The Best Inventions By State: Nebraska

Nebraska. Y'all been there?

I have a few times. You have Omaha (Warren Buffett), you have Lincoln (the only non-conservative place in the state), and you've got 80,000 people in Lincoln, cheering for a college football team that apparently doesn't cheat enough in academics and recruiting to be an annual national championship contender. And you've got a lot of corn. Anything else? Not really. (I want to hate a lot harder on Nebraska, but the people make it hard. I'm serious. They're so nice. It's kind of enraging. Hmmm, on the other hand, they're a little too nice...)

Oh! Sorry. We're here because Nebraska has actually given the world a lot. Well, three things specifically: Kool-Aid, the McRib, and TV dinners. You kidding me?! Oh, Nebraska. Maybe you're alright after all. 

[Editor's Note: This here's a small mini-series we're starting—every week or so, we choose a state and showcase the best inventions from that state. Why Nebraska first? Um, did you see that they created the McRib? Exactly.]

Why it's awesome: It's the f****** McRib. Have you ever had one? They're absurd. You want to jump into oncoming traffic after finishing one, but Jesus, you can't think about your heart potentially bursting while you're stuffing your face on a cold January afternoon in Times Square. It's pure bliss. There's nothing better on any fast-food menu in America.

History in about 100 words: Created by a professor Roger W. Mandigo at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the late '70s; it was originally in the shape of a pork chop. "McDonald's chose the shape," Mandigo told NPR in 2011. 

By the numbers: 5.5 inches in length...500 in calories per sammy...65% daily requirement of sodium...Years in circulation: 1981-'85, then '89-'05, and ever since, on a rotating basis.

Why it's awesome: It's food, in front of the TV, and it's incredibly delicious and always outrageously hot. (There is some debate about where the TV dinner originated, but weighing all things after an hour of research, we're giving credit to the Swanson family from Omaha. They make the most convincing case.) Chances are you don't eat TV dinners anymore (see the stats below), but I can sure as hell bet you made a meal this week and sat your pretty ass down in front of the TV and ate. BAM! TV dinner. 

History in about 100 words: Like we said, there's some debate (see above), but however you want to slice it, the Swanson family appears to have dominated the marketability (read: made any money off it.) One more thing: the concept was not originated by the Swansons, as people were chowing down on airplanes in the '40s. 

By the numbers: Cost of first TV dinner: 98 cents...5,000 items sold in first year...The year "Mean" Joe Greene was a spokesman for Swanson "Hungry Man" meals: 1973.

Why it's awesome: Again, like the stuff above, it's f****** Kool-Aid. Kool-Aid may be disgusting now that you're not eight years old, but remember how good it was when you were? Summers were defined by bad hamburgers and luke-warm Kool-Aid. It makes you feel at home. It does.

OMG: this is so funny. On Wikipedia it officially says, "In 2013, Kraft decided to overhaul the Kool-Aid man, reimagining him as a CGI character trying to show that he's just an ordinary guy."

History in about 100 words: Kool-Aid's now owned by Kraft (what isn't?) but it began in Hastings, Nebraska (what didn't originate in Hastings?!?) thanks to a man named Edwin Perkins (nope, nothing to do with Perkins) who created the powdery mix.

By the numbers: The year it debuted: 1927...563 million gallons are drank every year!...The cost per glass of Kool-Aid in 2014: five cents.

Ryan Hatch is the deputy editor for Supercompressor. Guess who his favorite reader is? Well guess what? It's you. He also invented the toaster strudel. Sup?