Funday Friday: #59--The Late Cindy Stowell, Jeopardy! Champion

Hi, everyone and welcome to Funday Friday (and Happy Holidays to you all).

Today's edition is a little solemn indeed, but I'd like to take a more light-heated and heartwarming side to life stories that have moments like them.

This is Cindy Stowell. She's a 41-year-old science content developer from Austin, Texas.



One of her life-long dreams is to appear on quiz-based game show Jeopardy!. And when she finally succeed earlier this year, it seemed like the sky's the limit for this -native. She appeared on Jeopardy! last week and dominated the show at all fronts, even with come-from-behind wins. Unfortunately, her appearance carried a major life-crippling crutch. Previously, Cindy was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon Cancer, with doctors revealing that she has only only months to live.
So, Cindy knew she needed to live the end of her life the best way she could: as a contestant on Jeopardy!

During her appearances on the iconic quiz-based game show hosted by the equally-iconic Alex Trebek, she went episode after episode sweeping through the three similarly-named rounds, correctly answering questions--or in the case of this show (whose rules should be enforced or you will get frowned upon hard by fans and the host itself) questioning answers, securing Daily Doubles and finding success on Final Jeopardy! (whether getting the question right or wrong with the right amount of money scored to win the game). And boy, did she make an impression. As she fought hard to secure her championship, I (along with millions of viewers) was glued in amazement. And during her Championship reign, she racked up a LOT--earning $105,803
(Add into the brilliant, majestic, breathtaking into for Season 33 and the current version that just makes you tingle and tear up every time you hear it and we were in for a fantastic experience.

In fact, had you not known of Cindy's condition, she would've been just another ordinary (yet extraordinary) Jeopardy! contestant/Champion. Cindy didn't tell anyone outside her family about her condition (with Trebek and several producers and staffers being the exceptions), as she didn't want to make a media spectacle of the situation. She later revealed her terminal illness after her reign ended.

Even though I knew that she would become Champion, how long her reign would last and that she passed months after (just days before her episodes aired), I watched with fresh eyes seeing how AMAZING she was at her podium. Her voice was meek and cracking, but sounded beautiful and sweet, like a bluejay. Her disposition was simply adorable. And her brainpower was on overdrive. You knew she meant business. And as a one human being seeing her win six times, I almost lost my composure and felt extremely proud of her.

After her Jeopardy! reign and illness made national news, hearts across the nation (mine included) broke and then mended and warmed for her. When I heard of the story, I felt ready to cry all throughout Cindy's journey, and when she passed away. And her donations to cancer research was beautiful.

After her passing on December 5th, Jeopardy! paid tribute to Miss Stowell on its December 21st broadcast.

...and released this heartwarming video on its social media accounts.


Cindy Stowell is a true inspiration to anyone going through life's true tribulations to reach and achieve their dreams. Congratulations to her on realizing her dream and beating six other people to become six-time Jeopardy! Champion. My condolences to her family and friends.
May she rest in peace...

Funday Friday: #58 -- Meet The Super Bowl Five

Hey, everyone. I would like for you to meet
Sylvan Schefler
Lew Rappaport
Al Schragis
Larry McDonald and
Harvey Rothenberg,
five great old friends who, 50 years ago, decided on a whim to go to a then-unknown sporting event called the World Championship Game. Since then, they haven't stopped going to the Big Game, later renamed the Super Bowl, appearing every year to this day.
Here's the story from Savannah Guthrie of NBC's Today.

Meet the five friends who have attended every single Super Bowl.
Posted by Today Show on Friday, February 5, 2016

This story is--and these guys are--simply awesome. Watching these old heads still together as pals half a century after their first Bowl (THE first Bowl) is seriously heartwarming, and their continued tradition of going to the big football event is something cool. Plus it's also awesome (and even a little hilarious) that they bring their own jackets, personalized rings and even bathrobes to the cities of the games and going to the stands together, watching the most memorable plays and outcomes, and seeing the equally memorable Halftime Shows in between. It's absolutely amazing to see these guys get spotlighted for their cool tradition, so much so it makes me cry.

Also, the NFL will recognize these guys during the event! They will get a small commemoration before the game, as mentioned by Guthrie at the end of the clip. Awesome job by the League for giving this celebration and congrats to the Super Bowl Five for their fifty years of attending the Super Bowl year after year, super cool friends they are.

I never went to the Super Bowl before, but if I ever would when I'm older, I would bring some of my friends with me. Maybe we'd start a tradition then (that is if we don't go to a Comic-Con instead).

Funday Friday: #57--The Flower from the Future! | NASA Astronauts Successfully Grow Flower at the International Space Station

(This story is from last week, but I still want to discuss it here this week)
Hey everyone. I'm Andrew with another edition of Funday Friday.

Space and the universe has always been a wide bastion of wonder and amazement. Every time we look up or look far into the skies, we get a beautiful sight ever time--especially with binoculars or a telescope. Whether upon your own accord or from space itself, or from the astronauts above. And it gets better when you're actually an astronaut.

