I’ve had my fair share of roommates in my time and travels. From the obsessive compulsive, (tagging initials everywhere) to the UFC fighter, (allegedly trained with Forrest Griffin) to the downright filthy, (the dude smelled like feet!) no one takes a more memorable rank than Kevin Nicholas, the professional magician.

I met Kevin my senior year of college through Andrew, my current roommate at the time. Kevin attended the same high school as Andrew which created the social link. Upon greeting Kevin initially, he got cute and stole my watch off my wrist. Not cool. I didn’t know that he was a magician so naturally I was caught off guard.

I took my watch back and Kevin explained that he has been performing magic for years and one day hopes to make a living from it. After processing what just happened, I asked Kevin if he’d ever take his pick pocketing skills to the streets of New York City. Firmly, Kevin stated: “I don’t use my magic for evil purposes!” That’s when I knew the kid had the twinkle. Kevin instantly became part of the crew.

For the first semester, Kevin lived on my couch doing magic tricks and sipping Coffee Coolata’s into the night. For entertainment purposes he was everything our crew needed. Now operating with a professional magician on hand, Kevin’s charm and boy-ish looks opened many conversations will eligible females on campus. Unfortunately, Kevin got a terrible nick-name during that fall semester, “Magic Gay Boy”. I felt sorry for him as Justin (our other roommate, upperclassmen) tortured Kevin by introducing him to girls as “Magic Gay Boy”, our magic gay magician.

After college, Kevin found his way onto MTV’s Room Raiders 2.0. In an effort to prove his heterosexuality, Kevin was tasked to pick one lucky lady after rummaging through their rooms. Aside from all the likely things to appear, (condoms, cum stains, etc.) Kevin did an excellent job playing Nancy Drew and selecting his shining star; a hot Latina named Carmen. (Andrew approves as she fills out those booty shorts nicely!)

MTV Room Raiders 2.0 – Kevin Nicholas Vip Magician Pt1 from Overdrive-Productions on Vimeo.

I always try to surround myself with the best and brightest people. I’m glad I met Kevin the day he stole my watch and I’m honored to call him a friend. More importantly, Kevin Nicholas is a true rising star in the magic industry. Newsday has referred to Kevin as the “Justin Bieber of magic”. Recently, Kevin Nicholas performed at Ivanka Trump’s launch party for a new jewelry line. (pictures above)

Bottom line: Kevin Nicholas is multi-talented. Not only can he keep up with the best magicians in the industry, but he sings, dances, and performs stand-up comedy. Kevin Nicholas has a bright future ahead of him.

I’m the type of guy that usually follows a sequence. A sense of order, you know? Dinner before dessert, cuddles after puddles, etc. (I’m the sensitive type) While on the topic of dessert, let’s talk about my latest creation: Creme Caramel.

Now don’t think I’m getting soft on you with a dessert recipe. This is an effort to show diversification of my skill sets. Simply put, I’m demonstrating how to step your game up, because you can’t snack on E.L. Fudge forever.

For this recipe you will need:

1: Custard Cups – (6)
2: Baking Sheet – (1)
3: Eggs – (8)
4: Sugar – (4 oz.) and another separate portion of (6 oz.) on the side.
5: Salt – (1/4 teaspoon)
6: Vanilla Extract – (1/4 oz.)
7: Water – (1 oz.)
8: Milk – (1 pint)

Let’s start with the caramel sauce. To begin this recipe cook the separate 6 oz. portion of sugar with the 1 oz. of water until it caramelizes in a saucepan. Watch your temperature and time to prevent burning the sugar. A golden brown color is what you want. Next, line the bottom of the custard cups with a thin layer of caramel sauce. The sauce will harden when cooled.

For the custard filling:

Start by warming the milk in a saucepan using a low flame.

Combine the eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract into a mixing bowl. Lightly mix until thoroughly blended.

Carefully pour the warm milk into the egg mixture and stir rapidly to prevent the eggs from cooking and forming solid bits. Skim any foam that develops from the top of the mixture.

Pour the egg mixture on top of the hardened caramel in the custard cups. Set the cups on the baking sheet and place in the oven. Pour water into the baking sheet surrounding the custard cups. Don’t pour too much water or you’ll risk burning yourself when removing from the baking sheet from the oven.

Bake at 325 degrees (F) until the mixture sets. (about 20 minutes)

Remove the creme caramel from the oven and let cool. If you are not serving immediately, cover the custard cups individually and refrigerate.

