Alain de Botton’s Practical Philosophy

Writer Alain de Botton has made it his mission to show how acquaintance with some of the world's greatest thinkers can offer solace and enlarge happiness. Having begun a doctoral program in philosophy, de Botton quit the ivory tower to write books for generally educated readers. In his work, de Botton engages topics ranging from airports and cookies to stoicism and shoe shining. Throughout, he aims to help us lead better lives. Sound interesting? These five books are worth reading:

• In The Consolations of Philosophy, de Botton presents the teachings of the world's greatest philsophers as a practical guide for day to day living. Offering a tour of philosophical history, the book shows how great philosophers can help readers overcome everyday difficulties and unhappiness.
• How Proust Can Change your Life presents Proust's novel Remembrance of Things Past as a strange sort of self-help book. Culling a number of aphorisms and parables from Proust, de Botton presents life lessons in a characteristically witty style.
• The Architecture of Happiness explores the ways physical spaces affect human beings' emotional lives. This book will change how you see the physical world.
• In A Week at the Airport, de Botton records impressions from time he spent as writer-in-residence at Heathrow Airport in England. Seeing the airport as a uniquely modern space that concentrates arrivals, departures, beginnings, and endings, de Botton muses on the miraculous effects of airplane flight.
• Surveying the strange and wonderful world of work, de Botton's book The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work casts an anthropologist's eye on enterprises like logistics, accounting, baking, and inventing.

Best Movies of 2011

2011 saw a score of interesting Oscar contenders helmed by actors exercising their talent in new ways. Here are five of the year's best films:

The Descendants
Sideways director and writer Alexander Payne returns triumphantly after a seven-hiatus with a complicated dramatic comedy. George Clooney is understated yet spot-on as a father dealing with his wife’s infidelity and his misbehaving daughters.

Drive
Perhaps not a typical Oscar contender, Drive is an action-packed drama that pits Ryan Gosling in a fight against good and evil. Gosling’s quiet performance anchors the movie’s more outrageous moments.

Midnight in Paris
Hailed by many as Woody Allen’s best film in years, Midnight in Paris was a love note to the City of Lights as well as a more glamorous literary time. Owen Wilson reached new maturity in a surprising as well as convincing role as the neurotic writer transported into 1920s Paris, schmoozing with infamous authors.

Moneyball
Like the television series Friday Night Lights, Moneyball was a sports movie that you didn’t need to care about sports to enjoy. Brad Pitt’s dedication to the story and director Bennett Miller’s fast-pacing kept the movie engaging and empathetic. 

Melancholia
Both epic and intimate, Lars von Trier’s portrait of the end of the world is surprisingly breath-taking, particularly the prologue. His narrative remains a distant character study of two sisters dealing with depression and the sudden advance of a neighboring planet.

Trip Idea: Vancouver, British Columbia

The next time you’re itching for an exciting getaway, put Vancouver at the top of your list. Home to 2010 Olympic and paralympic games, Vancouver is one of the most spectular cities in the world, known for its natural beauty and world-class cultural attractions. Here are some Vancouver highlights:

Stanley Park – Stroll, cycle, or skate along the Stanley Park seawall to enjoy magnificent mountain, lake, forest, and city views. While in the park, you can also visit an aquarium and nature center. Learn more here: http://www.stanleypark.org/

Granville Island - You can take a ferry from downtown Vancouver to charming Granville Island, known for its indoor farmer’s market, open-to-the-public artisan studios, microbrewery, street buskers, and theatre scene. Check out the island’s offerings here: http://www.granvilleisland.com/

Grouse Mountain – Visit this stunning mountain in warm weather to enjoy hiking, paragliding, zip lining, lumberjack shows, and much more. In the cold weather you can head to Grouse Mountain to partake of some of the city’s best skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The mountain also boasts a refuge for endangered wildlife. For more, click here: http://www.grousemountain.com/

Capilano Suspension Bridge -Visitors to Vancouver love this famously wobbly (but safe) suspension bridge that runs through a swatch of lush west-coast rainforest. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views of British Columbia while the knowledgeable staff teaches you about the history and culture of the area. To learn more about the bridge, click here: http://www.capbridge.com/

Robson Street -This is Vancouver’s hottest see-and-be-seen street for shopping, dining, people-watching, and relishing the trendiest aspects of the city’s buzzing nightlife. Known as the “Hollywood of the North,” Robson Street is a popular destination for celebrities, so you just might spot a few stars while you’re strolling the sidewalks. Click here to learn more: http://robsonstreet.ca/

Movies Coming To Theaters in December

December 9, 2011
New Year’s Eve: A romantic comedy that explores relationships, forgiveness, love, and new beginnings through a series of intertwining stories about New Yorkers on New Year’s Eve. Starring Halle Berry, Zac Effron, and Katherine Heigl.