This past year has seen many amazing experiments and discoveries from up above, like a lunar rover landing on a comet, actual water found on Mars via a frozen waterfall, Pluto actually being a planet again. There were so many mind-blowing finds by NASA that a documentary needs to be made
(It's probably being made right now).

This is a zinnia flower that was grown by astronaut Scott Kelly and his team of other astronauts inside the International Space Station. It took nearly two years for Kelly and co. to grow edible plants in the Station by microgravity. In a post on Twitter, Kelly revealed a problem with the experiment--mold on the leaves.

Our plants aren't looking too good. Would be a problem on Mars. I'm going to have to channel my inner Mark Watney. pic.twitter.com/m30bwCKA3w

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) December 27, 2015

He later found a way to save the plants and-after a few failed cycles-put the experiment on, leading to the first successfully blooming bunch of zinnia flowers grown in space.

First ever flower grown in space makes its debut! #SpaceFlower #zinnia #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/2uGYvwtLKr

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 16, 2016

This isn't the only time the NASA team worked on organically growing fresh, edible food.
In 2014, astronauts Gioia D. Massa, Robert C. Morrow, Ph.D. and Raymond M. Wheeler have worked on Veggie, a system that helps grow fresh vegetables aeroponically -- meaning, in an air or mist environment without soil ("Plants grown aeroponically require far less water and fertilizer, don't need pesticide, are much less prone to disease, and grow up to three times faster than plants grown in soil", NASA said in a statement.) and in 2012, astronaut Don Pettit successfully grew a zucchini, sunflower and broccoli out of zip-lock plastic bags on the ISS as personal science experiment. Pettit documented the life of his "companions" in a NASA blog called "Diary of Space Zucchini". Some have argued that a sunflower grown in that year was the first flower grown.

In a blog post on the zinnia blossoming, it said that this was the "first time a flowering crop experiment will be grown on the orbiting laboratory". And on Veggie, "I hope to see Veggie's success as the first step in food production that will allow astronauts on the space station to enjoy fresh food and gain knowledge as we explore beyond low-Earth orbit," said Brian Onate, who helped build the plant growth system before it went into space.

This is absolutely awesome. A flower growing in space, where this isn't much water, seeds, air or sunlight. But the NASA team tried it in an unconventional way, and did it successfully.
It's yet another experiment and discovery made by the great folks and geniuses at NASA, always working hard to give us the increasing possibility of life beyond Earth and unlocking beautiful wonders for us all to behold for now and in the future.

Special thanks to CNN for the week+ old post used for this edition.

Have a great weekend, everyone -- and to quote the great Jack Horkheimer aka Star Gazer (may he rest in peace), that guy that amazingly taught us about astronomy on the PBS stations back in the day and inspiration for my catchphrase of my review of Star vs. The Forces of Evil --
"Keep looking Up!"

Funday Friday: #56--Real-Life Superman | British Volunteer Takes Down Bank Robber Wearing Man of Steel Costume

Faster then a jaywalking child.  than Smart car. Able to walk to single people in a single jog.
It's Superman! Actually it's a 32-year-old British guy named Antonio Cortes, volunteer for the greater good and destroyer of ailment evil.

Cortes works as a volunteer for England-based nonprofit organization Give A Smile UK, which raises money for disabled children. For his job, he wears a costume in public garnering money for the organization. One day, while on break with other volunteers, he heard screams from a woman close to being mugged by a robber at the Co-Op location in Gloucester. He immediately knew what to do when the woman looked distressed.

Here's what he had to say about the bold saving in this interview from BBC News (which is at the end).


Who knew the circumstances worked in the hero's favor?
It's funny that at the time, Cortes had a Superman costume on, a huge coincidence. But it was a brave act for him, and he deserves to be a hero. Especially also considering that he volunteers with Give A Smile UK, a nice organization, I presume. Good for him; he deserves the temporary popularity.

Thanks to ABC News for the article inspiring this edition.

Funday Friday: #55 -- Remembering Alan Rickman (1946-2016) and David Bowie (1947-2016)

Well...This week was only the second full week of 2016, but it kicked off the year in the most heartbreaking way. We lost two legendary British luminaries in the same week. To the same disease. At the same age no less.

One of them is a versatile actor with some of the most memorable characters in modern cinema, a talent that can reach some of the best, and one of the smoothest baritone voices you'll ever hear. He has starred as memorable roles in films like Sense and Sensibility, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and of course as his forever timeless roles as the sinister, evil, somewhat demented German terrorist Hans Gruber in Die Hard and as the cynical, secretive and wise Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series.


Rickman was a classically trained actor, and it showed in his roles, but he was also very traverse. He has played characters in media of a wide variety of genres: Drama, Comedy, Action, and Sci-Fi, all across film, television and stage. His chops were impressive and have been recognized by fans and critics alike, especially where Die Hard and Harry Potter was concerned.

