If your several plays of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” have worn out your stereo, a Houston homeowner has come up with a creative way to crunk up the holidays. A man by the name of Frank To-ong, better known as H-Town Frankie is returning with his perfectly synced Christmas lights for the ninth year in a row.
While it’s not unusual for homeowners to sync their Christmas lights to traditional holiday carols, Frankie likes to sync his lights to blink and display to some big bangers.
In one TikTok clip, some of Frankie’s lights are seen blinking to Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz’s “Get Low,” with the lyrics on display on the closed garage door.
It appears that Frankie likes to get in the Christmas spirit beginning in November. In one clip, the lights are seen dancing to the viral trap remix of Shirley Caesar’s “Beans, Greens, Tomatoes,” song which recirculates every Thanksgiving season.
In an interview with Secret Houston, Frankie expressed pride in his hometown, as well as the lights’ global impact.
“When people know that the creator of this content is from Houston, that makes me proud,” said Frankie. “That is the coolest thing ever. This is my town. This is my city.”
Check out some of the Christmas light syncs above.
Over the final 33 games of last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves closed the regular season at 22-11. They ranked second in offense and fifth in net rating in that stretch. Expand to the full season and they were still seventh offensively.
This season, after drastically reshaping their roster by acquiring All-NBA center Rudy Gobert, they’re 18th. Through the 20 games Karl-Anthony Towns started and finished before a calf strain sidelined him, they were 19th. Through a quarter of the year, Minnesota’s grand experiment wasn’t working. Without Towns for the past eight games, they’re 21st offensively. The conclusion remains the same.
So, what’s gone wrong for the Timberwolves? Why have they failed to be the prolific offense that fueled their joyful 2021-22 playoff run? Is anything salvageable or are they doomed until changes get made to the roster?
The culprits behind these failures are widespread. Gobert’s shortcomings are a factor. Lead ball-handlers in Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell carry responsibility. The roster construction is at odds, and Towns isn’t free of blame.
Let’s start with Gobert, the three-time All-Star who established himself as an excellent ball-screen partner in Utah’s expansive, well-spaced offenses over the last half-decade. Gobert’s presence in those well-oiled Jazz attacks was a symbiotic relationship. They surrounded him with a slew of ball-handlers and shooting, while his roll gravity and lob threat freed up shooters and offered a release valve inside.
Minnesota is not that. Whereas Utah was top 10 in both three-point frequency and accuracy each year between 2018-19 and 2020-21, the Timberwolves are 20th in frequency and 25th in accuracy. Last season, the Timberwolves were third in three-point rate and 13th in accuracy, but Tauren Prince’s absence, Towns’ down year (32.5 percent from deep) affect the outlook, and Jaylen Nowell dropping off from a 39.4 percent shooter to 30.1 percent this year have not helped the situation.
On top of some internal regression, their rotation boasts fewer quality shooters overall. Gone are Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley (who hit 34.3 percent from deep last year), and now guys like Kyle Anderson, Jordan McLaughlin, Jaden McDaniels, and, currently, Austin Rivers have stepped in, none of whom defenses typically respect beyond the arc. As a result, opponents are more willing to aggressively sag off and complicate Gobert’s finishing angles.
That’s an issue. Gobert’s touch, flexibility, and capacity to finish through contact are poor. He’s a premier lob threat, but lacks the versatility to convert in a plethora of ways. He can’t usually beat switches or contort himself around timely rotations. For all the qualms about his playoff defense, his rigidity as an interior scorer was a much more glaring problem.
It’s persisted in Minnesota, an offensive context much less conducive to success than Utah’s. According to Cleaning The Glass, his 72 percent mark at the rim places him in the 55th percentile among bigs, his lowest ranking since 2015-16.
Minnesota’s primary decision-making trio of Edwards, Russell, and Towns is not sufficient to navigate this precarious situation. It was part of their downfall against the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs and has translated to their slow start this year. Anderson assuming a significant ball-handling role speaks to his heady decision-making but also underlines the concerning state of the rotation. He’s very good at prioritizing reads to Gobert, but he’s also a substantially limited on-ball creator and all-around scorer. A high-level offense ideally treats him as a connector, not an initiator. Minnesota aims to be a high-level offense, yet is forced to rely on him as the latter because of surrounding problems.
In general, those designed to feed Gobert are not equipped like those in Utah were. He’s also given them some reasons for doubt when they do feed him, fumbling passes and botching point-blank attempts. Trust is earned and it simply might not yet exist among all the new faces.
