10 Most Underrated Sublime Songs

As most music fans know, Sublime has gotten back together with Rome taking on the responsibility of frontman. Given the fact that Sublime is my all time favorite band and think that Bradley Nowell was mucho talented, I have mixed feelings about this (especially given the fact that Sublime concerts these days are flooded with 15 year old kids who weren't even born when Bradley Nowell was alive). Anyway, Sublime to me was more than just "What I Got" and "Santeria". They had a ton of great songs that helped influence a lot of modern music such as Pepper, Slighty Stoopid,and Dirty Heads. If you're attending a Sublime concert in the near future and are only familiar with the singles, it will be worth checking out these top 10 underrated songs by Sublime (and their entire catalog for that matter). Songs that are disqualified from the list due to their popularity are: Date Rape, Smoke Two Joints, What I Got, Santeria, Wrong Way, Caress Me Down, Badfish, April 29, 1992 (my favorite song by them), and Doin' Time. Click on the song name to hear it


1. Seed - Nothing tops Sublime when they are in full out punk rock mode and Seed is them at the top of their game. The song includes one of Bradley's all time best guitar solos.

2. Saw Red - One of the most popular of this list, Saw Red is a track from the highly underrated Robbin' the Hood album featuring guest vocals from No Doubt's Gwen Stefani. Bradly Nowell and Gwen Stefani complement each other's voices very well and come up with one of Sublime's all time catchiest songs. Be sure to check out Bradley's guest appearance on No Doubt's Total Hate (pre Tragic Kingdom days).

3. 40oz to Freedom - The title track from Sublime's debut, in my opinion, encompasses all of the musical intricacies of Sublime. The song combines reggae, ska, punk, and alternative rock into one of Sublime's best songs.

4. Doin' Time (Uptown Dub) - I'll count one of the Doin' Time remixes as being different from Doin' Time (after hearing it you'll see why). A song from the b-side Secondhand Smoke album, Doin' Time is a fantastic remix of of the classic Doin' Time song.

5. Steppin' Razor - The first cover song to make the list (and the second Robbin' the Hood song), Sublime takes Peter Tosh's classic and gives it an 80's dancehall makeover.

6. Ebin - Most people think Ebin is one of the weaker songs from 40oz to Freedom, but I think it's one of the best. A very catchy number featuring another great guitar solo.

7. 5446 That's My Number / Ball and Chain - The second cover to make the list, 5446 That's My Number is an awesome track from the 40oz to Freedom album and one of the few Sublime songs to feature the saxophone.

8. Same in the End - Same in the End falls into the same category as Seed (punk) although a little cleaner.

9. What Happened - Another Sublime song featuring the saxophone, What Happened attempts to recount Bradley Nowell's night of getting wasted in an amusing and catchy way.

10. Scarlet Begonias - A great, great cover of the Grateful Dead classic with Bradley Nowell rapping for the song's bridge.

Honorable Mention: Under My Voodoo

Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

We've all done it (well most of us anyway). You tell yourself that this is the year you will plan your "Valentine's Day gift buying strategy" ahead, but all of a sudden it's February 11th and you've got NOTHING. Not only do you not have a gift, but you don't have a clue on what you can get her in such short notice. You can't do just a card, flowers are cliche, and if you even think about pulling the old "how about we just spend some time together" crap, you'll end up spending the day alone (or being screamed at). If you find yourself in a Valentine's Day predicament, don't fret as we've outlined some great gifts you can buy last minute that will sure to make her (and in some cases him) a happy Valentine's Day celebrator.

1. David's Cookies - Valentine's Day Treats - Who doesn't like dessert? This isn't just your typical box of chocolates from the local pharmacy. David's Cookies provides delicious homemade cookies and dessert items that are really delicious and can be shipped SAME DAY (yes you heard right). From their "be mine bucket" (equipped with teddy bear, heart, 1 lb. tin of assorted fresh baked cookies, and 6 assorted brownies to their Valentine's Day tray, David's Cookies has a variety of Valentine's Day selections that will satisfy any dessert lover.

