Madam Lichtenstein's Cosmic World

Cafe Diablo

casa diablo

Portland's Casa Diablo, wants even meat eating guys to consider going vegan. It is a noble purpose. But the way they go about it has some women up in arms. Owner Johnny explains: "My sole purpose in this universe is to save every possible creature from pain and suffering." But his idea of accomplishing this is to feature girls who dance starkers and food made with soy protein. Johnny thinks this is a great way to get more guys to go vegan.

"As a feminist, I'm not keen on the idea of using women's bodies to sell vegetarianism, and I'm not into the idea of using vegetarianism to sell women's bodies," says Isa Chandra Moskowitz, author of Veganomicon, a cookbook.

And yet with every point there is a counter point -  A music combo called The Vegan Vixens is dedicated to getting more guys to give up meat, and claim the approach works. "We've gotten a lot of men eating vegetarian, if not vegan," says Sky Valencia, the group's founder.

No such luck for Johnny Diablo, though. He is selling his club, apparently because it's just not doing very well. BTW, just 2.3 percent of the U.S. population is vegetarian.

Above photos are screen shots of YouTube video.
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Whether you want to bake dairy- and egg-free for health, ethical, or environmental reasons, The Joy of Vegan Baking:  The Compassionate Cooks' Traditional Treats and Sinful Sweets, lets you have your cake and eat it, too!
Eat, Drink & Be Vegan: Great Vegan Food for Special and Everyday Celebrations is full of vibrant, healthy, and delicious recipes.

Marines Offer "Warrior Couples" New Age Remedies

When Marines return from war and try to resume their lives, they are faced with many challenges including emotional stress, physical injuries and strained marriages. A new program, "Warrior Couple Readjustment Retreat" is designed by the Marine Corps chaplains' program to help soldiers readjust to life after combat. The program offers classes in communication, massage therapy, yoga and meditation to couples in organized retreats. The classes teach techniques to help ease troubled marriages and improve health. The setting also provides group support through contact with others going through difficult times.

While this is an important program, this isn't the kind of benefit that you'll likely see featured in recruitment posters. . .

AP photo: U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Coleman kisses wife Nicole, as they hold a Tree yoga pose during a retreat at a hotel in El Segundo, Calif. Source: Fox News
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Semper Fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines

Sepulchre: Kate Mosse's Latest Novel (Author of Labyrinth)

Several years ago I read Kate Mosse's Labyrinth. I just happened to pass it my local bookstore and the cover image and title grabbed my attention. I stopped, picked it up, read the inside jacket and I was intrigued and had to buy it. It's a story of two female protagonists born 800 years apart and linked by a discovery of two skeletons and a labyrinth pattern discovered in a hidden cave.

I loved reading that book and am delighted that Kate has just published another: Sepulchre, 

concerning a rare tarot deck that helps link the lives of two women living eras apart.

I predict I will be having some late nights of reading. If you have read Kate's books, please comment.

Soleology: How to Read a Man by His Shoes

If men only knew what they were revealing by their choice of shoes -- their shoes are windows to their "soles."  Or at least that is what Donna Sozio believes. She has written a book, Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers, that teaches women how to determine a guy’s potential as a date or a mate—all by looking at his shoes!  For example:

He says: I'll call you.
His White Alligator Skin Loafers say: At 3 a.m.

Watch the following YouTube video to see Donna decode several men by their shoes. I think you will find the book to be a fun read, and if you are in market for a new fellow, you can always use a little more insight. My question is, what about flip flops....?

The Silk Day Spa

Run, don't walk, to the Silk Day Spa on 47 West 13th Street in New York City. And after you run there, rest your weary feel with a Asian influenced treatment.

My generous friends gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure and I redeemed it this morning. The spa is downstairs and very quiet. After you change into your robe, you enter a quiet and serene waiting area. Salt lamps with candles light your way and there are little snacks and water as you wait. The pedicure had everything - a salt rub, creams, hot wax and reflexology. I floated out of there and went home to take a nap.

The Silk Day Spa has a range of services - all sorts of massages and facials too. Worth a restful visit.

I recommend Reflexology, a fully illustrated guide that features step-by-step sequences and incredible photography, an invaluable guide for home users or reflexology students.

Geisha Facial: Apply Nightingale Droppings

In the never ending quest for facial treatments that will leave you with a smooth and glowing complexion, spa aficionados will try anything from 24 karat gold (for that special glow...) bull semen (yuck), to even bird poop (very yuck)! Before you get any ideas about just scraping up the bottom of a bird cage, please note that it's very important to purify the bird droppings (and we're talking about only Nightingales here) before applying to your face. You definitely don't want to try this treatment at home.

This treatment may have originated in Japan with geishas needing to remove the heavy makeup from their delicate skin. Who knows how they discovered that nightingale droppings did the trick. Some women claim this is a great treatment. If you'd like to try it for yourself, ask your local spa or, in the New York area, check out Shizuka (50 minutes for $180).

