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Bon Appétit Has An Etiquette Guide On Entertaining With Marijuana

You know how you know marijuana is becoming mainstream? When a mainstream magazine starts featuring it as an ingredient. Bon Appétit, a food bible for many, has dabbled in recipe-related marijuana stories, like infused olive oil and the canna-cuisine of Colorado. But now they’ve taken it one step further by writing an entire etiquette guide on how to entertain with edibles. It seems to have taken recreational legalization in California to get the ball rolling. Kudos, Bon Appétit.

And now that “everybody’s doing it,” the media is starting to take notice in a big way. After all, when weed becomes the accessory du jour, you should probably start capitalizing on your readership. And you should most definitely host a party around it.

Bon Appétit has realized that if done correctly, marijuana can set the tone for relaxation versus getting shitfaced on liquor at a social gathering. After all, the unspoken goal of any host is to make sure guests are upright enough to help clean up.

Inside the Bon Appétit user’s guide to Weed Etiquette 101, expert tips on dosage, what to serve, strains, pairing and timing.

Highlights include:

If they’re a complete newbie, we recommend starting with five milligrams. You can always add more for the optimal high.

Just like the guidance of a sommelier, a budtender can navigate you through the turpine flavor profiles of Ghost Train Hayes, GirlScout Cookies, or Sunset Sherbert to best complement the dishes you plan on using them in.

To activate the psychoactive effects, the hash must be cooked at a certain temperature for a certain amount of time. It then has to bind with a fat source for the body to absorb the THC.

The relaxing (and sometimes sedating) indica will breed a much less social environment than sativa’s uplifting and cerebral effects, which will further engage people’s thoughts about what they’re smelling, tasting, and seeing.

The most basic rule of thumb is to keep weed away from mealtime unless it’s cooked into the food.

It can take up to an hour or so to feel an edible’s effects, so offering them as an alternative to happy hour is a good way to time your guest’s high to kick in when food hits the table.

For those wanting a more ritualistic experience, smoking and vaping are both nice to do at the end of a meal, the way people once enjoyed cigarettes. And, for when people don’t know each other very well, smoking and vaping are simple means of hyper controlling your dosage.

Getting your guests high shouldn’t feel like unearthing a bong from a pile of sweatshirts in a dark corner of your closet.

We can only hope that BA continues to explore cannabis and report back to its massive audience. We could all use some more high-end highs.

 

What are Aphrodisiacs? A Culinary Guide to Feeling Sexy

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The word “aphrodisiac” comes from the name of the Greek goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite. Aphrodisiacs are any substances that increase libido when consumed. They do not address fertility issues or sexual dysfunction directly like certain little blue pills you may have heard of.

On the contrary, a meal created using aphrodisiac ingredients is a delicious feast created to contribute to awakening sexual desire and increasing attraction between two people. Combine the right timing and romantic atmosphere, and anyone can experience the power of aphrodisiacs in their own home any time they want.

Their legacy extends back through history. Emperors and kings used to eat oysters and raw eggs with ginseng root tincture before venturing to the marital bed.

Nowadays, potent and romantic aphrodisiac dinners are available to each of us. Thanks to our modern understanding of the chemical composition of traditional ingredients, such as amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements, we now know exactly how they increase sexual activity naturally for both men and women.

Male Aphrodisiacs

Male aphrodisiacs increase not only sexual desire, but also a man’s physical capabilities. They contribute to a feeling of increased male self-esteem, attractiveness, and functionality of the genitals.

There is an ancient oriental proverb that states “There is no better natural aphrodisiac for man than a beautiful woman.” The proverb is wise, but in reality things can be a bit more complex.

Due to stress and age, an attractive beauty might not be enough to arouse a man’s desires throughout his life. This is where aphrodisiacs come to the rescue, restoring the vitality to a man he may have been longing for since his youth.

There are three major types of aphrodisiacs for men: mineral, vegetable, and animal. For example, zinc is the most important trace element for the male body. It increases libido and male sex hormones. Seminal fluid can contain up to 2 milligrams per milliliter, and it can also be found in the prostate. Zinc plays a crucial role in the process of spermatogenesis and overall prostate function.

