Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Reviews (145)

SPENDING IS NOT SEEING
This book has a catchy title, and that's about it. More honestly, it would have been entitled "1000 Places to Spend Money Before You Die".

Like many of the glossy travel magazines, this book makes it appear FAR more expensive to travel than it really is. I fear it will actually discourage those who don't know any better from getting out and seeing the world.

I expected an ode to all the wonderful natural places we could see, all the great people we could meet, and all the fun things we could do while exploring this giant, multifaceted world of ours.

Instead, we get a list of all the expensive hotels and restaurants we could spend money in. It's obvious that the author rarely, if ever, has to pay her own expenses; and I have to wonder if she actually got kickbacks (or at least lots of freebies) from the expensive places and tour groups she mentions.

According to the author, there is very little worth seeing in the world that doesn't cost a lot of money. It also appears that you don't get credit for having SEEN a city unless you've dropped a bundle in its finest hotels.

In all, a very disappointing book.

Delighted
Hat's off to Ms. Schultz for writing a book that's both entertaining as well as informative, as an only occasional traveler I try to do as much research as possible before deciding on a destination.
I have just returned from a trip to Venice using a 1000 places as my guide, her recommendations were right on the mark,this book is a valuable tool in anyone's vacation plans.

Editorial Review

With an integrated camera, voice dialing, and dual color displays, the Samsung VGA1000 makes a great mobile companion. Other features, like support for Sprint's wireless Web services, as well as built-in games and ringtones, round out a strong package that is sure to please.

Design
The VGA1000's handsome clamshell form factor houses an internal 128 x 160, 65,000-color display. There's also a supplementary color display on the front panel of the device that displays call information, battery life, time of day, signal strength and more. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone, and the camera and flash unit are placed on the rear of the device. Meanwhile, most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 entries, each storing six numbers, with a total capacity for 300 numbers and 300 email and Web addresses. You can customize your caller ID by linking a photo to a specific phone number in your contact list. In addition to a vibrate mode, the phone allows you to choose from a number of polyphonic ringtones that make your received calls all the more exciting. The VGA1000's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the VGA1000 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Another key calling feature of the VGA1000 is its enhanced voice recognition capabilities. The system allows you to speak numbers digit by digit or speak the name of anyone in your phonebook. Voice features are speaker-independent, so there's no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you need basic messaging capabilities, the VGA1000 has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS text messages (Sprint PCS text messaging charges apply). T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for text messaging users.

The phone also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the VGA1000 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock and a to-do list. A voice recorder lets you record memos for later retrieval.

Imaging and Entertainment
With its robust set of camera functions, the VGA1000 shines in the imaging department. The VGA-quality (640x480) digital camera lets you take, view, store and send pictures wirelessly in full color. You can also control brightness levels, white balance and color tone to get the image and effects you want. Other features include a self-timer for group shots, built-in fun frames to decorate your images, a multi-shot function for action sequences, and a self-portrait mode for special moments. Capture pictures in high, medium or low resolution and digitally zoom in up to 4 times. As mentioned, there's also a flash for low-light situations.

The VGA1000 lets you choose from a variety of pre-set images to customize your main and external displays and make them unique to you. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as additional ringers, screensavers and backgrounds. You can even turn your phone into a gaming device with an optional, attachable game pad that makes it fun and easy to navigate when playing complex, fast-paced games on your phone.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung VGA1000 weighs 4.48 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.9 x 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 2.9 hours of digital talk time, and up to 168 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Editorial Review

Similar to Toshiba's stunning P25 series of desktop replacement notebooks but sporting a smaller profile, slightly downgraded components and a more affordable price point, the Satellite P10 series is a good solution for power-hungry users who just don't want the added weight and expense of a full-blown mobile desktop. This particular unit, the Satellite P10-S429, doesn't feature DVD burning capabilities like some of the other P10 models and is therefore priced accordingly.

Driving the Satellite P10-S429 is a potent 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor. Matched with this speedy CPU are 512 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a full 2048 MB) and an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5100 graphics controller with 32 MB of dedicated video memory. Even in this stock configuration, the system will handle most anything you can throw at it, including many 3-D games.

Toshiba has equipped the P10-S429 with a sizeable 15-inch widescreen display screen capable of a dazzling 1280 by 800 resolution. It has added a spacious 60 GB hard disk spinning at a snappy 5400 RPM and enclosed a DVD/CD-RW optical drive through which you can listen to and burn audio CDs, archive your data and watch DVD movies.

Other critical features include an IEEE 1394 FireWire port for fast interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, a trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners or external drives, two memory slots (both of which may be simultaneously occupied), a single PC Card slot, and an impressive variety of interior and exterior one-touch controls. Communication facilities include 802.11wireless networking, 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem.

Editorial Review

Respected educational publisher DK partners with the world's leading online search engine Google to create the innovative e-encyclopedia, a hefty, heavily illustrated hardcover reference book for young scholars that also refers its readers to their exclusive, kid-friendly web site. Featuring more than 2,000 full-color images, the book covers nine major subject areas: Space, Earth, Nature, Human Body, Science and Technology, People and Places, Society and Beliefs, Arts and Entertainment, and History. Each of the 600 entries provides illustrations and brief, easily digestible tidbits of information about everything from why the Rhine River is so important to Europe to what the brain is made of. If a grey "e" button is visible on the page, that means a treasury of online resources will be available when you search the DK/Google web site for the designated keyword--links that include animations, videos, sound buttons, virtual tours, interactive quizzes, databases, timelines, or real-time reports.

Reviews (18)

This book is terrible
I was trying to do research about the Internet, and this book didn't provide any useful information at all!! How can a book by that Tech TV guy not be a good source of information!?? I feel like I was ripped off. I am not a happy customer.