Serve this dessert on a plate after turning the custard cup upside down to release the product. The dessert should look like the picture of the creme caramel I created above. (F’ing delicious)

Using alcohol to gain leverage is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Whether you are trying to get into a chick’s pants, entertain a client, or gauge the credibility of a new business partner, cocktails aren’t a bad way to start. C’mon, even my boy T-Pain knows the deal. (Entire Epiphany album. Shawty!)

From my bartending experience, there is nothing more pathetic than a man who is indecisive about his drink order. He’ll say something to the tune of; “So, what do you recommend?” (Ever try a Midori sour with a side of cock, buddy?) For women on the other hand, nothing is sexier than leaving it up to the bartender’s discretion.

I’ve created a cocktail that blends sweet fruit juices, delicious rums, and the curiosity of amaretto. (Put it in your mouth!) The drink is totally unisex, (“Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.”) so everyone can put a swerve on.

The drink is called “The Bedazzler”. Growing up, I’ve always been fascinated with the clever names behind sexual acts such as: “The Dirty Sanchez”, “The Rusty Trombone”, “The Donkey Punch” and my favorite: “The Houdini”. I’ve combined premium booze, advanced mixology skills, and my 7th grade sense of humor, into a delicious cocktail for all to enjoy.

I’ve defined “The Bedazzler” as the act of taking a females vaginal and anal virginity in the same night It doesn’t necessarily have to have happen simultaneously, (Double plugging!) or in any particular order. The only requirement is that penetration must occur within both holes during the same encounter. My virginity taking days are over, so I’m leaving the “young bucks” a with a raw power move to make. Additionally, when people ask; “why is it called a Bedazzler?” you now can explain the meaning in confidence or choose to giggle in secrecy.

“The Bedazzler” Cocktail Recipe:

1: Fill a pint glass to the top with ice.
2: Pour 1oz. Bacardi Rum.
3: Pour 1oz. Captain Morgan Rum
4: Pour 1oz. Malibu Rum
5: Pour equal amounts of cranberry and pineapple juice to the top of the glass.
6: Add a rim shot of Amaretto. (Just a splash!)
7: Shake lightly, and pour the contents back into the pint glass.

If made correctly, there should be a froth head at the top of the glass and the alcohol flavor should go undetected. Use this drink to your advantage. Serve and enjoy!

In the video above, Timothy Sykes does an excellent job describing how to distinguish a stock scam from a legitimate investment opportunity. As Timothy explains, there are approximately 8500 “scam stocks” trading on the OTCBB that exercise “pump and dump” strategies to drive share prices up.

The marketing tactics of these companies may be overly aggressive. However; for savvy investors, trading these types of stocks can be potentially lucrative if you know what to look for. Tim further explains that he has no reservations investing in what he considers “horrible companies” as he simply plays the odds when noticing a penny stock jump from 100-200%. (Smart thinking!)

One must take into consideration that promoted “hot penny stocks” are usually marketed to individuals who are susceptible to impulsive buys based on reading “jazzed up” marketing materials. Most Kool-Aid drinkers will either make a buying decision or spread the hype to other suckers who are drawn into flashy money making schemes. Most people do not perform their due diligence nor read the fine print contained in the marketing materials.

The independent marketing firms promoting these stocks are making out like bandits should they play the movements that they create. Always do your research before moving forward with a promoted or speculative investment. If you play your cards right, you may be able to profit from the hype when spotting breakouts and shorting accordingly.

Who would have thought dialing for dollars could be so much fun? For a few bucks you could buy thousands of leads in select states with the parameters of your choosing.

To make money “chop shop” style you will need the following:

1. A telephone blocking the number on outbound calls.
2. Thick Skin
3. Male Leads (We don’t pitch the bitch.)
4. Puma Jumpsuit.

Welcome to Cold Calling 101. The sample lead above, (rendered to protect identity) is a fair representation as to how a boiler room works and the mentality of the brokers behind the high-energy phone calls. Everyday thousands of Americans are harassed at work by money-hungry brokers hopped-up on a mix of testosterone, red bull, and prescription medications.

So what are the “sharks” looking for exactly?

Currently working with Brokers: A prospect who works with multiple brokers shows that he’s not completely committed to anybody and will cut a check if he likes an idea. (He’s done this before.) Be wary of guys who use online brokerages as they don’t see the need in being told what to do. For prospects that have brokers out of state, (especially in NY) this is a clear indicator that they are receptive to doing business over the phone.

