The Popcorn Button

Jeffrey wants to heat up his egg rolls, and well... the microwave isn't working.  Well it is, but he refuses to listen to his roommate Stewey, who repeatedly tells him to just use the "Popcorn Button".  But Jeffrey continues with his whining and there's only so much his Stewey can take. LOL.

Who Is This Young Teenage Nazi Boy?

THE SAME MAN WHO CONSIDERS ME, YOUR GAY BROTHERS, SISTERS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, CO-WORKERS, AND ALL GAY PEOPLE - HEATHENS!

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Giants vs Patriots - The Social Buzz

So what was up with the social buzz yesterday in regard to the Superbowl?  

As I predicted...

That while no one really likes the New York Giants, no one can stand the New England Patriots.  As you can tell by the evidence shown on this chart.

This according to Social Buzz Media:

This is the second Big Game match-up for these two teams in recent years. The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in 2008 for Super Bowl XLII. But are citizens of the great United States hoping for an even score?

Not according to our data! We analyzed the search keywords, sharing behaviors and other social data points of millions of Internet users and found that the Giants are causing the most activity.

Loving One Another - Issue No. 009

Laugh of the Day: Super Cafe - The Super Social Network

You superhero fans are gonna love this.  I couldn't keep from laughing it was too funny.  This has to be my laugh of the day... for now at least ;-)

Superman and Batman are posting updates and Batman thinks Superman's updates "are coming across as a little arrogant"

This is a definite must watch, you absolutely have to see it if you're a Superman or Batman fan.

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 008 - Scientific and Medical Research

Okay, okay, I didn't post an issue of "WTF Has Obama Done?" yesterday, but it was the Superbowl and Madonna at half-time, can you really blame me? LOL.  There's going to be days I'll probably miss "here and there," because of personal events in my life, but I will continue posting them until election day, I promise.

In the last 7 issues I brought up the top 7 most important issues concerning Americans today - Civil Rights, Health Care, Immigration, our Military, Taxes, the Economy, and Foreign Policy.  I listed all of our President's achievements in regard to his broad policies and targeted actions for each topic.  I included an excerpt from each reference and listed the sources for each.

In today's issue I will cover 3 of the President's broad policies concerning Scientific and Medical Research.

WTF-20

Removed restrictions and provided support for embryonic stem-cell research and new biomedical research.

Pledging that his administration will “make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology,” President Obama on Monday lifted the Bush administration’s strict limits on human embryonic stem cell research. [Reference-1]

"I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration’s ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001 through executive order ... .." [Reference-2]

"In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," Obama said at the White House.   In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly." [Reference-3]

Launching a dramatic expansion of government support for one of the most promising but most contentious fields of biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday authorized the first 13 lines of cells under the administration's policy...[Reference-4]

WTF-21

Extended the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish an advisory council on science, technology, and innovation, it is hereby ordered as follows:

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is hereby established. The PCAST shall be composed of not more than 21 members, one of whom shall be the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (the ‘‘Science Advisor’’), and 20 of whom shall include distinguished individuals and representatives from sectors outside of the Federal Government appointed by the President. These nonfederal members shall have diverse perspectives and expertise in science, technology, and innovation. The Science Advisor shall serve as a Co-Chair of the PCAST. The President shall also designate at least one, but not more than two, of the nonfederal members to serve as a Co-Chair of the PCAST with the Science Advisor. [Reference-1, Reference-2]

President Barack Obama said, "This council represents leaders from many scientific disciplines who will bring a diversity of experience and views. I will charge PCAST with advising me about national strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific innovation."

PCAST will be co-chaired by John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Eric Lander, Director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project; and Harold Varmus, President and CEO of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, former head of the National Institutes of Health and a Nobel laureate. [Reference-3]

WTF-22

Supported Landsat Data Continuity Mission to enhance earth mapping.

Landsat is a satellite program, jointly run by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, that has been used for climate research, natural resources management, land development, public safety, homeland security and disaster recovery. It has operated for more than 25 years, with two satellites — Landsat-5, launched in 1984, and Landsat-7, launched in 1999 — still in orbit. But they are operating beyond their planned life and are subject to failure.

To ensure that the program survives, NASA and USGS are developing the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, or LDCM, which is planning to launch a spacecraft in December 2012, according to the Congressional Research Service.  [Reference]

As promised, I will come back to this topic in another issue.  Please make sure to read Issue No. 009 as I continue with WTF-23
Posted daily or weekly on BLADE 7184 until Election Day!

Kitty Sleepover

Awwww, let's have a kitty sleepover.  I wish we could have a cat, but we have chihuahuas and as long as my love is happy - that's all that matters.

Check Out This Paper

I don't know about you, but this is pretty freaking awesome.  Check out this paper, and tell me what you think.  Ring any bells?

Documentaries To Watch: Always My Son

When I first saw this video 2 years ago I was struck by how close it hit to home.  It was hard enough being hispanic in a country where we're considered a minority.  But I also had to lie to keep my homosexuality a secret from the people I cared most about, and it tore me up inside. I would pray to God every night hoping he would fix me.  Little did I know, he couldn't fix what he had created.

Here you have a father who's an ex-marine, a devoted christian, and a loving husband and he has to come to grips with the fact that he has a gay son.  As you watch the video below you will come across one of my favorite parts of the documentary - when the boy's father realizes God couldn't possibly condemn his son.  "I thought to myself inside that everything I've ever been taught that it's an abomination and yes, he's going to hell, but I also quicky thought.... my son, he's a beautiful kid, he's compassionate, he's warm, he cares for people, he's respectful, he's kind. How? If we have such a loving God, How could God condemn my son to hell?"

Always My Son is one of a series of short documentary films that were being produced by the Family Acceptance Project to help ethnically and religiously diverse families decrease their LGBT children's risk for suicide, substance abuse, depression, HIV, homelessness and placement in foster care or juvenile justice settings -- by increasing family support.[source] [source]

Keeping It Old Skool - Issue No. 11 - Etch A Sketch

Who never had an Etch A Sketch growing up?  If you didn't, I don't know what to tell you. You lost out on a piece of history that you'll probably never get back. LOL.  Don't get me wrong, you can still buy them, but c'mon would you?  Why would you want to buy it when you have the PS3, Xbox, or Wii?

These were the coolest things ever!  You could draw with them, write with them, take notes with them, and then erase it within a matter of seconds.  A simple shake is all it took.  The two white knobs, and the stylus underneath the gray screen did all the work.  All you would do is move the knobs around and line would appear.

Ironically enough, the toy was invented in the late 1950s and not the 80s like you might have imagined.  The toy became popular in the 60s, so I'm sure you're grandmother played with one before you ever got to.  Regardless, it has become one of the most creative toys of the 20th century.  It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. [source] 

Well, I found another place for Ryan and I to visit when we go on our travels. :-)

Make sure to check out my previous "Keeping It Old Skool" issues here.

OMG Hilarious! - Trap

Poster of the Week - Issue No. 44 - Losing

Continuing alphabetically, I bring you this week's poster, "Losing".

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!