Save The World's Largest Rectal Thermometer *OR* How Bun Boy Nearly Killed Me

Happy New Year from your friends at Downward Brent Lee, your internet headquarters for everything Brent Lee related. Yup, it's a small store, but we are potent. Like skunk spray.

With a new year comes new responsibilities. Your friends at Downward Brent Lee will try to update with a bit more regularity, but we promise nothing. Brent will take on new responsibilities as a new father to little Carl. Let's see how awkward he can make holding a baby look.

2013 brings some interesting news, one of the favorite topics here at Downward Brent Lee is in danger and needs our help. I'm not talking about Vanilla Ice, I think he is doing fine turning hipster and remodeling homes. No, I'm talking about the World's Largest Rectal Thermometer in beautiful Baker, CA. Situated in the middle of the drive between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the World's Largest Rectal Thermometer stands as a beacon to all that is good to be found in Baker. I can tell you from experience though, that it does not point to Bun Boy, the world's only hamburger laced with radioactive waste. As mentioned in previous posts, Greg and this author ventured to the Bun Boy to partake in their widely advertised burgers. Not only did it take 30 minutes to bring a burger to our table (there were only 6 people in the restaurant), but somehow this burger was burned to a near-coal-like texture and retained heat as only a ceramic pot coming out of the kiln could. And somehow, through a legitimate miracle, that heat stayed with it as it was forced down our collective throat and settled, like a hot coal, in the stomach. This author had never wanted to get to Vegas so quickly in his life.

Back to the topic at hand, next door to the world's most reactive burger, stands the mighty edifice of the World's Largest Rectal Thermometer. It stands to tell travelers that the desert is either really freakin' hot or downright freezing. There seems to be no in-between.

The sad news here folks is that this unneeded structure is being sold. You can get a thermometer, some land, and a gift shop all for $1.75 million. It's a bargain at twice the price. What else says "Welcome to the World, Little Carl!" like a giant thermometer that can be seen from the I-15? Nothing, I tell you, nothing! So B, you must buy this and put it in your front yard.

Three stacks, a rock, and a giant thermometer!

Let's save this great landmark and relocate the thing to the beautiful central coast of California.

Proud Day

Proud day here at Downward Brent Lee for two reasons.

1. We've surpassed 7,000 page views. Sad little world, isn't it?

2. If you Google the phrase "world's largest rectal thermometer" this blog is the first result!

Wow, what an accomplishment. Thanks to Baker, CA for providing....this.

The Worlds Largest Rectal Thermometer

Today's post is brought to you by Greg Kathol and the letter "R"

Baker, CA – Temperature, 134 degrees under sunny skies. Yes, Baker California is home to the World’s Largest Rectal Thermometer. If you’ve driven or flown over the place, you know just how stunning it is, rocks and dirt everywhere. The approach from the 15 is rather breathtaking. As you drive in to this destination, you see off in the distance the beacon, standing tall and true. A sentinel, a monument of grandeur it is.

A little about the thermometer and B. It stands 134 ft tall (the thermometer), B is only around 6’. Its highest temperature the thermometer reads recalls that profound day when a United States of America record was set for the hottest temperature ever recorded, 134 degrees (Ok, so it was in nearby Death Valley, but who cares) Baker is still located in the southern end of Death Valley so it practically makes them brothers. Old Faithful is situated next to Bun Boy, an old and now shut down restaurant, sigh. It was built by Young Electric Sign Company of Salt Lake City, Utah in 1991 and still stands to this day, remarkable. B still stands to this day too. A wonder, due to his affection of the great temperature stick B has visited this “hot spot” for years. Justin, Paul and myself included, have traveled to this location on many an occasion. If we are ever traveling alone we will call or text each other about it, really we will. I know, it sad, but it keep us entertained, but not out of trouble. My sister Toni (Antoinette) will even call and text about it when she visits. This place really transcends all, doesn’t it!

The World’s Largest Rectal Thermometer (by the way, this is a link to its Facebook Page, Crazy I know!) stands as a testament to our foe-ship; I mean friendship with Brent Lee. Why am I painting such a vivid picture of this place, you ask? Because I suggest we make this place a special place by giving it our patronage and its 900 or so residents something to talk about by hosting B and Corrin’s wedding here. Or at least make it the destination of our bachelor party. We could hit up the 76 gas station, A&W root beer or travel out to the dirt piles of Silurian Valley - Devil’s Playground. I couldn’t finish without giving honorable mention to Zzyzx, a road we always give a nod to as we zoom past at highway speed or fly over. B, don’t worry we’ve got your back!

Incidentally, Baker and it’s thermometer is about 65 miles from Barstow and 50 miles from Stateline, NV, so it really is in the middle of nowhere!