Recipe: Melted M&M's

I know it sounds counter intuitive, considering that M&M's motto is "melts in your mouth, not your hand," but melted M&M's are a delicious and versatile treat! They are yummy alone or as a topping for ice cream and other sweets. But perhaps the best part about this warm snack is how simple and quick it is to make.

How To

1. The first step is buying the M&M's! In order for the candies to melt correctly, you must use regular M&M's. This type allows the chocolate to melt evenly.
2. Next, empty out some M&M's onto a microwave safe plate.  You can use as much or as little as you want, so long as there is only one layer of M&M's.
3. You're ready for the microwave! Place the plate in the middle and heat it on high for 1 minute.  Make sure to keep checking on it at 10-15 second intervals. Shake the plate around each time you check it to prevent any candies from burning.
4. Once the M&M's feel hot and look a little oily, they are ready! Let them cool a little, and then try one.  If it's hard on the outside, and gooey on the inside, then you are done! If it still feels a little lumpy or uneven, then put it back in the microwave for 10 second bursts as you check it.

Suggested Servings

Melted M&M's are delicious and fun-to-eat on their own, but there are many other ways to eat them.  The best is probably on top of ice cream.  The combination of the cold ice cream and the hot, melty M&M's is a natural pair.

A similar base is pudding, which is good for those with temperature sensitive teeth.  Jello and rice pudding are also good alternatives.

The options are endless for this sweet treat.  Try experimenting with new flavors by topping new dishes with your melted M&M's! Enjoy.

Looking for reviews, advice, and DIYs made especially for musicians?

Check out my published articles on Symphonic Distribution's blog here:

Concert Review: Consent, Gutless, and Habits at The Backyard | Symphonic Distribution

How to Eat Healthy While on the Road/Touring in Florida

Traveling in Florida has its perks: beautiful weather, exciting cities, but, like on any road trip, your food choices can seriously affect your overall health.  Whether you’re picky or a ravenous eater, there are numerous healthy food options available all across Florida, and inside your vehicle.  Here, you will find different ways to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger by eating in and eating out while traveling and touring in Florida.

Eating In

When it comes to choosing healthy food options from local grocery stores, there are a couple tips that will maximize both your food supply and your wallet.

First, stock up on water.  It doesn't hurt to have too much water with you, especially in such a hot, humid state.  The most cost-effective method is to purchase water bottles in bulk from a warehouse store.  However, if you would rather be more environmentally conscious about your water consumption, carry a reusable bottle with you and fill it up whenever possible.  Due to this limited and unplanned system, it is important to bring some plastic water bottles or a water jug just in case.  Don’t forget to consistently and regularly drink your water.  This may lead to more pit stops along the way, but it will benefit you in the long run.  Generally, people who drink enough water during the day (the 8x8 rule of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is the most commonly accepted amount) tend to eat less since thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

For the times when you really are hungry, the second tip is to pack nutritional snacks.  This means avoiding foods that have little health value, like processed foods.  The most simple healthy snack foods are granola/energy bars.  These can be purchased in bulk (which saves on the price) and are a healthy alternative to overly salty snacks.  A more DIY snack option is homemade trail mix.  All of the mixings can be purchased at a local grocery store and, because you control what you put in it, there can be less salt which makes it much healthier.  Some possible ingredients include nuts, raisins, seeds, dark chocolate, and dried fruit.  You can also pack regular fruit, like bananas, that will keep during the trip.

Whole grain cereal cups are a good alternative to unhealthy, crunchy snack foods, like potato chips, according to cookinglight.com.  Vitamins are important day to day and while on the road.  When spending nights driving from town to town, vitamin B provides energy and decreases the need for coffee and energy drinks.  Not to mention, taking a general multivitamin will help to make up for any missed nutrients.  Drinking plenty of water and not skipping meals are both crucial to eating healthy on the road. 

If you would rather eat out from restaurants or other places instead of eating in from local grocery stores, there are still healthy options.  Choosing nutritional food items at fast food places is one way to eat out on the road.  Options like eggs and salads are healthier for you, and according to muscleandfitness.com, olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice are tasty alternatives to unhealthy salad dressings.  Eating in is cost effective and allows for more a more regular consumption of nutrients and healthy food throughout the day, but for the days when you feel like trying new places to eat, choosing healthy options is still possible when eating out.

Eating Out

Florida can be divided into three general regions: North, Central, and South.  Within each region, is a popular city, each home to a local restaurant full of healthy and tasty menu items.

