April Fool’s Day

By Diane Forrest

Today is a friend of mine's favorite holiday...he love to play jokes and pranks. He spends weeks planning the perfect gag to play on friends and co-workers. Last year, I hadn't spoken to him for a while, and he called. I didn't notice the date, I was just happy to hear from him...then he told me he had gotten engaged, and was getting married. Well you could have knocked me over with a feather! This guy had gone through a rather bad divorce a few years ago, and swore off women entirely! I was shocked to say the least. Well he continued on for a few more minutes until he finally blurted out “April fools!!!" and I had to confess that I had been fooled. Growing up I couldn't get away with any practical jokes. The people around me were always on the look out for such things. I tried a few minor things, like loosening the cap on the saltshaker or covering the toilet lid with plastic wrap, or putting Vaseline on doorknobs. But was always found out before the trick played out.

The origins of April Fools' Day are obscure. The most commonly cited theory holds that it dates from 1582, the year France adopted the Gregorian Calendar, which shifted the observance of New Year's Day from the end of March (around the time of the vernal equinox) to the first of January.

According to popular lore some folks, out of ignorance, stubbornness, or both, continued to ring in the New Year on April 1 and were made the butt of jokes and pranks on account of their foolishness. This became an annual tradition, according to this version of events, which ultimately spread throughout Europe. Thus began the centuries old tradition of playing tricks on April 1st.

Some notable pranks in recent history include a spaghetti harvest in 1957, Taco Bell's purchases of the Liberty Bell and renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell in 1996, and in 1998 Burger King introduced the left handed whopper for just one day.

Buzzfeed.com had a list of some practical jokes that you could try at home with your own friends and families that were mostly harmless. They include:

·      Print out a fake parking ticket

·      print out an unsolvable word search game, you can print one from here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/april-fools-day-pranks-you-can-easily-make-yourself

·      Pour jello in a cup with a straw for an "undrinkable" drink.

·      Fill the shower with toast

·      Mix soy sauce with sprite and put in a coke bottle for a yucky drink

·      duct tape an air horn on the back of a door so when the door opens the horn blasts

·      Make caramel "apples" out of onions

·      Fill donuts with mayonaise

·      Paint clear nail polish on soap

·      Make a "milk spill" using dried elmer's glue

·      Make a fake spill with dried nail polish.

Use your imagination and creativity and come up with something wonderful! And have a great time but be safe!

Heelys Update – 2012 Part One of Two

(Google Image) 

By Terry (Papa) Orr

Last August (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/08/having-fun-and-being-safe.html) we wrote about safety, preventing injury and a little about the equipment for save use of Heelys.  This year we will focus on some of the tricks, tips, moves and whatever.

There are a ton of sites out there that provide videos depicting the basic through pro tricks and moves on Heelys by some of the best folks around.  Whether you are just cruising along the sidewalk, at the park, on the ramps or rails – there is surely something to help you in learning how to do these safely.

(Google Image) 

To help establish a common starting point, here is a list of terms used regarding Heelys (from Adult Heelys Shoes (http://adultheelysshoes.com/page/heelys_tricks.html):

Ground Tricks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7meOWH8Bg)

BEGINNER

Switching - The whole point of this move is to change the position of your feet. For this move, you want to change the position of your feet. While you are skating, move your back foot forward while at the same time, you are moving your front foot back. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b7bjxuFIOc)

Shuffling - This trick is similar to switching, but you stay in the same place the whole time. You want to move your back foot forward while you move your front foot back.

Skating Backwards - While you are standing stationary, use your forward foot and step back. Step back with your now forward foot and go into a basic skate position. You will push yourself backward. You will be going heeling like normal, only going backwards.

Propulsion Switch - Get some speed before you start this trick. This moves looks like you are quickly switching, one switch after another. While you are skating, move your back foot forward while at the same time, you are moving your front foot back. After one switch you automatically go into the next switch.

Fish tail - Heely like normally, but shift your weight from one side to the other while you are moving your feet to the opposite side. You should be going in a sideways zig zag pattern.

180 - Start by skating normally. Angle your feet in the direction you are going to spin in. While you are turning, switch your feet. You will now be Heelying on your front foot and your back foot will be in the front. Skate backwards.

Revert - This is the opposite of a 180. Facing backwards. With your front foot, push off and skate backwards. With your back foot, twist your foot until you have turned around, switch your feet, so your back foot now becomes your front foot and your front foot becomes your back foot.

INTERMEDIATE

Toe Jam - Skate normally, with your back foot, lean forward until you are stopped by the rubber on the toe. This stalls your skating. Move your forward foot backwards. Pivot on your back foot until your front foot is in the opposite direction, and then push off the back foot until you are skating in the opposite direction from the direction you were previously going.

