BB 1/31/16

Good morning Phoenix and welcome to your Sunday. Hope you all have a relaxing day planned.
Are you starting it with a cup of coffee? If so, read on – you may find this interesting.

A certified coffee instructor at Cuvee, and an executive council member of the Barista Guild of America was asked to put five of the biggest coffee brands through the same rigorous blind-tasting process that his roasting company applies to their own beans. The five contenders chosen for this blind taste were: Folgers Classic Roast, Maxwell House French Roast, Chock full o'Nuts Original, Community Coffee Cafe Special, and Yuban. 

Coffee testing ("cupping") is an exhausting process. Using a direct pour-over method, five cups of each roast are brewed in order to account for irregularities within a batch of beans. Once the cups are brewed, the taster breaks the foamy head on top of each cup with a spoon and takes a deep whiff to judge the aromas. The grounds are then sifted, and the coffee is tasted while hot, lukewarm, and cold. Warmth may mask fouler flavors, but cold coffee doesn’t lie.

Ranking from worst to “best”, here’s what he said:

5: Maxwell House: Aromas: Wet dog, burning Flavors: Fish oil, despair “What death tastes like."
4: Yuban: Aromas: Snickers bar, barn-y Flavors: Mineral oil, chocolate
"This tastes better than it smells. It's a close call with Maxwell House, but this edged it out because I can actually swallow it. Bonus points for pleasant graphic design."
3: Folgers: Aromas: Unhappy children, wet wool Flavors: Charred, wet cardboard, artificiality
"It tastes as if someone sprayed coffee flavor onto coffee beans”
2: Chock full o'Nuts: Aromas: Burnt hair Flavors: Roasted Styrofoam, gamey
"It's savory, kind of like you're eating wild boar meat that's about to turn. That said, this isn't that bad. I wouldn't return it if I was eating in a Denny's."
1: Community Coffee: Aromas: Chocolate, honey, wet paper Flavors: Actual acidity, syrup-like sweetness, oh-sweet-surrender & mercy
"That's coffee! This could pass for a low-grade specialty coffee."

Have a fangtastic day my friends – oh, and enjoy your coffee!
<3Brock V"""V

BB 1/30/16

Good morning Phoenix! It's Sippin' Saturday, and hopefully you're all sleeping in, except for our European fans. *grins*

Here's a great idea for your next party - your favorite drinks as shots! Enjoy, and have a fangtastic day!<3 Brock V"""V

Five popular cocktails made as shots - Tipsy Bartender

BB 1/29/16

Good morning and TGIF Phoenix! It’s time for some Friday Funnies.

Two men both drag their right feet as they walk.
As they meet, one man looks at the other knowingly, points to his foot and says, "Vietnam, 1969."
The other points his thumb behind him and says, "Dog crap, 20 feet back."

A helicopter was flying around above Seattle when an electrical malfunction disabled all of the aircraft's electronic navigation and communications equipment.
Due to the clouds and haze, the pilot could not determine the helicopter's position. The pilot saw a tall building, flew toward it, circled, and held up a handwritten sign that said "WHERE AM I?" in large letters. People in the tall building quickly responded to the aircraft, drew a large sign, and held it in a building window. Their sign said "YOU ARE IN A HELICOPTER."
The pilot smiled, waved, looked at his map, determined the course to steer to SEATAC airport, and landed safely. After they were on the ground, the copilot asked the pilot how he had done it.
"I knew it had to be the Microsoft Building, because they gave me a technically correct but completely useless answer."

And finally – Little Johnny strikes again:
Little Johnny's father asks him if he knows about the birds and the bees.
"I don't want to know!" Little Johnny says, bursting into tears.
Confused, his father asks what's wrong.
"Oh, Dad," Little Johnny sobs, "first, there was no Santa Claus, then no Easter Bunny, and finally, no Tooth Fairy. If you're about to tell me that grownups don't really have sex, I've got nothing left to believe in."

Have a fangtastic day my friends!<3 

Brock V"""V

BB 1/28/16

Good morning Phoenix – it’s time for TBT!

On this day in history:
• 1956: The young country rock singer Elvis Presley makes his first ever television appearance on Television in the musical variety program Stage Show singing "Heartbreak Hotel".
• 1958: Charles Starkweather, a 19-year-old high school dropout from Lincoln, Nebraska, and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, go on a deadly road trip and kill a Lincoln businessman, his wife and their maid, as part of a killing spree that began a week earlier when he killed Fugate’s stepfather and mother, and strangled Fugate’s two-and-a-half-year-old sister.
• 1978: First Episode of Fantasy Island Aired on Television. This show featured a guide known to have angelic qualities. This guide took people to an imaginary Island-one that they would want to go to, where their fantasies were to be fulfilled. However, even though this was a great opportunity, guests of Fantasy Island would pay as much as $50,000 dollars to benefit from this chance to escape.
• 1986: The space shuttle Challenger explodes just after liftoff, killing the seven astronauts aboard, this included a teacher from New Hampshire, Christa MacAuliffe, among the astronauts, as part of a new Teacher in Space project. The Launch was shown live on CNN and many schools set up televisions for children to watch due to the involvement of a teacher in the shuttle.
• 2013: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has decided to abdicate in order for her son Prince Willem-Alexander to take over the crown. She had recorded a televised address to declare her intentions and announced that she would formally step down on April 30th.

Anything important happen in your life on this date? For those born before 1986, where were you when you learned of the Challenger explosion?

Have a fangtastic day my friends! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/27/16

Good morning Phoenix and welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday!
Did you know there are some famous people with quirky body parts?

