Music Monday: Love Don’t Die

I should’ve chosen the Fray’s Love Don’t Die as a pick in February. I didn’t. Whatevs. String me up by my toenails. Or something equally gruesome and horrific. Or not. Or maybe, just listen to the song ’cause love isn’t confined just to February or Valentine’s Day or some other artificially made up calendar event. Plus, it’s just a cool ass song.

Enjoy!

The Government Watches Us… We Should Watch Back

I’m not a crazy alarmist. I’m just crazy. lol Seriously, I KNOW when people say things like this, it sounds crazy. Plus, there’s this whole laziness factor to add in as well. Then there are elements of disbelief because… it just can’t be. But it is. Parts of our society have gone to seed, been allowed to run rampant with unfettered access to power and position as we watch on.

Do I think our government is evil? No. It’s populated with people as well, who are just as lazy as the rest of us. But when the general population is being all lazy and shit, we isolate and want everyone to leave us the hell alone. When government gets lazy, something else happens. Corners are cut and shortcuts are taken. Only the people who represent our government do this, its the general population that ends up paying.

So what started all this? Just watching video after video of cops pulling people over and going beyond the scope. So, here’s the deal. It used to be that some cops had cameras on their cars. It got pulled because there were too many incidents that made the cops look unfavorable. So many departments got rid of them. So my bright idea is to have citizen filmers.

That’s right. We all have smart phones and some of us carry around small video cameras. Film traffic stops and various other cop/citizen interaction. Then upload it onto youtube so that interested parties can access it. Tag it with date, time and city/state and crossroads.  As more videos are uploaded, it’ll be like the largest grass roots reality TV show ALL on youtube. Not only do we keep everyone in check, we get some good entertainment as well. Win/win, dude. What the hell are we waiting for?

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Examples of why we need to watch our government, starting with the police.

Hundred’s Protest Albuquerque’s Trigger-Happy Police Department

Music Monday: Radioactive

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons is my pick for the day. Not only is the music bad-ass, the muppets in the video are AWESOME. I like the beat it has, but the words are cool as well. But seriously, its the vid that has me coming back again and again to watch. 😉

**no muppets were harmed in the making of the video.
***today’s selection in no way has anything to do with St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Although this song would be good to have a beer with when listening. 🙂 While wearing green or something. Or maybe drinking green beer, umm cause, well, you know, radioactive and shit. You know, glowing green = bad. 😉

Happy Valentine’s Day 2014

It’s the day of love– for love and lovers.

To that end, I found a compilation of 80s love songs. Yeah, I know it probably dates me… but no one did or does love songs like those songster of yesteryear. So listen to the music as you finish out the post and let the notes carry you to a far, far better place. 😉 Journey, Foreigner and more.

Enjoy!

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like candy and flowers. Bet you didn’t know you could combine those two things. I’ve put a recipe for candied roses down below. But don’t limit yourself to roses. There are lots of edible flowers and a veritable rainbow can be had depending on which bloom you choose.

Sugared Rose Petals and Rose Sugar

Roses first came to the West from Persia in 1240 by way of French Crusaders. The first known cultivated rose is Rosa gallica var. officinalis, also known as the apothecary rose. I use the petals for various things: potpourri, bath fizzies, bath salts, rose water, and cooking. The petals are lovely in salads, but what I really like to do is candy them and make rose sugar.

Sugared Rose Petal Ingredients and Supplies

-pasteurized egg white beaten with a little water (if you’re concerned about using raw eggs, -you can use simple syrup or prepared meringue powder)
-Granulated sugar
-Fragrant rose petals, well rinsed and patted dry
-A small watercolor brush

Rose Sugar Ingredients and Supplies

-Fragrant organic rose petals, well rinsed and patted dry
-Sugar
-A clean, pretty jar, such as a Ball Kilner rubber-sealed jar

 

To Make Sugared Rose Petals

1. Make sure your rose petals are organic (pesticide free). Remove the bottom white tip of each rose petal and discard; the tips have a bitter flavor. Assemble your supplies.
2. Paint both sides of each rose petal with the egg wash, simple syrup, or prepared meringue powder.
3. Sprinkle the prepared petals in sugar on both sides
4. Set on a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and let dry overnight. If you use simple syrup, the petals won’t hold their shape as well as they do with the egg wash
5. Use your candied petals as edible decorations for cakes, puddings, candies, cookies, and pastries. If you don’t plan to use them right away, store sugared petals in a freezer.

