Hopper’s Hippie Art: The Road to Paradisehoophabit.com/Press_Room_Testimonials_files/FAROUT MAG...Hopper’s Hippie Art: The Road to Paradise Festival Tales - LA to Montreal DJ Slim-The

Hopper’s Hippie Art: The Road to Paradise

Festival Tales - LA to Montreal

DJ Slim -The Interview-

Hooping It Up: Mind|Body|Spirit

New Tricks

Far Out Magazine Vol 2 Issue 3In this issue...

Hopper and Dubie: Hippie Art Leads to ParadiseHippie artist, Hopper, and her van, Dubie, and the journey to Paradise (aka Big Island Hawaii)by S.A. Stepford........................page 16

Music -DJ Slim: Performer from Boston Spills his Musical BeansDJ Slim talks about music and activismInterview with Travelin’ Dude....page 22

Lifestyle -Healing Yourself in the Hoop: Mind|Body|Spiritand more Hoop tricksby Andi Epstein...........................page 7

Festival Tales -Toronto’s Freedom FestLots of pics - were you there?Review by Travelin’ Dude...........page 12

THC ExpoHeld in LA the THC Expo drew an amazing crowd for a first time event - and, for good reasonReview by Travelin’ Dude.........page 27

Festivals and Events by Hikara.....................pages 6, 21, 25, 30

Publisher: It’s News Dude ProductionsEditor-in-Chief: Bill Trogdon

Editor, Writer, Design Layout: S.A. StepfordFestivals/Events Editor: Hikara

Staff writer; Photographer: Travelin’ DudeContributing writers: Andi Epstein

Copy Editor: Roxanne MunksgaardGraphic Artist, Cover: Justin Deltuva

Far Out Magazine Volume 2 Issue 3

Sign reads: Mud Walk JudgingStrut your stuff!

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September

8/31-9/7 Burning Man, Black Rock Des-ert, NV.Lots of art and entertainment, come see it all and don’t be afraid to participate!Join in the fun and say hello to our friend, Andi of Hoop Habit (See article this issue!) www.burningman.com

9/4-6 Fall Hookaville 2009, Pataskala, OH Another Hookaville event - you KNOW it’s going to be good! It’s Hookaville - need we say more?www.hookaville.com

9/5-7, Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain Park, GA. Artists, crafters, live entertainment, Children’s Corner activities, check it out!http ://www.stonemountainpark.com/mini-section/default.aspx?id=14

9/5-10/25 Kind Richard’s Faire, Carver, MA.Every weekend, including Labor and Columbus Day Mondays! Jousting, plays, magic, knights, wenches, royalty, and beg-gars, come see all that and more!www.kingrichardsfaire.net

9/6 Kapolei Summer Sunset Festival, Ka-polei, HI. Enjoy the day with rides, games, information, food, and live entertainment. There is fun and excitement for all! www.gohawaii.com/event?id=12095

9/11--13 Webejamin Fest (Reggae), Har-mony, ME This themed event really rocks. www.mainevocals.net/festivals/09__index2.htm

9/12 Cannabis Revival, Joplin, MO Mu-sic-Law Reform-Education. We bring great bands, high profile speakers, and regional NORML groups www.cannabisrevival.com

9/18-20 Wormtown Music Festival 11, Greenfield, MA The River Worm Cafe, An Expanded Family Camping Area, Vern-ville’s Earth Stage, Communtiy Bonfire, Artist Demos, Rock Gardens and plenty more taboot.www.wormtown.com/wormfest/

9/19 MassCann /NORML Boston Free-dom Rally, Boston, MA. Bands and speak-ers, for more information check out the site. www.masscan.org

9/19-21, Common Ground County Fair, Unity, ME. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) fair in Unity, it has lots of great entertainment, an area for children, and too many other great things to list!www.mofga.org/TheFair/tabid/135/De-fault.aspx

9/25-27, Earthdance, Laytonville, CA. A large festival celebrating peace, come see all the amazing artists and hear the speakers! This is a really great festival to check out!http://earthdancelive.com/

9/23 The Autumn Equinox (Mabon) Northern Hemisphere, Earth. Give something back to Mother Earth and remember to say thank you for all she’s given. It’s time to start preparing for the colder months ahead, but for now we still have some time to have one more dance.

