GIVE UP TO GAIN: VIDEO POST – No Poker July Ends and August Begins
It’s been 31 long days of no poker. It was tough. Watch the video as I talk about it and what I’m giving up next month.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSlYZ9FoGsA
It’s been 31 long days of no poker. It was tough. Watch the video as I talk about it and what I’m giving up next month.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSlYZ9FoGsA
I am NOT a doctor…but I know a ton about professional wrestling!
I developed a borderline obsession with the sport(s entertainment) since I was a wee lad that still remains to this day (I turn 27 today!) and one superstar that always remained a constant was the late, great ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage.
Savage (aka Bone-Saw McGraw from Spider-Man) was a pioneer when it came to the WWF in the 80’s – he had a style all his own and could conduct a chorus of boos with a mere twirl and twist of his finger. He wasn’t just sizzle though; when Randy stepped inside of the squared circle, he brought with him a work-rate that was second to none.
Savage versus Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle-Mania 3 in 1987 holds the distinction of being my favorite match of all time. They easily stole the show and I believe this match truly was “ahead of its time” – a phrase often disputed by my buddy Neil (from the first Check Up…continuity!)
Regardless, that match set an almost untouchable standard to measure up to as those fans in attendance in the Pontiac Silverdome watched history unfold. It was surreal when my buddies and I got to take a tour of the Silverdome in 2008, where my pal Justin and I re-created the finish of the match on the field. We also got to flip on the inflatable roof! (if you ever meet me, ask me about it. Sounds nuts, I know, but it happened!)
Randy had some more classics in WWF before becoming a commentator. Believing his time in the ring hadn’t expired yet (it hadn’t) he headed over to WCW and was one the most reliable guys on the roster, even into his 40’s.
Except for a few brief appearances in the early 2000’s, Randy stepped out of the public eye. Rumors swelled about why he had yet to return to the WWF (now WWE) in any capacity, especially since he deserved a Hall Of Fame induction. Fans rejoiced (myself included) when Randy cut a promo about the new WWE All-Stars video game earlier this year, feeling that the HOF was waiting just around the corner.
Sadly for us fans, and even more sad for Randy, he never got the chance to soak in the adulation that he no doubt would have received upon the induction. His life was cut short this past May, when he suffered a heart attack while driving and crashed the car and died.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDvXVP2iSNs
Savage (real last name Poffo) was only 58 years young. Wrestling has been plagued with many deaths over the years, mostly caused by drugs and steroids. Savage’s death was a giant wake-up call to most people, showing that no one is safe from a heart attack, not even the Macho King.
I know this article didn’t really instill any ways to successfully reduce your risk from heart disease, but instead I wanted to reflect on a great dude. Did I know him? I wish – but a gentleman I spoke with once told me a story in which he and his kids were eating at a diner in Florida that Savage frequented. When Randy heard from the owner that they were big fans, he made a special trip over to the diner just to meet them! Its stories like these (I’ve heard many more) that help give us an idea about the (Macho) man he was outside of the ring.
In honour of Macho Man, A-1 Wrestling in Hamilton is holding the first ever ‘Randy Poffo Invitational’ Tournament in conjunction with the Heart & Stroke Foundation on Sunday, July 31st.
Please check out this great event supporting heart disease research and pay tribute to one of the greatest wrestlers ever!
Check out http://www.alpha-1wrestling.com
[OHHHH YEAAAAAAHHHHH…DIG ITTT!]
Dr. Steve, Ph.D. (Pretty Helpful Dude)
I am NOT a doctor…but I have a love/hate relationship with the sun.
I love the sun when it sits atop a nice blue sky and shines down making the summer even more awesome. I hate the sun when it angrily sits atop a nice blue sky and strikes down making the game of Super Mario Bros. 3 I’m playing even more difficult. The same applies to real life.
“Natural sunlight is important for good health. But too much exposure to the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer and eye problems. Being safe in the sun can go a long way in protecting yourself and your family. “ – The Canadian Cancer Society.
We are in the middle of what has already been a scorching-hot summer. Most people, especially those young at heart ‘beat the heat’ by hauling butt to the nearest beach and getting some sun. The key is, like drinking, to be responsible when it comes to your sun-intake. How do you do that?
Well, it just so happens that I am a huge wrestling nut so I will use some superstars to illustrate how to properly and safely enjoy the sunshine for the rest of summer.
SHEAMUS
“When you expose your skin to UV rays – whether from the sun, tanning beds or sun lamps – you increase your chances of getting skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It’s also one of the most preventable. To reduce your risk of getting skin cancer, don’t use tanning beds or sun lamps.” – Canadian Cancer Society
This two-time WWE Champion and 2010 King of the Ring Tournament winner practices ‘safe sun!’ He doesn’t tan, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. There really is no safe way to tan, however, tanning indoors, via a tanning bed is far worse than outdoors. Sheamus isn’t risking either though, so remember to pack your sunscreen, fella!
MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE
The late, great, Macho Man Randy Savage had a lot to worry about back in the day: challengers for his Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, George ‘The Animal’ Steele trying to steal Miss Elizabeth, and plotting ways to defeat The Hulkster in order to remain the cream of the crop.
One thing he was never concerned about was the sun. Mach’ was always armed with a wide-array of headwear (cowboy hats, bandanas, crowns) and could always be seen wearing a pair of his patented sunglasses, which help prevent damage to your eyes when being out in the sun!
We could all learn a thing or 5 from these wrestling greats/safe-sun enthusiasts!
[SNAP INTO SOME SUN-SCREEN]
Dr. Steve, Ph.D. (Pretty Helpful Dude)
In previous posts, I’ve mentioned that I grew up with two brothers (and my sister, Toe-Jam Monica). In the formative years of my childhood, I wanted nothing more than to be like my brothers, or more specifically, to be a boy. At the time, anatomy was not the defining factor of gender; at the time, it was more about what kind of pajamas and bathing suits you had to wear and what kind of toys you got to play with. I wanted spider man pajamas and speedo bathing suit, and I wanted to play with wrestlers and GI Joes. I wanted nothing to do with hair products, dresses or the epitome of girlishness, Barbie Dolls.
With age (re: wisdom), I’ve come to embrace my feminine qualities. I still have a fondness for WWE wrestling and the occasional action flick, but I am usually watching such stuff in a dress with a ponytail. But one thing that has not changed is my utter dislike for all things Barbie, which is what makes this post so difficult. The similarity between “Barbie” and “Rhubarb” is more than you might think. Yes, the names are similar, but Rhubarb is also abnormal long and thin. Rhubarb also has a vibrant pinkish red colour eliciting sexuality. And Rhubarb, like Barbie, also leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
If you have ever bitten into a rhubarb stalk thinking it would taste like celery, you can probably still taste that bitter, sour taste in your mouth. Raw rhubarb tastes like biting into an orange or banana peel that is coated in rice vinegar. If you are still reading, I should tell you that cooked rhubarb can offer the sweetest, most glorious flavour to ever graze your taste buds.
This week brings two recipes perfect for summer. Act fast because this is the best time to buy rhubarb.
The Livestrong site gives the benefits of rhubarb best. For more info click on this link. Otherwise, venture forth to two wonderful rhubarb recipes!
RECIPE #1
Since the weather is warm and the BBQ is usually on anyway, why not throw some rhubarb on their for a healthy dessert?
GRILLED RHUBARB
1. Wash the rhubarb to remove any dirt or silt that remains on the stalks. Dry with paper towels.
2. Cut the stalks into 2-inch, bite-sized pieces.
3. Place the rhubarb in a zip-top plastic bag with up to 1/3 cup of sugar. Let the vegetable and sugar soften for at least an hour. As the rhubarb and sugar mixture sits, preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
4. Remove the rhubarb, shake off any excess sugar and place it in a grill basket. Use a heat-proof frying pan or casserole dish if you do not have a grill basket. The purpose of the vessel is to prevent the small pieces from falling between the grill grates.
5. Place the rhubarb on the grill over direct heat. Allow the first side to cook for about five minutes. Flip over the grill basket, or if you are working with an enclosed cooking pan, turn the rhubarb over with a spatula. You may see some wilting of the stalks; this is normal.
6. Cook the second side of the rhubarb over the hot grill for another three to five minutes. Thicker stalks may require a longer cooking time. Poke a knife into a single stalk to determine if the rhubarb is grilled to your desired softness. Remove it from the heat.
Serve grilled, caramelized rhubarb with low-fat or fat-free whipped topping, a sprinkle of sugar, or other grilled fruits for a healthy dessert.
2 mashed bananas
1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
5 tbsp of melted butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour (half all purpose, half whole wheat)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1 1/2 cups of chopped rhubarb
In one bowl, beat the bananas, yogurt, butter and eggs with an electric mixer. Add the sugar and beat again. In another bowl, stir together the flour, flaxseed, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir briefly until moistened and then fold in the rhubarb pieces. Pour the batter into the loaf pan that has been coated with cooking spray and bake for about an hour at 350 degrees. According to “Cooking Light” magazine, each slice of the bread has approximately 165 calories and 5 g of fat.
One easy way to adjust nearly any quick bread recipe is to substitute up to half the recommended amount of refined white flour with whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour to add more protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates. If you’re using a recipe that calls for butter or oil, you can also reduce fat and calories by using a lighter substitute. BettyCrocker.com suggests replacing up to half the butter or oil in quick bread with nonfat yogurt, fruit puree or applesauce.
Vladimir the Bold was born Vladimir Andreyevich or Владимир Андреевич Храбрый in Russian on July 15, 1353 and was the most famous prince of Serpukhov. His moniker alludes to his military exploits committed in the wars waged by his cousin, Dmitri Donskoi of Moscow.
I have no idea what any of that means, nor do I care. All I know is that he has one gnarly nickname. “The Bold”. You know you’ve done something right in life when your peers nickname you “the bold”. Good job Vladimir and happy birthday.
