The Weeknd – The Knowing
The Weirdest Music Video I have Ever Seen?
Posted: February 24, 2012 in Music VideosTags: Music Video, Drake, The Weeknd, OVOXO, The Knowing, Abel Tesfaye, xoxxoooxo, House Of Balloons
Beer That Tastes Good?
Posted: February 21, 2012 in Foody ReviewTags: Angry Orchard, Beer, Belgian White, Berry Weiss, Blue Moon, Bud Light Lime, Cherry Wheat, Hard Cider, Hoegaarden, Leinenkugel's, Sam Adams, Shock Top, Witbier, WoodChuck
As a University of Maryland Undergraduate, I had attended my share of wild “keggers” and crazy dorm parties. Those late night beer-fests and jungle juice jams are what exposed me to the wonderful world of alcohol. While I do not advocate underage drinking, as a realist I know that it does occur and will continue to occur until colleges become extinct. So people please do not think I am writing this post to encourage or entice anyone under the legal drinking age to drink. I am writing this post to expose my twenty-one and over folks who absolutely despise the taste of beer to a few liquid sensations that will not only pull you into the dark side, but keep you there. All of the brews I will mention are not your typical beers. Some of them don’t contain any wheat, barley, or rye and are in fact made with fruit. Oh yes my good friends, I am about to open your minds to a whole new level of liquid temptation.
1. ANGRY ORCHARD – “CRISP APPLE” CIDER
This is my favorite beer thus far. Because it is made with apples and only apples, it is naturally gluten-free and its 5% alcohol content is sure to get you a nice quick buzz after just one bottle. Although Angry Orchard comes in three flavors I have only tasted their Crisp Apple and their Apple Ginger (which is a close second on the “delicious” meter). Angry Orchard’s Crisp Apple has that good ol’ apple cider taste with that crisp mouth puckering finish that is sure to enhance any meal. But, for a sugar overload I suggest pairing it with something sweet like apple pie or carrot cake.
2. WOODCHUCK DRAFT CIDER – AMBER
Yes, yes, yes, I know what you’re probably thinking: “Another hard cider?” And if you ARE asking that question the answer is yes. I’m sorry, but I find deliciously sweet apple nectar that can give me a buzz very alluring. Although Woodchuck’s brand of cider is not as tasty as Angry Orchard, I still find it pretty irresistible. A couple of these during happy hour and your taste-buds will be doing the tango while you experience that grand old bubbly, yet airy feeling in your head. (Probably from that 5% alcohol content in every bottle.) Woodchuck has quite a few different flavors of their “Hard Cider”. I have only tasted the Amber and the Granny Smith, which I must say has more of that beer taste to it than I would have liked. So I would advise those of you who don’t like the taste of beer to steer clear of that one. However, I will be trying their Pear, Raspberry and their version of the “Crisp” cider. Who knows? It may even be better than Angry Orchards.
3. LEINENKUGEL’S – BERRY WEISS
This is the definition of hybrid brews. Leinenkugel’s “Berry Weiss” is a nice blend of “pale and wheat” malts with “Logan, Elder, and Blackberries.” (Source: http://leinie.com/berry_weiss.htm ) And trust me, blackberries never tasted sweeter in this ode to fresh and sweet flavors. With a 4.8% alcohol by volume, it may take an extra brew to get you where you want to get. But oh is it worth it and what a sweet victory it will be. So for all of you fruit drink lovers, try this one on for size. No bitter beer or “hoppy” taste here.
I discovered this sensation during happy hour at cornerstone – my favorite bar across the street from the University of Maryland campus. Blue Moon’s “Belgian White” is unlike any other brew. Like Hoegaarden and Shock Top, it too is spiced with coriander and orange peel. But, unlike those two, its taste is superb and more refined. Shock Top wishes it was Blue Moon and Hoegaarden just wishes it could share the same bar conversation. When garnished with an orange slice and poured into an ice-cold mug, its cloudy goodness can be seen in its splendor. I like to eat the orange and drop the peel in the mug to allow its natural flavor to really shine. Pair it with grilled chicken, shrimp kabobs or fish tacos and you’ve got yourself a great experience.
For those who don’t like the original Bud Light, the additional lime flavoring will surely change your outlook on the Budweiser brand. Adding lime was the greatest thing they could have done to improve the taste of Bud Light. That 100% lime flavor gives it a summer kind of feel; A strong upgrade from a Corona with lime. Bud Light Lime is what Miller’s “Chill” looks up to and hopes it can someday achieve the magnitude of crisp, refreshing flavor that its Bud Light counterpart achieves. Pair this with tequila-lime chicken, nachos, or a pepper-jack cheeseburger and you will fool your brain into thinking the bar could become heaven. Do it!
6. SAMUEL ADAMS – CHERRY WHEAT
I came across this jewel while perusing my favorite beer and wine store. I was in search of a new brew and wanted something that wouldn’t taste too hoppy and would be memorable and I definitely picked a good one when I grabbed a six-pack of Sam Adams “Cherry Wheat”. This is a great addition to the Sam Adam’s brand. It is not too sweet, yet not too hoppy. A great neutral beer with a nice cherry finish that refreshes, never overwhelming the palate. Pair this with a turkey, ham or roasted chicken dish to take the meal to new heights.