 

To Make Rose Sugar

1. Make sure your rose petals are organic (pesticide free). Remove the bottom white tip of each rose petal and discard. Sprinkle sugar on the bottom of the jar and sprinkle a layer of rose petals over it. Layer more sugar and rose petals until the jar is filled. Store in a cool, dark place (such as your pantry or cupboard or “close roome”) for several weeks. When you open up the jar you’ll be met with a rosy perfume. You can remove the petals before using.
2. Use your Rose Sugar to flavor pastries, cookies, and confections or sprinkled over their tops. Stir the rose-infused sugar into tea, lemonade, or anything you’d like to give a slight rosy flavor. It’s particularly nice sprinkled on top of scones and shortbread.

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As you listen to love songs and eat delicious things, remember… today is about love. And love is about giving to others. So don’t forget to spread and share the love. Not just today, but everyday.

Music Monday- Sweater Weather

Up on the playlist for today is The Neighborhood’s Sweater Weather. It’s got a kinda cool sound- all easy and loose. The perfect song to chase away the cold and bring in the warm. After all, it is sweater weather. 😉

Music Monday- Counting Stars

by OneRepublic is the featured song for this Music Monday. You know, cause everything that kills me makes me feel alive.  😉

Music Monday: Wizards in Winter

Trans-Siberian Orchestra did the video to this synchronizing 75,000 lights to this song. Couldn’t think of a better musical tribute for bringing in the week of Christmas with this special music.

Enjoy!

 

Music Monday: Santa Baby

Not your usual Santa Baby. This one is performed by Run DMC featuring Mase, Diddy, Salt & Peppa, Snoop Dog and many others. A little something different for the holidays. They changed up some of the words. lol I heard this for the first time on one of the Very Special Christmas CDs. Loved it. Wanted to share.

Enjoy!

 

Music Monday 10/28/13

Justin Timberlake, y’all. Yes, yes I know. I’m sure some of you have strong feelings about my selection for this Music Monday. Don’t care. Not a me problem. He’s been on my mind lately. Not just because he has a new album out, but also because he’s been mentioned in a trilogy I was reading. Like worlds converging, yo.

See, I didn’t use to like JT. Not at all. I had relegated him to the corner of laughable boy band personas with lip syncing capabilities, pretty boy looks and easy docility. In other words, I wrote him off. Completely.

Then one night as I was on the way to the forum. No, not really. I just always wanted to say that. It was one night. But it wasn’t on the way to the forum. It was as I was hanging out watching HBO in my bedroom that JT came on in his FUTURE SEX/LOVE tour badness. He took over the screen. And he gave a helluva performance. Which made me rethink things about him. No, I still don’t think he has a great voice. But it’s passable. What he does have is the ability to perform and put on a show and entertain us. And that’s a talent. It takes skill. Charisma. He has it. He’ll never be a great singer. But he is a good performer.

So here are a few JT selections. Two from that concert I saw on HBO and one from his latest album. Enjoy!

Love Stoned/I Think She Knows

What Goes Around

Mirrors

Music Monday 10/7/13

Thought I’d do a throwback day with some disco. Fall is my favorite season, the weather makes me wanna dance. But not as much as disco makes me want to dance. So in honor of disco, I am doing a BeeGees tribute.

You know, I don’t think disco gets enough credit. It’s often overlooked. But I think it’s an important bridge from then to now.

First up is Grease. Need I say more?

Next up is Stayin Alive. See, the second iconic disco movie after Grease is Saturday Night Fever. Seriously.

And last is Jive Talking. It’s not least. There are a ton more I wanted to include, but I only have so much room, ya know? Normally three is that limit. So this ultimately cool song is the third to be featured.