Most lottery winners say something to the effect of “…the money won’t change me,” or “I’m still on a budget”. But what most lottery winners don’t anticipate is that though they may not change themselves, others may change them. And if there were no others to begin with, there will be soon enough. Abraham Shakespeare claims to have given the last three dollars in his wallet to a homeless man just minutes before his winning lottery numbers were called. On Thursday, his remains were excavated from a shallow grave under a concrete slab behind a rural Plant City building. This is a true story of envy, greed, murder, and circumstances that seem to be straight out of a Norman Mailer novel. This is the strange fate of Abraham Shakespeare.
Cavalier Rose is an unsigned, Brooklyn-based rock band that formed in 2009.
I instantaneously fell in love with with their soulful, bluesy style after listening to one of their songs on Hype Machine. I was unaware of their recent formation, however, so I was surprised to discover that there wasn’t any information about them on Wikipedia. That said, I’m astonished that this band was established so recently – if a friend had played their music for me, I would’ve assumed that they’d been around for years.
I encourage everyone to check out their music page and download their EP, Primary Colors, from their web site for free.
Earth, pictured above, is an image from his Make Something Cool Every Day project, which took place from March 2008, to December, 2009. Other works that I’ve favorited by him include 1935, Cash, and Untitled (pictured to the right). If you are a fan of Weaver’s illustrations, check out his online shop to order postcards and screen prints. +Continue Reading
Celebrator is a reknowned doppelbock, or if you prefer, “double bock” beer. Bocks are German beers that can be traced to farmers and Roman Catholic monks of centuries past, characterized by malty fullness. A doppelbock, as its name suggests, extends these qualities, including a higher alcohol content that ranges from 6% to 9%.
First, let me say that this beer isn’t cheap. A 4-pack of 12-oz bottles set me back $12.99. At over $3 a bottle, I can assure you my palette was in overdrive. My prevailing reaction was being genuinely impressed. Despite a rich brown color and tan head, the flavor was mild in comparison to previous doppelbocks I’ve tried. This is partly explained by emphasis on malt in favor of hops, and also by a modest 6.7% ABV – just right, in my estimation. The flavor is rich and dark, but not bitter. On my first sip I noticed a distinct roasted flavor, but this retreated as a pleasant chocolate/coffee accent seemed to lace each sip. The aroma is particularly inviting, boasting a complexity that would require a bigger bullshitter to properly honor.
Despite the full flavor, the beer finishes clean, leaving the palette ready for anything. This makes the beer a great complement for a meal – I can say this confidently, because I was eating when I poured out the Celebrator. Normally I don’t enjoy beer with meals, but this beer was truly refreshing, a total surprise from a Doppelbock (or any beer that looms so darkly in your glass).
When sampling a beer with a reputation like Celebrator, it’s easy to swoon and make an over-appraisal. But I can say honestly that, if anything, I approached this beer with skepticism and it emerged vindicated. Most everything about this beer is “just right”, a real treat for any beer geek in-the-making.
Photo: Shakespeare’s mug shot (AP)
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