Edwards brings downhill juice as a scorer, but is not an adept passer, especially on the interior. Russell is a talented, albeit flawed playmaker, who struggles to regularly turn the corner. Guys like Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley Jr., and Joe Ingles merged both aspects. The latter two’s chemistry with Gobert was preternatural by the end of his Jazz tenure. Edwards and Russell were already incomplete creators, and they don’t tout the synergy with the big fella at the moment to compensate.
Russell is 26 years old and in his eighth season. He’s averaging 16-6-3 on 57 percent true shooting. His first month was frigid, but he’s come around the last month and fostered some rapport with Gobert. His 31 assists to him are a team-high. He’s playing fairly well and is likely not remedying his insufficient burst at this juncture.
Edwards, meanwhile, is 21 and in his third season; maturation should be expected and is imperative for this club to approach its lofty aspirations. His raw numbers are eerily similar to last year (22-5-4, 56 percent true shooting). The tape is as well, spotlighting clear weak points that haven’t been remedied.
He fails to sync his pacing alongside Gobert’s rolls and will routinely force laborious shots rather than find his roll man for laydown passes or lobs. Despite sharing the floor with Gobert more than anyone else and leading Minnesota in usage rate (27 percent), his 12 assists to the Frenchman are fourth on the team.
His maneuvering in ball-screens doesn’t tend to adapt based on what’s happening around him. He marries a decision early and tethers himself to it. The process is flawed and hampers many possessions for himself and others. According to Synergy, he’s below the 45th percentile as a pick-and-roll scorer and passer.
Signs of progress are manifesting, though. Eight of Edwards’ 12 assists have come throughout their last 318 minutes together. He recorded just four during their initial 331 minutes. His emphasis to set up Gobert more commonly is apparent, even if not always prosperous.
This is a long-term pairing anyway. The 2022-23 season is two months old. Gobert is under contract through at least 2024-25. Minnesota can keep Edwards for a while. Edwards is trying to adjust, and that matters — he’s even remarked that this is the first time he’s ever played with a center that only rolls to the rim at any level of basketball.
Slowly developing cohesion between Gobert and ball-handlers is a microcosm of a team-wide ailment. This squad is not cohesive. They’re not precise with some of their screening and off-ball motion. Imperfect screens, cuts, and positioning all work against them to create clunky possessions.
Every game is good for at least a few turnovers stemming from inaccurate passes, confusion, and/or illegal picks. An attention detail feels fleeting instead of the norm. The Timberwolves are 10th in true shooting percentage, but just 20th in points per 100 possessions. Their 27th-ranked turnover rate is to blame for that dichotomy. Unfamiliarity amid a different offensive environment with a revamped rotation produces gaffes like these.
The hope, for their sake, is that time breeds comfort. Some of those errors can easily be corrected as everyone assimilates to a novel context. Some of it, though, shouldn’t exist whatsoever. Purposefulness escapes this group far too frequently and is the sort of pitfall that is altogether avoidable.
The final major flaw: the Timberwolves can’t score when their star duo shares the hardwood. With Towns and Gobert, they’re generating 107.2 points per 100 possessions and hold a net rating of minus-1.0 When Towns plays without Gobert, the offense flourishes (119.5 offensive rating), while the defense craters (119.5 defensive rating). When Gobert plays without Towns, the offense wilts (107.9), while the defense thrives (110.0). None of the three realities are panning out thus far.
Towns’ allure as a preeminent offensive big man is his multifaceted nature. He stretches the court, launches threes on the move, can roll to the rim, will drive off the catch, is a viable passer (with glaring holes), and is adept in the mid-post. As the centerpiece of Minnesota’s offense last year, his success toggling across those duties all over the floor proved vital.
This year, though, Gobert’s arrival demands a more meticulous deployment of Towns, which hasn’t always occurred during their minutes together. The opposition will ignore Gobert to disrupt Towns’ drives, rolls, or post-ups. Last season’s standard operating procedure cannot be the same as this season. Defenses load the paint and funnel passes to whichever shaky shooter(s) is (are) stationed along the perimeter.
Towns has to act as more of a floor-spacer alongside Gobert, which is a troubling existence because he’s the Timberwolves’ best offensive cog. Reducing him to a spot-up 4 role while Russell or Edwards and Gobert run pick-and-rolls on a cramped court will yield diminished returns. However, Towns is wired to attack closeouts and has teamed up with Gobert for numerous buckets. His 27 assists to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year are second-most on the team.
