Magical Fun 101: The Invisible Driver

Let me start your day off on the right track.  Let's laugh, smile, and watch some Magical Fun!

You all remember Rahat, right?  He was the one who lit his wallet on fire, made a dollar float in mid-air, levitated a fountain drink and when reaching for his meal got static shocked in front of bewildered and confused drive-thru employees.  

Well, the fun and magic is about to continue as Rahat explains how he's going to play an invisible driver at several drive-thrus.  The video is hilarious and fun to watch.  If you haven't seen the others, you can view them by clicking on the links above.  Enjoy!

Quoted: Days of Future Past by Ryan Joseph Lopez

"You just can't debate with crazy, or practically anyone anymore. The world is changing for the better, but some people just can't accept that. All they have left to hold on to are their beliefs. When those once common ideas are now considered outdated, irrational and even hateful, and can be justly proven so, people get angry and desperate and will fight to the very end to protect an ideology that they hold sacred. It's an unfortunate sign of the most conservative parts of the Republican party. Never give up, never surrender, never admit you're wrong, just keep screaming nonsense until you drown out your opponent and every last one of his facts. Well I have a few facts to share myself: Gay people can get married without the sky falling or your family being affected in anyway, shape or form aside from the possibility of them not sharing your homophobic hate. Black people can be in charge of a country that once considered them property. Being a Liberal is not the same thing as being weak. Trust me. We fight against income inequality in the Occupy Movement. We fight for the right to unionize in Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona and any other states controlled by a Republican majority that wishes for it to be a "right to work" state. We fight for the health of our women when conservative wolves in pink sheep's clothing attempt to break down Planned Parenthood. And we fight for our right to marry the person we love to not only receive the same benefits that everyone else gets, but to also simply show that we are no different from any straight couple and hence should not be treated differently as such. California is another footstep in the marathon that is the fight for marriage equality and gay rights everywhere. We will continue fighting. We are not weak. We are stronger than ever and we will fight for Obama this year and we will win. We must. This country needs to show the world that we stand for common sense, compassion and an ability to inspire hope in others by getting back up after being knocked down hard. Screaming at the top of your lungs until you can't hear the facts just won't do for this country of ours, and neither will defeat, hatred, or the desire to divide. We can come together to make sure our country continues to succeed and head in its' current, correct direction. We can vote for Obama 2012, because hope is nothing without people to believe in it and change is impossible without people to fight for it."  

- Ryan Joseph Lopez on Blade7184's post 

"Quoted: Miley Cyrus on Her Marriage Equality Tattoo"

Cyanide and Happiness: You Did What?

Keeping It Old Skool - Issue No. 12 - The Giving Tree

Geez, okay it's been over a year since a posted an issue of "Keeping It Old Skool" so I want to start my first issue of 2013 with a book I will remember forever.

I can honestly say,  I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has never read "The Giving Tree," "Where The Sidewalk Ends," "The Missing Piece," or "A Light In The Attic".

The children's books written by the late Shel Silverstein became a staple in every child's classroom .  We either read them at the park, with our friends, or at bedtime when our parents put us to sleep.  And while today we can read them with our iPhones or iPads; They can never replace the actual books themselves.  I still have mine.  

One of my favorite books, "The Giving Tree" was recently named the Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children and is one of the Top 100 Picture Books of all time.

I remember reading this for the first time and balling my eyes out.  I was furious at the boy who took apart this giving tree limb for limb,  And yet the tree loved the boy from adolescence to adulthood.  The tree literally gave all it had.

"The book details the events occurring throughout the life of a small boy, and the friendship that he shares with a tree—with which he is apparently able to communicate. In his childhood, he enjoys climbing her branches and enjoying imaginative play with her; however, as he gradually passes into maturity his requests from the tree change. After entering adolescence, he requests to pick her apples with which to make profit, and after reaching adulthood he cuts down the tree's limbs to construct a house. Years later, he returns to the lonesome Giving Tree as an old man to cut her down and use her wood to craft a boat with which to sail away, after the maturity of his family, reducing her to nothing more than a stump. However, eventually he returns to his friend, asking for a resting place, and peacefully drifts off to sleep on the tree stump." [source]

This book and countless others have helped guide me through life and it will be part of those memories I will honor and cherish forever.  If you've never read them, and I can't believe you haven't, click on the book titles above.

