From Al Gore....

June 24, 2009 10:23 AM

According to news reports, the full House of Representatives will vote on the global warming and energy bill on Friday. Make no mistake, this is the most important environmental vote of this generation. If passed this legislation will put us on the road to actually solving the climate crisis, in addition to building a green economy.

Contact your member of Congress here.

(via Al Gore's blog)

Muse new album

Muse have announced that their next album, 'The Resistance', will be released on September 14.

Matt Bellamy and co made the announcement on their official website, Muse.mu. 'The Resistance', which will be the band's fifth studio effort and the follow-up to 2006's 'Black Holes And Revelations', was recorded in Italy, and will be released in time for the band's forthcoming arena tour.

Woooo I love Muse!

(photo via here)

New Modest Mouse

[mp3] modest mouse ::: whale song

The track clocks in over 6+ minutes and has enough dicey guitar work to stir worthwhile anticipation for their upcoming No One's First And Your Next EP... (via: i guess i'm floating)

Sit to Walkstation

I love the thought of this...I say thought because I don't have 5 grand just laying around

Features
* An individual can move from sitting, to standing, to walking at the push of a button
* Enables users to burn calories and feel more energized
* One Walkstation; two solutions

Treadmill
* Mounts under right or left side of table
* Display console shows speed, calories burned, time and distance
* Speed range: .3 mph - 2.0 mph
* Whisper quiet for the home or office

Adjustable Worksurface
* Dual height adjustment on the treadmill key pad and the work surface
* Flexibility to adjust from a seated, to a standing, to a walking position
* Note: SlatRail, Cableway and Monitor Arm not included and sold separately

Only.... $4899.00

http://store2.steelcase.com/store/p/496-Sit-to-Walkstation.html?msg=variant

grizzly bear poster

via: here

beer after excercise?

Researchers at Granada University in Spain have come across a discovery that will undoubtedly please athletes and sports enthusiasts - a pint of beer post-workout or match is better at rehydrating the human body than water.

Professor Manuel Garzon, a member of Granada's medical faculty, made the finding after tests on 25 students over several months. Researchers believe that it is the sugars, salts, and bubbles in a beer that may help people absorb fluids more quickly.

The subjects in the study were asked to run on a treadmill at temperatures of 104F (40C) until they were close to exhaustion. Once they had reached the point of giving up, researchers measured their hydration levels, motor skills, and concentration ability.

Half of the subjects were given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, and the other half were given just water.

continue reading here.

for a minor reflection

[mp3] for a minor reflection ::: Óhljóð

For A Minor Reflection are a quartet from Reykjavík who play energetic, melodious, instrumental post-rock. They have earned comparisons to Explosions In The Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. "Óhljóð," which means "discordant noise", is taken from their 2007 debut album Reistu Þig Við, Sólin Er Komin Á Loft... ("Rise and shine, the sun's up...")

1980s

via: flickr

Wilco - 6/22 at the Wiltern in LA

Last night I went to the Wiltern (awesome venue) for the first of three sold out shows to see one of my all time favorite bands... Wilco. It was an incredible feeling seeing them for the second time in ten days... the first being at Bonnaroo in Tennessee. My personal highlights included "You Are My Face," "Jesus, etc." and "Box Full of Letters." Although I think it's going to be hard to top Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Chicago based band will release their 7th album Wilco (The Album) on June 30th... next Tuesday!!

Overall, an awesome concert.....Last night's setlist:

01 "Wilco (the song)"
02 "Muzzle Of Bees"
03 "A Shot In The Arm"
04 "At Least That's What You Said"
05 "Bull Black Nova"
06 "You Are My Face"
07 "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart"
08 "One Wing"
09 "In A Future Age"
10 "Impossible Germany"
11 "Shouldn't Be Ashamed"
12 "Sonny Feeling"
13 "Jesus, Etc."
14 "Handshake Drugs"
15 "You Never Know"
16 "Hate It Here"
17 "Walken"
18 "I'm The Man Who Loves You"
----
19 "The Late Greats"
20 "Box Full of Letters"
21 "Misunderstood" (40 nothings)
22 "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
23 "Hummingbird"
----
24 "Happy Birthday to You" (dedicated to "Lady," who runs their lights)
25 "Red Eyed & Blue"
26 "I Got You (At the End of the Century)"
27 "Monday"
28 "Hoodoo Voodoo"

(photo by Andrew Youssef)

Time Traveler's Wife

Finally this trailer is out... one of the best books I've ever read!

Jacques Dutronc

A little french pop for you all...

There is almost no French person alive who does not know “et moi, et moi, et moi”.