The Sitter: A comedy about a college student, suspended from school, who ends up babysitting for the neighbor’s kids. Starring Johan Hill and Ari Graynor.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: An espionage thriller about a soviet double agent who has infiltrated the upper levels of the British Intelligence community. Starring Colin Firth and Gary Oldman.

December 16, 2011
The Iron Lady: A dramatic biopic exploring the life of Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom’s first and only female Prime Minister. Starring Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows: Master detective Sherlock Homes finds himself confronted with a new criminal genius whose brilliance just might equal his own. Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

December 21, 2011
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: This is the fourth movie in the Mission Impossible action thriller franchise. The filmmakers have been careful to reveal no spoiler details about the movie’s plot but it’s sure to be packed with stunning visuals and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, and Paula Patton.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: A film based on the popular Stieg Larrson book trilogy, telling the story of a disgraced journalist who is hired to investigate the long-ago disappearance of a woman from one of Sweden’s wealthiest families. Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara.

December 23, 2011
The Adventures of Tintin: An animated Steven Spielberg family movie based on the famous book by Belgian artist Georges Remi (under the pen name Herge). The plot centers around an intrepid young reporter named Tintin whose thirst for a great story puts him in the midst of various exciting and sometimes harrowing adventures. The film features the voices of Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, and Simon Pegg.

December 28, 2011
War Horse: A Steven Spielberg drama about the connection between a horse and his young trainer in rural England during the First World War. Starring Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson.

The Best Meatloaf You’ll Ever Eat

Meatloaf gets sort of a bad rap. At its worst, it can be a bland and tasteless hunk of ground beef, where all of the flavors just mush into each other. But it’s possible to make a high-quality meatloaf that offers a bounty of tastes and textures. Here’s how:

First off, the best meatloafs use multiple kinds of meat as their base. Using an even mixture of ground beef, ground pork, and ground lamb is the most common way to begin. The higher fat content of the pork moistens the other meat, while the drier lamb will add exceptional texture and flavor.

Secondly, vegetables are an important part of any meatloaf. Not only do they fill out the mixture, but they can add texture and flavor that the meat won’t provide. It’s essential to use chopped onion in your meatloaf mixture, but sautéed garlic and shallots are also good additions. Some people also use celery, carrots, or green peppers.

The final ingredient of a good meatloaf is a starch as a binder. Heart-healthy eaters often use oatmeal for this, as it holds the dish together well and is nutritionally excellent. If you’re not worried about that, crumbled Ritz crackers and bread work very well. Use a food processor to turn your binder into crumbs before mixing it in. Top with rougher crumbs before you bake to give the top a crust.

Rice in the Pan: Five Great Risottos

Risotto can be a daunting dish to make – the Italian rice dish is notoriously temperamental, and a ruined risotto can be pretty unappetizing! The most important element to cooking a good one is attention. The chef needs to stand over the pan, stirring the rice constantly while adding hot stock so the grains don’t stick together. Once you’ve mastered that, here are some ideas for creating great variations on the dish.

-        Mushrooms make an exceptional pairing for risotto. Their earthy flavor permeates the rice, adding worlds of dimension. Try using chanterelle mushrooms coupled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

-        Lemon flavors are also great for risottos. Pair fresh-squeezed lemon juice with steamed asparagus for a light, refreshing dish that will have people raving.

-        In the autumn, turning to that season’s produce can be a great way to switch up your cooking. One very common pairing for risottos is butternut squash. The subtle, comfortable flavor of the vegetable makes a great base for a risotto.

-        Seafood risotto is a very popular preparation. Use clams, mussels, scallops, and shrimp to add a variety of tastes to the preparation, and season with saffron.

-        For a unique breakfast dish, prepare a traditional risotto and stir in cooked, crumbled bacon and a little sharp cheese. Top with a fried egg and enjoy!

Classics Reinvented: New Takes On The Casserole

The humble casserole has sort of a bum rap in contemporary cuisine. The standby dish usually delivers bland flavors in massive portions, as the ingredients melt together into an undistinguishable mass. But there are interesting casserole ideas out there, and here are five of our favorites.

-        A classic casserole is the Shepherd’s Pie. This dish dispenses with many of the staples of the casserole, but boasts exceptional flavor. A filling of ground beef sautéed with onions and carrots is topped by a later of fluffy mashed potatoes and then baked until they brown. This is comfort food that’s perfect for a cold evening.