Hyperbole! The Book
Titling a volume `Online! The Book' and putting "The perfect gift for any computer user!" amongst other hyperbole on the back cover must rank as this years greatest act of hubris.

If only John C. Dvorak and Chris Pirillo (with Wendy Taylor) had been able to deliver. If only they had not strewn the book with error, verbiage and irrelevancy. Ah, well.

This volume in its 700 pages (divided into 28 chapters) tries to cover everything from hardware basics to voice over IP, in between touching on e-commerce, security, web programming, networking, content management and business websites, to name just six of the topics perhaps each better suited to a volume of their own.

This book skims, and skims fast, over a number of important and vital topics while dwelling on others that many will find useless. Chris Pirillo seems to be an expert on marketing, so that gets thirty pages, while web programming languages get ten. We get forty pages of `Hardware Basics,' which cover information vital to getting online such as operating systems, varieties of Intel chips, video cards and gaming audio drivers. I know that if I wanted to find the perfect spot to put sidebars about Babbage and von Neumann (essential to any book about getting online) I'd put them in the chapter on viruses. It seems as if the three authors said "we're contracted to seven hundred pages so let's just throw in topics we know a lot about until we get to seven hundred pages -- then stop."

Then there are the errors. We get editing errors like the text that tells us a `geostationary satellite' orbits at `about 22,300 miles,' next to a diagram showing the number 20,300 miles. We get errors in logic like the sidebar that has "DNS servers may run Apache, which is an open source Web server program" and goes on to imply that all DNS servers will run a web server. We get errors in grammar. We get paragraphs like "Although there are dynamic Web page URLs (meaning they change, or at least part of it does), most are static (stay the same). These can be dynamic by use of a programming error or dynamic because someone named the URL extension without adding a link elsewhere on the web site." With sentence construction like that I'm still not sure if the claim intended is true or not.

Did I like anything about this book? Sure, the chapter on `How A Modem (Really) Works' was full of good solid information. Other chapters were similar, particularly the two following on networking and handhelds, phones and PDAs. Others did contain some good information, just surrounded by dross.

You can go to the book's website, which is basically just a single page with yet more hyperbole ("Everything is here. Well-written. Comprehensive.") or visit the Prentice Hall page, which actually gives you a table of contents and a sample chapter. Just don't go straight to the Prentice Hall PTR home page and search for books with "Online" in the title, as that won't find it. Instead search for books with "Book" in the title.

I'd only recommend this book to those who want to spend a lot of time finding the good bits, a few minutes chuckling over some of the errors, and thirty dollars on a paperweight. If you're really looking for a `perfect gift' for people new new to the net, then find something cheaper covering just the essentials, and for those more expert, find a volume that actually covers a topic of interest well.

Reviews (5)

This book of poems has something that will touch everyone
The Rain At Midnight is a book of poetry that was sent to me by a friend. I have only read a few poems from the book but have found that even these few poems touched me in a way that lets me know the author Joseph Hutchinson understands me as a human being. I was particularly touched by the poem "The One_ Armed Boy" which goes:
The One-Armed Boy
has taught himself
to play catch with the
walls of his house.
With great difficulty
has learned to open jars,
trap grashopper, write in
straight lines. Has over time
discovered how not to hear his
mother weeping, or his father
roaring drunk.He carefully trained
himself to deflect the cutting
comments of his schoolmates.
If only a saw had gnawed it off!
Or some gigantic shark, as in his
recurring fantasies.If only he hadn't
been born like this.And yet near sleep,
the arm that never was reaches out,
touches something even the boy can't
name. Like rain at midnight falling
into a field of poppies, it gently
bathes his non existent hand.

This one poem spoke to me because my mother and I have often felt the way the boy in the poem felt about his missing arm. If only my learning disability etc., were caused by some accident and I was not born with it then people would understand what I was going through better and come to my aid instead of me having to fight for any little bit of help that I was able to recieve. I identified with the boy in this poem and I believe that anyone who reads this book will find at least one poem that they will identify with. After all the poems in this book are about the human condition with all its imperfections, longings and frailties. I highly recommend this book.

Love, Wounds and Failures
"Icy water races past your racing heart,
under raised arms that ache to balance
whatever you carry, what you must (you
suddenly understand) be willing to let go.
Chin-deep. Perched on a slippery stone
that shifts with each shivering breath.
no choice but to take the next step-
deeper into the black river"
~Black River

"The Rain at Midnight" is a collection of poems that so aptly describe the male perspective. Joseph Hutchison delves into a variety of situations ranging from the observations he makes in nature to the inner experiences he weaves into poems. Each poem is an adventure into the reality of existence. At times his words are playful, profound or show a focus on presence.

I loved how he talks about tidal pools photographing his face or how the sun is like "apricot fire dripping." He uses such vivid images and often sexuality is never far below the surface of his thoughts. I like the unbridled words in "Internal Combustion." It seems anger is sparked and it burns or sinks down inside him writhing like a demon.

Joseph Hutchison explores everything from the awakening jolt of youthful discovery to the slow passionate ritual of languishing in love. He also explores the tragedy of a failed relationship.

"Brightness and Shadow" reveals the romantic nature of love, while other poems touch briefly on the tragedy of broken promises. I love "Brightness and Shadow" and would recommend the book for just this one poem alone. Here, he is remembering a night of love while he finds various items all over the room. It is loving and sexy and quite exquisite.

There is a sad, yet sweet acceptance in "An Amusing Anecdote" as he sits with his ex-wife after their divorce is final and "perhaps" an analysis of decisions leading to the situation, in "Good."

"I might have denied myself your kiss, your caress.
I might have sneered, "What's happiness worth?"
I might have let my duties define my desires.
I might have hurt no one. I might have been good."

