I Am Not A Human Being II (IANAHB2) is the tenth album from the rapper Lil Wayne and was released this past Tuesday, March 26th, 2013. Thankfully through the wonders of iTunes I got myself a copy and have run through every track on there, which is a first for me regarding any Lil Wayne album.
A little background information first, I am not a big fan of Lil Wayne or any Young Money rapper, or even am I a big fan of any rap music in general. I do admit to having rap on my Ipod and it is enjoyable to listen to while driving at night, so I decided to give this album a try.
IANAHB 2 seems to be lost between Weezy’s past albums and what you’d find off his mixtapes. Throughout the album you find songs that seem to be experimental and stray from what you’re use to from Lil Wayne (“Hello” in particular is nothing what I would have expected), leftovers from previous albums (A remade “Hot Revolver” is on here), but also the same in your face, drug crazed, gangster loving Lil Wayne the world has gotten from his previous albums. The most memorable song on here is probably the most pleasant surprise (God Bless America) as it holds a lot deeper of a meaning I’ve ever heard come from Lil Wayne before.
Overall this isn’t Lil Wayne in his finest form, which is something you can expect from an album that doesn’t have the word “Carter” in it. While the songs seem to be off from what we’re use to from Lil Wayne along with some of his older songs recycled into here, it’s still something you’ll want to at least give it a listen to. As for me, I’ll be adding more rap music on my iTunes library and patiently waiting for “Tha Carter V”.
Amid signs that he may have to accept a scaled-down version of gun legislation, Obama sounded a note of frustration in calling upon Americans to demand action from the U.S. Congress in the weeks ahead.
He said the legislation’s opponents, the powerful U.S. gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association, are “doing everything they can” to derail the effort barely 100 days after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, in which a gunman killed 20 children, six staff members and then himself.
“The entire country pledged we would do something about it and that this time would be different. Shame on us if we’ve forgotten. I haven’t forgotten those kids. Shame on us if we’ve forgotten,” said Obama, appearing at the White House with mothers of children who had been shot to death.
The gunman in Newtown, Adam Lanza, fired 154 rounds in less than 5 minutes, selecting high capacity magazines from a home arsenal stocked with swords, knives and a cache of guns, officials said Thursday.
Whether you celebrate the holiday of Easter or not, chances are you’ll be doing this for sure: eating.
The weekends are a chance to relax, eat a leisurely meal (do we know what that is anymore?) and talk, laugh and hang out with friends and family.
Instead of going out to eat this weekend, why not invite other people over to your place?
I’ll admit, if you look for entertaining advice in popular magazines, it can be disheartening. Many gurus teach decorating tips and meals that are not only for the culinary super-person, they include a lot of expensive ingredients. After a long week, spending hours preparing for a big dinner party is not on most people’s to-do list. It’s just not realistic.
However, sharing meals in your home with family and friends can be one of life’s most life-giving experiences. Making food for people is an extension of your heart- it’s an act of love.
And you don’t have to have a super fancy or chic décor living space to throw a great party. (When did you last hear: “We had such a great time because their apartment was SO gorgeous,” never, ever!)
Great entertaining comes from two things: good food and engaging conversation with people.
Both of these things are easily achieved. Here are a few tips on how to throw a spring fling this weekend.
1. Try a spring brunch instead of a dinner.
Brunches are typically a little less costly to put on. Plus, a brunch is less time intensive in the kitchen. Omelets, potatoes, French toast, coffee, juice, fresh fruit. Choose a few things and you’re set. Ask your guests to bring juice or fresh fruit. If you are not a morning person, do the prep for an easy peasy recipe like Baked French Toast the night before (see recipe below). In the morning, make coffee and throw together a fruit plate. Tada! You’re done!
2. Do the 15 minute Quick Clean
Close the doors of rooms you don’t want people to go into (have a “mess room” where the laundry, unopened mail, shoes, etc. can be put it). Do a quick spray and dry on the bathroom mirror, sink and counter top. Put out fresh towels.
3. Décor on a dime.
Spring is here. (Officially, even if the skies are bit gray still). Grab a bouquet of tulips, daffodils and put them in a vase. Farmers markets have them from $2.50 to $7.00 for a bouquet. The splash of spring will brighten the room.