In North Florida, Gainesville has many different restaurants all with different styles, but there is one that stands out among the rest: SweetBerries. A cost effective soup, salad, sandwich, and frozen custard shop, SweetBerries offers vegetarian options, like their tempeh sandwich.  I went to SweetBerries for lunch not too long ago and tasted their tempeh and frozen custard.  Not only were they both delicious, but also light, healthy, and easy on the wallet.  They are located at 505 NW 13^th Street, and they have earned 4.5/5 stars on their Facebook page. 

Farther down in Central Florida is Tampa, home to multiple EVOS locations.  This animal friendly restaurant offers burgers, wraps, and vegan options.  EVOS is a supporter of Meatless Mondays, as shown on their Facebook page.  I tried EVOS’ signature “Airfries” when I ate there last, and I would highly recommend their “Airbaked” fries to anyone looking for a healthy alternative.

South Florida is home to Miami as well as a local restaurant called Plate. Located at 2105 Coral Way, Plate offers numerous “healthy & delicious alternative[s] to fast food”, according to their website plateinmiami.com.  Between the good prices and “wholesome and nutritious” food, this restaurant is a must visit for any health minded foodie.

Whether you choose to eat in from grocery stores or eat out at local restaurants while on the road, touring and traveling in Florida can still include healthy eating.

TV Show Review - DANGER 5

Timeless comedy from down under.

Created by Dario Russo and David Ashby, DANGER 5 tells the story of a team of spies during World War II through the lens of the '60s.  The group undergoes various missions all with the same goal: "kill Hitler", as Colonel Chestbridge (an eagle headed man) always says.  DANGER 5 stars David Ashby, Aldo Mignone, Amanda Simons, Natasa Ristic, and Sean James Murphy (seen from left to right in the picture below).  This Australian TV show first aired in 2012 and now has two seasons, which are both available on Netflix.

Season 1 of DANGER 5

Season 2 of the series switches gears.  Although the team still tries to kill Hitler, the setting changes.  Now in the '80s, they fight Hitler in a world full of disco, neon, and pizza.  Newcomer Tilman Vogler joins the group for this season (seen on the far left in the picture below) as a replacement for beloved character Pierre.  Fans of the 2007 straight-to-YouTube film Italian Spiderman would enjoy DANGER 5.  The two parodies share similar qualities, like creators Dario Russo and David Ashby, excessive retro elements, and comically substandard acting and plots.

Season 2 of DANGER 5

There are two elements of DANGER 5 that are characteristic of the show: its aesthetic and genre combinations.  The first is probably the most visible.  Season 1 of DANGER 5 combines the clothing, hairstyles, technology, and typical color palettes of the '60s and '40s, creating a unique style the distinguishes the first season from other shows online.  Personally, this combined aesthetic alone hooked me.  Season 2 maintained this element, although it focused more on the '80s.  The new wardrobe and technology felt like it was 20 years later, but, according to the plot line, it was only 5 years.

One thing that is consistent in both seasons is the second of the two elements: the combination of genres.  Both seasons are a mix of action, comedy, romance, drama, and suspense.  This medley provides endless entertainment for almost everyone.  Whether you like things funny, serious, sad, or (mildly) thrilling, you can enjoy DANGER 5.  There is a constant flow in each episode that ranges from comedic intros featuring Colonel Chestbridge (the aforementioned strangely normal eagle-man hybrid) to romantic encounters between the spies to thrilling and dramatic cliffhangers that end most episodes.  It may be an overall cheesy show, but the genres that Russo and Ashby incorporate all fit together, and lend themselves to a truly one-of-a-kind show.

As with any TV show, DANGER 5 features exciting music to accompany the spies on their missions.  Co-creator Dario Russo made the soundtrack for seasons one and two, which is available here and here on CD Baby.  Perhaps the most well known tracks on Russo's two albums are the theme songs for the two seasons, titled "Danger 5 Theme" and "Danger 5 Theme (Series 2)".  Not only are these tunes memorable because of their classic feel that prepares the viewer for the mood and style of the show, but also because they are played at the beginning of each episode, which reinforces them for the audience, naturally.

On a more educational note,  DANGER 5 incorporates many different languages and historical figures into the show.  Some of the languages spoken include Russian, German, French, Italian, Japanese, English, and more.  The really fascinating thing about this aspect of the show is how seamlessly the characters transition from language to language.  Rather than forcing the characters to all speak English with varying accents, they speak their respective languages and still maintain the ability to interact with each other.  Throughout the series, the spies encounter 19 different historical figures from Josef Mengele to Benito Mussolini to Nikita Khruschev to (of course) Adolf Hitler.  These cameos, although comical, shed light on the historical events by supplementing these grade school history lessons with (occasionally) accurate portrayals of these people.

