William Shatner, best known for his Captain Kirk Star Trek character and most recently as Priceline’s “Negotiator” dies in a firebus crash this coming weekend after saving all passengers aboard a charter bus. Shatner’s final words to the grateful passengers – “Save yourself! …some money!”

Of course we know better, Captain Kirk never dies, and he’ll probably just reprogram the commercial and live. After all, he never loses the Kobayashi Maru “no-win” scenario.

Well, it’s been one heck of a ride! But after the remarkable sixth seed playoff run and SuperBowl XLV win and going another 13 games undefeated, one loss to Kansas City and then a second string win over the Lions to cap the season, the wheels fell off last night.

There's No Crying In Football!

What a let down! The Packer’s arrived on their home field to take on the rival New York Giants and after a hard earned bye and with all their top starters in tact, they quickly began to crumble before our eyes. The loss was marked by an incredible 4 fumble turnovers (honestly should have been 5) and 8 dropped passes. It’s almost as if by script, the Falcons, Saints and Packers all lost by turning the ball over much more than they normally would.  The haters are out in full force today, gloating over the misery of the entire Packer Nation. So how do we deal with Football Depression? Usually we’d recommended drinking heavily, but that’s no solution…

Here’s our 7 steps to quick recovery after a season ending loss:

1. Remember it’s only a game, but if ya gotta let it out, let it out big fella!
2. Remember, 32 teams fight for the coveted Lombardi Trophy, all but 1 team will enjoy that success.
3. Get back to normal life. Put away the jerseys and the decorations.
4. Start an activity to take your mind off football, read a new book, enjoy another sport, start a diet or start working out.
5. Don’t dwell on the loss, it’s part of the game.
6.  Ignore juvenile remarks from gloaters or haters from other teams who think their words mean anything.
7. Start looking forward to next year by building your own Home Bar!

Finally, if you are a true Packer fan or even a bandwagon fan, remember that Green Bay has their four Lombardi Trophies safe and on display at the Packer Hall of Fame. Take a trip there soon to soak up the everlasting glory.

You may have some other way to get over the depressing days following a season ending loss, please feel free to share.

Finally – Good Luck to the final four New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49er’s and New York Giants.
Three of those four teams will soon be here, crying in their beer along with the other 31 NFL team fans.

Hummingbird webcam. Click the arrow to watch a time lapse video of the past 24 hours of activity. Notice the feeder fluid level drop as these combative little pilots fight for feeder supremacy all day long. Use the time lapse recording library to check out the entire summer.

Of course the females all get along, but the males are constantly starting fights.
Observation as of March 14 2011:
Four Females – Two males – a half dozen marauding Orioles.
March 15th: Replaced four hole feeder withe a six hole feeder. Moved four hole’r around the corner. Orioles are a major pest to the hummingbird feeders!
March 18th – many of the hummers have moved on…now it’s down to one pair. Have finally appeased the Orioles with grape jelly.
August 15th – we’ve had about three or four pairs and their broods feeding all summer. So far, we’ve gone through over 5lbs of sugar! One day we counted 13 at one feeder.
August  – September – sorry camera was down – needs to be reconfigured.
You’ve been getting the Kelly Lake East camera feed by default.

September 10th – as of yesterday the flock flew south. Went through 20 lbs of sugar and about a dozen jars of grape jelly through this summer.

September 18th – over the past week, we’ve seen a few migrating hummers passing through, even with night time temps in the low 30′s.
We’ll keep the feeders up for a few more weeks for any stragglers or until it freezes.

Click here to view the full webcam time lapse history.

Check our other webcams at Kelly Lake East and Kelly Lake West.

Saturday March 21st 2009 a Manitowoc Man walked into Bob & Geri”s Black Otter Supper Club in Hortonville Wisconsin to take on the massive 160 ounce Extreme Cut Prime Rib in one of the wildest encounters of Man vs. Food I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. The Black Otter Supper Club has been offering up prime rib challenges going back to the late 1980′s and nearly twenty years ago I myself had taken on and tackled the comparatively tiny 104 ounce King Cut.

The 160 oz. Prime Rib King

Movies have depicted Northern Wisconsin restaurants with lumberjack sized steaks, like the old 96′er which the late John Candy barely accomplished (The Great Outdoors, 1988) and which may seem obscene to health conscious folks in California or to New Yorkers who pay hundreds of dollars for a 6 ounce steak prepared by some fancy pants chef, but here in Wisconsin, the cholesterol challenge begins in the over 100 ounce club.

A mere 45 minutes after starting,  the challenger Andy Frank swallowed his last bite of the monster 160 ounce prime rib and was declared the winner and new reining King of Prime Rib!

Still feeling a mite peckish, Mr. Frank topped off this monumental task by polishing off his fried potatoes and salad. Shown above is a photo of the new King of Prime Rib. The 160 ounce Extreme Cut has been offered since 2003, but so far only 3 have conquered the mountain of meat. The 104 ounce wall of shame includes photos from hundreds of carnivores who have downed the now retired 104 ounce King Cut.

