Month: August 2003

Humperdinks — Border Burger

Ashley BischoffLeave a comment

I stopped by Super Target on the way home from the gym last night and, by the time I got back to the apartment, it was almost 10pm. I didn’t feel like making dinner at that point, so I asked Mike whether he had already eaten dinner (he hadn’t) and suggested that we head off to Quizno’s (there’s one less than a mile from here). My recollection was that Quizno’s closed at 10:30, so it looked like we had enough time.

But, we got there and quickly realized that their closing time was actually 10:00 (doh!). But, Humperdinks was just across the street, so we decided to give that a try (out of curiosity, what other restaurants are open past 10pm in the Lovers & Greenville area?).

Humperdinks has its own brewery and we both wanted to make use of that. Their “Total Disorder Porter” caught my eye and we both ordered one. It was also the special of the day, which was a pleasant surprise. While it wasn’t quite at the level of a Fuller’s Porter, it still very well done (and if it were sold in stores, I’d probably buy it from time to time).

Both Mike and I had a hard time deciding on the menu, but I settled on a Border Burger (a 1/2 pound burger with guacamole, bacon, Pepperjack cheese, jalapeños and salsa) while Mike went for a Ranch Chicken sandwich (a chicken sandiwch with Monterey Jack, ranch dressing, bacon strips, lettuce and tomato).

I noticed on the menu that the Humperdinks Melt was actually served on rye bread (along with Swiss cheese). And considering how ordinary most buns are, I got to thinking that perhaps the Border Burger might be even better on rye. And even though I’ve had a Border Burger previously, I wasn’t sure about those “spicy jalapeños”. So, when I ordered the burger, I asked whether I could get it on rye (and without jalapeños). The server didn’t seem to mind that substitution.

Once the food arrived, I was pleased that the rye bread was thickly cut (about half an inch) and toasted as well. Border Burgers are already tasty, but the rye bread just made it even better. The slight tartness of the rye along with the salsa and guacamole was a great combination.

It helped that the beer was the day’s special ($3.50 for 20oz or so), but the burger was still $9. It was delicious, but I’m still not sure if it was worth $9 (maybe $7-8 would have been more fair). So, once again, rye saves the day. Now if only they’d make a rye pizza :).

Disney Surpasses Microsoft’s Media Reputation

Ashley Bischoff3 Comments

Via MediaBistro’s Daily Media News Feed, Disney ousted Microsoft’s reputation in the media. These second-quarter results were derived by studying 60k news items:

Higher attendance at theme parks and stronger box office receipts from its newest films, “Finding Nemo” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,” helped catapult The Walt Disney Company to the top of Delahaye’s most recent Media Reputation Index, a quarterly assessment of how news coverage affects corporate reputation. […]

The second quarter results, which are based on an analysis of more than 60,000 news items, also found that technology was the strongest of all sectors, with Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Hewlett Packard, Cisco Systems and Dell claiming six of the top 20 spots. […]

I haven't been able to find the complete list online, but the article includes the top 10:

Second Quarter 2003 Media Reputation Index — Top Ten Companies:

  1. The Walt Disney Company
  2. Microsoft
  3. Intel
  4. Wal-Mart
  5. General Motors
  6. IBM
  7. Home Depot
  8. Coca-Cola
  9. Bank of America
  10. AOL Time Warner

Disturbingly enough, it resembles a list of Companies To Avoid. In particular, I wouldn’t touch Disney, Microsoft, nor GM with a ten-foot pole. And Disney, with its let’s-make-copyright-last-forever nonsense, is more evil than most.

In a HHOS?-esque moment, I’m wondering whether the other companies on the list should be avoided as well ;). Granted, I already avoid Intel and AOL, but that’s primarily because their competitors make superior products (not because they’re evil, per se). Likewise, I don’t drink Coke, but that’s just because they don’t have a Splenda-based soda yet (unlike Diet RC & Diet Rite).

Both Wal-Mart and Home Depot are large companies, to be sure, but they seem fairly normal to me. And, I’ve never been a Bank of America customer, so I can’t speak of them one way or another. And on the other hand, IBM actually appears to be one of the Good Guys(TM) these days, with its fight against SCO.

High Carb Diets?

Ashley Bischoff3 Comments

Most people are familiar with low carb diets such at Atkins or (to an extent) The Zone, and now some people are trying a high carb diet called System S:

The System S Diet turns the high-fat, low-carbs ideal of Atkins on its head, promoting high carbs and sugar to ensure a low-fat diet.

Women are also likely to rejoice at the idea that having a little bit of what we like, such as chocolate and sugar, can equal sustained weight loss. […]

Sugar, especially that in carbohydrates, has fewer calories than fat and also makes you full.

Those on high-fat diets find it takes longer to get the information that they are full. […]

A diet with chocolate and sugar? Now I think I’ve heard everything <g>. And even though carbs might make you feel full more quickly, I found that they’re digested more quickly than protein or fat — which can result in recurring hunger sooner :-/. And corn syrup, in particular, has its own problems — unlike sugar, it doesn’t trigger the stomach hormone ghrelin which tells the body that it’s full.

New DSLR from Canon — EOS Digital Rebel

Ashley Bischoff1 Comment

I learned from the DPReview Newsletter that Canon has announced a consumer digital SLR based on their existing EOS 10D — the EOS Digital Rebel The body-only kit wiill retail for $899, while a bundle with an EF-S 18-55mm lens only sets you back $999 (!). It includes a 6.3 Megapixel CMOS (just like the EOS 10D and D60) and DCResource lists these differences with the 10D (which doesn’t seem that bad).

Differences between this camera and the EOS-10D:

  • No PC flash sync port [of the differences, this may be the most significant]
  • No ISO 3200 option
  • LCD info display on back of camera (versus the top on 10D/D60)
  • White balance can’t be set by color temperature
  • Plastic body vs. (mostly) metal body
  • Burst rate is superior on the 10D

Back when I was shopping around for my digital camera, I did consider the Canon EOS 10D for a little while since it was very reasonably priced for a digital SLR ($1499 list). However, I didn't have any SLR lenses (Canon or otherwise), so that would have added even more to the price of the camera. And, all together, it was just out of my reach.

However, with the Digital Rebel’s body & lens kit going for $999, the prospect of a digital SLR is becoming more and more affordable. I’m very happy with the camera I have now, so I don’t think I’ll be upgrading to a digital SLR anytime soon. But when I do make the upgrade, I’m pleased that it may cost only a little more than the camera I have now.

Pretend Narcotics Checkpoints Legal

Ashley BischoffLeave a comment

It's against the law for police to set up a narcotics checkpoint — but a pretend checkpoint is fine, the Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled.

They were driving to a music festival in far southwestern Colorado when they saw the big signs posted along the road.

“Narcotics checkpoint, one mile ahead.”

“Narcotics canine ahead.”

The passenger tossed something out the window, and they just kept going. That was only the petty offense of littering — a little crime — but it was the start of something big.

It’s against the law for police to set up narcotics checkpoints to check whether any randomly passing motorists happen to have illegal drugs.

But it’s not illegal for the police to pretend that’s what they’re doing, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. […]

I’m not sure what the laws are in Texas, but I’d presume that they’re similar. As a non-drug-user, I suppose it doesn’t apply to me anyway, but it’s interesting from a civil liberties perspective.