2. Smilebooks - Custom Photo Book - A gift from the heart that doesn't equate to "wow you're a cheap bastard". Smilebooks offers high quality custom photo books that you can customize and design for any occasion, including Valentine's Day. While same day shipping isn't an option (they actually recommend 6 - 10 business days for your order) you can essentially get your product expedited by contact the site directly. I gave a Smilebook to my girlfriend for our 1 year anniversary and she loved it.

3. FindGifts.com - If you really want a variety of options, check out FindGift.com. What's cool about this website is that you can narrow down the gifts by girlfriend, boyfriend, teen girlfriend, teen boyfriend, wife, and husband. While shipping dates will vary, you will often receive your gift fairly quickly after you purchase.

4. Gifts.com - For you truly last minute shoppers, there is gifts.com "last minute Valentine's Day gifts". From wine to jewelry to clothes, chances are gifts.com has you covered for your Valentine's Day emergencies.

5. Ivanka Trump Collection - If you're going to give her jewelry, why not buy it from one of the most beautiful women in the world. Ivanka Trump has a really beautiful line of jewelry ranging from necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings.

6. Spa Treatment - What woman doesn't love a massage / spa treatment? Using Google (or your favorite search engine) type in "(your town) day spa" and see what pops up. Make sure to check out their reviews (searching for "(spa place) reviews") because if you get a gift card for a crappy place, it might be the last Valentine's Day you celebrate.

8 Ways to Combat Menopause Hot Flashes Naturally

It's been a while, which I apologize for, but today we have a guest blog post from Stacey Rosen, CEO of a great company called At Last Naturals.

View her blog post below on 8 ways to combat menopause hot flashes naturally.

My name is Stacey Rosen, president and CEO of At Last Naturals.  I'm a long time reader of Yahoo Shine and excited to write my first blog post. Today's topic will be about natural ways to combat hot flashes, but will be creating more blog posts in the future.

There are many symptoms that come with menopause but the most talked about symptom is definitely hot flashes. Some women can experience up to a dozen hot flashes in just one day making it difficult to sleep and making it hard to focus on their daily activities. Hormonal Replacement Therapy is one effective way to relieve hot flashes but with that comes many side effects and risks. There are many alternative ways women are discovering everyday to relieve the severity of their hot flashes,. Some of the best and most effective ways are listed below.

1)      Dress Appropriately- Hot weather can make hot flashes even worse, by wearing cotton clothes and allowing your skin to breathe you can decrease both the occurrence and severity of these hot flashes, especially in the heat.

2)      Watch Triggers- Everyone is different and a variety of things can trigger hot flashes in different people. It is important to pay attention to what you were  doing or eating before your hot flash. You may begin to notice a trend and find out what your triggers may be. Common triggers are alcohol, caffeine, hot food, hot tubs, saunas, smoking, sugary food and spicy foods.

3)      Relax- Stress can also be a common trigger for hot flashes. Giving yourself just 10-15 minutes a day of complete relaxation can greatly decrease your amount of hot flashes. Yoga and many deep breathing exercises can  help relax your body and cool down.

4)      Flaxeed- Along with its laundry list of other health benefits, Flaxeed can reduce hot flashes and even ease other menopause symptoms. Consuming 1 tablespoon of ground flaxeed each day may not affect you immediately but after a month of two most people will experience extreme relief from hot flashes.

5)      Herbs- There are many herbs that are known to have estrogen-like properties that can help control your hot flashes. Some of these natural herbs include sage dong quai, red clover and the most effective and commonly used, black cohosh.

6)      Natural Progesterone Cream-  2% progesterone skin cream works in about 85% of perimenopausal women. Using as little as ¼ tsp once a day can begin to have a positive effect on hot flashes. This can be bought over the counter or it can be prescribed.

7)      Soy- In all forms soy can be beneficial but its recommended that you obtain soy from foods that contain it rather than from supplements. Tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, whole soybeans, texturized vegetable protein and soy power are all foods that naturally contain soy.

8)      Exercise- One of the more commonly effective natural relief is exercise. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day doing any kind of cardio even if its just simply taking a walk can help prevent hot flashes. Exercising improves circulation and can help your body to cool down more effective during a hot flash.

