves are often fatter in appearance.

You can tell the difference between a marijuana plant and a hemp plant looking at the plant’s height. A marijuana plant will have a similar appearance to a short and squatty bush. Hemp plants are skinny and very tall, but the majority at the leaves growing towards the top of the bush.

Understanding the Difference Between Hemp vs. Marijuana

Without any prior knowledge, identify the difference between a hemp leaf and a marijuana leaf can be confusing. However, we hope to have shed light on the differences between the two plants so that you can understand how the two are different.

Are you interested in learning more about the differences between marijuana and hemp? Explore some of our other posts to learn more today.

Some Great Indoor Physical Games for Healthy Lifestyle

We all know exercise is important for health, and we’re often told to get outside and be active. But what about the long, cold winters, when the ground at our favorite park is covered with ice? What about those days when morning showers stretch out into an interminable all-day washout? Luckily, there are plenty of indoor sports to help you stay active and entertained, even on the nastiest of days. If you don’t play any of them at the moment, don’t worry.

With practice and patience, you can pick them up in no time. Here are eight awesome indoor sports to keep you active every day, rain or shine.

Racquetball

If you like to play tennis, then this adaptation is perfect for you. Racquetball has become increasingly popular in the last fifty years, and now courts can be found in many gyms. Participants play by batting a hollow rubber ball against a wall with small racquets. The entire court is considered within play, making for a zany and active game. With just a single friend, this sport can keep you in shape and entertain for a lifetime.

Axe Throwing

Axe throwing’s popularity is definitely on the rise, and you most definitely will be able to find a spot near you where you can practice this sport. Such is the growing popularity of this sport that you can actually join an axe throwing league and make this an opportunity to also meet new people. This is of course a sport for people who aren’t as active and may want to start axe throwing as a “gateway sport” towards getting fit and maybe later on getting into more physically demanding sports.

Squash

Almost similar to Racquetball with some few differences in rules, this game is hugely popular around the world, making it perfect for an international group of friends. Like racquetball, it is an energetic game and a great source of aerobic conditioning.

Badminton

This is a more traditional racquet sport, in that it uses a net rather than a wall. It is different, however, in that there is no ball, but rather a “shuttlecock” or “birdie”- a conical projectile with feathers (or plastic pieces resembling feathers). The flight of the shuttlecock makes for long rallies. Technique and strategy are of the utmost importance, making this a fun game to try to master. There are badminton clubs in communities around the world, most of which will be happy to welcome beginners.

Table Tennis

Also known as ping pong, this game takes all the excitement of tennis and shrinks it down to the size of a table. The tiny, lightweight ball comes flying off the wooden paddles, making for exciting back-and-forth rallies. There are endless techniques to learn and practice, with experienced players mastering the ball’s every spin. If you have space and the budget, a table at home provides endless entertainment. And while it might seem like table tennis is more sedentary that some other indoor games on this list, you’ll quickly find that a couple of sustained rallies will have you sweating as if you were at the gym.

Ice Skating

Skating can be challenging to master, but once you’ve learned to do it, you’ll have a new skill that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. Many communities have public rinks where you can participate in “free skates,” which are great opportunities to practice and learn. If you want to get competitive, you can take the next step and look into speed skating or figure skating, sports that allow you to showcase your talent on the ice.

Ice Hockey

If you’re a natural team player and you’ve mastered skating, you can also give ice hockey a try. This physical game is hit in North America and parts of Europe for a good reason: it’s exciting, challenging, and a ton of fun to play. Teams of six (including goalies) compete against each other, each attempting to score a goal by shooting a rubber pellet called a “puck” into the opposing team’s net. Teamwork, grit, and determination are often rewarded, as well as skill with the puck and quickness on the ice. Ice hockey is also a tremendous workout, requiring countless sprints up and down the ice.

Basketball

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world because it is simple, fun, and can be played inside or outside. On a nice day, an outdoor court might be the perfect spot for a pick-up game, but when the weather gets tough, an indoor court gives enthusiasts the chance to keep playing. Lots of communities have recreational leagues, and some gyms offer time slots for reservations or “free shoot” opportunities.

