Payday Loans are, on one hand, convenient because they are easy to obtain and the cash is put into your bank account quickly. On the other hand, though, they can be detrimental, because of the associated cost.

The money is generally made available to you within 24 hours, and these short-term loans aren’t based on a credit report. They’re based on the person’s next pay day, which is when the full amount of the loan, plus a small fee, would be automatically deducted from their checking account. While a Pay Day Loan can be pricey, it is certainly a good thing if you find yourself in need of fast cash.

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The Marijuana Policy Project recently began airing television ads in New York in favor of pending medical cannabis legislation. In the commercial, Burton Aldrich, a quadriplegic man from Kingston, explains how medical marijuana helps with his excruciating pain and spasms by saying, “I … don’t know if I would be around if it wasn’t for marijuana.”

Being a New Yorker, this hits very close to home. This man doesn’t live even an hour away from me. I really, truly hope that legislation passes and New York becomes the 13th Medical Marijuana state, not only for my own sake, but for everyone in New York suffering like Mr. Aldrich.

If you’re from New York, I urge you to please visit NYPatients.org and contact your legislator. All you have to do is fill your information into the form - The letter is pre-written for you. It can’t get any easier than that! You can also learn more about this issue by going to NYCompassionateCare.org.

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When you think of sex shops, most often you’re probably thinking of shady-looking shops off the corner of a highway with a large “Do not come in here unless you are over 21 years of age” sign on the front of an entrance that looks more like a garage door. These shops are also the ones that have those creepy private booths in the back that most definitely cannot be too hygienic, given what men do in there. These are the sex stores that are targeted more towards men and of course, are the standard because only men like sex, right? Wrong!

The success of these types of shops can only be measured by the amount of competition surrounding them, which in most cases aren’t many, if any at all. If you live in a suburban neighborhood, you most likely have one sex toy store in your area or even one shop for several areas and of course, these are the “male-ego” shops; the shops with jizz rooms, blow up dolls and many, many videos all building up the fantasies that women enjoy sex with their twin sisters, having cum adorn every inch of their faces and several, several different men at the same time.

As a woman who lives in a town with no sex toy shops whatsoever and having to drive an hour to the nearest one, which of course is a disgusting-looking shop catered to men, I wondered, isn’t there a place out there that doesn’t objectify women? A place that celebrates the libido and doesn’t treat it like something dirty that women should be ashamed of, but for men, it’s the standard? I wanted a place that had the nerve to treat me as sexual being and as a woman without objectifying me.

Because of the status of the standard shops, I normally look online for any bedroom toys I may be interested in purchasing and because of that, I stumbled upon Babeland, though when I had first heard of it, it was known as Toys in Babeland.

The title alone may lead men to think “Oh wow, hot sexy babes? I’m in!” and for women, it could make you think “Babeland! Woman land! My land!” which is what is what I first thought. Their website alone is very woman-oriented. It’s sleek, shiny, it doesn’t have ads or pictures of women dressed in bondage and being treated purely as sexy objects so their man can have a good time. It’s straight forward, but has a womanly touch, which is to be expected since Babeland was founded by women for women with the motto Sex toys for a passionate world.

With their fifth store opening nation-wide in Brooklyn, New York, positioned in between a maternity store called Bump and an organic restaurant that sells an herbal formula to boost your libido, Babeland gave the press a deeper look into what Babeland is all about.

They are a woman-friendly store where strollers are welcome, there is a baby changing station in the restroom, kids are more than welcome, the founder being a mother herself, since the store is set up so nicely and so friendly that kids are welcome due to the inconspicuously detailed products. They also have events scheduled which include seminars for women on sexuality and body image, private workshops and parties. It does not get any better than Babeland.

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No, this isn’t another post about going natural and organic. Summer is here and Festival Season is upon us. Many people have been planning for months to go to a festival, whether it’s Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza or Gathering of the Vibes, etc. and one thing that I’m sure has come to everyone’s mind is How am I going to get high while I’m there? which is probably closely followed by …Without getting arrested?

The police are out in full force, waiting for you to mess up so they can arrest you. I suggest you not carry anything with you, but if you’re worried and absolutely feel the need to carry your weed with you, you should know how to do so safely…

I went to Bonnaroo in 2006 and the police caught the people that were supposed to be supplying the entire festival’s weed. I don’t remember the specific amount they got, but I remember it being extremely hard to find any weed during the entire weekend… But extremely easy to find anything else in the world that you could think of. Perhaps if they had known their rights, it would have been a much greener weekend.

ø Break one law at a time. You’re already in possession of illegal drugs - Don’t drive without your seatbelt or talk on your cell phone. Pay attention to traffic signs and don’t go over the speed limit. Use your blinkers. You get the idea…

ø Don’t smoke in the car. Weed has a very distinct smell and cops aren’t [completely] retarded. They know what it smells like and the smell alone is probable cause for a search. If you’re going to smoke on the way, do so with all the windows down to let the air flow freely and smoke cigarettes or spray air freshener after.

ø Don’t freak out. Cops will often set up signs with things like DRUG CHECKPOINT AHEAD - These checkpoints are unconstitutional; the signs are fake - and watch closely to see who veers to get off the next exit or throws something out of their window. Instead, maintain the speed limit and obey traffic laws and keep going. Stay calm.

ø Do not allow unwarranted searches. It is not illegal to refuse a search if you have not given the police probable cause. Be polite but straight forward - Keith Stroup said, “If you give permission, you waive your Fourth Amendment protections. They may say it’ll go easier if you cooperate, but that’s bullshit. Their only reason for being there is to see if you have contraband and arrest you and put you in jail if you do.”

ø Be careful who you talk to. Once you get to the festival, beware of undercover cops. Many people believe that police officers are required to reveal if they’re an undercover cop, but that’s far from true. It is legal for them to lie while doing their job and they will.

The most important thing is that you know your rights and are comfortable practicing them. If you’re still confused, check out this video, released by Flex Your Rights…

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