Top Seven Gifts for Mom on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a time to extend your gratitude to the most important woman in your life –mom.  For the sentimental mom, the active mom, the beauty queen mom, the pop culture-enthused mom and the mom who loves to look and smell great, the following top seven gifts for mom on Mother’s Day offer a little something that every kind of mom will appreciate. 

1. A SmileBooks Digital Photo Album – A wonderful personal gift that any mom will cherish, a digital photo album from SmileBooks.com creates permanent photo book memories.  Choose from seven different photo book sizes ranging from pocket and mini photo books to professional panoramas, and create the perfect photo book for mom using SmileBook’s easy-to-use free software application.  Add photos, artwork and text to customize and personalize each page, or take advantage of SmileBook’s professional design service and have an expert designer create a book for you.  Order today using coupon code “MAY20” and save 20% off all SmileBooks until May 31. 

2. A Lucille Roberts Gym Membership – This might sound like an unorthodox Mother’s Day gift, but a membership to the leading women’s gym and health club is the gift that keeps on giving.  With a Lucille Roberts gym membership, mom can enjoy the health benefits of exercise classes, weight loss programs, tips and diets as she gains access to personal training and exclusive diet products.  Sign up for a membership for one low price so that mom can take advantage of unlimited visits and classes run by weight loss experts with the knowledge to deliver the results mom desires.  Choose from a $15 per month no-commitment membership with $49 due at registration, a 2-year $15 per month membership with $1 due at registration, and a paid-in-full membership for $249. 

3. Lauren Hutton’s Mother’s Day Special – Valued at $139 and available now exclusively at LaurenHutton.com for the sale price of $49, Lauren Hutton’s Mother’s Day Special includes everything mom needs to look radiant and beautiful as ever.  The Mother’s Day Special features Lauren’s favorite tortoise shell design Face Disc, her Aqua Elements loose powder, plus her award-winning lip liner.  In this gift set, mom will also find a Lauren Hutton Natural Lip Duo complete with a lipstick and lip tint, an interchangeable lip balm pot, a coffee massage bar, brown cosmetic bag and keepsake box.  Top off this gift set with a fold out brochure of Lauren’s best-kept makeup secrets from her modeling  career and mom is sure to appreciate this one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day present.

4. Vera Wang Princess Perfume – A fragrance gem rich with delightful fruit and floral notes, Vera Wang Princess perfume features notes of apple, mandarin meringue, pink frosting, water lily, apricot and vanilla chiffon.  With every spray of Vera Wang Princess, mom will happily bask in this whimsical treat, accented with dark chocolate and finished with notes of amber, warm woods and musk. 

5. Loving Words to Her Deluxe Jewelry Box – Start with any title across the top, choose from eight pre-written verses or your own special verse, and then end with a 2-line sentiment to be printed on the top of this exquisite jewelry box.  The backdrop of your personal message to mom features an enchanting floral design created by watercolor artist Ellen Wehrmann, complete with blooming hydrangeas, brilliant colors and intricate detail.  The Loving Words to Her jewelry box, crafted from beautifully rich, mahogany-finish wood also features soft, cream velvet fabric interior lining perfect for protecting the contents.  Mom will also love the three removable compartment trays and ring storage area found inside this deluxe jewelry box. 

6.  Oprah: A Biography – Since it is arguably the most influential television show in history, chances are mom is fan of the Oprah Winfrey show.  That said, it would come to no surprise if your mother knew all about Oprah’s life story, from her past sexual abuse and romantic relationships to her weight problems, charitable donations, spiritual beliefs and strong views on the state of the world.  However, according to Kitty Kelley, author of Oprah: A Biography, there is still much to learn about one of the greatest figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  Give mom this controversial book this Mother’s Day and leave her surprised, thrilled and thoroughly entertained. 

7. Bain D’esprit Sunflower Spa Bath and Body Gift Set – Fans of this popular scent describe it as an energetic, refreshing and seductive aroma that makes them feel good all day long.  Included in this bath and body gift set mom will find everything she needs to freshen up, relax and smell great, along with a personalized gift message from you.  This bath and body gift set features a Sunflower scented shower gel, body wash, bubble bath, body lotion, four bath fizzies, bath salts, fragrant Potpourri, sisal back scrubber, loofah, oval body massager and exfoliating bath poof – all presented in an elegant bamboo straw basket. 

