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3 Greatest Mafia Flicks of the Century

Cruising down a slow lazy afternoon, I was listening to “Dis Bitch, Dat Hoe” from the album of Three Six Mafia featuring Ludacris and Crunchy Black. It made cruising with my Beemer a sheer driving pleasure, with no puns intended. I’ve always wanted to purchase license plates to make sure everyone knows I am protected by them. What is it with me and Mafia this day?

If you think everything was pure coincidence, wait till you hear what I saw on TV when I reached my destination. It was a rerun of “The Godfather”, one of the greatest Mafia movies of the century. Released in 1972 and the part 2 in 1974, it became the only sequel to win a best picture award in the Oscars. It was and still, that good because it is now considered to be the gold standard of Mafia films.

Another movie, The Scarface directed by Brian De Palma is his best film. It premiered on December 1st, 1983 in New York City. Despite negative publicity from the media and critics, it grossed $65 million US Dollars. Today, the Net Present Value (NPV) of it would be around $180 million US Dollars. The word “fuck”, was used 226 times in the film.

Pulp Fiction, the latest Mafia flick I loved was released way back 1994. According to Washington Post, to watch that movie is to experience near assault of creativity. I know that there was a better movie than this but I included this one in the list for the reason of Pulp Fiction utilized classic story telling with modern techniques.

I had enough of my daily dose of day dreaming now. I need to get back to my real world, where, I am not really protected by Mafia, nor do I want them protecting me. I would have to go and do with their saying, “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”

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6 pack rules to remember for jetsetters

There is never,ever a bad time to travel.  Yes, the weather maybe the number one enemy, but then, it really isn’t. As they say, you’ll make a lot of excuses if you don’t want to do things, but you’ll move heaven and earth to the thing you want to do.  So, when you’re the type that needs to get out of town on a monthly or even a regular basis,  there are a couple of tips to take note as to avoid a stressful travel.  Here are a few that even th best travel channel shows wont’ feature:

1.  Bring a pashmina or a sarong -  these are versatile pieces that can take you from the beach to the streets.  Also, pack a silk animal-print or Pucci-esque scarf to add glamour to an other-wise simple outfit, and a black dress for your evening escapades.

2.  Mark your suitcases with a colorful ribbon or sticker - This way, you can easily locate them at the luggage belt upon arrival at the airport.

3.  Pack an extra set of underwear and clothing in your hand-carry - Just in case, ( well, this is most likely to happen but I hope not) you will have an additional outfit on hand.

4.  Roll your clothes instead of folding them - This is to avoid excess creasing or wrinkling.

5.  Stack your clothes in piles in your bed -  After assessing your inventory remove half of what you think you need.  Keep your wardrobe casual, simple, and versatile.

6.  Stick with one carry-on and one piece of check-in luggage -  I know this is the one that’s the hardest to  follow or even consider.  It’s like there’s always something we HAVE TO bring, But then, it all comes to functionality first then there goes the fashion part.

I remember when my friend from work was endlessly convincing me last December to go on a  trip to  Berlin in Germany.  I wasn’t really up for long trips but the main lure for me was this cafe which has no name.  It’s in the heart of Zion street (Zionstrasse).

I was having second thoughts for a week even though my visa was ok  and at the night  before the flight I decided not to go mainly because of work.  But the next morning I just woke up so early and I thought that was the sign that I should go. Good thing my friend had already bought our tickets.  And all that I was able to follow in the rules above was number 6, mainly because I have 2 hours to pack.  It was all worth it, it was so difficult to find because it has no names or signages, you have to ask the locals for directions. Its warm, yellow wooden floor planks, and mahogany table sets and stools lent an inviting cozy ambience, while cheeky art murals and the stark red bar gave it a quirky twist. The menu was just on a sheet of paper listing the day’s fare. When it comes to paying, there’s a bowl on the counter where you can drop the amount you think is fair.  Really cool place.

I have learned that making things simpler either for short or long travels is the key to a stres-free journey. I go out of town not only I want to see something new, but just to take my mind off the hustle and bustle of work, which I can only escape temporarily but not forever.