How could a man living at this depth of awareness be satisfied with less than a downpour of love? Yet, his heart makes choices and leads him to love and wounds, failures and bitter struggles that keep the peace at bay.

In the first poem, he showers while trying not to wake his family and in the last poem, he pretends to sleep while listening to the rain at midnight as the rain drops become the chattering voices of three beautiful sisters.

"or maybe they'd simply blend back
into rain, a dark rain, the lull of it,
the sweet nothing noise and the kiss of it,
the tears and the healing sleep of it at last."

Joseph Hutchison knows how to transform even the most casual observation into pictures where rivers of words tumble over slippery stones and you can imagine yourself lost in the river, stumbling near a shore of "ink-black" pines where "feverish stars have risen" and there is a cold comfort in the "bone-white moon."

It seems life gives us choices and then at times, it throws us into a dark river where we have no choice but to swim deeper into life itself.

These poems are about surviving life and appreciating beauty along the way. Even in the cold, black river, you can look up and see the stars.

~TheRebeccaReview...

Reviews (7)

A wonderful book
Wow!What a book!I thought I might be the only one having a few chats with Jesus, so I was glad Mr. Peniel wrote this book and now I don't feel so alone.Mr. Peniel details many conversations with Jesus and they are quite enlightening.I think everyone should read them and buy this book.I only talked to Jesus a couple times so there wasn't enough there to write a book.Maybe a short story but I don't write so good and I figured no one would believe me anyway.At any rate, I asked Jesus the last time we talked if I could bottle up some of His Holy Spirit and Jesus thought it might not be a good idea because he thought I might sell It on eBay or something.So I said maybe I'd just list It and give It away for free, and just charge for shipping and handling.He kind of liked that idea.But then I got worried all of a sudden about a method of transferring It from a large container that Jesus would fill into a bunch of smaller containers so a lot of people could have Some and was worried that maybe It would escape and not get into the containers because It's invisible and doesn't look that much different than normal air.Jesus agreed that this was a predicament and thought maybe we should wait until the transfer technology improved or something.He thought I should ask the Coca-Cola Bottling Company for some helpful hints but I just haven't gotten around to it just yet.

God's Love Explained!
I found the book to be an interesting treatise on love from a Biblical perspective. The subject is approached from a several uncommon angles which brings some fresh insight into the subject of love and relationships. It is easy to read since it is in conversation format...a discussion between God and an ordinary man.

From my own personal Christian background, I find a few statements that conflict with what I believe the Bible teaches. I think, however, that this is not deliberate on the author's part but these are areas where more explanation should have been given. For example: "Man can BE God" on page 22. Again on pages 218-220 the author makes statements about the Word (Jesus) being
"begat", "existent", "became" and "formed" which all imply "beginning". This is inconsistent with Bible teaching from which the author quotes extensively.

The use of the words "Nirvana" (meaning success, well-being, and good fortune) and "koan" implies Eastern religious influence mixed in with Christianity.

Twenty-five statements on pages 67-68 and the Chapter 6 "The Twelve Reasons Why Man Exists" is an excellent resource for those seeking knowledge about "Why we are here in the world."

Oddly, there are two pages 111-112 in the middle of the book entitled "Some Sample Questions." While these are excellent questions most people ask themselves, there seems to be no explanation about them or their purpose nor are there any references made to them. No direct answers to these questions are provided by the author either from his own experience or by way of suggestions.

Overall, this book is a good read, is informative, and, I think, captures God's thinking about us (and very possibly, from God's point of view).

Reviews (4)

Heart-Centered Living
"Turmoil is a call for awakening. Every challenge, great or small, is moving you to look deeper and draw forth the highest in you. You're never given a challenge beyond your ability to meet and master. You'll rise above every circumstance because you're greater than any circumstance." ~Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen's wisdom continues to inspire me after years of hearing excerpts from his books on the "Dave 'til Dawn" show. Every time Dave Wingert would read a quote or passage it would be exactly what I needed to hear. Finally, I decided to read all of Alan's books and thought I should start with "Wisdom of the Heart."

Alan Cohen's message accesses a deep place of peace and can calm a troubled heart. His insight and wisdom will resonate with your core beliefs, no matter what religion you espouse. If there is a battle between your head and heart, this book will quickly remedy any doubts and will foster an environment in which you can escape the tyranny of the mind.

Through aphorisms, lessons, poems, quotations, humorous stories and parables, Alan provides a calm environment in which you can reconnect with your heart. Unique quotes and passages from Anatole France, Theophane the Monk, Parker J. Palmer, Rumi, William Shakespeare, D. H. Lawrence, William James, Piet Hein, Walt Whitman and Albert Schweitzer made this book quite interesting. Especially since these were not quotes you would find that easily. There are also many stories that are part of oral traditions passed down through generations of storytellers.

Each chapter begins with a story or poetic quotations and then Alan provides a few paragraphs of insight. There are 52 selections. You can read one a week or devour them all in a single sitting. I enjoyed this book so much, I seriously could not stop reading and the pages kept turning.

Many of the stories have humorous endings. This book will also heal with laughter. I loved the story about "Caller I.D." in which a mystery is solved and two people find their soul mates. Then, in "Smoke Signals" we find that in the irony of life, our problems can be solved by what we first assume is a tragedy. In "True To Yourself" Alan shows how we can follow our unique path in life and reap the benefits of perseverance.

Alan Cohen has a unique style of writing. He is able to condense profound thoughts in a minimum of sentences. He speaks directly to your heart. I found his lyrical style comforting and healing. "Wisdom of the Heart" will lead you to a place where your heart will open and your mind will submit to a new place of calm.

