Month: October 2022

The modern justice system is certainly not without its flaws, however most can agree that the concept of “innocent until proven guilty” is one that (when not abused) stands as the foundation of what fair due process looks like. This principle, it turns out, isn’t so modern at all. It can actually be traced all the way back to nearly 3,800 years ago.

Lady Justice, the image of impartial fairness.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

English barrister Sir William Garrow is known for coining the “innocent until proven guilty” phrase between the 18th and 19th century, after insisting that evidence be provided by accusers and thoroughly tested in court. But this notion, as radical as it seemed at the time, can, in fact, be credited to an ancient Babylonian king who ruled Mesopotamia.

During his reign from 1792 to 1750 B.C., Hammurabi left behind a legacy of accomplishments as a ruler and a diplomat. His most influential contribution was a series of 282 laws and regulations that were painstakingly compiled after he sent legal experts throughout his kingdom to gather existing laws, then adapted or eliminated them in order to create a universal system.

Those laws were inscribed on a large, seven-foot stone monument, and they were known as the Code of Hammurabi.

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The Code of Hammurabi was extensive and included rules and penalties pertaining to economic, family, criminal and civil law. On top of the stone sits a carving of the king receiving the laws from Shamash, the Mesopotamian god of justice and equity, implying that the laws are divinely ordained.

Historians only know of one earlier recorded law collection, created just 300 years before Hammurabi, and it was much less detailed by comparison. As Dawn McCormack, associate dean of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, explains, this was most likely due to the growing group of different peoples conquered during Hammurabi’s reign. “As the population diversified, the law codes adapted to meet the new circumstances.”

Some of the laws in the Code of Hammurabi might be seen as barbaric by today’s standards, with punishments being the removal of the guilty party’s tongue, hands, breasts, eye or ear. On the other hand, many laws were quite progressive. Kelly-Anne Diamond, an assistant teaching professor of history at Villanova University, told History, the code provides the first recorded alimony payment law.

Diamond also notes that Mesopotamians “put a lot of emphasis on getting to the truth of a case,” and therefore mandated the use of witnesses, oral testimony and written evidence to prove guilt. They also established having individuals swear they were telling the truth by oath. “Oaths were particularly effective because of the people’s profound belief that the gods would punish them if they lied under oath,” she explained.

Presuming innocence in today’s legal system has had its fair share of negative impact on victims, primarily in sexual harassment cases, not to mention the heavy use of media coverage for court cases of public figures, which can certainly sway public opinion. Still, the fact that evidence-based, fair and impartial justice has been a goal throughout history offers an encouraging outlook for humanity as a whole. Perhaps it’s an ideal that will never fully be achieved, but the fact that people continue to pursue integrity is something worth noting.

Last night (September 29), Pusha T performed at The Pageant in St. Louis. During this stop of the rapper’s It’s Almost Dry tour, a fan may have gone a little too hard. Following the show, Twitter user @endeylive says he lost his prosthetic leg during the concert.

“i lost my prosthetic leg at your stl show,” he said. “still had fun tho.”

Push immediately responded, saying, “We gotta find that man…if you were at the STL show and know where my guy’s prosthetic leg is…pls hand it over.”

While we have not received an update on the prosthetic leg since the show last night, the Twitter user, who appears to be named Mitchell, is seemingly maintaining a sense of humor about the situation.

“How son get home with no leg,” asked one Twitter user.

“i hopped,” he replied.

Push is currently on the second leg of his It’s Almost Dry tour. Throughout his tour, Push said in an interview with Complex that one of the most rewarding parts of touring was seeing people get deep into each song, even the album cuts that weren’t released as singles.

“Watching the world react to “Brambleton” [from It’s Almost Dry has been surreal,” Push said. “It’s a very personal song, but people really honed in and really tuned in to that record. I know there’s not a Brambleton Avenue in every city all over the world, but they act like there is”

Fall is officially here, so it’s time for yet another snack roundup of our favorite new grocery store items! This time around we won’t just be focusing on the latest snacks that have caught our eye and kept our stomachs satisfied, but also on products that speak to the spooky season we’re about to enter. So expect some horror-themed treats and a whole lot of pumpkin-infused snacks. If you’re living in a part of the country that’s still pretty warm — we’re looking at you Southwest, Midwest, and the stormy South — and you’re not exactly feeling the cozy spirit of autumn, we’ve got a few sweet treats that’ll keep you cool as your marinate in the final days of the hot season.

