Nathan

The band broke up this year. Or it went on “indefinite hiatus,” like R.E.M. or The Pixies—titans that didn’t flare out in a blaze of glory but simply went to bed after a slow, strong fade. Harmonix, the Boston-based developer behind Rock Band (and the entire plastic-instrument-game phenomenon of the last decade) released its last downloadable songs for the game on April 2, two and a half years after the release of the final game in the series, Rock Band 3. Don McLean’s “American Pie” closed out 281 consecutive weeks of new songs for living ...

Thanks to Baby DJ School—which, yes, is a real thing—bored and/or musically inclined infants can now learn to drop beats and mix things that aren’t spit and milk. The eight-week program takes place at a venue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (naturally) and is designed for babies age 3 and under who are really into vinyl. The class is taught by Natalie Elizabeth Weiss, a DJ who’s worked with acts like LCD Soundsystem, Das Racist, and the especially baby-friendly Butthole Surfers. It focuses on teaching “little ones” how to play and handle records, mix and match ...

In sports news that doesn’t involve Eminem trolling Brent Musburger or the NFL’s opening week, Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympics over the weekend, after a atypically peaceful IOC vote in Buenos Aires. Cursed with extended Groundhog Day-esque fallout, we’ve now got seven years to look forward to of articles questioning whether it's safe to hold the games so close to the site of the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. But as Kotaku pointed out, manga and anime fans already knew this day would come—ever since 30 years ago, when Akira imagined a future ...

With Boston Beer Company shares up ten-fold since 2009, Bloomberg Business reports that Jim Koch, the company’s founder and chairman, has officially joined the billionaire ranks.

Koch was 35 when he started Boston Beer in 1984. Now 64, Koch’s net worth is now more than $1 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

“I remind people getting rich is life’s great booby prize,” he told the news organization. “Any normal person would much rather be happy than rich.”

In 2012, Boston Beer shipped more than 2.7 million barrels of its products, including the Samuel Adams line of beers, Angry Orchard line of ciders and Twisted Tea flavored malt beverages. The company reported revenues of approximately $629 million, up 13 percent from the year before.

Much of Boston Beer’s recent success is attributed to the growth of its Angry Orchard and Twisted Tea brands. The entire Angry Orchard brand family has experienced record growth of nearly 500 percent in 2013, generating over $54 million of sales, in U.S. drug, supermarket, mass,  and convenience retailers through Aug. 25, according to Chicago-based research firm IRI. Angry Orchard dollar sales are 47 percent of all U.S. cider sales, while sales of Twisted Tea also grew by 12.7 percent, to over $82 million during the same period.

Boston Beer’s Samuel Adams line of craft beer offerings, which comprise a bulk of the company’s production, are also up 15.3 percent year-to-date, according to IRI. Through Aug. 25, Samuel Adams seasonals are the company’s top performing style at U.S. multi-outlets and convenience, with nearly $69 million in sales.

Boston Beer Company stock traded as low as $19 per share in March, 2009. The stock is currently trading at $225.

The music video for “The Fox” is going to be the Internet’s new favorite thing, so now’s the time to get out ahead of the “have you seen this?” buzz and watch it below. The totally wacked out song and clip is from Ylvis, a Flight Of The Conchords-esque Norwegian duo that has its own variety show and has recorded songs wondering, for example, what’s up with Stonehenge. Still, with its whoops, toots, and dozens and dozens of animal costumes, “The Fox” is definitely worth watching, then forwarding to friends, and then singing for the rest of ...

dustinjohnbromley:

catastrofe:

you’ll never need any other video

LIFE IS HARD, SOMETIMES.

Oh, nothing. ONLY PERFECTION!

And I'm excited to announce that we are featured in the latest issue of RE:COM Magazine, talking about our quest for Jerrys and our upcoming series, Channel 2020! You can order a digital download from their website for only $2!

cbcmusic:

Somebody posted a fake song title on Chubby Checker’s Wikipedia page and we think it is so funny.

