Bamboo Cup

You can read about all the environmental benefits of Southwest's new cup, but this is the first paper-based cup that is nice to drink from.  Made from a pulp blend comprising 75% bamboo, it delivers a pretty decent mouthfeel and is strong enough to not feel like it will fall apart.  

https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2024/10-28-2024-154230283

Singcall

When I spotted the Singcall device at the Culina Italian restaurant in the Oregon District of downtown Dayton, Ohio, I thought this was a great idea, getting service when you need it and not waiting for your server to stop by.  Turns out that (1) this is just a twist on the old pager technology that was so cool in the 1980s, and (2) Singcall has several other niches such as caregiver pagers, doorbell chimes, and security alarms.  See the link below for their website and additional options. 

https://singcall.com

Turnabout Is Fair Play

I find it fascinating to watch videos where birds of prey swoop over the water and deftly pull a fish from the water with their talons or others that dive straight into the water to snatch deeper prey.  But nature doesn't side exclusively with birds as the two-minute video at the link below demonstrates.  Created by BBC's Blue Planet, it features the Giant Trevally feeding on Terns as in the picture below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4pxLHG0Wzs&si=1XQQgAc2JX0C7dJq

Puck

The hockey puck you see below came from our Infiniti QX60 we bought last February.  You would guess correctly we don't play hockey since we're in our late 60s so it's not ours.  But it's obvious that someone in the previous owners' family did and accidentally left it behind.  It was found by the person at Soft Touch Car Wash that vacuumed our car and they must have done the best job ever, finding a black puck on the black carpet wedged (presumably) under one of the seats.  Impressive!  

https://softtouchcarwashdayton.com

Skyline Chili Dip

The Skyline Chili Dip shown below is both super easy and super delicious.  A layer of cream cheese on the bottom is topped with a can of Skyline Chili and baked at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese and bake for another 5-8 minutes until the cheese melts.  If the mood strikes, top the dip with sliced scallions or jalapeno peppers.

Big shout out to Deb for this tailgate masterpiece.

https://www.thechunkychef.com/cincinnati-style-chili-cheese-dip

ABC Store

On our recent trip to Hilton Head Island, we stocked up on our necessary liquid supplies at Island Spirits & Fine Wines.  While the receipt included that establishment's name, that debit charge came through very differently on our bank account.  As shown below, somebody has a weird sense of humor.

Lights On

The lights are illuminated even though it's a bright sunny day at UB Stadium on the University of Buffalo campus.  This isn't the first time I've experienced this, but it was the first time it triggered me to find out why.  The numerous reasons are detailed at the link below, and while a few seem a bit of a reach, having them on to assist the television broadcast cameras in delivering high-quality video, having consistent light levels during partly cloudy days, and getting players to get used to them being on makes sense to me.  

https://medium.com/@wosenlight/why-are-stadium-lights-on-during-the-day-e85c910481d#

Valet Living

One of Valet Living's services is a once-a-day trash pickup, so you can avoid trips to your apartment complex's central garbage dumpsters.  I have never lived in an apartment complex so big that this would be valuable, but the can shown below is from the Buffalo, New York area where snow, cold, and dark make that evaluation much different.

https://www.valetliving.com

In Five Seconds

I have an Amazon Alexa-controlled smart switch on a lamp in the basement so I can say "Alexa, turn on (or off) the basement light."  The only problem is that after dark the basement is very dark and I need that light to safely see my way to the stairs.  I used to walk part of the way up the stairs before issuing the "off" command, but recently, on a whim, deciding to try "Alexa, in five seconds turn off the basement light."  To my surprise that worked!  I've searched several times for a document showing this feature exists, but so far I've come up with nothing.

Street Corn Dip

This Street Corn Dip is delicious whether you serve it up hot or cold, making it the perfect tailgate dish.  Don't let the twelve ingredients fool you into thinking this is a hard recipe to make, it's mostly slicing, dicing, and measuring with a little stirring thrown in.  If I've created a recipe card like the one below for a dish, it's both easy (because the prep fits in 90 words or less) and delicious (have to trust me on that).