Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: FLORAL GALLERY II Summer 2013
Here are some exhibitions of the beauty of nature created by God for us all to enjoy. The following images were taken from the garden of an amazingly dedicated, skilled gardener & green-thumb enthusiast we know.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Make My Cake Episode 2 ( Sort of)
With all the constant news of mass deaths and violence around the world, I thought I’d do a post along with my sis celebrating the gift of longevity in life from God for our dad (who turned 70) this year! As for the food nazi’s out there, this report isn’t meant for you. It’s meant for the little kid inside you that says I want cake!!! And if you don’t like cake, then as usual “Eat boiled shoe.”
Without further ado we give you our Make My Cake Experience: Episode 2 (sort of). The sort of is because while this is the second time we’ve had a cake from Make my Cake, this is our first post on this awesome black owned business right in Harlem that more than delivers with it’s offerings. For the purposes of this report we’re focusing on their birthday cake making ability.
Located at 121 St. Nicholas Ave on 116th St. in Harlem tucked in at the corner of the block is this awesome bakery. I had come there several years ago in passing. After trying one of their red velvet cupcakes, I decided I’d have them make a cake for our mother’s upcoming birthday. I gave a general description of what I wanted to see on the finished cake as far as color and decoration and when it came out, much to my suprise the cake had exceeded anything I had imagined it would look like. We went for simple yet elegant.
The cake that started a thousand mouths watering.
This is the first cake I can recall that I’d ever seen our mother actually have and want more than one piece of. The taste was phenomenal. Believe you me, that cake tasted even better than it looks. Anyway once you step inside this place of sweet indulgent goodness your greeted by the following.
I looked down and said Yessum!!!
Next I took happy steps forward beyond the foyer and into the bakery. This is what it looks like inside a place I like to call Happiness. ;D
Behind the sign at the cake ordering side of the bakery.
After hunting through thousands of photos on my phone and finding the pic of the cake they’d made years back for my mom, I showed the woman taking my order what the cake looked like. When she saw the picture she jokingly said they couldn’t do a custom cake or the color I wanted.
We both had a good chuckle before she wrote down the basic description I gave for the cake and showed me the invoice to confirm that what I requested was in fact what was written on the receipt. When I was satisfied that the receipt for my cake order was correct I paid and went on my merry way expecting the cake to be ready in two days time.
Two days later I arrived and once again was not disappointed with the job Make My Cake had done for me. They hit it out of the park!!!
Happy 70th Birthday Dad I hope you enjoyed your day.
This was a 10 inch two layer Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and 5 Blue & White Roses. This cake could easily feed a dozen or more people depending on how generous the portions are. At $55 this cake is an excellent value for it’s price.
The taste once again was terrific and even drew compliments from one of my sisters who almost never cares for any cake we get. If you’re in the neighborhood give Make My Cake a try. I promise you, it will be a trip well worth it’s price of admission. I know I’ll definitely be back to order my next cake from them.
They have another location up around 139th st as well if I’m not mistaken so two spots same awesome baked goods what’s not to love? My inner kid just punched me in the gut and said I WANT CAKE!!!!
Till next time this has been Make My Cake: Episode 2 by THEJNSREPORT.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: FRUITVALE STATION: Post Film Impression
By
Akan Bosemann
I went to see this film with a fellow film buff friend of mine after not having been to the theater damn near all Summer. With the Zimmerman murder trial quickly being forgotten and swept into the recesses of immediate consciousness of the people, here is a film that is yet another reminder and living testimony that speaks to the continual injustices levied upon Black Men in America today.
I thought I knew the story of Fruitvale but confused it with another shooting death in Florida of you guessed it another black youth. I vaguely recalled seeing the media coverage of the incident involving cops on the BART transit system of San Francisco where Oscar Grant III was murdered on the platform of Fruitvale Station by a police officer back in 2009.
This is a film I recommend everyone go and see. See it with your kids, with your family, with your loved ones, and with your friends. Words can’t fully express what I felt watching the struggle shown in the life of this 22 year old black man trying to do right. Trying to turn his life around and take care of his family and responsibilities. It seems like every time that happens a brother gets taken out.