Hopefully, our list will give you a good idea of what’s out there on shelves right now and whether it’s worth buying, this way you don’t have to take any Ls trying the latest foods. Does that mean over the past couple of weeks we’ve had a bunch of really bad snacks that seemed like good ideas but failed to deliver? You better believe we have! But you won’t see the duds today — we’re in the winner’s circle, baby!

Bijan Mustardson

Price: $15.90 (2-pack)

Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robertson’s name is vaguely similar to the words “Dijon Mustard,” so he went ahead and created his very own mustard and called it Bijan Mustardson, — wouldn’t you do the same? But this isn’t just a fun vanity project that plays on a famous person’s name, Bijan is a true mustard lover and he teamed up with top-quality chefs to produce it and it shows.

Bijan Mustardson has that distinct bold sharp and slightly spicy flavor of a good dijon, but by using apple cider vinegar in place of typical white vinegar, it has an earthier, sweeter, and slightly less tangy aftertaste, allowing you to better zero in on the depth of flavor it offers.

It’s a great mustard, we look forward to how it performs in a blind taste test.

Kellog’s Hocus Pocus 2 Cereal

Price: $4.99

This year the Disney Classic Hocus Pocus is getting a sequel, which is dope if you have a lot of nostalgia for the original, but if you don’t, like me (it’s fine), the idea that the franchise is getting a cereal is a lot more exciting.

I probably won’t watch Hocus Pocus 2, but I’ll eat a specially branded cereal in a second! The Hocus Pocus 2 flavor is listed as ‘Berry Brew,’ so if you don’t like fruit cereals this isn’t for you. The cereal features a strong berry-forward smell and flavor with star-shaped pieces in yellow, orange, and purple, meant to match the three Sanderson sisters’ hair.

Berry-flavored cereals are nothing new so you can expect this to taste a lot like Froot Loops, but with a darker berry flavor. It has less of the citrus-y notes of Froot Loops, making this come across as slightly sweeter, but it pairs with milk a whole lot better than Froot Loops. Overall, I think it’s one of the best berry-flavored cereals.

Sir Kensington’s Chipotle Mayonnaise

Price: $5.89

Generally, I think mayo is unjustifiably hated by way too many people, which is ridiculous because mayo can infuse a lot of savory goodness into meals and makes for a great sauce base. I almost always like mayo with something mixed in it, and luckily Sir Kensington does that for us with its very delicious, smokey, and sweetly spicy chipotle mayo.

The Chipotle Mayonnaise features smokey notes courtesy of a mix of chipotle peppers and smoked paprika, with cumin and black pepper adding more earthy complexity to this blend of smoked and savory flavors.

Use it on your next homemade chicken sandwich.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Cakes

Price: $3.99

If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to elevate your Thanksgiving dinner this year (yes, we know it’s only September) then look no further than Trader Joe’s new Pumpkin Stick Toffee Cakes. This tiny microwaveable cake is bursting with rich autumnal flavors, offering a pumpkin and brown sugar-forward flavor further sweetened with dates and subtly floral caramel sauce.

Despite being frozen and then microwaved, the cake itself comes out unbelievably moist, and its mixture of pumpkin spice and cinnamon really speak to the season, even though I live in LA where it’s f*cking 80 degrees outside still.

The Toffee Cakes aren’t going to be better than a fresh homemade pie, but it’ll save you some time while you’re planning your big dinner, which allows you to focus on the true star of Thanksgiving: the sides.

Sweety Mochi Ube Purple Yam

Price: $8.79

People will swear by green tea mochi and we get it, it’s delicious, but if you want a truly transformative experience for your tastebuds, it’s gotta be ube baby! Ube has this distinct sweet and nutty flavor that tastes amazing translated into ice cream.

Sweety is an AAPI family-owned and operated ice cream brand and they nail the consistency of their mochi. It’s not quite as spongey as fresh mochi, but it’s pillowy and soft with a rich and creamy ice cream center that works as the perfect bite-sized dessert.

Loisa Flavor Trio Combo

Price: $29.99

Okay so this isn’t exactly a snack or a sauce (one of them is), but these three seasonings, made by Loisa brand using organic ingredients, will seriously level-up your kitchen game, opening up a world of distinct flavors to season your best meals.

If you’re unfamiliar with sazón, adobo or sofrito, let us break it down for you. Sazón is a Puerto Rican staple that blends spices including cumin, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and coriander, with achiote giving it a distinct red color. The flavor adds a savory smack of fragrant earthy flavors that pair excellently with just about any meat in a marinade, stews and soups, and rice.