Someone—or, more likely, several people—at the Associated Press made an embarrassing mistake this weekend when writing up Nine Inch Nails’ headlining set at Philadelphia’s Made In America festival. The uncredited writer of the review notes that “NIN closed the night with a slow and smoky cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Hurt,’ which earned nonstop cheers from the crowd,” including a "Yeah, Trent!" from a burly man in the audience. That’s probably an apt description, except for, you know, “Hurt” being written and originally performed by NIN, and it was Cash who did its well-received cover shortly ...

Funny Sandwich Board Signs

Previously: Funny Business Signs

This is actually the 15th or 20th time Dana has seen this, but repressed memory is a hell of a thing.

Whoa:

Identical twins in the UK have both been charged with raping a teenage girl, even though forensic tests cannot prove which one carried out the attack.

British prosecutors have formally charged two men, Mohammed and Aftab Asghar, 22, with a single offence, but caution that “only one of the defendants faces trial.” Both men were arrested after traces of DNA were found at the crime scene.

Identical twins, because they were spawned from the same fertilized egg, share the same DNA.

Police investigated after a 17 year-old girl claimed she was sexually assaulted in a park near Reading, Berks, on Guy Fawkes Night 2011. The detectives, unable to distinguish the two men according to DNA evidence alone — but knowing it had to be one of them — decided to charge both.

If one was contemplating methodologies for the permanent removal of one’s eyebrows, and one was inclined towards a laser – specifically a 755 nanometre Alexandrite laser – then one might be advised to think again. A 2011 case report in the medical journal Clinical Ophthalmology describes a scenario involving a 41-year-old man, who :

“…presented with bilateral eye pain and mild photophobia 2 days after receiving alexandrite (755 nm) laser epilation of both eyebrows.”

The laser was unequivocally identified as the cause of the damage.

“Conclusion: Laser hair removal of the eyebrows can lead to permanent ocular damage even with eye protection, and should be avoided.”

See: ‘Iritis and iris atrophy after eyebrow epilation with alexandrite laser.’ (Clinical Ophthalmology, Volume 2011:5 pp.1733 – 1735)

Also see: Eyebrows – the dangers (Improbable Research, Mar. 2, 2010)

Coolio is auctioning off the royalty rights to his entire catalog in an attempt to finance his culinary career. The rapper—real name Artis Leon Ivey, Jr.—will put all 123 of his songs on the auction block Aug. 28. The bidding starts at $140,000, but the catalog includes goofy cultural touchpoint hits like “Fantastic Voyage,” “1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New),” “C U When U Get There,” and “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Now when you get hit with a shoe at a random Val party, the version of “Rollin’ With My Homies” you sing can be one that you ...

Austin, TX — Over forty Texas brewers will be gathering at this year’s Texas Craft Brewers Festival (TCBF) to celebrate and toast a landmark year for the state’s craft beer industry. This cherished, nonprofit outdoor event, held Saturday, September 28, at Fiesta Gardens in Austin, promises to deliver the best Texas craft brewers have to offer, highlighting innovative and special releases, new and seasonal offerings, and rare tappings from established and newly launched breweries operating across the state.

Produced by the Young Men’s Business League of Austin (YMBL), with support from members of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild (TCBG), the festival benefits Austin Sunshine Camps, a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing mentorship, education and personal development for high-potential, low-income girls and boys throughout Central Texas.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Texas craft brewers again, and for such a great cause,” says TCBF Co-Chair Dan Price, lead organizer for YMBL. “This event is as grassroots and direct a line to the brewers as a festival can get. We sincerely thank all our supporters, especially lead sponsors H-E-B, Google+ Local, the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, Saint Arnold Brewing, Rahr & Sons Brewing, Real Ale Brewing, Deep Ellum Brewing, Jack Martin Associates and Brown Distribution, our designated driver sponsor.

“Ground-breaking law changes passed earlier this year by the Texas legislature have given craft brewers and fans of independent Texas craft beer reason to celebrate,” says TCBF Co-Chair Charles Vallhonrat, executive director of the TCBG. “The 2013 Texas Craft Brewers Festival is the only event the Texas craft brewers are this actively involved in… It is the most festive yet most surprisingly intimate of craft beer occasions.”

