Ben from Louisville

Name

Benjamin Lyon Wilson, or my mom is fond of calling me "Woo" which I don't mind. Just not "Benji" or "Uncle Bingo".

Hometown

Louisville, KY

What is the funniest joke you've ever heard and when did you hear it?

Q: Where did the frog go when he broke his leg?
A: The HOPsital!

I actually wrote that joke for my 6-year-old nephew who was dressing as a clown last Halloween and he didn't know any jokes. It is now "in his repertoire" and I find it hilarious whenever he tells it. And yes, I know it's not the funniest thing ever but the kid loves it and it slays at parties. SLAYS!

What is your favorite hobby and how did you get hooked on it?

Sigh... if there is one thing I have too many of, it might be hobbies. Web stuff, beer brewing, cooking, model airplanes, cycling, running, triathlon, haberdashery... Cycling has definitely become my obsession this few years. My wife, Kelly, completed the 2008 IronMan Louisville and I started riding along with her to help her train. I started diving into the cycling culture - which is long, storied and filled with a rich tradition - and was fascinated. Then at the end of 2008 I was asked to race on a local team. I started training like never before and despite it, had my ass handed to me in nearly every one of the dozen or so races I raced in 2009. Still love it though - it's a sport where suffering is encouraged and as long as you go hard you are respected.

What is something that you've done to shrink your carbon footprint?

I own a Prius. But I love it so much I drive twice as far. Also I intend on composting more this year: http://achewood.com/index.php?date=01312010

Who is someone who is not in your family that has really influenced who you are as an adult?

The A-Team. I bet you were thinking I was going to answer something like a Boy Scout Scoutmaster (a few of whom I have great respect for) or a teacher, right? Sorry. I was a huge fan as a kid - the action was definitely a draw, but so were the solutions they came up with and how they worked together as a team (A-Team! Get it?) Everybody had their strengths and weaknesses, but everyone was always respected and they all came together to save the day. I always had a love of engineering and problem solving and those dudes definitely solved the shit out of some problems. PS - MacGuyver or Mr. Wizard definitely run a close second here.

Do you have a blog or website that you'd like to plug?

I have so many... but http://thelocust.org is my personal website, and it's celebrating it's 10th year on the Internet. Pretty good considering thats more than half as long as the "modern" Internet has been around.

-------------------------------

I think realistically most of us have been influenced by TV characters whether it be the mild influence of Mr. Rogers or something a little bit more adult TV has certainly shaped Ben and I's generation. I'm concerned about the kids today who are watching "reality" television and all of the dramas about murder. It's a far cry from The Cosby Show and Family Ties. I don't know. My parents probably thought that You Can't Do That on Television and MTV were bad influences. Now I worry about some of the things my parents watch on TV.

My favorite things to do when speaking to groups of children is to tell old jokes, make puns and slip in the words "underpants" and "boogers." Now that Ben has a little gal of his own I can just imagine the kind of "material" he's going to get to write.

What do you think is the funniest joke you've ever heard? Most of my favorites aren't fit for a family blog. :)