I wonder how many nightingales one would need for a body scrub....?
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In the West, a bath is a place one goes to cleanse the body. In Japan, one goes there to cleanse the soul: The Japanese Bath.

Void of Course Moons - June 2008

For those of you who track the void of course moons through the months, here is June 2008. Read more about the definition of the VOC either here VOC Moons or in Debbi Kempton-Smith's great book "Secrets From a Stargazers Notebook" and see how they can improve your timing.

A big thank you to renowned astrologer Felissa Rose for the charts.

MOON VOID OF COURSE –JUNE 2008

THE FOLLOWING TIMES ARE CALCULATED FOR EASTERN DAYLIGHT. ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR OTHER TIME ZONES.

VOID BEGINS VOID ENDS                                    SIGN MOON ENTERS AFTER VOID

Mon Jun 2 9:04 AM To 6:07 PM                             Moon enters Gemini

Wed Jun 4 8:10 AM To 5:17 PM                            Moon enters Cancer

Fri Jun 6 5:33 AM To 6:01 PM                              Moon enters Leo

Sun Jun 8 11:42 AM To 10:02 PM                         Moon enters Virgo

Tue Jun 10 3:43 PM To Wed Jun 11 5:56 AM         Moon enters Libra

Fri Jun 13 5:16 AM To 4:54 PM                            Moon enters Scorpio

Sun Jun 15 5:30 PM To Mon Jun 16 5:21 AM         Moon enters Sagittarius

Wed Jun 18 5:38 PM To 5:53 PM                          Moon enters Capricorn

Fri Jun 20 3:03 PM To Sat Jun 21 5:35 AM            Moon enters Aquarius

Mon Jun 23 3:05 PM To 3:33 PM                          Moon enters Pisces

Wed Jun 25 10:17 PM To 10:50 PM                      Moon enters Aries

Sat Jun 28 2:15 AM To 2:51 AM                           Moon enters Taurus

Mon Jun 30 2:44 AM To 4:04 AM                          Moon enters Gemini

Felissa can be reached via email at: felissarose@taconic.net and also has a webpage at http://www.accessnewage.com/Felissa/

Cassadaga, Florida: Psychic Town, USA

Cassadaga is a quaint little Florida town founded in 1894 by spiritualists looking for a warm retreat from New York winters. The location was chosen for its unique energy level and special "etheric vibrations emanating by the earth itself." It is home of the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, whose members have beliefs very similar to many other religious groups with the exception that they believe that they can communicate with the dead. The tiny camp has a population of 100 and remains much as it was in the 1920's. The Camp's certified mediums offer services: communication with one's dearly departed, palm and tarot readings, astrology and past life regression.

Tourists come, some just curious, but most wishing to consult with a psychic for a reading. There is an interesting article written by Robin Hill Rowan describing her visit and the reading she got from a medium. The following YouTube video is an excerpt from a series done by the History Channel. It includes town history, a tour, and a seance session. For some related music: Bright Eyes has an album Cassadaga which features the town in the lyrics of the single "Four Winds."

One question I have: do they hold town elections, or do the residents just "know" who the majority favors?
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Obama and Hillary Face Off: Looking for Astrological Clues

Indiana and North Carolina Primaries: Outcomes are Crucial for the Candidates

Barack Obama emerged from the pack to become a frontrunner in the Democratic presidential nomination race. But recent controversies have been a bit of a set back. Hillary can harness dramatic change to her advantage, never gives up looking for a way to succeed, and it seems that Bill Clinton got his grove back in his campaigning for her.

You've seen all the press coverage, now consider the candidates' astrological profiles and see if you can predict which candidate will make it to the presidential race against McCain. Read Hillary Clinton's Horoscope and  Barack Obama's Horoscope -- based on their horoscopes what do you think the outcome will be?
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To learn more about Hillary, here are two recommended books: A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Target: Caught in the Crosshairs of Bill and Hillary Clinton
Barack has written several well-received books, here is one: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Cappuccino Coast - Massive Ocean Foam

This was emailed to me and I thought that it was so bizarre that it qualified for a cosmic moment. These were taken (or so I am told) at the shoreline north of Sydney, Australia. Foam swallowed an entire beach and half the nearby buildings in a freak display of nature at Yamba in New South Wales.

The massive foam stretched for 30 miles out into the Pacific in a phenomenon not seen at the beach for more than three decades. Scientists say that the foam is created by impurities in the ocean, such as salts, chemicals, dead plants, decomposed fish and excretions from seaweed all are churned up together by powerful currents which cause the water to form bubbles.

Does this make sense to you? I am not sure it is the entire explanation.
 

Explore the ocean's mysteries with seven-time Emmy-winners Howard and Michele Hall, the world's foremost underwater filmmakers. Broadcast to critical acclaim on PBS: Wondrous Secrets of the Ocean Realm.