9/24-26 NORML Conference, San Fran-cisco, CA. This year’s theme: YES, WE CANNABIS: Zeitgeist of Legalization, Pot Politics, a special day discussing medical cannabis and so much more. Check it out at: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7877

cont. on page 21

Healing yourselfIn The Hoop ~ MIND|BODY|SPIRIT (Part 1)

By Andi Epstein Summer is in full bloom with the first Harvest Moon approaching… its play-time folks! Music is off the hook this year as creative juices flow during times of change. That flow takes us to many adventurous moments, introduces us to new relationships all while the common denominator = freedom! What a wonder-ful world we live in where it is our right to speak our highest truth anytime/any place. Considering its time to grow and change with the era, what if we all de-cided to become super heroes? The word on the street is that Sponge Bob is perme-able… constantly altering his shape to fit into any situation. In this universe we use the shape of a circle for our most precious sources- clock, compass, apple pie, balls and my favorite tool ~ the HOOP! This circle welcomes you to the center of your life. Step into the Hoop Habit ™, heal yourself; it is time to be the person you have always wanted to be. Create an alter

ego – allow the hoop to guide your inner mascot out- become your own liberated cheerleader; it changes your perspective, remind-ing you that the world is deep and full of abundance. Free the childlike frolic in you. Enjoy the laughter of hooping as the mind surrenders to the movement. Let the projections of others melt away any physical, emotional or third dimensional weight. With the Burning of the Man

celebration approaching, excitement is running high this month. The Playa experience is the highlight of Ravers & Festival Season goers around the world. Black Rock City (BRC), NV- USA

becomes the 3rd largest city in the state of Nevada and it’s only in existence for one week.

“Feed the craving… Get into the

Hoop Habit!” ™

Hoop Meditation: Shari James

Photos provided by author7 cont. on next page

This 10 story city is literally built on a dried lake bed, called the Playa. BRC is structured in the shape of clock. The Man is the center – The Temple at 12:00 – Center Camp at 6:00 and the city streets are structured from 2:00 – 10:00 in a horseshoe shape offering the main drag called “Esplanade”. Broken down into 15 min city blocks – the Esplanade starts the outward spinning of more city streets starting with “A” all the way to “M”. (The street names change each year with the theme change.) In total the circumference of BRC city clock is approximately 6 miles. BRC’s Center Camp offers much of the same resources’ as any other city; Library, Post Office, Fire Depart-ment, Rangers, Medical Teams, DMV (Department of Mutant Vehicles), and the BRC Airport is on the out skirts of the city. The remaining open space in the center of this circle city is for art installa-tions, fire projects, creative move-ment and sole purpose of experiencing the extreme elements the playa has to offer…. Playa dust! On the Playa the reality is mind altering. The best description & percep-tion heard thus far is a mix between the following: Mad Max Movie World ~ bril-liant artists & creative’s ~ Las Vegas 24|7 lights/sounds/action ~ The Gong Show/ Doodah Parade ~ Cirque/Vaudeville ~ Scientific Intelligence ~ Cosmic Peace-

Cont. from page 7

Love-Granola Hippies ~ Tribal Law ~ and basically the most liberating FREEDOM offered anywhere in the world! Anything you have ever fantasized about is reality on the Playa. The Hoop Experience there invites you to live in the center of your life. This creative space frees anyone to wake up and see the other souls around allow-ing them to affect you. It’s called “Playa Magic”. Each experience is unique as is each soul offers a unique form of cre-ative expression. The Hoop Community on the playa is world-renowned. It is on the Playa where many hoopers got their start and the vision of Modern Day Hooping was born thanks to Hoopali-cious (Anah of Hoop Revolution) This is a welcome home party as the hoop world reunites as one family. This hoop family lives by their alter egos. Aliases & Avatars are created and in some cases re-created

to transform our minds through the Hoop Movement.

MIND The mind has a funky way of coop-erating with what our thoughts create… thus becoming words then actions then habits. This spiraling effect multiplies in our physical body with every heartbeat. Spreading out over the entire molecular system with the repeat button on. Hoop-ing offers a natural high full of amplified

Hooping on Playa

endorphins, guaranteed to generate laughter. Attaching a sound to each move-ment teaches the sensation to create a neurological connection with the mind. As if the body is being used as a drum, the hoop beats against the skin cells. Penetrating healing energy throughout the system all while crossing the left and right sides of the brain. After 15 minutes in the hoop one feels refreshed, regenerated and reminded that it’s the best meditative drug on the market. The blood flows through to spine upward pumping to the brain imme-diately increases productivity in your day.

