Would You Follow Them To Battle?

35 Years and 100,000 Toothpicks Later...

I love breathtaking art, and this truly is breath-taking.  When this artist took on the task of creating a masterpiece, the majority of you were toddlers.  Some of you were not even conceived, or even thought of.   And some of you were probably in your 30's or graduating high school or college. But "artist Scott Weaver had already begun work on this insanely complex kinetic sculpture, Rolling through the Bay, that he continues to modify and expand even today. "The sheer magnitude is amazing!  You will have to see the video to know what I'm talking about.

The elaborate sculpture is comprised of multiple “tours” that move pingpong balls through neighborhoods, historical locations, and iconic symbols of San Francisco, all recreated with a little glue, some toothpicks, and an incredible amount of ingenuity. He admits in the video that there are several toothpick sculptures even larger than his, but none has the unique kinetic components he’s constructed. Via his website Weaver estimates he’s spent over 3,000 hours on the project, and the toothpicks have been sourced from around the world. [source]

I have used different brands of toothpicks depending on what I am building. I also have many friends and family members that collect toothpicks in their travels for me. For example, some of the trees in Golden Gate Park are made from toothpicks from Kenya, Morocco, Spain, West Germany and Italy. The heart inside the Palace of Fine Arts is made out of toothpicks people threw at our wedding.

You can catch the amazing video narrated by the artist himself after the jump...

Sunday Fail - The Moment

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 007 - Foreign Affairs and International Affairs

Regardless of what Republicans will have you believe, President Barack Obama has re-established our nation's standing in the world.  It's shocking to say, but after 911 the whole world was united with us, they supported us and they admired us for standing up to these horrible terrorists who had invaded our land.  We have never encountered such a catastrophe since Japan invaded Pearl Harbor in WWII.  But despite all of this, George Bush managed to turn us into the most hated and despised country in the world.  But you don't need me to prove that to you, you can actually "Google " it.

In other news... Can you believe it?  I have completed 7 days (7 issues) of "WTF Has Obama Done?" and I've had fun doing it.  It is time consuming, but I'm also learning so much!

In today's issue, I will cover some of the broad policies in foreign affairs, because despite what the right is telling you, Obama has achieved so much in this area. I will post 3 WTFs and come back at a later time to discuss this topic again.

WTF-17

Re-established the United States standing in the world.

The image of the United States has improved markedly in most parts of the world, reflecting global confidence in Barack Obama. In many countries opinions of the United States are now about as positive as they were at the beginning of the decade before George W. Bush took office. Improvements in the U.S. image have been most pronounced in Western Europe, where favorable ratings for both the nation and the American people have soared. But opinions of America have also become more positive in key countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well. [Reference-1]

Global views of the United States have improved markedly over the last year while views of many countries have become more negative, according to the latest BBC World Service poll across 28 countries.

For the first time since the BBC started tracking in 2005, views of the United States' influence in the world are now more positive than negative on average. [Reference-2]

Significant improvements in sentiment toward U.S. leadership are evident in all four major global regions, with the largest year-over-year increase in approval measured in Europe. Median approval of U.S. leadership increased by 28 percentage points between 2008 and 2009 in this region. A median of 47% approves and a median of 20% disapproves -- the first time disapproval has dropped below 50% in Europe since Gallup first asked the question. [Reference-3]

WTF-18

Poll: World’s opinion of U.S. has “improved sharply” under Obama.

Since Barack Obama entered office, the world's view of the United States has 'improved sharply,' according to a poll carried out by the BBC World Service.

Nearly 30,000 people in 28 countries were asked to rate countries on their positive impact upon the world. This year 46% of the respondents rated the US's influence as positive - the first time since 2005 that the survey returned more positive votes than negative for America. [Reference]

WTF-19

47 nations rise to Obama’s challenge at US nuke summit and agree to four years of non-proliferation efforts.

The Nuclear Security Summit convened by President Barack Obama attracted 47 high-level participants – over 30 of them heads of state or government – who collectively agreed on several small but important steps on the path towards global safety from a “rogue” nuclear attack. This could be mounted by “non-state” sources or by a state that does not observe the rules.

"The agreement of 47 nations to specific steps to safeguard nuclear materials and technology has to be welcomed especially in averting the dangers of nuclear weapon proliferation and non-state actors acquiring them,” says Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, who presided over the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review and Extension Conference. Formerly the UN Under-Secretary General for Disarmament (1998-2003), he is President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, and Jennings Randolph Senior Visiting Scholar, U.S. Institute of Peace. [Reference]

As promised, I will come back to Foreign policy in another issue.  Please make sure to read Issue No. 008 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-20
Everyday on BLADE 7184

The Truth About Rock, Paper, Scissors

Too cute I had to share.

