Super Bowl Half-Time Treat

Beyonce'

As I am sure everyone knows that Beyonce' will be Super Bowl XLVII's half-time show, but I bet a lot of people are wondering whether the sixteen-time Grammy winner will lip sync...again.

For the record, I did not have a problem with Beyonce' lip syncing the Star-Spangled Banner. I think professional singers know when they have to dial things back for the sake of preserving their vocals. I do not think people understand the demand that is involved with singing as a living. Think about this: if you received hundreds and hundreds of request to perform a physical task that you make your living off of and you want to continue your career, will you knowingly deteriorate your gift to accommodate the requests? No. But people, I completely understand that it was not just some high school football game Beyonce' was singing for, but still I believe she did what was best for her career. What more could you ask for?

As for Super Bowl XLVII, she will definitely be in full effect. I did not say that to say the Super Bowl is better than the President's Inauguration because there is no comparison, but Beyonce' should not be criticized for this. I am sure that the President could request a charity show from her and she would be on board. So, people, don't worry Beyonce' will be in full effect on February 3rd.

Make Someone's Day

The Silver Lining

Today is Wednesday and I want you to know that you are the most amazing person. That made you smile right? Well spread the love. Take the time to make somebody's day today. Take a second and forget about which coffee your going to get or what's coming on TV tonight and give someone a compliment.

Sharing a compliment or a positive observation, can change the outcome on  anyone's day. Compliments are what make society function without strife. Think about it, if ten people give out one compliment each and those ten people receiving one in turn give out one, that's a thirty-person chain of compliments. How much more people could we impact if the chain kept going? 

So, for today, I want you guys to take the opportunity to slow down during your busy day and give someone a compliment. Whether it ix your spouse, child, friend, co-worker, or whomever; just make their day.

Like Really?!

Why Would You Do That?

In coming up with things to write about during the weeks, you have the pleasure of running up on some great stories. Although, sometimes, the stories are so outlandish that they have to be pushed through the press. This post in particular is about why the New Orleans Hornets owner Tom Benson wrecked the reputation of the New Orleans Hornets with a name change.

ESPN dropped this story five days ago and it's picked up some steam. The Hornets announced that they will be changing the name of their franchise from the New Orleans Hornets to the New Orleans Pelicans....Yeah, that's not a typo, Pelicans. Like what (insert phrase)?!!

Now you don't have to be a basketball fan to say that there is something wrong with a GROWN man saying, "I'm a Pelican, I'm here to win Championships." It is ridiculous. I know this franchise has been through ups and downs with Hurricane Katrina, depressing seasons, and sub-par management, but whoa, Pelicans. I know I'm just one person, but I am not feeling it.
 
Out of all New Orleans sports franchises [Saints (NFL), VooDoo (AFL), and now Pelicans (NBA)] the Pelicans have to be the worse idea for a name. New Orleans lost a great name with the Jazz when they uprooted and headed west in 1979. The only constellation prize I can have is that the NBA Commissioner has the final approval, but it doesn't look promising that it will be decline.

"The NBA still has to approve it, but commissioner David Stern has said he wouldn't object to any name Benson chose. The league is expected to expedite the change at the start of next season." -ESPN

 Lost story short, the change was inspired by the BP Oil spill in the Gulf. The Louisiana state bird, brown pelicans, fell victim to the spill but was restored from the endangered list in 2009. Tom Benson thought that the name Hornets didn't mean anything to the town and by changing it to "Pelicans," it will inspire the town and the team. Benson is trying to duplicate the influence and effect the New Orleans Saints have on the city, but I think that idea is farfetched.

So NBA fans prepare yourself for a new squad in New Orleans, the New Orleans Pelicans. Personally, I would go for the New Orleans Ducks, but I don't make the rules.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8878315/new-orleans-hornets-announce-name-change-pelicans

Tasty Treat Monday

Good morning everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend. My weekend was straight: I got to relax, eat, and catch up with some friends. But I want to bring something sweet to your Mondays. As of today, every Monday will be Tasty Treat Monday. Each Monday morning I will post a great, sweet recipe that makes Mondays bearable again.