TRICKS OF THE MONTH: “Hand Hooping & Lasso”

“HAND HOOPING” First one must pay attention to the di-rection they hoop on their waste. (Clock-wise or counterclockwise) If you hoop to your left, you will start in your right hand- if you hoop to the right, you start with the left hand. Now start turning your feet in the direction you hoop while your hand is placed inside the hoop facing the palm upwards- with the thumb out facing

the body. As you continue to turn- extend your arm outward and allow the hoop to rise over your head like a halo. To keep the hoop in constant movement, keep the thumb out- relax the hand and allow the hoop to pump forward and back over your hand horizontally overhead (like halo) with a micro movement bend of the el-bow. Keeping the thumb out and the hand supple is the key to embodying the hand hooping movement. The elbow should always be near your ear- if it moves lower the hoop moves lower towards your head/face. (Note: The spiraling force of the hoop’s energy will increase resistance and the hoop will feel heavier.) When you are ready to switch arms- simply place your free hand into your hooping hand- palms together in prayer position. This two-handed movement becomes one as the point of contact on the hands shifts from the palm to the sides of hands. When the hoop makes contact with hand #2; remove hand #1 from hoop contact. Get comfort-able switching arms, turning the body/feet the same direction as the hoop while exploring your space and timing.

Hoopalicious

Hand hoopingArticle cont. with the TRICKS OF THE ISSUE: Hand Hooping & Lasso” on pages 9 & 10

“LASSO” The Lasso has the exact look and feel of the Hand Hooping move. Begin with arm #1 Hand Hooping – now with your free hand look up at the space inside

the hoop as it spins around and when the open spot appears, pop your hand upwards into that space. This is called the “Now Factor”. Every time you pop your hand in, say out loud “NOW!” (This thought of movement is validated with sound = a direct mind connection. Re-minds the body that when you so NOW, the timing is clear for movement.) This is your time to move the hoop up and down the body, aka “changing planes” from a high halo plane to waist plane. To com-

plete the Lasso, the following components must be completed at the same time: turning the same direction as the hoop while the freed “now factor” arm #2 goes up and hand #1 with hoop contact guides the hoop from halo plane to waist plane – while hoop makes contact with leading hip. Keeping the feet and body turning the same direction of the hoop will keep the hoop balanced during transition and placement onto the body.

Healing in the hoop created a form of Play Therapy that she likes to call “put-ting the FUN into FUNctionality”. Using her Laughter Yoga skills, she guarantees an instant face-lift in every spin. Andi loves being a part of the Certified Hoop-girl Inc. ™ team of International Hoop Instructors and travels around the world sharing the Hoop Habit as a one-stop source in play therapy and motivational movement. Check in regularly to www.HoopHabit.com for event updates.

NEXT ISSUE: “Feed the craving…. Get into the Hoop Habit” ™ will feature “Slinky & Rock-N-Roll” as the tricks of the month. Also the second of three part “Healing yourself in the Hoop – MIND|BODY|SPIRIT” series.

Find Andi’s first piece for us in Far Out Magazine v2i2 or at www.FarOutMagazine.com

Andi Girl founded Hoop Habit ™ by hooping her way back to health. Hooping for the first time ever in 2005, she went from a size 20 to a size 12 in six months!Email: [email protected] Please give us your name or alias and contact information.

families, couples and folks who arrived on their own. Soon the few hundred

became many thousands – they estimate more than 25,000 came and went through the day – and no one had to feel alone. People felt free to protest - by dress, word and/or deed - the repression of cannabis and the folks who extol its virtues. Within hours, and despite the threat of rain, the park became a small festival village. Soon Raggae tones and Rasta lyrics, as

photos & story by Travelin’ Dude

Toronto Freedom Festival - 2009

The sky was mostly cloudy, there was a slight chill in the morning air, the trees were budding, and there was the scent of another kind of bud burning all around; it was spring in Toronto and the thrid annual Toronto Freedom Festival was coming to fruition with revelers and activists began to gather at Queens’ Park in Toronto. The college area also known as “Yongesterdam” promised to produce a large number for the turn out along with peo- ple from

across Canada,

plus a good num-ber from “south of the border” to show their solidar-

ity in the desire to “free the weed” (aka the repeal of cannabis prohibition), hear some awesome music, enjoy good eats and support like-minded vendors. The steady streams of people entered from all directions and included all age groups, ethnicities – 12

well as folk, rock and more, floated across the park. One group that stood out called, Kid Rasta and the Peacemakers, sang out

with a great tune with the refrain, “Hear His Spirit Call You,” connected with the crowd at the main stage with their clear vocals and well-honed talent; the words and melodies echoed in the head and heart making listeners want more; and other groups like House of David Gang made it a fantastic day, too.

The food vendors ranged from Jamaican (which was INCRED-IBLE) to delicious roasted corn, yams and fruit smoothies

to the perennial Stoners’ stand-by – pizza, and so much more. There was clothing, jewelry – just about anything the hemp/cannabis enthu-siast could want all in one place; and, despite the small geographic area of the park, it was so filled with people and things to see you could forget where the vendor was you planned to “get back to” very easily – even if you were straight! Cell phones were in heavy use

with people asking, “Can you see me now?” and many using the statue of King Edward VII on a horse as a rallying point

to find lost friends.

