Dougie Luv, owner of Vancouver's DougieDog Hot Dogs and inventor of the $100 hot dog, is shown in a handout photo. A gourmet Vancouver hotdog infused with century-old cognac now has a Guinness to go along with it a Guinness world record.
For many of us, Monday to Friday races by in a blur. We know it can be a struggle to delve beyond the big headlines and keep on top of all the interesting stories out there. We're here to lend a hand: In case you missed them the first time, a collection of stories you may have missed this week on globeandmail.com.
What not to ask the IT help desk
Things the IT help desk can probably fix: your slow computer. Things the IT help desk can't help you with: retrieving your money from a malfunctioning vending machine or fixing the microwave in the lunch room. Those are among some of the strangest requests posed to tech-support staff in Canada and the United States. And it gets much worse.
What women want
According to new research, more women are choosing careers over starting a family for one simple reason: They can't find a man to marry. "Most women don't realize it, but an important factor in a woman's career choice is how easy or difficult it is to find a husband." Sound a bit like an outdated notion? Perhaps if the researchers hadn't ignored multiple variables, the results would have been different.
Fancy foot-long
What could make a hot dog sell for $100? Bratwurst infused with century-old Louis the 13th cognac, Kobe beef seared in olive and truffle oil, fresh lobster and a secret picante sauce. The so-called Dragon Dog, made by Vancouver's dougieDog hot dog joint, has broken the record for the world's most expensive hot dog. Now, the creator is hoping to bring his high-priced creation to a city near you.
That's one way to show your appreciation
To thank the medical professionals who helped him through his cancer battle, Andy Smith, a special effects wizard who built the Batmobile used in the Christopher Nolan trilogy, arranged for the car to be driven from L.A. to Burnaby. Eager fans donated money to the B.C. Cancer Foundation for the chance to lay eyes on the million-dollar marvel. The six-wheel jet-black vehicle caused quite the stir, particularly driving across the U.S.-Canada border, but Mr. Smith says it's the least he could do. There was one thing he couldn't do however: reveal details on this summer's release of The Dark Knight Rises.
But can you put it together with an Allen key?
Ikea stores, IkeaLand and now... Ikea TV. The furnishing giant's new product line integrates an LED TV, a sound system with wireless bass speakers, an internet connection and CD, DVD and Blu-ray players — all in one piece. The design neatly hides all the cables and combines all the controls for the various devices in one remote. The price of this convenience isn't bad. That's assuming you don't have to replace the entire unit every time technology improves.