By the end of the film my friend and I sat stuck in our seats watching the credits roll even after the other moviegoers had gotten up and left. This film spoke to my soul. I’m not ashamed to admit tears ran down both sides of my face seeing what took place with eyewitnesses and video recordings of the incident then knowing that the officer who murdered Oscar Grant got a grand total of 11 months for his killing.
Get your minds around that. Michael Vick received 2 years and the loss of an over $100 million dollar contract with the Falcons for “dogfighting”. A human being is murdered in front of many witnesses including fellow police officers by a police officer (who is supposed to serve and protect) and gets 11 months!!!!
Any suprises here? Trial moved, no black person on the jury, impossibly lenient sentence for outright murder because the murderer wore a uniform, badge, nightstick, taser, cuffs and handgun. He claims he mistakenly drew his gun thinking it was his taser. Give me a break!!! He drew his weapon for what purpose? The man was already handcuffed subdued and going nowhere and back up was right there.
Who forgets what side of their waist their gun is on? Trained officer doesn’t know he has a gun in his hand when he squeezes the trigger. Fuck that lying S.O.B and his mother. Anger, frustration, and hatred filled my chest like a overflowing pitcher for an unjust justice system that frees the murderers of black people as if it were a public service. Knowing that this actually happened makes it worse.
I feel alot of times people want to shield their eyes, ears, minds, and hearts from reality because it’s too much for them to face. It’s easier to tell oneself, it’s fiction and didn’t really happen or didn’t happen the way “they” say it did.
I as a black man know all to well that for me this is part of my existence every day that I’m alive and walk this earth. What are we to do when our lives are viewed and treated with so little regard? Why are our lives valued as less than that of dogs? Why are our victims of violence and outright murder blamed for their deaths and all consideration given to their murderers?
With every acquittal, or reduced sentence or “slap on the wrist” for the killers of black people in America I wonder how many more will it take before there is a mass violent uprising against the perpetrators? How many more innocent black lives have to be lost before we say enough?
If we aren’t safe and secure in our own persons walking the street or riding the subway then no one is safe. Everyone held a collective breath following the verdict of the Zimmerman trial fearing the worst. Much to the delight of the mainstream media and many Zimmerman supporters nothing happened.
Lip service, half hearted condolences and cliche’s tossed about like appetizers at a party while glossing over of the loss of life of another black youth was what we got. How in God’s name even with video showing the incident can a cop get off with 11 months for outright murder?
I bet if any of these black victims were white and/or the officers black we’d be talking about the death penalty for the officers not 11 months. This film should be up for best picture come award season. Oscar Grant III’s story was told in a poignant, truthful, factual and powerful way.
Fruitvale is an immediate must have for my film library once it’s out of the theaters.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Family & It’s importance : A personal reflection
Recently, while out one night with friends reminiscing on our childhood upbringings one by one, I began to realize something I was told many times by my parents. It was in the end of a family meeting after attending church. the topic of conversation was the importance of family. At the time I just wanted to be a kid and play video games or watch TV, not sit in a “family meeting”. Now looking back I’m truly blessed to have the family that I have.
The social fabric and foundation of a sound and healthily functioning society starts with family. Family in all it’s variants is a bond beyond anything material or temporal. I’ve often taken mine for granted and as I’ve aged, begun to realize and understand that the time given to us isn’t to be taken for granted.
It is for this reason I feel for friends of mine who have none or have lost all the family they had. The sadness and emptiness gets channeled often times into vices that are harmful, depressing, and cyclical/habitual. However, I’ve also met people who have negative vices because of their family. Even still I’m grateful to God for my family and all its imperfections.
This goes out to all my family far and near and those I don’t know who are my family. At the end of the day all of us Human Beings are “Family”. What happens when family is broken? Youths go out and join gangs in search of the familial bond. Morals and values get twisted and construed to whatever associations people from broken families and homes can find or conjure up on their own.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Human to Human Etiquette
Written by T.D Moody
The other night I was on the subway on my way home from a long day at work. I was in no mood for shenanigans or to hear loud obnoxious idiots and freaks, who as the saying goes “come out at night”.
