Tuna Tang

I recently became aware of tuna flavored Tang.  Since clam juice exists, the concept of a seafood beverage isn't unheard of, however it still doesn't seem too appealing.  The good news is that no fish were harmed in the making of this beverage.  The truth is that 'tang' is the Mexican word for the fruit that grows on a cactus.  And from the picture on the package it's plain to see that it's a fruit of some sort.  The bad news is that, from what I've read on the internet, it would taste better if it actually were fish flavored.  I must admit that I am now somewhat curious, so if anyone has a trip to Mexico in their future, be on the lookout for a packet of tuna Tang and smuggle it back across the border for me to try.  I'll report back with a fair and honest review.

HDR Photography

I recently downloaded an HDR photography application for my new phone which takes 3 pictures at different exposures and then combines them into one image.  Theoretically this should create more vibrant colors and things won't be hidden in shadows.  I was playing around with it a little at lunch time today and this is the result.

Basketball TV

This is the dumbest thing I've seen since the hamburger phone.

Suck For Luck

I've got a couple new money making ideas for you.  I've been watching the Seahawks and wondering why in the world Pete Carroll has been starting the completely horrible Tarvaris Jackson.  I'm convinced that it's a plan to lose enough games that we can get the top pick in next year's draft and replace him with Andrew Luck.  So I'm thinking about printing up some t-shirts with Jackson's picture emblazoned with the phrase Suck for Luck and selling them outside the stadium.  The should go like hotcakes.  Speaking of which, are hotcakes still the big seller they were in the past?

Moving on, today a coworker suffering from a cold informed me she was running across the street to Bartell's to get some Airborne.  That's when inspiration struck.  I now have plans to manufacture and market a cure all boldly named Placebo.  The catch phrase will be, "it will cure whatever ailment you think it will."  I think the general population is so willing to buy placebos already that brazenly naming it Placebo will make it irresistible.  I think I will make the primary ingredient sugar for two reasons.  Sugar pills have been historically used as a placebo, and also I figure the sweet taste will make it that much more pleasing to the suckers, uh, customers. 

AJ Jacobs Trilogy

I recently completed reading AJ Jacobs 3 books (to date).  Since I'm pretty lazy, I'm combining all 3 reviews into one big, magical review.

Several months ago I read The Guinea Pig Diaries, the basic premise of which is that he would spend a month or so experimenting with a new lifestyle or behavior and see what effect it would have on his life and those around him. 

A couple examples:  my favorite, in one chapter he outsources his life. He hired some personal assistants to respond to his emails, answer his phone calls, do his shopping, read bedtime stories to his children, argue with his wife, etc.  In another chapter, he practices 'radical honesty' which basically entails not just telling the truth 100% of the time, but going one step further and removing the filter between your brain and your mouth and simply saying whatever pops into your head.

Not only is the subject matter interesting, but AJ presents it in an entertaining manner.  He's got a great sense of humor and weaves a lot of personal anecdotes into his narrative, effectively demonstrating the utility, or lack thereof, of the experiments.  You really get a good idea of how people will/do react to an unfiltered mouth, or how a spouse would/does respond to being referred to a personal assistant.  AJ definitely steps out of the theoretical and jumps into practical application with both feet.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the Guinea Pig Diaries, I followed it up with The Know It All.  In an effort to learn all there is to know, AJ embarks on a quest to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica and shares the journey along the way.  This was his first book, and it shows.  It has it's moments but overall lacks the polish and fails to captivate in the way his later books do.  As you may have guessed based on the subject matter, it is a little dry.  This book comes across as you would imagine one penned by Cliff Clavin would.  There are some interesting facts, but a lot of the book is just tedious. 

Finally, I made my way to The Year of Living Biblically.  Like his other books, this is an account of a sociological experiment.  This time he undertakes spending a full year following the bible as literally as possible.  I really admire him for his dedication in taking the assignment so seriously.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, he goes all in.  In addition to growing a full, bushy beard and walking the streets of New York for months donning old testament garb, he goes so far as to stone an adulterer.  Don't worry though, the guy had it coming.

This book is amusing at times, but what I really found interesting was his earnestness in truly trying to not just follow a set of rules, but to understand the mind set of people with very different views from his.  A liberal agnostic, he could have used this as an opportunity to mock the religious but instead attended church and prayed with snake handlers and invited a Jehovah's Witness to his home and had a frank and genuine conversation with him until said Witness had had enough and called it a night.  The effort put into this book is admirable, and it really is a valuable insight into the mind of someone truly trying to understand an opposing viewpoint.  The world would be a better place if more people put in the effort into understanding others.  The Year of Living Biblically was well worth the time to read.

Seether - Country Song

Even though I hate country music - it's the devil's music - I have to admit that Country Song by Seether is pretty catchy.  Every time I hear it though, one particular lyric really bothers me.

I can't stand the taste of your mouth
This sublimation's out of my hands

What the hell is that supposed to mean?  It makes no sense at all.  Sublimation is the process of something changing states from solid to gas, completely bypassing the intermediate state or vice versa.  The most common example being snow - water vapor solidifies without ever becoming liquid.  How can that possibly apply to the taste of someone's mouth?  Until I can get an acceptable answer to this question, I can't purchase any Seether music out of principal. 

Hemp Latte

You know you're in a hippy town when the coffee shop has a hemp latte on the menu.