And speaking of Harry Potter, when I watched the first few films as a kid, I absolutely hated Snape. He was sorta menacing and had a demeaning look and act about him, with a voice to match. Even as a good guy, he really didn't sit well with me. That was how great Rickman was in his performance as him.

When the news of Rickman's death came yesterday morning (I was watching CBS This Morning at the time), it hit me like a bus. I was heartbroken. His career was an amazing one, especially as a fan of the Harry Potter films.
And the co-stars of his films felt the same way too.
All of them took to social media to air their grievances of their beloved friend.
Emma Thompson, his film wife in Love Actually, took to Facebook with this sweet message.

and his cohorts from the Harry Potter film series also released their heartfelt messages.
Author of the original books JK Rowling posted this short but bittersweet tweet

There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman's death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 14, 2016

Emma Watson (aka Hermione Grainger) took to Facebook with this passage

I'm very sad to hear about Alan today. I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor. I'll really miss our conversations. RIP Alan. We love you

Posted by Emma Watson on Thursday, January 14, 2016

and The Boy Who Lived--Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe wrote this sweet, heart-melting memorandum on Google+ page.
"Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also one of the [most loyal] and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I’m pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn’t have to do that. I know other people who’ve been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say ‘if you call Alan, it doesn’t matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he’s doing, he’ll get back to you within a day.’”

Other actors have also posted somber tributes of him to social media as well (almost Twitter).

Also, fans to their very best to memorialize and honor Rickman.
They paid tribute to Rickman at the perfect place to honor him with Severus in mind--
Platform 9 3/4 at the Wonderful World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood.

It's just not going to be the same. #alanrickman #platform934 #kingscrossstation #professorsnape #london #sadness #ripalanrickman

A photo posted by Tedjakumala (@tedjakumala) on Jan 14, 2016 at 1:50pm PST

Oh! #alanrickman #always #wandsup #platform9and3quarters #professorsnape #harrypotter #thebestinterestingcharacterever #hansgruber #london #rip

A photo posted by Amelie Soleil (@ameliesoleil) on Jan 15, 2016 at 5:42am PST

Flowers at Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross pic.twitter.com/shnRPF7KSV

— Martin (@Martin_2052) January 15, 2016

Alan Rickman memorial at Platform 9 3/4 pic.twitter.com/pZx7WPqhKB

— Charlotte Katherine (@charlotte_kath) January 15, 2016

His roles were truly memorable and worthy of praise. I know we will all appreciate his work and legacy. He definitely deserves it.

The other is a music icon and genius who has made brilliant music that spanned many genres and decades, and has made bold leaps that raised eyebrows...as well an advocate for African American musicians in the mainstream.
(as shown in his classic interview with former MTV personality Mark Goodman.)


His music was limitless, boundless, powerful, human and full of life, and changed and inspired generation after generation since his debut. His songs were more than about some topics in his words. His words and sounds spoke to a generation of fans that listened with clear, true intent and clear open minds, leaving with bewilderment, high-holy enjoyment and another reason why he is royalty in music.

"Space Oddity" (along with the album of the same name)

"Changes"

"Starman"

"Rebel Rebel"

"Fame"

"Let's Dance"

"China Girl"

and many other classics are proof of his chameleon-style music genius. He can take on any other genre given to him--rock, pop, dance pop, pop rock, glam rock, funk, R&B, and jazz. From his heyday in the 70s till his slowdown in the 90s, Bowie was a constant presence on the charts, the industry, TV, the public consciousness and the concert circuit.
He even was a wonderful figure in film, making appearances in 22 films, including Zoolander, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, The Last Temptation of Christ, his first film The Man Who Fell to Earth last film The Prestige and his most memorable performance as Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth.

And his comeback in music later through the turn of the century until his death, he still kept going and still had the talent and longevity.

Even in his final moments, even as he knew his time on Earth was running short, Bowie had to continue doing what he loved--making music and entertaining. That continuation until his end, his final album, Blackstar, which includes his final single "Lazarus", a dark ditty about the end of his life and "being free like that blue bird".

It's...very gloomy, very hard-hitting and very emotional, able to break anyone down and leave them vulnerable for a long moment. Crying is the first thing you'll do from hearing this.
Bowie knew his life would end, so he made this album as a "swan song" to his fans and to the world, not only making him a chameleon in music, but also an omniscient as well.

Even though Mr. Bowie is no longer with us (or is actually Ziggy Stardust and has actually concluded his musical expedition on Earth, and is returning to Mars--depending on your view), his music will definitely, absolutely and positively live on forever for the generations after ours to listen to, learn, enjoy and be grateful for.
He's not a music icon. He's not even a music genius. He is a music god.

Both men were very talented as actors and singers. With hours of work in music and film between them, their presences will still be felt, and will spellbind millions of new fans and generations, for years and decades to come.

Bowie perished on Sunday evening, January 10--two days after his 69th birthday, losing an 18-month battle with liver cancer. The announcement was made official the following morning by his family in this post released on Facebook.