If you enjoy classic action, thrilling spy adventures, or even comical running gags, like learning how to make a different, perfect cocktail drink each episode, DANGER 5 has what you need, and more.

Writings from Ancient Scrolls Visible with X-rays

Archaic Greek writings are now accessible thanks to newly used X-ray technology.

Almost 2000 years after the epic volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius at Pompeii, the scrolls preserved by the lava are still read today.  They act as windows into the past that enable us to grasp what that ancient culture was like, but it has not been easy to read these scrolls.  Many of these hardened writings break and crumble when scientists try to open them.  Even if they successfully open the scrolls, there is no guarantee that the letters were not altered during the process.  But all of that will change.  Researchers have recently developed a new method of reading these preserved scrolls that does not destroy them.  X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging, or XPCT, enables scientists to read the ink markings inside the scrolls by scanning them and projecting the images on a computer.  The original scientific article can be found here on Nature Communications' website.  Aside from protecting history by maintaining the original state of the scrolls, this new use of X-ray technology has global implications.  Our current understanding of ancient history is based on the writings we have unveiled so far, but, with these new scrolls, we may discover not only new stories, but also corrected stories that could completely alter our perspective.

A preserved Herculaneum scroll and its ink markings.

Scientists have tried scanning these preserved scrolls for many years by testing different techniques.  Originally, they used XCT, which is similar to a CAT scan that scans sections of objects using X-rays.  This method failed because it was unable to distinguish the similar chemical natures of the papyrus paper and ink.  However, this led to testing with XPCT.  This was much more effective because, unlike XCT, this method scans by detecting for refractions.  In other words, the ink markings on the scrolls are raised up and this distinction allows for the XPCT scan to take images of these markings.  This new successful method of scanning has produced images that let the researchers view the letters and begin to read the scrolls.  Unfortunately, they cannot read full sentences yet because, due to the rolled up nature of the scrolls, the images depict letters that are all stacked upon one another.  One of the scientists, Brent Seales, is creating a computer program that will allow his colleagues to read the scrolls layer by layer so that they can read full lines of writing.  Soon, this new use of X-rays will prove extremely useful in learning about human history.

"This attempt opens up new opportunities to read many [scrolls], which are still rolled up, this enhancing our knowledge of Ancient Greek literature and philosophy." - Mocella, Brun, Ferrero, & Delattre

Can you remember the historical texts you read when you were in school?  Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey?  Sophocles' Antigone?  What if one day you were to turn on the news and hear that these stories are incorrect or were translated poorly?  By using XPCT technology to read the unopened, preserved scrolls from antiquity, it is possible that these classic stories will be changed, and that new ones will be added to the collection.  Not only will these scrolls provide new texts, but also the original texts of stories we have already read.  Plus, cultures that were believed to have been lost due to disasters, like that of Pompeii, could be saved by reading documents that cannot be opened safely.  The future implications of this use of technology are limitless, and it will impact the science world as well as our lives because learning about our history as human beings is essential in truly knowing ourselves.

Review: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Tops Sneakers

One Size Fits...Most?

Rating : 7/10

Price : $59.99

Specifications

• Composition - rubber sole, canvas
• Color - black (other options available)
• Shoelaces - lace up, white
• Design - high top, Chuck Taylor All Star side logo

 Description

Considered to be an adaptable fashion item, Converse's High Tops are worn by all types of individuals.  From hipster to grunge, these shoes can complete almost any outfit for today's youth and young adult population.  Selling at almost 60 dollars, Converse's Chuck Taylor All Star shoes drive a hard bargain, but they do not fail to sell their famous sneakers.  These classic High Tops have a long lifespan, and can endure various environments, which make them the ideal sneakers to own.  Even though these shoes run on the expensive side, their durability and longevity make them a worthwhile purchase.

Converse's High Tops are strong and can withstand years of wear.  This along with their ability to be worn often form a solid reputation for them, and make them essential to any closet.  You can add them to almost any outfit, and for almost any event.  Unlike their more expensive high fashion counterparts, High Tops can be worn in rough environments, like all day concert festivals.  The shoes provide basic support in a casual style.  These High Tops can survive in water, mud, dirt, and just about anything.  Their durability significantly impacts their price; it explains why they cost so much.  Like any pair of shoes, these will deteriorate over time, but, because they are of high quality, they visibly appear to last a long time.  Not to mention, the traditional black color helps to hide normal wear and tear.  These pay for themselves over time since they last for years, and do not age poorly.