• Halle Berry – an extra toe next to her pinky toe
• Taye Diggs – six fingers on each hand. (He had surgery to have the extra digits removed)
• Gemma Arterton (actress and Bond Girl) – six fingers on each hand. (she also had them removed)
• Stephen Colbert – a “lame ear”. He rolls his ear down into itself and then gives a little sideways grin to make it pop back out. In an interview with David Letterman, Colbert explained that his body quirk was because of a problem inside his right ear when he was younger. It required an operation to “scoop it all out with a melon baller.” The surgery caused him to lose hearing in that ear. “This is just a prop,” he said, flicking his ear. “It doesn’t work at all … It’s all gone.
• Ashton Kutcher – webbed toes
• Jane Seymour – different colored eyes. One is brown and the other is green. It is called Heterochromia iridis. Fewer than 200,000 people in the US have this condition. It is very rare.
• Max Scherzer – MLB player. Also has different colored eyes. However, he was not born with them. They gradually changed colors from blue to one of a deeper blue, and a brown one. They began changing colors at the age of 4 months.
• Seal – his famed facial scars are the result of discoid lupus, an autoimmune disease that mostly affects the head and neck. It typically occurs in people 20 to 40 years old. About half of those with discoid lupus have a telltale butterfly rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose like Seal does.
• Karolina Kurkova – Victoria’s Secret model – no belly button. Not afraid to stroll the runway in revealing lingerie!
• Joaquin Phoenix – Cleft lip
• Andy Garcia, actor - born with an undeveloped conjoined twin attached to his shoulder. The very rare condition known as heteropagus twinning occurs when a well-formed twin (called the autosite) has an incomplete twin (called the parasite) attached. Garcia’s conjoined twin (roughly the size of a softball) was surgically removed shortly after birth.
• Vince Vaughn, actor – missing the tip of a thumb following an auto accident at age 17. At the time, he was a passionate water polo player. But after the accident, doctors advised him to give up the sport. With water polo out of the equation because of the deformity, Vaughn invested more of his time in another passion — theater. This body quirk was a lucky turn of events for fans of great comedy, like Vaughn's box office hit Wedding Crashers.
• Carrie Underwood, singer – extra nipple. She had hers removed. Actor Mark Wahlberg also has an extra nipple. Singer Lily Allen also has a third nipple. She likes to show it off to anyone who is interested, and will pull up her shirt without hesitation.

The point of this post? To point out that very few people are perfect – even ones that may look perfect. Embrace your imperfections. It’s what makes you uniquely you. And remember, our Maker doesn’t make junk!
Have a fangtastic day my friends! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/26/16

Good morning Phoenix, and thanks for tuning in for Trivia Tuesday! Last week, I highlighted my home town, Detroit. This week, let’s take a look at my buddy Kade’s hometown. He was raised on his parents’ Darkhaven compound just outside Fairbanks, Alaska. (I would have said born, but I’m sure he was probably just hatched.) *grins*

• It was founded in 1901, but not incorporated until 1903.
• Fairbanks was named by city founder E.T. Barnette in honor of Sen. Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana, who would go on to serve at Theodore Roosevelt’s vice president.
• The largest open-pit gold mine in Alaska, Fort Knox Gold Mine, is located 26 miles north of Fairbanks. Operating since 1996, the mine poured its 5 millionth ounce of gold in early 2011, with another 3 million still to be mined. The Pogo Gold Mine, an underground gold mine located 85 miles southeast of Fairbanks, began operation in 2007 and produces about 340,000 ounces of gold a year. It has an estimated reserve of 5.6 million ounces.
• The aurora borealis is visible in Fairbanks for approximately 200 days a year, roughly from mid-September to April. The best viewing is usually December through March when it is clearest and coldest. Northern lights are present year round but the daylight prevents them from being visible during the summer.
• There are electrical outlets in all of the parking lots. Due to the extreme cold temperatures in Fairbanks during the winter, most vehicles are equipped with several electric “heating” devices that facilitate starting during the coldest time. It usually takes an hour or two after a vehicle is plugged in to warm it enough to start. Most employers provide “plug-ins” for their employees.
• On average, approximately 150 moose are killed on Fairbanks area roads each year. The dead moose are salvaged by local charities so the meat does not go to waste.
• Hottest temperature ever recorded in summer: 99 degrees on July 28, 1919. Coldest temperature ever recorded in winter: 66 degrees below zero on Jan. 14, 1934.
• Longest day of year: 21 hours, 49 minutes, shortest day of year: 3 hours, 43 minutes.
• Average winter snowfall: 67.4 inches (over last 30 years).
• Driving miles to Arctic Circle: 200 on the Elliott and Dalton highways.
• Second largest city in Alaska.
• It’s currently 4 degrees Fahrenheit in Fairbanks.

Now returning to your regularly scheduled programming.....
Have a fangtastic day!<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/25/16

Good morning Phoenix, and welcome once again to Movie Monday. Today’s selection is another Oscar nominated film – The Martian – starring Matt Damon.

Plot: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Trivia:
• The writer of the novel, Andy Weir, first published his book for free on his own blog for fun. Then people asked him to put it in a downloadable form, then to put it on Amazon for Kindle download which he did at the then minimum price of $0.99.
• The Mars exteriors were shot in Wadi Rum, Jordan, which has a red colored desert. Another Mars mission film, Red Planet (2000), was shot there.
• As Beck is about to take a dangerous trip outside the Hermes, Beth tells him to be careful because "In space...", an unfinished quote of the famous tagline ("In space, no one can hear you scream") from director Ridley Scott's Alien (1979)
• NASA was consulted in order to get aspects of space and space travel, specifically in relation to Mars, with the most accuracy. NASA is federally funded, yet charges no one, including private for-profit organizations, any fees for use of and access to its archives and consultancy.
• Rich Purnell slips and falls after he finds a way to rescue Mark Watney and tells his boss "I need more coffee." Donald Glover revealed in an interview that he slipped for real and just got up and continued to act, and the footage was retained in the final edits for the movie.