Zinc is a trace element which is required for sperm production. It also takes part in the metabolism of vitamin E, and is involved in the synthesis of various hormones, such as testosterone, insulin, and growth hormones. It also contributes to 500 different biochemical reactions in the human body.

Furthermore, zinc reduces the amount of aromatase enzyme in the male body. This molecule actually takes testosterone and turns it into the female sex hormone, estrogen. Zinc improves the efficiency of the signals sent by the pituitary gland to the testicles. This increases the amount of testosterone produced, as well as the effectiveness of the internal state of the testicles. This helps invigorate the sperm’s endurance, effectively turning them into long distance swimmers. Just one or two oysters a day are enough to replenish the body’s daily 15mg requirement of zinc in men.

Yohimbe is a medicine based on a substance extracted from the bark of the African Yohimbe tree. It improves blood flow to the genitals and increases sexual sensitivity. In addition, Yohimbe stimulates nerve centers of the brain that control sexuality. It leads to a sharp increase in receptor sensitivity, leaving fear and uncertainty behind. However, it doesn’t have the same effect for people with low blood pressure. Yohimbe is purely a male aphrodisiac.

Impaza is a homeopathic medicine created from purified antibodies. It increases blood circulation to the genitals, which extends and enhances erections. If you take this medicine for a long time, the libido returns to normal and sexual satisfaction increases significantly.

Hippocampus Coronatus is a medicine consisting of seahorse extract, ginseng root extract, and kidney tea. It helps alleviate impotence, improves sexual stamina and libido, and intensifies orgasms.

Of all the aphrodisiac mediums, tonics affect men most slowly and gently – toning the entire body and contributing to the acceleration of the metabolic process. Tonics commonly contain extracts of ginseng root, Eleutherococcus, Aralia Manchu, and vitamins and trace elements.

Nuts and seeds are also aphrodisiacs because they contain a high amount of vitamin E. In India, roasted sesame seeds are a traditional remedy for decreased potency when mixed with honey. People in Russia and the Ukraine mix walnuts with honey and take one dessert spoon 30 minutes after a meal to prepare them for a romantic encounter.
Additionally, spices like vanilla, rosemary, sesame seeds, cardamom, curry, ginger, cumin, and cloves are all effective aphrodisiacs for men.

Female Aphrodisiacs

In some ways, aphrodisiacs affect women quite differently than men. In other ways, they can be very similar. Among herbal female aphrodisiacs, wormwood and ginseng stand out above the rest. They can be bought at pharmacies in the form of dried powders, tinctures, or capsules.

Ginkgo Biloba is rapidly gaining popularity among women too. This plant extract is commonly used to improve memory, but it also has sexually stimulating properties. Relaxing the blood vessel walls, it increases blood flow to the organs, especially the genitals. Thus, it increases sensitivity and, as a result, libido.

As with men, vanilla is a powerful sexual plant for women. Vanilla creates a feeling of comfort and peace, encouraging a sense of safety for a lot of women. If you are planning slow and exciting sex, you definitely should add a pinch of vanilla to your dessert or to a drink.

Aloe Vera produces amino acids that stimulate blood flow to women’s genitals. Juice from the leaves can be mixed with honey, and a single teaspoon daily of this mixture can be enough for most women. Aloe juice improves the rush of blood to the pelvic organs, enhancing sexual desire. The juice also contains antibodies and T-cells, and is capable of restoring libido after surgery or injury.

Sheri Wetherell is the co-founder and CEO of Foodista.com, community-based recipe, cooking, and food news website. Check them out on social media: Twitter, FacebookPinterestInstagram

The Internet Is Losing It Over 19-Year-Old Twins Who Are Too Identical

A pair of twins is creating some controversy on Twitter because, um, they look too similar. Where is @MerriamWebster with the definition of “identical”?