The Timberwolves have drawn up some actions that incorporate Towns’ dynamic offense and shooting gravity with Gobert’s screening and rolling. Double Drag comes to mind, as does Horns Flare. Utilizing Gobert as a weakside screener during Towns’ interior touches has been flashed from head coach Chris Finch and Co. There are pathways for this to succeed, they’re just more narrow than how this offense excelled a year ago.
The hefty price of the Gobert acquisition smashed the accelerator into win-now mode for the Timberwolves. That “now” is here for them, yet the winning has lagged behind. Injuries contribute to some degree, though they’re hardly the only team afflicted by those developments. Hope is by no means a relic already confined to the offseason. They must be patient and amenable.
Staggering Edwards or Russell with Towns or Gobert as the other two rest could be beneficial. Those four possible iterations have only logged a combined 658 possessions out of a total 2,790 Timberwolves possessions. Leaning less on the bench-heavy units may help when the full roster is available.
Avenues for this atypical duo to drive a top-10 offense on a very good team are available. Discovering them warrants improvement throughout the organization. Players must grow, while schemes and rotations should be tweaked.
The season hasn’t even reached 30 games. Minnesota, for all its ugly sequences and outcomes, is only 3.5 games behind the No. 4 seed. Through 28 games last year, 13-15 was also its record. There is time to fix this, but time alone won’t be an antidote. If this unorthodox offense shall ever blossom, recognizing that is imperative.
This year was another dominating one for pop music. Without a doubt, the Billboard Hot 100 charts were run by recording artists Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Lizzo, and Taylor Swift. However, as the new year approaches, fans of the genre patiently await the return of a few pop singers. At the top of that list is Grammy-award winner Olivia Rodrigo.
After experiencing a breakout year in 2021, following the success of her debut album, Sour, Rodrigo laid pretty low musical this year. However, with the project’s one-year anniversary now behind us, Olivia Rodrigo has begun to hint that new music may be on the way sooner than we think. In the singer’s official Discord channel, she dug deep into her archives to give supporters something to hold them until the new year.
Uploaded exclusively to her Discord, Rodrigo shared a new song title, “The Bels,” shortened for sleighbells. On the holiday track, you hear a young Rodrigo’s Christmas spirit.
Over a bass-heavy instrumental, Rodrigo sings, “Red and green is a Christmas queen / Make the holidays special to me / Oh, see the dancin’ gingerbread dance in your head / Wait, wait, wait for the bells ring there / Now, let me hear it out loud / Santa’s coming to town /Ho, ho, ho, ho / Wait for the bells,” with sass.
If the “Good 4 U” singer could mastermind these lyrics as goober, there’s no wonder her career has been as successful as it has been.
To listen to Olivia Rodrigo’s song, “The Bels,” click here to be redirected to her official Discord server.
Jessie Reyez released a new music video for her collaboration with 6lack, “Forever,” as a Facebook exclusive today. The track appears on her recent album, Yessie, finds Reyez reminiscing about someone who isn’t in her life anymore.
“‘Cause sometimes somebody loves somebody / But that body don’t love ’em back / And it’s easy to say that you didn’t know / You didn’t know what you had,” she sings.
6lack enters on the chorus, as the duo’s vocals blend perfectly together. He then gets his own verse while Reyez lip-syncs his lines in the background. “I want you to stay, save the moment / Gotta put it on the camcorder,” he notes. “You could be happy, you should be happy / Long as you here with me.”
Directed by Dane Collison, Reyez and 6lack dance around in a car as old-school recorded camcorder footage (as fittingly mentioned in the lyric) is spliced in of each of them in the woods, adding to the chill vibes of it all. They also appear in matching baseball caps, which is pretty fun.
“You ever meet someone and just know they’re going to be in your life forever?…” Reyez captioned the video on a Facebook post.
Watch the music video for Jessie Reyez and 6lack’s “Forever” here.
Just don’t buy them a mandoline. You don’t want anyone associating you with the agony that this (vital, useful) product will inevitably cause.
Other than that, it’s sort of game on. Spend in your price range. If it’s someone you’re going all out for, we have the gift for them. If it’s someone you’re only spending $10 on, well, there’s a gift for that friend too. We’ve got a wide range and you really can’t miss. “Liking food” is a pretty easy common denominator to hit.