Alan is a "truth finder." If you are seeking, this is a book where you will find a place to set down your depression, discouragement and failures in the past. "Wisdom of the Heart" shows you the beauty of the "Cosmic Coincidence Control Center." It guides you to the path of a success thinker and gives you permission to follow the path your heart will love.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Also look for:

The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore
A Deep Breath of Life
Lifestyles of the Rich in Spirit
Looking in for Number One
The Peace that You Seek
Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It

Wonderful little book!
I have read many of Alan Cohen's books, and he is one of my favourite authors.This book arrived on a day I was feeling down, and after reading it, I felt touched and inspired.It has now become my favourite of his books - it imparts a great deal of wisdom in few words.I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Inspired Living
Alan Cohen has another hit book in this title.I have come to each of his book separately, at first intrigued by the titles.I found the content to be so great that I am quickly gathering his whole library!This is one of his latest books and it offers tips on how to stay focused each and every day.There are short chapters and it is a great book to pick up to get a quick change of attitude.

Reviews (6)

Russell Ash deservesto die
If genocide was legal, Russell Ash would be the first man eliminated on top ten people I hate list.It might be true that Russell Ash uses quite a few resources for his books, but i've looked at every book he's made and the simple fact is that these are terrible lists, the only way I have found his books useful/interesting is while under the influence of pain killers. For someone to say this is book is fun/interesting, in my mind is the same as saying I represent everything the world hates about America.Russell Ash has made a career of wasting America's time with his books and if you have the money to waste on this book, go buy your kid a new toy, or your spouse/mother something that proves you've been thinking about them instead of this nonsense.

#1 Book For Your Coffee Table
You don't care that Secretariat in 1973 had the fastest ever winning time of 1:59.2 in a Kentucky Derby, but you like movies?Indulge yourself with 30 pages of movie trivia, where you'll find that Jack Nicholson has had the most Oscar nominations with 13.Don't care if "Cats" had the longest run for a Broadway musical with 7,485 shows, but you're a criminology nut?China performs the most executions with 1,067.

If you don't like one page, just pick another.You won't go far before you will be enthralled.The book lists the top 10 in each arbitrary category, usually with units of selection provided.

Most strikes in 2000 - Denmark

Greatest military losses in WWII - USSR with 13.6 million

Lowest divorce rate - Libya .24/1000/year

Interestingly illustrated - information in the introduction as to methods of compilation - great for a home coffee table - wouldn't last long in your public waiting room.

I highly recommend this trivial book!

Features

• 12 fresh Passion Fruits
• Ships 2nd Day
• Seasonal Item

Reviews (2)

It gets 4 stars JUST FOR being passionfruit
Apparently Melissa's gets their passionfruit summer through winter from California, and early spring through summer from New Zealand. I ordered in September and got fruits containing an unusually homogeneous, liquid pulp, almost as if they'd been thrown in a centrifuge and shaken; it wasn't the most fragrant either. But still - passionfruit! Even not-great passionfruit is terrific. I will try again after Xmas, as the NZ stuff is bound to be better; New Zealand knows its passionfruit. It's just a relief to be able to get pfruit in the USA.

Recipe follows:

Custard Squares

You will need:
- custard powder (Bird's or Edmond's)
- passionfruit
- icing sugar / confectioner's sugar
- puff pastry
- an 8-inch square brownie pan
- milk, sugar, an egg

Roll sufficient puff pastry into a sheet and cut into 2 8-inch squares. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a hot oven until golden and puffy. When cool, line the brownie pan with one square; keep the other for a top layer.

Make a custard by combining 5 Tb custard powder, 4 cups milk, 7 Tb sugar, and the egg, and stir over medium heat until thickened. Quickly pour / scoop into the brownie pan and spread it around. Place the second pastry sheet on top and smooth it down. The custard will solidify as it reaches room temperature.

When the contents of the pan are cool, ice with passionfruit icing. For icing, mix the pulp of 2 passionfruit (seeds and all) with enough powdered sugar to reach a thin, spreadable consistency. Passionfruit seeds are crunchy and add interest. Cut the "big custard square" into brownie-size small squares with a sharp knife and eat with fingers.

Fresh, Canned and in Cakes
"I fervently hope that soon, Passionfruit will become as ubiquitous as the Kiwi Fruit. As demand rises, production will rise and prices will drop." ~Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley

As a child in Africa, I patiently waited for our granadilla vine to produce exotic flowers. Finally a fruit appeared and seemed to age on the vine as it developed a deep purple dimpled skin. Once ripe, the granadillas/passionfruit were cut in half and the golden fragrant pulp speckled with black seeds could be strained and used in a variety of desserts and drinks.

The problem with falling in love with granadillas/passionfruit is that it is very difficult to find unless you live near a grocery store that is willing to carry the "best tasting fruits on earth." On this, Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley and I agree.

The reason I'm reviewing passionfruits is because his book is not yet listed here at Amazon and it has the most amazing "Passionfruit Spice Cake" recipe. For the recipe, you need passionfruit juice from fresh passionfruit. Patrick gives advice on how to use passionfruit and if you are going to order fresh passionfruit, this information is difficult to find.

To find passionfruit, you almost have to order it online. Which is what I've ended up doing. You can find it in cans that are distributed by Protea Imports online or you can order them from Melissa's.

You might also love the deluxe exotic fruit basket that may contain any of the following:
Asian Pears, Baby, Red or Manzano Bananas, Baby Pineapples, Blood Oranges, Cherimoyas, Coconuts, Feijoas, Kiwano Melons, Kiwis, Kumquats, Lychees, Mangos, Passionfruit, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Sapotes, Star fruits, Strawberry Papayas, or Tamarillos.