First up is the Marble Swirl Pound Cake. This kind of pound cake is the best because it has another taste other than plain pound cake. The appearance of the Marble Swirl Pound Cake is the best part because it looks too good to eat.

Try it out. It'll surely make anyone happy.

 

You will need:

• 2 cups of white sugar
• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 3-1/2 cups of cake flour
• 1 cup of milk
•  1-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoons of salt
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder

  Directions:

1. In a large bowl, with electric mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter or margarine until blended. Increase speed to high, and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour, milk, baking powder, vanilla, salt, and eggs; beat at medium speed until well mixed. Increase speed to high, and beat batter 4 minutes longer.
2. Remove about 2 1/2 cups batter to a medium bowl. With a wire whisk or fork, beat cocoa into batter in medium bowl until well blended.
3. Grease a 10 inch tube pan. Alternately spoon vanilla and chocolate layers into prepared pan. With a large spoon, cut and twist through batters to obtain marbled effect.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan, and on a wire rack, for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely.

Enjoy this. Let me know what you think. Remember, every Monday tune in and leave with something sweet ;).

 

Sunday Morning Bit

Good morning everyone. I hope that everything is going well today, but just in case I want to share some insight from RBC Ministries' Our Daily Bread. Just a friendly reminder, every Sunday I will be posting a passage from this powerful booklet. Please take the time to read it because I guarantee that its message will be of great use to you, if not now then down the road.

Our Daily Bread

By: David C. McCasland

RBC Ministries 

January 27, 2013

Read: Mark 10:35-45

The Mark of Leadership

While visiting the campus of Purdue University on a frigid winter day, I came upon two young men chipping away thick ice on the sidewalk next to a fraternity house. Thinking they must be underclassmen who had been assigned the tough job by older fraternity brothers, I said, “They didn’t tell you about this when you joined, did they?” One looked up with a smile and said, “Well, we’re both upperclassmen. I’m the fraternity vice-president and my friend here is the president.” I thanked them for their hard work and went on my way having been reminded that serving others is the mark of a true leader.
When two of Jesus’ disciples asked Him for positions of honor in His coming kingdom, the Lord gathered His twelve closest followers and told them, “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44). If there was any doubt about what Jesus meant, He reminded them that He had not come to be served but to serve others and to give His life to ransom them from the power of sin (v.45).
The mark of true, godly leadership is not power and privilege, but humble service. God gives us strength to follow Jesus’ example and to lead His way.

The paths of leadership are trod
By those who humbly walk with God,
Their gracious spirit holds a sway
That makes you want to go their way. —D. DeHaan

A qualified leader is one who has learned to serve.

 

Perserving Your Memories

Does Not Compute

Have you ever booted your computer and found out that all your files have somehow been erased. It is the worse feeling in the world. Some of the thoughts that run through your mind are: Man, how did this happen, why me, or even I had all my work on this thing. Sometimes there is a reason for the loss of data and sometimes computers just stop working.

I remember last year while I was in college, my laptop came on and read: 

Your System Did Not Shutdown Properly, Would You Like To:

• Run Windows
• Run Windows in Safe Mode
• Run Windows in Safe Mode with Networking

Since this screen comes up so many times with no problems, I just continued with running windows like I always do and then BAM!! The next screen I would see is: Your Hard drive has failed and no back-up protocols were found, Please replace hard drive. When I saw that I almost cried literally. My computer was my life and I had school files, sensitive information, books, articles, and most importantly photos and videos. My entire childhood and high school career was embedded in that computer and it was all gone.

Long story short, I figured out a way to restore my files to a previous point in "time" and recovered my files. The system restore was my life saver because I was in the middle of the Spring semester and school doesn't stop because of computer issues. After I calmed down, I realized that my Anti-virus software had been compromised and infested my system so I swiftly changed to a more reliable anti-virus software like Norton.

