Funeral Home in Alabama?

Saturday, January 2, 2010   1 Comments

A friend of mine, sent me a forward regarding a funeral home in Alabama. The forward describes a Steelers fan's funeral arrangement, complete with favorite recliner, black and gold pajamas, Steeler highlights on a tv and pictures to along with it all. Bama seems to be the butt end of a lot of southern jokes, but something didn't sit well.

After doing a little googling here's what I found:
The funeral did actually take place, however it took place at a funeral home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. James Henry Smith was a huge Steelers fan, and when he passed away from prostate cancer, his family was able to plan the unique viewing. For this viewing Smith lay in his favorite recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. He wore black and gold silk pajamas, slippers and a robe. A pack of cigarettes and a beer were at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights. That is a true die hard Steelers fan.

...and lets be honest. Alabama takes their football seriously. If this was truly an Alabama funeral, I'd expect to see the man in Alabama's Crimson Red or Auburn's Blue and Orange colors.

Links

• WPXI: Deceased Fan Rests In Recliner With Beer


• ESPN: Family has unique viewing at funeral home


• The Pittsburgh Channel: Dead Steelers Fan Laid Out In Black And Gold

Labels: Alabama, death, Football, Pennsylvania, Sports, United States, weird

Manhole covers are round because...

Wednesday, December 9, 2009   0 Comments

Q: Why Are Manhole Covers Round?
A: Because Manholes are round.

This question was once asked by tech companies to witness a potential candidates problem solving and cognitive skills. But in reality there is no single answer to the questions, and most could be considered the correct answer.

Here are a few correct answers:

• A circular cover can not fall through a circular opening it was designed to match, but a square or rectangular cover could, if placed at an angle. This seems to be the most popular answer I found in my research.


• Round tubes are stronger, then square tubes and with stand higher environmental pressures.


• Because holes are round.


• Circular covers do not need to be rotated to fit the opening. This reminds me of carving pumpkins and leaving a key to easily match the lid to the opening
  
• so when the cover is removed the 100lb cover can easily be rolled.
  
• Most manhole workers are round, so it only fitting the hole and thus the covers are round.


• because thats how they were always made.which is not true

Labels: "Manhole Covers", Trivia, United States

McDonalds Hula Burger.

Thursday, October 22, 2009   0 Comments

I was always curious why McDonald's never followed pursuit with the gourmet hamburgers that restaurants have. There's the guacamole burger, mushroom burgers, BBQ burgers and Hawaiian burgers with pineapple. Then I discovered the McDonald's Hula Burger, but its not what your thinking.

In the 1960's Ray Kroc introduced the 'Hula Burger' to McDonalds as a substitute for American Catholics that would not eat meat on Friday. In the 60's sales would tank every Friday in geographic markets with large Catholic populations. Ray Kroc's solution was a slice of grilled pineapple with cheese on a bun. Nasty right? But this was designed to go up against the Fillet-o-Fish, which was created by a Catholic McDonald's Franchisee.

By looking at the McDonald's Menu board today, you'll still see the Fillet-o-Fish but its not mistake you won't find the Hula Burger. Now a days less Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays, but many McDonald's will still discount the Fillet-o-Fish during Lent to increase sales.

If Micky'Ds were to offer the Hula Burger today with a hamburger patty they might have a hit on their hands. But forget the burger and I'd expect to see the hula burger go the way of the doodoo again.

Labels: americana, Food, Religion, United States

Laurence Fishburne = Cowboy Curtis

Thursday, October 8, 2009   1 Comments

Growing up and watching Pee Wee's Playhouse on occasion, I was never truly familiar with the cast of characters that would occasional show up to the Playhouse. Looking back at the series, I recognize it's unique and corny qualities that entertained me on many after noons. I never figured any of the human characters on the show made it into movies, television or film.