When 19-year-old Ahmed tweeted a photo of his twin brother Abdullah, some speculated the photo was photoshopped because the two men looked way too much like twins.

https://twitter.com/ahmedtwinkie/status/922206872819531776

https://twitter.com/Kikidm08/status/922236152735830016

The tweet quickly vent viral, garnering thousands of retweets and likes. And not just because the two guys look exactly the same, but, um, they’re very handsome.

https://twitter.com/idkm4ria/status/904073601455988736

And even though this pic would have been one hell of a photoshop job, side-eyes could not be contained.

https://twitter.com/vintagecurlie/status/904166575875526658

Which prompted Ahmed to try and post some proof…even sharing his Instagram account, so people could get a second option.

https://twitter.com/ahmedtwinkie/status/922277740685828097

https://www.instagram.com/p/BakMfAwFEzM

Finally, a voice of reason.

The twins are from Bosnia but currently live in Arizona where they go to school. Abdullah tells Yahoo Lifestyle that now he and his brother are unexpected Twitter stars, they want to use their platform for good.

We want to make a good difference in this world. We want to bring peace and love, and for people to respect each and every religion and race out there. We want to one day become as financially stable as possible so then we can start many charity organizations for the unfortunate all around the world.

 While Ahmed admits he’s single, his brother remains tight-lipped. Whichever one he is.

The final clap back at this “are they or aren’t they?” nonsense is this YouTube video. Can’t photoshop this stuff.

The Internet Can’t Cope With Ivanka Trump’s 21-Minute Sex Playlist

Ivanka Trump made a depressingly romantic 21-minute playlist that includes tearjerkers such as John Legend’s “All Of Me” and Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.”

We don’t know, but James Blunt doesn’t sound particularly sexy. He evokes more like, dramatic tears on the subway. No offense. 

Agreed.

For you to understand just why this might be a sex playlist, you need some background. The Huffington Post reports that Ivanka and Jared Kushner got married on October 25th 2009, which means that this playlist was released a mere 10 days before their 8 year anniversary. Coincidence? There are no such things.

This is also the first public playlist Ivanka has made since 2015, where she published big hits such as “Holiday Party”, “Walk to Work” and “Weekend Morning”. As you can tell, all of these playlists state their purpose very clearly. “Walk to Work” is a list of songs that Ivanka listens to while she’s on her way to work. Duh. We’re taking this investigation seriously, people. Ivanka’s anniversary sex playlist stands out because it has a pretty cryptic title. “991122”. This could’ve been a simple mistake, just her fingers tapping on the wrong numbers, but no. This is also HTML code for the color red, evoking passion, red roses, and sexy things. CASE CLOSED. This is a sex playlist.

This Lucky Woman Was The Only Passenger On Her Holiday Flight

When you purchase a $60 flight ticket—any flight ticket, really—you expect to see other passengers. You rejoice when you discover you have a whole row to yourself because so very often the exact opposite happens.

But when Karon Grieve boarded her flight from Glasgow, Scotland to the Greek island of Crete, she was the only passenger aboard. The Jet2 flight normally carries 189 passengers and after two passengers failed to show up, Grieve was the only one aboard. She described the experience as “surreal.”

https://twitter.com/KaronGrieve/status/922357366959591424

Via BBC:

“I turned up at the check-in desk and was joking with the staff, saying ‘how many people are on this flight?’

“The guy was laughing at me and he said ‘oh come on, guess’.

“We got it down from 10 to four and he said ‘you’ll never guess it, there’s only three of you’.

“But when I got to the actual gate, the other two people hadn’t turned up.”

As a result, Grieve was best friends with the crew. All service announcements were made on a first name basis and Grieve was encouraged by the head pilot to run up and down the aisle when they were airborne. Treated like a VIP, Grieve received drinks and food galore on her trip.

“The captain was fantastic. She came and sat beside me while the first officer did all the flight checks and we were chatting away about the flight.”

She added: “Every time she made an announcement she said, ‘Hi there Karon, you’ll see Croatia on your left-hand side’, and then we flew through this amazing lightning storm and she suddenly came on and said, ‘Hi Karon and the girls, quickly run to the other side of the plane and look at this, it’s amazing.’

“It was just surreal.”

Grieve was flying to Crete for a month so that she could work on her crime novel. A spokesperson for the airline told the BBC it’s not unusual for these direct flights aimed at summer vacationers to see less passengers as they got out of season. This was the final outbound flight of the year for such a route, so Grieve basically just lucked out.

