I Knew It All Along!

Star Wars fans shouldn't have been surprised at yesterday's announcement, but it was still cool to hear what everyone knew was coming: The cast for the upcoming Star Wars film, Episode VII, has finally been released, and several stars from the original movies are returning for the upcoming film. Original Star Wars actors Mark Hamill,Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher -- who played Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia, respectively -- are back on board, as is Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, and Kenny Baker as R2-D2.

Cast photo from the new Star Wars film.

In addition, the cast includes Max von Sydow, Lord of the Rings motion-capture star Andy Serkis, Girls star Adam Driver, and Inside Llewyn Davis star Oscar Isaac, as well as Domhnall Gleeson, whom you may know better as Ron Weasley's brother, Bill, from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2. John Boyega, who appeared in the 2011 British sci-fi flick Attack the Block, and Daisy Ridley, who's appeared in the British TV series Mr. Selfridge, complete the cast. In a statement, director J.J. Abrams says, "It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud." The movie is currently slated to hit theaters December 18, 2015. May the Force be with you!

Amazing Rubik's Cube Video

This video will absolutely amaze you! A 15-year-old boy from a small town outside of Ottawa, Ontario, set the world record for solving Rubik's Cubes using only one hand! Antoine Cantin averaged 12.56 seconds at the competition. Cantin solved five Rubik's Cubes, and the average was calculated after eliminating the fastest and slowest times.

It's the latest way to get high: Apparently teens are using Burt’s Bees to get a buzz! Kids are rubbing Burt’s Bees lip balm on their eyelids to enhance the experience of being drunk or high. "It's the peppermint oil that's causing the burning sensation and I suppose some people think that is kind of funny," Dr. Brett Cauthen of Oklahoma City's Today Clinic said. But the trend, known as “Beezin,” could lead to inflammation in the eye, redness of the eye, or swelling. You've got to give 'em credit for being inventive, but isn't it sad that the kids feel they need to get high to begin with? Of course our parents said the same thing, didn't they?

Did You Figure Out What It Is?

It's a bicycle. Yes, a very high-tech bicycle. It's called the ARION1, and it was developed by students at Liverpool University in England who are hoping to break the pedal-powered speed record. If you're asking, "How is the rider supposed to see where they're going?", that's a great question. See the hole if the front of the bike? That's for a camera! The rider will use the camera and a computer to navigate. Read more about it here. Ok, it's cool, but who needs all that high-tech stuff? When I was a kid we would have used a big cardboard box with a hole cut in it to accomplish the same thing. Except we would have run into parked cars and mailboxes!

It's Kool-Aid For Adults!

Thought all drugs that came in powdered form are illegal? Think again! Palcohol, or powdered alcohol, recently received government approval for sale and distribution. The drink mix is basically grown-up Kool-Aid. It comes in a variety of flavors, including Mojito, Lemon Drop and Cosmopolitan. Just add five ounces of water for an instant cocktail. The company says Palcohol is a convenient way to enjoy alcoholic beverages at concerts and sporting events, or any time. But there are some obvious public health and safety concerns - notably, the fact that it’s discreet and therefore easy for underage drinkers to use. Would you give this a try? Personally, I'm not sure about this. from a strictly taste standpoint, "powdered" stuff usually doesn't taste as good as the real deal, does it? And some drinks just need to be made by hand, although after a few of these you might have trouble seeing your hand!

Michelle And Kellie On "Nashville"

First Lady Michelle Obama and Kellie Pickler will both make a guest appearance on ABC's hit drama Nashville during the episode set to air on May 7. The First Lady and country star will play themselves in the episode, which follows Connie Britton's character Rayna Jaymes as she visits Fort Campbell to organize a charity concert. Rayna is organizing the concert after she finds out that the show's character Luke Wheeler, played by Will Chase, has been injured while in Afghanistan. The episode featuring the First Lady and Pickler leads up to Nashville's Season 2 finale which is set to air on May 14. Nashville airs on Wednesdays at 10 PM ET on ABC.

What Kind Of Party?!?

Add this to the list of ridiculous pregnancy and parenting trends. Hopeful moms-to-be are now throwing “pee parties,” where they all take pregnancy tests and celebrate their results! Also known as POAS (Pee On A Stick) Parties, these gatherings allow groups of women who are hoping to get knocked up around the same time to make a usually private moment very public. So would you take part in a POAS Party? Or do you think these make a very personal thing too "social"? Drop us a line: johnandjacklyn@kicks1063.com

Creepiest Bunnies Ever!

OK, warning right up front, looking at these pictures may give you nightmares! We found some vintage photos of Easter Bunnies past, and are they ever creepy! When you were a kid, did you ever have your picture taken with any of these monstrosities?