Papaya is divine with muscovado sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Just let it get syrupy overnight in the refrigerator. Kumquats are like tiny sweet/sour oranges that you just eat whole or slice up for decorations. It is a "make a face" experience, but what a divine one. We used to pick the off the trees on the way home from school in Africa. Same with the Pomegranates growing on bushes near our home. What a life. I've started making "semi-preserved" star fruits. I make them and eat them in a few days. They are also perfect for drinks. Lychees are so delicious. You peel the thin skin off the fruit and reveal a very juicy almost translucent glossy grape like fruit.

They almost remind me of an exotic perfume. Blood oranges were all the rage in gourmet recipes for a few years. I still see they are quite popular.

Fresh Passionfruit is a true luxury. If you can afford it, order more than you think you will need. They really don't have that much "filling/flesh" but the flavor is quite exotic. If you order the cookbooks, they will tell you how to blend the pulp with juice to make
a mixture you can use in recipes.

If you start shopping for exotic produce, you might enjoy:

The Purple Kiwi Cookbook by Karen Caplan - this cookbook has recipes for lots of exotic produce.

A Passionfruit Cookbook by Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley (It is RARE to find a cookbook for passionfruit. Trust me, I've looked. Patrick is also an artist and designed the cover.)

P.S. About the Amazing Passionfruit Cake:

For the cake I made, I adapted the recipe and only used 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon allspice. I also used "all butter" instead of shortening and strained canned passionfruit for the passionfruit juice. Patrick uses quite a bit more spice in his cake. I also ended up making a filling of (2 cans passionfruit, strained and blended with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ¼ cup Apricot jam.) You heat the mixture for 5 minutes and then spread it between cake layers. I also doubled the icing (plus used more confectioners' sugar) and baked the mixture in three cake pans. That way, I just sliced the cakes in half, spread them with the filling and iced them. Perfect for surprising three friends in the Fall. A wonderful passionfruit spice cake experience.

Reviews (11)

Fascinating book but Cherniske Investigated by FTC
I am 1/2 of the way through this book and have thus far been fascinated... truly amazed.The writing is clear and the case compelling.However, I did a 'google' on Stephen Chernike and found that he is under FTC investigation - see http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/c4017.htm
So, it made me wonder.It is impossible to know that to believe.There are so many different and sometimes conflicting opinions by 'experts'.I find it very frustrating.Does anyone know whether this is legitimate?

Grow Younger - No Really!
"To truly maintain a high quality of life over a long period of time, you have to treat the underlying cause of aging, which is metabolism." ~Stephen Cherniske

Are you frustrated with doctors who only treat your symptoms? Do you want to take more control of your future health?

"The Metabolic Plan" is an inspiring journey into the world of anti-aging solutions. I read every word in a state of absolute wonder. By the time you finish reading this book, you will understand how your body functions on the cellular level. You will also know the details of glycation and oxidation, understand why free-radical damage contributes to nearly all disease states, and discover the beauty of "clustered water."

Stephen Cherniske is an internationally renowned nutritional biochemist who not only explains aging on the biochemical level, he shows you how to slow and even reverse the process. He shows how the body really works, then he explains anabolic power. Once he has laid out his theory, he proves it with well-organized chapters and convincing arguments. Highly intellectual concepts have been made palatable. I really enjoyed his metaphors, humor, analogies, and how he made the complex understandable.

Stephen Cherniske has not only unlocked the secrets of longevity, he is a living example. He has learned how to stop his body from going into a premature "shut down" sequence. He was born in 1948 although medical testing shows his biological age to be around 35 and he has the same muscle-to-fat ration he did when he graduated from high school.

This is not a "diet" and the author says most diets send your metabolism in the wrong direction. If you are frustrated with diets, this is the healthy and logical alternative. The Metabolic Plan is really a lifestyle. You take stock of your current situation and develop a battle plan to defeat aging. With this plan you can improve your mood, sex drive, stamina, energy level, digestion, muscle mass and skin tone. You will notice a more radiant you in the mirror!

The Chapters Include:

1. Foundations
2. Restoring Your Anabolic Power
3. Putting the Brakes on Catabolic Metabolism
4. Stress and the Aging Process
5. How Good Do You Want to Look and Feel?
6. Illness, Immunity, and Metabolism
7. Energy, Exercise, and Metabolism
8. Optimal Nutrition: Building Blocks of the Metabolic Plan
9. Water: Lifespring of the Metabolic Plan
10. Metabolic Issues for Women and Men
11. Keeping Score, Staying Motivated, and Taking Action - Action steps for ages 35-75 (tests, supplements, exercise, major focus and major concerns)
12. Conclusion: A Question of Balance, the Nature of Time
Resources - lots of websites where you can do additional research.

The Metabolic Plan has been featured in the Oprah magazine, Body & Soul, Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine and Natural Health Magazine. Stephen's articles have also appeared in USA Today, Newsweek and Time. He has appeared on Dateline NBC, FOX News and 48 hours and is widely recognized as a top expert in nutrition.

When I first heard Stephen Cherniske on a radio show, I was instantly intrigued. I knew I wanted to read his book and patiently waited for it to be published. What I didn't realize was how life-changing this information would be.

"You are capable of replacing 300 billion cells every day."

This book presents the most logical and convincing argument for exercising I've ever read. My thought was: "You mean I'm telling my brain I'm older than I am? Wait, I'm going to change the signals I'm sending my brain! Today!" I then went out and bought a pedometer and some suggested supplements and healthy foods, not to mention green barley, aloe juice, milk thistle and melons. There are some delicious foods you can add to your grocery cart and in a few weeks you feel like a different person. Even eating fresh fruits instead of drinking fructose laden drinks helps! I like his ideas about buying whole foods so you don't have to read so many labels!