Goofs:
• Hermes crew members twice use the term "altitude control" when they were talking about "attitude control".
• In the NASA press room, the U.S. Flag is displayed to the speaker's left, and the NASA flag to the speaker's right. This is a violation of the United States Code, 4 U.S.C. § 7(k): ..."When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should...(be displayed) in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience."
• In the shot in which Mark Watney regains consciousness after being stranded on Mars the cameraman is visible in the reflection of his space helmet.
• While the movie portrays the Martian sunset as similar to the Earthen sunset, in reality the Martian sunset has a smaller, less bright sun and sets in shades of blue and pink.
• After deciding to go and rescue Mark Watney, the Hermes crew is evaluating their resources. The maximum tether length (to reel Watney in) is discussed to be 214 meters "connecting all that we have". When the scene unfolds, the tether is on a roll and in one piece, and does not consist of connected pieces.

Here's what Mars is like, according to NASA:
• Mars has a reddish-orange glow during the day from all the dust.
• Sunrises and sunsets appear blue because Mars has almost no atmosphere.
• One day or "sol" on Mars is about 37 minutes longer than an Earth day. The natural human circadian rhythm (or sleep-wake cycle) is about 24 hours and 11 minutes, but experiments have shown that humans have no problems adapting to cycles varying from 23 hours 30 minutes to 24 hours 36 minutes; so humans would not experience major disruptions of their biological clock on Mars.
• One Martian year is nearly two Earth years. That's because Mars orbits the Sun much farther away than Earth, so it takes a lot longer for the red planet to complete one lap.
•The average surface temperature on Mars is a chilly minus-80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62 degrees Celsius). But temperatures can swing from a low of about minus-195 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-126 degrees Celsius) in winter, to a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) during the summer.
•Gravity on Mars is only about 40% that of Earth's, so a person would be 60% lighter (but not Moon-bouncing light).

Now, channel Marvin the Martian and have a fangtastic day my friends! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/24/16

Good morning Phoenix! Hope you all are safe and warm. How much snow did you get? Tell us your snow totals in the comments!

Stuck for something to do since it’s a snow day? (Besides trying to dig out, that is) Here’s some ideas:
• Sneak outside when no one’s looking and grab some snow to make a bunch of snowballs. Put them in plastic bags or containers and store them in the freezer until summer. This works very well for those of us with an extra fridge … When summer rolls around and people start busting out water balloons and squirt guns, you have a whole new kind of ammunition. Surprise!
• Lay a blanket on the floor and have yourself a little indoor picnic. If you have a fireplace, that can add a special touch. Get the wine. Make the food. You’re all set … You can stick to the normal picnic menu options like sandwiches, potato chips, etc. Or, you can take it up a notch by making recipes you’ve been wanting to try out. Or, depending how bad the weather is, you can always just order delivery.
• You know those mini-classes or online “how-to” tutorials? Try one out. It’s always good to learn something new, especially if it’s something you never got around to learning. Here’s some ideas: knitting, cake decorating, making your own sushi, creating home-made ornaments, or any DIY projects.
• Look outside your window at all that snow … a perfect blank canvas for your work. Any plastic spray bottles you aren’t using will work, so fill them with water and add food coloring. Now you have your paint. Or, if you’re lazy you can just use actual spray paint if you have it … Anyway, the snowy blanket outside is your canvas, so get to work.
• Like many, you may be in need of a job, looking elsewhere for work, or planning a career move. Now’s the time to go over your resume … since you’re not really doing anything anyway. Surf the net for available work, but only after you’ve perfected that resume. Even if you’re not interested in finding new work, it’s always important to have an updated resume ready for any opportunity that may arise.
• You can’t really get out of the house much, so you should find a way to get a little exercise. If you have a treadmill, elliptical, or step machine, you can put it to use. Or, just pop in a fitness DVD and get to work.
• Spending so many hours indoors while the weather outside is awful can definitely put that imagination in overdrive. Start planning a vacation for yourself … whether it’s just a weekend away, a trip for the summer, or a holiday excursion. If you’re on a budget, there are tons of deals on Living Social, Expedia, and Groupon to get you started. You can also check out Pinterest for places to go and great activities to do on vacation.
• Bucket lists are always a good idea, whether you’re making one for your life or just for the year. Take a little while to jot down everything you’ve ever wanted to do. Hopefully, most of your dreams are within reason. Here’s a few possible ideas to get you started: jump off the top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, give flowers to a stranger, go indoor skydiving, ride in a hot air balloon, have a snowball fight, participate in a mud run, go zip-lining, take a cruise, kiss in the rain, write a fan letter to your favorite celebrity, or visit a place you’ve always wanted to go.

What do you plan to do today?
Have a fangtastic day my friends.<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/23/16

Good morning Phoenix and welcome to Sippin' Saturday. Hope all that were in the path of the storm are warm and safe. And - that means Cathy is not allowed to leave her house without being wrapped in bubble wrap!

So - since you're probably not going anywhere today, make yourself a treat. You can also make a non alcoholic version for the kiddies.

Have a fangtastic and warm, safe day today my friends.<3  Brock V"""V

Not your father's spiked root beer float - Tipsy Bartender

BB 1/22/16

Good morning Phoenix and TGIF! Let's hope that the weather forecasts are wrong and that our east coast peeps don't get the amount of snow that's being forecast. That's just crazy!

Anyway, time for our Friday Funnies!

Noticing a mistake in St. Peter's roster, God calls Satan; "It seems you accidentally received some of my professionals down there: a teacher, a doctor and a farmer."

"Yeah," Satan replies. "All the more for me!"
God replies, "You better send them up here immediately."
Satan says, "No way. I'm keeping them."
God says, "Send them up here, or I'll sue the horns right off you."
Satan laughs uproariously, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"

I dunno - this kind of sounds like an exchange between Lucan and Dia - what do you think?
Have a fangtastic Friday my friends!
<3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/21/16

Good morning Phoenix! Are you ready for some throwback Thursday? We’re another day closer to the weekend.