The Top Ten Unique Gifts for Groomsmen

A groomsman plays a part in almost every aspect of the wedding. The groomsman is there for the engagement party, shower, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and ceremony – playing his part and lending a helping hand every step of the way.  Although the bonding experience that occurs between groom and groomsman during this special time is the greatest gift of all, the following ten gifts for groomsmen from WeddingChannel.com lend the opportunity to express that extra bit of gratitude.

1. Classic Money Clip – For the groomsman who commands unique style and class, this 2” x 1” personalized classic money clip is a gift that is right on the money.  Have your groomsman’s initials engraved in this silver-plated clip, or personalize a line of text up to 12 characters so that he can ditch the wallet and stick to the classic clip that screams coolness. 

2. Cigar Cutter – If there is a cigar aficionado amongst your groomsmen, upgrade his cigar smoking experience with this one-of-a-kind, custom-made cigar cutter.  Measuring 1.25” x 4”, this nickel-plated cigar cutter complements any cigar collection, complete with a personalized message up to 10 characters. 

3. Victorinox Swiss Army Golf Tool – Complete with every tool a golfer needs while out on the course, this Sapphire Swiss Army Golf Tool brings any golf-enthused groomsman up to par.  Imagine all of the benefits of a Swiss Army knife - a nail file, blade, bottle opener, tweezers, toothpick and scissors, combined with hidden golf perks including a ball marker, tee punch with groove cleaner and one-handed divot repair.  Few groomsman gifts say thanks like this sleek and versatile “green gizmo.”

4. Personalized Barbecue Kit – The ultimate accessory kit for the summer barbeque enthusiast, this sleek carrying case, tagged with an embroidered monogram, houses an array of high-end, stainless steel grilling tools.  Inside this personalized barbecue kit, your groomsman will find top-of-the-line grilling gear including a grill brush, spatula, tong and basting brush - all protected by a sturdy, polyester exterior.  Complete with a zipper closure and carrying handle, this barbecue kit provides everything a self-proclaimed chef needs to turn out the perfect barbecue.

5. Personalized Poker Set – We are willing to bet that your gambling groomsman will love the idea of having his own portable, personalized poker set.  On the inside, your groomsman will uncover a full set of professional poker chips and cards – and on the outside, a classic wood box featuring his name and “established date” printed on a vintage-inspired pub image.   Inside and out, this truly memorable groomsman gift is a “sure thing.”

6. Personalized MLB Clubhouse Framed Print – For the groomsman who always dreamt of playing in the major leagues, this personalized MLB Clubhouse framed print is sure to hit a home run.  The photograph featured in this black beveled wooden frame depicts four professional jerseys, one featuring your groomsman’s name on the back and the other three with the names of his favorite home team players.  As a token of your appreciation, give this gift and turn your groomsman’s childhood dream into a reality.

7. Digital Picture Keychain – Ensure the greatest memories shared between you and your groomsman last forever with this silver digital picture keychain.  Store up to 31 of your most precious moments utilizing the user-friendly software, which allows you to transfer photos from your PC or Mac directly to the device.  More than just a photo album, this digital picture keychain travels everywhere you do to put a smile on your face at a moment’s notice.

8. Credit Card Case – Since the groom can never take all the credit for planning a successful wedding, this black leatherette credit card case extends a message of gratitude to the helpful groomsman.  A sleek alternative to a bulky wallet, this 4 ¼” x 3”personalized credit card case features eight double-sided slots, complete with a stylish brushed silver plate engraved with the groomsman’s initials. 

9. Groomsman T-Shirt – At your wedding, the groomsmen wore matching tuxedos as a symbolic representation of the special role assigned to each one.  For the groomsman who wants to hold on to that feeling and continue the tradition of special groomsman attire, this groomsman T-shirt satisfies the desire to a T.  Made from 50/50 cotton-blend, this black T-shirt with white lettering reads “Groomsman” and is available in large or extra-large sizes.

10. Leather Business Card Case – For the professional groomsman who “means business,” this leather business card case serves as the perfect gift.  A sleek card case with an engraved stainless steel plate, this leather case keeps business cards neat, crisp, fashionable and readily available at any given moment.  Personalize this leather business card case with up to two lines of text at 15 characters per line and lead your groomsman down the path towards successful business deals.