The moral of this story is to always, always, always have a back up some where. Whether it is on an external hard drive, massive flash drive, or a file hosting website. The widely used service is Dropbox. Dropbox is a web service geared to holding your files for a rainy day or as an extra storage spot. The maximum storage available on the free version is 2GB. However, the service I use is Google Drive. Google drive is available to all Gmail account users and allows you to store up to 5GB. I like Google Drive better because I can upload more photos, music, and video and still have room for .pdf and doc. files. Both are easy and accessible worldwide, the only difference is their capacity. So pick your poison and keep your valuable data safe.

Note: invest in a trusted and reliable Anti-Virus software to make sure that nothing and no one compromises your system.

                                                  
 

Enjoying Fleece Tie Blankets

A Masterpiece of Fleece

In the winter time the best way to snuggle up and enjoy a movie or any sports game is to have an awesome fleece tie blanket to use. Fleece tie blankets are those beautiful blankets, that can feature anything from roses to sports one them. They are made up of two fleece fabric materials tied together; hence fleece "tie" blankets.

The wonderful thing about these blankets is that they keep you warm and express your individuality at the same time. Fleece tie blankets came about in 1980 when the fleece fabric first hit manufacturing. This high thread count material began to be incorporated in winter-wear in 1981 by Malden Mills, a Textile company in Lawrence, MA and commercialized the fabric as "Polartec polar fleece." This great upgrade in winter-wear was mainly to suit mountaineers, but as the fleece circulated through out the country, everyone started to use it.

 

But aside from its origin they are great to make. I picked this hobby up three years ago. It was almost Christmas time and I wanted to do something special for my niece's first Christmas so I went searching. And I came across an article talking about fleece tie blankets, so I tried it. I thought they would make a good "change of pace" gift during Christmas time, but I was wrong. This gift was the greatest, this new found gift idea turned into a full blown hobby and small business. That Christmas I made three blankets: one for my niece and two aunts. Each of them were unique and tailor-made for them. My niece got the licensed Princess and the Frog print with Pink; one of my aunts got a Blue and White checker print and white; and my other aunt got a Red and Yellow Diced Checker Print with Yellow. Like I said each one was unique to its new owner. 

Christmas is a great time to give blankets but I wanted to test run a theory for a new venue. I wanted to see if including birthdays would get the same reaction I get during Christmas and I was right. For my best friend's 17th birthday I made her a Licensed Denver Broncos print and Denver Orange blanket. She loved it and still uses it to this day. Another very very close friend of mine got a Monkey print and Lime Green print blanket from me and absolutely adores it. However, the best story about one of the blankets is the one I made my mother. When I first started making these blankets she thought she was on the short list of people that were going to get one. Sadly, she had to wait two years after I started to finally get hers and she screamed when she opened her Christmas present in 2012. It was a glorious tulip garden with purple on the bottom. I also kept the tradition alive with my nephew and his first Christmas; he received a Licensed Iron Man with Red blanket.

As you can probably tell, my responses were "I love it", but I went back and asked them what they thought about their blankets and this is some of the feedback I got.

I love it. I love my blanket. It keeps me warm and Brandon did a great job with the color scheme because its my Sorority colors [Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc]. Its my fuzzy wuzzy.         - S.H.

He knows me so well. It is so pretty and he did a great job with it.                                                  - A.W.

It's so gorgeous, I can't wait to put it in my house because it matches my furniture.                    - E.

 I love it haha. I love that you could find the Denver fabric and it's the right size for me. I loved the creativity and uniqueness of it :)                                                                                              - J.W.

As their mother, I love them. To see their faces light up is great. These blankets are great because it's something they can call their own.                                                                                      - C.S. S.S. J.S.

I love it. Its my favorite color and its what I've been waiting two years for.                                 - Mom

So you can see that I do a great job, but keep a close eye on the Bayside Scoop because a page will be coming soon about fleece tie blankets. This page will walk you through the process and offer my expertise and services if requested. After this, I would wanna pick up this up. 