Some of the questions Stephen Cherniske answers:

Is it possible to enjoy "the prime of life stage" until you are 65?
What is 7-Keto? Why should I not take DHEA before 35?
How can I get my doctor involved in my anti-aging journey?
How can I get my body to produce more DHEA and hGH naturally?
How can I enter a more restful level of sleep?
Why should I maintain optimal liver function?
Why is "just" taking a multivitamin similar to tossing a cup of water on a forest fire?

Stephen Cherniske also provides information on tests you can request to show you your biological age. There is also a nice index so you can look up information when you need it fast.

If you have recently had a visceral awakening (Help! I'm aging too fast!) and are nearing 40, "The Metabolic Plan" will give you all the information you need to make your life a more empowered experience. Suddenly, you will realize how much you can do to stay younger longer!

"The Metabolic Plan" presents a proactive approach. Stephen Cherniske shows how you can restore anabolic metabolism and put the brakes on catabolic activity. You may also want to read: "The DHEA Breakthrough" and "Caffeine Blues."

I'm convinced that this is one of the most important books you will ever read! If you can read this book before you are 40, you will be way ahead of the game! Recommended reading for men and women between 35 and 75 years of age. I just turned 36 and already I've noticed I have more energy in the first month after starting this plan. I'm not even taking the DHEA yet! So, this book is not just about DHEA, it is about healthy life choices and supplements you can take to improve your quality of life.

"The Metabolic Plan" is the most enlightening book on longevity I've read to date! This is cutting edge information. Highly Recommended.100 Stars!

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Features

• Caffeine Free
• Antioxidant Rich
• Great Taste
• Imported from South Africa
• Top 8% of the rooibos crop

Reviews (1)

Memories of Africa
This tea brings back memories of sitting outdoors on our deck in Africa in the afternoon. We would always put a heaping tablespoon of condensed milk into our tea. Of course now I used stevia and powdered milk. Ok, so occasionally I get out a can opener.

There is nothing like the smooth, almost sweet flavor of this tea. The only way this tea can be made more delicious is if you brew it in a tin can over an open fire. Why? I'm not sure, but that is how we made our tea outdoors. Maybe it added a smoky flavor.

Now they have discovered that Rooibos is an antioxidant rich tea and is a tea of choice just like green tea. Although, I've read that Rooibos has 50 times the anti-oxidant properties of green tea.

I've been drinking this tea since I was seven years old and finally they are importing it all over the place! Apparently it has been popular in Europe as an herbal tea and remedy. I'm not sure why it has taken so long to reach America. I've been ordering it from Canada.

This tea is a bit exotic at first, but soon you might start craving the rich flavor. It is caffeine free, additive free, preservative free, colorant free and very low in tannin.

The Rooibos (pronounced roy-boss) plant grows in the Cedar Valley deep in the heart of South Africal. It is a natural herb that is only harvested every two years.

This tea can be used as an herbal remedy for colicky babies by adding some of the tea to a beverage of choice.

For adults, this tea can help to calm nervous tensions, eradicate allergies and help with stomach problems, indigestion and can boost the immune system. This tea contains over forty polyphenol compounds and flavonoids. This tea is also anti-bacterial, anti-aging and anti-viral.

If you want to experience this tea out in Africa, look for "Africa's Top Wildlife Countries" by Mark W. Nolting. Drinking this tea could inspire wandering thoughts of roaming through the African veld.

Reviews (12)

SMART PACKING MATTERS
Travelers, the Smart Packing System works. I've crisscrossed Europe, Asia and the USA for over 40 years and Smart Packing for Today's Traveler is my guide on how to pack right. I've saved time, money and my back.The detailed illustrations and the up-to-the-minute travel tips provide all the information that you'll need for a getaway weekend or a journey around the world.

Packing and travel was never easier!
I've always been a traveler who has the largest suitcases. I take lots of clothes, supplies, anything that I 'think' I'll need. After my last trip and the sore arm that developed from lugging all my stuff all over hotels and conventions, I decided to try a new approach. I searched for a book that could help me simplify my luggage problem and selected "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler."

Now, after reading "Smart Packing", I am looking at travel with new eyes. Never again will I pack as much 'stuff.' Susan Foster's insight has helped me learn how to pack, what to take, and how to accommodate many different occasions with a unified clothing scheme. In addition, her words about safety and travel basics have given me, a very seasoned traveler, many new ideas. This one book has taught me so many lessons that I'm simply thrilled.

I can't wait to take my next trip. I will be so proud when I look and feel fantastic using the contents of my one small suitcase. Thank you Susan, you've made packing and travel so much easier.

Reviews (9)

The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations For Lovers
The ritual of cooking and dining have not been explored enough in our American culture in terms of romance. This book is about preparing sensual dishes (tastes and presentations) with the right atmosphere (candles, soft music, flowers, beautiful settings). All the recipes are simple and are clearly displayed on only one page thus freeing the cook to spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table with a loved one.

WHEN DINNER FOR TWO MEANS FOR THAN JUST DINNER!
As a dating/relationship author and online advisor I'm always looking for new resources to recommend to interested people in my genre.Here's a simple yet profound book on how to make your relationship more romantic, exciting, and intimate.

For many men the three magic words that come out of his mouth when he talks to his wife are "what's for dinner" instead of "I love you."But a smart women looking to find his heart through his stomach, this is a book for you.

The ritual of cooking and dining have not been explored enough in our American culture in terms of romance.This book is about preparing sensual dishes (tastes and presentations) with the right atmosphere (candles, soft music, flowers, beautiful settings).All the recipes are simple and are clearly displayed on only one page thus freeing the cook to spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table with her lover.

With today's busy lifestyles, here's a book that helps us focus on simple ways to bring more romance in our lives by doing what we do with more flair, style, and forethought.