Crimes of the Century - No. 9 - Richard Speck

RICHARD SPECK, 1966

It sounds like a recurring nightmare: an armed male intruder breaks into a women's dorm and with a gun and a butcher's knife, binds and gags all the residents. Then one by one, he kills them cruelly and with great brutality. All of that happened in Chicago on the night of July 14, 1966, in a dormitory that housed eight nurses who worked at the South Chicago Community Hospital.

The perpetrator was Richard Speck, then 24, a drifter born in Illinois, raised in Texas, wandering from petty crime to petty crime and bar to bar. At the age of 19, he had the words "Born to Raise Hell" tattooed on his arm. His victims were all eulogized as saints, people who had committed their lives to helping others. He would be positively identified by one of his intended targets, Corazon Amurao, who survived the attack by hiding under a bed. Speck knew there were eight women in the dorm; he did not know that a friend was also staying over that night. So Amurao survived as the guest was led to slaughter.

The jury found Speck guilty after a mere 49 minutes of deliberation and he was sentenced to the electric chair. In 1972, however, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the death sentence unconstitutional. Resentenced to hundreds of years in prison, Speck died in 1991. No one claimed his body, which was cremated and the ashes scattered to the wind. 

***

Visit my blog every Saturday as a new crime will be posted each week.

*** 

Go back and read the previous 7 crimes here.

You can actually watch a great A&E Biography on this monstrous man after the jump.

Baby Sleeping Positions You Know Are True

This blog is for those parents who find themselves in these positions day in and day out, for those parents who can reflect on these positions, and for those "parents to be" - this is what you can expect. LOL.  

I especially love the "snow angels" and "I'm not speaking to you" baby positions. LMAO.

Must Watch: Love Has No Boundaries When It Comes To Our Soldiers

If this video doesn't move you to tears you're not human.  Seriously.  It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, this video shows the true measure of a man.  Compassion, heart, and love for the human soul.  I posted this video on Facebook two years ago, and for the life of me couldn't remember who sang it.  But due to Facebook's new Timeline features, I was able to find it.  And since my blog readers haven't seen it I'm posting it as a treasured memory forever.

Before Don't Ask Don't Tell was abolished a surviving partner may or may not have been notified of the death of their loved one,  may or may not have been allowed to claim the body, attend the military burial and definitely would NOT receive the survivor's benefits.  Furthermore, the surviving partner could lose their home, their property, depending on their state.  The soldier's family could even petition in court for half of all property and holdings. And this is still going on, because DADT only allows you not to lie or keep it a secret that you're gay.

The song titled, "Lover" tells a story very rarely told: of the loss endured by partners of gay servicemembers who are killed in battle.

The video features the artist, Tom Goss as the bereaved partner of an army soldier (Washinton DC actor Ben Horen) killed while on duty in Afghanistan. Among those playing medics who come to the aid of the wounded soldier are several former servicemembers who were discharged under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy: Mike Almy, David Hall, and Danny Hernandez, all of whom are active members of SLDN. Keith Bryant stars as a fellow soldier.

OMG Hilarious! - Cinderella

Quoted - Liam Gallagher of Oasis on Downloading Music

"Download is the same as I did: I used to tape-record the songs, the successes that I liked on the radio. I do not care. I hate seeing all these rockstars complaining. At least they are downloading your music fucking idiot, and they are paying attention to you. Do you know? You should appreciate that. What are you complaining? You have five huge houses, so just shut up" 

- Singer, Songwriter, and former frontman to the group Oasis, Liam Gallagher on the negativity surrounding music sharing and dowloading.

It's Purely Animal - Issue No. 45 - The Ant Hurricane

Not sure if you've seen the viral YouTube video of ants forming some sort of "hurricane-type" circle on land.  They aimlessly go round and round following each other. It's pretty darn weird, but cool nonetheless. It's garnered nearly 2 million views thus far.

Well... you're probably wondering why these little guys are doing that?

The Discovery channel tries to explain it for you after the jump...

College Facts

The real truth about college life...

If you're an alumni, currently attending, or about to go to college, here's some fun facts sure to make you laugh, smile, or worried... LOL.

I'd have to agree with number 20, it's so true.

Three's Company Reunion With Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt - 30 Years in the Making

I'm not sure how many of you remember the sitcom, "Three's Company".  It was a sitcom that aired between 1977 and 1984 on ABC.  I remember it so well, because I was a young lad at the time, and my parents loved watching the show, well... more-so my dad.  My mom never liked Chrissy Snow, played by Suzanne Somers - she was the ditzy blonde one of the roommates.  My mom always thought she was kinda slutty - remember I lived in a strict, Christian home.