The legendary 160 oz Prime Rib featured at the Black Otter Supper Club , Hortonville, Wisconsin

UPDATE: we didn’t have a photo of the monumental mountain of meat at the time this post was originally published, but here is one from the Black Otter menu.

The biggest question in most peoples mind (besides is he still alive) is “wow! how many calories is that?”

Well, we’ve boiled that down for you in the following nutritional facts label that should accompany the plate.

These values were calculated using a 10 ounce serving  data for Prime Rib Steak. Keep in mind, the 160 ounce Extreme cut is “bone in”  and includes a pound or two of bone and fat which of course you do not have to eat.

Other interesting extreme eating videos:
Watch Furious Pete Czerwinski break the world time record for downing a sizzling hot 72 ounce steak in 7 minutes, a total of 10 minutes for potato & salad.

Nutritional Facts for the Black Otter Supper Club’s 106 Ounce Prime Rib:

Serving size: 160 Ounces

Calories: 15,569
Calories from Fat: 11, 376
Cholesterol: 2,976mg
Sodium: 52,528mg
Total Carbs: 149g (Hey it’s low carb!)
Fiber: 32g (but you’ll need more fiber to push that baby through!)
Protein: 848g

All calculations are based on nutritional data of a 10 oz portion and simply multiplied out.
Calculations do not take into account extra bone or fat content.

please feel free to post your comments…

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Usually we report on alcoholic drinks, but this post is regarding remedies.
As we get older or for those with poor dietary habits, sometimes a little fiber is needed to keep things sailing along smoothly. This is a report on a remedy that sadly is no longer available.

What happened to Equate Fiber Therapy?

For most people, a hard night of drinking and greasy food can leave your head aching and your innards trashed…

Fortunately (for those of us in the over 40 crowd) a dose of fiber can get you cleaned out and right back on track.

Unfortunately one of the best values in fiber therapy products is now off the market.
Equate Fiber Therapy was available at most Walmart stores for less than half the price of the leading brand (Metamucil). This popular alternative will not be returning to store shelve any time soon.

You’re probably wondering what happened to Equate Fiber Therapy?

We contacted the manufacturer of this popular Walmart brand and they replied with the following response:

“Thank you for contacting the Perrigo Company with this inquiry.

The Perrigo Company has discontinued the manufacture of this fiber therapy product. This product was discontinued because it was a very expensive product to make and it could not be sold at a price that would cover those costs.

We do manufacture a fiber laxative caplet which we supply to Walmart. This product is just as effective as fiber powders and gentle enough to be used on a daily basis.  If you require a powder formulation, I would suggest you consult the pharmacist at your local Walmart regarding the availability of a suitable substitute.

Please feel free to contact us if you require further assistance.”

Sincerely, Perrigo Consumer Affairs

So there you have it. Equate Fiber Therapy has been discontinued.
It’s the end of a gastronomical era.

I’m wondering why they didn’t simply increase the price to make it profitable?
If anyone can add to this story, please post your thoughts…

Getting stuck in a rut with commercial brand beers is easy to do, but when the price of your favorite suds jumps from $12 to over $16 in a few short months, it’s time to look around for an alternative brew. Recently a friend turned me on to Boxer Beer made by Minhas Craft Creek Brewery in Monroe Wisconsin. I was skeptical at first but after trying it and discovering the $11 per 36 pack price, I was sold. Boxer Lager has 5% alcohol and will stand up against Miller and Bud products any day. Check it out next time you’re on a Beer Run.

Watch the short video below for more information on Minhas Craft Brewery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkHS60-xmcA

Boxer Beer Links:

• Canada – http://www.boxerlager.com/index.html
• USA – http://www.minhasbrewery.com

With fuel prices reaching all time records, many people are beginning to complain that energy costs are just too high. Well, it’s really no big surprise that energy costs continue to skyrocket when people keep ignoring the importance of something as simple as recycling. Most think “what good are the few cans I just threw in the trash?” or “my recycling effort won’t make a difference”. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking is exactly what keeps costs climbing.

saving aluminum helps reduce our nation's energy needs

Did you know that in the United States alone, we throw away enough aluminum cans EACH MONTH to rebuild every commercial airliner in the country? That’s a shameful waste.

The solution is simple.  If you have a local residential recycling pickup, use it! If not, bag your aluminum cans and save them for your next trip to town, then drop them off at the county recycling center or cash them in at a recycling depot or machine.
You might also find a local Boy Scout chapter or church that will gladly accept and process the cans for you, making a little money for themselves in the process.

Aluminum prices are on the rise with one pound of scrap aluminum cans now fetching nearly a dollar, and the price is rising fast!
That might not sound like much, but add it up and you might be able to offset the higher price of gasoline simply by cashing in your used beer & soda cans.

Throwing used cans in the trash is like throwing away good money and the energy future of your country. That would be like walking around with a hole in your pocket, and your head…
If you run your own home bar, the money you save can be reinvested into fresh bar stock.