Keep the candy, just get me outta here! Take a look at all 19 bunnies here, if you dare!

That Oh-No Odor

When I let the dog out to relieve his bladder this morning, the distinct scent of skunk infiltrated my nostrils.  Before I could prevent Bo from shooting out the door, he whisked past me.  Apparently, he also caught a whiff of the noxious odor; only his reaction was to run toward it, instead of away, like me.  As I shut the door, I pondered what awful situation I might be opening the door to in a few moments.

I trudged back into the bedroom and announced to my snoring husband that there was a skunk somewhere outside and Bo was on the case.  My hubby mumbled back to me that there was no skunk, at least not any more.  He mowed it down on Hwy 35 on his way home late last night.  Delightful.  So, the offending odor was effectively lodged somewhere into the undercarriage of his F150.  Sweet.
It was thoughtful of him to park in the garage, where the vile smell could really be contained and enjoyed by all.

Just as I was beginning to feel better about not having to be concerned with Bo getting into a live skunk, the tables turned.  When I opened the door to let him back into the house, he was licking his chops and chewing, as if he had just indulged in some delicacy.  Of course under heated questioning, he clenched his jaw and gave me that not-so-innocent look of "I-didn't-eat-remnants-of-dead-skunk-off-of-the-truck!"

I shut the door and left for work, figuring anything Bo urped up could be tended to by my husband.  It was after all, a by-product of his misadventures, right?

Eye was Totally Misunderstood!

I am now plagued by headaches, due to the endless eye spasms.  What started in just one eye has now spread to the other, so both of them are wreaking havoc.  I've been told it is a symptom due to fatigue and dehydration.  Apparently, I need more sleep and beverages.  Who wouldn't want more of those things?!  Unfortunately, none of us get enough sleep these days with our busy schedules.  Suck it up, buttercup!  However, that does nothing to help alleviate the obnoxious eye spasms that I have going on with now BOTH eyes.

This situation reached a critical point yesterday afternoon, as I met a friend for lunch.  I was hoping that perhaps some spicy Chinese food might give my mind something else to focus on, instead of the twitching eyelids.  The spasms were coming fast and furious.  Eventually all I could do was take my middle fingers and place them on the offending part of my eyelids and apply some pressure to try to make it stop.

That was all fine and dandy, except for when the Asian server brought our food; I peered up at her, fingers still on the corners of my eyes.  The look on her face was one of utter disgust.  To her credit, she didn't say anything, but her gas burned through me before I realized that it appeared as if I was mocking her features and culture by pulling the sides of my eyes back with my fingers.

As she walked away, I sat there completely mortified by how the situation looked and stammered to explain loudly to my friend about my twitching eyes causing horrible headaches.  She as of no help.  Her laugher rained down on me like a blanket of humiliation.  I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go back into that restaurant ever again.

Fashion-Forward Flip-Flops?

I've seen plenty of Hollywood types strutting about shopping in their Ugg boots.  I even have a friend who splurged and plunked a pile of money down to purchase a pair of the Ugg boots for herself.  She swears they are the most comfortable footwear she's ever sported.  I'm not going to lie.  I secretly want to buy a pair for myself, after hearing her raves.

I'm a boot lover.  I can appreciate a good, comfortable pair of boots.  I'm honestly a shoe lover, so for the most part, I can understand a relationship a woman has with her footwear.  It's the one clothing item that always flatters and never makes you feel fat.  However, I'm somewhat practical when it comes to parting with my money.  Spending $100-$200 on a solid pair of boots--maybe justifiable.  Spending $80 on a pair of Ugg flip flops?!  I just don't know.

I'm shocked that people would spend that kind of money on a pair of what can only be described as glorified slippers.  I honestly think that I would be embarrassed to wear these things.  Check that.  They DO look comfortable.  I would be embarrassed to wear these things in public.  It would be like a Muppet hitched a ride on your metatarsals.  Of course, no one ever thought that yoga pants would be worn as a daily go-to staple for a wardrobe OUTSIDE of the yoga class.  Maybe I'm not as fashion forward with footwear as I thought I was?

If these things take off in popularity, Casual Friday might just get a little more casual.  Maybe that's not such a bad thing?

Artistry in the Making?

Have you ever watched a true artist get started on a project?  It's quite amazing to watch their mind racing as they put paintbrush to canvas, or pen to paper.  Invariably, there are crushed up wads of paper in the corner by the garbage can as changes are made, or the canvas morphs into something unexpected, as the artist's mind moves in a different direction.

I like to think of Mother Nature this way; as an artist.  True artists leave you wondering what's coming next and then before you know it, you're staring at the most magnificent masterpiece your eyes have ever seen.

