Too Lazy to Play Real Beer Pong?

Some days, its just too much to get out the old slab of particle board, two saw horses, and a handful of solo cups. For those days, the fine people at JV Games bring you Beer Pong….er Pong Toss. Like all good sissy nannies, certain adults and Attorney Generals are up in arms over a game that evolved from drinking is rated suitable for children 13 and up.

1) Are kids really clamoring to waste their money on a game as simple as throwing a ball in a cup? If so, I’m going to make paper triangle football game.

Pray At the Pump

Let me start by saying that I’m very smug. My daily commute is a 2 minute walk door to door. I use my car out of convenience. Now another Ben Co. member has already abandoned his car and is joining the smug parade. When I read articles about gas prices, I feel even smugger (smugier?)

Now I’m not an economist, but I know supply and demand. Supply is stagnant, and demand is up, up, up.

Cleveland Steamer Set to Sail!

So, me and my Toronto entourage are off for a weekend of fun in sunny Cleveland. Expect a couple of days of silence as we enjoy the hospitality of Jimsey as he squires us around The Metropolis of the Western Reserve.

In light of this, I thought it would nice to pass on a little Cleveland trivia:

1. Cleveland boasts America’s first traffic light. It began on Aug. 5, 1914.
2. Cleveland became the world’s first city to be lighted electrically in 1879.
3. Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in Cleveland.
4. Cleveland was the site of the first successful coronary by-pass surgery.
5. Cleveland is named for Moses Cleaveland, a surveyor who settled the town in 1796.\
6. Cleveland was originally called “Cleaveland”, but a newspaper editor changed the spelling so that it would fit in his masthead.
7. One of Cleveland’s twenty sister cities is West Mayo, Ireland.
8. Dorthy Dandridge and Ruby Dee are from Cleveland.
9. Oh, and Paul Newman, too.
10. In 1853, Cleveland had the first U.S. African American newspaper (The Aliened American).
11. The gas mask was invented in Cleveland in 1916.
12. In 1967, Carl Stokes became the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city.
13. Cleveland had the first rapid transit service from the airport to downtown in 1968.
14. Arsenio Hall was born in Cleveland.
15. I know a guy who lives there.

See you at the Cuyahoga!

Toronto Jimfoolery

So, like….I took some pictures of the de facto capital of Canada. This is a follow up to my pictures of People I’m still not sure what to make of the city. Don’t get me wrong, its a good city (sit Ubu sit). I’m having a hard time comparing it to any of the cities I’ve been to. I can say though, with a very high level of confidence that its better than Edmonton.

Well anyway, here’s the link to my flickr photo set, and as usual here’s a few snippets:

From somewhere on Toronto Island

Wispy, like my hair.

Toronto Tomfoolery

So some posts might not have far reaching appeal to mass audiences. This one pretty much has an appeal to about 7 people, 3 cats and 2 Snoopys and 1 Dirigible.

I know in a previous post I mentioned that I was moving away from Picasa towards Flickr. I think I’m partially doing that. For random silly pictures I think I’m going to keep going with Picasa since so many of my friends have a google account and commenting and following is still decent in Picasa. But as mentioned before, the resolution algorithms on Picasa blows, so “real” photos will be handled by flickr.

Anyway, If you want to see some general tomfoolery, shenanigans and skylarkings by some of Ben Co.’s greatest minds and followers, click here. Generally speaking most pictures involve beer, standing looking stupid, sitting looking stupid or posing stupidly.

A small taste:

Me and my BFF Racecar Snoopy

Cleveland from the 41st!

For a brief period last Thursday, I had access to the 41st Floor of 200 Public Square (née: BP Building). Seen here in the center of this Urbanohio.com Image

The weather wasn’t necessarily Ideal, it was hazy, overcast and windy. But when you have access to the 41st floor and might I add there was outdoor access, you have to seize the opportunity to get snappin‘!

Looking Southwesterly-ish

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Arctic Monkeys Video

I’ve heard rumblings that some people think Ben Co. is too random. Too all over the place, too whimsical, with no central theme. Well with that in mind, I’m going to keep appearances up.

I’ve got a handful of favorite bands. I would consider none of them mainstream. I really enjoy sharing and exposing people to music (and myself) that they probably would have never encountered.

So, while youtube-ing, I came across a video for the Arctic Monkeys Leave Before the Lights Come On. I like the music, I like the lyrics and now I really like the video. Make sure you watch all of it, there’s a great twist at the end.

Enjoy!

Public Service Announcement #2

Attention: Anyone. Remember zip-off cargo pants? I do. There was a short while where they were all the rave with dorks, nerds and awkward folks for use in their everyday wardrobe.

I can see the benefit of these lightweight puppies for the outdoorsy folks. Sometimes hiking and camping, its necessary to pack light, so why not have a pair of pants that goes both ways (tee hee, both ways). When I’ve seen them in public, it was usually around campus. Typically I’d groan, but some guys had that outdoor, modern day Grizzly Adams look going on, except with Tevas and Nalgenes instead of moccasins and an ol’ timey water bladder. In those cases, I’d let it slide.

Today, downtown I came across something horrendous. Zip-off cargo pants and a neatly pressed oxford (tucked in, sleeves fully buttoned, etc) with a pair of loafers. Honestly I wanted to go up and slap this “gentlemen”. Was it a gift from his 3-year-old and he felt obligated to wear it? Was he going for a hike along the Erie Towpath Canal after work? Is he that out of touch?

So this is for you, crazy, hiking, lamer-than-FDR’s-legs, businessmen: Zip-off cargo pants is not acceptable business wear.