@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.

The Combat Jack Show: The Jon Caramanica Episode

Combat Jack, Dallas Penn and the guys welcome New York Times culture critic Jon Caramanica to the show for a great discussion on Hip-Hop journalism and whether Rap Radar's Elliott Wilson is bought and paid for.  Also, Just Blaze finally addresses the elephant in the room, Dallas Penn's haircut and a lot more.  Basically, it's informative and funny.  Just listen!

Just Listen: Raekwon Visits The Combat Jack Show

Raekwon stops by the Combat Jack Show to promote Lost Jewlry along with discussing how EPMD & The Hit Squad inspired he & Ghostface as well as all of the Wu.

Jesse Thorn Interviews Black Dynamite's Michael Jai White & Carl Jones

Jessie Thorn of Bullseye talks to the duo behind Black Dynamite: The Animated Series, about their favorite Blaxploitation movies and how they influenced the movie.  They also give a little background on the Richard Pryor episode, "Get Him To The Sunset Strip".

AppJudgment: Amazon Updates App & More

How about that Amazon Instant Video for the iPad?! Hear about all the awesome details, and the not-so-awesome details. Verizon is being told to stop blocking tethered apps! Plus, you can now use Google Wallet with whatever credit or debit card you already have. Check out the new iOS game, 10000000, that's a mix of dungeon running and sliding block match puzzles

Part 2 Of iFanboy's Interview With Robert Kirkman

iFanboy talks to Robert Kirkman at this past San Diego Comic-Con about issue #100 of The Walking Dead and more.

iFanboy Interviews Greg Rucka of Lazarus, Alpha & Punisher

With his new novel, Alpha out now, Rucka sees a new series start up, and a new world of spying and terrorism to tell stories in. The exciting news in comics is that Lazarus, with Michael Lark on art, will come out from Image Comics in 2013. Rucka speaks with us about as much of the book as he can, and it's certainly enough to pique your interest. We get updates on Stumptown as well as where the creator stands in terms of who he's working for these days, and what creator owned work means to him.

Just Listen: Rap Genius Interviews Jean Grae

I'm rather late on this, but I recently discovered that Rap Genius has started a very cool podcast where they interview rappers, but it's not your typical interview.  The interviewer,  Shawn Setaro, really is a student of hip-hop and really digs deep into Jean Grae's lyrics, influences and her writing process.  He's like Nardwuar without the gimmicks and that's no shot at Narwuar, because I love his work as well.  Think of this as Inside The Actors Studio for rap.

iFanboy Interviews Robert Kirkman At #SDCC - Part 1

On the first night of the San Diego Comic Con, we witnessed the unveiling of The Walking Dead Zombie Escape Machine from Robert Kirkman and Hyundai and then proceeded to make fun of Robert because of it. But in all seriousness, the car was badass and it was fun to chat with Robert as usual.

But this isn't all the Kirkman we got, stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!

The Wire's David Simon On The Drug War, New Fans & Brackets

There's good news and there's bad news.  The bad news is that the interview is conducted by Jason Whitlock, who's a jerk ninety percent of the time he opens his mouth.  The good news is that the interview was still great and informative.  They hit on a lot of great topics:

Just Listen: @SiDEBARPodcast - 20 Years Of Image Comics

I can't believe it's been 20 years since the start of Image. This discussion really hit home for me. Image Comics are responsible for me actively buying comics in high school. I was a fan of comics before, but the desire to be at the ground floor of something really fueled my love of Image at first, along with dope art.

@AppJudgment Reviews Flud News For #Android

Flud News for Android combines your internet interests with your current RSS feeds. Smart news feed have never looked so good on an Android device.

 

Just Listen: WTF with Marc Maron Featuring Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart sits down with Marc Maron to talk about his rise and fall and rise again in comedy.  I didn't realize just quite how big Kevin Hart is until I heard this podcast and I actually like him and have seen him in concert.  There's also a cool discussion on the business side of television.

iFanboy Interviews The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman

Here are a few of the topics they touch on:

- Celebrating 20 years of Image Comics
- Revisiting his Creator Owned Manifesto several years later
- How he keeps long running series like Invincible and The Walking Dead fresh
- What fans can expect with his comics series Invincible, Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves, and The Walking Dead
- Comments on The Walking Dead lawsuit brought forth by Tony Moore
- How exactly he spends his Hollywood money
- What his predictions are for Avengers Vs. X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man
- And much, much more

Just Listen: WTF with Marc Maron Featuring Chris Rock

Rock hits on a ton of great topics with Maron:

• How he was almost a rapper . . .
• His relationship with Eddie Murphy.
• Saturday Night Live's treatment of Black performers.
• Why Dave Chappelle is America's the last great comedian.
• Why cable television killed the well-rounded comic.
• How he prepares for his hour specials & tours.
• His theory on Barack Obama's first term.

Just Listen: Aisha Tyler Interviews Questlove

Aisha Tyler started her own weekly podcast in July called Girl On Guy.  I love Aisha, but the podcast really didn't do too much for me in the first eleven weeks.  The guests weren't all that interesting and were all white men.  Nonetheless I kept my subscription to her RSS feed hoping to see someone eye catching cross my Google Reader.  Thankfully, ?uestlove of The Roots to the rescue!  The interview is incredible.  It's less comedy and more of a story of the origin of The Roots as well as some details about their upcoming album, Undun.  It's a long listen, but it's definitely worth it.

iFanboy Spotlight On Brian K. Vaughan

Adam Sessler & X-Play Staff Discuss L.A. Noire & More

@iFanboy - Icons: Frank Miller

When you talk about the most important comic book creators of the last 30 years, indeed, of all time, you have to include Frank Miller in the discussion. From his early work at Marvel Comics revitalizing Daredevil and his superstar making turn on Wolverine to his industry altering work on The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil: Born Again, and Batman : Year One to his creator-owned work like Ronin, Sin City, Martha Washington, and 300 and to his controversial return to DC Comics with The Dark Knight Strikes Again and All-Star Batman & Robin The Boy Wonder, and to his side trips to Hollywood with Robocop 2 and 3, Sin City, and The Spirit, Frank Miller has never failed to shake-up the comic book industry over the course of his career.