Swimming

If your community has an indoor pool, then swimming can become an indoor sport for you. Since your body becomes weightless in the water, swimming is an excellent form of exercise that does little harm to your body. Unlike running, swimming will not cause issues in your joints or bones. There are a number of strokes to learn, from the simple freestyle to the majestic butterfly. With a little bit of practice, there’s no reason you can’t master them all.

8 of the Safest Places to Travel to When COVID-19 Travel Bans are Lifted

Coronavirus has definitely disrupted everyone’s travel plans, but it also could cause a $24 billion loss to the tourism industry.

Once this pandemic is over and it’s safe to travel again, you’ll probably have a lot of vacation time and money saved up to spend on your next destination and help the tourism business recover.

Dreaming about travel and exploring new lands? Who isn’t right now? You can never start planning too early — here are the safest places to travel when possible.

1. Italy

While Italy was hit hard in this pandemic, once they release restrictions, it’ll be one of the best places to travel.

When you visit, you should make sure that you visit Sicily. While you’re there, you can drive on the side of the cliffs and view the Ionian Sea and all the beautiful beaches.

This country is full of amazing food, interesting history dating back to ancient times, and old, Medieval-style architecture.

The people in Italy are very friendly and helpful, and they’ll make you feel right at home. You’ve probably seen videos of people who were in quarantine singing to each other from their balconies. This was a way for them to connect in such strange times when a connection was hard to find.

If you want to fly anywhere in the world to reconnect with people of other cultures, check out this guide.

2. Canada

Canada has a reputation for having some of the nicest people in the world, sometimes even apologizing for things that were never their fault.

This country doesn’t have a high crime rate, so you’ll be safe to travel anywhere, even at night.

While you’re there, make sure you visit Toronto. There are all kinds of mixed cultures here; you’ll feel like you’re not just in Canada.

If you want to enjoy some European culture as well, you can head to Montreal and Quebec City, where people mostly speak French. There are all kinds of European architecture and influence here as well.

3. Australia

Australia is one of the best countries to visit if you’re concerned about safety.

They don’t have much violent crime, are politically stable, and have almost zero militarization.

Before coronavirus, the State Department had given travel to Australia the safety rating of one, meaning you’ll be fine there.

There may be a few areas where the air quality isn’t at its best, however.

With the recent brush fires, you should definitely visit Australia to boost their economy and help them recover after such a devastating disaster.

4. Iceland

The tiny island is one of the safest places that you could visit. The Icelandic people are so nice and trusting, and you’ll definitely be able to feel the kindness when you go.

Aside from safety, Iceland looks like something that you would find on a different planet. You’ll be able to have adventures in a land filled with volcanoes, black sand beaches, glaciers, beautiful waterfalls, and stunning landscape.

If you go at the right time, you may also be able to see the Northern Lights in the sky.

5. Greece

Greece is also a really popular place to visit. While you’re there, you should visit the city of Santorini.

You’ll be greeted with a deep contrast of blue and white with the sun shining brightly.

This is a major cruise hub and has been hit hard with the lack of cruises due to coronavirus.

If you want to experience a place with culture, some luxury, beautiful beaches with warm water, safety, and a little bit of different culture, you should book your flight here now.

6. Austria

You may not have thought that Austria would be one of the safest places, but you can travel here without having to exercise caution more than normal.

This country did use to have political unrest, but now it is a very vibrant and culturally-rich country.

They did have a huge role to play in World War II, but now it’s a much more peaceful country.

While you’re there, you should visit Vienna, a hub for classical music. You should also enjoy the mountainous and lake-side views.

7. The Netherlands

The Netherlands also welcomes all kinds of travelers (aside from during a pandemic). They’ve been ranked highly on safety scales.

While it’s still pretty peaceful to visit here, there have been a few targeted terrorist attacks in their cities. When you go, just make sure you exercise caution and don’t’ do anything stupid or irrational.

8. Jamaica

Lastly, Jamaica is also a fairly country to visit. In fact, this is a great place for a family vacation as there’s something for everyone.

This tropical vacation will leave you with all kinds of great memories. You can go snorkeling, swimming, relaxing on the beach, or even visit the Bob Marley museum.