Adobo is slightly less flexible and adventurous but features a similar and simpler blend of salt, garlic, turmeric, black pepper, and oregano and works wonders in a pot of fresh beans, stews, and on fresh grilled veggies.

As great as Sazón and Adobo are, sofrito is where it’s at. It’s commonly referred to as “Spanish pesto,” I don’t think that’s really a fair descriptor for what this flavor-packed sauce is. It’s way spicier and more pungent than pesto (which isn’t spicy at all so I don’t get the comparison) made from ajicito dulce peppers, with tomatoes, bell pepper, onions, lemon juice, olive oil, cilantro, cilantro, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and turmeric — offering a bouquet of spicy and earthy flavors, with a fresh vegetal aftertaste that adds a whole lot of depth to anything you put it on.

Like sazón and adobo, sofrito works amazingly on meat, stews, and beans. You don’t have to get these seasonings from Loisa, but what makes this brand special is the organic ingredient sourcing and lack of preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. It tastes homemade, and with these spices, that’s the best way to enjoy them.

Trader Joe’s — Salted Maple Ice Cream

Price: $3.49

Have I been sleeping on Trader Joe’s ice cream? I didn’t even know the market had ice cream (when I think ice cream, I just don’t think TJ’s!) but once I saw this seasonal treat, I knew I had to try it. Sweetened with real maple-syrup and balanced out with a hint of sea salt, the Salted Maple ice cream is creamy, rich, and offers a sort of overwhelming maple cream flavor.

While I think this is a little much to eat on its own, once you trick it out a bit it works as a great base for mix-ins. Throw your favorite nuts and some granola in there, and this ice cream becomes a decadent next-level snack. My favorite low-budget hack is eating it on a freshly toasted Eggo (I don’t have a waffle maker, I imagine a real waffle would taste even better) with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Try it, and then thank us in the comments.

EDITOR’S PICK: Mercado Famous — Charcuterie Newbie

Price: $29.95 for Jamon Iberico

The packaged goods revolution has been really great for diners. You can get ingredients these days that someone without serious vendor relationships couldn’t even access a decade ago. In 2022, you can order A5 Japanese Wagyu and Jamón Iberico online to arrive at your door in days.

Speaking to the latter (and all of Mercado Famous’ cured meats), the quality of those internet-ordered fine foods is absolutely impeccable. These feel, taste, look, and smell just like what you would find in the markets of Spain. The entire sensory experience is on point, especially if you take the jamón out of the fridge, plate it, and let it warm up a tad before eating. It’s at its most aromatic that way.

I try not to be overly influenced by packaging but it is nice that this product looks upscale because… well, it is upscale. You want people to know how special it is when you give it to them and I think that definitely translates with the Mercado Famous. Value-wise, go for the La Familia, which comes with all the essentials and gives you $10 off.

Bottom Line: The hyped around this product is deserved. It’s rapidly becoming the go-to dinner party gift in LA and NYC for a reason.

One of the buzziest hip-hop releases of the weekend is Freddie Gibbs‘ new album, Soul Sold Seperately. Upon its release, the album has received much praise from fans, many of them praising the dedication to his craft, as he continues to deliver cohesive, conceptual bodies of work throughout his long-spanning career.

“I appreciate Freddie Gibbs at least having a theme with his project,” said one Twitter user. “Most of these projects that are released these days sound like a bunch of tracks that were randomly recorded and slapped together.”

“Freddie Gibbs’ new album is scary good,” said Anthony D’Aliesio of the hip-hop-centered NFR podcast.

“Freddie Gibbs is unable to miss for some reason,” said another Twitter user. “I’ve been onto his music for 10 years since BFK and hasn’t had a project that wasn’t pure flames since.”

Soul Sold Separately marks Gibbs’ first major label album, after nearly two decades of releasing independent albums and mixtapes. In an interview with Paper, Gibbs said that he has lasted in the rap game for so long thanks to his consistency.

“I think I get better every project,” Gibbs said. “I think being consistent is better than peaking. So many guys have peaked and they’re just trying to get back to that spot again. We’re in the business where guys chase big records and big hits. I ain’t never have to do that to be ‘good.’ I just always made music to satisfy my core and my fanbase hoping that it will grow. When it grew, I thought that maybe I could get out of the streets. Once I was able to get out of the streets from making music, why would I look back on that? Why would I throw that away trying to go commercial? This is probably my most commercial album but I didn’t try to be commercial.”

Soul Sold Separately is out now via Warner Records. Stream it here.

Freddie Gibbs is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.