Entertaining at your own Home Bar can also serve up money savings. At current prices, a$3.50 can of beer at the local corner bar costs you only 67 cents at home! Mixed drinks save even more. Learn How to Build a Home Bar using our easy to build plans.

Here are some great resources to help you recycle and save!

Here are some useful site links to help you with your recycling needs.

• Earth 911 – Locate recycling centers near you.
• The Aluminum Association – where to recycle.

Let’s stop our wasteful ways by recycling aluminum cans, metal cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard. Recycle and keep useful resources out of your local landfill. If you know of a recycling center or aluminum can RVM  (Reverse Vending Machine) location in your area, please post it in a comment below.

Summer is just around the corner and after a long dreary winter, your thoughts will no doubt be focused on getting out of the house. But when summer heat finally takes it’s toll, on goes the air conditioner as you retreat from the heat. But what if you had a cool basement bar retreat in which to escape from steamy temperatures and even that dreaded summer danger, tornadoes (or other scary world events)?

one cool basement bar

This cool basement bar is not only great looking, but can serve as a sort of  basement bunker.  The bar area includes all the conveniences, serving as a secondary safe zone in the event of public emergency.

We have installed running water, toilet, TV, electricity and food stores if needed. We stock our bar back room with plenty of canned goods, bottled R.O. water, first aid and a general survival kit.

The bar area even  includes a camera system for monitoring outdoor conditions and a jukebox with internet connectivity.
It never hurts to be prepared.

Think of it as a modern day fallout shelter.
We’re working on a a canopy bar concept that will serve as both a bar and a bunker.

TIP: If you’re fortunate to have a basement, then you know how nice and cool that space can be in the summer. The problem is, many home basements are cold and damp.
Damp basements are usually easy to remedy.  If your walls and floor don’t leak, then you are in good condition. The next step is to condition the air. A simple room dehumidifier can remove much of the stagnant moisture in the air and in surrounding materials. A ozone type air cleaner can then remove any musty smell.

More money in the tank means less for the local bar.

Crude oil again touched the $100 per barrel mark today signaling a return to high gas prices. Unfortunately, the more money we have to dump into our fuel tanks, the less money we have for spending at the local bar. With recent smoking bans, the local bar owners are hurting enough already, but with rising tensions in the mid east and summer price hikes just around the corner, the cost of entertainment is definitely heading higher.

A recent trip to a local bar was proof that more people are staying at home, which was immediately evident by the complete lack of bar patrons. It’s clear these local bar owners are hurting.

A mug of stale beer was $3.25 and a nasty burger & fries was $5.75. The two of us had the special and a couple beers which totaled $24.50! A little high for a good case of heartburn. These days frugality is in order, I could buy a case of beer and a couple of sliders for less.

Now I’m not saying you should stop pumping money into your local economy and having an occasional night out, but at the same time don’t let yourself sit at home, alone and bored, build a Home Bar!

Once your home bar is completed, you’ll save loads of money while entertaining your friends in the safety of your own man cave. It’s all the fun without the hassle and half the expense.

The Easy Home Bar Plans website gives you all the plans and design ideas you need to brighten up your social life and bring fun back into your otherwise ho-hum home life.

When you finally decide to save money by entertaining at home and want to build a home bar, you have two choices in planning your unused room or basement remodeling bar project.
1. Get out a pencil and paper to sketch up a working bar design or…
2. Join a website that offers a bunch of tried and tested bar designs and a bar photograph gallery with thousands of pictures that is second to none for finding great design ideas.

No matter if you are an expert woodworker or a complete novice, there is only one site the gives you so much for so little. Consider for a moment what you time is worth. Even If you make minimum wage, our bar plans design website will save you money by saving hours of guesswork and time. The fact is that we help you do it right the first time. Other sites sell plans with rickety designs that even their own members claim are “shabby” in their framing techniques. When a bar if framed up, it should be solid, but according to members of one other site, once the bar is framed up, it’s wobbly and unstable. That indicates a poor design. Our designs are rock solid even before the side sheeting goes on and are designed to take all the wild party abuse you can throw at them.

The Easy Home Bar Plans site will help with great time saving ideas and designs for your home bar. Other look-a-like bar plan sites deliver less that one tenth the amount of useful content.

Combination bar perfect for your basement game room / rec room layout.

Versatility is also something you should look for and not just an empty claim of such. Our designs can be easily modified and combined to create unique and beautiful bar layouts that will be the focal point of your basement rec-room.  As you can see, this classic bar and bar back combination is possible by simply combining our EHBP-09  45 degree corner bar (leg lengths modified by using the CHBD resizing tool) and our EMBP-01 3 in 1 Combo Bar Back project plans. Both are available for resizing for literally thousands of possible custom size layouts.

So if you’re interested in saving money by building you own home bar and saving money by entertaining in the safety and comfort of your own home, then check out the rest of the Easy Home Bar Plans website for the best bar plans available on the web.

All bar blueprint plans are available for instant download. All plans documents are in universally accepted Adobe PDF format. Full access to Forum, Gallery and Custom Home Bar Designer Tool included with your membership. Join Today