2013 Texas Craft Brewers Festival Participating Brewers (** = new for 2013)

• (512) Brewing
• 5 Stones Craft Brewing **
• Adelbert’s Brewery
• Alamo Beer
• Armadillo Ale Works **
• Austin Beerworks
• Branchline Brewing **
• Brigadoon Brewery **
• Buffalo Bayou Brewing **
• Cedar Creek Brewery**
• Circle Brewing
• Community Beer **
• Cycler’s Brewing **
• Deep Ellum Brewing
• Hops & Grain Brewing
• Independence Brewing
• The Independent Ale Works **
• Infamous Brewing **
• Jester King Craft Brewery
• Karbach Brewing **
• Lakewood Brewing
• Live Oak Brewing
• Lone Pint Brewery **
• New Republic Brewing
• No Label Brewing
• Pedernales Brewing
• Rahr and Sons Brewing
• Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
• Real Ale Brewing
• Revolver Brewing
• Rogness Brewing
• Saint Arnold Brewing
• Shiner / Spoetzl Brewing
• South Austin Brewing
• Southern Star Brewing
• Texian Brewing **
• Thirsty Planet Brewing
• Twisted X Brewing
• Uncle Billy’s Brew ‘n’ Cue

…more to be announced!

Joining the breweries and lead sponsors in directly supporting this year’s festival are Capital Beverage Distribution, Ben E. Keith Distribution, G&D Chiller, Arrow Electronic, Outhouse Designs, (512) Brewing, Live Oak Brewing, Austin Beer Week, Brand! Pop and Open the Taps.

The TCBF launched in 2003 with fewer than ten brewers participating. In the last year, the number of actively licensed brewers in Texas has reached 87, with 92 in planning, according to the Brewers Association, a national organization of independent craft brewers. A must-attend for enthusiasts, the festival features live music, local food vendors and beer education, and is the year’s premier social gathering for a supportive and enthusiastic craft beer community. Visit the Texas Craft Brewers Festival website for details.

• WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2013, 2-8 pm (11:30 am entry for VIP ticket holders)
• WHERE: Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street, Austin, TX
• FOR DETAILS… Official site: http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/
• Twitter: @TXBrewersFest
• Hashtag: #TXBrewFest
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TexasCraftBrewersFestival
• Google+: http://bit.ly/TCBF-Gplus
• General Inquiries: info@texascraftbrewersfestival.org

Every scientist need, or could use “A Template for Scientific Press Releases and Science News Articles“.

“I spent three-and-a-half years on a game that wasn’t even ever announced,” David Kalina told me. The veteran developer was reflecting, with a hint of bitterness, on his time spent at big game companies, this stint specifically at Midway. “That was a little discouraging.” Kalina, along with Randy Smith (formerly of Ubisoft and Electronic Arts), own Tiger Style Games, an Austin-based studio known for the award-winning iPhone title Spider: The Secret Of Bryce Manor and a more recent release, Waking Mars. And they don’t miss working for the big guys. [caption id="attachment_18625" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Waking ...

HOUSTON — Saint Arnold Brewing Co., the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced the upcoming release of Saint Arnold Icon Gold, the latest in the brewery’s line of rotating beers that complement the brewery’s year-round and seasonal offerings.

It will begin showing up in 4-packs of 12 ounce bottles and on tap in pubs and restaurants throughout Texas and Louisiana as supplies of Icon Green, a well-received Amarillo hefeweizen, are exhausted.

Saint Arnold Icon Gold is a Bière de Saison that delivers a complex spicy nose with notes of brown sugar and plums. Developed by brewer Aaron Inkrott, Saint Arnold Icon Gold was inspired by traditional French and Belgian farmhouse style ales, including Bière de Noel, which translates to mean Christmas Beer. Saint Arnold Icon Gold’s taste starts with big spicy malt and alcohol, moving to fruity in the middle and then an earthy, spicy finish.