In either case, the show was about three single roommates living together in an apartment.  Their names were Janet Wood (Joyce De Witt), Jack Tripper (John Ritter), and the aforementioned Chrissy Snow.  The apartment was owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Roper.  As the show progressed, Chrissy left to care for her ailing mother, while her cousin Jenny moved in, who was later replaced by Terri in the final two seasons of the show.  Around that same time the Ropers had also moved out, and Mr. Furley moved in as the new owner of the apartment complex.

The show was absolutely hilarious, I loved it.  It is up there with The Jeffersons - another one of my all time favorites.  The characters in the series dealt with various issues, along with their humorous take on life.  From their constant bickering, social lives and unable to pay the rent on time, the show was made for laughter, and there was plenty of it.

The reason for my blog today, is because a couple of days ago two of the original characters from the show, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow, (Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers), reunited for the first time in 30 years.  That's right, the show and it's characters became major hollywood Gossip back in the mid-80s and it went on through the years with each of them going back and forth telling lies.  Pretty much what happened was, it was time for re-negotiations and we all know what happens there.  Somers wanted a salary increase from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, plus 10% of the profits, and they wouldn't give it to her.  Eventually there was a compromise where her final season with the show was taped separately from the other cast members.  No one wanted anything to do with her, because of the bad publicity she had caused.  Her contract was not renewed, and hence came in Cindy Snow played by Jenilee Harrison.  You can read more about it here.

Well, fast forward 30 years to Wednesday, February 2, 2012, on Susanne's web series, Breaking Through and you have a reunion of epic proportions.  Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt reunite to talk about their history with Three's Company, and each other.  It really is heartwarming knowing these two made up after all these years.  Part 2 covers the loss of John Ritter who played Jack on the show, which is also nice watch and listen to.  You can catch both, Part 2 and 3, after the after the jump.

 

On part two of the Three's Company Reunion, Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt fondly remember their former costar John Ritter. The women also share the stories of their final moments with John. You can view this after the jump...

I Quote That - Smile

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 006 - Economy

I almost have one week down.  Only 39 more weeks to go, LOL.  I may have to cut these to five a week, they're so time consuming.

On today's issue I will focus on the number one issue facing our country - the Economy.  

If you've been watching the news like I have all day; You would have noticed that another week of private sector jobs were added to the 22 straight weeks of employment growth.  While Republicans continue to berate the President and deny seeing any type of improvement, the economy is slowly improving.  Unemployment is now at 8.3% which was the case in February 2009, a month after the president took office.

But how was this possible?  Well, we can thank a President who's been resilient, despite no help from Republicans in Congress.  Today we'll look at one broad policy and two targeted actions (WTF-15, WTF-16) in regard to the Economy.

WTF-14

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): a $789 billion economic stimulus plan.

(1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic
recovery.
(2) To assist those most impacted by the recession.
(3) To provide investments needed to increase economic
efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and
health.
(4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection,
and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic
benefits.
(5) To stabilize State and local government budgets, in
order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services
and counterproductive state and local tax increases. [Reference]

WTF-15

Raised the small business investment limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009.

Stimulus raised the expensing limit - During the campaign, Barack Obama promised to extend a tax break for small businesses to give them a boost during the recession. The tax change raised the expensing limit — the amount that small companies can claim as their business expenses for investments.

A sharp-eyed reader brought to our attention a tiny provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus package, that did exactly that. Section 1202 of the stimulus legislation raised the limit to $250,000. A May 2009 memo from the Internal Revenue Service confirms the change.[Reference]
 

WTF-16

U.S. Economy: Manufacturing grew by most since 2004.

In early 2011, The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 60.8, exceeding the most optimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of economists and the highest level since May 2004, figures from the Tempe, Arizona-based group showed today. Readings greater than 50 signal growth. 

Stocks rose, extending a global rally, as factory reports from China to Europe bolstered the outlook for American companies like Caterpillar Inc. The ISM’s employment gauge climbed to the highest level since 1973, indicating manufacturers may be more willing to hire as sales pick up. 

“Businesses have figured out the economic recovery has legs so they’re growing more confident about expanding production and new orders and increasing hiring,” said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Manufacturing is making a very decent contribution to growth.”[Reference]

As promised, I will come back to the Economy in another issue.  Please make sure to read Issue No. 007 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-17
Everyday on BLADE 7184

Another State Down, 42 More To go

Before I continue with my blogs I did want to mention an important achievement that occurred yesterday.  In a move that has Washington Republicans and conservative bible thumpers screaming their lungs out - marriage for the gays was passed in the state!

In a vote of 28 to 21 the Senate passed a marriage equality bill where it is expected to easily pass through the House.  Once that is done, Governor Christine Gregoire will sign the bill into law!!!  And for those who are unaware, she's actually the one who introduced the bill.  And for that we're thankful!

We love you Christine - the gays love you!