Do you have a food-loving giftee on who you’re ready to drop nearly $2K?
If so, let me say — this is definitely that gift. It’s just so smart and intuitive and full of features and, here’s the most important kicker, it makes great f*cking food. I bought mine just before Thanksgiving and made “smoked breadcrumbs” for stuffing and “smoked potatoes au gratin.” Both dishes won the holiday. Last week, for a dinner party, I smoked quail and baked a smoked rum cake with candied pecans that goes down as one of the best things I’ve ever served (according to the guests and also to me — after breaking my diet to eat a massive slice).
I know all that smoking in a short time pushes me dangerously close to becoming “smoker bro” but… I guess if the shoe fits? Truth be told, it did take me very little time to see the absolute appeal of owning a smoker. One, it infuses your dishes with a new set of flavors, namely smoke; two, it’s smarter than an oven when it comes to being able to “set and forget” dishes that take time (especially when using the Traeger app); three, it’s easier to clean, with removable grease trays.
This is just generally a special product all around and the sort of gift that is going to get you the eternal gratitude of your giftee. Because as their relationship with the smoker evolves and their knowledge evolves, so will their appreciation.
The Timberline 1300 features:
3 Tiers of Stainless-Steel Grates
Fully insulated construction
Bamboo cutting board & Stainless-Steel Front Shelf
WiFIRE Technology
D2 Grill Controller
Pellet Sensor
Super Smoke Mode
Dual Position Smoke/Sear Bottom Grate
Concealed Grease Management
Included Meat Probe
Who It’s Perfect For:
A parent. An inlaw. A spouse. A best friend. Anyone who will go on a journey with their Traeger and take you along for the ride.
I love this juicer because it’s easier than a hand-press juicer, extracts more, and can handle bigger citrus. Sure, a hand juicer might do the trick with limes, but if your giftee loves tequila they probably also really love palomas. And the best palomas come from hand juicing the grapefruit — that’s not even up for debate.
Who It’s Perfect For:
The tequila aficionado. A citrus lover. Anyone with an excess of oranges on hand. Also, if we’re being honest about how cool this thing looks — anyone with super stylized mid-century, semi-rustic design taste. Maybe we should have put it in the gift guide for the home. – Steve Bramucci, Editor
This new espresso machine is all about making barista-level coffee at home. The Barista Express has a bean grinder right in the machine which allows for varying grind levels to the nth degree (it has 16 settings) while the machine allows brewing/extraction at different temps and pressures.
There’s a manual microform milk texturing arm. And then there are the accessories.
It comes with:
Dosing Funnel Attachment
Razor Dose Trimming Tool
54mm Stainless Steel Portafilter
1 cup & 2 cup Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets
Coffee Scoop
Integrated Tamper
Stainless Steel Milk Jug
Cleaning disc and tablets
Cleaning brush, tool, and Allen Key
Water Filter Holder and Water Filter
Who It’s Perfect For:
This will take some lucky person’s coffee game to the next level.
I love this 9-inch Large Tortilla Press, made from recycled aluminum. My other tortilla presses are wood and this feels far more substantial and lasting. Plus it makes beautiful tortillas — some of the best I’ve ever had (I use lard). And, like Verve’s other products, it has this wonderful artisanal look to it. It seems like something cool to pull out while cooking.
Your giftee is going to love seeing this in their kitchen. And that’s going to make them appreciate it even more.
Homemade tortillas are an excellent way to vastly improve your cooking very simply. So if your giftee likes Mexican food, this gift is going to help them level up in a hurry.
Who It’s Perfect For:
Home cooks (with good design sense) who love Mexican food but have never made tortillas at home. Give them this and show just how easy it can be!
The latest edition of MEATER — MEATER+ — really takes the thermometer game to new heights thanks to a Bluetooth repeater that lets you get out of the kitchen while you cook.
The new edition has the following perks:
Built-in Bluetooth repeater in the charger extends the wireless range up to 165ft.
100% Wire-Free: No wires. No fuss. The first truly wireless smart meat thermometer.
2 Sensors, 1 Probe: Dual temperature sensors can monitor internal meat temperature and ambient.
Guided Cook System: Walks you through every step of the cooking process to guarantee perfect and consistent results.
Advanced Estimator Algorithm: Estimates how long to cook and rest your food to help plan your meal and manage your time.
Connectivity Suite: Monitor your cook from a phone or tablet over Bluetooth. Extend your wireless range using MEATER Link WiFi and the MEATER Cloud.