“The malts used were focused on creating a complex malt backbone, with subtle floral characteristics from the Hersbrucker hops,” said Inkrott. “The yeast is an aromatic Belgian Saison strain that produces complex esters balanced with earthy and spicy notes.”

Saint Arnold Icon Gold has original gravity of 1.075, final gravity of 1.0105 and alcohol by volume of nine percent. It is best served at 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

“This is a great example of the creativity of our brewers,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “Using a saison yeast with a heartier malt bill creates a satisfying result and a complex beer that doesn’t fit a specific style.”

A new Saint Arnold Icon beer is released every three months or so, depending on how quickly supplies are exhausted. As the brewery continues to experiment, some Icon styles are expected to be replaced from one year to the next while other styles may return.

This beer is referred to as Saint Arnold Icon Gold because of its striking metallic gold and black label.

Upcoming in the Saint Arnold Icon line is a Bohemian Pils, scheduled for release around December as Saint Arnold Icon Red, which will replace 2012′s Belgian-Style Pale Ale.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s 16 brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 52 dedicated employees. Ranked 45th on the Brewers Association list of top craft breweries, Saint Arnold was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. 

Anil Dash's very believable satire of the tech news cycle  

Mary W. Poor, who was born in Brookline in 1820, was the daughter of the Rev. John Pierce, minister of the First Parish Church.  Her "Recollections of Brookline," read before the Historical Society in 1903, included this passage about Christmas at the time of her childhood.

As Brookline has changed outwardly, so have its manners and customs. In those old days there was no attention paid to Christmas beyond saying, "I wish you a merry Christmas!" to the members of the family when we first met them in the morning. We never dreamed of its being made merrier than any other day. The schools went on as usual and no one expected a Christmas gift. We had New Year's presents instead. I never heard of Santa Claus till I was sixteen and then he was mentioned by a lady from New York. We knew that Catholic and Episcopal churches were dressed with evergreens at Christmas, and sometimes went to Boston to see them on that day.

 For more on the celebration of Christmas in early Massachusetts—it was outlawed from 1659 to 1681 and was not recognized as an official holiday until 1856—see this "Mass Moment" from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities.

Oren Kaplan, long-time member and guitarist for Gogol Bordello, recently filed suit on behalf of himself and the rest of the band against lead singer Eugene Hutz. The lawsuit spawns almost entirely from a dispute over money, and specifically the money that Hutz allegedly took from the band's group accounts and moved into accounts only accessible by him. Kaplan also alleges that Hutz took over the business operations of Gogol Bordello without telling anyone, and he arranged a promotional Coca-Cola deal without informing Kaplan. To make things all the more uncomfortable, according to the lawsuit, “Hutz accomplished this ruse ...

From Web Urbanist:

Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle transformed an abandoned Walmart in McAllen, Texas, into a 124,500-square-foot public library, the largest single-floor public library in the United States.

The design won the International Interior Design Association’s 2012 Library Interior Design Competition. MSR stripped out the old ceiling and walls of the building, gave the perimeter walls and bare warehouse ceiling a coat of white paint, and set to work adding glass-enclosed spaces, bright architectural details and row after row of books.

The library even has an acoustically separated lounge for teens as well as 6 teen computer labs, 16 public meeting spaces, 14 public study rooms, 64 computer labs, 10 children’s computer labs and 2 genealogy computer labs. Other new features include self check-out units, an auditorium, an art gallery, a used bookstore and a cafe.

(via Poor Mojo)

Earlier this summer, I started reading about On Tap Liquid Beer Enhancer on booze nerd sites like Beer Advocate, at which point I pretty much knew we had to Taste Test it. After all, what are Taste Tests if not an excuse to drink weird liquor? The fine people at On Tap were kind enough to send us versions of both their Pale Ale and American Ale products, and on we went, doctoring the cheapest, shittiest beer we could find with On Tap, which as a “liquid flavor enhancer” promised to help us “enjoy a craft brew taste at a ...