The Tax Club Investigates: The Taxes of Blogging, (while Blogging on Taxes)

           I'm excited to announce our first ever guest blogger.  Today we have a blog post from the fine folks over at The Tax Club.  They have a great blog as well called The Tax Club Report.  We look forward to other guest blogging opportunities from them. 

             As we begin to rely more on the World Wide Web for our every day needs, entrepreneurs are learning different ways to use the internet to generate income.  Sure, the “Dot Com” era might be something for the business section of the news, but not everyone needs the Wall Street Journal or a high-tech understanding of computers to learn how to make a dime. For example, a lot of people have taken up something that’s as old-fashioned as apple pie and book clubs: sharing hobbies!

            Whether it’s knitting, cooking, or fixing houses, the best way to share your special talent with an international crowd is to start a weblog, or a blog.  This term is often used by the media to describe political weblogs, but any kind of online journal can be a blog. It’s likely that even a few of our readers have blogs of their own. Usually, a blogger makes income by letting third parties advertise on their website. If the blog was created as a platform to share your thoughts on some relevant issues and not to generate a profit, anything made should be filed under the “hobby” section of the tax return.  

Expenses of a hobby can be deducted, but only up to the amount of your hobby income.  The expenses are treated as a miscellaneous tax deduction on Schedule A of your tax return, limited by the 2% of Adjusted Gross Income threshold, so not every hobby will get the deduction.  If the income becomes significant and more time and effort is expended to generate a profit from the blog, then the blogger might be able to treat it as a business, which means some of their expenses can be deducted directly against the income. That’s great news for people who put a large sum of money into their blogs yearly.

            So how does one cross over and become a blogger with a business? For the IRS not to think you’re just trying to claim some deductions off your hobby, you have to become a pretty serious blogger. In determining whether you have a business or a hobby, the Internal Revenue Service and the courts rely heavily on the following factors:

(1) the manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his advisers; (3) the time and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the activity; (4) the expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value; (5) the success of the taxpayer in carrying on similar or dissimilar activities; (6) the taxpayer's history of income or losses with respect to the activity; (7) the amount of occasional profits, if any, which are earned; (8) the financial status of the taxpayer; and (9) elements of personal pleasure or recreation involved. The preceding factors, although not all inclusive, should guide you, so that your business activities are seen as professional and well planned.  If you cannot meet these factors, there is a “backdoor” way to prove that your activity is a for-profit activity by showing that the activity made a profit in at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year. 

To have the activity treated as a business, rather than a hobby, you need to approach the activity in a professional and serious manner.  You should be able to show that you put time and effort into your blog and you have a dynamic business plan that changes to make your activity more lucrative on a regular basis. You also shouldn’t be teaching people beginner’s knitting when you yourself haven’t reached intermediate; the IRS will be looking for a higher level of expertise. But as long as you are accomplished, you needn’t have your M.B. in Knitting Sciences; there are a lot of people out there who maintain informative blogs for income whose skills were self-taught.

            Once you’ve made sure you’re almost at the point where your hobby is no longer just fun, and you are generating enough income, you can start examining your expenses. The IRS says that anything you use that is “necessary and ordinary” is deductible, and for many of the crafts I mentioned, there are certainly some very necessary items that are used. To start with, all of them would need a website, so hosting the website itself can be deductible. On top of that, anyone knitting, cooking, or fixing houses would probably take photos, both to illustrate the exact motions or actions for old readers, and to attract new ones (everyone loves photos). Thus, a new digital camera for your blog could be deducted.  Once you get down to your hobby-specific items, you need to remember that only what is necessary is deductible. This means that if you are knitting, the yarn for the first Blue Cabled Alpaca Scarf will definitely be deductible, but the three you made for your nephews’ birthdays will not. If you are fixing houses, you can justify showing your readers how to replace roof shingles once, but you can only deduct the expenses that one time.