Who It’s Perfect For:
This really is a game changer for anyone who’s cooking in an oven, smoker, or grill. The accuracy is crazy good and dials in those roasting skills to damn-near perfection, making this a must-have gift for any at-home cook. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Is a smart toaster a thing a cook needs? I used to think “no.” But after two weeks of testing this thing, I think… maybe! It toasts bread to my exact chosen shade. Every single time!
Real talk, I haven’t lost a single piece of toast in two weeks — think of the slices that will be saved. Plus I can set different levels for the left and right slices — a pretty novel idea, for sure. And the best of all is that the whole process is just as easy as a regular toaster.
Now granted, you might not think your giftee needs such a serious, feature-filled toaster. But that doesn’t mean they won’t appreciate having it once you give it to them. I sure appreciate mine.
Who It’s Perfect For:
The person in a rush who burns toast three days a week and then crunches through it miserably on the way to work then complains about the roof of their mouth being shredded from burnt toast.
It’s the year of Verve! Like their other products this knife set is 1) supremely functional, and 2) absolutely stylish. The larger of the two knives is a rolling blade, perfect for cutting vegetables and fruits. The smaller knife is a pure chef’s knife.
This two-knife set was the all-rounder that I brought to outdoor barbecues and the beach this year. It’s stylish and high quality at once — while not being overly pricey.
Who It’s Perfect For:
The wandering cook who isn’t going to bring a whole knife set with them.
This special edition combines maple hardwood and genuine WhistlePig oak whiskey barrels to create Traeger pellets. The pellets are imbued with light oaky and whiskey notes (no alcohol of course) that help your smoked foods take on that touch of whiskey, which is damn tasty.
Who It’s Perfect For:
This has a great double gifting purpose for both the smoker obsessed and the whiskey lover in your life. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
We’re living in a bit of a golden age for caviar in the U.S. Local producers are more popular than ever and delivering seriously high-quality products. A great example that you can get delivered straight to someone’s door is California Caviar Company. The delivery service has a wide-ranged of caviar and accompanying products for enjoying the fishy delicacy.
The best bet for a great gift is their Domestic Caviar Trio which includes:
2 oz. of White Sturgeon Classic
2 oz. of Hackleback
2 oz. of Bourbon Infused Trout Roe
5 oz. crème fraîche
1 pack of 30 blinis
4 mother of pearl spoons
1 branded CCC Caviar Cooler
Who It’s Perfect For:
Caviar works with pretty much everything — you can put it on some lemon pasta, over soft scrambled eggs, or just shoot it straight — since this is truly high-quality. So if you have someone in your life that loves the fishier side of the culinary world, make them very happy with this trio of U.S.-produced caviar. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Emilia-Romanga is the center of Italy’s food culture and the home to most of the country’s most famous “DOP” products. These products are regionally certified (like Champagne, in France) and held to the highest standard of what that product ought to be. And two of the absolute best — where imitatators fall by the wayside fastest — are these:
Aceto Balsamico and Parmagiano Reggiano are icons. They’re delicious. And, I say this with absolute authority and because we’re running a blind test next week that I secretly have the results of, way better when made adhering to the standards of the product itself.
Who It’s Perfect For:
A chef who is coming to realize that the best food comes from the best ingredients.
Jasper Hill Farms is making some of the best cheese in the game right now, especially if you’re looking for classic and raw European cheeses that rarely make it over the pond. Their special edition Harbison Mini is bathed in Sandeman Porto Founder’s Reserve Ruby Port. The fortified wine adds a funky and stewed dark fruity depth with a sense of holiday spices and old cheese cellars shining through the creamy and nutty stinky AF camembert-like cheese.
Who It’s Perfect For:
This is for the true cheese lover in your life. This small wheel of stinky old cheese is delightfully close to what you’d actually find in some small town in Portugal or France, hidden away in some wine and cheese shop down a sleepy cobbled street. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
This gift combines an array of oysters from Hama Hama out in Western Washington. You can choose to send three dozen oysters that hit on everything from small shuckers to larger friers and all sizes in between. The bushel comes with shucking instructions and you can easily access recipe ideas for your giftee on the Hama Hama website.
If you really want to go crazy, you can order a nine-dozen version of this. But that’s more for a party mode than a holiday gift.