January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with...

Posted by David Bowie on Sunday, January 10, 2016

Then, four days later on January 14, we lost Rickman, who came from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in went into over 40 years of iconic performances and characters.

Both men will be missed. May they both Rest in Peace.

Funday Friday: #54 -- The Shirt Off His Back | Guy on Subway Gives Homeless Man His...You Know (and Hat)

Welcome to another Funday Friday, everyone.

And welcome to winter, where no matter where you are, it's freezing cold in North America during the start of 2016. Everyone is trying their best to keep warm during the season, and . And yet at this time of year, it seems that chivalry and kindness for your fellow man is not dead just yet.

Look no further than this video.

#1 Beautiful moment in the NYC subway 󾌧󾌧󾌧󾌧Miren este Video Wow 󾌺󾍁󾮖🏻 Este hombre se merese muchas bendisiones por la buena accion que Hizo 󾍛🏻 Dios Lo bendiga amen☺️ y aPrendan 󾭻 y Lo hizo sin esperar nada acambio 󾮞🏼󾮞🏼☺️ nesesitamos más personas como el 󾭈 SI ALGUIEN LO CONOSE ETIQuETELO 󾔯 󾍛🏻󾌡 God bless both 󾭻•• That was nice of that men to help that old men. God is going to blessed that menJukin Media Verified (Original) * For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmediadotcom

Posted by Läzaro El Feo on Friday, January 8, 2016

Last Friday, a video was released of 23-year-old Joey Resto giving a disheveled, homeless man the shirt off his back. And if that wasn't enough, the guy comes back to give the man a hat too.

Like everyone else, this video warmed my heart to the core. Seeing such a wonderful showing of sympathy and kindness is just beautiful. I love hearing and seeing stories of kindness and helping out others (like the ones featured on this segment), so this is no different--yet all the more sweet.

In an interview with Fox 5's Good Day New York on Tuesday, Resto explains the situation, says the good deed was the least he could do, and that he was shocked that his sweet gesture was shared with and discussed by the rest of the world.


What this guy did should recognized by the world and telling everyone else, showing that we should do onto others good deeds like this. Good luck to the homeless man, wherever he is. I hope he'll have a good life ahead. And congrats to Joey Resto for the big good deed seen 'round the world. He deserves all the praise.

Funday Friday: #53 -- Doug's Like "Hey, Wassup, Hello" (The Vulture Home Video Remix Collection Vol. 2)

Welcome back, fans of mash-ups of movies, TV shows and music you’ve never thought would happen but did.

I hope you enjoyed our first group of releases in our first collection from Vulture Home Video, because we have an even bigger show for you!

Introducing The Vulture Home Video Remix Collection...Volume 2!!

We have more titles for you to enjoy this and every weekend, next weekend, every other weekend and possibly for the rest of your life. We’ve genres and titles of many kinds that you’ll enjoy you, the little ones and the old farts in your family and social circle.

Funday Friday: #52 -- A Man & His Dog | Partially Blind Man Adopts Dog Born with One Eye

Hey Everyone, and Happy New Year to you all!
And welcome to the first Funday Friday of 2016.
And this year and this segment have to start off with a heartwarming story.
So here it is.


This is Jordan Trent, a 32-year-old man from Texas who is partially blind (he has no sight in his left eye).

A photo posted by @shiner_solo on Jan 5, 2016 at 10:37am PST

And this is Shiner, an Australian Sheppard puppy unique of his kind: he's born with one eye (also a left eye).

One day at an adoption center, after seeing the adorable Fido (then named Bear), and hearing of the pain of not being taken by anyone else, Trent decided to adopt him, change his name and treat him like what he is: a dog.

View post on imgur.com

Together, they have become one with each other through their outcast positioning...and warmed hearts across the world in the process.

The story first hit the Internet when on Monday, Trent's sister Kendra, known on Reddit under the username kt2133, shared it to everyone reading willing to read.
Since then, it's spread like wildfire, and everyone who's talked about it (including me) only have a good reason: It's beautiful.

This is a beautiful story through and through. It's like "birds of a feather", two males of different species coming together and sharing a bond because of a noticeable deformity both have: one working eye. And the fact that his sister shared with the rest of us on Reddit (a really popular website known for its huge Ask Me Anything sessions), it's really sweet and even a little brave, seeing as that there are some people who wouldn't respond positively to this, especially if Trent did have sight in both eyes. But even if he did, I'm sure he still would've adopted Bear regardless.

It was heartbreaking to learn that Bear wasn't a dog that anyone wanted as a pet (most definitely assumedly because of the one eye), but it was beautiful to read about Jordan picking up the little canine for his own and giving him the love and care he so very well deserved. And it hit me so hard in the feels, I couldn't stop moaning and tearing.

This story is worth a check out.
Also worth a check out is this: since Trent's family has settled in perfectly with Shiner as the newest member and a beloved glue, they created an Instagram page for him, showing uber-cute posts of him along with family members like Jordan.
It's @shiner_solo--please check it out, and even follow it. (You should follow it; it's so effervescent.)

