Can the Super Mario Bros. save the Princess from the hands of Donkey Kong?  It’s a real life video game that takes place up and down the Las Vegas Strip!  You can bet the tourist cameras are rolling and we get viral video gold!   This hilarious video was uploaded last December by the Youtube group known as Bangakang.  They have some pretty outrageous videos online, including jumping into the world’s biggest pile of leaves and creating a slip-n-slide with 52 gallons of chocolate syrup.  The last one sounds like a blast! Costumed characters are becoming all the rage in New York, Los Angeles, and on the Las Vegas Strip.  Usually, the performer (some of those dressing up don’t technically qualify as performers) will pose for pictures and interact with tourists for a small tip.  Just be warned: some of these guys can get hostile if you don’t tip.  One dirt bag was recently arrested in New York City for dressing up as Elmo and hurling racist slurs as tourists – all while having a criminal background.  Yeah, that worked out well… Super Mario and Donkey Kong made their video game debuts in arcades in 1981.  Mario was forced to climb a series of ladders to rescue the Princess being held by the large ape above.  Donkey Kong would get several sequels and Mario would be paired with his brother Luigi for their first sequel, Mario Bros, where they had to battle creatures in the sewers of New York.  Later, they would move into the Mushroom Kingdom to again save the Princess from the evil King Koopa.  Super Mario Bros. is one of the best and highest selling video games of all time. Costumes for Mario and Luigi are sold online and at Halloween...

Aaaah!  Summer is finally here!  The piping hot days have most of us flocking to a water park at some point to keep cool.  While some head straight for the water slides or the wave pool, there’s one water ride I won’t miss that always cools my heart in the summer heat.   I stand in line, finally make it to the front, and pick up the big round inner tube.  I place it in the water and finally climb aboard… and float and float and float!  Round and round I go on the lazy river!   Sure, the lazy rivers can be just that – lazy.  But, thanks to technology this little trough of a river in the center of the park has grown up to be much more!   Most lazy rivers are a simple concept.  A large water pump slowly circulates a long ribbon shaped pool that snakes around and around a designated area of a water park.  Riders board at a certain point and lounge on an inner tube as the current gently sends them on a long, slow ride.  Some parks require floaters to get out once they’ve made a lap (quite annoying) while others will let you float until the park closes.   The water level is usually quite shallow, anywhere from 2’ to 4’ deep and the width is enough for several tubes to pass.   While a lazy river is found at most water parks, they can also be found at resorts, casinos, and even in the Mall of America!   Some of the more sophisticated rides include tunnels, soft water falls, or even interactive buttons that riders can push to release a flood of water or a rapid onto the course.   One of the...

It’s Memorial Day weekend and not only does that mark the unofficial start of summer, but it’s also my SEASON PREMIERE!   This is my 141stblogumn (plus 6 for Fierce Anticipation) and kicks off my fourth year on F & N.  To start the new season off right, I want to update some of the great things we’ve talked about over the past three years.   THE SMURFS MOVIE Fierce Anticipation: The Jersey Joe Edition V – May 21, 2010 In my fifth fill in outing for Fierce Anticipation, I reviewed the live action Smurfs Movie.  Now, fast forward to 2013 and The Smurfs 2 will hit theatres on July 31.  While the first movie was set in New York City, this sequel is set in Paris as the gang tries to find a kidnapped Smurfette. I will probably skip this one.   THE BURGER KING RIBS EDITION Blogumn #2 – June 6, 2010 In my second official blogumn, I reviewed how Burger King went completely in a different direction by adding BBQ ribs to their menu.  While they tasted pretty good and sold out fast, the slow preparation time doomed them from future sales. But, Burger King hasn’t given up on ribs.  This summer, they are serving up the new Burger King Rib Sandwich to rival McDonald’s mega-popular McRib.  The sandwich is being served for a limited time only.   I SURVIVED THE BURGER KING WHOPPER PIZZA Blogumn #16 – October 1, 2010 Another discussion of a wacky Burger King product: their spin-off franchise Whopper Bar in New York City’s Times Square was serving up a $12 Whopper Pizza known as The New York Pizza Burger. The New York City Whopper Bar location closed last year.  However, locations are still open in other cities....

Survey says: It’s one of your favorite game shows, and now Family Feud has come to you in instant lottery ticket form. Players have the chance to win big bucks in the palm of their hands. But, even if you don’t scratch off a winner, this game has a second chance that could land you a game show lover’s dream vacation! Family Feud premiered on ABC television on July 12, 1976. A spin-off of the bonus round on the popular Match Game show, host Richard Dawson would ask two families a series of questions and they would have to find the most popular answers from a survey of 100 people. Get the most points, win cash. The show has been on the air with a rotation of hosts including Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O’Hurley, and Steve Harvey almost non-stop, except for a brief recess in the mid 90’s. Under current host Harvey, the Feud is drawing record numbers, although it is now syndicated to local stations. To cash in on the popularity of the show, the New York Lottery has partnered with MDI Entertainment, LLC to create an ultimate game show fan trip to Las Vegas. The ad campaign launched with a several hilarious commercials airing in the state. The Family Feud instant scratch off game provides the player with 12 chances to match up to 6 pre-selected numbers to win a cash prize, from $5 all the way up to a jackpot of $1,000,000 (paid in $50,000 increments for 20 years.)  Revealing a money bag symbol instantly awards the cash prize below it. Revealing a 5x or 10x symbol multiplies the winnings accordingly. Tickets in New York are $5 each (while a version in Michigan costs $2 each, with lower payouts). The player...

I’M THE BOSS, APPLESAUCE! She certainly is! Not only is she queen of the courtroom, she also the queen of daytime TV! Judge Judith Sheindlin’s ruled her TV court for 17 seasons and now she’s getting into the casino business! Introducing the Judge Judy slot machine! Oh yes – this is certainly real! Judge Judy passed the New York State bar in 1965 and was a prosecutor in family court. She was promoted to judge by Mayor Ed Koch in 1982, first to criminal court, then back to family court. Her no-nonsense attitude on the bench caught the eye of the Los Angeles Times in 1993. Followed up by a special profile on 60 Minutes, producers approached her to host her own court show with real cases and real rulings. After tooling with several names including Hot Bench and Judy Justice, Judge Judy hit the daytime TV airwaves on September 16, 1996. The show, which airs on local stations in various time slots, quickly clicked with viewers. Her “Judyisms” or snide phrases she uses to call out the litigants on the bench, have become part of American cannon. A few of these include: “I’m the boss, applesauce.” “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining!” “Do I have ‘stupid’ written on my forehead?” The show features real cases that are taken from civil court disputes around the country. Researchers for the show scour upcoming court appointments and select cases that they feel will make good television. In order to appear on the show, both parties sign a waver, agreeing to be bound by Judy’s ruling. Technically, the show is not an official court, but “binding arbitration,” although the set and dressing appear to make the show a traditional court. Any funds that Judy orders to be paid are not actually paid...