While most travel regulations to this country say that it’s safe to go to, keep in mind that in some bad parts of the island there is gang-related violence. Just make sure you stay in the more populated, tourist areas and never travel into gang territory.

Discover More of the Safest Places to Travel

These are only a few of the safest places to travel, but there are many more out there!

As with any place, there is always some risk when you travel to a new country. Just make sure that you exercise caution regardless of where you are.

Try to travel with a buddy, and if you travel alone, make sure you don’t do it at night in bad parts of town.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more just like this one! Link Lifting

Finding a Real Psychic

When you have been in a place in your life that is in need of help such as psychiatrists, a group that can give you a 12 step program or even if your friends aren’t enough to help you, chances are you will feel that you don’t understand why things are happening to you.

It is times like this where you need to reach out beyond normal help and figure out a way to get advice that is going to help you.

There are times where you might need to seek out a psychic to help you and to give you advice, especially when you are feeling upset and vulnerable.

There are a lot of people that call themselves psychics and they are not real psychics and they cause people to spend their money and to try to get help from them when they are really just taking advantage of them. Getting a psychic can be good, as long as you find a real one.

Here are some things that you will know to look out for:

Advertising

A real psychic will not advertise their services behind a window. They will not be like prostitutes and a gifted psychic will not have to advertise like this.

Some psychics like these will open a session and ask you about something vague. They will ask you to give them a question and once you have asked it, they will say they have enough information to give you a reading.

How much information can you get from doing a google search?  Chances are these psychics are making their money by asking you information and then exploiting you.

They are not real psychics and they are giving you advice about something they know nothing about. They will tell you information based on your body language and what expressions you have. Beware of these types.

Word of Mouth

Just like any other great service, having a psychic by word of mouth is the best way to find one. You will have people that have went to a psychic and they will know if he or she is good. A good psychic will not even have to advertise because people will tell about them.

You cannot bring yourself into a place online where you can figure out their personal things but you can find a good psychic if you are patient and you are asking and listening to what other people say.

You need to avoid some psychics and follow some rules when looking for one.

Avoiding Fraud

Besides a psychic that advertises behind a window, there are other things to look out for. You will know in just one session if the psychic is real or if they are fraud. A real psychic will never try to cast spells on your or do things for extra money.

A real psychic will give you both good and bad news and will be honest in your reading. They will not tell you things that you want to hear or take impressions based on how you are acting. They will want you to ask open ended questions and they will allow you to end the session in the middle if you want to.

A good psychic will not talk about death or accidents in their reading because this is unprofessional and manipulative. This would be a sign of a fraud.

Conclusion

When you are seeking a reading, try to find someone that you know that has used the psychic. You can look at customer reviews and use word of mouth so you can find a professional psychic that can help you.

Making Travel Safe in 2020

Every industry all over the world has felt the effects of the ongoing pandemic one way or another. Some of them benefited from it – think video streaming services, video conferencing products, and video games – while others have seen their revenues melt away, with the pandemic endangering their very existence.

The travel and hospitality industry was perhaps the hardest hit by the disease, with the number of people traveling by air decreasing to a never-before-seen minimum, with casino cruises canceled, with hotels and restaurants, pubs and other venues closing due to the various measures taken by governments around the world to slow down the spread of the disease.

In many parts of the world, the first wave of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic seems to have passed – these countries are now slowly relaxing their strict restrictions, giving hope to those with wanderlust in their souls that they’ll be able to travel after all. While restrictions are still in place, resorts in Spain, Greece, and many other countries are already announcing they’ll be able to accommodate visitors from certain countries of origin starting next month. How will they be able to do this safely – and how to get there? Well, there are plans and products for this, too.

Airplane seating upgrades

Italian airplane interiors designer Aviointeriors has created a product it calls Glassafe that may be a solution to keeping passengers isolated on flights without the need to leave an entire row of seats empty (something airlines are strongly opposing, by the way). The solution can be installed on existing seats, creating a barrier between passengers sitting next to each other, thus minimizing exposure to pathogens – and, being made of a completely transparent material, it doesn’t even disrupt the aesthetic of the passenger area.

This, combined with the measures taken by airports, will help travelers fly to their destinations with peace of mind.