So excited that I've found my perfect family! Dad's missing the same eye! #shinersolo #foreverfamily #shinersolo #miniaussie #dogsofinstagram

A photo posted by @shiner_solo on Jan 5, 2016 at 9:46am PST

I wish this not-at-all Odd Couple the best in this year and the years to come.
They deserve it.

(By the way, I would've adopted a dog of any kind, deformity or no, in case you were wondering.)

Have a great weekend, everyone, and see you next week for another edition of Funday Friday.

Special thanks to Reddit, Imgur, Instagram, MTV News, Fox 5 WAGA Atlanta and Fox News for their articles/picture on this story.

Funday Friday: #51 -- Better Have Miss Piggy's Money (The Vulture Home Video Remix Collection)

Hey there, Funday Friday fans!
I'm Andrew, speaking for a (relatively-)new edition to the ever-expanding landscape of home video entertainment.
Introducing...The Vulture Home Video Collection!

Are you needing of a perfect mashup this weekend, ending the doldrums of the workweek, filled with boredom, despair and sadness!?
Then have we got a deal for you.
Vulture Home Video has these extremely amazing titles in our inventory waiting for you to check out and enjoy this weekend and/or beyond! And they’re all mixed and mashed for your entertainment and amusement.

For the Remix Collection from Vulture, the popular website took two unlikely titles from the world of film television and music, and mashed them together (or taking the sounds from one title and slapping it over the amazingly-edited other title) for brand-new sensations that’ll someday sweep the nation.

Check these other amazing titles such as
Episode 1: "Magic Mike XXL as 70s X-Rated Flick",
starring the 2012 smash stripper flick as softcore erotica:


Episode 2: "Ant-Man as a 50s Monster Movie",
with the Marvel movie as one of cinema’s most monstrous creature feature:


Episode 3: "True Detective Meets Starsky and Hutch",
with the HBO series indirectly-yet-intentionally revamped as the 70s boob-tube classic:


and, Episode 4: “Miss Piggy Sings Rihanna’s Bitch Better Have My Money”,
where the Muppet maven “belts out” the Pop princess’ Trap hit (...sadly).
It's uncanny how the clips chosen and Piggy's mouth perfectly match the song.

(Although, Miss Piggy looks like a walking nightmare during the Muppets Show era.)

along with a special bonus feature:
"If "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Came Out In 1995",
showcasing the Marvel monster hit (not really about monsters this time) as if released by Walt Disney Pictures in the middle of the Righteous 90s.


Yep, these titles are worth the rent price to enjoy for the weekend at home, or are worth fully buying for your collection for as long as you want. Whether with family, friends or yourself, enjoy these videotapes from Vulture Home Video, available wherever home computers are usually found, sold, borrowed or stolen.

And don't worry, folks! There will be more titles available for you to enjoy Coming Soon, for you to take in more excitement, laughs and nostalgia, including:
Fant4stic as a 90s Action VHS
Doug Funnie Sings "Trap Queen"
”Howard the Duck” Big-Budget
and Peanuts React to CGI “Peanuts” Trailer
(our more, umm...interesting feature)
Yep, our inventory is expanding everywhere...
Until very soon, I’m Andrew for Vulture Home Video.

Funday Friday: #Fifty--The Amazing Dancing Madrids Dance Again

Hey everyone.
You know, I've been giving thoughts on some polarizing topics over the years. Some good, and some bad. Some of those topics have been of the heartbreaking stories of the year, and others of the happiest moments of the moment.

But, since there are more happy stories than I can count in one year, I decided to dedicate a regular weekly segment out of them. And that's when I created Funday Friday.

Who knew that, for better or worse, and whether one post a week or two or more, that it took me this far: 50 Editions written. And I quite proud of the achievement.

So to celebrate, I want to go back to the beginning and revisit the subject of the very First edition. Ladies and gentlemen, I again present to you...Keone and Mariel Madrid.

When I first saw the video of their performance to Bob Marley's "Is This Love", I was both impressed and inspired. Seeing this old-in-sight, but young-at-heart couple dancing with such talent and experience gives me the proof that you shouldn't excuse yourself from doing what you love because you're old. As long as you're as young as you feel (and as agile as an adult) you can do what you love.
And in their case, it's dancing.

Yep, they're old. ...Or ARE they? No, they're not.
From watching the videos below, I learned that they're not really old. They not even middle-aged yet. They're young adults with the faces of babies. As it turns out, they were wearing makeup and masks.
But they still talented as all heaven.

And now, in this landmark celebration, I present their encore, as presented by the Urban Dance Camp, set to songs by Sam Smith.

First up, "Stay with Me".
You will love the emotion and love and passion between the two. And there's something at the end you gush over.


and here is "Money on My Mind", where they are joined by three other dancers. While all of them are awesome, the guy in the gray shirt stands out.


