Random Thoughts
As if this week’s heat wave weren’t bad enough, I stayed at an apartment rental (my bathroom was being redone so we were without shower and toilet for a couple of days) that didn’t have air conditioning. And there were no windows either. Lots of fans though. Lots and lots of fans. It was like sleeping inside of a jet engine.
Last week I linked to the New York Times article where well-known writers picked the best books of the 21st century. I didn’t realize that Stephen King picked one of his own novels. I’m not sure whether to be appalled at that or in awe at the audacity.
I’m a terrible violinist. I mean, I’ve never played the violin, so you can imagine how bad I am.
On Perry Mason, Perry often calls Burger “Hamilton,” Lt. Anderson “Andy,” and Lt. Drumm “Steve.” But he never calls Lt. Tragg “Arthur.” It’s always “Tragg.” Why is that?
I don’t play video games anymore but I’d love one of these.
This is an incredible story, but someone really needs to interview the raccoon.
What Is the Splinker?
Is it …
- something to help keep you cool during a heat wave?
- the newest dance craze sweeping Tik Tok?
- the lead character from a new horror franchise?
Actually, it’s none of the above! It’s a new baseball pitch, a combination of a splitter and a sinker, and apparently it’s driving batters batty.
Who Gets the Leftovers?
That’s the question vexing Miss Manners and her readers.
Specifically, the question is (scroll down past the woman who wants to break up with her friends), if someone brings food and/or wine to a party and there’s still some left at the end of the party, do those same people get to bring those leftovers home with them or should they leave them for the party hosts?
Personally, I wouldn’t dream of taking home food or wine that I had brought to someone else’s home. Maybe if it’s a holiday and everyone is making a plate of leftovers to take home with them and some of the food is part of it, but I would never keep track of how much of the food is left or how much wine is still left in the bottle and take them back. It’s my contribution to the party for everyone. It’s not a loan.
Also, driving home with an open bottle of wine is probably illegal in many states, so there’s that.
The Y Cut
I have not cut a sandwich in decades. Maybe out of tradition or out of laziness, but some time around the early ’90s I decided to just leave my ham and cheese or tuna sandwich or peanut and jelly whole. This was a change from my youth where I always cut my sandwiches or had them cut for me – as a kid down the middle but later diagonally, which always seemed like the more mature cut – but I just don’t bother anymore. I’m an adult and can eat it whole just fine.
And I thought at this stage of my life I had already known all of the different ways to cut a sandwich, but apparently I was wrong. According to sandwich scientists, the best way to cut a sandwich may just be the Y Cut, where you cut it into three sections.
It’s called the Y Cut because that’s what the cut looks like. Also because you can ask Y cut a sandwich like that?
Why not the Pizza Cut, where you slice a sandwich into eight sections?
Headline of the Week
“Law Enforcement Warns of ‘Hugging Robbers’ in Southern California”
RIP Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons, Shannen Doherty, Ruth Westheimer, James B. Sikking, Tom Fenton, and Dave Loggins
Bob Newhart was one of the great standup comedians – he even won a Grammy for his 1960 live album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart – and was the star of two classic sitcoms: The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart (which has one of the best final scenes in TV history). Younger audiences know him from his appearances on The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. He died yesterday at the age of 94.
Richard Simmons was one of America’s leading fitness experts, selling millions of exercise videos and having his own popular TV show in the 1980s. He died Saturday at the age of 76.
Shannen Doherty starred on Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed, Our House, and Little House on the Prairie and appeared in such movies as Heathers and Mallrats. She died Saturday at the age of 53.
Ruth Westheimer was a Holocaust survivor who went on to become America’s leading sex and relationship therapist. She died last week at the age of 96.
James B. Sikking starred on such TV shows as Hill Street Blues, Brooklyn South, and Doogie Howser, M.D. and appeared in such movies as Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Fever Pitch, and The Pelican Brief. He died Saturday at the age of 90.