Here Are The Most Searched Halloween Treats And Costumes Of 2017

Halloween is here, and instead of dressing up and going trick-or-treating, we turned to Google search to give ourselves a little bit of instant FOMO.

Here’s what’s trending on Google search as we speak (charts are updating in real-time):

The most (nationally) searched Halloween costumes reflect our undying love of kick-ass females and cute creatures (Wonder Woman is blowing everyone out of the water this year):

  • Wonder Woman
  • Harley Quinn

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba3TNYahyH9

  • Clown
  • Unicorn

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba2Hu9Mnwv1

  • Rabbit
  • Witch

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba2N6xClFQj

  • Mouse
  • Pirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bax25_DDuwR

  • Zombie
  • Dinosaur

The Top 5 costumes that are spiking in search include:

  • Wonder Woman
  • Unicorn
  • IT
  • Belle
  • Spider Man

More specifically, here’s the costume most searched according to city:

Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, NYC: Wonder Woman

Twin Falls, ID: Pirate

Anchorage, AK: Physician

Honolulu, HI: Moana

Augusta, GA: Mermaid

Not to say all couples are boring, but geez! The most searched “couples costumes” lean towards sure bets and a throwback to the 90s. What gives? No points for creativity here. You can do better, significant others.

  • Bonnie and Clyde
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Forrest Gump and Jenny
  • Lilo and Stitch
  • Tarzan and Jane

Most searched Halloween sweets:

  • Donuts
  • M&Ms
  • Candy corn
  • Candy bark
  • Chocolate

Search interest in Halloween activities include:

East coast – haunted house

West coast – pumpkin patch

Idaho – corn maze

Halloween has about 3 times more search queries than “pumpkin” (which, by the way, has the highest search queries in Australia). Those top “pumpkin” searches include:

  • Pumpkin patch
  • Pumpkin pie
  • Pumpkin carving
  • Pumpkin recipe
    • pumpkin pie
    • pumpkin soup
    • pumpkin bread
    • pumpkin cake
  • Pumpkin spice
  • Pumpkin Halloween

Trending searches involving Halloween: “Halloween costumes” and “when is Halloween” are declining in search, for obvious reasons. At some point, if you aren’t prepared, you’ll need to wait until next year. See you in 2018!

6 Halloween Dogs: Because Everything’s Going To Be Okay

There’s nothing better than candy and puppies, and Halloween gives you the opportunity to enjoy both, allowing you to trick or treat with your strawberry costumed dog without fear of embarrassment. Costumes for dogs can be just as expensive as humans’, but they’re always better, because no matter what they’re wearing it’s never embarrassing or lame. It’s always awesome.

These six dogs (and their owners) deserve all the praise in the world for their genius do it yourself costumes, which required a lot of creativity, handiness, and premeditation. They’re perfect for viewing at any moment and for getting the necessary Halloween inspiration. Check them out:

Starbucks Pup

Minions Pup

The Best Version Of The President Of The U.S.A

A post shared by Toddley (@djcritez24) on

Harry Potter Students

Ewok-Dog

A post shared by Banky (@banky_the_pug) on

A Skeleton

Instagram Photos Show Us The Ultimate #PumpkinCarving Goals

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Brooklyn-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers are busy this time of year. This group of artists create custom pumpkins for just about every occasion, from corporate logos to monsters. If you have an idea, they will turn it into a work of gourd art. Let’s hear it for #PumpkinCarving!

According to their website, “We love a good challenge and we excel at impressing clients with our attention to detail. Whether you are looking for a unique gift or a fantastic way to engage an audience, a Maniac Pumpkin is sure to impress.”

The works of co-founders Chris Soria (@chrissoria) and Marc Evan (@marcmaniac), who met in high school, are featured on the Maniac Pumpkin Instagram account.  Take a look, get inspired.

Rancor

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ4tul2H5aB

Van Goh’s ‘The Scream’

https://www.instagram.com/p/BarjilxA0Np

The Rock

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bat3E3qHNZq

Pizza Rat

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPsxFRji41

Pancakes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPHuXsDr8B

Ewok

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZUJHK7nS_M

‘The Shining’

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ1NU3-nROa

Freddy Krueger

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaaHPK2H0db

Mad Hatter

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaJsBJgn15e

Election 2016

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMjezVLDP4S

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLXTHSoDYgb

The Bride

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMEgcznjr9n

The Pumpkin Carvers from NewYorker on Vimeo.