And finally, a third video featuring Anna Kendrick's "Cups (When I'm Gone)" from Pitch Perfect and, halfway through, two fellow dancers joining in to try it themselves. It's great.


I've said this before (when I thought they were old), and I'll say this in different wording:
These two dancers are some of the most talented dancers I've ever had the privilege of watching. Their moves, techniques and pizzazz are mind-blowingly spectacular and there's no way of proving otherwise. I love watching these two every time doing all of their dances, that I need to spotlight the other dancers in the Urban Dance Camp stable. So stay tuned--as later in the fall, I do a edition on the Urban Dance Camp and its ultra-talented members doing what we love to watch. See you then.
And have a great weekend.

Funday Friday: #49 -- Daddy Got Punk'd (Baby Girl Pretends to Cry to Avoid Her Nails Getting Cut)

Hey, everyone. And Happy Funday Friday.

How cute are babies?
They always look adorable, they drool, they put anything and their every waking moment is either worth ignoring or taking a picture or video for. This video is the perfect example of the latter. This baby girl does not like getting her nails cut, but her father believes it is mandatory. So she comes up with a plan to skip the procedure: cry.

But here's the catch: She only shrieks when the instrument is reaching her fingers and laughs (rather diabolically) when they're moved away.

It's just adorable. And hilarious.

Olhem quem aprendeu a dar susto no papai!! Hahahaha essa minha Piquerruxa.. #mamaeencantada

Posted by Marcelinha Dos Santos Iwama on Saturday, September 5, 2015

What a cunning little squirt.
The clip was recorded by the baby's mother (and the battered dad's wife) Marcelinha Dos Santos Iwama of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and posted on Facebook, with it received (as of this posting) over 27 million hits.

This is a very cute video, and that girl is going to have a wonderful life. Whether as a kind lovely girl...or a cunning, conniving sneak. And poor dad.

Funday Friday: #48 -- Hugh Maskman and Jim Wolvarrey - Actors Portray Other's Film Character

Twitter has always been a fun place for friends to hang and goof off.

So this is exactly what happened when actors Hugh Jackman and Jim Carrey took to the social media site for silly impersonations of their most famous fictional characters, Stanley Ipkiss aka The Mask and Wolverine.

Jackman started the hilarity with this tweet lip-synching to the Mask's famous line "It's Smokin'!"

@JimCarrey - mate trying my best to do justice! Pretty clear I should stay in my own lane. pic.twitter.com/LJA03cu0Su

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) August 18, 2015

with Carrey chiming in later in the day with this pic of him in messy hair and some utensils (including a corkscrew) mimicking the Wolv.

Nice move @RealHughJackman Now watch me make a meal out of your biggest role. ;^> pic.twitter.com/GUfHB2RR4L

— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) August 20, 2015

Both were hilariously fun to see, but if the best of them is to be chosen, it has to be Carrey's genius ribbbing of Wolverine.

Funday Friday: #47 -- Orlando TV News Anchorman Does Not Care About the Kardashians -- GIVE HIM AN EMMY!!

I think I love this guy.

This is John Brown, a local news anchor at Fox 35, WOFL in Orlando.
He has a rift with some people, just like we do--the Kardashians.
But, unlike everyone else, because we cannot afford to go on TV and voice our displeasure (of course one of us would be kicked out the studio), he said it loud and clear on-air, starting this video below with his rant against the "famous-for-being-famous" family, and walking out of the studio, before sitting back down. (Before I go further, this has nothing to do with them, but the Jenner family.)
The story is on Kylie Jenner buying a new pet rabbit and naming it Bruce, after her former Olympian father Bruce Jenner (emphasis on FORMER, of course, Bruce is now a trans-gendered woman named Caitlyn). Take a look.

Everyone is praising him. And he deserves it.
Listen, no one here (no one), cares about those pandering, slutty, borderline abhorrent, attention whores.
Who in the hell would find a Jenner buying an animal and giving it a name NEWS?! Only fools and drooling idiots would find this as such.
And why would this local news station (or any other, actually) even bother to broadcast this crap within the same hour as the news of the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and in the first place ? Seems like a nice killing of credibility to me.
Oh, and this: who the hell would still use Internet Explorer? No one even uses the newest version anymore

And I'm glad this man said it for us. Someone needs to give this man a raise. Someone needs to give this man an award. Emmy, , whatever. I feel happy that someone (that isn't a comedian) on this big of a medium (that isn't the Internet) to say something that we've all said before or wanted to say on TV, but couldn't. I just love this guy.
I love you, John Brown!!

Funday Friday: #46 -- Mothers in Alliance: Helping Out for Their Bundles of Joy

Hey, everyone--It's Funday Friday time!
But this is a more heartwarming edition this time around.
We start off with this lovely bittersweet reminder that sisterly affection is still going strong. In this case, it's going strong in the way of pregnancy via surrogate.