Today’s TBT trivia is about the city where I grew up – Detroit. Here’s some fun facts about my hometown:

Detroit:
• Is home to the Motown sound founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1957.
• Installed the first mile of paved concrete road, just north of the Model T plant, on Woodward Avenue.
• Built the nation’s first urban freeway, the Davison, in 1942.
• Is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, first held in 1849.
• Is the potato chip capital of the world, based on consumption.
• Is home to the world’s only floating post office. The J.W. Westcott II, can be found on the Detroit River.
• Is north of Canada.
• Is second in the nation in fishing rod sales.
• Shares the world’s first auto traffic tunnel between two nations: The Detroit/Windsor Tunnel.
• Is home to the second tallest hotel in North America, the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, at 73 stories.
• Created the nation’s first soda, Vernors. It was created in Detroit by pharmacist James Vernor in 1862.
• Has the most registered bowlers in the United States.
• Was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879.

What’s some fun facts about your hometown? Tell us about it!
Have a fangtastic day my friends! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/20/16 [Part 2]

firefighters are so brave....

 Ummm... No.

 Interesting.......

 sounds of true misery....

 Isn't this called a snart?

Make this right in the comfort of your home.....

BB 1/20/16 [Part 1]

Morning (or afternoon depending on where you are) Phoenix! Hope everyone is having a safe, warm, happy Hump Day!

Have you ever wondered about the people that input the captioning for closed captioned broadcasts? Well, when you see these, you'll definitely wonder! Photos in comments.

Have a fangtastic Wacky Wednesday! <3 Brock V"""V

They make them share just one bong among all of them???

 Ummm.... I'd be willing to bet the kid's name is Frazier?

 Timing is everything....

 Damn loud ass spiders....

BB 1/19/16

Good morning Phoenix and welcome to Trivia Tuesday! Since there’s been so many celebrity deaths already this year, our trivia today will be about bizarre deaths of famous people.

• Alexander I of Greece - king of the Hellenes 1917–20: 1920 --- died October 25, from blood poisoning after being bitten by his gardener's pet monkey.
• Attila the Hun - 453 AD --- bled to death from a nosebleed on his wedding night.
• Sir Francis Bacon: 1626 --- pneumonia. He was experimenting with freezing a chicken by stuffing it with snow.
• Vic Morrow – actor: 1982 --- helicopter accident on the set of "Twilight Zone - The Movie."
• Sharon Tate, Actress and wife of director Roman Polanski: 1969 --- murdered by Charles Manson and his followers.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: 1827 --- cirrhosis of the liver
• Salvatore "Sonny" Bono: 1998 --- crashed into a tree while skiing.
• Jim Fixx - made jogging popular: 1984 --- died of a heart attack . . . while jogging.

And there’s many more. Moral of the story: Stay away from someone’s pet monkey, don’t stuff a chicken with snow, and steer away from trees when you ski.

Have a fangtastic day my friends! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/18/16

Good morning Phoenix! Monday has caught up with us again. *sighs* But, that means it is time for Movie Monday. Today’s selection is one that is still in theaters and has been nominated for an Oscar – The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tom Hardy .

Plot: A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820's fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.

Trivia:
• Leonardo DiCaprio had to devour a raw slab of bison's liver, even though he is vegetarian. He also had to learn to shoot a musket, build a fire, speak two Native American languages (Pawnee and Arikara), and study with a doctor who specializes in ancient healing techniques. DiCaprio calls it the hardest performance of his career.
• Leonardo DiCaprio was originally approached to star in Steve Jobs (2015), but dropped out to do this film instead.
• Tom Hardy has stated that he doesn't read scripts. At one time, he was due to star in Splinter Cell (2017). He wanted to play a soldier in that film, but Leonardo DiCaprio begged him to read the script for this movie. Hardy read half the script and accepted the role.
• The true events that inspired this movie - and the book - were also the basis of Man in the Wilderness (1971).
• The bear mauling scene was filmed with Leonardo DiCaprio being tugged side to side with cables.

Goofs:
• The movie is based in the 1820s. On more than one occasion they refer to their long guns as "rifles". Rifled muskets were not in use until the late 1850's when they were called either "rifle muskets" or "rifled muskets".
• You can see a 'chopper' making waves on the river water when Leonardo escapes from the Indians by diving into the river.
• At the start when Leonardo D C (Glass) finishes urinating, he clearly zips up his trousers. Zips were not invented for another 50 years. 1820s compared to 1870s.
• In the end scene when the Indians on horses cross Glass who is sitting down in the snow near the stream, Glass' hair is unkempt and is over is face - the scene cuts to the Indian woman, and when it cuts back to Glass, his hair is parted in the middle - fairly neatly.
• When Glass is resting his head on his dead son, you can see his son's eyelids moving.

Have a fangtastic and warm day my friends! <3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/17/16

Good morning Phoenix family and friends! Today is Sunday.

Please conduct yourselves accordingly. Sleep in, sip tea, eat cookies, lay around in your jammies, listen to good music or read a good book, and take an afternoon nap!

Above all else, stay warm!

Have a fangtastic day my friends!
<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/16/16

Good morning Phoenix family and friends! It's Saturday, and you know that means another edition of Sippin' Saturday.
This one is actually pretty easy to do, and you can impress your family and friends, or just simply enjoy it yourself!
Take care today in whatever you do, and have a fangtastic day!

<3 Brock V"""V

Watermelon Shot Glasses and Margarita Slices - Tipsy Bartender

BB 1/15/16

Good morning Phoenix and TGIF!! We made it to Friday, and we’re happy about it, aren’t we?
How about some quick, short jokes to put a smile on your face this morning?

Q: What is the only way to keep your money from the casinos in Las Vegas?
A: When you get off the plane, walk into the propellers.

