How Did '4/20' Become
a Holiday for Weed?.
One common theory is that it stems
from a California criminal code for
those who distribute the drug.
According to CNN, California's 420 code is actually for obstructing entry on public land.
The state's medical marijuana
program was created from a bill
with the number 420.
Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum's Chris Conrad
says "4/20" started as a code in
Marin County, California, at San Rafael High School.
In the 1970s, a group called
"The Waldos" would get together at
4:20 PM to smoke pot.
The time of the day was convenient as it
was right after school ended with
no parental supervision just yet.
"4/20" became a code word that allowed
them to notify each other in front of
unsuspecting parents.
From there, the phrase likely
spread across the country
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:02Published
The world's first known combat between a human pilot and a fighter jet controlled by AI has been carried out in California, the US military has said. Sky News
Prince Harry Officially Considers America , to Be His Home Instead of Britain.
After stepping away from
royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry
and Meghan Markle moved to California.
At the time, Harry suggested
that the move was temporary. .
The U.K. is my home and a place
that I love, that will never change. , Prince Harry, via previous statement.
We both do everything we can to
fly the flag and carry out our roles
for this country with pride, Prince Harry, via previous statement.
But a Travalyst Ltd filing on April 17 shows that the U.S. is now the prince's primary residence, NBC News reports. .
The company is based in London
and is 75% owned by Harry.
The new listing shows Harry's full name,
Prince Henry Charles Albert David Duke Of Sussex.
and then reads, "New country/State
Usually Resident: United States.".
While the residency change was filed this week, it was actually made on June 29, 2023, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left Frogmore Cottage. .
While the residency change was filed this week, it was actually made on June 29, 2023, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left Frogmore Cottage. .
In February of this year, Harry told a journalist that he was thinking about becoming an American citizen, NBC News reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Google Fires Employees , for Protesting Israel Contract.
28 Google workers have been fired for protesting
a $1.2 billion contract that the company has with
the Israeli government and military to provide
cloud and AI services, NBC News reports. .
The firings follow an April 16 sit-in at
Google's offices in California, New York and Seattle in which nine workers were arrested.
The group that coordinated the demonstration
is known as No Tech for Apartheid. .
Google issued a statement about the recent firings.
A small number of employee
protesters entered and disrupted
a few of our locations. , Google spokesperson, via statement.
Physically impeding other employees’
work and preventing them from
accessing our facilities is a clear
violation of our policies, and
completely unacceptable behavior. , Google spokesperson, via statement.
We have so far concluded
individual investigations that
resulted in the termination of
employment for 28 employees,
and will continue to investigate
and take action as needed, Google spokesperson, via statement.
No Tech for Apartheid claims that the
workers were fired "indiscriminately.".
This excuse to avoid confronting
us and our concerns directly,
and attempt to justify its illegal,
retaliatory firings, is a lie, No Tech for Apartheid, via statement.
Meanwhile, many of Google's workers have
reportedly quit after experiencing "mental health consequences of working at a company that is using their labor to enable a genocide," No Tech for Apartheid said.
On a personal level, I am opposed
to Google taking any military
contracts — no matter which
government they’re with or what
exactly the contract is about. , Cheyne Anderson, a Google Cloud software engineer based
in Washington who was arrested during a sit-in, to CNBC
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
This Day in History: , Kendrick Lamar Becomes the
First Rapper to Win the Pulitzer Prize.
April 16, 2018.
Lamar was awarded the
Pulitzer Prize for Music for his
extraordinary 2017 album, 'DAMN.'.
It was the first time the
prestigious award had been granted
to a genre outside of classical music or jazz.
According to the Pulitzer Prize administrator,
the decision to recognize
Lamar's work was unanimous.
['DAMN' is] a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life, Pulitzer Prize
Awarding Committee.
Lamar grew up during the 1990s
in Compton, CA, surrounded by the
influence of artists like Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre.
His previous album efforts
became known for their social commentary.
A fellow nominee called Lamar
“one of the greatest living American composers, for sure.”
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:54Published
These 5 US Cities Have the , Fastest-Rising Home Prices.
'Newsweek' reports that five cities in the
United States saw home prices increase by more
than 8% between January 2023 and January 2024.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price
Index showed that all 20 cities analyzed had year-
over-year increases during the same period of time.
