The Blog of Burgher Jon

It’s a well known fact for US School children that Pizza and Spaghetti is actually of Chinese origin, brought back to Italy by Marco Polo; but a less known fact is that Sauerkraut is also originally a Chinese delicacy.  They call it Suan Cai and according to this Wikipedia article it is common across much of China and dates far enough back that the workers on the Great Wall may well have had Sauerkraut for lunch.

Now on to the purpose of Sauerkraut Sundays… As I go through the week, I use Twitter to send out little updates and links.  I realize that I do this quite a bit and that not all of you use Twitter, so with that in mind I’d like to take Sunday to do sort of a week in review.  I’ve selected the most useful of my tweets from the last week and placed them in to the categories that I use in this blog.

Business

• My spell check knows about Xerox but not about Netflix, I wonder how long that will be true.
• I know I’m behind on the news, but AOL selling Bebo for <$10M should be grounds for investors to sue Randy Falco.

Me

• At lunch I had Japanese beef burgers with a guy from Kobe, Japan. Seriously.
• Me 3 with Pelham 123 RT @rb4080: I think @BadAndyB has the right idea. I’m thinking movie night over #Pirates

National Politics

• #Aussies RT @pevansgreenwood: An unmarried female atheist redheaded migrant Prime Minister? Who’s a communist now, Obama?

Personal Technology

• The fail whale is approaching the beach in preparation for#worldcup game between #USA and Ghana
• Hot off the presses, Google Voice ( http://bit.ly/9QCBXV ) no longer requires an invite. Go Try It.
• In Office ’10 I can finally have two different PPTs open on two different screens an obvious innovation 15 years in the making.

Pittsburgh

• I wish we were more metropolitan, but Pittsburgh is only the 61st largest city in the USA in terms of the city proper. http://bit.ly/bkxdlQ

Sports

• Ha! RT @TheOnion: BREAKING: Ghana Defeats United States’ Interest In Soccer
• I’m sick of hearing how this was a step forward for USA Soccer. We lost to a country 1/10th our size. Practice More.
• If mario lemieux played for the usa this would be tied
• RT @ScottDMcCauley: Best outing with Indy. Morton 8IP R 2H 3K. Nothing hit hard, infield hit to 3rd scored run. Retired last 11 batters
• Seriously, this tennis match has been suspended by darkness two days in a row. Almost 10 hours. http://es.pn/9HBxta

Startups

• WordPress just released version 3.0. Any early adopters want to provide feedback?
• This is big news for @foursquare’s evolution to profitability.http://tcrn.ch/9MEJmC

Technology News

• RT @tweetmeme: Apple iPhone 4 may be recalled, says Steve Jobs | Mail Online http://retwt.me/1NBAR (via @MailOnline)
• I’m hard pressed to disagree with @howardlindzon, but the fact that Apple is #2 in Mkt Cap, makes me want to short’em.http://bit.ly/aohgPB

Unsolicited Advice

• Great post, couldn’t agree more. RT @cdixon: Competition is overrated http://bit.ly/aI6p0N
• You’re better off with a kick ass half then a half ass whole. Via @37signals #rework

Other (Mostly Humorous Comments from the Week)

• I could not agree with this dog more about the vuvuzela.http://youtu.be/oppBYO_iA8Y

I have a little bit of a secret; I’m not a big fan of actually consuming sauerkraut (or even smelling it).  I enjoy do enjoy writing these posts, and it does add a little bit of an aroma to this blog, but what I prefer to eat is pasta.  Preferably pasta of the northern Italian variety.  However, I do have some good news for you if you came to this blog on Sauerkraut Sunday because you actually LIKE sauerkraut.  Particularly if you like Sauerkraut in northern Italy.  There’s a town called Castelrotto, which the locals prefer to call Kastelruth since it feels more like their native German.  It’s easy to pick up a little bit of Sauerkraut in local restaurants there like the Hotel Cavallino.

Now on to the purpose of Sauerkraut Sundays… As I go through the week, I use Twitter to send out little updates and links.  I realize that I do this quite a bit and that not all of you use Twitter, so with that in mind I’d like to take Sunday to do sort of a week in review.  I’ve selected the most useful of my tweets from the last week and placed them in to the categories that I use in this blog.

