from the Memphis Flyer

I was just defending Burger King to my wife. We were watching Conan’s first show (on DVR- do they count folks like us in Nielsen ratings, by the way?) and a Burger King ad came on. “Oh god!” she grumbled. She was remembering the Whopper she’d ordered the previous day on our drive up from Boston. “Burger King makes the worst burgers on the planet!” she continued. Call me crazy, but I’ve always enjoyed the Whopper, maybe not over a Big Mac, but the worst burger on the planet? Well, BK has some ’splaining to do!

A reporter for the Memphis Flyer, Chris Davis, recently spotted a Burger King in Tennessee with a billboard that read “Global Warming Is Baloney.” He called up the restaurant to see if it was some practical joke. It had to be, right? Read on…

Davis calls BK:

Davis: Hi, I’m calling from the Flyer about your sign. Does Burger King really think global warming is baloney?
Davis: [Hangup]
Davis:(calling back): Your sign out front says global warming is baloney.
BK: I don’t see that sir.
Davis: Well it does.
BK: I don’t see that sir… I change the signs and that sign’s been up for a week.
Davis: Well, I have pictures that I took this afternoon [cross conversation ensuring I'm calling the correct BK. I am]
Davis: So there’s no question that your sign said it and so did one in Midtown. I want to know if it was on purpose or if it was a prank someone pulled on you.
BK: Let me get the manager. [several minutes of dead air then the same or very similar voice picks up.]
BK: Who were you holding for?
Davis: A manager, about the sign. I have pictures of the sign and people have called me upset. I just want to know if it’s a mistake or not so I can report it. [rehash of previous conversation]
BK: Let me go outside and look at the sign and I’ll call you right back. [exchange of contact info]

from the Memphis Flyer

[phone rings, I answer]
BK: The sign was put up yesterday.
Davis: And it’s not a mistake?
BK: No.
Davis: It reflects the opinion of BK international?
BK: Yes. Would you like to talk to the home office? I can give you a number.
Davis: I’ve got the number, I’ve already contacted them. Thanks.

While McDonald’s seems to be searching for ways to incorporate some green thinking (from supply chain to restaurants), Burger King looks to be way off the mark. As Davis explains, “when it comes to climate change, BK doesn’t have the best reputation. Climatecounts.org, a not-for-profit organization that rates companies based on attitudes toward global warming, describes Burger King as “A choice to avoid for the climate-conscious shopper.’” He hasn’t heard back from corporate, and, for now, I’m starting to agree with my wife.

[source: Memphis Flyer, via Leo Hickman]

The Eco-Media Player Revolution

The good people at Baylis sent us their new Eco-Media player, the terrific Revolution. While it may never dethrone the iPod, the Revolution deserves some attention for somehow being both innovative and old school. Trevor Baylis, the British inventor best known for inventing a wind-up radio in the 1980s in response to the need to communicate information about AIDS to people in areas of Africa with no electricity, has steered the concept towards today’s generation of music players. The Revolution is a wind-up MP3 player that features video playback, a photo viewer, an FM radio, a voice recorder, a line input recorder, a text reader, expandable memory, and a flashlight. You can even use it to charge your cell phone.

Just 1 minute of winding will provide around 45 minutes of music play, and a full charge (via USB) will provide 48 hours of play time. The on-board generator makes it perfect for camping, long flights, or anytime you’re nowhere near a plug. But it’s also a nice bit of “green innovation.” We’ve enjoyed having one, and, if you’re looking for a fun “green gadget,” the Revolution is a good option. Terrapass offers it here for about $200.

Here’s a cheese-ball video of Baylis- is that Top Gun music in the background?- introducing the device to “a new generation.” But it’s hard not to root for Baylis and think…English inventor? Driving an old sports car? O.B.E.? Awesome!