Sensual Dining for Two
"Cooking and seduction are delicious arts that involve head, hand and heart. Great lovers are inspired by passion, as are great chefs." ~Diane Brown

"The Seduction Cookbook" is probably one of the most exciting cookbooks you will ever buy. Not only does it contain many secrets of seduction, the recipes are exotic and divinely delicious. Your lover will think you are a cooking god or goddess who has arrived to give them a tantalizing gourmet feast. They will worship you later in appreciation.

Diane Brown has been practicing the art of seduction cooking for years. Her recipes have also been featured in "Bon Appetit," "Gourmet," and "Sunset" magazine. Her introductions to all the chapters contain some of the sultriest sentence you will ever read and her recipes are all very easy to make.

What is Seduction Cooking? - This, you want to know! ;) Some great ideas that don't even involve cooking!

Write a Sexy Invitation to Dine - Romance, romance! I love the ideas especially writing "secret codes" only your lover could crack or delivering items to your lover that he/she has to wear to dinner.

Seductive Starters: Getting Warmed Up - Diane shows you how to create a mood for love and her idea about the tablecloth and rose petals could help you discover the pleasures of finger foods. There are recipes for Artichokes with Warm Vinaigrette, Chile Lime Shrimp, Lover's Purses and the delicious Endive, Orange and Fennel Salad.

The Main Event: Seduction Dinners - Imagine dining on Baked Cod with Shitake Mashed Potatoes and Shitake Sauce or Cornish Game Hens with Orange, Ginger and Soy Sauce. Baked Salmon with Raspberry Cabernet Sauce is one of the most interesting recipes I've tried in this cookbook. Shallots, raspberry preserves and Cabernet Sauvignon make a syrupy sauce to coat the salmon.

Seduction on the Side - Looking for zesty and provocative side dishes? Try the Broccoli in Orange Chile Oil that has a sauce you pour over steamed broccoli. The Green Basmati Rice is actually one of my favorite seduction secrets. I think it is the garlic. This recipe alone proved this book works.

Sweet Seduction: Desserts for Debauchery - If you love marscarpone cheese, the recipe for stuffed strawberries takes this creamy, dreamy cheese to new levels. Poached pears are drenched in a cardamom ginger sauce. Broiled Plums with Lemon Sorbet could not be easier and you have to try the honeydew recipe.

If you are looking for one sexy recipe for honeydew, it is in this cookbook. I made it twice in two days and plan to make it once a week. At first I was skeptical about the combination of rosemary and honeydew melon, but now I'm a believer. The syrupy sauce coating the melon is quite interesting and almost tingles on your tongue. I used vermouth but you can use a sweet white wine of your choice. Honeydew does soak up the syrup rather well, but I also love the syrup with other melons like cantaloupe. Imagine feeding your lover little slices or balls of melon dripping with an intoxicating syrup.

Late Night Seduction Snacks - Orange slices and Strawberries dipped in chocolate syrup or Toasted Cinnamon Raisin Bread with Cream Cheese are two of the ideas.

The Morning After: Breakfasts to Rekindle the Passion - Want to impress your lover with your "omelet" making skills? There are some delicious fillings too. Do Banana Pancakes with Caramelized Walnuts sound worth waking up for and how about serving breakfast with a seduction smoothie made from mangoes, strawberries and lemon yogurt. Diane even shows you how to make your own Chai Tea. There are also some "quickie" breakfast ideas like warm croissants with preserves.

Seduction Scenarios: Menus to Make the Mood - You will find Menus for: Valentine's Day, Romance of Italy, Indian Spice, Late Night Fireside Supper, Bewitching Bedroom Brunch and Decadent Dessert Orgy.

Seduction Staples - Diane shows you how to toast spices, purchase the freshest shellfish and roast peppers. Oh, and the all important... how to whip cream with vanilla and powdered sugar.

Grow an Erotic Herb Garden - Imagine your garden bursting with fresh herbs, especially rosemary, lavender and basil.

If you want to end up under the table, somewhere near the table or drifting towards the bedroom after dinner, this is your book. You might even want to eat dinner in bed or while reclining on velvet pillows in a room filled with candles.

This is one sexy cookbook! I'm in love with Diane's creative writing and sensual recipes. If you love to cook, this is a cookbook you will soon learn to covet.

Reviews (1)

Thought Provoking Mysteries
Have you ever been thinking about a friend and they called you? Was this coincidence or ESP? Something that happens to me is that I will at times hear a number someone is thinking before they say it. This once happened twice in one phone call, so there is definitely some way we receive information from one mind to the other without even speaking. They say this is telepathy.

If you are fascinated by the unexplained, you will find this book to have an overwhelming magnetic force on your mind. I was drawn into the pages and could not stop reading about everything from psychic powers to spontaneous human combustion.

Joel Levy attempts to give us a new perspective on these common occurrences through revealing incredible stories and exploding a few myths along the way.

Some of the Mysteries include:

PSI Phenomena - When a force gives the human mind control over matter, space and even time.

Hypnosis - A method for changing the normal relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind.

ESP - Telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition. Did you know there are tests you can take to determine if you are psychic? The author also discusses various occurrences where pets found their owners in almost impossible ways. Is this Animal ESP (anpsi)? Are you fascinated by Nostradamus? You can also read about dreams of doom. However, Joel Levy has a clever way of explaining some events through calculating the probability of an event.

Psychokinesis (PK) - Can people really start fires just from thinking about them? Thoughtography was also a new idea to me.

Psychic Healing - Can divine power be channeled at will? The information on "The Placebo Effect" is rather interesting. The information on psychoneuro-immunology (PNI) shows how the mind exerts control over the body and you will be encouraged to know that positive thinking can help your body heal.

The Spirit World - Want to be freaked out late at night? Read chapter 6-9. Ghosts of the living, now there is an idea. Oh, this is encouraging, ghosts can also be changes in temperature or noises. Want to go Ghost Hunting? The author tells you what you need to take with you. The information on Electronic Voice Phenomena could be comforting or could just be explained by pareidolia. You will be amused by "e-mails" from ghosts.

