Cool Sh!t
The world is divided into skeptics and believers. I have always been a skeptic, yet intrigued by these things that most cannot understand. Thomas John has made a true believer out of me. Medium and psychic, Thomas has been blessed with a gift that he's utilized since the age of four. He currently has a full-time private practice in which he helps others connect with loved ones and gives psychic advice. Not only is he a published author and life coach, but he is also known for providing his services to high-profile celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Courtney Cox, and Sean Young. But even that won't convince many of true psychic existence. I went to Thomas's office to conduct an interview, but I left with a lot more than just that. Thomas John began by giving me a full reading, in which he said some truly unbelievable things. He relayed messages to me from my grandmother (who recently passed) knowing details about her life, some of which even I didn't know about until I told my mother what had happened afterwards. It was utterly astonishing to hear what he had to say and I will always remember that experience. But wouldn't you like to know a little bit more about the man behind the medium? Read the interview below!
Last Friday, we here at Joonbug were invited to the New York City Ballet’s fall premiere of “Year of the Rabbit.” As the second feature of a three-part variety show, the partner friendly piece was the second conducted by the NYC Ballet dancers fellow principal member, Justin Peck. And, it was a showstopper that concluded with countless encores and crowd wide bravos.
It was certain that the NYC Ballet dancers that weren’t dancing on Friday night, were likely in orchestra seating, cheering on their fellow company member turned choreographer. And, the rest in the crowd that weren’t former dancers, ballet lovers or regular show go’ers were in for a treat. Because, well, this was an experience to be enjoyed by all, a welcome riff from traditional ballet presentations to say the very least.
So, 50 Shades of Grey has suddenly made it trendy to "be kinky" or at least talk about it. But before you get to possible experimentation with your beloved, perhaps you should address some of the misinformation within the trilogy's subpar writing. Get ready for 50 shades of mythbusting.
1. Anyone who is interested in kinky sex must have had an abusive past.
Busted: A huge study in Australia proved that mental illness does not occur more frequently in the kink community. There certainly are some people that use BDSM to regain control, regarding a past trauma. There are also some that use BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism) as a way of justifying abusive behavior. But, the overwhelming majority of people who engage in kinky play are nice, normal and respectful.
Meet Nicole Ponseca, Superstar Entrepreneur, Owner and General Manager of whirlwind restaurant success Maharlika Filipino Moderno. Ponseca did not begin her journey in the restaurant biz -- rather working as an ad executive at Saatch & Saatchi when she realized New York lacked even mediocre Filipino cuisine.
Thus began her upward climb to acheive a new goal. She began taking on multiple jobs in bars and restaurants to learn about the industry and started researching Filipino food. Eventually, Nicole opened up Maharlika as a pop-up serving only brunch, allowing her to experiment with the menu and work on establishing her brand. Next came pop-up dinner and finally, a full fledged restaurant establishment!
Hit the Roof
Temps are gradually on the frosty decline, so make sure to hit your favorite rooftop boite spots before they close for the season. On our list? The new Murray Hill meet’s midtown, Pod 39 Hotel’s rooftop bar and lounge. The two-story roof space of the micro-hotel, formerly in the landmarked Allerton House is all about being festive, with terra cotta columns and benches, Mexican tiled tables, and, best of all, specialty tequilas and cocktails by notable NY mixologists like also of East Villages’ Booker & Dax. Not to mention, the panoramic views and the soon to launch nosh menu will feature a handful of “April Bloomfield-style” tacos, made with things like pig ear and sweetbreads.
6. Vegans save tons of water, literally.
Water fit for drinking is not a luxury – it is a necessity, and much of it is wasted through meat production. It takes 441 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. Consider, too, that 60 percent of American waterways were polluted, and the major reason is animal agriculture. As vegan activist and actress Alicia Silverstone said in her book, The Kind Life, “One 16-ounce steak uses the amount of water you need for six months of showers! Holy cow!”
7. Factory farming is cruel.
Animal activist Bruce Freidrich summed up the realities of our farming situation perfectly: “The green pastures and idyllic barnyard scenes of years past are now distant memories. On today’s factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy windowless sheds, wire cages, gestation crates, and other confinement systems.
“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” – Albert Einstein.
Looking to make a positive change in your diet? Go vegetarian, or better yet, vegan. It’s one of the most powerful ways to improve your life, health and wellbeing of other people, animals and the planet.
In the spirit of National Vegetarian Month, here is Part I of 10 reasons why going green (the veggie kind) is good for you:
- To Lengthen Your Life
An apple a day keeps the doctor away while following a plant based diet can lower your risk of certain cancers, heart disease and obesity. A comprehensive China Health Project study found that people who eat the least amount of fat and animal products have the lowest risks of cancer, heart attack and other chronic degenerative diseases. And, a British study that tracked 6,000 vegetarians and 5,000 meat eaters for 12 years found that vegetarians were 40 percent less likely to die from cancer during that time and 20 percent less likely to die from other diseases. So much for the old-fashioned notion that we need meat to be healthy. Fact is, the opposite is true.
- A Healthier Heart