They're Wonder-ful!

Oh, the Great Wiki Karmel enjoys a bad pun! As does loyal reader Andrew Elliott, (soon to be) esq.

I may have emailed various loyal readers about this a few months ago (I know I sent it to my coworker, the 1-2-3*), but I certainly have some new loyal readers (everyday I get more), and they should vote too.

As you can see, a Swiss company is organizing a new Seven Wonders of the World. There are many worthy candidates for such a great honor. As a young lad (and as recently as about a year ago- I'm not ashamed to admit I love video games, as FGS (Fort Worth, TX) is), I played the computer game, Civilization (I own all four of them). The point of the game is that you start out as a fledgling tribe and found cities, discover technology, engage is diplomacy with neighbors, and among other things, build wonders of the world over the course of 6000 years. So, from this game, I am familiar with a number of great works of humanity (ie, the Pyramids of Giza, Colosus of Rhodes, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, etc.).

So I'm sure my loyal readers are wondering what the Great Wiki Karmel chose. I am ashamed to admit that I did not do the proper research on my choices. I read up on a few candidates, and then chose seven based on preconceived notions. As new loyal reader J (of PB and J fame) pointed out, it would be irresponsible to vote without doing the proper due diligence. So do not fret, my loyal readers: I will vote again. Soon.

In the mean time, these were my choices:

The Great Wall of China
Ankgor Wat
Chichen Itza
Easter Island Moais
Stonehenge
Petra
Taj Mahal

*The 1-2-3 is my coworker with 2 kids that each speak 3 languages fluently (English, Polish, and Chinese).

Mernel

I’m speechless (well, not really- could the Great Wiki Karmel ever be speechless? Scientists universally concur: no).

As a young lad, the Great Wiki Karmel played sports with all of the kids in the neighborhood. Living just down the street, there were (in order closest to my house): Sujan, Geoff, Mike, Brad, Todd, and brothers Nick* and Jon. That was the core group that played, soccer, football, hockey, four square, “Night Games” (capture the flag, manhunt), made up athletic games (ie. full contact street tennis with a dodgeball type ball), etc. Typically, Jon, or Mernel (I’m not sure where the nickname came from), was the first or second picked, depending on the sport (unfortunately, the neighborhood kids did not recognize the awesomeness of the Great Wiki Karmel, and tended to pick me last…), even though he was two years younger than Nick, Sujan, and myself. So even at an early age (10 ish), Mernel was quite an athlete.

As many of my loyal readers know, I grew up in the same town that the Buffalo Bills stadium is in. Many Bills lived in our neighborhood: Shane Conlan, Daryll Talley, JD Williams, Chris Spielman***, Antoine Winfield**** (and his pink Escalade*****). Jim Kelly lived in the next neighborhood over. Anyway…it appears that while all of those Bills lived in our neighborhood, Mernel has a chance to be the first Bill to be from our neighborhood. As an undrafted rookie, Jon is practicing with the Bills. Though he may be a long shot to make the team, he will be a professional football player (he has an offer from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL). **

*Nick, and I believe Brad (though I'm not positive), live in New York. Nick is also a member of the NYCBBB (actually, I'm not sure- I'll assume) and I've seen him a few times at McFadden's on 42nd street. During the season, you can watch all the Bills games there.

**Editor's note: Jon signed with the Bills. Here is his player profile.

***Editor's note: Orginally said Bryce Paup. Corrected by loyal reader Pa.

****Editor's note: Originally said Nate Clemens. Corrected by loyal reader Pa.

A rare treat for my loyal readers: A Weekend Post

People should listen to me more often. Roy Halladay, the star pitcher of the Toronto Blue Jays, will miss the next few weeks because of an appendectomy. This is just further proof that the Great Wiki Karmel is the smartest person alive!

Just a reminder to all of my loyal readers: Toronto is in Canada, the greatest country ever! The one knock on Canada though: even though they love hockey, it isn't the national sport. And one more thing: what's with the colons? I should ask the USOWK if I am using them correctly....

Cream cheese is good. Oh, wait, blenders. What?

Blenders. The Great Wiki Karmel does not own one, for two reasons:

• As many of my loyal readers know, I don't cook. This week alone, I've gone to Subway*, Tortilla Plus, Red Pepper, and Montague Street Bagels. (In case you were wondering, 12 inch meatball on Italian Herbs and Cheese, with extra American Cheese**, toasted, with oregano and parmesan cheese; guacamole nachos (which comes with delicious refried beans) and a chicken quesadilla; General Tso's (check out the link- interesting discussion on the origin or the dish) Combo platter (which comes with broccoli, an egg roll, and white rice); and an everything bagel, extra toasted with extra cream cheese***). I have no need for any cooking utensils other than a pot (to make hard boiled eggs and pasta), a toaster oven (to make delicious sandwiches (1. toast two pieces of 7 grain bread. 2. put on provolone or brie cheese (if you are interested, I know a great baked brie recipe) and toast again. 3. put on salami or turkey, respectively and toast again. 4. cut**** diagonally. 5. enjoy.), or a grill (I am officially the greatest hot dog chef in the world). FGS (Fort Worth, TX) likes to get all fancy and cook things I've never heard of. I like to order in.