My father calls me up, he says, 'If you need cash, make a collect call from Hugh Broke. That way I'll wire you the money, but I won't have to pay for the long-distance phone call.' So, whatever, I followed his instructions. I made a collect call from Hugh Broke. Minute later, my phone rings: 'We have a person-to-person call for Mr. Hugh Broke from Mr. Rob Bank.'

Women have an easier time purchasing condoms than men because women are bold. Women aren't bothered by it. Women will walk into that drug store, 'Yeah, let me see, give me the lambskin lubricated one that's ribbed with feathers, two feet long and vibrates. That's the one I want, and I think I've got a coupon.'

A woman asks the pharmacist if he sells extra-large condoms.
The pharmacist replies, "Yes, would you like to buy some?"
The woman says, "No, but do you mind if I stand here and wait to see if anyone buys a box?"

Three ladies go to an exotic male strip club.
One friend pulls out a $10 bill, licks it and sticks it on a stripper's left butt cheek.
Not to be outdone, the second friend pulls out a $50 bill, licks it and sticks it to his right butt cheek.
The third friend pulls out her ATM card, swipes it down his crack, grabs the $60 and goes home.

*grins* Notice that these jokes all had a money theme – so appropriate after the Powerball, right?
Have a fangtastic Friday!
<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/14/16

Good morning Phoenix family and friends. Today’s post is for our Mira. As you know, she is a huge fan of Harry Potter. Alan Rickman, the actor that masterfully portrayed Severus Snape in all 8 movies, has passed away at the age of 69.

To Mira, with love. We’ll all watch Harry Potter movies with you later.

Here’s some information about the character from the Harry Potter Wiki:
"One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."
—Harry Potter telling his son Albus Severus Potter about Severus Snape[src]

Professor Severus Snape (9 January, 1960 – 2 May, 1998) was a half-blood wizard who was the son of the witch Eileen Snape (née Prince) and Muggle Tobias Snape. During his lifetime, Severus Snape was Potions Master (1981–1996), Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (1996-1997), and Headmaster (1997-1998) of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (which he attended as a student from 1971 until 1978). He was also member of the Order of the Phoenix and played a very important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Lord Voldemort.

Severus Snape was raised in the Muggle dwelling of Spinner's End, which was in close proximity to the home of the Evans family, though in a poorer area. He met Lily and Petunia Evans when he was nine, and fell deeply in love with Lily, becoming a close friend of hers. In 1971 he began his first term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he was sorted into Slytherin. This put him in the same year as his true love, Lily Evans, but unfortunately for him, in rival houses. Severus became the immediate enemy of James Potter and Sirius Black and was a frequent victim of their bullying. Snape developed a passion for the Dark Arts at a young age, which increased as his desire for revenge grew stronger. Snape became involved with the bullies in Slytherin House, many who were pure-blood supremacists. This put his friendship with Lily, a Muggle-born, under great strain, until it was eventually broken in their fifth year. In an attempt to win back Lily's affections , Snape joined the Death Eaters along with a group of his fellow Slytherins.

Severus was made a member of the Slug Club, presumably because of his brilliance at potion-making, and Horace Slughorn kept a picture of him as a student, clutching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. Despite this, Horace did not have many hopes for Severus' future, as his photograph was kept behind many others.

Shortly before Lily Evans was murdered by Lord Voldemort, Snape changed sides and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix and double agent during the Second Wizarding War. With tremendous difficulty, Snape was able to prevent Lord Voldemort from learning the truth about his loyalties. Despite the opinions of most others including Harry during his early life, Albus Dumbledore trusted Snape for reasons that were kept between them both until their deaths. Upon his death, it was revealed that his deep, strong love for Lily Evans caused him to redeem himself, joining Dumbledore's cause at the prospect of her protection from Lord Voldemort.

The relationship between Dumbledore and Snape would be one of an unusually strong loyalty, so much so that Snape agreed to kill Dumbledore upon Dumbledore's own request. Before Dumbledore's death, Snape promised to protect the students of Hogwarts from the Death Eaters, who would inevitably take control of the Ministry of Magic, as well as the school. Snape later participated in the Battle of Hogwarts, but was murdered by Lord Voldemort who mistakenly believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand (an immensely strong and powerful wand that Voldemort deeply desired) when in reality, Draco Malfoy was, unknowingly, the master of the Elder Wand because he disarmed Dumbledore, but was later disarmed by Harry Potter, thus Harry was the wand's rightful master and therefore able to use it.

After his death, Harry Potter ensured that Severus Snape's portrait remained at Hogwarts, honoring him as a hero, despite their significant personal differences. In addition, Harry later named his second son Albus Severus Potter after him.

Do your best to have a fangtastic day my friends.
<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/13/16

Good morning Phoenix family and friends, and welcome to Wednesday – Hump Day, aka Wacky Wednesday!

With all the Powerball frenzy going on, this seems a perfect time to highlight some really stupid lottery winners. Don’t be one of them.

• Evelyn Adams of New Jersey. She defied the odds and won in 1985 and 1986, winning a total of $5.4 million dollars. She spent it all gambling in Atlantic City casinos. She wound up spending the rest of her days living in a dilapidated trailer park.
• Tonda Lynn, a waitress at a Waffle House. She thought she could easily get away with keeping her millions from being shared with 2 other waitresses when the three of them had verbally agreed to share the winnings should any of them ever win from tickets they got as gifts/tips from patrons. Since verbal agreements regarding gambling did not hold up in court, she won the case her colleagues filed against her, but not without spending a pretty penny on a legal team.
• Kelly Rogers, age 16, of the United Kingdom. After winning $1.9 million dollars, she went on a spending spree – clothing, cars, vacations, breast enhancement surgery, parties, and cocaine – lots of cocaine. She wound up broke and addicted.
• Janita Lee – wig shop owner from St. Louis. Won $18 million in 1993. She went on the usual spending spree, then switched to philanthropic binges that went unchecked. She lost everything and had to file bankruptcy.
• Amanda Clayton of Michigan – arrested for welfare fraud. She continued to collect welfare benefits after winning $1 million in the Michigan lottery. She was discovered when routine eligibility verifications uncovered the million in her bank account. She was sentenced to 5 years in jail. That didn’t kill her though – a drug overdose did.