4. Remember, the host sets the tone.
As a host, I set the temperature for the conversation. If I’m relaxed, laughing and conversing, everyone else is too. If I’m stressed over the food, others pick up on it and feel uncomfortable. Be like Julia Child: if anything goes awry, just laugh and keep going.
In the end, the experience is what makes a memory. Happy Easter and Happy Spring!
Recipe for Baked French Toast
I love this recipe because I can make it the night before AND this is very budget friendly. Ingredients:
A loaf of bread: I’ve used wheat, white and French bread.
8 eggs
2 cups milk
½ cup ½ and ½
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Streusel Topping:
6 Tbs. butter (chopped into pieces)
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup flour
Dash of nutmeg
¼ tsp. of salt
Spread a bit of butter or your favorite stick-free spray onto a 9×13 pan. Tear the bread into pieces.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and add in the milk, ½ and ½, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Pour mixture over the bread and wrap tightly. Place in refrigerator overnight.
The streusel topping can be made at the same time or in the morning. Make sure the butter is chopped into a lot of small pieces so it spreads better. With a fork, crumble the butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon salt, and dash of nutmeg.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the wrapping and spread the streusel over the French toast. Bake for 45 minutes.
Serve with warm syrup and seasonal fruit for a beautiful and delicious spring brunch!
It’s that wonderful time of year again. No matter what team you prefer, you can be optimistic about the season ahead. No matter what moves your team made in the off season, it’s Opening Day and everyone is tied for first place. Here in the Bronx though, we know something that others don’t realize. No matter what moves your team made and no matter what “Sports Illustrated” says, this is our house and this is our time. Opening Day in the Bronx marks the beginning of a new pursuit for another championship. That’s because as far as we are concerned, the World Series has a home, and it’s home is on 161st Street and River Avenue. Welcome to the Bronx, where Opening Day might as well be a holiday.
Yankee Baseball is deeply rooted in the Bronx. The Yankee’s began their storied history with a brief stint as the Baltimore Orioles. They were formed in 1901 as one of the American League’s original eight teams. The organization moved to New York shortly after, in 1903. In upper Manhattan’s Hilltop Park, they played as the Highlanders until 1913 when the team’s official name was changed to the Yankees. In 1923, the Yankees moved directly across the Harlem River into the Bronx. Yankee Stadium was opened and there it stayed until 2008 when its heir was built. Bronx natives as well as other Yankee fans, have packed the house year after year starting with Opening Day on April 18, 1923. Not much has changed in that regard since that day. Yankee fans are among the most loyal fans in baseball. Despite the traditional weekday scheduling, Opening Day in the Bronx promises to be a max capacity event.
If you are a Yankee fan then you know what I’m talking about. It’s that day of the year when the kids get to play hooky from school while the adults play hooky from work. It’s a day for tradition, and we as Yankee fans know a thing or two about tradition. Every year, my brother, my friends and I get bleacher seats for the home opener. We all take the day off and wake up early. We meet at my house for breakfast and then its onto the train and down to Stan’s. We get to the bar no later than 9:30am because after all, we are celebrating our holiday. Stan’s is a haven for Yankee die hards, especially on this particular day. Everyone is there for the same reasons; eat, drink and be Yankee fans.
I don’t know if you have been to other stadiums but I have. Baseball really is an amazing game no matter where it’s played, but it just has this special aura in the Bronx. It belongs here. Even with a new $1.3 billion mammoth of a stadium, Opening Day still feels special. We have the only perfect game ever thrown in the World Series, we’ve got Mr. October and Mr. November, and we started standing on two strikes. We’ve blown ‘em away and we’ve walked ‘em off. We have pulled off upsets and we have swept opponents aside on the way to 27 World Championships, and all that starts with Opening Day. This year has the makings of an interesting season. Everyone seems to be underestimating our Bombers. Labeling this team as underdogs is a crucial mistake and they have everything it takes to make teams pay.