Who It’s Perfect For:
Raw oysters delivered straight to one’s door for the holidays are a direct line to an oyster lover’s heart. The best part is that with this many oysters, one can spend a weekend really changing it up from raw on the half shell, baked, smoked, rockafellered, chowdered, grilled, fried, in an omelet … the possibilities are endless for a foodie who loves oysters. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Olympia Provisions is about as close to European charcuterie as you can get in the U.S. right now. The locally-made (mostly from the Portland, Oregon region) gift set hits very high notes of both quality and funky fun with a long list of great sausages, cheeses, and extra bits.
The box includes:
4 specially selected salami inspired from different European regions
1 delicious Pate from our catalog
1 wedge of hand-selected cheese
1 jar of Honey
1 jar of our homemade pickled vegetables
1 pack of artisan crackers
1 pack of Oregon dry roasted hazelnuts
1 pack of olives
1 jar of mustard
Who It’s Perfect For:
This is great for anyone who likes to host a party between now and the end of the year. It’s a full kit that has a seriously deep bench of great charcuterie classics. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Tia Lupita Foods Hot Sauce Four Bottle Variety Pack
Tia Lupita Foods
The Gift:
This gift comes from a Latin-owned producer out in San Francisco. The brand celebrates the founder’s mother’s sauces and recipes. Each of the sauces has the great ability to both work as a sauce you put on your food for an extra kick and as a spicing agent to use while cooking your favorite hot dish.
The pack includes:
Tia Lupita Hot Sauce
Tia Lupita Chipotle
Tia Lupita Salsa Verde
Tia Lupita Habanero
Who It’s Perfect For:
This is great for anyone looking for some serious chili sauces that put flavor above heat. Though don’t worry, the heat is there too. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Tocabe — Denver’s first Indigenous fast-casual restaurant chain — started an Indigenous Market during the pandemic to help their producers and help their community stay connected with Indigenous-grown foodstuffs from Indian Country. Their Essential Pantry Box remains the perfect entry point to finding Indigenous-grown foods that you can cook right at home.
This year’s box includes:
1 pack Heirloom White Tepary Beans (24 oz.)
1 pack Red Lake Nation Cultivated Wild Rice (20 oz.)
1 pack White Corn Pancake Mix (20 oz.)
1 pack Ute Mountain Blue Corn Mush Mix (20 oz.)
1 bottle Seka Hills Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil (250 ml)
1 pack Pinole (24 oz.)
1 pack Ute Mountain Blue Cornmeal (20 oz.)
1 pack Pinto Beans (20 oz.)
1 pack White Sonoran Wheat Berries (20 oz.)
1 pack Tocabe Bison Rub (4 oz.)
1 pack Tocabe House Rub (4 oz.)
1 bottle Seka Hills Honey (296 ml)
Who It’s Perfect For:
This is for the foodie/home cook who’s looking to dive into the actual foods of the Americas. Gifting these foods also supports some of the country’s poorest communities. All of that aside, these are extremely high-quality foods that’ll up any home cook’s kitchen game. Plus, that Bison Rub is fire. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
Stave & Bean Barrel Aged Whole Bean Coffee Ex Bourbon Cherry Bitters Barrel Aged Sumatran
Stave & Bean
The Gift:
This bespoke coffee roaster in Louisville, Kentucky is making some seriously fresh beans right now. This bag is filled with Sumatran beans that were medium roasted and then rested in old bourbon barrels that were previously used to age cherry bitters. The final result is a coffee that leans into dark cherry, fresh vanilla, sharp clove, and sweet cinnamon bark.
Who It’s Perfect For:
If you know someone who loves bourbon and coffee, this is the gift for them. Plus, there are tons of other styles and bourbon finishes to choose from after they get hooked by this one. – Zach Johnston, Drinks Editor
I’m so obsessed with these sauces. They are, quite frankly, the best Sambal sauces I’ve ever cooked with and I find myself reaching for them nonstop — even though I have a very deep bench of hot sauces in my kitchen.
This is a true artisan, craft product — made in Portland, Oregon by two women who decided to enter the CPG space after running a very beloved supper club in the city. The flavors are on point, the chilies taste incredibly fresh, and the chop on everything feels a little more “real” (vs. the uniformity of a big brand)… Just can’t recommend this one highly enough.
Who It’s Perfect For:
A lot of people — the friend who likes supporting women-owned brands, the person who loves spice, the chef who is leaning more into Chinese and Singaporean cuisines this year… Also, buy this for me — I love it and am already out!