That was until yesterday, when a co-worker proclaimed that Cowboy Curtis was played by Laurence Fishburne. I was shocked that an actor of his caliper had his start on a kids TV show. This was like finding out Jennifer Love Hewitt and Fergie were in Kids Incorporated, and Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera Justin Timberland, Keri Russel and more were in the Mickey Mouse Club.

As a bonus researching this one, I also found out that Captain Carl was played by the late Phil Hartman (RIP).

Links

• Youtube: That looks like ... Laurence Fishburne
  

Labels: Actors, Pop-Culture, Television, United States

'The' Ohio State University... whats in the name.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009   0 Comments

I'll preface this post by saying I'm NOT a college football fan. When I do watch, I pull for the University of Alabama, from my family ties and lack of a better option. There however is this one piece of college sports tradition I never understood. 'The' Ohio State University.

During player introductions for Sunday or Monday night NFL games, the players state their name and the college or high school they attended. Besides the random high school thats laid down, Ohio State Alumni, always announce at the name as "THE Ohio State University", with a special emphasis on the "The". Never quite understood that, so I dug a little deeper and ended up with a history lesson.

Founded under the Mirill Act (1862) as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical college in 1870, the university was designed to support the local farming and agricultural industry in the area. The Morill act was created schools of mechanic and agricultural arts and was located in the north side of Columbus. Despite its original purpose, then Governor, Rutherford B. Hayes, insisted on a more traditional, comprehensive university and rallied the board of trustees towards that. When their doors admitted their first undergrads in 1878 the college changes its name to 'The Ohio State University' with the 'The' as a part of its official title.

So now when people ask, why do they say 'THE' Ohio State University, you can be a smart ass and reply... 'cause that''s their name'.

Links

• Morrill Land Grant Colleges Act


• Ohio State University

Labels: Names, Ohio, Sports, United States, University

Fairuza Balk: Dorthy #2.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009   0 Comments

After watching 'Girl Interrupted', which then inspired the 'Wizard of Oz', my girlfriend and I moved on to the 'Return to Oz'. I hadn't seen this movie for over a decade(perhaps 2), and all I remember is some talking couch and psudo-punk guys with wheels as feet and hands. The DVD into had Fairuza Balk doing a little introduction before the movie began. Wondering why the crazy witch from The Craft was introducing the movie, she indicates that the 'Return to Oz' was one of her first movies.

Fairuzza-Factoids:

• Her name means turquoise in Farsi, after her father saw her blue eyes.


• Her father was a musician and mother a belly dancer, a skill she demonstrated in 'The Island of Dr Morneau'.


• She was selected from 12,000 for the roll of Dorthy in the 'Return to Oz'.


• Fairuza once owned Panpipes, an Occult Craft shop.


• Coincidentally? she's been in a few movies dealing with witches, including 'Return to Oz, 'The Worst Witch' and 'The Craft'

I know it seems trivial, discovering a memorable character in another movie, but for some reason this fully blew my mind. Watching her play Dorthy it all seemed to fall into place. The only thing I still don't get is how or why Dorthy got younger from the 'Wizard of Oz', to the 'Return to Oz'. Oh well... another factoid for another day.

Links

• IMDB: Fairuza Balk


• IMDB: Return to Oz (1985)

Labels: Actress, Age, Movies, United States

Frozen Dead Guy Days and Grandpa Bredo

Thursday, September 17, 2009   0 Comments

Folks in Colorado must be hard up on things to do when the snow isn't falling. If 'Headless Chicken Day' wasn't weird enough, I hear about Frozen Dead Guy Days.

The town of Nederland, holds Frozen Dead Guy Days at the end of winter. Festivities include fund raisers, parties, a coffin race and a polar plunge. All good small-town celebrations must have a great back story and this one doesn't fail.

