A canburger?

Those crazy Germans…first Hitler, then Neuschawbenland, and now…a canned cheeseburger.

Oh boy, I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into that thick, juicy patty, crisp lettuce, and succulent processed cheese…and look at that fluffy bun!

 

Now, my Deutsch is a bit rusty, but if I’m reading the website correctly this is a meal targeted towards backpackers.  I’ve done my share of week long backpacking trips, and I must admit I’ve craved a big cheeseburger at the end of many, but this just seems…wrong.

I mean, questionable ingredients and nutritional issues aside, is one supposed to eat this cold or heat it over your camp stove?  How does that lettuce stay crisp - varnish? How does that burger fit in the can, which is clearly smaller? And who on earth puts a cucumber slice on a burger in lieu of a pickle?

If that damn Euro wasn’t so strong, though…

I was tipped to this here, plus you get to see photos of one being uncanned.  Mmmm.

Welcome to Tampa (Part 1)

Avast ye mateys! I’m back from Tampa. Heres some Pictures from the city, and tomorrow I’ll give you what you’ve really been waiting for, Pirate Pictures!

And subsequently My observations

1. The city is actually called “Tampa”, not “Tampa Bay”. I feel like I’ve been lied to for years by the buccaneers and the lightning
2. St. Petersburg loves its pelicans
3. Somehow white sneakers and flat brimmed hats to the side are in style, but spinners are not
4. I expected something older, more exciting, more colourful in Tampa. Instead I was greeted with stucco and glass in a variety of bland colours.

Is this really an honour?

This kind of news story cracks me up.  I get a little update each day from the International City Managers Association with municipal news from around the world (yes, my dorkiness has been well established, thanks.)

So this story catches my eye.  What great news, Portland is the #1 green city! Huzzah!

But wait…named top green city by…Organic Gardening Magazine?  And it’s the top green city “of its size in the United States”?  The heck does that even mean?

I’m sorry, but when your illustrious list includes Burlington, Vt., Fargo, N.D., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Billings, Montana I just can’t take it seriously.  Those places are “green” because nobody lives there.  Hell, my list of “green cities” would include Wamsutter, WY and Grygla, MN.

So the lesson?  Always check the source before getting ready to write a post about how great this is for Portland.

Oh, and I totally rocked the bark quiz.

Vampire Power and other enviro issues

 

So I was listening to the podcast of my new favorite show, Spark, and was intrigued by a segment on “vampire power“.

I’m sure this concept is neither new nor earth-shattering news-wise, but I’d never really heard it summed up before.  So essentially, when we’re talking vampire power we’re talking all the bits of electricity our gadgets use while not being used.  For example, in order for your t.v. to turn on with a remote, some power is always being used for the sensor.  Or the clock on your stove or microwave is always on.

At first the amounts seem small - what’s a kW here and there, right?  Well, according to the estimate I heard a host of electronics most people have - t.v., microwave, clock, stove - chews up about $5 worth of electricity annually.  In my book that’s a beer.  Not a huge savings, but a savings nonetheless.

Yargh!

So this really all not that important blogger at Ben Co. is off on vacation! To where you ask? The Short answer is Gasparilla.

What’s Gasparilla you ask? Well I suppose I could just click on the link, but that’s way too easy.

I know it has to do something with pirates. In what capacity I’m not sure. Does Tampa love their pirates? Do they throw this festival in an effort to please the Pirate Gods, so that pirates don’t attack the city? Or do they encourage the pirates to come to ward off ninjas? (Ninjas are the sworn enemy of Pirates) Was the Tampa Tourism Board just looking for a really sweet gimmick?

Oh if only I’d click on that link, or at least wiki the darn thing. Instead, I’m going with the assumption that pirates are and indeed perhaps the sweetest and most ballerist thing in the world. So much so, that people still pirate to this day.

So I’m off to warm and sunny Tampa (78F today!) I’ll bring back pictures and stories and chotchkies for everyone!

Worst post ever.

 

I am so sorry.  I just couldn’t resist.  I have pun issues.

 Caddie killed by cabbie.

Top Fifty Atheist T-Shirt and Bumper Sticker Aphorisms

Mom, I apologize…I just couldn’t resist!

There is a more serious side to this, as well…check out the link for the number one aphorism. Ben Co. giveth you laughter, and Ben Co. taketh your laughter away.

Besides, some of these are pretty friggin’ hilarious. Thanks to “Why, That’s Delightful!” for the tip.

1. Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers
2. Honk If Your Religious Beliefs Make You An Asshole
3. Intelligent Design Makes My Monkey Cry
4. Too Stupid to Understand Science? Try Religion.
5. There’s A REASON Why Atheists Don’t Fly Planes Into Buildings
6. “Worship Me or I Will Torture You Forever. Have a Nice Day.”­ God.
7. God Doesn’t Kill People. People Who Believe in God Kill People.
8. If There is No God, Then What Makes the Next Kleenex Pop Up?
9. He’s Dead.
   It’s Been 2,000 years.
   He’s Not Coming Back.
   Get OVER It Already!
10. All religion is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry. Edgar Allen Poe.

…Be6!!!

On October 17, 1956 Donald Byrne and Robert James Fischer sat down for a game of chess. What they did not realize is that that battle of the minds that was to ensue was to be dubbed by many as “The Game of the Century.”

Byrne, 26, was one of the top American Chess Masters at that time. He would go on to represent American in three Olympiads, and would earn the status of International Master.

Little Bobby Fischer was 13.

The fact that a child was able to defeat one of the top players in the country would be astounding enough, if it wasn’t for the fashion in which he was victorious. This youngster had both the foresight and the tenacity to offer up his most powerful piece on the board for sacrifice, in order for the opportunity to engage in the whirlwind attack that was to follow.

Fischer would go on to win the U.S. Open the following year and would achieve Grandmaster Status at the age of 15½ - the youngest player to do so. In an era of Soviet World Dominance, spanning about a half century, Fischer won the World Championship in 1972 against Boris Spassky, thus creating another bastion with which to defend the American ego against the onslaught of the Soviet machine.

After that match, Fischer not only failed to defend his title, but he withdrew from society and didn’t play chess for another 20 years.

Fischer Died yesterday at age 64. He was one of the brightest, most controversial, and least understood people to have lived in our lifetime.

r.i.p.