Soring with R/C's

 Take to the Skies

Super Sonic R/C SYMA 9399 Training Airplane. My 2nd R/C

Playing with toys is fun. Even as an adult, toys can be fun. Today, I am going to talk to you about one of my greatest passions and hobbies. It's flying Remote Control (R/C) airplanes. I absolutely love flying these planes. I started flying when I was little and my mom had got me my very first R/C helicopter. It was Christmas and I could not wait to fly it. Mind you, at the time, I had no inkling of how to fly one of those things. Long story short, it lasted as long as a T-Rex's arms. It wouldn't be a few years later until I actually bought another one, but when I finally got the hang of it, nobody could get me to come inside. 
 
R/C planes and helicopters are great, but what's so special about them is that you are able to witness the greatest phenomena man has ever overcome. From the Wright Brothers to Boeing's Fleets, we have been improving our aircraft and systems so that we can service more people in less time. The most interesting thing is what the future holds for the industry. Picture in the air space above your head airways used by everyday people for transportation. But I digress. Kids this is a great hobby to pick up because it teaches so much with every attempt to fly: patience, perseverance, humility, success and failure. This hobby is not for the those that like to start at the finish line, its for those that are willing to put in the time and effort to be awesome. 

Time is one your side because the R/C's that were good when I was a kid are even better now. Plus R/C's are not limited to just airplanes and helicopters, there are boats, cars, trains, and the best being model rockets. You can not go wrong with any of them. Personally I have model planes, trains, and rockets. I love the planes but the rockets are awesome and fun to watch take off. So parents, if you're out there wondering what hobbies your child should pick up, think R/C's.

Great places to start is Amazon, Buy.com, your local Hobby Lobby. Note, for more experienced flyers Nitro Planes has great quality and service. HUGE SALE Going on NOW at NitroPlanes.com!

 

Stuck in that Revolving Door Again?

 There is Still Hope

As we are coming upon one month in the new year, I can guarantee you that there are still some people that opted to fulfill a health related New Year's Resolution that came up short. I want to tell you that you are not alone. As much as half the country falls victim to this loathing disappointment; however I have a handful of great tips you can use to take control of your health, shed some pounds, and make this New Year's Resolution one for the record books.

Tip #1: Be Adventurous at Work

Studies show that majority of the workforce spend their day siting in an expensive chair filling reports, attending meetings, etc. The siting continues when the shift ends and you head home and continue the collateral damage. So to help, start making rounds around the office. This has so many benefits both to your health and for professional development. I'll explain: walking around the office obvious stimulates blood flow in your body and burns those pesky calories; and two, being adventurous and walking around allows you to become more acquainted with your co-workers which builds a better workplace.

Tip #2: Wear Comfortable Shoes

The majority of the people in America that claim they do not walk/exercise due to his/her lower body discomfort. Well, if Dr. Scholls wasn't right, then why would he suggest changing your shoes, i.e. your souls, to combat lower body discomfort. So, bottom line, change your shoes and you might actually want to walk in them.

Tip #3: Pack Snacks

This is the most inexpensive way to slim down because you are substituting the Vending Machine Parades with the cast of the Fruit of the Loom (apples, grapes, and salad). Making the extra effort to pick up healthier options goes a long way for your health and your pocket.






Tip #4: Play Just Dance!

Nintendo was on to something when they first released the Nintendo Wii. This game console has sparked an asserted effort to fight childhood obesity, but it is not limited to children. With the partnership with the Just Dance Label, dancing has never been easier. The label on the game reading "E" for Everyone alone should give you the green light to strut you stuff and get down. The Just Dance chain has music options out of this world, so you can pick your style and rock out. The best part about this tip is that you can make this a family thing and reap the health benefits as a bonus.

And Finally Tip #5: ZUMBA!!!

