Thumbing Through Thoreau: A Book of Quotations by Henry David Thoreau

About the Book
On July 4, 1845, when Henry David Thoreau moved into his cabin on the shores of Walden Pond, he was probably unaware that his abode in the woods, and the impact and influence of that endeavor, would forever echo through time.


Thoreau was an uncompromising idealist; an ardent maverick who criticized his fellow man. He urged that men and women ought to live more simply, and more deliberately. “The mass of men,” he famously wrote, “lead lives of quite desperation.”

Yet the scope of Thoreau’s message is much wider than social criticism. He speaks of spiritual transcendence in Nature and the unbounded potential of the individual. Thoreau is a dreamer and he speaks to dreamers. In a word, shun dogmatism and demagoguery; see beyond the immediate conventional religious explanations to reap a higher understanding.

In our commodified contemporary American society, with the rise of religious intolerance and fundamentalism, materialism and mass consumerism, Thoreau’s message is needed now more than ever.

Author Kenny Luck has thumbed through Thoreau’s voluminous journals, correspondences and other publications to make this the most comprehensive collection of Thoreau aphorisms available.

Illustrators Jay Luke and Ren Adams lend their talents to artistically interpret Thoreau's vision. Each quote is accompanied by an original drawing.

A collaboration of three individuals breathes new life into the immortal words of Henry David Thoreau.

Find out much more on the Book's website - http://www.thumbingthroughthoreau.com

My Take on the Book
It was hard to get a true picture of the book itself when I was only able to read the book via PDF, but I could tell that the hard cover book itself would be a great treasure for the lover of Thoreau.

The book is set up in such a way that each quote includes an illustration. The authors do a great job at selecting a wide variety of thoughts shared in the writings of Thoreau, not just staying with his more known quotes which was nice.

If you are a Thoreau aficionado or simply finding yourself enjoying the lilting style of Thoreau's words, this book would be a great one to add to your own collection.

One of my favorite thoughts in this book was:

Men talk of freedom! How many are free to think…No exercise implies
more real manhood and vigor than joining thought to thought.How few men can
tell what they have thought!

(Journal X, vol. 16,May 6, 1858, pp. 404-405)

If this book sounds like a book you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Say Cheese This Summer!

Say Cheese This Summer

Summer means fun with family and friends and lots of outdoor entertaining, from backyard grilling to pool parties and picnics in the park. Finlandia Cheese, the #1 imported cheese in the country, provides delicious, high quality cheeses with robust flavor, sure to make grilling and sandwich favorites even more delicious this summer season.  Finlandia offers the finest line-up of premium, all-natural, imported and domestic cheeses available. 

This summer, make your burger better with Finlandia Imported Muenster.  This mild, creamy, full-bodied cheese is tangy and slow melting because it is made from the purest milk and aged over 60 days. With over 150 years of master cheese making experience, Finlandia creates expertly crafted, delicious tasting cheeses that are rich, robust and full of flavor.  Finlandia cheeses are also all natural, lactose-free, and hormone-free. 

Finlandia’s array of premium all-natural cheeses are available at your corner deli, your supermarket’s deli department and at club stores. Delicious Finlandia cheeses are available sliced at the service deli counter or pre-sliced in the self service deli section. You can also find Finlandia in chunk sizes perfect for snacking. Finlandia’s line-up includes: Swiss, Light Swiss, Lacey Swiss, Muenster, Gouda, Havarti and Double Gloucester Cheddar and Oltermanni.

“Our biggest fans are our consumers,” says Frank Belfiore, Marketing Director. “They consistently tell us that nothing compares to the taste, quality and flavor of Finlandia cheese.  That is what we strive for.”

From the beach to the ballgame, layer on your favorite cheese slices as the perfect compliment to any sandwich, burger or deli meats. Try some of the recipe ideas below:

The Ultimate Cheeseburger

Ingredients

1 ¼ pounds lean ground beef

1 ¼ cup chopped onion

3 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

Salt & pepper to taste

Suggested Finlandia Cheese: Swiss, Muenster or Gouda

4 sesame seed buns or hard rolls

Combine lean ground beef with onion, ketchup, horseradish, mustard, salt and pepper.  Gently mix with hands till all ingredients are just blended.  Shape into 4 patties about ½ inch thick. Grill or broil to desired doneness.  Pile high with your favorite Finlandia cheese.

