Fresh Friday Finds

1. Imagine showing up on November 4th to cast your history-making vote for Barack Obama—only to be turned away because you aren’t properly registered. Think it can’t happen to you? Don’t be so sure. There are a bunch of reasons your registration might not be up to date, even if you think it is. Take one minute right now to double-check your registration using our cool web tool, VotePoke. Click here: Check your registration!

2. Russell Simmons talks about his veganism, Obama, and yoga on CNN! Thanks to Dawnwatch for this news-bite.

3. Simple Gunny Banana Bag.

Simple’s Banana bag is made from Jute. Jute is a rain-fed crop with little need for fertilizer or pesticides. Jute fibre is also 100% bio-degradable and recyclable and thus environmentally friendly.

4. Help End the Slaughter of American Horses in Mexico!

5. Loomstate’s Summer Look. Loomstate‘s Summer Man in organic cotton:

If you still haven’t gotten your look together this summer, here’s a pointer: Go with clean, simple short-sleeve button-downs over chinos or cutoff slacks. Leave the socks at home (just put some baking soda in your shoes to ward off the evil smells!). These are easy elements to find thrifting. Fit is everything. Don’t underestimate it. The shoulder seam should fall mid-shoulder, you’ll look sloppy if it’s hanging over onto your lower shoulder. Don’t be afraid to button-up leaving one or two open. It’s not the 70′s, and your man-cleavage should not be the main-attraction.

6. Less than 4000 tigers remain in the wild. Help save them from hunters, medical superstitions, and illegal traders.

7. English Retreads! These vegan bags and accessories are made from 100% recycled tires!

8. Help create a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary!

Please send an e-mail to International Whaling Commission (IWC) member countries asking them to vote for the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.

9. I am not typically a fan of slogan shirts. However, I have such a passionate hatred for the Hummer and everything it represents, that this organic shirt from Green Label Organics jumped out at me. I wouldn’t necessairy wear it, but I certainly agree with it. Bummer.

10. Ruddy Duck in Hood River, Oregon is an awesome mens eco-botique!

Fresh Friday Finds

1. There is still time to come out and support Farm Sanctuary’s life-saving efforts! Hang out with Russell Simmons, Dennis Kucinich, yours truly, and other animal and eco advocates, celebs, designers, and all the ethically fabulous people at the 2008 Gala, hosted by Heather Mills.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Lisa Edelstein, Susie Essman, Rory Freedman, Dennis Kucinich, Swoosie Kurtz, Vanessa Marcil, Peter Max, Kevin Nealon, Dan Piraro, Eric Roberts, Ally Sheedy, Russell Simmons, Hal Sparks, Loretta Swit, True and Keisha Whitaker, Persia White, and, many more…to be announced!

Tickets are $400 per person.
To purchase tickets, donate and learn more, or to find out about sponsorship and advertising opportunities and make product donations and auction contributions to support the event, please contact us at 607-583-2225 ext.221 or gala@farmsanctuary.org

2. Lazy Activist? Help Animals Every Time You IM!

3. Joshua’s Vegan Ricotta (for Stuffed Shells, Manicotti, or Lasagna)

What You’ll Need:

• 1 package jumbo shells / manicotti (can be used in Lasagna also)
• 1 large jar/ 2 cans of organic, vegan red sauce or marinara
• 1 block silken tofu
• 1 block “follow your heart” Monterey-Jack vegan cheese
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 2 Tbs Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tbs Basil
• 1 Tbs Sugar or other sweetner
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• (add spinach or mushroom to the mixture if desired)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor, use like ricotta to stuff shells or manicotti, or layer in lasagna.
2. Pour a 1/4 inch layer of red sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Stuff shells/manicotti with the mixture using a teaspoon. Arrange the stuffed pasta on top of the sauce, side by side. Pour remaining sauce over the pasta. the sauce should come up to just about the top of the pasta.

Tip - For a cheesier dish, shred additional vegan cheese to melt over the top while baking, (make sure to cover with foil or pyrex lid so it melts) if desired.

4. If you are a homo in California, you can now legally get married! Read the NYT article. The court’s 4-to-3 decision striking down state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman makes California only the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.

5. Good news for forests!

Environmental Investigation Agency Applauds U.S. Congress for Passing World’s First Ban on Import of Illegally Logged Wood. Read the full article here.

“WASHINGTON, May 15 — The United States Congress today passed landmark legislation to address the global illegal logging crisis. The U.S. is the first country in the world to prohibit the import of illegally-harvested wood and wood products.”

6. Organic Skinnies and Chinos from Loomstate:

LOOMSTATE at Barney’s