Meet The Japanese Man Who Disguised Marijuana As Bonsai Trees

Some Japanese media are calling him the “Mr. Miyagi of Cannabis.” The Japanese man’s real name is Satoshi Ohashi, and he is a 35-year old janitor who resides in Osaka’s Higashiyodogawa Ward. He was arrested at his home recently for cultivating and dealing “taima” (pronounced “tie-mah”), which is the Japanese word for marijuana.

But you haven’t seen any marijuana plants that look like Ohashi’s. Instead of growing them the traditional route—in which the plants can grow over a meter high—Ohashi grew his cannabis disguised as bonsai trees. The plants maxed out around 40 centimeters as a result.

Photo Screenshot via ANHNewsCH YouTube

Police confiscated 212 grams of marijuana, worth around 1.2 million yen (~$10,540 USD). Ohashi was arrested and charged with “suspicion of cultivating 21 cannabis plants.”

The bonsai tradition dates back to 6th century and has gone by names like “tray scenery” and “prenjing.” Translated to its literal definition, “bonsai” means “planted in a container.” Planting bonsai has elevated into an artform and requires a great deal of patience and diligence. Ohashi told authorities he started planting his marijuana like bonsai to conserve space. He added quite honestly that he’d never “produced such a great crop.” He was inspired to grow his marijuana into bonsai after researching online five years ago.

Marijuana laws are very strict in Japan and enforced with the same classification as heroin. A restaurant owner was arrested in Osaka just this month for possession of 11 grams and was a top story in the local media.

Hopefully the “Mr. Miyagi of Cannabis” isn’t punished too harshly. When the dust settles, he can always take his talents overseas.

The First Fortune 500 Cannabis Stock Is Here

In a major moment for the cannabis industry, the first Fortune 500 marijuana company has arrive.

The growing cannabis market is tiny compared to other industries.  But the first Fortune 500 cannabis stock is here and it is big step for the growing market. Constellation Brands already has their own corner of the liquor market, with Corona, Black Velvet Whiskey and Casa Noble Tequila already under their belt. Now this Fortune 500 company is ready to get their slice of the cannabis pie as well.

RELATED: Great Fall Whiskeys

Beverages are still the method of consumption, Constellation plans on making cannabis infused drinks, and there is plenty of reason to do so. They are going in this direction while results are starting to come in that people reduce their alcohol consumption when utilizing cannabis. Those used to arm curling Coronas may soon be spending the night in with a six pack of cannabinoids.

Their newly acquired 9.9 percent stake in Canopy Growth Corporation puts them in a good position to move ahead with their cannabeverage plans. Canopy Growth was the first federally regulated, publicly traded cannabis producer in North America (Smith Falls, Ontario).

RELATED: Americans Want It, Some Politicians Prefer a Nanny State

President and CEO of Constellation Brands Rob Sands is banking on the government legalizing at the federal level in the coming years, considering “what’s happening at the state level.” And regardless, Canada is set to legalize in the next two years, so there will be a market for cannabis infused drinks in North America.
Though it is a shift in branding, Constellation has their finger on the pulse of the market and is taking into consideration the reduction in alcohol use when there’s marijuana available instead or with.

“We believe alcohol could be under pressure for the next decade,” said investigators for Cowen Inc., led by Viven Azer, Fortune reported. “Consumer survey work suggests [around] 80% of consumers reduce their alcohol consumption with cannabis in the mix.”

This is definitely a stock to keep your eye on, however, it also means that if you’re in a legal or medical state to keep an eye out for other craft cannabeverages as well. There are mom and pop brewers already waiting for you to sip their wares from California to Maine.

As of now, 29 states and the District of Columbia have some form of legal cannabis laws, ranging from CBD to medical to decrim to legalized. It’s hard not to be optimistic along with Sands, even if players like Jeff Sessions would have it all recriminalized. Maybe if he’d just try a new Constellation beverage… Cheers!

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