To honour Vladimir and his birthday today, I thought I would list the top 5 ‘the’ nicknames not named ‘bold’. When I was younger during my baseball years, I was nicknamed ‘the chief’ because I had won an essay writing contest to become police chief for a day in Hamilton. (There’s a little nugget of information people probably didn’t know about me). But as my baseball career came to a halting end, so did the nickname. It was buried in the dirt behind the plate where I spent years.
So here are my top 5 ‘the’ nicknames.
5. The Duke
This one was a no-brainer. Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26th 1907, better known as The Duke, better known as John Wayne, was an amazing actor, director and producer. This is definitely one cowboy you didn’t want to upset. His gun slinging skills were the best in the land. John ‘The Duke’ Wayne is most notably known for starring in films such as; The Searchers, Rio Bravo, The Quiet Man, True Grit and many more.
4. Wilt The Stilt
This man may only need an introduction to those males who don’t follow sports. I’m pretty sure anyone who follows sports knows of him and most females KNOW of him. Wilton Norman Chamberlain was a professional basketball player in the NBA playing for Philadelphia/San Francisco and the Los Angeles Lakers. Standing at 7ft 1in, Wilt ‘The Stilt’ is best known for scoring 100 points in 1 game.. or his ladies. (google it)
3. The Plumbed Knight
When searching google for awesome ‘the’ nicknames, I came across James G. Blaine. I had never heard of him, nor was I too interested to find out until I saw his nickname. ‘The Plumbed Knight’. Amazing! Anyone named The Plumbed Knight is cool in my books. It turns out that James G. Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State and was nominated for president in 1884, but lost to Grover Cleveland. So after reading all that boring political stuff, he was basically a politician with an amazing nickname. The nickname came from a speech titled “Plumbed Knight Speech”, which was a nominating speech made famous by Robert Ingersoll on behalf of James G. Blaine. Again, boring stuff.. but try and call one of your buddies The Plumbed Knight without laughing.
2. Billy The Kid
The youngest of today’s entries, William Henry McCarty was allegedly born November 23 1859 though there aren’t any records to prove it. He was a 19th-century American frontier outlaw and gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War. According to legends, he killed 21 men. His 5ft 8in build, blue eyes and smooth complexion are partly what attributed to his nickname as ‘the kid’. If you haven’t at least heard of Billy The Kid, then that means you must have been born in the mountains, raised by gorillas, and haven’t left the confines of your mud hut.
1. The Pelvis
Which scouring the interwebs for other names, I found The Pelvis, and upon further investigation, it was the second nickname that I didn’t know he held. I was always going to put him at #1 since thinking of doing this post anyways but it was a nice surprise to see a second name. If you don’t know who The Pelvis is what about The King? That’s right, the number one spot goes to Elvis Presley. This music icon makes a well deserved appearance on todays Top Five Fridays for being such a legend in the music industry and now the nickname industry. I wonder how LeBron James feels for stealing ‘the king’ nickname. What a loser.
Honorable Mentions
The LIttle Tramp – Charlie Chaplin
The Iron Mask/The Iron Horse – Lou Gehrig
The Swedish Nightingale – Jenny Lind
Again, these are just my opinions and I would love to hear some that you think I may have missed.
Thanks to Wikipedia for providing all the information.
I am NOT a doctor but I know a lot about vampires and Twilight. Wait, what?
Ok, I’ll admit, I have seen ALL of the Twilight movies in theatres. But before you start judging me, Phillip Banks, please let me submit my case. It was the winter of 2008 and I had just started dating my girlfriend, Katie, who had the first Twilight book at her house. So, in an attempt to show her my softer (and horrible taste in movies) side, I offered to take her and see the film adaptation. At the conclusion of the unofficially Oscar-nominated screen gem, in an effort to impress her, I remarked, Hey, that wasn’t so bad, eh? Katie wasn’t impressed. She didn’t like the movie… Pffft I totally didn’t like it either (or did I?). We did see the other two installments, but only to goof on them. It’s all in good fun though; I know there a lot of people, Twi-hards if you will, who dig the franchise. But hey, that’s cool, different strokes for different folks.
Anyways, let’s continue with the vampire theme. Many write off these creatures of the night as mere myth. However, like zombies, the day of invasion could be right around the corner, so if you don’t want to be face-to-fang with a vampire you need to take the proper precautions. So I suggest you stock up on an ingredient that not only FIGHTS VAMPIRES but FIGHTS CANCER as well: Garlic!
Garlic is the ultimate form of repellant against vampires; it’s their kryptonite. The only differences are kryptonite doesn’t help lower your risk of cancer, and it’s not nearly as delicious. Best Health wrote there’s evidence to show spicing up your food with garlic may cut your risk of esophageal, ovarian, kidney and other cancers, not only that, it will ward off sparkling vampires!
It comes with a price though, you run the risk of getting some seriously gnarly garlic breath that could potentially scare off vampires that are actually cool, like Count Chocula and The Lost Boys!
[Team Garlic]
Dr. Steve, Ph.D. (Pretty Helpful Dude)