Summer cooking/entertaining tools

My mother just send me a fun package with a bunch of cooking/grilling tools for summer.. needless to say it spawned an obsession with cooking tools/utensils. I got really into the Williams Sonoma website and the video tutorials posted about each tool.

Grill Tray

Because this tray conducts and retains heat, you’ll find it useful for cooking nachos, fajitas and other dishes on the grill, on the stovetop or in the oven – and then keeping them warm at the table. Or use it for serving chilled dishes: Just refrigerate or freeze the tray before use. Made from a patented aluminum alloy with a pewter-like appearance, it’s hand made at a family-owned Pennsylvania foundry established in 1892. Heatproof to 1000°F. Hand-wash. Williams Sonoma - $50

Found Soda Crate
Once used to cart sodas to vending machines and restaurants, each individual crate showcases unique variations and timeworn character that comes from years of use. Add a nostalgic touch to picnics and gatherings, or use them as a stylish storage option. Pottery Barn - $15

Jalapeño Pepper Roaster
Stuff jalapeño peppers with cheese and other savory ingredients, then fire roast them over an outdoor grill. We’ve redesigned the roaster based on customer feedback so that the holes are now larger. Holding up to 18 stuffed or whole peppers upright, our jalapeño roaster imparts delicious smoky flavor while keeping the chilies a safe distance from the flame and preventing them from falling through the grate. After grilling, removing the peppers is simple. Dishwasher safe. Williams Sonoma - $19.95

Pineapple Easy Slicer
Transform a prickly pineapple into a stack of juicy rings in seconds with the aid of this cleverly designed stainless-steel slicer. Insert the heavy-duty cutting shaft into the top of a trimmed pineapple, apply light pressure and twist the handle. The tool swiftly cores and slices the fruit, leaving its shell intact. Hand-wash. Williams Sonoma $24.95

I want to be here...

Architectural Digest

a look back at beer cans

via: here

Margaritas with a twist

Pomegranate Margarita

Yield: Makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
* Lime juice
* Margarita salt
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
* 4 ounces (1/2 cup) tequila
* 4 ounces (1/2 cup) orange liqueur
* 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 6 cups ice

Preparation
Dip rims of glasses into lime juice and then into salt. Set aside. Combine sugar and remaining ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into prepared glasses.

Cucumber Margarita

Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
* 12 slices fresh cucumber
* 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
* 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Cointreau
* 6 ounces (3/4 cup) tequila reposado
* 6 cups ice
* 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
* Lime slices

Preparation
Combine cucumber and next 4 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
Pour into glasses. Top each serving with a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, and garnish with lime.

(from Coastal Living)

lessons to live by

Jay B designed some posters to with some lessons to live by and things to keep in mind. He said his elementary teachers used to post a lot of posters with cheesy inspirational sayings growing up and just wanted to pay the favor forward. Check out the rest of the series after the jump or head here to purchase.

vintage wooden signs

via: poppytalk

More retro swimsuits

from Anthropologie

Where the Wild Things Are

Such a classic...

YUMMY

chockablock cheesecake squares

For the cookie base
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup peanut butter chips
1/3 cup of toffee bits

For the cheesecake layer
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

1/2 cup dulce de leche or caramel sauce (use up to 1 cup, depending on your taste)

Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-by-9-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper, allowing for a 1-inch overhang on two sides to form handles.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set this aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugars on medium high speed until combined. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides. Continue to beat the mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary, for approximately 3 minutes or until the butter is fluffy and pale in colour.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour and stir to combine. Add in chips and candy. Refrigerate dough.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment in place, beat the cream cheese and sugars on medium high speed until combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. On medium speed, add the egg and vanilla.

Take approximately half the refrigerated cookie dough and, with floured fingers, press into the prepared pan. Using an offset spatula, spread the dulce de leche over the bottom layer. Pour over the cream cheese mixture. Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the cream cheese.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. As with many cheesecake recipes, you may see a bit of “wiggle” in the centre of the pan; not to worry, it will set up as it sits. Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Cut into squares or bars, as desired.

Makes 1 9-inch pan. Approximately 24-36 bars, depending on size. These bars should be stored in refrigerator and can be frozen.

Notes:
• For the cookie crust, I like to use a large flake sea or kosher salt for a salty-sweet combination.
• You can use whatever combination of morsels, nuts and candy you like for the cookie crust; aim for about 2 cups in total.
• If you prefer pockets of caramel, swirl the dulce de leche with the cream cheese filling, rather than layering it.
• The dulce de leche can be substituted with a chocolate ganache or thick chocolate fudge sauce as well.


*** check out the seven spoons blog for more deliciousness... you will not be disappointed.