Nevertheless there I was sitting contemplating life so far and what it’s like surviving in the concrete jungle. Out of the blue almost as if by magic a homeless person came through the car stinking and standing right in front of me.
I had my ear buds in so I didn’t immediately look up to see or hear what he was saying but once I did look up and notice him( due to the stench on him) I felt bad that we have so many homeless and hungry people riding the subway everyday trying to get enough money to get something to eat.
I was reminded of a Tupac song in which he says “They got money for wars but can’t feed the poor”. It’s sad but so true. I reached in my bag and gave the man the change that I had on me. After a few moments I noticed two young guys at the other end of the train car making gestures and laughing loud enough that I could hear them even with music playing in my ears.
I took my buds out just long enough to catch some of what one of the two guys who was most outspoken was saying to the homeless man. He was making fun of this middle-aged homeless guy asking him for change, saying things like stop being greedy, since myself and a few other straphangers had given him some money.
When the train arrived at the next station yet another homeless person got on and I just felt a sense of defeat come over me. Sure my little change didn’t make a significant impact but combined with whatever else he collected from other people throughout the day I imagined he could scrape by hopefully enough to get something to eat. Even still I felt like you can’t help everybody.
What enraged me to my core though, was the fact that this ridiculing kid, not knowing this homeless person asking for money, or how he came to be begging in the subways, was metaphorically speaking kicking this guy while he was down like it was cool.
Making fun of his misfortune and doing it to get others on the car to laugh along with him. I found this attitude so repugnant. I in that moment said to myself I hope and pray that the same misfortune befalls that young idiot so that he would know & understand how wrong it was of him to do what he was doing. I mean such apathy. I just couldn’t get my mind around it.
I mean he went so far as to even tell the homeless man to first, sing for the money and if he did he’d give him $5. I could see the arrogant punk had no intention of pulling any money out of his pocket nor did he from what I saw.
The next thing I heard was him say to the homeless man “When the train stops at the next stop and the doors open up, run two cars ahead cause this other guy’s beating you. He’s beating you to your money”. He and his friend then erupted in laughter along with some other apathetic people who were observing and listening.
I imagine the very same attitude exhibited by the two guys towards the homeless man is how the elite of the world view us the people . With utter disregard as if we’re less than human, less than nothing, not worth a trifle, all our misfortunes, our fault and nothing to do with the elite, greed, their attitude, perspective, and behavior.
I consoled myself with a memory of stories I heard in my childhood where there was always a moral to them in which some seemingly insignificant gesture or behavior is highlighted and shown to have consequences for good or for bad depending on whether a choice was made to do good voluntarily or to do bad voluntarily. Still shaking my head over witnessing that scene.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Pain of Past Relationships
I think it safe to assume most of us can relate to a passing moment in which a memory of a past relationship pops into your head. Thoughts of things as they used to be. A bit of rue for the present.
I find it weird that this has been happening to me for the past few months. It’s something I don’t fully understand but I’m glad that I do still have memories of good to great and amazing times I’ve had in life.
When I find myself thinking about those memories too much I sober my cloud bound mind up with a dose of memories of why the relationship ended. Almost instantly my mind is back here on earth and I’m relieved. 😉
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: BURGER BATTLE I: Jackson Hole Burgers V Shake Shack Burgers
Ok having been in a “Burger Hunter” mood the past week or two I decided I needed a side by side comparison taste testing of both a Jackson Hole cheeseburger and a Shake Shack burger.
Having tasted each on separate occasions now was the time to truly find out side by side which burger I liked best. And so ladies and gentlemen, without further ado I give you Burger Battle I.
Shake Shack burger & Fries.
VS
Behold the Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger
Now what you have to realize is Shake Shack burgers aren’t huge. They are a good slightly above average sized burger bout the same size as Blue 9 burgers. In stark contrast, Jackson Hole burgers are almost a half pound burger.