OBE - Ever left your body? The author explains why people may get a glimpse of heaven when they have a near-death experience. Ever listened to music by Ravi Shankar? He has a rather interesting story.

Magic - Want to find out what Madonna is talking about when she says: "kabbalah?" But we always knew she was a witchy woman.

Religion - Was Jesus also an exorcist? I liked the section on guardian angels.

Natural Mysteries - Read about anomalies of nature. Some great pictures of creative crop circles. What causes it to rain frogs and fish?

Mythical Monsters - Sea serpents are still being spotted by mariners in this present age. Reading about hypertrichosis complete with pictures might even explain werewolves.

Aliens & UFOs - What have people seen through the ages? The picture of an "Avrocar" looks like a UFO to me. Could this explain it all?

Throughout the book there are green trivia boxes, blue internet boxes with websites you can visit for more information and little yellow boxes give word definitions. If you have an inquiring mind, there are pages of websites to lead you into further exploration of mysterious events and unexplained occurrences.

Will strange things happen while reading this book? Don't doubt it.

Now, when I got to the page about the Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On" started playing on the radio. No lies. While those types of things tend to happen to me all the time while reading, the really creepy aspect of the Titanic story was the information about an English journalist named W.T. Stead who was warned by several psychics about a maritime catastrophe in April of 1912. He booked passage on the Titanic and we all know what happened.

I'm still looking for information on people who see and hear words at the same time. I mean, it happens to me ALL the time and drives me insane. I've only met two people who understand this because it happens to them. I'd love to read about this if anyone knows where I can find the information.

To explain: I received (saw) the words: flushing, search, bank, January, V (five), Speak, Near or Far, Time Now - while listening to the radio and TV. Either I was typing the word at the time I heard it or I saw it in a book while I heard it. It also happens
to me while writing letters to friends.

A friend said this "word message" meant: "Reduce things in your life and search the world for your treasure in the New Year. Don't be silent anywhere, the time is now."

If you have any experiences with the "unexplained" or are just curious about unsolved mysteries, this book will amuse you. Meeting someone who has similar experiences will make you realize we have a lot to learn about how our minds work.

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Reviews (38)

Realizing Negative Patterns Requires the First Step
The first step is buy the book.We all have negative patterns....it's recognizing them, isolating them, and making the conscience effort to CHANGE them that is the challenge.

The first reward can be knowing that you are moving possitively in the direction you visualize that you want to be in - your life, health, and relationships.The next reward is seeing those goals come into fruition.The last is true self-acceptance (which I am still working on) but I see that reward as being immeasurable.

I could really identify with his case studies - I felt there was a bit of me in all of them.I also liked his approach to goal setting and how to break it down on a daily/weekly basis so it is more managable.

The bottom line:if you are looking for some real ephonies in your own life, this is a great tool to get you there.

Creating a More Fulfilling Life
"I can assure you that the successful people in your life who you admire apply many, or all, of the techniques described in this book. Success is no accident, nor is it unconscious. People who achieve their goals are almost always acutely aware of what directions they take in reaching their destinations." ~Charles Stuart Platkin

If you are tired of spinning in the same circular conversations, walking the same paths to the same unfulfilling destinations or can't seem to implement strategies to reach your goals, "Breaking the Pattern" might encourage you to remodel your life.

Charles Stuart Platkin has discovered five basic principles you can apply to your life in order to make changes, reach your dreams and finally live the ideal life of your choosing. He used the principles in this book to change his own life.

What started as a letter to a friend turned into self-reflection and through writing, Charles started to think more clearly. Through further interviews and discussions with friends and professionals the author started to find real answers:

1. What's a Pattern and How Do I Know What Mine Are? - A study of self-sabotaging and self-paralyzing behavior. Are you choosing the easy path of substance abuse, short cuts or just making bad choices and finding someone else to blame? What are your triggers?

2. Self-Evaluation and Reflection Workshop - A variety of exercises where you answer questions and then analyze the answers. One of the most important sections in this chapter is "Asking the Right Questions."

3. Failure Is an Asset Waiting to Be Discovered - Successful people seem to see rejection and failure as a reminder that they are still on the path towards their goals. Sometimes just having the goal and continuing towards that goal, no matter what, is a formula for success. The author explains how you can overcome fear and move beyond failure.

4. Taking Responsibility Leads to Freedom - An interesting look at blame, being a victim, making excuses, avoiding responsibility and being the martyr. A discussion of why many people surrender their responsibility to a higher power.

5. What Makes a Goal a Goal?- An interesting section on intrinsic rewards.

6. If You Can See It,It Can Happen - Do you have the discipline it takes to reach your goals? Ideas on how to set realistic goals and overcome obstacles in your way. There is a place to write down your ideas for short and long-term goals.

7. Making Change Happen and Transforming Your Life -What are your values? Are you open to possibility? How do you find the positive patterns?

8. Tactics and Strategies for Changing Your Life -In the final chapter, the author explains how our "internal commentary" can change our lives.

I loved all the inspirational quotes and stories, the positive and healing environment this book provides, and the idea that short-term failure is no excuse not to achieve long-term success.

Do you feel imprisoned by the past? Do you desire a more fulfilling future? "Breaking the Pattern" will help to set you free from the disappointments of the past so you can reach for a more positive future.

"Breaking the Pattern" is a well-written and well-organized collection of empowering ideas to help you modify your own behavior so you can finally leave failure in the dust. This is a book to help you reach your personal, relationship and career goals. It is perhaps one of the most important books you will ever read if you want to break free from destructive patterns of behavior.

~The Rebecca Review.com