A couple of weeks ago, while waiting for a meeting to start, a few co-workers and I discussed whether or not we could start a fire from scratch.

The most common method discussed was the tinder and rapid stick rolling method.Case, of Case's ladder fame, claims to have produced fire using this method. Since he lives in an area so remote that fire needs to be rediscovered every evening, I tend believe him.

For the civilized man (or woman), however, there is a better, more practical method. I don't know of many people who have good dry tinder and a wooden stick handy, BUT, I definitely know people who have a can of diet coke and a piece of chocolate lying around, which brings me to my latest and greatest find on the web:

How to Start a Fire with a Coke Can and a Bar of Chocolate

Apparently chocolate is a fine albeit SLOOOOOOW aluminum polish. The bottom of the can becomes a parabolic mirror that focuses and transforms toasty warm rays of sunshine into lethal rays of fire making goodness (ok maybe not so lethal unless you're an ant).

I'm going to have to give this urban survival technique a try, even though I know it's going to break my heart to waste a good piece of chocolate. I can't believe they use a tasty toblerone in the example! Must be rich. What about using a hershey's kiss instead?

Remember, only you can prevent forest fires!

Funny story, worth reading for the last couple of paragraphs alone.

Penguins in your living room

I'm not exactly sure if these are in order of which I liked best or just when they popped into my head, but these are the things I've eaten in my life that for some reason or other made an impression on me. I enjoy good food but don't really consider myself an "eater", so for me to actually remember something I ate, I really needed to think it was GRRR-EAT!
 

1. Mussel Souffle from Aqua in SF

2. Filet Mignon from Tiramisu SF

3. Surpise Lasagna that my wife made for me for my 30th birthday (which she doens't like at all because of the different cheeses, but made it with love anyways)

4. Baked clams, from a camping/clam digging & baking trip in Maine

5. Fried Clam strips from a seaside stand in Maine (hmm, I have quite a few fond memories from Maine)

6. Tito's Tacos in LA

7. Black Pepper Oven Baked Meat Pie Thing from a street vendor in Taiwan (sorry, I have no idea how to properly translate the name, but it's good stuff, trust me!)

8. Slush Puppies on the way home from 2nd and 3rd grade

9. Arinell's Pizza (NY thin) in Berkeley, tied with  Zachary's Pizza  (Gourmet deep dish) in Berkeley (In fact, Berkeley seems to be pizza heaven, as there are 3 other places I could also really go for right about now, GO BEARS!)

10. Honey nut Cheerios (The first time I had these as a kid, I finished half the box in one sitting)