Random Thoughts
Have they changed the formula of Altoids? They still go by the slogan “Curiously Strong,” but I don’t find them that strong anymore. I pop four in my mouth and they’re not overwhelming at all. Or is my breath so bad it counteracts the powerful wintergreen flavor?
In these times when the country is divided and everyone is attacking each other on social media, it’s actually refreshing to see that one of the recent online controversies involves fountain pen ink. How quaint!
When I played tennis, I had a two-handed backhand. I just couldn’t do a one-handed, though when it’s done correctly by players like Richard Gasquet or Roger Federer or Stan Warwinka, it’s one of the most beautiful things in sports. I’ve always thought that it was going away in pro tennis because a lot of the people who use it have retired or up there in age. But the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay says that pronouncing it dead might be premature.
Last week I had a dream where someone threw a bowl of cranberry sauce at me and ruined my comforter. It was the whole berry kind, not the can-shaped stuff.
I think I’ve figured out why District Attorney Hamilton Burger is so cocky in every episode, so sure he’s going to beat Perry Mason this time. We only see the cases he has against Perry Mason and he always loses. I’m thinking he probably wins all of the other cases he tries, the ones we don’t see.
The Favorite Snack in Each State
There’s no way I believe that the most popular snack in the United States is … Rice Krispies Treats?
Who did they poll, just members of the Rice Krispies Treats Fan Club?
Actually, it’s a company called Hubscore, which breaks it down state-by-state. Other snacks that made the list include Doritos, Cheetos, Chex Mix, and Lay’s, which isn’t really a snack — it’s a company — but I assume they mean potato chips. But no pretzels? No popcorn?
But what I really want to know is, what’s going on in New Jersey?
The Woman Who Invented Liquid Paper
The Hustle has a video that talks about the history of the white correcting fluid we all used to use (and some of us still do!) to fix mistakes in typewritten letters and forms. (Many people think that Wite-Out is the name for all white correcting fluid, but that’s a brand name and a different company.)
It’s curious that they don’t mention that inventor Bette Nesmith Graham’s son Michael was Michael Nesmith of The Monkees. I’m not sure if this is because they don’t realize it or they do and just wanted to focus on Bette’s achievements.
Uploaded to YouTube by The Hustle
Something I Learned This Week
The Lost Weekend is one of those classic movies I had never seen for some reason. Ray Milland, 1945. I finally caught it last weekend (last weekend, lost weekend, ha!). There’s a scene where he’s trying to hide two bottles of rye from his brother. His idea is to let his brother find one of the bottles and pour it down the sink, and he’ll never realize that Milland has a second bottle hidden.
The bottle he wants his brother to find? He wraps it up inside a copy of The Saturday Evening Post.
RIP Steve Lawrence, Anne Whitfield, Brian Mulroney, Iris Apfel, Chris Mortensen, Juli Lynne Charlot, Ramona Fradon, and Jackie Loughery
Steve Lawrence had such solo hits as “Pretty Blue Eyes,” “Footsteps,” “Go Away Little Girl,” and “Party Doll.” With his wife Eydie Gormé he had such songs as “Close Your Eyes” (Take a Deep Breath),” “This Could Be the Start of Something,” and “That Holiday Feeling.” He was also an actor, appearing in The Blues Brothersand on many episodes of The Carol Burnett Show. He died yesterday at the age of 88.
Anne Whitfield played Susan in the classic film White Christmas. She also appeared on TV shows like Perry Mason and Father Knows Best and on radio shows like Our Miss Brooks and One Man’s Family. She died last month at the age of 85.
Brian Mulroney was the former prime minister of Canada. He died last week at the age of 84.
Iris Apfel was a successful businesswoman who became a model and celebrity in her 90s. She died last week at the age of 102.
Chris Mortensen was a former reporter and analyst for ESPN. He died Sunday at the age of 72.
July Lynne Charlot invented the poodle skirt. She died Sunday at the age of 101.
Ramona Fradon was one of the first women to work in comic books. She died Saturday at the age of 97.
Jackie Loughery was the first Miss USA and an actress, appearing in movies like The D.I. and the Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin comedy Pardners. She was also Johnny Carson’s assistant on the game show Earn Your Vacation. She died last week at the age of 93.
This Week in History
Dr. Seuss Born (March 2, 1904)
Did you know that everyone pronounces the pen name of popular author Theodor Geisel wrong? Everyone thinks it rhymes with “loose,” but it actually rhymes with “voice.” Geisel just went with the way everyone else pronounced it.
You can drop that little piece of info at your next party.
Wilt Chamberlain Scores 100 Points (March 2, 1962)
And on March 2 of this year, Lebron James became the first NBA player to score 40,000 points.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: “You Forgot Your Lunch!” by George Hughes (March 5, 1955)
I don’t think I ever brought my lunch to school, I always bought it there. I loved the pizza and that fluffy pink dessert, whatever that was.
National Pack Your Lunch Day
This year it’s on Sunday, which is an odd day to celebrate because kids aren’t in school and many people aren’t working.
But what kind of recipes can I link to for such a day? Sandwiches seem like the obvious choice, so he’s a Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Sandwich from Emeril Lagasse, and here’s one for a Curried Chicken and Avocado Salad Sandwich.
Spend with Pennies has The Best Egg Salad, Insanely Good Recipes has The Best Grilled Cheese, and Barefeet in the Kitchen has The Best Ham Sandwich You’ll Ever Eat. Wow, these people are cockier than Hamilton Burger.
Oh, here’s Plain Chicken’s recipe for The Best Burger Ever.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Turn Your Clocks Ahead (March 10)
Do it before you go to bed so you wake up at the right time.
96th Academy Awards (March 10)
It airs on ABC starting at 7 p.m. ET. Here are the nominees.
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Comments
We call the concept of planting something to be found in order to hide something of equal or larger size or importance a “rabbit garden”. The phrase comes from the great novel ‘The Secret of Sant Vittoria” by Robert Crichton. You fence off your main garden, and plant a small one so the rabbits work on that rather than dig their way under your fence. I’m not sure we’re in the habit of putting the concept to use but it occasionally comes up in conversation.
Bonnie, I’m sorry you had ruined clothing from spilled ink I’m presuming was at school. Hopefully none ever on a poodle skirt. That just sounds sooo wrong. It was a big deal getting to write in ink in the 5th grade, but the teacher insisted on either Bic or Lindy pens. The latter had the insignia of the seal with a ball on his nose. Basically she didn’t want to hear the sounds of ‘clicking’ pens.
Bob, thanks for the inclusion of Steve Lawrence. Another fantastic entertainer of my parent’s generation now gone. He and Edie Gorme were magic together on all of the mid-early late 20th century variety shows. Fantastic.
I loved the video on Bette Graham’s invention of Liquid Paper. I’m a believer of having it at home and work. The tape version is great too, depending on the need. One year one some red envelope Christmas cards, I’d written the street numbers ‘3250’ when it was ‘3520’. Glad I caught it in time. Even more glad I had my Liquid Paper handy.
I can remember when we HAD to use liquid ink. It was considered a sin to use a ballpoint pen. I also remember the clothing that was ruined from spilled ink. It did look prettier than ballpoint ink, though.
Yes, I did own a poodle skirt!