From socially conscious businesses like Fairies Pyjamas to spiritual folks

article cont. on page 14 more pics - find yourself!

such as the Church of the Universe and the wandering

“Stoned Monk” to clever inventor/entrepreneurs like “Roach Ring”(www.roachring.com) and the Medical Can-nabis groups, one thing was clear – to quote 60s’ icon, Bob Dylan: “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Far Out Magazine gave out

over 3,000 copies of the magazine/festival and event guide; representatives spotted handing out the free issues were swarmed by people looking for something new and were treated playful comeback comments of “Far Out” as people read the title and the articles inside from travels in Maui to Dennis Perons’ (subject of the movie, “Milk” and posthumous recipient of the Medal of Freedom). Even members of other magazines who were there took a few of our “mini-mags” and tucked them in their pockets.

Yes, those are a couple of Far Out Magazines

Even the brief rain didn’t dampen the spirit of this upbeat crowd; and, through-out the day it was clear that the people who have taken the time to learn about and embrace the opportunities and ben-efits of their beloved plant are trying to make more than just a statement; they are trying to change lives. While there is a risk of “preaching to the converted” at these events, there is still a massive need to educate and stimulate those newly entering the culture of this community. One sad note on this was expressed by a man who has been following the Movement and chronicling it in documentaries for a long time; he lamented that even though people kept coming to these events, “every year, if you stop and ask attendees, it seems likefewer and fewer of them know what it’s

really all about.” That is why organizers and promoters know they must keep the events going, even if some feel the tide has shifted to their side of late. Still, it’s an uphill

struggle for their cause and it might not hurt to have some dynamic, articulate speakers take the main stage – or a stage adjacent to it - while the musicians are switching over and setting up their gear. There were a few brief appearances on the main stage by the likes of Marc Emery, who is still looking at the probability of being tossed to the

cont. next page - more pics

cont. from page 13

We send Far Out kudos to Nev and his crew who did a great job with this event. There were people hand-ing out well done programs, a plethora of trash receptacles for waste (and folks to clean up what didn’t get there), adequate toilet facili-ties so there was never a long wait, and ATMs all around for those who needed cash, but didn’t want to leave the grounds (except for the thousands who joined in the Global Marijuana March at one point in the day, but returned thereafter) – and who could blame anyone for not wanting to leave this colorful, energetic mini-world that created at Queen’s Park, Toronto 2009. We hope to see you all there next year!

US court system for his financial support of the cannabis legalization movement in the US via the proceeds of his seed selling business; he is looking at the possibility of doing “Drug King Pin” hard time, due to the political hit on him from folks US DEA Tandy who outright said by stopping Emery they were trying to hurt the flow of funds for changing the laws in the United States, even through the act of working to change laws is a perfectly legal activity. Most of the speakers found themselves on the “Eye Weekly Speakers Stage” which featured Alison Murden who is a long-time medical cannabis activist and

MS sufferer, LEAP (Law Enforce-ment Against Prohibition member, Dana Larsen, Marc

Emery as well as oth-ers.

Hopper & Dubie:Hippie Art Leads To Paradise

by S.A. Stepford

Hopper and her husband, Harley, had a restaurant bar as well as a bed & breakfast in the desert above Los Angeles. It attracted 100’s of Harley riders every week due to the great biking

spot, but it had its drawbacks. Hopper ex-plained. “It was 24/7 literally… the week days were so slow - due to location - that YOU had to be there to save money… and on the weekends were so busy – and demanding – YOU had to be there to sure the money got in the till, that nobody got in altercations with local police and to control the liquor, the loud bikes, etc.”

Lost After a few years she felt lost, “seri-ously lost.” She had always loved to paint things – and she liked to paint BIG. She painted windows for holidays, murals and signs and when a rust free ‘71 VW van in good condition inside and out be-came available in 2002 her husband, Har-

ley, bought her the bus as a canvas. The old van and Hopper connected immediately.

Soon the work began transforming the humble grey and white van into some-thing spectacular.

She’d always been a fan of “old school rock ‘n’ roll… stuff from the 60s, 7s0s, and 80s” and she drew on that to make a sort of collage tribute to all her favor-ites things past, present as well as future dreams. Quickly, the van was expressing a retro psychedelic personality and was named “Dubie.” After long hours, many

into the night, the Dubie evolved. And, as this new canvas developed so did a dream. They realized that the life they were living wasn’t the way they wanted to spend their lives; no, life was too short; as Hopper put it, “Harley said Hawaii. I said, ‘Why not?” Thus, they decided would live their lives in paradise. They made many trips looking for the right place and finally found “some untouched paradise on the big island of Hawaii… jungles and rain of over 128 inches a year… but mostly at night… and amazing weather. FEW tour-ists and a simple, quiet and slow