Crabwalk - Heely normally. Rotate your body and front foot like you are doing a turn. Move your front foot to your side until you are facing to the sideways. Your toes should be facing out and your feet will be parallel with your heels facing each other. Your knees should be bent.

Pipeline - This move is very similar to the crabwalk. While you are skating normally, rotate your body and front foot like you are doing a turn. Move your front foot to your side until you are facing sideways. Your toes should be facing outwards and your feet will be parallel with your heels facing each other. Your knees should be straight.

360 - Rotate your foot like you are going to turn. Keep turning around, you back foot will follow the front foot, until it becomes the front foot and your feet switch. Keep turning and the back foot will become the front foot again and you will be skating in the direction you came from.

Powerslide - This trick looks similar to a 360, but it has a slide afterwards. Rotate your front foot to the side, then move the front foot to the back so you turn around and your back foot becomes the front. Put your toes down to stop yourself and finish off the slide. A way to put a cool twist on it is by changing the angle of your back foot which can cause you to spin out.

Manual - With this trick you show off your balancing skills. While you are skating, lift one foot off the ground. You will be only skating on one wheel and the other will be in the air.

Sonic Stop - Skate normally. Bring your back foot forward until your feet are parallel. Lean back and use your brake pads on the back of the Heelys to come to a complete stop.

Manual Heel Stop - This is the combination of the manual and the sonic stop. While riding on one wheel only with the other foot raised in the air, lean backwards and use the brake pad to come to a complete stop.

Nollie - While you are skating, put your forward foot down and jump off of it into the air to do a spin or trick midair.

Ollie - This is similar to a Nollie, but you put down your back foot and jump off of it into the air for a spin.

ADVANCED

Weaving - This trick is up to you. This is where you maneuver around obstacles while you are doing any of the ground tricks.

Psycho - Start by standing on your wheels with your feet next to each other. Bend down and swing your arms in order to gain speed. Tuck your arms close to your chest once you start spinning. Spin in circles and try to do 4 or more 360 spins.

Footy 360 - You do a 360, but you are only balanced on one wheel. When you go into the spin, lift up your back foot and skate only on the front wheel. Put your foot back down when you finish the spin.

Can Opener - First do a 360, but as you come out of it, put each foot down with the toes outward and heels facing each other like a crabwalk or pipeline. This could also be done with a footy 360 first and then the crabwalk or pipeline.

Reverse Manual - First do a 360, but as you come out of it, put each foot down with the toes outward and heels facing each other like a crabwalk or pipeline. This could also be done with a footy 360 first and then the crabwalk or pipeline.

AOD - In this trick, you skate forward with you feet together. Your toes will face forward and your arms stick out to your side to form a “T” shape.

Mute Air - While you are skating, reach down in front of your legs with one hand and grab the opposite skate. Bend your knee on the leg that is being grabbed. Skate while holding on.

Judo Air - This move is similar to a Mute Air. You reach down behind you with one hand and grab the opposite skate. Bend your knee on the leg that is being grabbed. The ungrabbed leg is still straight and you skate while holding on.

Method Air - While you are skating, reach down with your hand and grab the skate that is on the same side. This might be easier with your legs bent.

Part two will cover Grinds, Stalls and Vert (Performed on a Ramp)

This is what I would look like ...
(Google Image) 

Celebrating Yo-Yo Day

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Have you ever rocked the baby, walked the dog and gone around the world in one afternoon?  You could have it know a little bit about a yo-yo.  These are a few of the many tricks you can do with a yo-yo.

(Google Image) 

Did you know that the yo-yo is the world's second oldest toy?  Many believe the origins of the yo-yo were as early as 500 to 1000 B.C.  The picture above shows a young boy playing with one in 400 B.C.

(Google Image) 

In 1923, Pedro Flores, a man of Filipino descent, began building yo-yos in America. He built the yo-yos by hand, and discovered that America's youth were fascinated with them. In 1928, Flores built the first yo-yo factory, mass producing the toys in California. He also began to hold yo-yo competitions to promote the toys, which started the first round of yo-yo mania in the United States.

(Google Image) 

Donald F. Duncan Sr. first saw yo-yos in action around the time Flores began to hold competitions. He noticed how quickly the toys captured the interest of kids and decided to get into the business of making yo-yos. In 1930, Duncan bought out Flores, who was then hired to run Duncan's promotional campaigns.  For the next 25 years Duncan's yo-yo's were made of wood, then he partnered with another company in 1955 to make them from plastic.  Due to the popularity of this toy, this day, National Yo-Yo day is in honor of Donald Duncan who's birthday was today.

(Google Image) 

To celebrate yo-yo day, why not find your old one and try to remember some of the tricks you learned as a kid.  I have to admit that I was all feet when it came to playing with this toy, but Im brave enough to give it another try.

(Google Image)