Business

• Really interesting question for executives. RT @HarvardBiz: Should Leaders Ever Swear? http://s.hbr.org/bCbYcI

Me

• Sure, I can eat lunch an hour after breakfast if they’re both mtos. (@ Sheetz #418) http://4sq.com/aQwAQ1
• I just sweat through my shirt playong corn hole it is unacceptably hot in nc
• I am currently primarily listening to one of two kinds of music. Rap and Opera. Seriously.
• My new computer just arrived!!! I know you don’t care, but I don’t care that you don’t care.

Personal Technology

• About Time RT @Starbucks: We’re very excited to announce that coming July 1st: Free. 1 click. No registration WIFI at all US locations!
• Forrester research says 23% of PC sales will be tablets. Burgher Jon says they should step away from Apple’s Koolaid.http://tcrn.ch/dCnmpZ
• I’m going to give this a try for Android (Apple version exists), sounds interesting. http://tcrn.ch/b6DMn8

Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh based #Kiddix, gets some love from @TechCrunchhttp://tcrn.ch/co9D8T
• Picture taken at CLT airport of a #Steelers US Ais Plane (via @MichaelSally) http://twitpic.com/1xj0an
• One of my favorite twists in the Burgh RT @freakshowmikey: The Furry Convention is next weekend. I love living in Pittsburgh.
• Mike spotted a hilarious bit in sI’s #WorldCup blog. It turns out African cabbies love the Steelers. http://bit.ly/dCvNC7

Sports

• #Pirates manager John Russell got himself ejected so that he could make Father’s day dinner.
• The #Pirates can’t buy a win right now, not that they’re trying.#30MilPayroll
• How much promise can a team that loses 12 straight have?#Pirates
• If I cared any less about the NBA it would magically change in to the MLS.
• Eventhough it didn’t work out, I liked the #Pirates move to get a solid 2B in the off-season. Not all moves can work out.
• Donovan McNabb didn’t know you could tie in soccer.
• Nebraska instantly becomes the dumbest school in the Big 10? Are we surprised by this? http://bit.ly/afFbvE

Startups

• WordPress just released version 3.0. Any early adopters want to provide feedback?
• This is big news for @foursquare‘s evolution to profitability.http://tcrn.ch/9MEJmC

Technology News

• Yahoo running ads for their web TV during the web broadcast of the #Pirates game. #SmartMarketing

Unsolicited Advice

• The “real world” is not a place; it’s an excuse. (@37Signals#Rework)
• Don’t be surprised if @FourSquare is profitable and worth between one and two billion by this time next year.
• In defense of founding the “lifestyle” startup. I’ve always seen this as a possibility. http://tcrn.ch/bLgIJq

Other (Mostly Humorous Comments from the Week)

• HA! Best @jesus post in quite some time. RT @jesus: Oh my God I totally forgot it’s Fathers Day!
• My microsoft status bar went from “2 seconds remaining” to “12 minutes remaining” in only 20 minutes.
• “It is illegal to “service customers” in the United States, unless, of course, if you are in Las Vegas.” -My Business Professor
• Wow, giant statue of Jesus gets struck by lightning and burns. Wow. http://bit.ly/cDwNRW
• I got high definition television to help me solve cases on CSI. (via @DanielTosh)

This video is quite classic and possibly worth watching the whole way through if you’re bored this Sunday.  About halfway through there is a training round for the Sauerkraut eating championship in Henderson, MN.  It takes place next weekend, so if you’re a serious krauter (and I know we have some in the Burgh), check out the website and get going up north.  I do have to warn you though, winning the Sauerkraut eating competition will require consuming 2 pounds of spoiled cabbage in about a minute (last year’s winner finished in 1’04″)

Now on to the purpose of Sauerkraut Sundays… As I go through the week, I use Twitter to send out little updates and links.  I realize that I do this quite a bit and that not all of you use Twitter, so with that in mind I’d like to take Sunday to do sort of a week in review.  I’ve selected the most useful of my tweets from the last week and placed them in to the categories that I use in this blog.