Photos supplied by Hopper

16

way of life… kind of like leaving it all behind… you can live simple here… you can be inspired.” But, with a business to sell, twin 10 year olds, a cat, a “couple of really big mascot turtles” and a bus to ship it wasn’t going to be easy. Hopper had poured her heart and soul into the bus. When it was done in

2004 they put it on display in front of the business and that very day someone vandalized it. Completely and totally vandalized – brake fluid on fresh paint - within 5 minutes there was very little of the original paint; it was gone - a year and a half of work - all those hours pouring herself into it – gone. Hopper is one of those people that believe that everything happens for a reason. She wasn’t going to let this be the end. No, it would be a new beginning. The magic bus would live again, and they would begin living the life they would en-

joy. With the help of Harley and friends the bus was sanded

where the brake fluid had stripped it, new primer was put on and work began slowly, the business sold, they packed up the family and soon the dream of “Hawaii or Bust” became a reality.

Hawaii or BustAfter Dubie had month long trip to Hilo, HI he rolled off the ship and one can only won-der what the residents of the Big Island thought of Dubie, covered with paint here and primer there. Hopper began painting Dubie again and, Hooper said, “This time it really represents me, and it does what I intended it to do – bring smiles to those

who see it.” So, what did Hopper find after the move, when dream met reality? Well, Hopper explains it best on her website www.HoppersHippieArt.com, “Living on the island is a magical experience.

Story continues on next page

Photos supplied by Hopper

Natural beauty is everywhere you look. Art and music are all around you. There is

an element here that I have not found on the mainland. Time moves more slowly here. People have a much more easy go-ing attitude and are much more receptive to creative and different forms or art. The artist community is large, welcoming and filled with a wide variety of unique and sometimes very different souls. This wonderful environment, has given me the freedom and confidence to experiment with my own designs, allowing me a feel-ing of added freedom in my creations. In other words…it has allowed me to be the little hippie chick I always wanted to be.” Yes, going from a 24/7 business to the Big Island, was moving from “stress into Paradise.” Hopper describes it as “beauti-ful and largely uninhabited… the sea, the waterfalls, the jungle… inspiring.” One of the first things she noticed about her new home was that she felt like she “fit.” It seems that artistic people are valued there and it’s okay that people come look-ing for their own version of the dream. In the early days there they got by doing odd jobs when and where they could and doing without. She says that living in paradise you really don’t need much. “You live a lot outside here, and a few pairs of shorts, a pair of slippers, a couple of t-shirts and you’re good to go. You can live off the land and plant almost

everything you want or need to get by… fruits, veggies…” The natural wonders are everywhere: the geckos, birds, fish and turtles… the flowers… everything

is amazing and colorful.” And, if you’re coming to Hawaii she highly recommends the Big Island to get “nature, volcanoes – and everything BUT tourists.” And, Dubie? He is “VERY loved here… and even a little famous.” He is her calling card and her “work mobile” as he can carry 10 foot ladders, long boards, short boards, signs, etc; he gets great gas

mileage and she can use it for local trips to sell her merchandise as he can carry all my inventory and four people.

Hopper’s Hippie ArtHopper expanded her repertoire as, “new t-shirt designs, paintings, murals and such started to appear. That is when, things had to change and I guess that is where everything just kind of started to focus on my art. As, I did more creative design; it became very clear that my love was defi-nitely in that direction…” She has her own line of tees called “Hopper’s Hippie Art” and loves to do “recycled art” using

old surfboards as bar tops, head boards, signs and wall art – anything is fair game. Even shoji doors (editor’s note: they’re made of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a sort of grid of wood or bamboo that slides or folds) that were discarded become hanging wall art

Cont. from last page

She is also a founding member of a local artist group, Paradise Studio Tour, Artist Collective. This is a group of local multi media artists joining together to bring art to the community and art aware-ness, mentoring and funding to area sec-ondary art education. This group holds a yearly Open Studio Tour the first weekend of December. 10% of all proceeds go to a local secondary school’s art education. (For more information about these programs, please email [email protected]) Hopper’s advice to those who are hesitant to make the jump from mak-ing their dream their reality, “I strongly believe that we all have the right to shine in which ever area we can. If that is draw-ing, or painting, or singing, or whatever…it really doesn’t matter, It is just, that no one has the right to discourage you, to stop you, or to intimidate you into not pursuing your creative dream.”Check out her websites: www.hoppershippieart.com, www.hoppersart.com, and her online stores: www.carepress.com/dubie, www.zazzle.com/hoppersart, www.artistrising.com/galleries/hopper