I'm holding out hope that we're in for a gorgeous spring, eventually.  Mother Nature is just ruminating on her latest work of art.  So, choke back the curse words for this snow we've been "blessed" with this morning.  The masterpiece is yet to come.  Be patient.

The Lowdown On Heartbleed

By now you’ve probably heard about Heartbleed, the massive internet security bug that has put pretty much everyone’s privacy at risk. Heartbleed is a hole in the encryption software used by the majority of websites on the internet. The bug creates an information leak that allows hackers to gain access to people’s personal data- and researchers say it’s been going on for as long as two years or more. So what can you do to protect yourself? First, log out of all websites. You may want to change your passwords too, but not until after the websites in question have fixed the bug. Mashable has a helpful list of the sites where you should change your password immediately, and which are safe. Click here to check it out.

At Last! We Can Legally Waste Time!

Why put off ‘til tomorrow something that can be done today? Because you were born this way! That’s right- a new study found procrastination may be genetic. Previous research has found that people who have a tendency to procrastinate also often behave impulsively. This new study found those two traits may originate from the same genetic roots. It makes sense, considering both habits likely have evolutionary implications- back when man’s main goal was basic survival, putting off long-term goals to satisfy immediate needs gave us an advantage. Here's more on the study. Are you a procrastinator? C'mon fess up! Drop us an email: johnadnjacklyn@kicks1063.com

Rascal Vanilli?

It's true! Rascal Flatts has admitted to lip-syncing their hit single "Rewind" during their performance on Sunday night's ACM Awards! Following their performance, social media was buzzing with claims that Rascal Flatts didn't actually sing the tune, and now the band has issued a statement on Facebook and Twitter confirming that the song was indeed lip-synced. Rascal Flatts' statement reads, "After having performed several shows earlier in the week, Gary (LeVox) lost his voice. So, instead of canceling our commitment to do the show, we made a last minute decision to lip-sync. We've never done it before, and we're obviously not very good at it. We look forward to singing live again in the very near future!" The trio will get that chance to sing live this week when they play a show in Laughlin, Nevada on April 12.  

Is This Movie Too Scary For Disney, And Therefore Your Kids?

Angelina Jolie’s latest movie Maleficent may not be the sure-fire box office hit some were expecting. The film stars Jolie as Disney’s infamous Sleeping Beauty villain and some insiders are suggesting the character may be too scary, which will cause the film to flop. Said one source, “it’s definitely in the ‘not a sure thing’ bucket.” Maleficent opens May 30th. Here's more on the story. So what do you think? Just looking at the pictures from the film, do you think it might be too scary for your kids? Drop us an email at johnandjacklyn@kicks1063.com.

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT?

I love dogs.  I would never want to hear of a dog suffering, particularly because of something my dog did to another one.  However, I had a very interesting story unfold this weekend that has me a bit nutted up to say the least.

On Saturday, I had a visit from the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department.  According to them, while I was away from home our dog, Bo "attacked" another dog that a woman from the neighborhood was walking in the street.

I immediately refuted the accusation, because we have a Pet Stop system, which is essentially an invisible fence surrounding our property.  Bo never leaves the yard.  Ever.

This deputy seemed unfazed by this fact and proceeded to inform me that those systems are not 100% foolproof and are no guarantee that a dog will stay in a yard.

I asked him if he was certain that it was our dog, as we have direct neighbors who also have a black lab, with a red collar.  He informed me that the woman stated, while there were two dogs of similar appearance on that street, it was the "thicker" of the two.  Great!  Now she's calling my dog fat too!  (I'm kidding.  He's seriously just big boned.)

The deputy informed me that when he drove up our driveway, Bo "charged" his vehicle and was barking viciously.  I felt a thin grin of pride turn the corners of my mouth upward.  I applaud Bo for that.  It's what he's supposed to do when a strange vehicle enters our property.  I asked the deputy when he got out of his vehicle, what Bo's demeanor was?  He said he was very happy and friendly.  (We taught Bo that police officers are your friends.)

I inquired with the deputy, where the alleged attack occurred.  I'm still not 100% clear as to where it happened, because the initial description when the phone call started made it sound like Bo charged out into the street, but toward the end of the discussion, it sounded like it allegedly happened at the end of our driveway.

I found this quite interesting, because about seven feet back from the end of our driveway is about as far as Bo will ever go in our yard, to avoid getting a zap at the property line.  I decided to test out his collar myself.  I took it off of him and we walked out to the end of the driveway.  When I reached that seven foot out mark, the collar began to beep quickly.  Bo turned on a dime and hightailed it back to the house.  I continued to walk toward the street, with two fingers on the prongs of his Pet Stop collar.  I got a sharp zap that shot up to my elbow.  Yep.  The thing was still working.