Me

• And no one even knew my name. (@ Cheers)http://4sq.com/6gzplD
• Checking in at the apple store. On my android. (@ Apple Store Boylston Street w/ 4 others) http://4sq.com/4nOTWi
• Ugh, Powerpoint just became the most used application on my computer (at the top of the start menu). I feel a little gross about it.
• Was able to sample a Dallas Dhu Whiskey at dinner. Bonus points if you have any idea why that’s special.
• I want to do this. Seriously. Swimming with Whale Sharks.http://bit.ly/aAoL9y
• I’ve been made to feel old several times over the last couple weeks. The fact that Snoop Dogg is only 38 helps.

Personal Technology

• Cute Google Easter Egg for the World Cup. http://bit.ly/d6JVAB
• If you only have time for one; techcrunch, allthingsD or mashable?
• Does Zynga’s FrontierVille mean I can play Oregon Trail with my friends from elementary school, AGAIN! http://bit.ly/bzIob1
• Stagering statistic, Americans watched 253,652 YEARS of online video in April. http://nyti.ms/cv3Mg5
• Tried to watch the buccos for a few minutes and it turns out Boston is in the local viewing range of Pittsburgh, seriously?

Pittsburgh

• The Burgh’s new teacher contract is one VERY small step to paying teachers appropriately http://bit.ly/98rKSX
• Google is sticking with the target date of “this year” for announcing the selected broadband communities. #PatienceSucks

Sports

• Fabio Capello makes 17x as much as US coach Bob Bradley. AND still picked Robert Green for keeper.
• First Lexington, then Concord, now Rustenberg
• The Pittsburgh Pirates against Jim Leyland, this should be a little wierd.
• That’s for the #Pirates not some minor league team. RT @whygavs: Neil Walker singles in Jose Tabata. I like the sound of that.
• RT @RoccoDeMaro: Actual #Pirates prospects playing. Like right now. #ThisIsReallyHappening
• Tabata, McCutchen, Jones is an OF I feel pretty comfortable with defensively
• Well Put RT @RoccoDeMaro: Ryan Doumit is a good hitter for a catcher. Ryan Doumit is not a good catcher for a catcher.

Startups

• The FourSquare funding drama appears to be over. Andreesen Horrowitz checking in with a likely $80M valuation.

Technology News

• Ha, NYT Bans the word Tweet, outside of “ornithological contexts”http://tcrn.ch/cKstXB

Unsolicited Advice

• I WOULD let my kid try to circumnavigate the world on a sailboat. Sheltered kids live boring lives. http://bit.ly/9qrZB6
• When you travel commercial you’re at the airlines mercy. Making peace with that is guaranteed to make travel more enjoyable.
• One of the dumbest things you can do is be frustrated when a celebrity you like befriends one that you don’t. #getyourownlife

Other (Mostly Humorous Comments from the Week)

• Being delayed 10 minutes while your gate clears <> end of the world
• Sign at BP gas station: “Do not leave pumps unattended. You are responsible for spills.” #oilspill #bp #ironyhttp://bit.ly/bd6p1E
• 300 kb/s over CLT’s free wireless. Not Bad. This really is a pretty nice airport.
• The Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi is a crazy looking structure:http://bit.ly/adO4ei

I’ve been doing these Sauerkraut Sundays for a while and in that time I’ve gotten a lot of requests for Sauerkraut themed art.  Actually, I haven’t had any such requests; but, I have FOUND some sauerkraut based art!  The photo above is entitled “Choucroute Garni Meal of Sauerkraut: Kielbasa, Veal Sausage, Knackwurst, Pork Butt and Bratwurst” by John Dominis.  This photograph is available in 30 x 40 print for the bargain price of 129.99 through Amazon.com.  So, now you know where you can find some Sauerkraut art.

now on to the purpose of Sauerkraut Sundays… As I go through the week, I use Twitter to send out little updates and links.  I realize that I do this quite a bit and that not all of you use Twitter, so with that in mind I’d like to take Sunday to do sort of a week in review.  I’ve selected the most useful of my tweets from the last week and placed them in to the categories that I use in this blog.

Me

• I love using Shelly (my car’s GPS) to find glorious (and by this I mean terrible for me) restaurants in the mountains.
• I’m proud to say, I had to ask Google what SATCII meant.

Personal Technology

• HA! RT @msmon: has just ousted Luke Ravenstahl as mayor of Pittsburgh on FourSquare!