Fresca Crab Panini

Ingredients

2 lbs. king crab leg meat

5 oz. Finlandia Swiss cheese

2 ripe avocados

1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning

3 oz. diced Bermuda onion

1 small Habanero pepper

1 tbsp. diced red peppers

1 tbsp. diced green peppers

1 tbsp. diced yellow peppers

2 oz. alfalfa sprouts

8 leaves red leaf lettuce

16 slices Tuscan bread

Olive oil needed for Panini grill

Blend mayonnaise, Habanero, one avocado and ½ of the Bermuda onion in blender.  Roughly chop crab meat and toss in a mixing bowl with remaining onions, tri-color peppers and avocado mayonnaise.  Chill mixture for 15-20 minutes Lay out slices of Tuscan bread and lightly spray each side with olive oil.  Layer 1 lettuce leaf, 2 slices of Finlandia Swiss cheese, 4 oz. of crab mixture, 3 slices of avocado, 2 slices of Finlandia Swiss cheese, sprouts and top layer of bread.  Toast sandwich on Panini grill for 6 to 8 minutes until bread is toasted well and cheese is melted thought.  Cut in half and serve immediately.

Big Apple Turkey Rye Not

Ingredients

2 Tbs. apple butter

1 Tsp whole grain mustard

2 slices marbled rye bread

¼ cup shredded coleslaw

2 oz. thinly sliced turkey breast

2 oz. sliced Finlandia Swiss Cheese

2 slices red apple

Mix apple butter and mustard. Toast bread, if desired.  Spread apple butter mixture on each slice of bread.  Then layer one slice of bread with coleslaw, turkey, Finlandia Swiss and apple slices.  Top with remaining bread slice.

Serves 1 sandwich

The Dakota

Ingredients

Chunky California Chicken Salad (chicken salad prepared with

 mayo, raisins, almonds and dried cranberries)

Crisp bacon slices

Finlandia Swiss cheese

Submarine sandwich roll

Pile Chunky California Chicken Salad on a sub roll.  Top with generous slices of crisp bacon and smother with Finlandia Swiss. Grill sandwich in pan or in the oven until cheese melts. Serve.

Makes 1 sandwich

About Finlandia Cheese, Inc.

Finlandia Cheese, Inc. is a division of Valio USA, a subsidiary of Valio, Ltd., Finland’s largest food company and one of the most dominant forces in the global dairy industry. Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Finlandia Cheese is the number one imported cheese brand in America. All Finlandia imported cheese is made in Finland from the purest milk in Europe with no added hormones Mike comes from small dairy farms where the average farms has 20 cows and are treated humanely with regular health screenings. There is also a fully integrated hygienic program in place including milk processing and delivering The company’s cheeses are distributed to fine supermarkets, delis and club stores nationwide. For more information on Finlandia and its products, visit www.finlandiacheese.com

California Pizza Kitchen Introduces Six New Menu Items

Recently I was informed that the California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant will be adding some great new items to the menu just in time for summer.

New items include:

• Four Seasons Pizza -  Imported Italian tomatoes, oven-roasted artichoke hearts, salami, fresh mushrooms, mild onions, Mozzarella and fresh Mozzarella cheeses and topped with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.
• Roasted Artichoke and Spinach Pizza -  Inspired by CPK’s popular Spinach Artichoke Dip, this pizza is a blend of oven-roasted artichoke hearts, sautéed spinach and garlic, Fontina, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and a spinach artichoke sauce.

• Baby Clam Linguini - Linguini fini and baby clams with garlic, fresh Italian parsley, Parmesan cheese, white wine and red pepper flakes tossed in either a light lemon cream sauce or imported Italian tomatoes and fresh basil.
• Italian Deli - Spicy Capicola ham, salami and pepperoni topped with Mozzarella and Fontina cheeses, basil and shredded lettuce tossed in a herb-mustard Parmesan vinaigrette.
• Turkey Stack - Oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced fresh Roma tomatoes, mayonnaise, shredded lettuce and Grey Poupon Dijon honey mustard.
• Butter Cake - Oven baked butter cake served with fresh whipped cream.

