The Business Behind Beats by Dre (Are they for you?) by @MKBHD

If you are a fan of tech to any degree Marques Brownlee is one of the best YouTube channels that you can be subscribed to.  In this video he gives you six minute business lesson on why Beats by Dre are successful for their style far more so than their sound quality.  There's nothing new here but it's succinct.

Friends. How many of us have them? / Online Gaming

I copped a PlayStation 4 earlier this year after not owning a system since the early days of the PS2 and the Xbox.  It's been roughly 8 years since I had played video games and a lot has changed.

Online gaming is the main thing.  I never did it before owning a PS4.  As much as I love meeting new people online, that's not really the case when it comes to online gaming.  I'm more interested in playing with people that I know to some degree or another.  It's the only way I'm used to playing.  It's funny enough not sitting next to someone.

@SESweeting aka Snark Twain's #8Essentials

I found a second victim volunteer for my 8 Essentials segment.  This time it's Sharri aka Snark Twain aka @SESweeting.  She's one of the funnier people on Twitter, whether she's live tweeting television or giving a play by play on everyday annoyances.

Sent out invitations via email explaining that all they had to do is respond to that email in order to rsvp thinking it was easier for them
— Snark Twain (@SESweeting) August 7, 2014

40% of the RSVPs came in via text/phone call because Black.
— Snark Twain (@SESweeting) August 7, 2014

Without further ado ...

1. Zebra F-301 Fine Point Pen
I'm a lefty, and this pen never bleeds and lasts forever. Since most pens are designed for right handed people, so when I use them they stop working way before the ink runs out. This pen never lets me down.

2. Air Max ‘90s
These have been my favorite sneakers for just over 10 years now. The old school chunky running silhouette reminds me of the glory days of the ‘90s where all the cool girls wore tennis skirts and sneakers.

3. Galaxy Note 3
I was hesitant about getting such a large phone, because I worried about whether it would fit in my pocket. Then I realized that I usually keep my phone in my handbag anyway so I joined the phablet club. This is the first cell phone where I actually use all of the features: the wifi hotspot, the split screen, document scanning, and yes, I actually create handwritten notes on it.

@AthenaDDixon's #8Essentials

The proprietor of Linden Avenue Literary Journal and host of the Books, Beats, and Blogs podcast tells us what helps keep her creative juices flowing.

1. Red Converse All-Star Lows
I wear these with everything from jeans to dresses. They're so comfortable it feels like I’m barefoot and the red gives a pop to just about anything I wear.

2. Beats earbuds and 80GB iPod Classic
I'm plugged into music most of the day so being able to enjoy all of it is important to me. I shuffle thousands of songs depending on my mood while at work and at home.

3. The Max Fischer Sandwich from Mr. Zub’s in Akron, Ohio
This sandwich is perfect. It combines a fresh bagel, flavored cream cheese, great deli meats, and veggies in a huge portion. I always pair it with fresh hummus and pita.

It's been a long time / My #8Essentials

I know it’s been pretty dormant over here recently, but I have never been quite sure what I was going to do with this space.  I loved posting mixtapes, but I'm seeing far fewer mixtapes worth downloading, let alone posting.  I also thought about opening up more about myself, but I don't think this is the place for that, if I ever decide to do it.

I got the idea for a new segment for the blog when I fell down an internet rabbit hole and ended up on GQ’s website.  They have an interesting feature where they ask people what are some of the things that are essential for getting them through life.  Since it’s GQ and they are often talking to celebrities, most of the things that they mention are expensive as hell.  I figured, why not try to see what gets people like you and I through life.  If I'm going to do this I might as well start with myself.  So here goes nothing.

8 Essentials:

1. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The only bad thing about Fridays is that there’s no Jon Stewart on my television.  I really wish they would have episodes on Fridays.  The Daily Show is the only thing on television I can always depend on to make me laugh on a weekly basis..

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
This album is the most influential piece of media on my life, ever.  It’s the only album I remember the exact place I first heard it.  I didn’t really care about music at all until I heard this.  Midnight Marauders and Illmatic are still the only two perfect Hip-Hop albums, I've ever heard.  There's not a single bad or skippable song on either.    Also, you can click on the pic to enlarge the album cover to get a better look at the faces on the cover.  You should checkout Egotrip's oral history for the making of the iconic cover.