There were plenty of male winners of the lottery that did similar foolish things, so don’t think it is just women!

Best advice – get a tax professional, an investment counselor, and a lawyer lined up before you go to collect your winnings. Unless, of course, you’re like me and usually only hit for $20. Good luck to all who play!

Have a fangtastic day! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/12/16

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday, Phoenix friends and family! Hope everyone is staying safe and toasty warm today.
It’s been awhile, so thought we’d do some trivia today. Today’s trivia will be about history and historical events.
• Fourteenth century physicians didn't know what caused the plague, but they knew it was contagious. As a result, they wore an early kind of bio protective suit which included a large beaked head piece. The beak of the head piece, which made them look like large birds, was filled with vinegar, sweet oils and other strong smelling compounds to counteract the stench of the dead and dying plague victims.
• Grand Rapids, Michigan was the 1st US city to fluoridate its water in 1945.
• In 1892, Italy raised the minimum age for marriage for girls - to 12.
• Martha Washington in the only woman whose portrait has ever appeared on a US currency note. Her portrait was on the face of the $1 silver certificate issues of 1886 and 1891, and on the back of the $1 silver certificate of 1896. Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony are the only women pictured on a US coin. Both were honored on a dollar coin.
• Members of the Nazi SS had their blood type tattooed on their armpits.
• New Orleans' first Mardi Gras celebration was held in February, 1826.
• The ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone.
• The first-known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 BC.
• The seven wonders of the ancient world were: ... 1. Egyptian Pyramids at Giza ... 2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon ... 3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia ... 4. Colossus of Rhodes - or huge bronze statue near the Harbor of Rhodes that honored the sun god Helios ... 5. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus ... 6. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus ... 7. Lighthouse at Alexandria.
• The shortest war on record was fought between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
• Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote.

And now you know!
Have a fangtastic day my friends!<3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/11/16

Good morning Phoenix friends and family! Today is a sad day in music, as the world lost a talented musician – David Bowie.
Today’s movie trivia will highlight one of his performances - Labyrinth.
Plot: Grown angry about the fact that she must watch over her little brother Toby, Sarah wishes the child to the goblins. They translate this careless statement into action: The Goblin-King Jareth announces that soon Toby will mutate into a goblin. There is only one hope: Sarah has to find the way to Jareth's castle - through a dangerous labyrinth - where she will find strange creatures.
Trivia:
• The various things that Jareth does with the crystal balls (rolling them around his arms and in his hands and so forth) are not camera tricks or any other kind of special effect. They are actually done by choreographer Michael Moschen, who is an accomplished juggler. Moschen was actually crouched behind Bowie with his arm(s) replacing Bowie's. Unlike a typical Muppet performance, however, he had no video screen to view his performance. In other words, his manipulations were performed completely blind.
• In the scene where Toby is seated on Jareth's lap, the baby has a fixed and hypnotized look off-camera as Jareth murmurs evilly into his ear. In fact, Toby screamed so much during the many takes of this scene, that something had to be done to keep him quiet. Fortunately, a crew member had a glove-puppet Sooty. For the duration of Jareth's speech, David Bowie had the Sooty puppet on one hand (out of shot) gently wiggling to distract Toby. The child was entranced, hence the hypnotic stare, and the perfect silence.
• Michael Jackson was strongly considered to play Jareth. Jim Henson preferred Sting, until his kids convinced him that David Bowie would have more lasting appeal.
• David Bowie did the voice (gurgling) for the baby in the song "Magic Dance".
• Two official music videos by David Bowie promoting this title and directed by Steve Barron were released. "As the World Falls Down" features scenes from the film itself, not just the ballroom scene, and includes specially filmed scenes of Hoggle together with Bowie. "Underground", which can be heard as the final credits roll, features many of the films characters again in specially filmed scenes with Bowie.
Goofs:
• The end of a boom microphone is clearly visible when they almost fall into the bog of stench.
• In the Goblin City, a sign with a pair of scissors on it becomes alternately broken/fixed.
• When Jareth transforms from the beggar to himself he throws his costume behind himself to the left several moments later he again has the costume in his hands and he throws it behind himself to the right.
• Wires can be seen suspending the ruins of the Escher room in Sarah and Jareth's final confrontation.
• In the Escher-style sequence at the end, when Jareth goes from underneath the walkway that Sarah is on, and turns up onto the top of the walkway, the hydraulic rod that propels him up there can visibly be seen in the shadow that is cast on the wall behind him.
Rest in peace, Goblin King.
Have a fangtastic day my friends. <3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/10/16

Good morning and Happy Sunday family and friends! Hope you all have a peaceful, serene day.
<3 Brock V"""V
It's cold outside, so don't forget:

BB 1/9/16

Good morning Phoenix! It's Saturday and we made it. For your entertaining pleasure today, there's a two-fer for Sippin' Saturday. A drink and a snack.
Enjoy responsibly and have a fangtastic day!<3 Brock V''''V

Mini Patron Margaritas with mini tacos - Tipsy Bartender

BB 1/8/16

Morning Phoenix – we made it to the weekend! TGIF! Here’s another edition of Friday Funnies to start off your day.

Warning – probably NSFW.

A guy was driving his truck along the interstate, when he admitted to his wife that he had screwed around on her. She proceeded to cut his penis off with a hunting knife, and throw it out the window.