If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it. - John Irving

and more. She says she just loves reach-ing out to people. Her art Hopper explains “has now taken on a much more focused message. I believe that our world is much to stressed, hectic, dog eat dog, if you know what I mean. So, my art is very focused on peace and love and creative freedom for all.”Now Hopper finds time to volunteer and give time to folks like “Habitat for Humanity” making projects locally for

them. Her new-est venture is a grant that she was awarded through a local group to create a coloring book for kids. She is working a pro-gram called “ART UPRISING” that

will be a mobile art enrich-ment program where where, art classes will be offered to area schools, youth groups etc. Each child will be able to then attend a “make” and “take” class and recieve an original art coloring book as well, funded completely by Hopper’s Art and the Heal-ing Our Island Grant of the Big Island of Hawaii. . Of course, Dubie, will be the MOBILE part of that mobile program.

(September continues)

9/26 WAMMfest, Santa Cruz, CA “Love Grows Here” This fest is a free celebration of gratitude to area residents and local politicans who stood up for the WAMM and patients civil liberties. Check it out: www.WAMMfest.org

October

10/1-4 Harvest Fest, Harmony, MEAutumn in New England. Come for the music, camp amoung the changing leaves.www.mainevocals.net/festivals/09__index2.htm

10/2-4 Harry’s Harvest Ball, Starks, ME (see ad inside front cover) Be ready to dance the days and nights away during this weekend bash. Camping available.www.mainecommonsense.org/harrys_hill/newsite/

10/9-12, NY Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair / Political Rally, Hancock, New York. A freedom fest and political rally, live musi-cians, speakers, poets, and others. www.damnsam.com

10/10-12 Oktoberfest, Newport, RI. Bavarian music, marketplace, lots of great food, come see! www.Newportfestivals.com/oktoberfest/

10/16-18 Harmony Harvest Fest I, Har-mony, ME Come share in the bounty of the Harvest in Maine! www.mainevocals.net/

festivals/09index2.htm

10/17 Keene Pumpkin Festival, Keene, NH Be there for the pure spectacle of see-ing more than 25,000 lit jack-o-lanterns all around you, plus endless activities all day. The Keene Pumpkin Festival is a non-stop sensory overload extravaganza from morn-ing until night then fireworks explode high above all those pumpkins! And, it’s FREE.

10/19-25, Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival, Bluffton, SC. Boat tours, magic shows, fireworks, loads of great food, and much more!www.blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com/

10/31, 2009 - Lahainatown Halloween Banyan Tree Park. Lahaina, HawaiiEvent features a children’s costume parade, crafters, food booths, live entertainment, and the Maui Taco’s Halloween Costume Contest.” www.visitlahaina.com

10/1-31, Haunted Happenings, Salem, MA. Psychic readings all month, there are plays and so much to do and see! Tour the notorious Witch House, visit the House of Seven Gables for a candlelight tour. This is a month full of things to do!www.hauntedhappenings.org/

10/31 Samhain (Halloween), North Amer-ica, Earth. Last of the harvest festivals; it marks both a time of ending and beginning again. Take a moment to see where you’ve been and think about where you want to be. Tonight the veil between worlds is thin and magic may well be a-foot; so if you think you see something out of the corner of your eye-well, you just might have. ;)

TD Note:: Information provided by websites and organizers; every attempt was made to be as accurate as possible. Please check offical websites for details on camping, amenities, entertainment, prices, etc. As last minute changes do happen, keep yourself informed. You are responsible for verifying and planning your trip. Make it a good one.

cont. from page 6

cont. on page 26

DJ Slim -The Man

from BostonSpills His

Musical BeansAn interview with Travilin’ Dude

Music generally reflects the culture, the community and the times that gives birth to it; you can feel the hard inner city beat of rap, the soulful pain of the blues or the anti-establishment, limit-pushing of rock ‘n’ roll. So, when I had the chance to talk to this artist he wanted to know more about his music and his activism, and what keeps him going.

TD: How does your hometown reflect in your music? What are the best things and hardest things about it?DJS: My home town is city of Boston, MA..Dorchester..4 Corners, to be exact. i like to call it the forgotten city. 617 is the area code I’m repping. Boston is what I know. My friends and family are here. There is a lot of talent here. There are also a lot of people that supported the cause to legalize it. As a performer from Boston, one of the hardest things is to see many of the local, young cats that rap about coming from Boston but they don’t live in Boston. they only drove through as kids and talk about things they don’t re-ally know about or read about in the news papers. It’s something that they want to be a part of, but they just don’t understand it, so, you end up with mediocre rap and without a true understanding of The Bean.

TD: Where do you find the inspiration for your sound and lyrics? What do you want to touch inside your audience?