Tradition means everything to us fans. It’s a way of starting off the season on the right foot. After all, if we break tradition we may jinx our beloved Yankees. Lets keep the traditions going and lets enjoy another beautiful Yankee game. We deserve it because we have the greatest team in the world and we are the greatest fans in the world. It’s time we do our pre-game rituals and then head to the stadium. Scan your ticket, grab a beer, find your seat and quiet down because role call is about to begin. It’s Opening Day, and all is right in the Bronx.
So come that special morning, you will find me at Stan’s bright and early. That’s our tradition. What’s yours?
The Miami Heat 27-game win streak has officially been derailed. The 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers record of 33-straight is safe. The Wednesday night match-up with the Chicago Bulls was another hard fought game that favored more of a football game between the Miami Dolphins vs. the Chicago Bears at times. With LeBron James being literally tackled by a Bulls defender as James attempted a layup or close lined by Taj Gibson during another layup attempt, this was one physical outing. Nevertheless, the streak is over. But what a run it was.
The Heat hadn’t lost a game since February 1, against the Indiana Pacers but on February 3, against the Toronto Raptors, the historic Heat journey began. During the 52-days of this run, the Heat had some impressive achievements. They compiled 13-road wins, overcame 7-double digit deficits (one of those, a staggering 27-point hole they had dug against a short handed Cleveland Cavaliers team just last week), averaged nearly 51% shooting from the field (50.8), had an 11.9 point margin of victory, and earned the 2nd longest NBA win streak in history. LeBron James averaged 27-points during the streak while shooting an amazing 57.5% with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Dwayne Wade had great numbers as well, averaging 22.8 a game and shooting 53.6%.
Needless to say, the streak hadn’t gone without notice. Some of the greats of the game, both past and present, expressed their perspectives of this amazing run by the Miami Heat. Hall of Famer, Jerry West, who is one of the proud participants of the current 33-game win streak from the ’71-’72 Lakers, said on Wednesday nights Heat loss,
I really thought they were going to do it. It’s a remarkable streak. I wasn’t rooting against them at all. At halftime, I thought they were going to win the game. But all you need sometimes is a few things to go wrong. It was a great accomplishment. It creates incredible fan interest.
West also added that he feels the Heat players wouldn’t be distracted by the loss due to their ultimate goal and focus for year end accomplishments–the NBA Title.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers added thoughts from a fans perspective in saying,
I think just as a student of the game, as a fan of the game, you appreciate those kind of streaks and you realize how difficult it is to put together that big of a streak. Obviously the Lakers winning 33 in a row was phenomenal, but the Heat’s one was just as impressive.
No matter if you’re a fan of the Miami Heat or not, you have to appreciate the significance of this extraordinary run. To win 27-straight games against NBA players is not like winning that many in the college level or below. These are professional basketball players. Yes, some teams are weaker than others, but I guarantee you could never comprise your best 5 to 10 players off the street and expect to perform at a higher level than the worst NBA team. The 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers know how difficult it was, just as the 1972 Miami Dolphins who have the record of a Perfect Season going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl in that season finishing 17-0. Unheard of back then, and still, no one has matched them to date.
So we, as fans, are and will always be, in awe of greatness. No matter the team, the sport, or the individual. Amazing will always be Amazing. Thank you Miami Heat players for bringing us fans such an amazing stretch of basketball. Now, it’s time for the playoffs and time to defend as NBA CHAMPS!
The two-minute ad, titled “Loaded for Bear,” focuses heavily on Palin’s CPAC appearance, lauding her as the fearless anti-establishment superstar.
The video also features freshman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) praising Palin for her work in 2012 and giving her credit for his win, as well as that of others. It also features text reminding viewers that there are 35 Senate races and 36 gubernatorial races next year. The video ends with the silhouette of a bear growling, and the words “We haven’t yet begun to fight!”
All dinosaurs who think that a woman’s right to make her own decisions regarding reproduction should be legislated and delegated over by a bunch of old men holding government jobs, must die!
All dinosaurs who believe that a person’s right to love and marry whomever they choose should be anybody’s business but their own, must die!
All dinosaurs who’d sooner protest by the hundreds in front of abortion clinics to save an unborn fetus, but won’t spend one minute in protest against wars which kill their sons and daughters by the thousands, must die!
