While I'll be the first to admit we've been in a constant state of revision ever since we launched over two years ago (Then essentially a vehicle for the THC photo project), this new evolution gives clarity and focus to what we've been building all this time. From here on in, I myself will be focusing primarily on producing Hotbox Radio, while the magazine will be co-edited by myself and one of our existing editors, soon to be announced.

Hotbox Radio will premiere in Early July and will air weekly from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. MST, as well as be freely available in podcast format. Focusing on the issues that matter to alternative culture, Hotbox Radio will interview some of the many interesting people I've met these last few years while bringing awareness to new that might not make the mainstream. For more information, please visit Hotbox.FM.

This isn't the end of Hotbox Magazine, however; in fact, the community-based journalism strategy pioneered by Hotbox will likely be much more effective with the potential range allowed by podcasting and radio. If you've been around the site awhile, expect to see some new faces shortly.

As always, the Hotbox Network is your voice. We need you to help us bring awareness to topics that unfortunately seem to be swept under the carpet by traditional media. If you have an idea for a show or an article — or even better, want to write it yourself for us! — please email feedback@hotbox.fm.

Namaste,

Ændrew Rininsland
Managing Editor, Hotbox Magazine
Producer, Hotbox Radio

While I'm at it, here's what's been going on at Hotbox:

Read more...

No one exemplifies this more than Jon Lajoie, the Montreal-born comedian-musician who went from buying a low-quality camera to making comedy videos in his basement to a tour of L.A. looking for representation and listening to offers, to finally landing a role on a new series on cable channel FX.

“If I think about it that kind of stuff, I’ll go, ‘Oh, what the hell’ and start getting nervous,” says Lajoie, taking a break from his first North American tour, calling between dates in Iowa and Houston. “I just kind of go, ‘This is the situation now, deal with it, make sure you’re good, make sure you do everything right.’ Then keep moving on. It’s absolutely insane if I think where I was two years ago to where I am today.”

Read more...

Blame it on the refocusing effect of that post-toke smoke, the easy bar-adjacent socializing, the stimulation of dopaminergic reward pathways in my brain or blame it on a simple lack of willpower, through the year or so I have been smoking I have been waxing and waning through alternate states of enjoyment, despair and hatred, all the while unwilling or unable to give it up and all the while the pain in my lungs getting worse.

Read more...

This particular story starts in the continued discussion of a particular website, Slate, on a particular drug, nicotine. Perusing their archives one day, a few heretofore unknown facts became clear: 1. the Americans are fucking around with cigarette laws again; 2. There is a buzz about "harm reduction" methods, a long-time standby of the med-weed camp; and 3. Obama is fighting an publicly admitted nicotine addiction.

As odd and partially encouraging to the drug war as some of these facts were, they weren't even the highlight of the session. What struck most odd was the article context-linked at the bottom of one of the stories--one about junk food and taxes. If an article about junk food in a populist magazine doesn't sound particularly new and intriguing, well, it wasn't; what was, though, was the discussion surrounding the proposed new treatment and classification of junk food--specifically, soda pop--by the FDA.

Read more...

Today is Day 1 for controversial pot activist Marc Emery, who gave himself up to Canadian officials Sept. 28. Emery is to be extradited to the US where he could spend up to five years in a Seattle prison for selling marijuana seeds to US customers.

There are varying opinions on Emery, what he represents and how Canadian authorities have handled the situation.

Here is an opinion piece saying the ordeal "mocks our independence."

Here is another one saying "his punishment should surprise no one."

Let these two opposing articles be your starting point. READ, RESEARCH, ACT!

Post your thoughts on this website by starting a blog or posting in the forums.

Be sure to check out Hotbox's in-depth interview with Marc during his farewell tour stop this past summer.

Of course Screech is pressured into scoring some nitrous oxide from the science lab so the cool kids can do some balloons.

I find it fascinating that Nitrous was used as the drug of choice rather than ecstasy, which is the more commonly linked drug to the rave scene.

You can’t help but laugh at what the producers of the show thought was a typical rave. DJ Psycho on with one turntable

Check out part two of the episode here (watch all three parts if you have the time!)

{youtube}vl2nQI0Szkw{/youtube}

Our pals at Erowid will provide you with more information about Nitrous and perhaps dispel the misinformation provided by SBTB by going here http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/nitrous/nitrous.shtml

1. Hotbox Network — We've started expanding into more of a fully-fledged media network so we can bring you more awesomeness in more ways. Expect to see additional sites being added to the network, all visitable at the bottom of each page.

2. Hotbox Radio — We're working to set up an Internet radio station some time in the next month. Right now, our biggest issue is finding deejays willing to do half-hour to 2-hour sets. Please contact us if interested and we'll give you a space. Deejays receive promotion on our websites and all their live sets available as podcasts.

3. 40303.org — In trying to embolden and promote the Calgary, AB electronic music scene, we've created a new portal site at 40303.org. While perhaps less relevant to our national readers, we hope this will provide a place for people in Calgary to discuss and find out about local music events. If you're a Calgary-area artist, promoter or venue, please contact us and we'll give you an account with upgraded permissions.

4. HotboxMag.01 PDF — We're releasing our first compiled eMag of Hotbox content November 1, which will include exclusive interviews with artists like TECHN9ne, in-depth socio-cultural analysis of news relevant to alternative culture, crazy photography and much more! All registered members of Hotbox Magazine will be allowed to download HotboxMag.01 in its entirety once released. Creating an account is free and allows you to access all of our community content.

We are currently accepting ads for all Hotbox Network sites (HotboxMagazine.com, Smokkr.com, Hotbox Radio, 40303.org) and our PDF editions at rock-bottom introductory prices — please contact us for more information!

-jj.

Less than ten pages into PiHKAL--a book that could rightfully be considered the chief canonical text of the modern psychedelic movement--author Alexander Shulgin, popularizer of MDMA and primum mobile of almost every club drug to have gained clout since its subsequent scheduling in the mid-eighties, presents an argument that is considered by many as one of the strongest recapitulations avail able of the plight of the latter-day psychonaut.

"Our generation," Shulgin begins, "is the first, ever, to make the search for self-awareness a crime..." The concept of self-awareness, as invoked here, is really just Shulgin's yuppie-friendly way of introducing the mystical value of entheogens into the argument, and as the argument evolves so does it become more apparent that what he really means is the soul.

Read more...