-        An interesting European take on the casserole uses bacalao – the salted codfish popular in Portugal – as a base. Rehydrate the fish, boil them briefly, and then layer them with potato slices in a casserole dish. Bake until the fish and potatoes meld together into a wonderfully flavorful meal.

-        For a Southern flair, making a casserole with grits can be wonderful. Sautee shrimp in wine or cognac and layer them in a casserole dish with freshly-made cheese grits then bake. The flavors will be out of this world.

-        To go even further south, making a variant on lasagna using Mexican ingredients is a great use for your casserole dish. Layer flour tortillas with refried beans, sliced tomatoes, Jack or Cheddar cheese, and your choice of meat – ground beef or roast pork work great. Bake until it all melts together.

-        Casseroles aren’t just for dinner. Try making a breakfast bake in your casserole dish with eggs, shredded cheese, shredded hash brown potatoes, and bacon. It’s a wonderfully filling way to start the day.

New Fall TV: The Cream of the Crop

Wondering what’s going to be hitting the airwaves this autumn? Every year, the fall season brings with it a variety of new television options, and this year’s roster of shows is particularly eclectic and exciting. Here are some highlights:

1. Pan Am, Sunday nights, ABC, 9 p.m.

If you love Mad Men, you’ll relish this new 1960’s drama. The show focuses on the lives of Pan Am pilots and flight attendants during an era when flying still had an aura of glamour, romance, and adventure. Christina Ricci stars.

2. A Gifted Man, Friday, CBS, 7 p.m.

Love the supernatural? Patrick Wilson stars as a workaholic neurosurgeon whose life transforms when his ex-wife dies and starts communicating with him from the hereafter.

3. 2 Broke Girls, Monday, CBS, 7:30 p.m.

This fall comedy series, starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs, centers on two waitresses trying to get by in Brooklyn’s trendy Williamsburg neighborhood. The show has been co-created by Whitney Cummings (writer and star of NBC's Whitney) and Michael Patrick King (a creator of Sex and the City). Expect witty, cutting-edge humor about contemporary urban life.

4. Prime Suspect, Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.

Adapted from the classic British series of the same name, Prime Suspect stars Maria Bello as NYPD detective Jane Timoney, a tough woman playing a male-dominated game.

Whether you’re looking for laughs, drama, period nostalgia, or suspense, the this fall's TV lineup has something for you. So kick back  on the couch, reach for the remote and get ready to settle in for a season of top-notch television.

Unplug The Cord: Five Online Cable Alternatives

In 2011 you can watch TV in more ways than ever before. Companies like Apple, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and ESPN have developed a variety of ways to watch hit TV shows, movies, and sporting events on your own schedule!

Each service has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here's a quick rundown of some ways to watch online:

1.     Hulu. By far the closest to viewing actual cable TV, many new shows are on Hulu the day after they air. The site also has an archive of classic shows to browse and watch. Many shows are free, but the paid “Hulu Plus” service adds full seasons and more. You can also watch on your TV with a modern game console.

2.     Netflix. The DVD-by-mail company has added a wide variety of streaming video to its library. You won’t find current seasons or episodes here. Only after they’ve officially hit DVD does Netflix get them. The selection is second to none, though.

3.     iTunes. Apple’s online media retailer lets you buy shows individually or by season, and the prices are reasonable. Episodes are generally available the day that they air on TV, but are usually held back until after the show screens on the West Coast. You can stream to your home entertainment center with AppleTV.

4.     Amazon. The online retailer is similar to iTunes as it lets viewers pay for individual TV shows or full seasons. Prices are about the same as iTunes, but some people prefer Amazon’s interface and selection.

5.     ESPN3. Sports fans have only one real choice, and that’s ESPN’s streaming service. The channel boasts millions of hours of available content, both live and archived, and can be watched on the Xbox 360 console as well as computers.

Super Strawberry Smoothies to Please Your Taste Buds

For a sweet taste of summer, enjoy this simple California Smoothie bursting with strawberry, lemon, and orange flavors! This smoothie requires just 10 minutes of prep time and serves up three tall glasses of creamy delight. 

Ingredients

21 large strawberries
3 (8 ounce) containers lemon yogurt
1 cup orange juice

Directions

1. Place strawberries in plastic containers and freeze for about an hour.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine frozen strawberries, yogurt, and orange juice. Pour these ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. You will likely need to run the blender a few times in order to blend the entire batch of ingredients. Pour into tall glasses and serve.

Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com

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