Although Shock Top does not taste exactly like Blue Moon it is a close second. While it is also a Belgian style wheat ale, Shock Top’s “Belgian White” has lemon peel, lime peel and coriander spice added in the mix for flavoring . And those distinguishing citrus accents are what make it unique and tasty. Pair this with a catfish seafood club and some beer battered fries. Ahhh, good times!
Now I know some of you avid beer drinkers may be thinking, “What about the I.P.A.’s, and the dark lager’s?” Or you may be thinking, “he didn’t include Heineken, Amstel, Stella” or something like that and if you read the intro paragraph to this post you would know why I didn’t mention any of those beers. This is the guide for the non-beer enthusiast who doesn’t like the taste of beer. And while I am certain I will be able to make a more extensive list in the future, at this point these are my seven favorites.
Thee Lava Sauce
Posted: January 17, 2012 in UncategorizedTags: Arteest, cayenne pepper, crystal hot sauce, Fire, Food, garlic powder, Hot, Lava, louisiana style, onion powder, Sauce, Spicy, white onions
To add an extra level of heat to your meal try your meal with this spicy sauce I created.
Ingredients
- Ranch Dressing
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
- Hot Sauce (Preferably Louisiana Style Crystal Hot Sauce)
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salsa (Diced Green Peppers, Diced White onions, tomato sauce or paste)
To increase or decrease the heat in this sauce, simply increase or decrease amounts of each ingredient at your leisure. You can also add hotter peppers to intensify the level of heat in this sauce.
2012 Movie PreviewsThat Kick Ass
Posted: December 22, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: 2012, 2012 movie previews, 2012 movies, American Pie 4, American Reunion, Arnold Swarzenegger, Batman, Battleship, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum, Christian Bale, Chronicle, Chuck Norris, Clash of the Titans 2, Denzel Washington, Dolph Lundgren, Expendables, G.I. Joe 2, Ghost Rider 2, Hunger Games, Idris Elba, Jack The Giant Killer, Jason Biggs, Jason Statham, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, M.I.B., Men In Black 3, movie trailers, movies, Nicholas Cage, Retaliation, Rihanna, Safe, Safe House, Spirit of Vengeance, Stifler, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, The Expendables 2, The Rock, Titans, trailers, Underworld, Underworld Awakening, Will Smith, Wrath of the Titans
THE EXPENDABLES 2
MEN IN BLACK 3
AMERICAN PIE 4: AMERICAN REUNION
UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING
SAFE HOUSE
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
CLASH OF THE TITANS 2: WRATH OF THE TITANS
SAFE
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION
JACK THE GIANT KILLER
BATTLESHIP
CHRONICLE
THE HUNGER GAMES
Wise Words from Steve Jobs (PLEASE READ)
Posted: October 6, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Apple Computers, Computers, CPU, iPhone, iPod, Mac, Macintosh, RIP Steve Jobs, Stanford University, Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs Death, Steve Jobs Speech
Since the initial report of Steve Jobs’ passing I have really been thinking about the impact that death has on other people’s lives. Steve Jobs’ death has made me think about my life and examine the path that I have taken thus far. When I look at his life I think, “Here was a man who changed the world. A man who was daring and persistent. A man whose actions have allowed millions of people to not just enjoy their favorite songs at the click of a button or organize every album they’ve ever wanted in a simple CPU folder. But, here is a man who has inspired generations of dreamers and innovators alike to reach for the “unobtainable” and conceive the unexpected”. When I look at my life I think, “here is a man with purpose, searching for a means”. I especially identify with Steve Jobs’ story because he, like myself, and so many other people in my generation have struggled with figuring out what it is they want to do in the world. And although he faced adversity and times of uncertainty he pushed on and became a huge success. But he didn’t become the Steve Jobs we remember today from going to school and graduating from some expensive college or university. Steve Jobs is the definition of “The American Dream.” He obtained success by taking the non-traditional path. Earlier today while riding the UM Shuttle, I came across a speech he gave at a Stanford University graduation in 2005 and it made me not just reflect on my past, but also gave me optimism for my future. I wish to be great. When I leave this plane I want to be remembered throughout history for contributing something that helped people. Whether it be music, poetry, prose, film, whatever. This speech gives great advice to all of you out there who haven’t yet achieved what you are setting out for. Keep grinding, never lose sight of your mission and don’t allow circumstances to circumvent your achievements.
Source: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
“This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.
I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.
The first story is about connecting the dots.
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?
It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last-minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.
And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.
It wasn’t all romantic. I didn’t have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends’ rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:
Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn’t have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.
Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
My second story is about love and loss.
I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.
I really didn’t know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down – that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.
I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.
During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.
My third story is about death.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you’d have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.
This was the closest I’ve been to facing death, and I hope it’s the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960′s, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and Polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much.”