Zumba has taken America by storm. The moves that these choreographers are coming up with are killer fat burners and calorie busters. I have Zumba'ed (or however you make Zumba a past tense verb) before and absolutly loved it. Personally, I love the music; it has its way of taking over. Although, the ultimate prize is the ability to have fun with people and dance calories away. How fun is that? For those reading from Del-Mar-Va, I have your hook up. Listen up! There is this awesome Zumba instructor by the name of Jess Wiggins. She is absolutely great. She is a long time friend of mine and she teaches Zumba for Powerhouse Gym in Salisbury and in Ocean City. She is the best on the coast and will surly have you rocking and having fun. Check out her page on Facebook. Like it and follow her as she makes Zumba the official fitness program of Del-Mar-Va. And tell her Brandon sent you.

*Beachbody is giving away free gifts with purchases of various products like INSANITY, Brazil Butt Lift and more, Don't miss out, just click the logo*

Memoirs of a Cyclist

 Lance Edward Armstrong

This man was a legend. Lance Armstrong always exceeded expectations whether it was in triathlons or the esteemed Tour De France cycle races, but all his credibility has been washed away.  

I remember learning countless time about what a success story Armstrong was. To be exact, at Salisbury Middle, Mr. Lawson taught me every aspect of healthy living, which included daily dieting and proper exercise. At the time Lance Armstrong was the "Poster Boy" of all our class discussions because of his devotion to health living, exercise, and community outreach with the Livestrong campaign. With the teachings from middle school in mind, I found it hard to believe that he was doping. But as an athlete I understand the mentality of wanting to be the best and doing everything in your power to get there. HOWEVER, that means you have to put in the extra workouts and sessions to be the best, not cutting corners and hoping that you don't get caught. 

This is a tragic event but the irony is that it is showing up in sports more frequently than most commissioners would want. My concern is the negative impact these athlete impress upon their admirers. Believe it or not, children look to athletes as role models because of their success and the ease to emulate them; example: my childhood hero was Freddie Adu. I enjoyed watching Freddie Adu play for D.C. United plus I could see myself in him because that was a time in my life where I played soccer and was very talented. 

But I digress, Oprah on the Oprah Winfrey Network interviewed Lance to address the findings of the allegations. This video was the seller that bought me on the fact that Lance Armstrong cheated. Livestrong meant so much to so many people but has its impact diminished?

 

*For people that want to get straight to the point please start video at time 0:40*

 

Inauguration 2013 and More

 Inauguration Day & Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Remembrance

Some thought this man would be one and done. Many believed this man would give up, but President Barrack Obama has stood tall against all adversity. The President has served this country well and has brought the United States of America back from the brink. As many accolades as I would love to give the 44th President of the United States, I do not believe in everything he has done throughout his presidency. However, I do believe we are better off and have made dynamic strides toward National sustainability.


With the right to say what I wish, I want to personally congratulate President Obama on his second term of Office. It is fitting to have your Inauguration on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Remembrance. I see a lot of King in the President and I am glad the Dream has manifested itself, but it doesn't stop there. As African-Americans we have much to gain in this world but with the strides made so far,  National Equality is in our sights. Even though African-Americans have struggled, Americans as a Nation's people need to come together and fight for the rights of all its citizens regardless of race.
 

Sunday Morning Bit

Good morning everyone. I hope that everything is going well today, but just in case I want to share some insight from RBC Ministries' Our Daily Bread. This booklet has been around since 1956 and is still full of powerful insight. Note that this daily devotion is Christian based but has universal applications. 

Every Sunday I will be posting a passage from this powerful booklet. Please take the time to read it because I guarantee that its message will be of great use to you, if not now then down the road.

 

Our Daily Bread

By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt 

RBC Ministries 

January 20, 2013

Read: Deuteronomy 31:16-22

A Song To Remember

I was delighted when I received a free gift in the mail—a CD of Scripture set to music. After listening to it several times, some of the melodies took root in my mind. Before long, I could sing the words to a couple of verses in the book of Psalms without the help of the recording.