• I don't like mixed drinks. Especially certain drinks with tequila that typically require a blender. I hate tequila. Strong word, I know, but it's true.

Why do I mention all of this? Loyal reader "Yakkity Yak, Don't talk back" sent me this.

*When I first moved to New York, I thought, "Subway. Stupid chain restaurant. I'm going to eat authentic, New York subs." You know what, my loyal readers, they aren't as good. Consistency is the big issue. Subways are damn tasty.

**American cheese. I know. Gross, processed, "can you even call it cheese" cheese. But, again, damn tasty (in certain situations. Scrambled eggs being another).

***Cream cheese is the official favorite food of the Great Wiki Karmel. It's the tastiest thing ever.

****That's for you, BOTU.

Call me skeptical

I don't buy it.



The Great Wiki Karmel is all about video games, as my loyal readers (and especially FGS (Fort Worth, TX), who, even though he would never admit it, really gets into it when I play. He asks questions, legitimately knows what is going on, yadda yadda*) know. And if this kid did do this, well, that's great (I guess). But, while we see him sitting there, pushing buttons on the controller, what we can't see is a friend in the background playing the game with another controller. Conspiracy theorist? Me?** Never.

*Which, by the way, is the 153rd episode of Seinfeld. 153=17*9.

**I'm referencing the fact that I thought JFK was a great movie.

BOTU

By the way, loyal reader BOTU yelled at me for not posting in the last week:

i'm sick of reading about the iGrill. you got nothing new for us? wikikarmel is a drug, and i'm addicted.

That's the greatest thing anyone has ever said to me!

Mmmmm....Keyboard.....

Sorry, my loyal readers, I was out of town for a bit last week and lost my groove. But the Great Wiki Karmel is back. With a vengeance.*

Continuing with my high tech culinary theme from last week, this is just fantastic.






It's for all of those computer geeks out there (I'm raising my hand) who just can't get enough. I should probably get one.... (by the way, when the Great Wiki Karmel suggests that he wants something, it would not be at all inappropriate to give it to him as a gift. It's a great way for my loyal readers to show some appreciation for all of the hard work I do).



They are making a sequel. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it'll definitely be a Netflix... I mean, seriously, Internet terrorists? John McClane? In the words of Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy: "I will now light myself on fire."

iGrill

While not quite as useful as the iRack, the iGrill is just great. As many of my loyal readers know, the Great Wiki Karmel is perhaps the best hotdog chef in the world. Many have challenged me. None have won.

I am quite tempted to buy an iGrill for this summer. Get excited.

What a great idea

As many of my loyal readers know, I hate the ocean. I only dislike the wind (why does it have to be so cold? I'm a fan of the cold in general. Just not with wind). But when I hear about something like this, I can get behind it. As the article suggests, this may not be feasible/ever happen, so don't get your hopes up (for this plan, at least). Hopefully sometime soon we can be dependent on renewable energy...

Buffalo 51

One of the newest Buffalo Bills, Paul Posluszny, will be wearing a different jersey number than in college. As many of my loyal readers know, the Great Wiki Karmel's favorite number is 17 (some might say I'm obsessed with the number). (I am). Will Posluszny be wearing 17? No. But as you can guess from the title (like I've said, my loyal readers are more observant than most), his number will be 51. 17X3.

Posluszny went to Penn State. As did the official dad of Wiki Karmel (for grad school). Penn State is thus my official college football team (I'm not that into college football though). Penn State has been called "Linebacker U" and head coach Joe Paterno even tried to recruit some kid from Western Pennsylvania to play linebacker there. He probably made a good choice spurning Joe Pa'. Anyway...

Shane Conlan was a great Penn State linebacker. He was also a great Buffalo Bills linebacker (and my former neighbor in good ol' Orchard Park). Posluszny has been compared to him throughout his career so him being drafted by the Bills is quite the coincidence. Many assumed that he would choose the number 58 (as Conlan wore) but he instead went with 51. I'm assuming I had a little something to do with it. Once word of my greatness spread to Paul, he probably picked it out of respect for me. Good choice, Paul. Good choice.

Another great sportsman in Buffalo, Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres, wears number 51. Brian is involved with a great charity. I will be purchasing the t-shirt shortly.