Commercial Appearing In Another Commercial's Commercial

Whoever thought of this idea is probably raking in the dough as we speak.  Who would've thought that two products could be sold by a commercial appearing in another commercial's commercial?

Way to go Old Spice and Bounce. LOL.  Pure Genius.

Dear Yellow Pages

AMEN!

Post Secret Fridays - Issue 093

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

 See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.

 Want to see older Post Secret Friday issues? Go here.

Isn't This The Truth? Welcome Home, Son

If I was to collect a nickle for the number of times my mother asked me to fix something when I went back home, I'd be filthy rich by now.  LOL.  Ryan's mom is the perfect example for this comic.  She's always asking for computer help.  God bless her, we love her.

Our Future Is In Their Hands - Take 9

Absolutely hilarious!  We're screwed, and our future is in their hands. LOL.  

When our high school children agree that the Korean War is when we gained our Independence or when they don't know that Mexico and Canada border our United States of America, we have a serious problem on our hands.

Better yet, ask them to name a country that starts with the letter "U".

Things That CANNOT Screen for Breast Cancer and Things That CAN

Susan G. Komen is now trying to backtrack to save their asses so they can  keep their money and keep fooling people.  Hell no, you already showed your true colors. They released the following letter, here.  Thank you Newsweek!

Men vs. Women Hygiene Products

Omg Hilarious, but it's so true.  Give a straight man one of these bottles and that would be all he would need.

Disney Prince of the Week 004

In today's issue, and for the next 16 weeks I'll be posting a Disney Prince of the Week.  Can you guess the movie and the name of the character who played this week's Prince? 

 

Let's Hear It For The Lady

Woo hoo!  You go Michelle Obama!!!  Ellen challenged her to a Push-up competition on her show and it was a race to the finish, with Ellen, going out first.  God Bless her and our First Lady, I simply adore them both!

Of course, Ellen with her wonderful sense of humor makes the video even more enjoyable.

What a Hot Mess: Is That Sex and The City Star, Sarah Jessica Parker?

Omg, tell me this isn't so?  What a hot mess!  What the hell happened to Sex and The City star, Sarah Jessica Parker?  I'm hoping this is for a character she's playing in a movie, and not the disaster created from a Plastic Surgeon.  Who am I kidding?

I never understood why these actresses continue getting this crap done to their faces.  Look at Diane Keaton and Sally Field, both have aged gracefully and beautifully.

No Offense To Your Name, Susan G. Komen, But Your Sister F*cked It All Up!

Most of you may remember my status update from yesterday evening, and rightly so.  I'm pissed.  One, because I've worked in Breast Cancer Research for over 9 years and second, because I was right all along, and I never should have contributed to this fallacy.

Yesterday evening I stated this on my Facebook wall:

"I've always believed that the Susan G. Komen Foundation was nothing but a huge corporation out to get poor people's money and rich companies' contributions. At the same time, with a political agenda. Who knew I was right all along? So much for helping women with breast cancer. Screw you Susan G. Komen. Screw you! The sad part out of all this... you had to use the name of a woman with breast cancer as the name for your corporation." - Peter Flores aka Blade 7184

Well... last night someone hacked into Komen's website and did this:

"Help us run over poor women on our way to the bank"

And rightly so.  I've had an aunt die from breast cancer and have bought countless of "pink" items - do you really thing all that money goes to breast cancer research?  It does not!  But I bought them anyway in support of this foundation.  Not anymore!!!  

I will be looking closer at what I'm purchasing, and will even donate to Planned Parenthood to help women fight this disease.

Hurting women for political purposes is the worst thing you could have done Susan G. Komen, the worst thing.

Must Watch: The Steam Room Straight Boys

The straight boys at SteamRoomStories.com are at it again.  And this time, it's a bet of machismo proportions. LOL.  If you have never seen any of their videos, they're actually quite hilarious.  It's just a group of straight guys hanging out in a steam room sharing stories about their girlfriends, wives, friends, etc.  Kinda like a male gossip girl. LOL

In the following episode, a guy is looking at YouTube videos of guys playing "gay chicken".  When two guys walk in and ask what that is, he explains it to them.

The two guys think he's questioning their heterosexuality and their straight manhood, so they want to take part in this "gay chicken" - provided they win something of course. Little do they know, they get more than they bargained for. LOL.

Harry Potter Trivia

Here's a little Harry Potter Trivia for you Potter fans.

You're Not Alone

You see, you're not the only one alone on Valentine's Day.  In fact, its becoming the norm more and more.

click to enlarge

Americans are now within mere percentage points of being a majority single nation: Only 51% of adults today are married, according to census data. And 28% of all households now consist of just one person -- the highest level in U.S. history. That second statistic may appear less dramatic than the first, but it's actually changing much faster: The percentage of Americans living by themselves has doubled since 1960. [source]

I Quote That - Don't Waste Yourself