Thick or thin, almost every width and thickness in the burger patty spectrum is all good in my book. What makes the difference is taste, texture, and presentation. How well were my instructions followed as far as how I like my burger cooked? Did my mouth enjoy the burger, and was I satisfied? All important questions needing answers.
The Shake Shack burger I had first.
Shake Shack burger & Fries.
It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and not too salty the way some burger joints over season their meat. Shake Shack makes a great burger no doubt about it. I found the double cheeseburger decently juicy, and overall very satisfying to the palate.
Their fries were pretty good as well. The bun was soft and the lettuce, tomato & mayo just made the perfect harmony with the well done burger patties. There is definitely a distinct taste to Shake Shack burgers that makes people stand in long lines to get them.
I devoured my Shake Shack double cheeseburger in between bites of crunchy golden fries. Answers forth coming were as follows. Shake Shack scored 5 dinner plates out of 5 for following my instructions as far as cooking my burger well done. Taste and texture were both very good and scored 4.5 dinner plates out of 5. OOOO.5
Presentation was good considering it came wrapped in paper half way up the burger so one can hold it comfortably and eat. Overall presentation scores a 4.5 dinner plates. OOOO.5
Shake Shack gets an overall score of 4.7 dinner plates out of 5. OOOO.7
I didn’t include a photo of it wrapped due to my haste to get started eating it. 😉 Now turning my attention to the Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger pictured below. There was a bit of time between picking up the two burgers before heading home. So not wanting to eat my very thick Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger luke warm or cold I put it to heat up in the toaster oven.
Toasted burger. Mmmm!!
I could hardly wait to take the first bite into that amazing looking burger. I have to admit it bacon cooked right and put on anything including burgers instantly makes them taste better. Notice of course the obvious difference between Shake Shack and Jackson Hole is the size disparity in burgers.
If you’re looking for a “big man-sized” burger Jackson Hole Burgers are where it’s at (Big Nick’s is in that class as well I might add). I decided to skip the lettuce, tomato, pickles and all other condiments with this burger and kept it simple between the bun, meat and cheese.
Presentation of this burger I think speaks for itself. I gave it 5 out of 5 dinner plates for a simple yet impressive arrangement and bounty of ingredients. That cheese oozing all over the burger is what dreams are made of people!
Once I toasted it, it was like that just took the burger to the next level. Taste and Texture both received perfect 5 out of 5 dinner plate scores. OOOOO. I bit into the thickness yokum of that burger and found even toasted, my burger was well done yet still juicy inside. With each bite I took into it I found juice rushed into my mouth. 😀
The cheese slathered and rippling down my plate spoke of the attention to detail and heavy-handedness paid to a deserving near half pound beast. The bacon was perfectly crispy and the salty good bacon flavor just took things to the next level.
The bun of my Bacon Cheeseburger was well toasted as it had been already been lightly toasted when it was first picked up but now it was a nice almost crustini texture to it except for the parts of then bun that were in immediate contact with the meat and cheese.
The contrasting textures of the crunchy bun and crispy bacon combined with the melted and slightly burned cheese and juicy beef just made my mouth yearn for more and more with each passing bite.
Jackson Hole huh? They sure do make a tasty burger. Mmmm!
There would be no room left in my belly for more fries. As far as being satisfied. Jackson Hole’s Bacon Cheeseburger gets 5 out of 5 dinner plates OOOOO for Presentation and Satisfaction. I was beyond satiated for several hours following burger battle I.
Overall score for Jackson Hole’s Bacon Cheeseburger is a perfect 5 out of 5 dinner plates. OOOOO
The winner here in Burger Battle I is Jackson Hole. Shake Shack came up just short in the end but is still definitely a great burger. Some may disagree with my findings but that’s the beauty of variety. Everything is subject to interpretation and preference. What’s your take? Have you had either one of these Burger Joints offerings? If so, who do you think makes the better burger?
Till next Food Travel Log this has been Burger Battle I: Jackson Hole VS Shake Shack by THEJNSREPORT.
 | Mikhail Vladimirov on Human to Human Etiquette |
 | THEJNSREPORT on Money, Assassinations and War… |
 | sandomina on Money, Assassinations and War… |
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