![All Good Things! Goodbye for Now from [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/burgerkingribsandwich2-222x180.jpg)
Just like the famous line that says “All good things must come to an end,” alas this is the final blogumn in this edition of Kicking Back with Jersey Joe. Fierce and Nerdy will be changing formats, but we have one last chance to catch up! For over three years and 151 +6 blogumns, we’ve gathered each week to take a look at what’s cool, new, retro, and hip in our world. We all work hard, but the point of this blogumn was to sit back and relax for a bit. Hopefully, we’ve accomplished that and shared a few laughs. I know I’ve learned tons writing this each week. It’s been fun sharing all my adventures with you, but I thought we should take a final look back at some of my favorite blogumns. STAR TREK SLOT MACHINE Blogumn 1 – May 31, 2010 My first blogumn took a look at the brand new prototype Star Trek slot machine that I got to experience at the old Las Vegas Hilton for my 30th birthday. A large group of my closest friends traveled to Vegas that spring, and we checked out the now closed Star Trek: The Experience. The slot is still one of my favorites, but sadly, it’s not really around as much anymore. Many casinos have replaced it with Lord of the Rings, but the magic of this machine is still priceless. It was one of the first slots, where you would earn medals, save them, and unlock new episodes! The machine contains a zillion classic Star Trek clips and puts you right in an episode in multiple big money bonus rounds. It’s still online and entertaining gamblers at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I had the pleasure of once again...
![Jersey Joe’s Year Three Round Up [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/image109-222x180.jpg)
Jersey Joe’s Year Three Round Up [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]
posted by Jersey Joe
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....
![The Attack That’s Closed Part of the Statue of Liberty for Nearly a Century [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/statueofliberty1-466x180.jpg)
The Attack That’s Closed Part of the Statue of Liberty for Nearly a Century [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]...
posted by Jersey Joe
The Statue of Liberty has been standing guard at the mouth of New York harbor since her dedication on October 28, 1886. She is a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving to the United States. She has been closed for six months due to damage from Superstorm Sandy. However, one part of her structure has been sealed off to visitors after a terror attack nearly a century ago. Given as a gift from the people of France, Lady Liberty was designed and constructed by artist Frederic Bartholdi. Completed in stages, parts of the new statue were displayed in both France, New York, and at international expositions before being crated up and shipped to the US. Once the appropriate funds were raised, she was assembled on what was then called Bedloe’s Island, now known as Liberty Island. The statue, representing the Roman goddess of freedom, features one foot moving forward to symbolize progress and a broken chair at her feet. She holds a tablet with the inscription July 4, 1776, the date of American independence from the British. New York City held its first ticker tape parade to celebrate that statue’s completion with President Grover Cleveland on hand for the festivities and dedication. The statue has welcomed millions of visitors over the years. When the statue reopens, visitors will once again be able to climb the long spiral staircase to the crown and take a peek out the windows high above the harbor for spectacular views of New York City and the busy waterway. But, there was once another part of the statue visitors were permitted to tour, until a terror attack that occurred in 1916 known as “The Black Tom Explosion.” Black Tom was once an island in the New York Harbor located a short distance from the Statue of Liberty. The island was connected to the mainland Jersey City, New Jersey by a long causeway and railroad track. Eventually, the area between the mainland and island was filled in and officially became part of the city. A huge pier and warehouses were also constructed on the site. The island became a major munitions depot where American companies were able to sell weapons and ammunitions, which were in large demand across the Atlantic for the upcoming World War I. Being allied with France and Britain, they were the only two countries allowed to make purchases from the depot. After midnight on July 30, 1916, several small fires were discovered on the pier. While some locals tried to extinguish the flames themselves, the Jersey City Fire Department was called in. At 2:08am, a major explosion took place with residents being shaken from their beds by earthquake like vibrations that registered between 5.0 and 5.5 on the Richter Scale. The force was so powerful, that windows were blown out all over Manhattan and as far as 25 miles away. The Brooklyn Bridge was shaken, but undamaged. The outer wall of Jersey City’s City Hall was cracked and a large clock in the Journal Square neighborhood over a mile away was hit and damaged. The noise and vibration could be felt as far away as Maryland and Connecticut. On Ellis Island, frightened immigrants that were being processed at the time were evacuated by ferry to Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty took $100,000 in damage after shrapnel pierced many parts, including several pieces that lodged in the arm. As a result the torch, outer walkway, and arm were permanently closed. The narrow hatchway inside that once welcomed visitors is still gated off to the public, but does allow access for employees to conduct repairs. According to historic records and government investigations, the munitions were set on fire by the Germans, who did not want the weapons to make it across the Atlantic due to a military blockade. Several different conclusions have been drawn as to how the fire was carried out, with one...
![Let’s Play the Feud! In Scratch Off Form [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/family-feud-instant-tickets-1-222x180.jpg)
Let’s Play the Feud! In Scratch Off Form [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]...
posted by Jersey Joe
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...
![The Two State Challenge: Can You Win with Scratch Off Lottery Tickets? [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lottery-tickets-1.jpg)
The Two State Challenge: Can You Win with Scratch Off Lottery Tickets? [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]...
posted by Jersey Joe
Spend a couple of bucks, scratch off the ticket, and win big! That’s the promise of instant lottery ticket games. They advertise big prizes for a few dollars investment. But, can you actually win anything on these? I bought a bunch from two different states to find out. Last year, my good friend Simon and I dropped $20 in a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket machine and ended up scratching off tickets for the better part of an hour. While the biggest amount we hit was only $20, we kept getting free tickets over and over that we kept cashing in. Pennsylvania gave us a lot of play, and our money back, for that $20 investment. But, are other states just as loose with their tickets? The New York Lottery recently installed a flashy, new lottery ticket vending machine at the Herald Square subway station. In addition to dispensing scratch off tickets, players can also purchase regular number games, such as Powerball tickets, from this machine. So yes, you can now legally gamble while riding the subway! I pass this machine every day on my commute to work so I decided that I would give the New York Lottery a try. I dropped $30 into the machine and chose a variety of tickets ranging from $1 to $10, ending up with 11 tickets in all. Several New York commuters cued up behind me to use the machine. Once I arrived home in New Jersey, I stopped in at a local convenience store, purchasing an array of tickets to see what kind of luck the Garden State lottery would give me. I asked for $25 in a variety of tickets. There are no $1 tickets in New Jersey so I had to plop down an additional $1. With that, the clerk handed me 13...