I have owned my own pair of Converse High Tops for a few years now, and they have not failed me yet.  Concerts, classes, church, you name it and I have probably worn these shoes there.  Not only are these comfortable, but they are a timeless style that matches almost any outfit.  I have also not had any problems with excessive wear and tear.  In fact, mine still look very good.  Although these are not the shoes in which you would hike or run a race, they more than get the job done for daily activities and special events.

Another common problem associated with these shoes is their size.  Many customers will choose their shoe size, and, upon delivery, discover that the projected sizes are not always precise.  It is unclear where this problems stems from, whether it be Converse, the stores, or the customers themselves, but it is evident that this issue prevents both efficient and effective use.  My recommendation for avoiding this problem is to purchase these shoes in person by going to your local shoe store and trying the sizes on in person to ensure accurate sizing, rather than buying them through an online store.

Apart from the elevated price and sizing issues, Converse's Chuck Taylor All Star High Tops are the ideal pair of shoes.  If you are looking for sneakers that are comfortable, durable, and appealing, these are right for you.  There are other shoes on the market, like the ankle shoe version of these High Tops, as well as other brands all together, but what makes Converse's High Tops special is their high quality material and unique style.  These shoes will not fall apart, and will match almost any outfit you wear.  From plaid and jeans to high-waisted shorts and flowy tops, High Tops complete an outfit while remaining comfortable and casual for the user.

Summary

Pros:

• Versatility
• Longevity
• Durability

Cons:

• Price
• Size

The Unexpected Cabin on the Silver Screen

A review of The Cabin in the Woods

Ever wonder what Sam Raimi's cult classic The Evil Dead (1981) would be like if Quentin Tarantino reinvented it with a modern twist?  Director Drew Goddard has created just that in his 2012 horror film The Cabin in the Woods.

Movie poster for The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

"You think you know the story"

Everyone knows how it goes: a group of young friends travel to a secluded cabin on a lake to spend the weekend unwinding.  What could go wrong?  Only everything.  From sitting in front of the fire to running and screaming for help, the lives of these five friends will be changed forever.  This movie may appear like every other horror movie you have seen, but the tagline, "You think you know the story", says otherwise.  Be prepared for an M. Night Shyamalan style film so you can follow all the plot turns.  There are also some clear pieces of the film that Goddard adopted from some of the classics.  Between the borrowed scenes and invigorating plot, The Cabin in the Woods is a comical, thought provoking horror film that pushes the boundaries of genre.

Movie poster for The Evil Dead (1981)

As a tribute to all typical horror movies, The Cabin in the Woods is a parody that takes these classics and turns them on their heads.  Goddard uses elements of other traditional horror films to piece together The Cabin in the Woods.  Similar to Wes Craven's Scream, Goddard uses dialogue like, "Don't read the Latin" (Marty, Fran Kranz) that pokes fun at his own movie.  This adds comedy to the movie that makes it well rounded, and enjoyable for almost any viewer.  There are a  few nearly identical scenes from The Evil Dead in The Cabin in the Woods: the scene when the cabin is shown for the first time and the scene with the self opening cellar door are a couple of the prominent ones.  To the movie buff, these similarities provide enjoyment throughout the film.

The plot has enough twists and turns to make the average viewer feel like they need a map, but the film's ending is all you need to understand the whole point of Goddard's convention bending movie.  The Cabin in the Woods is not your average screaming-at-the-edge-of-your-seat horror flick.  On the contrary, you will gasp, cover your eyes, laugh, and flinch on top of the screaming.  But more importantly, this movie will make you think.  Like modern video and computer games, there are short cut scenes throughout the film that slowly reveal the undisclosed central plot.  By carefully listening to and watching these scenes, you might be able to piece some of it together and create a theory, but it is unlikely that you will be able to accurately guess the ending; it is quite the twist.  After you watch The Cabin in the Woods, it will make you rethink horror films and their common plot devices.  It will also make you rethink movie genres.  Normally, a movie can be easily distinguished by its genre and style, but are the lines that separate genres permanent?  Not for Drew Goddard, and definitely not for his film The Cabin in the Woods.  You might call it a horror film, the person sitting next to you might say comedy, and someone else might think mystery/horror.  The options are endless, and that is what makes it such an intriguing film.  Its adopted elements and comedic yet captivating nature make Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods suitable for all tastes.