Owns Stock: Prospects that trade common stock are our type of guys! We are looking for liquidity and a gamblers mentality. If they’ve made some money on a stock they’ll usually share the ticker with you. On the sample lead above the prospect was kind enough to tell us that (NASDAQ: SLAB) Silicon Laboratories took the prize as he doubled his money on it. Reference something similar on the next call to gain trust and open the account.

Ballpark Portfolio Size: So, how much are you playing with in the market? We were looking for guys with over 100k invested in the market. In pursuit of gaining a piece of that portfolio, anything over 100k is safe to separate the piker’s from the players. In this case, our prospect has around $900,000 invested. Get your tartar sauce ready, we’ve got a whale on our hands!

Personal Info: After capturing the “meat and potatoes”, it’s now time to BS a little. So are you still making six-figures? What do you like to do in your spare time? Still chasing the ladies? At this time the prospect will lighten up and share his tales of adventure and romance. Our guy enjoys fishing for trout. (How exciting!) It’s not much, but it’s valuable information to pull out your ass on the next call.

This prospect turned into a slippery eel and got away on the follow-up call. With a healthy 5%-in, 5%-out business plan in place, the broker will always be on top. And if the stock actually goes up, more power to ‘em!

I’m not into the whole Flight of the Conchords thing, but this video is great! Flight of the Conchords – “If You’re Into It” features two male singers serenading a cute girl and coercing her to get naked and consider the idea of having group sex. The song starts off innocent, gains momentum, bringing it to a “climax” at the end.

I’ve heard about Flight of the Conchords prior to seeing this video, but I was never sold on their humor. This song makes my YouTube favorites list as it always provides a “mid-morning smirk” and worthy of passing along to someone who is not familiar with the group.

For those who only know about the group from HBO, Flight of the Conchords is a Grammy Award winning comedy duo from New Zealand. The duo features Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement using their musical background and comedic personalities to create songs that are melodic, funny, and entertaining. I’m not advocating all of their songs, however “If You’re Into It” had me hooked after the dude with the deep voice made his first appearance.

This chick in the video is pretty cute too. She’s not really my type, but her hipster-looks make me want to grab a White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks with her and “just talk”. She’s definitely seems like that type of girl, “if she’s into it”.

Every so often you come across a YouTube clip that’s destined to become a classic for future generations to enjoy. No matter how many times I’ve watched “Reporter Goes Ghetto” it’s still funny. America’s Funniest Home Video’s made a worthy attempt to get quality user submitted footage, but totally missed the mark when they let Bob Saget take creative control of the show. (Suddenly, all cats now have voices?)

Humor in the early 90’s took an even greater beating when Saget’s counterpart Dave Coulier (Joey on Full House) battled for ratings with his show America’s Funniest People. Seriously, thank god for YouTube.

In “Reporter Turns Ghetto”, a seemingly refined black man holding a microphone begins a synopsis of “what really happened at Augusta High School after Chris Wood’s death”. Next, a fly enters his mouth. Surprise! The reporter spits out the fly, losses his cool, his manners, and his professionalism. The reporter boldly states that he’s “dying in this in this country-ass-fucked-up-town.” Now that’s classic in my book!

The camera man gets the giggles as the reporter firmly comments that there’s “shit flying in his mouth”, and “pollen”. After the temper tantrum, the poor-fella calmed down while adjusting his suit and pacing in front of the camera to eventually maintain composure.

My condolences to Chris Wood’s family as this news reporter (although quite funny!) made a mockery of what would have been an informative segment. For the rest of the world, we now have a YouTube delight!

RJ Reynolds has done it again! It all started with the iconic Joe Camel serving as their mascot (1987-1997) to gain market share in the tobacco industry. Joe Camel’s swagger (aimed at children) during the 90’s has inevitably cause many smokers (who are now in their 20’s) to remain loyal to the brand, as a choice product.

I’ve always been a fan of free enterprise and clever marketing. Camel attempts to stay relevant with their new product SNUS that has been gaining traction in US markets. SNUS is a smokeless tobacco product where the consumer places a pouch inside their upper lip delivering a “spit-less” alternative to traditional chewing tobacco. After letting the pouch sit for a few minutes a tingling sensation will develop and nicotine will be absorbed into the gums delivering a buzz that lasts up to an hour.