5 Reasons Why #UMD is Great!
Posted: September 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Aaron McGruder, Abel Battery, Arteest, Camille Michelle Gray, Connie Chung, DMV, DMV Live Radio, DP, Football Uniforms, Hip-Hop, Ike Da Kid, Jim Henson, Kayla Taitz, Kriss Mincey, Maryland, Peter Rosenberg, Radio, Shegaw Productions, Simisola, Terps, The Official, UMD, Under Armour, Undergrounduates, University of Maryland
#5 Our Football Team Has Kick Ass Under Armour Uniforms
#4 There is an S.G.A recognized Hip-Hop Club on campus: UMD Undergrounduates
#3 There is a radio show that provides free concerts every Friday: DMV Live Radio
#2 Many talented alumni and current students attend UMD: Jim Henson, Peter Rosenberg, Connie Chung, Aaron McGruder, Abel Battery, DP, The Official, Kriss Mincey, Kayla Taitz, Shegaw Productions, Camille Michelle Gray, Simisola, Ike DA Kid, and many, many more.
#1 I graduate from UMD in December! Yeeeeeaaaaahh!
Real, Cool, and Provocative Music Videos
Posted: August 28, 2011 in Music VideosTags: 1+1, A.D.H.D., Beyonce, Cool, How to Love, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Provocative, Real, Rocksmith
Real – Lil Wayne “How To Love”
Cool – Kendrick Lamar “A.D.H.D.”
Provocative – Beyoncé “1 + 1″
The DMV Music Scene Gets a Mixtape Series for the Masses
Posted: July 29, 2011 in Music ArtistsTags: AnMor, ArtLyfEnt, Black Cobain, DMV, Erika Anderson, EyeDeal, Ihsan Bilal, Ike Da Kid, it's Da Kid, J-artz, Kid Musiq, Locke Kaushal, mixtape, Muggsy Malone, nike nando, OBI 1, Obii Say, PHZ-Sicks, Playlist the DMV, Prominant, Tay & Nycist, UCB
Playlist the DMV Mixtape?
After months of hearing great music projects from DMV (DC, Md., & Va.) music artists, I decided it was time for someone to start a series of mixtapes that would expose the rest of the world to the DMV’s music scene. “Playlist the DMV” is the product of that idea. Organized by me, Arteest and released under the ArtLyfEnt (Arteestic Lifestyle Entertainment) brand, this series is a collection of songs from talented artists all over The District, Maryland, and Virginia. This is my attempt at helping artists from the area by providing an additional outlet for getting their music heard.
Each mixtape explores a broad range of vocal, production, and collaborative abilities. Artists range from amateur, unsigned hype to musically seasoned, signed entertainers. Songs will range from the more mainstream sounds we are used to hearing on radio and TV to the more underground type of appeal appreciated by true music enthusiasts. Every volume in the series will give listeners a musically diverse project from one of the most profitable and listened to genres in the world: Hip-Hop.
The title “Playlist the DMV” came from the idea of searching the genres “hip-hop” or “rap” in iTunes to create a playlist and this mixtape is what you would get; a playlist of various music artists who rap about diverse themes and have a wide array of styles and sounds.
All available internet resources will be utilized to make each volume of the series more accessible. Every mixtape in the series will be free and will be uploaded to websites like Datpiff.com and Bandcamp.com and also downloadable via Hulkshare and various blogs. It will also be promoted via facebook, twitter, and word of mouth. Under the ArtLyfEnt brand with the help of music lovers everywhere ArtLyfEnt hopes to become a major influence in music, organize and host quality mixtapes, and help elevate unsigned artists to gain national if not global attention. That is the mission of ArtLyfEnt and the “Playlist The DMV” series and I hope everyone enjoys volumes one through four and future volumes of the series.
ArtLyfEnt Presents Playlist The DMV Vol. 4
This is the fourth installment in ArtLyfEnt’s Playlist The DMV series. It features talented music artists from the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area). Most of the artists from this mixtape already have mixtapes and musical projects of their own. This project provides a sample of what their mixtapes sound like. PTDMV 4 features songs from such DMV music artists as Black Cobain, UCB, Nike Nando, DTMD, Muggsy Malone, and Kid Musiq to name a few. With 19 tracks that prove the DMV music scene is hungry and thriving, volume 4 packs some bass heavy, super lyrical songs and some laid back, suave jams that are guaranteed to strike a moment of nostalgia for the ol’ school hip-hop head and yet intrigue the average neo hip-hop enthusiast. Curious? Download ArtLyfEnt Presents Playlist The DMV Volume 4 and find out what the DMV has to offer.
Follow: @ArtLyfEnt , @Arteest1 & @DMV_LiveRadio1
For mixtape placement inquiries contact: ArtLyfEnt@gmail.com
Cool, Creative & Crazy #DMV Music Videos
Posted: July 7, 2011 in Music VideosTags: Artificial Relief, Clear Water Chillin, DMV, EQ, Hip-Hop, Innerloop Records, Sketch, Steph Castro, The Great Escape, Virginia Tec-9
Here are three music videos from three talented Hip-Hop artists from the DMV (DC, MD, and VA). I like all three of these songs and the videos are a great representation of the lyrics. Check them out and download their mixtapes if you like them.
Cool
Steph Castro – Clear Water Chillin
Creative
EQ - The Great Escape
Crazy
Sketch – Virginia Tec-9