Hotel safety measures

Hotels will have to adapt to the new reality, at least until a vaccine to the disease becomes available. This means that many of the amenities we’ve gotten used to over the years will have to disappear – think buffets, valet service, bellhops, and others relying on personal contact.

The rooms and common areas will be continuously disinfected – some hotels are already implementing the widespread use of UV lamps and electrostatic sprayers. Keyless check-in will become the new norm, and so will contactless room service. And, depending on the venue, the number of people riding the elevator at the same time will likely also be limited.

Social distancing beaches

Greece is among the first countries to reopen its beaches as the temperatures start to rise – but they, too, have many measures in place to keep visitors from being infected. For one, they don’t permit more than 40 people to stay per every 1000 square meters (about 10800 square feet) of the beach, the umbrella poles are set 4 meters (approximately 13 feet 2 inches), sun-beds and benches will be disinfected after each customer, and calls to maintain the required “social distance” between beachgoers are constant.

Similar measures can be expected to be introduced in countries like Italy and Spain as they reopen their resorts to visitors.

Getting in will be tricky

This is where it becomes tricky.

While countries do reopen their tourist destinations as we speak, they won’t be accessible to every visitor coming from every country of origin.

Greece will reopen its borders to travelers coming from just 19 countries worldwide – Cyprus, Israel, China, Japan, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia. Visitors from these countries will be able to travel to the country without having to undergo mandatory isolation or quarantine.

Spain will allow foreigners to enter in July, with no word of any country-based restrictions so far. Croatia will open its borders to Slovak, Czech, Hungarian and Austrian visitors starting May 29. And Italy is expected to welcome European tourists from June 3. Unfortunately, there’s no word on whether or when these countries will be open once again to visitors from the rest of the countries.

A Simple Guide to What’s Inside: What Parts Form the Immune System?

How much do you know about how your body works?

The immune system is something of a hot topic right now. We need it to function correctly to ensure that we don’t get sick. It allows us to maintain good health and avoid any infections when we get scrapes or cuts.

The immune system isn’t just one ambiguous thing though. Different parts of the immune system work together as a machine to keep your body running smoothly.

If you want to learn more about how your body teams up to keep your immune system functioning, keep reading.

Parts of the Immune System: Blood Cells and Organs

The immune system isn’t just made up of a network of organs. Some of the most important work is done by the blood and other interlacing systems. The immune system handles a lot of delicate processes naturally (or with a little help from you by boosting the immune system) to keep everything in working order.

Lymphatic System

Within the immune system is another system altogether: the lymphatic system. This system is made up of lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and the most crucial: white blood cells (or lymphocytes).

White blood cells are some of the most important players in the immune system response. They look for microbes invading the body that are unfamiliar and attack, launching an immune response.

These responses can look like swelling or redness on the outside but are really the white blood cells doing the work that they’re supposed to do.

Bone Marrow

Bone marrow makes some people very uncomfortable, mostly from stories of painful extraction.

Bone marrow produces many important contributors to the immune system which is one of the reasons that we conduct bone marrow transplants. It makes rich red blood cells that help to oxygenate the blood and the white blood cells that the body needs to fight off infection.

The Spleen

The spleen is one of those organs that many people can’t really identify. What’s it there for anyway?

The spleen actually acts as a filter. It filters out harmful microbes and some old blood cells that aren’t doing their jobs anymore. It can also create antibodies and lymphocytes which help your immune system function properly.

The Thymus

The thymus is an organ that rests on the spine and shrinks as you approach and go through puberty.

It protects the body by producing special kinds of lymphocyte cells: T-cells. They help to protect you from deadly pathogens.

Your Immune System Protects You From Illness

How acquainted are you with the different parts of the immune system? There’s a lot going on in your body that you likely never think about when you’re going about your day, but your immune system is always hard at work keeping you from getting sick.

If you get a scrape or eat something that disagrees with you, your body is already working to protect you from harm. Isn’t that neat?

For more posts like this, visit the rest of our site.