DJS: The inspiration for my sound and

lyrics came from living in a major city during the early years of the rap game. Much of what was going on, how rappers expressed themselves came from what they were seeing in the streets. I was one of those that was exposed to the streets. I always had hope, though, from all of the positive people around me. Friends, family, teachers, etc. They all supported my goal to make good music and express whatever I was feeling. I think that most people who would listen to my music are just like me. Hard working, creative, like to smoke and do whatever they have to do to “keep it movin”

TD: How has your music changed or evolved over time? DJS: I have been a part of hip hop for years. I like to focus on what is currently going on in my life. I think I’ve always keep my music real. Making music about how I see things around me.

TD: You’ve got a new CD out. What is your favorite track on it?DJS: That’s a hard question to answer, but I guess I’d say the song “I Wonder.”

TD: Is there a story behind it that you can share? cont. on next page

DJS: Well the story behind that is, I’m what you would call a “AMW” (Amer-ica’s Most Weeded) and after I finish a long day of working I like to unwind with a few Gravity Vortextm hits or my “Helix” Texas blown glass pipe. I like to just sit back and I wonder about every-thing from a to z.

TD: What are your plans for the near future? DJS: I Will be performing once again at the Boston Freedom Rally being held on September 19, 2009 http://boston-freedomrally.com/ right now I’m work-ing on a new ep and full album called “the Gardener”, with tracks featuring r&b artists T-Hall, Manny the Artist and Lee Wilson,Canadian group The Tall Broth-ers, local artists, McCrazyie, The Baw-ston Strangla, and more.

TD: Do you still have to have a day job”? DJS: Yes I do have a day job. The music industry doesn’t pay out like it used to. I have a wife and 2 kids to feed, so I need solid pay and benefits.

TD: If you were doing over again - would you still take this path in life?DJS: Yes I think if I had to do over again I would. My family is healthy and I’m do-ing something I’ve always wanted to do: perform in front of hundreds or thousands of people performing what i believe to be great weed smoking music or even if you don’t smoke you can still relate to the words and the beats.

TD: Who are your heroes, musical or otherwise? What makes them special to you?DJS: B-Real from Cypress Hill, Bob Marley, Redman, Method Man and Biggie

Smalls. Each one of them has something to say that is worth hearing. The smoking too!

TD: What would you tell others who are dreaming of becoming performers? DJS: I would say to any one that wanted to become a performer to follow their dream: to be a singer or a hip hop art-ist: try to bring something original to the world of hip-hop: don’t be a follower. Don’t let haters or nonbelievers hold you down. Like the title of one of my tracks: Do You Player. Just handle your business and work hard.

TD: How did you become an activist?DJS: I have been a avid follower of the legalization movement, especially here. Being someone who attended almost all of the Boston Freedom Rally events in the last 20 years, I came in contact with many of the people involved. Especially Mass-Cann’s Keith Saunders, Mike Cann and Scott G. They have always done things in the right way by trying to educate all that would listen about the importance of legalization. When I began thinking about what I could do to help, I knew that my music was my way of expressing the positive things about weed.

TD: Do you have a message to the other activists or would-be activists?DJS: Give of yourself whenever possible. Everyone is needed.

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Photo by Scott Gacek

Ask for us at your favorite shop If they don’t carry The Patient Handbook

have them email [email protected]

or call 1-415-704-5020

November10/30-11/1 Expocannabis Madrid, Spain Trade fair dedicated to cannabis in all its applications, whether direct or derived. www.expocannabis.com/en/general.htm

11/6-8 The Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival, Jolly Beach Resort, Antigua, West Indies A celebration of literary arts, with workshops, author readings, book sign-ings and special events in a beautiful tropical setting.www.caribbeanliteraryfestival.com

11/6-15 Kona Coffee Cultual Fes-tival, Kona, Hawaii - This year’s theme: “Kona Coffee – Aroma of Aloha” Preserving, perpetuating and promoting Kona’s unique 181-year coffee heritage. Ten days of festivities honoring pioneers, farmers, artisans & coffee www.KonaCoffeeFest.com

11/7 Pecan Festival, Florence, SC The festival will offer nearly 200 food, arts and crafts and nonprofit vendors as well as an arts and crafts show Not to mention the “Run Like A Nut” race! www.florencedown-town.com/pecan-festival.aspx

11/10 San Francisco Cannabis CupCheck out the link for details!www.sanfranciscocannabisclubs.com/medical-marijuana/activism/san-francisco/events/2009/cannabis-cup.htm

11/22-26 High Times Cannabis Cup Am-sterdam, The Netherlands It’s a classic!http://hempfest.org/drupal/node

11/27-29 Apple Butter Festival, Oak Glen, CA We’ll have a hands-on demonstra-tion of apple butter making the old-time (and slow!) way - outdoors in a big copper kettle. Come learn how to “start the snitz” and “add the money”, plus enjoy pioneer crafts and games, music, carriage rides, and lots more. www.losriosrancho.com/public-events.php#butter

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say we’re here and going mainstream from the start is a bit of a gamble; having it on the same weekend as the Adult expo guaranteeing lots of exposure and cross over traffic is smart.