With the exception of an occasional cigarette after drinking a few beers, I would not classify myself as smoker. On a Sunday morning at food and beverage operation I worked at, (opening up of course) my buddy Shaun introduced me to the Swedish delight. At first I resisted, but I caved in when Shaun got all “big brother” on me and forced me to try it.

This badgering reminded me of the children’s book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss and the famous scene where “he tries it… and he likes it!”

I got the tingle, I got the buzz, I bought the product, and now I’m hooked. I first tried the SNUS Spice flavor which smelled and tasted like being at a fall craft fair, (minus the dunk tank booth!). I tried the Frost flavor next and stuck with that ever since.

My thoughts on SNUS:

1: Partnerships should be developed with major airlines. Every flight should have this on board for unruly passengers.

2: From a managerial perspective, employers should provide SNUS to chain smoking employees to increase productivity. Smoking breaks and elevator rides down to city streets can now be eliminated.

3: Get this product in the hands of high school students immediately. The product goes undetected as there is no scent or spit residue. The whole class could be SNUS’ing. Cool, calm, relaxed, and focused on learning.

4: Camel needs a SNUS mascot. I’m no cowboy, but Nicky Papers could serve as the new spokesperson for SNUS. A blend of sophistication with a rough-around-the-edges attitude, I’m everything they would they would be looking for.

5: It’s European baby! SNUS is destined to become a hipster’s delight. Jump on it!

Do you think SNUS is a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes or chewing tobacco?

While sticking with the Vegas theme of my previous posts, I’ve always had a fascination with Las Vegas. I wrote the journal entry above in fourth grade and Vegas still remains one of my favorite “dirty destinations”. Aside from watching the Rangers win the Stanley Cup and rooting for OJ in hot pursuit; in 1994 my imagination ran wild about what really happens in Las Vegas.

The early months of 1996, my Vegas fantasies came true when I watched Showgirls (staring Elizabeth Berkley) for the first time. The cable descrambler box came in handy (thanks Dad!) as I was able to switch between episodes of Saved By The Bell (Jessie Spano) and “naked Jessie” on Pay-Per-View. As a sixth grader this was my first introduction to quality soft-core action.

The acting in Showgirls was terrible and the storyline sucked. The movie reviews were equally horrific. For me watching Showgirls, having accessibility to a descrambler box as a pre-teen, and being able to turn the color of my pee from yellow to “white and sticky” filled my Outlook calendar on many afternoons that winter; until dinner time at least…

My fourth grade writing should have been a clear indicator of what would become; a love for all things gluttonous. (Not to mention slightly voyeuristic.) My teacher on the other hand thought differently, giving me “mad props” on my journal entries. In hindsight, she wasn’t doing anyone a favor as it was her responsibility to call a parent teacher conference about this. Clearly, the warning signs were there.

After going to Vegas more times than the average person (four times in 382 days to be exact) it’s a given that I know my way around town. Whether I’m going balls deep on a hot Latina, telling a stripper that I used to have long hair, or explaining the economics behind VIP bottle services, Vegas is will always be there when I want to cut loose.

As for my fourth grade teacher, I’d like to thank her for her kind words and encouraging me to write freely.

How many funny clips on YouTube go unnoticed? I found a diamond in the rough presented by Subtle Buffalo Productions entitled: “Duel at Moonlight Path”.

A wayward hiker stumbles across a madman with a grudge in the forest. While frolicking and picking up sticks the protagonist, “Breb” is confronted by an angry (and portly!) man brandishing a large jagged stick. There’s some distance between the two characters where the bully in the forest can’t distinguish the true identity of the innocent hiker.

As ominous music takes over the scene, the bully is under the impression that the lost hiker is someone named “Jameson”. (Jameson apparently screwed him over.) The bully further explains that he’s been waiting patiently for this duel to happen, (I’ve been waiting here a long time practicing with sticks and rocks!) as he wants to bash-in Jameson’s skull.

As the hiker asks the bully “who’s Jameson”? hilarity ensues where there’s miscommunication between the characters (they can’t hear one another!) and the hiker politely explains that he’s not” Jameson” – his name is “Breb”.

They bully has never heard the name “Breb” before and let’s his guard down realizing it’s not Jameson after all. The conversation takes a turn where our protagonist is asked to spell his name for the bully. (He thinks “Breb” is a weird first name) Eventually the bully laughs at his own error and kindly lets Breb walk down Moonlight Path.

The Verdict: It’s a keeper! It’s great situational humor and the dialogue remains funny and entertaining throughout the clip.

What are your thoughts on this short film?