This is Allison Ardolino-Dinkelacker and her twin sister Dawn.
In 2009, Allison was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer while she was 30 weeks into her pregnancy. She was able to gave birth to a healthy boy 31 weeks in via C-section (thank goodness), but she later found out she wouldn't have any more children after this. To help complete her family, Dawn offered to carry her next bundle of joy instead.

This a lovely story.
It's sad to see someone suffer from cancer, but it's beautiful to see family coming together to help out on of their own in time of need. In this case, it's being a surrogate for your twin while she has cancer. That's commitment and

We continue on this question:
Who knew this week's Funday is spent with funbags?
Here's the picture that's driving everyone wild.

The story behind it is driving them even wilder.

25-year-old Charlie Interrante wanted her son, 18-month-old Mateo, to be breast-fed, but she couldn’t do it herself. Because of her job as a barber, she doesn't have the time to pump the milk to save. And Mateo reacts to the taste and ingredients of formula. So in a desperate time of need, her friend Jessica Colletti suggested this solution: she'll nurse Mateo, while she also nurses her own son, 16-month-old Lucian. To which Charlie agrees.


This story's wave of "controversy" originated with this post on Facebook.

Mama Jessica says:"My son on the right is 16 months and my friend's son is 18 months. I watch her son while she works...

Posted by Mama Bean - Unconditional Attachment on Saturday, August 8, 2015

While it has seen some praise by some,

"My friend and I had babies about the same time. She got sick and could not breast feed her baby for a while. I fed both hers and mine and it was a gift to both my friend and her baby. I still feel good about it 44 years later\"
"Wet nurse. As long as her friend is ok with it, then it's perfectly fine. Just like having twins.... I bet she is using mad calories nursing two!!! Honestly, not any different than donating. In fact, both are getting better benefits of the milk because it's not frozen or altered in any way. 100% fresh."
"Way to go momma! What a selfless Gift! Just amazing. #normalizebreastfeeding"

others have...some different reactions.

"Dude...don't breastfeed someone else's child. That's just wrong."
"No sitter has the right to start that...I would have sued her..my eldest had an allergy against mothers milk,something like that could have killed him...My kids should be bonding with mother only,,,,sorry but that's how I feel and from a nursing standpoint it's cross contamination." (wow.)
"What I would hate for someone else to feed my son so wrong in so many way but that's just my opinion each to there own I guess"

"To each his own" is right.
In my opinion, I don't find anything wrong with this. I really don't.
Sure, it's not my baby, and I don't have a child, but (in a point of reference) if my wife or girlfriend couldn't lactate for our child, or our child doesn't want to feed off of her, and our friend is up to the challenge, I'd take up to it. Breastmilk is breastmilk, and breastfeeding is natural. Doesn't matter if which breast it comes out of, as long as the woman with them is okay with the feeding and as long as the baby will still.

And that's it. That's all I have to say here for this story. I find nothing wrong here, and I find the ladies' actions for their sons a good and lasting thing for their lives. It's a good thing to me.
Good job, ladies. Although the photo is questionable.

Funday Friday: #45 -- Who You Gonna Call? - Cast of "Ghostbusters" Reboot Visit Boston Childrens' Hospital in Full Costume

You know, I just love when an actor visits a local childrens' hospital, making the young visitors happy to see him/her/them in their character costumes and, despite the illnesses holding them back personally, enjoying the best time in their lives.

Which is the case as the cast of the new reboot of Ghostbusters, Melissa McCarthy Kristen Wiig Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, visited the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. And they came in full costume! With

The reason for this?

Because of the their awareness of the upcoming film shooting nearby, the patients and nurses put up a sign that says "Who Ya Gonna Call" the hospital's windows. This attracted the actresses, who later came to the hospital to see the young patients. Dreams come true.


This was just beautiful to see and the smiles on the patients' faces is always something to make me (and you guys too) grin.

(photos provided by Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. Very Special thanks to them for this lovely moment)

Funday Friday: #44--Hey Look! A Baby Elephant

Well, everyone. I wanna start this session of Funday Friday with an apology.

I want to apologize because I didn't post last week because I was in some sad personal times with my life.
During and after my vacation with my family, I've gotten into arguments with my family over simple stuff, I had to go to therapy because I wanted to become a better person on the inside, I had to cut my enrollment of going to college because of a monetary problem, and that outside of walking my little sister to work, I really didn't want to leave the house. So yeah, I was so much of a mess, that I spread to this blog; I have not released any post during the weeks they were supposed to be published, and for weeks on end I tried to power myself into posting this reviews with the promise of pleasing you guys. Hopefully, everything will turn out great, and everything will be back to normal.

Now to this post: it's a video about a baby elephant chasing baby birds. Super cute.

It's from YT channel Latest Wildlife Sightings, a website dedicated to looking at sightings of animals in their natural habitats, and it's lovely. Watching the baby elephant walking around his surroundings is super cute, and needed to take your mind off of the negative things in the world like death of Cecil the Lion, as said in the article on Zap2It.com (special thanks to them).

It'll sure take my mind off of some things.