The penis whizzed through the air and landed momentarily with a "SPLAT" on the windshield of the car behind, before sliding off. The little girl who was riding with her father yelled, "Daddy! Ew, what was that? I'm scared."
Her father said, "Don't worry honey, it was only a bug."
His daughter said, "Wow, that bug really had a huge dick!"
I guess some days you’re the windshield, and some days you’re the bug…..
Have a fangtastic day everyone! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/7/16

Good morning Phoenix – it’s Thursday, and we’re almost to the weekend again! So – it’s time to go back in history.
On this day in:
• 1929: The current Influenza Epidemic is considered to be growing more serious with the number of additional deaths due rising to over 200,000, and have issued the following guidelines avoid crowds and persons infected with the disease. Also when noticing a fever spend the time in bed until the fever has passed. The government does not believe this epidemic will reach catastrophic proportions of 1918.
• 1974: Crowds of people gathered around the Heathrow airport as “war games” took place. Both adults and children arrived from quite a number of different locations to witness armed soldiers, armed gear, tanks, and armored cars. This was very unusual in Britain as Police were not armed and it was unusual to see military personal carrying arms in a public place. A large number of the military stationed at this London airport were carrying rifles, and one was even carrying a machine gun. In all reality it was actually a defense drill, to help keep military forces prepared in the case of a terrorist attack. Unofficial reports said that an Arab was planning on shooting down an Israeli or American plane. The truth in this was yet to be determined, but precaution was taken nevertheless-even though it was peacetime in Britain (England) as of this time.
• 1990 Italy Leaning Tower of Pisa Jan. 7th, 1990: The Leaning Tower of Pisa has been closed to the public for the first time in 800 years due to fears the tower may topple over. The tilt is currently 16ft off the perpendicular and increases by about one-twelfth of an inch every year.
• 1999: On this day in 1999, a trial for the impeachment of President Clinton was started. He was originally accused of lying under oath and obstructing justice. Later on, was also charged of actions such as witness tampering and abuse of power. Clinton was also at one time sued for sexual harassment charges by Paula Jones. He was also accused of having relations with Ms. Monica Lewinsky. He denied the affair with Ms. Lewinsky at first and then later admitted to explicit details of a relationship with her. During the course of the impeachment trial, the House Judiciary Committee had approved three articles of impeachment. However, after a series of hot debates, he was found “not guilty”. He had made a public apology to the American people after this time.
• 2011: In the Islamic-controlled town of Jowhar, Somalia, men and women are banned from shaking hands with each other. The Islamic group al-Shabab also banned women and men from walking with each other or talking to each other in public unless they are related.
• 2013: A missing Henri Matisse painting titled Le Jardin, stolen from the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm in 1987, was found by an art recovery specialist who successfully negotiated the return of the painting.
What happened to you on this day in history?
Make your history fangtastic today! <3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/6/16

Good morning Phoenix, welcome to Hump Day, aka Wacky Wednesday!
Today’s selection of wacky information comes straight from eBay. Here’s a list of some of the strangest things ever sold on eBay.
• A man auctioned off his entire life – his house, car, furnishings, introduction to his friends, and taking over his job. It sold for $384,000.
• Right to name the baby – a mother placed the naming rights for her unborn child on eBay for the highest bidder. The bid got up to $6800, but the buyer backed out.
• 2 unwanted Brussels Sprouts – sold for 100 pounds, which was given to charity.
• A cornflake in the shape of the State of Illinois – sold for $1350.
• Imaginary friend – came with free shipping. No one nibbled on that one.
• Original Hollywood sign from 1923 – sold for $450,400.
• The $1 sports car – A woman angry at her cheating husband sold his Lotus Turbo on eBay. She set the starting bid at only $.77. She said she wanted it sold before he came home to find the rest of his belongings in the driveway. The car sold for $1.
• New Zealand – a man decided to auction off all of New Zealand. The bids got up to $3000 before eBay pulled the auction.
• Autographed air guitar – seldom used and in pristine condition. Wonder whose autograph… No takers on this one
• Golf balls from a snake’s guts – Veterinarians removed 4 golf balls from a snake that had swallowed them. They decided to auction them off and made $1400.
• Ghosts in a jar – A man said his house was haunted and he had captured them in a jar which he would send to the winner. He advised that the jar should never be opened lest the ghosts escape. The winning bid was $50,922, however the bidder never paid up.
• Haunted rubber duck – A man put a rubber ducky up for sale, saying that it made his child act horrible as if he were possessed, so he came to the determination that it was haunted. It sold for $107.50.
• Walking human billboard – A lady named Kari Smith wanted to raise money for her child’s college tuition, so auctioned off her forehead as a walking billboard. It was purchased for $10,000 by Golden Palace, an online casino. She now bears a tattoo on her forehead reading “Golden Palace.com”.
• Virgin Mary Cheese Sandwich – a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that bears the image of the Virgin Mary. Golden Palace bought this little item as well for the sum of 18,259 Pounds.
• Single Corn Flake – A man decided to raise money – one corn flake at a time. He sold the single corn flake for $1.63, and still sells corn flakes, one at a time, occasionally on eBay.

So what’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on eBay?
Have a fangtastic day everyone! <3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/5/16

Good morning Phoenix family and friends! It's Tuesday, so we're inching closer to another weekend!
I'm being bad, but I can't resist posting this since I posted info on the new Star Wars movie yesterday. This is the latest in movie tie-ins. I expected this with Fifty Shades of Grey, but not with Star Wars!!
Have a fangtastic day my friends!<3 Brock V"""V

Star Wars BDSM toys from a kinky galaxy far, far away

Lightsabers aren't just for defending the galaxy; when used correctly (with a safe word), they can provide hours of sexy fun. Etsy seller Geek Kink turns to lightsabers and other trappings of the Star Wars universe to create enough whips, restraints,…

BB 1/4/16

Good morning Phoenix peeps! It’s Monday. Yeah, it snuck up on us again.

For this morning’s read, how about the new Star Wars-The Force Awakens?
Not giving any spoilers for those that haven’t seen it yet, but it’s quite good (especially in 3D). And best of all – no Jar Jar Binks!