I am looking forward to going out to try a few of these new recipes, as they sound delicious! I especially am looking forward to trying out the Roasted Artichoke and Spinach as well as the Italian Deli!

I would encourage you to take some time out this summer to go and grab a great meal at the California Pizza Kitchen!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried who has appeared in everything from Saturday Night Live and The Cosby Show to Aladdin and Hollywood Squares, also voices the animated character “Digit” on Cyberchase, the children’s math cartoon airing on PBS. Gilbert, the father of two young children, talked with us about his role on this long running shows.

GILBERT GOTTFRIED/CYBERCHASE Q&A

          

Q:            You have an interesting trend in your career of portraying birds – how did that come about?   
A:            I’ve played a parrot in Aladdin, a duck in the AFLAC commercials, wore a bird costume in the Jack and the Beanstalk DVD release and I play a cyberbird in Cyberchase.   I guess you could easily say – my career is for the birds!
           

Q:            How did you formulate your “voice” and character for Digit when you first started the show? How did you see his relationship to the Cybersquad?
A:             The voice of Digit just came naturally to me. And, to me, Digit is the voice of the audience at times since he’s the one who becomes easily frustrated, questions things and eventually works it all out.


Q:            What are some of your favorite Cyberchase episodes as “Digit”?
A:            My favorite Cyberchase episodes are the ones that center around Digit!  In one of the new episodes this summer I actually have to play Digit imitating Hacker, who’s played by Christopher Lloyd.  I asked producers, “So you want me to laugh like Christopher Lloyd?” You’ll see how that turned out.

Q:            How do Cyberchase fans, young and old, react when they run into you in NYC?
A:             Parents are always coming up to me and telling me their kids are big fans of the Cyberchase.  They go on to tell me how their kids especially enjoy working out the math and logic problems. Of course, I’m always thinking to myself, “If they only could have seen my report cards when I was in school!”

Q:            Well then, when your kids get older, are you worried that you won’t be able to help them with math?
A:            I can’t keep up with them now and my daughter is three and my son is one.

Q:            Good thing Cyberchase is around to help math-phobic parents like you.
A:            Yes, very good thing.  They have all these activities for parents and kids on the website.  So the kids learn, the parents learn, and I learn.  It’s a win for everyone.            

Q:            What can fans expect to see in this summer’s premiere episode, “The Hacker’s Challenge?”
A:            Well, Hacker is of course wreaking havoc in cyberspace, and this time he’s threatening to turn Solaria into cybercode.  Digit and the CyberSquad have to go on these problem-solving team challenges and solve Hacker’s number puzzles to save Solaria.  It’s kinda like Survivor meets Cyberchase.

Q:            How do Digit (your character) and his team solve one of the three puzzles?
A:            I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say that Digit and his team travel to a place called the Lost Lagoon and need to solve a puzzle by catching fish.  And a wild river raft ride ensues.  And Digit gets wet.  Very wet.           

Q:            What can you tell us about Cyberchase’s newest villain?
A:            His name is Ledge.  In one episode he turns everyone into Hacker.  And in another, he takes on Hacker, forcing Hacker to join forces with the CyberSquad.  The audience actually thinks Ledge is a friend of the CyberSquad at first, so there’s a little trickery going on.

Q:            When does all this Cyberchase summer fun begin?
A:            The new season premieres on June 25, and there are new online math challenges related to the episodes that begin the same day on the website.

Q:            Anything else we should look forward to this summer?
A:              Well if you really want to see more of me, you can find some behind-the-scenes videos on the Cyberchase Facebook page.

The Cyberchase Summer Challenge, featuring eight straight weeks of episodes and online games to keep kids engaged in math all summer long, premieres Friday, June 25 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings) and online at PBSKIDSGO.ORG.