Pittsburgh

• Awesome RT @Bram_R: “Formally” returning to my blog, the Pittsburgh Comet, tomorrow. Very excited.http://pghcomet.blogspot.com/

Sports

• The catch by lastings milledge to end last night’s game was ridiculous. If you missed it… http://bit.ly/aNrc0v
• Shame that Ken Griffey Jr wasn’t the greatest player of his generation. The kid was the only slugger of virtue from my youth.
• Ok, Pirates. I’m actually a fan of the short pants and long socks but these moustaches have got to go. http://bit.ly/aMyymg
• I’m available RT @ScottDMcCauley: Can you pitch tomorrow? 3rd suspended game in 4 days. This one called in the bot of 4th.

Technology News

• Wow. Major. Amazon enters mobile market. AmazonWireless, new portal for mobile plans & deviceshttp://is.gd/cyk8b (via @brainpicker)

Unsolicited Advice

• If you have watched CNN’s live feed of the oil leak for more then 10 seconds, go ahead and give yourself a slap across the face
• RT @RevRunWisdom: Being positive might not solve all of my problems, but it annoys enough ppl to be worth my time.

Other (Mostly Humorous Comments from the Week)

• Wow RT @BPGlobalPR: Found driftwood that looks like Jesus crying oil. Not sure what it means but we’re charging 20 bucks to see it.
• Who would you rather be today, first base umpire Jim Joyce or BP CEO Tony Hayward?
• RT @FSBigBob: Lady Gaga…Dressed Up As Larry King Last Night For Her Interview…Classic http://is.gd/cymIL
• Perhaps I don’t understand tropical storms correctly, but how did one cause THAT crater? http://bit.ly/9o6yfj

As I sat down to figure out what aspects of our favorite little German delicacy we could explore with today’s issue of Sunday Sauerkraut, a question hit me.  Why do they call sauerkraut, sauerkraut?  I mean what does the word actually mean?  A little googling later, I have the answer and a great tidbit to share with you this Sunday.  Turns out, it’s as simple as you might expect.  In German, “sauer” means “sour” and “kraut” means “cabbage”.  So we’re quite literally dealing with Sour Cabbage.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, now on to the purpose of Sauerkraut Sundays… As I go through the week, I use Twitter to send out little updates and links.  I realize that I do this quite a bit and that not all of you use Twitter, so with that in mind I’d like to take Sunday to do sort of a week in review.  I’ve selected the most useful of my tweets from the last week and placed them in to the categories that I use in this blog.

Me

• I’m a Burgher livin in CLT atm RT @kristin_vstpgh: 10 years ago today I moved back home from Charlotte. Best decision I’ve made.

Personal Technology

• So this is the last day of Lost, that’s 2 minutes of reading stupid Tweets that I get back every week from here on out!

Pittsburgh

• HUGE News! #Pens and #Caps to play a game at Heinz Field on NYD!!! http://bit.ly/cfHL2c
• Mike Madison: “The Igloo should go. It is not the Pantheon; it is not Penn Station.” Couldn’t agree more.
• In March, Pittsbugh had more job growth then any other US City.http://bit.ly/95146E

Sports

• Ugh, he’s right but still…. so painful right now. RT @BucsDugout: Huntington: Brad Lincoln Not Quite Readyhttp://sbnation.com/e/1258005

Technology News

• Unless Albornoz is a pop culture reference I don’t get, there are 4 trending topics right now with nothing to do with the USA.
• Today @cdixon blogs about Amazon beating up Google in a core area. I’ve speculated that his company is the bigger threat.

Unsolicited Advice

• Solid Idea: A magazine delivered on iPad for iPad users. High income, homogeneous base.

Other (Mostly Humorous Comments from the Week)

• So my Task Manager is Frozen, how do you kill that exactly?http://yfrog.com/bfllxp
• The theme of this year’s memorial day weekend: Remember when memorial day meant I didn’t have to work?
• I hope that in heaven Gary Coleman finds the peace that eluded him on Earth, and finally discovers what Willis was talking about.
• Interviewer: What are 3 of your weaknesses? R: I don’t mean to brag, but I only have 2. Hookers and Blow.
• If I see bud light and wheat make out in the elevator one more time I won’t be able to try it without feeling dirty.