Bring on Balboa Island

With restrictions being lifted around the country we have decided to take a look back at some destinations that can be reached easily without needing to get on an airplane. I’m sure quite a few of us are not ready to make that jump just yet. Our first stop is Balboa Island in Southern California… CONTINUE READING >> 

It’s not often that we stumble upon a place that we have never heard of, but that was the case a few weeks ago when we met up with our son in Orange County California.

When seeking something to while away an afternoon we spotted a dot on the map in the middle of Newport Bay and, on closer inspection, we discovered the little landmass had a name, Balboa Island.

With our curiosity piqued, we headed over and began with an introduction at the Museum and Historical Society where we got the full scoop on the island’s origins and a peek at the inside of one of its famous cottages.

Balboa sprung forth from the minds of a pair of brothers, James and Bob McFadden, and a good bit of dredging. Back in the late 1860s the boys began to dig out the bay to facilitate shipping that they hoped would lead to a fortune. In the process, they piled all of the dredged up silt into a new parcel of terra firma.

In 1902 McFadden sold the Newport property to William S. Collins and C. A. Hanson and, not being ones to miss an opportunity, they immediately began to partition and sell lots. Little did they know that one day those parcels would be as valuable as almost anywhere in the world.

In fact, Balboa Island is now considered the most expensive real estate in America outside of Manhattan, with a modest two-bedroom house often going for around three million dollars. Yikes! Yes it’s all about the houses on the island.

That quickly became apparent as we walked around the quaint neighborhoods, but there is one other claim to fame here, the Balboa Bar.

While the origin is shrouded in mystery, there is no doubt that these ice cream squares coated with chocolate and dipped in sprinkles or crushed candy are the signature sweet of the island…

…unless they’re not, in which case a banana treated to the same process would be.

Either way, the treats are best procured at Dad’s Donuts or Sugar N Spice, where a long standing rivalry has raged as to who has the original and the best.

We tried both, and our opinion, not that it is expert in any way, shape, or form, is that it’s a toss-up. We found both to be A-OK.

Having had our dessert (and eaten it too) we decided to pop into Crocker’s “The Well Dressed Frank” for a main course. Backwards yes, but it felt right in keeping with our afternoon island escape. The Crocker name goes back quite a ways on the island, all the way to 1927 when grandpa was the first paid fire chief.

We must say, these were no ordinary dogs. Our Chicago Frank and Balboa Bratwurst sausages had it going on. Plump, snappy to the teeth, and deliciously piled high with toppings, we were glad we didn’t try to take them walking with us.

At the end of Marine Avenue, which serves as the main drag, we hit the bay, hung a right, and found the real top end real estate. These waterfront properties are the crème de la crème and along this stretch we found two of Balboa’s best known residences.

The first caught our attention not so much for the structure, but for the fact that a life sized likenesses of President Ronald Reagan was out front saying howdy. We soon noticed that the bronze Gipper wasn’t the only figure gazing out over the bay from the porch.

The President was flanked across the patio by an African woman sitting cross-legged in the shrubbery. We didn’t see any resemblance to the Eastern mystic, but for some reason she has become known as the Balboa Buddha.

Both are the work of the home’s resident, Miriam Baker, who has also portrayed Abraham Lincoln, Mozart, Ella Fitzgerald, and Cecile B. DeMille with stunning realism and to some acclaim. Her works are shown in the Smithsonian, several universities, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.

Just a few steps away we were intrigued again, this time by a house that itself is a work of art. Designed by renowned architect John Edward Lautner, this is one eye catching casa. The islanders call it the Jaws house, for the jaw-like appearance of the balcony.

Lautner’s fame as an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright helped to earn the home a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and Newport Beach’s list of historical landmarks, as well as upping the ante on the price into the 4 to 5 million range. Ouch!

High as that price tag is, there is one thing on the island that remains a real bargain, the ferry. To get the full island feel we took a little trip across the sea, well, maybe a half a mile or so, for only a buck.

The little boat can carry three cars and a dozen or so people to the mainland on Balboa Peninsula, where we were greeted by a small, and somewhat cheesy, amusement park.

But judging by the signs, what the rides lacked in size they made up for in length, as the Ferris Wheel claimed to be the world’s longest.

We didn’t stick around to find out. After all, we only had the afternoon.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com