Water Bears Live in Space

Water Bears also known as Tardigrades are micro-organisms found in trees, moss, water and many other environments. They are classified as Extremophiles which means they thrive in physical or geochemical extreme conditions. Tardigrades can withstand heat over 120 degrees Celsius (240 F), freezing cold between 200-300 degrees below zero, x-rays, radiation, and they are the first animals to survive in space. Many scientists speculate that Tardigrades may be of extra-terrestrial origin transported to Earth by meteorite or asteroid. This is one of the reasons hypothesized why they can survive space travel.

Tardigrades were given the name water bears because they resemble bears with their round, caterpillar, bodies, tiny claws and multiple feet. Tardigrades have a nervous system, muscles, digestive system and brain, which makes them different than most insects. They’re covered in a dense exoskeleton which can harden and protect them when placed in an environment with little food or water. When this happens Tardigrades go into a state of cryptobiosis which is a form of suspended animation, where they can survive for over a hundred years.

To date science doesn’t know how Tardigrades evolve or what other species in the animal kingdom they’re related to. For more information watch the video below.

Fall Back

Seasons change but most people stay the same. That's a line from one of my new songs. It's a layman's description of people who get caught-up in repeating the same cycles but expecting their life to change. Today is my birthday ...and I feel the change. Not older but definitely a little wiser.

When the seasons change we either "spring forward" with daylight savings by adding an hour or we "fall back" by turning the clocks back one hour.  In Holland the fall season is definitely here. The temperature has dropped steadily since mid-August. Most people went from wearing shorts and t-shirts to sweaters and coats almost overnight. Its as different as night and day.

To assist with this chilling transition I've posted a mix of new and popular music. Below are tunes from Twista, Lupe Fiasco, Kirko Bangs, Killer Mike, GhostWridah, and 38 Spesh. Enjoy. 

Big Bad Corn

I received an infographic from the good people at learnstuff.com that I thought was worth sharing. 

By now most people have heard of the evil named high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  It's known as glucose-fructose in Canada and Europe. HFCS has been linked to obesity, disease, and an endless list of health problems.

What most people outside of the food industry don't know is that hybridized corn products have been added to the majority of foods they eat daily. Check out the information graphic with references below.

Local Graff Art 2

In the spirit of the giving season I offer the next installment of the Local Graff series. 

Below are some pics I shot in Amsterdam Oost (East) by a place named Flevopark. This park is known as one of the meccas of graffiti, because of all the tall walls and low police intervention. While roaming the area looking for good pics to post, I was fortunate enough to see a group of talented artists paint a new mural in front of me.  Check the pics below. 

The Original Statue of Liberty Was Black

Very few people know the origins of the massive statue that stands in New York Harbor greeting travels from across the globe. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French to signify the end of slavery. There is evidence that supports claims she originally resembled a black slave with broken shackles on hands and feet. 

The artists Edouard Laboulaye and Auguste Bartholdi intended the statue to be a monument that would commemorate America’s commitment to liberty and equality established by the Declaration of Independence. You can view the original designs on display in the Museum of the City of New York. 

When the American government saw the designs they refused to have an African-American be a National Monument and sent them back. They preferred to have a monument that was European and made no references to slavery. Auguste Bartholdi redesigned the statue to resemble the face of his mother Charlotte Beysser Bartholdi. The only remnant of the original design is the chain (from the shackle) showing from under Lady Liberty’s dress. 

There’s also a rumor that the redesigned statues official title is Liberty Enlightening the World. Her construction was funded by the Masons and she is holding the Masonic Torch of Enlightenment, also known as the Flaming Torch of Reason. The same woman is used in the logo for Columbia Pictures.

There’s a large plaque bearing masonic symbols on the base of the statue.

Just sharing a couple of fun (rumored) facts about the Statue of Liberty you probably didn’t know.

Novicane Video Release

What's Poppin People, 

The wait is over! Here is my new video "Novicane" off Tha Audio Bully album. The theme of the clip is showing the contrast between light and dark obsession. 

My new album is on the way and plans are already being made for the clip to "Speaking Chinese." Once the track is re-recorded and mixed, the video is on. It's going to be sunshine, beaches and beautiful women.

Watch the clip below, leave a comment and tell a friend to tell a friend. Thanks for the support.

New Muzik

I've been enjoying the new muzik coming out. There seems to be more underground Hip-Hop rising to the surface. 

Time is short and my work load long. So check out the new tunes by State Property, DB tha General, Redrum, Caddy da Don ft. Fat Trel, and Nas ft. Arlissa. Be on the look out cuz the new video Novicane will be released soon.

Local Graff Art

I've been spending allot of time biking around the city. I'm editing the video for Novicane and looking for ideas on which visuals to use.  I draw inspiration from nature and going around Holland on bike, you always find something new.

This post is the first in a series of posts I will be doing sporadically dedicated to local graffiti art. I see some nice pieces when riding and recently I started taking pics. So far I've only shot pieces from West Amsterdam and the Centrum. As I travel there will be graff art from the rest of the city.

Don't get it twisted, I'm not limiting the location to Amsterdam. I ride there the most but I'm going to post graff pics from other cities also. I've seen some interesting work while riding the train to Den Haag and Rotterdam. 

There's allot of dope street art that only people in Holland get to see. So I'm going to share it with the world. Check out the pictures below.