20 years ago a Norwegian man name Trygve Bauge, brought his recently decrease grand father Bredo Morstøl to a cryonic facility until 1993. At that time Bredo was transported to Nederland, preserved on dry ice with the intention of creating their own facility. Trygve was deported, yet Bredo remained frozen behind an unfinished home and cared for by Aud, Trygve's Mother. Unfortunately she would soon face an eviction, but upon the public hearing about Bredo still frozen in the backyard, an exception was made. A local company now maintains the mini cryogenic facility within a new shed.

Frozen Dead Guy Days is now celebrated every March with Coffin races, slow motion Hearse parades, Bredo look-a-like contents and a polar plunge. The highlight however is the tour of the Tuff shed where Grandpa Bredo still resides.

just too weird...

Links:

• Website: FrozenDeadGuy.com


• Website: Nederland Chamber


• Wikipedia: Frozen Dead Guy Days

Labels: americana, Colorado, death, United States, weird

Thanks for Being a Friend

Wednesday, September 16, 2009   0 Comments

The other night my girlfriend turned on the Golden Girls to fall asleep too. While she slept to 'Thanks for Being a Friend' I laid awake watching back to back episodes on Lifetime. One of the episode I watched dealt with Blanch going on a date, but included a series of flash backs from the other women, including a surprisingly younger looking Sophia.

This got me thinking about the premise behind the show and their age. Breaking out the iPhone, I discovered that Estelle Getty, the actress that played Sophia, was younger then Bea Arthur, whom played her daughter. Estelle was also younger the Betty White, by a good year and a half. The wig, make-up and acting made her roll as the eldest of the 4 women was very convincing.

Estelle Getty and Beatruce Arthur are unfortunately both passed away, within the last year.

Links:

• Wikipedia: Estelle Getty


• Wikipedia: Beatrice Arthur


• YouTube: Thanks for Being a Friend

Labels: Age, Pop-Culture, Television, United States

Leaving a face down penny tip

Saturday, September 12, 2009   1 Comments

I've never worked in the restaurant industry, but my girlfriend has. Much of her terminology and simple restaurant operations are new to me. During dinner and some poor service the conversation of tipping came up and leaving a face down penny.

When service at a restaurant is horrible, one of the worst tips you can leave is a downward facing penny. With Abe looking down, the penny is disrespecting the server. This is considered worse then no tip, as the server has to deal with a random penny left behind.

I couldn't find much information on this topic, however I read an alternative version. Leave two pennies, one face down and one face up representing their first change. Second time if the service is the same, you leave two pennies face down.

Time for dinner... hoping to have some face up service. Restaurant

Labels: Money, Penny, Restaurant, Tips, United States

Mike the Headless Chicken

Friday, September 11, 2009   0 Comments

Discovering new factoid, stories and oddities (in this case) can occur just about anywhere. I learned about Mike the Headless Chicken from the Wikipedia front page. 64 years ago yesterday Mike (then known as dinner) survived his would be execution, lived for 18 months and became a quite the sensation in Fruita, Colorado.

The story goes, a woman sent her son-in-law to fetch a chicken for dinner. Measuring the bird up, he strikes what should be a fatal blow, however, Mike shook it off and continued to live. The ax missed his jugular vein and a good portion of the brain stem. Most of the chicken's functions such as breathing and heart rate are controlled in the brain stem, not the brain, and this was enough to keep Miracle Mike alive. Mike lived a good live trying to do normal chicken things.

Fed small pieces of corn and water through an eye dropper. Mike's second life began as a sideshow attraction with his buddy the two headed cow. He was displayed with a floating head in a jar, which wasn't actually his, as the cat got a hold of it before it could be saved. Quite the local celebrity, Time and Life magazines both featured him. 18 months after his would be death, Mike choke on a piece of corn.

Fruita still celebrates Mike with a 'Mike the Headless Chicken Day'. Festivities include Egg Tosses, Chicken Bingo, Chicken Dance and I'm pretty sure a good serving of fried chicken.

Links:

• Website: http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/

Labels: americana, Animal, chicken, Colorado, death, United States, weird