This event was attended by a huge range of celebrities as well as the largest crowd at a indoor 420 event I’m aware of, with Saturday numbers rang-ing from 14,000 to 35,000 and Sunday numbers 14,000 - the official counters gave it a higher tally than the ticket sales due to the very not cool emergence of counterfeit tickets; while

one could argue that it was a good sign of the demand to get into the Expo, the tickets were only $10.00 with Far Out’s magazine coupon discount and it was well worth it, so buying legitimate ones sup-

ports community growth and buying the other ones just hurts the Move-ment.

New Event

THC EXPO Premiere Event -Flyin’ High

A review by Travelin’ Dude

Any time you attend a new event …well, you just don’t know how it will turn out. Some events grow over time allow-

ing them to evolve and change to meet the needs of the attendees. Anyone having a event in LA should know from the start that the expectations will be high as well as the fallout if things go poorly. With this in mind having your first expo at the LA convention center was both a way to Continues next page

one hydro company that; would say the words, “Marijuana” or “Can-nabis” out loud. They were the in-your-face guys of hydro, then they shut down their medi-cal marijuana site and acquiesed to the hydro industry’s ban on green, now they were show-ing up at the THC Expo

with a no-doubt what it’s about display. Far Out Magazine was there with t-shirts, advertiser merchandise to show and, of course, FREE magazines, and even held a raffle for product from Quick Grow.

Still, no matter how you look at it, the event was attended by well over 30,000 people. Ironical-ly, while the Expo hoped to draw some folks off of the neighboring event and it seems to have worked the other way around – some folks got

into the wrong line by accident apparently the adult expo line was shorter and people weren’t happy when they wound up at the Adult event instead of the THC Expo! The mass of companies were like a who’s who list of movers in the industry plus a lot of new faces. Arjan of Green-house, and MediCann, as well as, DNA Seeds and Davyd from Gravity Vortex; the other hand Jack Herer (The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Original Hemp Bible) and Dennis Peron (the “father” of Prop 215, California’s medical marijuana law) were conspicuous by their absence. Advanced Nutrients’ Big Mike was there with their bold display that gave one hope they were back to their roots as the

A Far Out Winner!

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We’ve been told it will be held in April for three days, then they are tak ing it on the road to New York amomg others locations, but is the big apple ready for them?? We’re looking forward to it seeing how this show goes. We give the LA event our Far Out Seal of Approval, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it plays on the road; Todd and Brian should get credit for doing a great job.

The only draw-back at the event was the inability to smoke inside -even medicially (CA law, not organizer choice); vendors were still able to cretatively demo their wares as aro-matherapy devices. Photos by Travelin’ Dude

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11/28-12/6 Pirates in Paradise in Key West, FL. - "Raise Yer Flag, Grab Yer Mate and Join Us in Celebrating the Golden Age of Sail & Seafaring Adven-ture!" http://piratesinparadise.com/

12/11-19 Hannakkah, Earth. The Fes-tival of Lights. Sing, dance, and munch on chocolate money by candlelight. The Maccabees won back the temple, but it was the the miracle; the temple oil meant to last one day, instead lasted eight. “Great Miracle Happened Here” are the words symbolized on the dreidle. It wasn’t about the war; was about the light. Celebrate the good things in your life - make them last. Shalom (it means Peace)

12/21 Yule, Northern Hemisphere, Earth. Ending of the growing night. Dawning of the growing light. The world is turning - rock the night away! Stay up all night and party with your friends by a yule log fire until the earth starts it’s tilt back to the sun. Deck your halls with whatever’s handy. Add a little mistletoe and things might get randy. Celebrate be-ing alive. Blessed Be!

12/25 Christmas, Earth. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men. Sounds like a plan - Let’s do it! New baby, new life = hope. Hope for the future, hope for the world and hope for ourselves. So, find room at your inn or in your heart: volunteer at a soup kitchen year ‘round, donate old clothing and blankets; grow some extra veggies for someone who can’t. One person can change a world. Merry Christ-mas!

Was your festival a Woodstock-like “Miracle in the Mud” or all fun and

games? Email us your story We’re look-ing for the “Best of...2009” [email protected]

Sign reads:Mud Walk JudgingStrut your stuff!

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. be good to yourselves and each other.Peace, Joy and Love and all that Hip-pie Jazz - From our Far Out Famiily to yours! See you next issue - until then...