Plot:
• 30 years after the defeat of Darth Vader and the Empire, Rey, a scavenger from the planet Jakku, finds a BB-8 droid that knows the whereabouts of the long lost Luke Skywalker. Rey, as well as a rogue stormtrooper and two smugglers, are thrown into the middle of a battle between the resistance and the daunting legions of the First Order.

Trivia:
• Mark Hamill claimed George Lucas nonchalantly told him over lunch a new Star Wars trilogy was going to be made by Disney, and if he did not want to be involved, Luke Skywalker would simply be written out of the script. However, Hamill immediately agreed to reprise the role. Hamill admitted, however, that he pretended to also be nonchalant about it so it didn't seem like he was excited for the role.
• The production had a preference for using real locations and miniature models over green-screens and computer-generated imagery whenever possible in order to make the film aesthetically similar to the original Star Wars trilogies.
• While filming in summer 2014, Harrison Ford broke his ankle on the door of the Millennium Falcon. About a year later, J.J. Abrams revealed that he hurt his back while trying to help get Ford out from under the door.
• First time Harrison Ford has received top billing in a Star Wars film, making him the first non-Jedi character to be credited first.
• The symbols on the flags hanging outside Maz Kanata's castle include Boba Fett's Mythosaur skull, Ziro the Hutt's Black Sun tattoo, Hondo Ohnaka's pirate symbol and several Podracer's flags. There is also the symbol of the 501st Legion on one of the flags. The 501st is an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of screen-accurate replicas of Imperial Stormtrooper armor, Sith Lords, Clone Troopers, bounty hunters, and other villains from the Star Wars universe. The 501st Legion also refers to an in-canon Clone War regiment that gained the name "Vader's Fist", as they were utilized by Darth Vader when he turned on the Jedi Order, during the first years of the Empire.

Goofs:
• When Han Solo and Kylo Ren are on the platform, Kylo hands his lightsaber to Han with the saber side to Kylo's right. In the next shot of the saber, the blade side is to Kylo's left.
• In multiple scenes the beads of sweat on Finn's face change and appear and disappear between cut away shots.
• Han and Leia embrace as they say goodbye before the attack on the Starkiller base. In the first shot Han's hand is on Leia's head, partially covering Leia's right ear. When the shot changes Han's hand has jumped to be around the back of Leia's neck.
• In bar scene Rey is eating a snack that looks like a taco with romanesco, a very distinctive broccoli/cauliflower relative that looks futuristic with its clear evocation of fractals. After a one-second cutaway, we come back to her eating and the same romanesco-based taco is in her hand. Then after a similar short cutaway we come back and she has an entirely new snack in her hand that, while, maintaining the same color scheme, does not have any romanesco and looks like a kind of hemispherical pastry with filling in the middle.
• After Rey escapes custody on Starkiller base, there is a mirror/flopped shot that made its way into the final cut featuring three stormtroopers navigating the hallway. Evidence of the shot being flopped comes from the troopers' pauldron being on the opposite shoulder. Further evidence comes from seeing the back of the stormtroopers. Normally, a black spot is visible on the left shoulder but this shot shows it on the right side for each stormtrooper.

PS: There’s no panda to be found in the picture below. *grins*
Have a fangtastic day!
Don't forget - if you still want to see my daily posts, let me know your ideas of what you'd like to see!
<3 Brock V"""V

BB 1/3/16

Good morning Phoenix! It's Sunday. Not a one of you have given me any suggestions for daily posts for 2016. *waggles finger* tsk, tsk. You need to tell me what you'd like to see me post about daily.
In other news, sending healing touches to Miss Cathy along with a ton of bubble wrap! Feel better soon love.
So tell me what you want to hear about! And go.....

<3 Brock V"""V

Marijke D. D. Wygerse Maybe book, movie, music releases?

Janey E. R. Crisp Def more stories

Cathy Hunter McCarron Lmao Brock and thank you...what I could use is your healing touch! Good Morning Phoenix and wonderful fans!

BB 1/2/16

Good morning Phoenix! It's Sippin' Saturday, and I have one for you that could easily be adapted to your little ones. Make them a Little Mermaid mocktail! I'm sure the original recipe is good, but make it with Kool-Aid that you whiz up in your blender with ice to make a slushie. You could use Berry Blue, Lemonade, and Strawberry and garnish with strawberries to make them feel special. (and watch the movie with them with one of your own using this recipe.....) Little Mermaid Cocktail - Tipsy Bartender
While I have your attention, what topics would you like to see me cover for 2016?

Have a fangtastic Saturday! <3  Brock V"""V

BB 1/1/16

Good morning and Happy 2016 Phoenix family! I hope you had a great and safe celebration.
If you partied a little too serious, here are a few hangover cures from around the world! I can’t vouch for their effectiveness, and some sound like they would be worse than suffering with the hangover! Enjoy!
• Hungary: Sparrow droppings in Brandy. Yup. I typed that correctly.
• United States: Prairie Oyster: Tomato juice with one raw egg, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and two dashes of Tabasco sauce.
• New Zealand: Mince and cheese pie with a glass of chocolate milk.
• Philippines: Balut, a fertilized duck embryo, poached.
• Mongolia: A pair of pickled sheep’s eyeballs in tomato juice.
• Scotland: Irn-Bru sausage. Sausage made with Irn-Bru (a Scottish carbonated soft drink) instead of water.
• Namibia: Buffalo Milk: Cream, clotted cream, two types of rum, and crème liqueurs.
• Peru: Fish Scrape: Lime juice, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, fish stock and scraps.
• United Kingdom: English breakfast – “Fry Up”. Usually back bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms – all fried. Black pudding, hash browns, and baked beans are optional. There are regional variations.

So, dear friends – which one will you choose to cure what ails you today?
Have a fangtastic day! <3 Brock V"""V