What a Hot Mess: Boyfriend Pushes Girlfriend Off a Cliff

What a hot mess of a boyfriend.  LMAO.  

OMG, I would die.  But I guess for those who skydive, tightrope between high-rises, or mountain climb - it's no big deal.  But if Ryan pushed me off a cliff our relationship would be over; Plain and Simple.

The Joys of Being a Parent: Tooth Fairy, I'm Not Mad

A 7-yr old girl left a note for the Tooth Fairy and it was simply adorable.  I had to include it as part of "The Joys of Being a Parent," because boy, it surely is!

Things We Can Do To Save The Environment - Issue No. 11 - Take Another Look at Vintage Clothes

So you may think I'm a crazy nut for saying this, but I like going to second-hand stores.  Yes, I'll admit it.  I like looking for anything vintage; Whether it be clothing, antiques or little knick-knacks here and there.  But little do you know that by me purchasing these items the second time around I am helping the environment.

Giving credit to TIME,  I'd like to thank them for showing us the many ways we can help save the environment.  Just one person can make a difference, and it starts with YOU!  
                                                   ~ Peter aka Blade7184  

11. Take Another Look at Vintage Clothes

High-end hand-me-downs (the smart set calls them vintage) are more ecologically sound than new clothes. Why? Buying a shirt the second time around means you avoid consuming all the energy used in producing and shipping a new one and, therefore, the carbon emissions associated with it. Every item of clothing you own has an impact on the environment. Some synthetic textiles are made with petroleum products. Cotton accounts for less than 3% of farmed land globally but consumes about a quarter of the pesticides. One quick way to change your duds: invite friends over for a closet swap, to which everyone brings a few items they want to trade. It's easy on the environment—and your pocketbook.

Make sure to follow Blade 7184 every Tuesday for a new issue of Things We Can Do To Save The Environment.  Each issue is thought-provoking, informative and may hold the key to saving your children and grandchildren's future.

Please feel free to click on my logo to read any of the back-issues.

The Culling - The Torch Keeper (Book One)

Courtesy of Michelle Visage over at WOW, I came across her post yesterday and wanted to share it with any Hunger Games fan or folks who like to read books.

"If you loved The Hunger Games and other dystopian reads, you will absolutely FLIP over The Culling. Here is the official blurb:

“Recruitment Day is here…if you fail, a loved one will die… Lucky will do everything he can to keep his brother alive, even if it means sacrificing the lives of other Recruits’ loved ones. What Lucky isn’t prepared for is his undeniable attraction to the handsome, rebellious Digory Tycho. While Lucky and Digory train together, their relationship grows. But daring to care for another Recruit in a world where love is used as the ultimate weapon is extremely dangerous. As Lucky soon learns, the consequences can be deadly….”

As you can see, The Culling has a gay lead character and it’s about damn time. The author was told that no one would buy a book with a gay main character and was asked several times to either change the character’s gender or make him hetero, and Steven refused and stood by his convictions. Let’s celebrate this advancement as a community and support author Steven Dos Santos by buying a copy of this amazing book. Available today on Amazon.com in both book and Kindle form and coming to stores nationwide on March 8." 
                                                         - Michelle Visage

What Cowboy Hat Are You Wearing?

If you live in Houston and the surrounding area, you know what's happening tonight.  Lady Antebellum is rocking the stage tonight.  But it's more than just concerts galore for 3 weeks straight.  It's the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!  Which by the way is the world's largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition.

If you're out and about you may notice the various cowboy hats people are wearing.  Ever wonder what type of cowboy hat a particular person was sporting?  Well, now you can with this handy little chart.  10 hats - 10 styles, check them out.

Just Sayn'

LMAO - True Story!

Are People Really This Stupid? Issue No. 31 - Please Move The Deer Crossing

I saw this several months ago when a co-worker played it for me, and I couldn't contain myself.  OMG!  Are people really this stupid?  I'm sorry, but this audio clip is simply hilarious.

How can this be real? How??? A woman calls into a radio show to express her concern over a deer crossing sign.  She wants the signs removed, because the deer think it's safe for them to cross wherever they see one of these signs.  I don't think she's picked up on the fact the deer crossings are for us.   I'm assuming this, because she's called several people about it. LOL.