All dinosaurs who believe that a black man or any other American citizen, based on their ethnicity, age, sex or sexual orientation, should never be president of the United States of America, must die!
All dinosaurs who think that anyone in this country should be blocked from exercising their right as citizens to vote, must die!
All dinosaurs who believes that a woman, in any way, shape or form is inferior to any man, must die!
All dinosaurs who think that money and success makes you privileged and beyond reproach, must die!
All dinosaurs who think their religious faith is the One True Faith and that God only hears them when they pray, must die!
All dinosaurs who do not believe in redemption, forgiveness and transformation, must die!
All dinosaurs who believe that when a woman says “No”, she never really means no, must die!
All dinosaurs who fight progress tooth and nail, must die!
All dinosaurs who hate others based solely on the color of their skin, and not the content of their character, must die!
All dinosaurs who don’t believe that we can one day attain peace through peaceful means, must die!
Dinosaurs are extinct by design. They cannot and should not exist in this present climate of Change and Evolution. There is literally no more room for them here. They must go the way of the Dodo, the T-Rex and the Woolly Mammoth,
The saying goes, that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Let me just add that the way to any lover’s heart is through their gastrointestinal tract (a man who cooks for me has already gotten to 2nd base, easy lol!). But what if your Baby “isn’t from around here” and you want to cook something special from home that will make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside, ust like their Mama use to make? Well, you’re in luck! I’ll be blogging recipes for cuisine from countries around the world, starting from the Muslim land of Afghanistan to the Motherland of Zimbabwe. So get those pots n’ pans and recipe cards ready! Our first stop?… Afghanistan for Kabuli Pulao!
Kabuli Pulao – Afghani Rice
(Rice Pilaf with Meat, Raisin & Carrots)
Cooking Time: 40 minutes / Serves: 6
Ingredients:
Lamb or Beef – 750 Gram, cut in large pieces (lightly salted) Beef/Lamb broth – 1 cup Basmati rice – 3 cups (500 Gram) Onion – 2 large, diced Saffron – ½ tsp Cumin powder – ½ tbsp Salt – 2 tsp Carrots – 3, julienned (sliced) thin vertical slices Black raisins – 1 cup Almonds – ½ cup, blanched Pistachios – ½ cup, blanched Cooking oil – ½ cup (250 ml) Tomato- 3 medium size Water – 2½ cups (boiled)
Preparation:
Soak rice in water in a bowl and keep aside.
Heat oil in a heavy large skillet or pressure cooker and fry onions until golden brown. Add meat pieces to the fried onion and cook until light brown on both sides. Add saffron and tomatos fry the meat until the oil separates and rises to the top. Add water (boiled) and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer covered until meat is tender. Add more water if required.
In a separate pan, sauté carrots, in a small quantity of oil, add sugar and fry until softened. Remove from pan and keep aside. Add a little oil to the pan and sauté raisins until they swell up. Remove from pan and set aside. Next fry the almonds and pistachios to a golden brown and set aside.
When meat is cooked, Lower the heat and add rice, salt and water/beef broth cover the pan (pressure cooker) cook until rice absorb water. once the water dries up to about 70% of its original quantity, then cover the pan (pressure cooker) Let the Pulao stand for about 15-20 minutes on medium/low heat. We call this brewing time.
When ready to serve, transfer the rice on serving plate, top with meat in the center surrounded by carrots on all sides, sprinkle with raisins and nuts.
If you were hoping and praying that Ashley Judd would run for Senate, well I’m sorry to disappoint you. After much fanfare about a possible Senate run to dethrone Republican Mitch McConnell, Judd took to Twitter and informed the world that she would not run. Instead, the popular Democratic actress said that she would use this time to concentrate on her family.
If the country is rushing headlong toward full-throated endorsement of same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court apparently didn’t get the memo.
Over two days of oral arguments on what has been described as the civil rights issue of the 21st century, the justices spent more time addressing mundane matters of states’ rights and judicial standing than threshold issues of equality and morality.