Father's Day Frosty Weekend: Help the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Kristin Chenoweth has recently partnered with Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to help them raise awareness for foster care adoption. An adoptee herself, she has become a huge face for the cause and has re-confirmed her commitment this week by coming out to support the Foundation in their annual marquee program – Father’s Day Frosty Weekend.

During Father's Day Frosty Weekend (June 19 and 20), Wendy's will donate 50-cents from every Frosty product sold to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a non-profit public charity dedicated to increasing the adoptions of the more than 123,000 children in North America’s foster care system. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness and over $1.7 million for the Foundation. All of the funds raised will go towards their signature program - Wendy’s Wonderful Kids – which funds full-time recruiters in all 50 states to devote their full attention to matching prospective parents with waiting foster care children.

Kristin is encouraging everyone to support the campaign – go to your nearest Wendy’s and buy a Frosty this weekend or go to Frostycard.com and send a personalized e-card – and 50-cents with go to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to support their efforts in finding homes for the over 123,000 kids who are awaiting adoption.

Get Juicy This Father's Day and Surprise Him With a Trip Down Under

Kiwifruit makes the perfect gift for fathers - those who are and those who wish to be!


This clever video says it all - produced by Fran Guijarro and Ruben Martinez as a student PSA for the American Fertility Association. 


At ZESPRI, we can't help but get excited about kiwifruit's amazing nutritional properties*. After all, it's one of the most nutrient dense fruits on the planet. And according to numerous sources, kiwifruit can help men get in the family way!


Kiwifruit contains:

• Zinc - very important for men who need support in the production of testosterone. 
• Vitamin E - important for sperm motility and ability to penetrate an egg.  
• Vitamin C - important for creating healthy sperm.

An equal opportunity fruit, kiwifruit is also believed by some to promote fertility. Read this account of a woman who believes her post-40 pregnancy was aided by 800 pieces of kiwifruit.  For pregnant woman, kiwifruit is a natural fit.  It is rich in folic acid, which is essential for the reproduction and formation of red blood cells. It helps to fight anemia and is considered especially important for expectant mothers to protect against birth defects.


Happy with your brood and just enjoy the practice?


According to Women's Fitness, kiwifruit is great for one's sex life!


So this Father's Day, mix your man a Brazilian Batida, show him you're a Green Goddess, or go all out with Dr. Gonzo's Kiwifruit Debauchery.  Who knows where all of this might lead...


While you're at it, don't forget to enter The Great Kiwi Adventure... He's sure to love it if you surprise with with a trip down under;-)


Feeling inspired?  Kick it up a notch and enter our Kiwi A-Go-Go contest exclusive to bloggers.


Father's Day Grilling/Cooking Tip:  Kiwifruit makes a great and quick meat tenderizer.  Mash a kiwifruit, apply to meat for 10 minutes, then discard the kiwifruit.


*More vitamin C than an orange, and as much potassium as a banana.

KIWIFRUIT BATIDA- Recipe courtesy of Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas of Employees Only Batida is a style of drink in Brazil that incorporates fresh fruit, Cachaça (Brazilian sugarcane brandy) and condensed milk. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 ZESPRI® GREEN Kiwifruit 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) superfine sugar 2 oz (56.8 ml) Cachaça 51 Brazilian sugar cane brandy 1 oz (28.4 ml) sweetened condensed milk METHOD: 1.  Slice kiwifruit in half and use a spoon to scoop chunks from one half into a cocktail shaker. 2.  Add the sugar and muddle to combine. 3.  Add Cachaça and sweetened condensed milk. 4.  Shake all ingredients with ice and pour, unstrained, into a tall Collins glass. Garnish with a kiwifruit slice Prep time:  5 minutes Makes:  1 cocktail