The Slang of the 1920's & 1930's

Not sure if any of you have ever seen Boardwalk Empire.  Well, the characters sometimes use slang on the show that is somewhat difficult to understand.  But after watching two seasons I think I got it down pat.

The following chart, "Dirty 30's" covers the slang used in both the 1920's and 1930's.  So if someone calls you an "Abercrombie" - they're calling you "a know-it-all" or if they call you "babe, broad, dame, doll, frail, twist, muffin, or kitten," I surely hope you're a "Woman".  LOL.

 Click the chart to read the rest.  Yes, the hilarity continues.

Top Secret Drum Corps

This is for anyone who has ever seen a drum corp performance, are fascinated by them, or have performed in one.  I found the video below rather entertaining and a joy to watch.  Being that I have family and friends who have either played in a drum corp or high school marching band, I felt compelled to blog about it.

The Top Secret Drum Corps were asked to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo last year, and have played in several venues, including the United States, Australia and Europe.  According to online sources, Top Secret has its roots in the rich drumming traditions of the band's home city, Basel, Switzerland, which is known for its annual carnival called Fasnacht.  Too cool, Fasnacht is my sister's last name.  

The drum corp, which has become world renowned are made up of factory workers, students, teachers, farmers, regular folks like you and I.  Simply amazing.

Mom's "Zero Fat" Spanish Rice

Please make sure to check out my new recipe at Cocina De Don Pedro!  Click on the picture and add this healthy recipe to your list.

A Very Special Moment - Issue #3: To This Day

I don't even know where to begin with this, except to say it's pretty darn powerful. You will more than likely shed a tear, if not, that's okay - the message came across to you.  

"To This Day" is a narrated poem by Shane Koyczan that shows "the profound and lasting impact that bullying can have on an individual."

Dozens of collaborators from around the world helped to bring this piece to life. Learn more about them and the project at http://www.tothisdayproject.com.

"I'm truly at a loss for words as this video has just made this issue of "A Very Special Moment", a very special moment!"

- Peter R. Flores Jr. aka Blade7184

Cyanide and Happiness: The Younger Comic Generation

Loving One Another - Issue No. 019

Love is like magic
And it always will be.
For love still remains
Life's sweet mystery!!

Love works in ways
That are wondrous and strange
And there's nothing in life
That love cannot change!!

Love can transform
The most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor
And sweetness and grace.

Love is unselfish,

Understanding and kind,

For it sees with its heart

And not with its mind!!

Love is the answer

That everyone seeks...

Love is the language,

That every heart speaks.

Love can't be bought,

It is priceless and free,

Love, like pure magic,

Is life's sweet mystery!!"

                                                                            ~Helen Steiner Rice

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Issue No. 9

The last issue of "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" was nearly a year ago.  I know - that's crazy; March 13, 2012 to be exact.  

In either case, for those who haven't seen my previous issues I started this series as a way to introduce my readers to the world of art through words.  And by words, I mean where the artist has taken several hundred pieces of text and created a masterpiece; it could be a self-portrait, landscape or still-life.  It's called Typographical Art, much like a typographical quote you see posted on a Facebook news feed from time to time. But with hundreds, if not thousands of words instead of just a few.

A Man of His Word

Click on the image and then click on the image again to see every detail up close!

Today's issue is nothing short of amazing.  The artist known simply as Straye-Close spent over 150 hours creating this masterpiece.  Every whisker, every wrinkle, every feature uses a word describing something.  From the name, Morgan Porterfield Freeman Jr., movies he's been in, characters of the people he's played in those movies, awards he has won, and almost every quote he could find for those films.  Truly an extraordinary piece of art!

Isn't This The Truth? The Science of Dogs

The following chart is too hilarious, but oh so true.  Think about it...  When are dogs afraid of bears, snakes, oncoming traffic, or in mine and Ryan's case, bigger dogs?  Never!  But bring out the Vacuum Cleaner and they run like a bat out of hell.

Saturday Night Live: The Walking Dead

If you've never seen The Walking Dead on TNT, then you might not get some of the references made to the show.  

In the following SNL skit, the group tries to avoid any type of racism or political incorrectness.  LOL.