The recent collapse of the cryptocurrency firm FTX due to alleged financial fraud of its users has rippled through the sports world. The FTX logo is still displayed on the Miami Heat arena floor and many celebrities and former athletes have had to distance themselves from the firm since the allegations were made.
A recent class-action lawsuit named Shaquille O’Neal along with other pro athletes against FTX for bringing credibility to their digital crypto currency exchange. Shaq made sure distanced himself from the firm and the general concept of crypto when he was asked about the nature of his involvement.
“A lot of people think I’m involved, but I was just a paid spokesperson for a commercial,” he told CNBC Make It.
He added that “from my experience, it [crypto] is too good to be true”.
“I don’t understand it, so I will probably stay away from it until I get a full understanding of what it is,” he said.
Shaq endorses quite a few products and services. It’s hard to go a few hours without seeing him on a commercial for a product that could be just about anything. When he says he endorsed this crypto service without really understanding it, it’s easy to believe. The big fella should probably stick to endorsing pizza, printers, and car insurance while he gets up to speed on the latest digital currency.
How does one make sense of every single pop music hit from 2022 in less than 4 minutes? Mash-ups baby! California’s DJ Earworm has been presenting his “United State of Pop” mash-ups every year for quite some time, and now the 2022 “United State Of Pop (I Want Music)” has arrived.
Pretty much guaranteed that you won’t hear Steve Lacy‘s “Bad Habit” woven in and out of Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was” quite like this. The mix feels like one big walk of shame…err..triumph, through the year in pop and you can hear it above. Meanwhile, checkout the listing of the 25 tracks that appear on DJ Earworm’s “United State Of Pop (I Want Music)” in alphabetical order below.
Bad Bunny – “Tití Me Preguntó”
Bad Bunny and Chencho Corleone – “Me Porto Bonito”
Beyoncé – “Break My Soul”
Cast of Encanto – “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
Doja Cat – “Woman”
Elton John and Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)”
Future – “Wait for U (feat. Drake & Tems)”
Gayle – “Abcdefu”
Harry Styles – “As It Was”
Harry Styles – “Late Night Talking”
Imagine Dragons – “Enemy (feat. JID & League of Legends)”
Jack Harlow – “First Class”
Justin Bieber -” Ghost”
Kate Bush – “Running Up That Hill”
Kodak Black – “Super Gremlin”
Latto – “Big Energy”
Lil Nas X – “Thats What I Want”
Lizzo – “About Damn Time”
Morgan Wallen – “You Proof”
Nicky Youre and Dazy – “Sunroof”
OneRepublic – “I Ain’t Worried”
Post Malone and Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – “Unholy”
Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Grammy-nominated rapperLatto is turning lemons into lemonade, so why are critics online left with a bitter taste in their mouths? After a hacker leaked over 130 of her unreleased tracks, the Clayco native decided not to let that stop her from getting those tracks out to fans. Her new song, “Another Nasty Song,” one of the hundreds of songs leaked dropped yesterday, and fans love it. But, unfortunately, for Latto, not everyone online is a fan.
The track produced by Yak Beats samples an underground cult classic, “The Nasty Song,” by Lil Ru, making it irresistible. However, nearly 24 hours after hitting streaming platforms, critics have begun to flood Twitter with the same remark, “p*ssy is that only thing she raps about.”
There’s no denying the explicit nature of the song. The chorus opens with, “You know that I’m a freak / You know I like it slow / I’m tryin’ to make a movie / I’m givin’ you the code / So let me put this p*ssy on you (Let me put this p*ssy on you) / Yeah, daddy, come and let me put this p*ssy on you.” However, across Latto’s debut album, 777, the rapper does display range, regardless of what her recent loose singles, “FTCU” featuring GloRilla and “Clap” with Trina might have you believe.
Latto took to Twitter to clap back at critics who claimed her discography is one-dimensional writing, “I got plenty [of] songs [that] not about ‘p*ssy.’ Y’all don’t blow them up & that’s not my problem.”
I got plentyyyyyy songs not about “pussy”… y’all don’t blow them up & that’s not my problem lol
She isn’t the only woman rapper to receive these critics; Megan Thee Stallion’s catalog has come under fire for being too sexually centered, as has Cardi B’s.
To listen to Latto’s new song, “Another Nasty Song,” click here.
Little Simz dropped what might just be the last great album of 2022 in No Thank You. Released seemingly by surprise on December 12, the 10-track album was produced entirely by Inflo. It sees Simz grappling with her mounting fame, pitted against society’s greater ills in the process. Now she’s put out a stirring short film to accompany the album.