Music can help us recall words and ideas we might otherwise forget. God knew that the Israelites would forget Him when they entered the Promised Land (Deut. 31:20). They would forsake Him, turn to idols, and trouble would follow (vv.16-18). Because of this, He asked Moses to compose a song and teach it to the Israelites so they could remember their past closeness with Him and the sin that hurt their relationship (31:19-22). Perhaps most important, God wanted His nation to recall His character: “[God] is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (32:4).

Consider what God might want you to remember about Him today. Is it His power, His holiness, His love, or His faithfulness? Can you think of a song that celebrates God’s character? Sing it in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19).

Give me a spirit of praise, dear Lord,
That I may adore Your name,
Sing praises from the depths of a grateful heart
To the One who is always the same. —Dawe

 

Remembering God’s goodness puts a song in your heart.

 

 

Championship Weekend

The National Football League kicks off Championship weekend with tons of analyst reviews from the NFL Network which includes "NFL AM", NFL Total Access and NFL "Playbook". But quoting what Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, or even Jamie Dukes says wouldn't be as fun, so I am going to offer my amateur analysis of the two matchups on Championship Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons

Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

3pm EST FOX

This matchup between the 49ers and the Falcons is a surprising contest on FOX Network. I had originally predicted that the NFC Championship Game would be between the two NFC West powerhouses, i.e. 49ers and Seahawks, but as the game played out I will put my slighted ego aside. This game statistically is heavily in the favor for San Fran with their 3-Dimensional Offensive attack (QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Frank Gore, Wide Receiver Corps) and shutdown defense. Falcons QB Matt Ryan and his crew will have a steep hill to climb in order to validate their season with a ticket to Super Bowl XLVII. I strongly believe that San Fran will have their way with the Atlanta Defense; Matt Ryan (QB), Julio Jones (WR), Michael Turner (RB), and others will find a way to make the game worth watching but when everything is said and done the game will belong to the San Francisco 49ers 42-30.

Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

6:30 EST CBS

This game I believe is "America's Game." As everyone already knows this is a rematch from the 2011 Postseason down to the very last detail. I am sure everyone remembers, especially the Ravens fans of RavensNation, the ultimate disappointment at the end of that game. But skipping to my take on the outcome of this AFC Showdown, I believe that the Baltimore Ravens will make Super Bowl XLVII. How you ask?? Well here is my claim: The New England Patriots have had and still sustains the most potent offensive attack in the NFL. From QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, TE Aaron Hernandez, and a resurgence of their running game, the Patriots have the offense any fan would want for their own team. But even though the New England Patriots are the standard for a complete team both offensively and defensively, the Baltimore Ravens bring intensity, passion, a trigger happy QB in Joe Flacco, a hungry defense lead by General Ray Lewis, and an impressive running presence in Ray Rice that will neutralize any offensive and defensive gameplan. Skipping to the chase, the Baltimore Ravens will dictate the tempo of the game; this leaves Tom Brady to be at the mercy of the Ravens D. Wide receiver Anquan Bolden will be the key to Baltimore's aerial arsenal. I am sure the running game will be there and TE Dennis Pitta and WR Torrey Smith will be contributors but WR Bolden will be the key. Ravens win 31-28.

Be sure to tune in to FOX and CBS for your NFL Championship experience.

Join Now for Sports Gamers!

Welcome to the Bayside Scoop

BAYSIDE SCOOP

Hello, my name is Brandon and I want to introduce you to the launch of the Bayside Scoop.

Bayside Scoop is an outlet that I will use to converse, entertain, inform, and teach the public. Initially, I wanted to start a blog about the growing craft of making Fleece Tie Blankets, but I didn't want to limit myself to one entity. As this blogs grows, it will eventually become a one-stop shop for all your interests and necessities of the mind, body, and soul.

Things like:

• Movies
• Sports
• Exclusive Offers
• New Hobbies
•  Music
• Food/Recipes

With juicy posts, the Scoop will surely catch your attention. Be sure to dig in every week, you will be glad you did.