The result still may be at least incremental progress for the gay rights movement, but it’s likely to come more with a whimper than a bang — and with substantial regrets about the way the two cases were presented, argued and decided.
The best guess at this point is that the court, controlled by Justice Anthony Kennedy, its swing vote, will leave California’s gay marriage ban in the hands of that state’s courts, which already have struck it down. That would legalize gay marriage in the nation’s largest state — no small matter — but would not implicate similar bans in 37 other states.
And even on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which offered a fatter target for the court because it denies financial and other benefits to legally married same-sex couples, the court fretted more over the government’s jurisdiction than matters of morality.
Happy Easter! But what does Easter mean to you? There are so many that believe Easter has something to do with a Bunny Rabbit that lay eggs for us to hide and hunt for; or jelly beans and chocolate bunnies that are crème filled and full of calories and the fulfillment of a sweet tooth craving. Easter has turned into a commercially charged money-maker. With candy companies loading stores with their sweets and clothing stores laying out their racks with new suits and dresses, Easter has become a multi-billion dollar sales bonanza for major corporations.
According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Easter spending survey, conducted by BIGinsight in March of 2012, Americans shelled out an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations that year, up 11 percent from $131.04 the previous year. Total spending was expected to reach $16.8 billion.
“Though the price of gas is on everyone’s mind, Easter is one of the few holidays some consumers are willing to stretch their budgets, especially because many children look forward to treats and new outfits on Easter morning,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Retailers will make sure to offer plenty of promotions on candy, apparel, food and decorations in the coming weeks for eager holiday shoppers.”
Due to consumer demand, the sales breakdown is expected to look like this:
48.5% will head to retailers for spring sales on fashions and accessories for kids, men, and women while spending approximately $3.0 billion on these items.
89.3% will purchase more than $2 billion on traditional favorites such as chocolate eggs and jelly beans.
Easter meals with the average person expected to spend around $44.34 for a total $5.1 billion.
53.6% will buy greeting cards, spending an average of $7.04.
My, how the most sacred of holidays has eclipsed the true meaning of what this week is supposed to represent. According to the Holy Bible, this week was the time in which Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, promoting the “Kingdom of God” was at hand. The Passover and the Last Supper had taken place and Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the Chief Priest by Judas Iscariot and on Friday, he would be Crucified by the Roman soldiers. As He died on the cross, Jesus, in His last breathes asked GOD to forgive them for, “They no not what they do”. That still rings True on today. We, as a nation – even this whole world –, ‘know not what we’re doing’. The Good News is God Still Forgives! All we have to do is ask, which is why Jesus came into this world.
So, what is the true meaning of Easter? Is it the things that money can buy or is it the one thing that money could never buy?
A tiny hint, money can’t buy your Salvation. And Salvation is Sweeter than candy. Smile.
This post will be filed under WTF because I am at a total loss as to the point this professor wanted to make.
A university is under fire after a class assignment instructed its students to write the word ‘Jesus’ on a piece of paper, throw it on the floor, and then stomp on it.
Florida Gov Rick Scott has now demanded an investigation into the ‘offensive’ assignment after a Florida Atlantic University professor allegedly threw a student out of his class for refusing to participate.
Ryan Rotela, a junior at FAU’s Davie campus who describes himself as a de
vout Mormon, says it was his refusal to participate that led to his suspension.
‘Anytime you stomp on something it shows that you believe that something has no value. So if you were to stomp on the word Jesus, it says that the word has no value,’ Mr Rotela told CBS12.
The assignment instructed in Dr. Deandre Poole’s intercultural communication class was meant to demonstrate the power of words and symbols, according to the exercise.
This exercise is actually included in the school’s instructor’s manual where the students are to express why they would hesitate before stomping on the name JESUS.
The problem with this exercise is once any student does go through with the exercise, you have now crossed a boundary where the rights and respect for all religions is certainly being violated.
I can totally understand not believing in someone’s religion. That freedom to have your own belief is what this country was built on. This freedom is even written into the constitution.
So what exactly gave this professor the authority to ask his students to deface the religion of millions is not only stupid and insensitive; it also slaps the constitution dead in the face.
An investigation is definitely in order. And his teaching credentials should be revoked for life.
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