Directed by Gabriel Moses and filmed just outside of Paris, it opens with her rapping “X,” the pivotal midpoint track to No Thank You. The visual looks like Simz is delivering a sermon. Images of afro-imperialism are interspersed and she delivers punishing verses like: “This is post-apocalyptic where we stand. You wanna give us the Bible and have us give up the land. They will dangle the carrot when nothin’ is in your hand. And tell you never to worry, ‘it’s all just part of the plan.’”
The video morphs into an interpretive dance number set to “Silhouette,” before “Sideways” kicks in and Simz extols her empowered self, rapping, “They say Black don’t crack. My complexion is iridescent.” The film shifts into the track “Broken,” set to powerful images of child soldier depictions, moments of death, and a feeling of running away from a haunting past. Still, Simz looks deeper within herself, and a particular stanza stands out:
“Look how far you’ve come and see you’ve only just started
You exist, you alive, you are deservin’ of life
You are a beacon of light, you are determined to fly
You have a journal inside, you have the power to write”
“Heart On Fire” closes the moving film and it’s the most literal visual depiction of her facing her recent fame. She’s the belle of a ball, being honored, but feeling inherent guilt. She’s clearly grappling with feeling like she deserves accolades like the Mercury Music Prize, and her willingness to lay out that struggle on No Thank You and no in the short film, is exactly why she’s becoming one of the modern greats.
In a perfect world, you’d gift the ball fan in your life with the talents and abilities of modern-day hoops stars like LeBron or Candace Parker. You’d probably throw in a good half-foot growth spurt too for good measure. But since that’s just not possible, we’ve pulled together some items that can serve as the next best thing while catering to a mix of different lifestyles and ages, since no two ball fans are alike. Here are some of the best gifts to give this year for the hooper and fan in your life.
Beats Fit Pro
Apple Beats
Price: 199.99
Help your loved ones tune out the world and copycat the NBA’s most amazing tunnel looks by adding these earbuds to the rotation. They easily sync up to both Apple and Android devices and offer 6 hours of non-stop listening.
Price: Bottles start at $65, Gift cards start at $25
You may not be able to win an NBA championship in your lifetime, but you can still celebrate and raise a glass like those who have. Cincoro tequila was started by the owners of historic NBA franchises such as the Lakers, Celtics, Bucks, and Hornets — yes, that means Michael Jordan — and has become a recognizable brand in the sports-related spirits game. The beautifully designed bottle looks like it could be used as a decoration or a trophy.
If you know a hooper with the right gaming system who doesn’t have this yet, it’s a no-brainer. But the good news is that even if they already have it, you can buy them virtual currency to upgrade the experience.
There’s nothing more frustrating than being a basketball fan outside of the market of your favorite team. Unless their team plays games on a national broadcast, they rarely get the chance to watch the games. NBA League Pass has consistently given fans a way to keep up with their teams wherever they are with streaming access to hundreds of live games.
Sharpshooters and versatile bigs have created a need for an entirely new approach to basketball. Here, Mike Prada dives into how this evolution came about and helps fans walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history and X’s and O’s that make the league what it is today.
In most parts of the country, players have to make their way through the bitter cold every now and then to get to the gym. These joggers will help make that feel like a walk in the park with their lightweight double-knit fleece material to keep you warm and cozy indoors and outdoors. The back pocket is also greatly appreciated.
The new generation of Starting Lineup figures is here, and while the price tag doesn’t look anything like the old ones, the end product is similarly upscaled, making these the perfect addition to a collector’s bookcase no mater their favorite team thanks to a wide array of player options.
For anyone with aspirations of playing basketball well, practice is key. That’s pretty hard to do without the most important part of the game — the ball. And there’s nothing better than the official game ball that the pros use day in and day out.
A good cup of coffee or tea is a great way to start the day – and nowhere close to optional for some of us. To add a little more personality to the morning, BLK and Bold has formed a strong relationship with the NBA to sponsor its The Warm Up medium roast line, which has been upgraded with different packaging for each NBA conference and a handful of teams.
We’ve all got our occasional aches and pains, and that only increases when you hit the hardwood and the gym. That’s why we’re adding the Hypervolt Go 2 massager from Hyperice, which offers a long list of massage equipment and workout accessories.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
#htown_frankie #christmas2022 #fyp
Attachment
(@Latto) 
