In what we hope will become a trend for manufacturers (of anything) the world over, three guys from the finance division at Thompson Cigar have reviewed the Socorro Torpedo. Their verdict? It’s “cool”.

(And, before you get all uppity with us, we’re aware that the Socorro pictured isn’t, in fact, the torpedo. The guys seemed to have been so keen to consume this stogie that they forgot to take a picture.)

We won’t spoil the rest of the details for you as the review barely cracks 100 words (short lunch breaks at Thompson HQ?), but it’ll answer any burning questions you have about the stick and surprise you with its honesty.

The only note-worthy thing they failed to mention in their lightening-fast audit is the cool green and yellow band the Socorro bears. No coat-of-arms, no moustachioed 18th century man, no ridiculously small writing – what a cigar band rarity!

Thompson Powerhouse 30 Review – Socorro [Cigar Blog 101]

Those still mourning the retirement of Michael Schumacher last weekend, never fear – the world’s next sporting hero has arrived.

Volodymur Stregalin ate 1kg (2.2lbs) of salo (pig fat) in 25 minutes at the annual pig fat festival held last weekend in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk.

We’re not sure that this in an officially recognized award, as there’s no mention of the contest, nor its winner, on the website of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, but kudos go to the man, all the same.

(nb - So taken are we by the idea of competitive eating, we’ve decided it’s a sport TSL should be covering. So watch this space.)

Meanwhile, although we like to think of ourselves as men of the world, we can’t recall ever tasting, well, raw pig fat. Can any of you out there enlighten us on the taste of this Ukrainian staple?

How thrilled his cardiologist must be to see this…. [Reuters]

The idea of a Britain as a nation of bowler-hatted men, smacking the top of boiled eggs with upside-down teaspoons each morning, has amused us for years.

But now, in what has to be the most exciting boiled egg news since recent innuendo about the Prince of Wales, egg-cracking has gadgetrized its way into the 21st century with the Clack.

We’re sketchy on the engineering, but the essence of the device is the metal ball that falls from a considerable height (considerable to an egg, at least), cracking the egg perfectly and, somehow, slicing the top of the egg off with similar precision.

I say, what a smashing gadget!

Clack [Mocha]