According to the report, , these are the five cities where , home prices grew the fastest:.
Chicago, IL, Home prices increased by 8%
year-over-year in the Windy City.
According to the latest Redfin data, the median sale price of a house in Chicago was $335,000 as of February 2024, a 6.3% increase compared to the same time last year.
Charlotte, NC, Charlotte saw home prices increase
by 8.1% year-over-year for 2024,
with the median home price at $399,995.
Detroit, MI, Motor City saw home prices jump 8.3%. The median sale price of a home was $83,000, a significant 15.3% increase compared to 2023.
'Newsweek' reports that while Detroit has some of the cheapest
home prices in the nation, its housing market is seeing a
resurgence due to a boom in electric vehicle production.
'Newsweek' reports that while Detroit has some of the cheapest
home prices in the nation, its housing market is seeing a
resurgence due to a boom in electric vehicle production.
Los Angeles, CA, The city's 8.6% hike ranked as the second-highest
price increase in the nation with the median home
price at $975,000, a 5.9% increase year-over-year.
San Diego, CA, San Diego registered a whopping 11.2%
price increase for 2023 with the median sale price
sitting at $940,000, a 10% year-over-year increase.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
This Day in History:, Heaven’s Gate Cult
Members Found Dead.
March 26, 1997.
Led by Marshall Applewhite,
39 members of the cult peacefully committed suicide
by drinking a mixture of vodka and phenobarbital.
The disturbing scene was discovered by
police in a mansion in a San Diego suburb.
Clothed in matching Nike sneakers and dark uniforms,
the 21 men and 18 women were were found in several
rooms throughout the mansion.
They were convinced their suicides would free them
from their bodies, allowing them to enter an
alien spacecraft hidden behind the rare Hale-Bopp comet.
The cult advocated sexual abstinence.
Several of the men had undergone
castration surgery, including Applewhite.
None of the 39 bodies showed
any signs of blood or trauma
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:47Published
Winter Storm Brings , California Reservoir , to Full Capacity.
'Newsweek' reports that California's
Cachuma Lake reached full capacity following
a winter storm over the past weekend.
In the summer of 2022, several California
reservoirs reached alarmingly low water
levels amid a long-running drought.
At the time, water levels at
Cachuma Lake fell to 692 feet. .
On March 3 of this year, water levels
at Cachuma Lake reached 753.1 feet,
just above its capacity of 753 feet.
While other reservoirs in California are higher
than their historical averages, none besides Cachuma Lake have reached capacity this year, according to
the California Department of Water Resources.
Cachuma Lake has reached
136% of its historical average.
As a result, water levels in California have significantly
improved, with officials even voluntarily releasing
water from several reservoirs ahead of expected rain.
So far in 2024, a number of California
cities have exceeded their annual average
rainfall, including Los Angeles and San Diego.
According to AccuWeather,
California is predicted to be
drought-free until at least 2025.
However, a coming shift from El Niño to La Niña
in the fall could impact how long California
experiences a period of time without droughts.
However, a coming shift from El Niño to La Niña
in the fall could impact how long California
experiences a period of time without droughts
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
China to Send Pandas , to San Diego Zoo.
On Feb. 22, China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, said that the China Wildlife Conservation Association...
... has made deals regarding "a new round of international cooperation for giant panda conservation" with both the San Diego Zoo and the Madrid Zoo, NBC News reports. .
The resurgence of "panda diplomacy" comes as only four pandas remained in the U.S. at Zoo Atlanta. .
Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji left the National Zoo in November, and Ya Ya left the Memphis Zoo in April, NBC News reports. .
One male panda and one female panda could arrive in San Diego by the end of summer.
We are humbled by the potential
opportunity of continuing our
collaborative conservation efforts
to secure the future for giant pandas. , Megan Owen, vice president of wildlife conservation science
at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, via statement.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign
Ministry also issued a statement.
We look forward to further expanding
the results of scientific research on
the protection of endangered species
such as the giant panda.., Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, via news briefing.
... through the new round of
international cooperation,
promoting people-to-people
connectivity and enhancing civilian
friendship with relevant countries, Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, via news briefing.
NBC News reports that there are currently about 600 pandas in captivity around the globe and 1,800 in the wild
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published