            If all these rules seem overwhelming, then don’t be dismayed! You can still just keep a blog as a hobby, report your income as miscellaneous income and deduct the expenses limited to the income received from this activity on Schedule A. You can sleep sound at night knowing the IRS won’t be interested in your website (unless you have photos— as we said, everyone loves photos). But if this sounds like just a step away from what you’re already doing, consider filing your appropriate blog expenses under Schedule C this year and give yourself a pat on the back— congratulations! You’re a business owner!

10 Ways to Get on the Front Page of Reddit

Before I start, you might ask "why not Digg?". Well, for one, Reddit is my all time favorite website. Additionally,  Digg might get more traffic and a front page story on Digg might translate to more unique visitors to your website, but the front page is ruled by only 5% (approximately) of their user base.  Basically if you're not a power user, you are shit out of luck unless you dedicate hours daily to becoming one.  The content on Digg isn't bad, I just do not like the website for that and a multitude of other reasons.  That being said, the traffic you can obtain from a front page Reddit story is upwards to 50,000 unique visitors in a 24 hour period..nothing to sneeze at.  Given allt he submissions done on a daily basis through Reddit, how does your entry become a front page story? Below are ten tips that will help increase your chances.

1. Submit Something "Reddit-Related": Find random shit around the house, make it look like a Reddit alien, snap a picture of it, submit it to Reddit and watch the upvotes come!  If you're not that artistic or creative, find an article that mentions Reddit positively (or better yet..a celebrity who mentions that they love Reddit) and that will do the trick.  Just make sure it's not your lame blog that nobody has ever heard of.  You'll find yourself here: http://www.reddit.com/r/reportthespammers

2. Make fun of Nickelback: Just like the rest of the world, Reddit hates Nickelback.  Find a clever way to make fun of these no talent ass clowns and the Reddit community will adore you.  Are there Reddit users who are indifferent towards Nickelback or even ones that like them? Sure, but they are greatly outnumbered by the ones who hate them.

3. Use a Credible Source (Preferably the Original One): If you find a great video, do NOT post it on your blog and then submit the blog link to Reddit.  That folks is called spam and will get you nothing but downvotes. "But what about getting traffic to my blog?".  Trust me, randomly spamming isn't the way to do it.  You might not see the immediate benefit, but building up karma and trust is key to achieving success on Reddit or most other Social Media communities.

4. Be Transparent: Don't make believe that the website you are submitting to Reddit isn't yours.  Be open and honest about it.  As long as the content you are submitting is worth reading, Reddit won't necessarily care that it's your content.  That being said, this doesn't mean you can submit your stuff all the time, but it is okay to do it every so often. Again, just don't be obnoxious about it. When doing it, be transparent with your submission headline.  You can include "my view on x" or "a picture I took of x"..whatever makes the most sense.

5. Are you Interesting? Do an AMA!: AMA stands for "Ask me Anything" and there is a popular subreddit for it (http://www.reddit.com/r/iama).  The subreddit actually stands for "I am A", but you get the point.  People are curious nature so if you do something unique for a living or have been a part of something interesting, do an AMA.

6. Advertising: If all else fails or you just have money to kill, you can advertise your content on Reddit.  It won't appear mixed in with the other front pag stories, but will show up above them on the rotating banner.

7. Remind Everybody How Long it Is Since Sean Hannity Promised to be Waterboarded: This involves simple math so if addition isn't your thing you might want to forget this.  April 22nd (I believe) was the date that Sean Hannity promised to be waterboarded for charity, claiming that it really isn't torture.  Just a heads up..it is and Sean hasn't followed through with his promise.  Make sure if you go down this submission route to wait at least two weeks after the previous Sean Hannity waterboarding reminder.

8. Hate on Digg: Make fun of Digg (kind of like what I did in my opening paragraph) and most of Reddit will love you (while others will say "why all the hate?").  Create a cartoon that compares Reddit to Digg (with Reddit looking far more superior of course) and Reddit will love you even more.

9. Share Your Porn Collection: I usually see at least one or two NSFW (Not Safe for Work) submissions appear on the front page of Reddit at any given time.  Come across a great nude pic? Share it with the Reddit community.

10. Do a Follow Up Submission: This works especially well with a "Self" submission.  If you had something that reached the front page that calls for a follow up (i.e. You asked Reddit how to break up with your girlfriend), create another post, reference your original one and let the them know what happened.