I'm telling you, it is impossible for Bo to have left our yard.  We literally have to load him up in our vehicle and DRIVE ACROSS the property line and unload him in the street to take him for a walk.  He will NOT leave the yard on his own.  The system works, just as you would expect it to for a dog that has lived within those parameters for about 6+ years.  He's not a stupid dog, despite the goofy face he often has.

Still, I haven't heard another word about the incident--yet.  And I do hope that the little dog was not seriously injured.  I just don't like our dog being profiled as a degenerate that "attacked" another dog and he now has a "record" with the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department.  What is the statute of limitations on something like this anyway?  The woman apparently wanted me to pay for any vet bills, if she decided to take her dog in for examination.

Which brings me to my next thought.  I'm wondering if the neighborhood woman with the 10 pound Shitzu that was allegedly attacked by Bo, somehow didn't maintain control of her leash (assuming she had the dog on one) and her dog ran into our yard?  It seems plausible, given the skittish nature Bo has about leaving our property.  If that was the case, and her little dog is not seriously maimed, it stands to reason that it was not an "attack."  Bo is nearly 100 pounds.  I think he would eat a 10 pound Shitzu, if he was so inclined.  Instead, I'm guessing if the two interacted, it was probably some rough play?  It's hard to say.

The only thing I know for sure is that Bo did NOT leave our yard to "attack" another dog.  He would leave the yard for the garbage men, before he would for a little 10 pound dog, IF he was ever able to muster up the courage to leave our yard.  However, if another dog entered his yard--our property--is it our fault that there was an incident?  I honestly don't know the answer to that one.  Common sense would tell me that it is NOT our fault, but it would seem that common sense is becoming extinct in this world.

ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT ME?!

Sometimes I seriously think people have too much time on their hands.  There is speculation that marketers of cereal are doing some heinously sinister moves by having the characters on the boxes look downward in order to "make eye contact" with kids.  

While this concept has all of the makings for a great news exposé, I'm not sure that is exactly what's going on here.  It just seems like a bit of a stretch to me.

Here are a couple of examples from Kellogg's:

Admittedly, the characters eyes are gazing somewhat downward, but Toucan Sam is actually looking at the cereal.  Tony the Tiger could be looking at kids in the grocery store aisle, I suppose.  Perhaps he's trying not to devour the sugary goodness in the giant bowl in front of him?

Here are some examples from General Mills:

Clearly, the Trix Rabbit and the Honey Nut Bee are looking downward, but that's where the cereal is located.  And everyone knows that bees love honey and that Trix Rabbit never had any self-control anyway, so who can blame them?

How about Quaker Oats brands?

Again, it's pretty clear that Cap'n Crunch is eyeballing his sweet-molar-filling-deliciousness.  However, the Quaker Oat guy does seem to be attempting to make obvious eye contact.  Weird that kids don't seem to be clamoring for oatmeal though.  Hmmm…

What are your thoughts on this whole cereal box controversy with characters allegedly making eye-contact with your kids in the grocery aisle?  Drop us an email.

Bored with the "Jokes?"

I don't know about you, but I'm glad yesterday is done.  I've never been that big of a fan of April Fool's Day, and it's not because I don't enjoy the pranks and whatnot.  I just think it's gotten to be too cliché and cheesy over the years.  It's glaringly so, since the inception of social media.  Honestly, I get tired of the "I'm pregnant!" or other so-called pranks on there.

Please. Stop.  What ever happened to the jokes that were actually funny and not predictable or tired? 

I get it though.  It's challenging to come up with something good and memorable.  Doubtful anyone will ever top Brucie Bumchuckles and his phone bagging stunt from years ago, where massive amounts of people actually took the advice of the Bumchuckles produced PSA.

If you're going to do April Fool's jokes--go big, or go home.

Duck Dynasty Invades Texas

The gang from Duck Dynasty will be all over the NASCAR Sprint Cup race this weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway, as their company, "Duck Commander" will be sponsoring the event.  It's a natural tie-in, given the antics of the characters on the show.  Racing, rednecks, hunting and God are all commonalities between the two organizations.  

Here's a full rundown of the duties in which the folks from Duck Dynasty will be participating in addition to being the title sponsor of the race.

• Phil Robertson:  Honorary Starter
• Willie Robertson:  Trophy Presenter
• Uncle Si Robertson:  Grand Marshall
• Jase Robertson:  Intro of Top 10 Drivers
• Sadie Robertson:  Invocation
• Missy Robertson:  National Anthem

I'm looking forward to seeing the beards all over the pre-race ceremonies and in Victory Lane.  I thoroughly enjoy the show.  What about you?  Drop us an email.