MODERN MIXOLOGIST GREEN GODDESS - Recipe courtesy of Chef Tony Abou-Ganim of Modern Mixologist, Las Vegas INGREDIENTS: 6 ZESPRI® GREEN Kiwifruit 2 oz (56.8 ml) simple syrup, divided 2 oz (56.8 ml) fresh lemon juice, strained 1-1/2 oz (42.6 ml) Plymouth Gin 1/2 oz (24.2 ml) Green Chartreuse METHOD: 1.  Slice kiwifruit into halves and scoop the pulp out into a food processor.  Add 1 oz (28.4 ml) simple syrup and puree for 15 seconds, taking care not to crush the kiwifruit seeds. 2.  Pour lemon juice, gin, 1 oz kiwifruit puree, simple syrup and Green Chartreuse into a cocktail shaker.  Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled Collins glass. No garnish needed, as the kiwifruit seeds to the trick. Prep time:  5 minutes Makes:  1 cocktail

DR. GONZO'S KIWIFRUIT DEBAUCHERY- Recipe courtesy of Chef Mark Brand of Chambar Restaurant INGREDIENTS: Lemongrass Infused Gin 1 bottle (750 ml) Gin 2 stalks fresh lemongrass METHOD: Cut lemongrass in half lengthwise exposing inner leaves. Drop into the bottle of gin and infuse for 72-96 hours, tasting as you go.  The gin should be flavored but not bitter from the infusion. INGREDIENTS: Candied Kiwifruit Chips (optional, for garnish) 1 cup (237 ml) water 1 cup (237 ml) sugar 6 ZESPRI® GREEN or GOLD Kiwifruit METHOD: 1.  Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and simmer until dissolved; set aside to cool in a shallow bowl. 2.  Slice kiwifruit, skin on, thinly and soak in the sugared water, refrigerated, for 6-8 hours.  3.  Lay kiwifruit slices on parchment lined baking tray and bake at 220F (104C) for 1 hour until crispy but not brown. 4.  Remove and store in a cool, dry place. INGREDIENTS: Kiwifruit Debauchery Cocktail 1 ZESPRI® GREEN or GOLD Kiwifruit 1 lime, quartered 1 tsp (5 ml) sugar 2 oz (56.8 ml) lemongrass infused gin 2 oz (56.8 ml) passion fruit nectar METHOD: 1.  Cut kiwifruit in half and scoop contents with a spoon into cocktail shaker. 2.  Add three lime wedges and the sugar. 3.  Muddle until juices are mixed and released from fruit. 4.  Add the gin, and passion fruit nectar. 5.  Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled rocks glass. 6.  Garnish with candied kiwifruit chips and lime wedge. Prep time:  5 minutes Infusion time:  3 days Makes:  1 cocktail

SortPrice.com Releases Shopping Data on 2010’s Most Popular Father’s Day Gifts

SortPrice.com, one of the internet’s fastest-growing shopping search engines, today unveiled a list of the ten most popular products being searched for on its site in advance of Father’s Day 2010, continuing the practice of tracking consumer behavior and trends in advance of every major shopping holiday.


      SortPrice compiled and analyzed data on user visits and overall site traffic between May 31 and June 9 to gauge which products shoppers are targeting for Dad this year. 

      While traditional gifts such as colognes and ties continue to remain popular with Father’s Day shoppers this year, a handful of higher-end and more sophisticated products also made the top 10, furthering the notion that online shoppers are getting more creative with their Father’s Day gift research thanks to the internet’s enormous selection.

TOP 10 FATHER’S DAY GIFTS FOR 2010 

1. Aaron Irvin Briefcases & Portfolios - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Briefcases_and_Portfolios-Aaron_Irvin
2. Bag Boy Revolver Golf Bags - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Golf_Bags-Bag_Boy_Revolver
3. Code Giorgio Armani Cologne- http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Men's_Fragrances-Code_Giorgio_Armani
4. Cordless Power Drills - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Power_Tools-Cordless_Drill_Driver
5. Fossil Men's Wallets - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Men's_Wallets-Fossil
6. Men’s Comfort Robes - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Men's_Sleepwear-Robe
7. Superman Cufflinks - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Cufflinks-Superman
8. Valet Tray - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Jewelry_Boxes_and_Cases-Valet_Tray
9. Versace Silk Ties - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Ties-Versace
10. iPod/iPhone Compatible Alarm Clocks & Radios - http://www.sortprice.com/search-CQ-Alarm_Clock_and_Clock_Radio-iPod