Funday Friday: #43 -- Avery, Honorary Princess of Arendelle (Kristen Bell Calls Young Cancer Patient as Frozen's Anna)

Happy Funday Friday, folks.

This will just warm your heart, even if it's frozen in ice.
6-year-old Avery Huffman is living a life no child should even live, let alone understand. She is suffering from a rare incurable form of brain cancer. And her family needs money to pay for bills. But a ray of summer sun came in the form of a sweet message from someone she never expected--Anna, the Princess of Arendelle herself! In actuality, it was Anna's voice actress from Frozen, Kristen Bell, who took time out to call Avery as Anna, and even gave her the sweet decree from her sister, Queen Elsa, that she is an honorary Princess of Arendelle. You just have to see the look on Avery's face in this video recorded by her dad--it's just lovely.

I've never suffered from cancer, but I know it's extremely hard for a child of any age, let alone Avery's, to suffer any form of any cancer. As it is painful to endure surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and the fear that every breath could be your last.
But after this phone call, it's sweet to see that Avery now has one reason to go through this pain in her life with a smile. And it was very sweet for Ms. Bell to make the call to Avery for no reason other than to make Avery happy. I hope Avery will live a long life, even if this form has no cure. I wish her luck. And to Kristen Bell, thank you.

Funday Friday: #42--It's Time to Play DRINKO!

Welcome to another Funday Friday, guys.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE GAME OF YOUR LIFE?!? Well, you`ll have to settle for this one. I would.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, always the late night king of wacky, hilarious and awesome games, has created yet another gem this week. THIS is "Drinko". Yes, it looks exactly like "Plinko" from The Price is Right, and there are chips to throw down, but here's where the similarities stop. Instead of playing for money, the players (Fallon and whatever guest is Studio 6B that night-that being actor Paul Rudd) play against each other, with one player throwing a disk into a cup it would land in, and whatever concoction the disk lands, the other player must drink. It's hilarious even without mention!

http://youtu.be/bRmv6z6XAPk

Here are some highlights:
During Jimmy's turn, the disk landed in a cup of gravy, which Paul had to drink. It seemed like Gravy would be a choice of the game, and I had an instinct for that and I was right.
Later, when both guys went up on the top of the game base for he bonus round, both threw down, with one disk landing in a cup of tequila, and the other landing in...you guessed it, gravy. And since Jimmy landed last, he had to sip.

This game is hilarious, and a great excuse to drink. And of course it is another example of TTS' great line of gamessages that makes us laugh and enjoy.

And other thing before I drift into the night for the week, congrats are in hand for the crew of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy
Fallon , as it has been nominated for the Prime time Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series! Congrats to Jimmy and the writers, producers and The Roots, and everyone else on the staff for the we major coup.

And that does it for this week. See you all next week for another fun article or video I dug up the day before to spotlight.

Funday Friday: #41--Pirates of the Charity-ean - Johnny Depp & Stephen Graham Visit Australian Childrens' Hospital as Captain Jack Sparrow & Scrum

Johnny Depp is an awesome actor, and Captain Jack Sparrow is an awesome film character, but what they did as one earlier this week is so much more than awesome.

Depp was in Australia filming his next movie, the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series--Dead Men Tell No Tales, and took time out of filming and his schedule to visit a local children's hospital. This in and of itself is awesomely sweet, but he didn't appear as his regular real-life celebrity self.
Nope...he showed up as Sparrow. Captain Sparrow. Costume and all.

Here is video below, provided by NTDTV:


Depp's co-star Stephen Graham, who plays pirate Scrum in the installment, joined him in the surprise appearance. He also appeared in costume and character as Scrum.
You cannot not smile and grin at watching the kids' shocked, excited and humbled looks on their faces. Just magical.

This is one of the sweetest and coolest celebrity charity appearances in this past year (and probably of this decade so far), and that's been without formal announcement, and hasn't been planned by the actor or the hospital, and is an amazing example of celebrities being kind, courteous and loving towards children outside of their acting careers.

Three cheers to you, Captain ans Scrum!

Funday Friday: #40--Hooray for Misty Copeland (The First Black Principal ABT Dancer)

(I want to mention quickly that this news came in last week, but I didn't mention it. My dearest apologies.)

Happy Funday Friday. folks.
And a very sincere congratulations to Misty Copeland, who has made history in the world of ballet to become the first African American ballet dancer to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre company.
Ms. Copeland, who has worked with the ABT for 15 years, made the historic promotion (or releve, in this case) when news was made on Tuesday.

Here is an interview she did last December with CBS's Sunday Morning, which gives a perfect look into Copeland's life.

and video of her at work.


I don't have to say much about her, but I'm super proud of her. She is a stamp in the ever-growing history of African Americans, and I can't be any more ecstatic for her. This is a huge progression in the ballet world and in African American History. She has gone far before, so she will go further and further in this role. What she won't stop doing, however, is amaze, set the bar and inspire.
Three cheers to you, Ms. Copeland.