Tom Fenton was a CBS foreign correspondent for 34 years. He died Tuesday at the age of 94.
Dave Loggins was best known for the song “Please Come to Boston,” which has been covered by many artists including Jimmy Buffett, Reba McEntire, and Kenny Chesney. He died last week at the age of 76.
Uploaded to YouTube by Dave Loggins – Topic
This Week in History
New York City Blackout (July 13-14, 1977)
As if not having power for two days weren’t enough, the blackout also saw over 1600 buildings looted and/or destroyed by arson. Overall there were $300 million in damages.
JFK Jr. Dies in Plane Crash (July 16, 1999)
President Kennedy’s son was piloting the plane when it crashed off of Martha’s Vineyard. Also on board were his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Morris & Company Bacon (July 17, 1920)
Bacon in ads never looks cooked enough for me.
Monday Is National BLT Day
Is there more than one way to make a BLT? Actually, yes!
If you want to go the classic route, try the Perfect BLT from Spending with Pennies. Taste of Home has an Oven-Fried Green Tomato BLT, while Natasha’s Kitchen has a BLT Sandwich with the Best Sauce (the sauce is made from mayo, sour cream, and mustard). Food & Wine’s California BLTs have avocado and lemon-herb mayo, and Not Your Mama’s BLT has provolone cheese and garlic.
You can cut these any way that you want.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Tell an Old Joke Day (July 24)
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Summer Olympics (July 26)
The Paris Olympic Games run until August 11 and will air on all of the NBCUniversal channels, including NBC, USA, Telemundo, and Peacock.
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
Comments
“I didn’t realize that Stephen King picked one of his own novels. I’m not sure whether to be appalled at that or in awe at the audacity.”
I don’t think doing that is even legal in all fifty states, is it?
I’m going to give King the benefit of the doubt.
I choose to believe he meant to say “Under the Gnome” by Wares Thehowski.
I wasn’t that big a fan of The Bob Newhart Show, though as everyone always notes, the chemistry Newhart had with Suzanne Pleshette was something which Mary Frann, capable though she was, simply did not have on Newhart.
My favorite line by far from The Bob Newhart Show was the eternal patient, Mr Carlin’s, response to Dr Hartley’s question about what he had done with his weekend:
“I was possessed by the Devil.”
Because I really had not cared that much for The Bob Newhart Show, I was laggardly in paying attention to Newhart in the 1980s. I caught up with it after they had made the show over; when, years later, I tried to watch it from the start in reruns, I was shocked at how inferior it was to Newhart post makeover. I’m not sure whether Tom Poston was with it from the beginning, but bringing in Julia Duffy and Peter Scolari was invaluable.
Still, the crucial change they made was putting the show on film instead of videotape. Videotape brings a verisimilitude to things which undercut the inherently surreal quality of the show’s “throughline,” a word I hate. Filming it gave it a subconsciously apprehended dreamlike quality which was perfect for it.
I remember how much I enjoyed Bob Newhart when I was a kid in the 1960s. I was always aware of a vaguely morbid quality which seemed to be a common denominator in a lot of things he did. In the last thirty years, only Norm MacDonald had that intangible, very funny wheeze which he could work.
Newhart, MacDonald. No, damn it, we shall not see their like again. But thank God that we have their work preserved for us.
R. I. P. Bob Newhart. You were the best! Dave Loggins, who is Kenny Loggins’ cousin lived in East TN and never lost sight of his roots. He was never given the push other artists get from their record companies or area disc jockeys for the public to appreciate his talents. R. I. P. Dave. Heaven may hear your talents now. And what can I add for Richard Simmons…Such an inspiration for others battling their health, weight, self-respect, and other issues. Richard, lead a Dancing to the Oldies party in Heaven! R. I. P.
Dave Loggins was one of the best. His version of his song, “Pieces of April”was simply beautiful, and helped direct the Three Dog Night hit cover.
Up until Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Loggins often topped the “Best Song of All Time” lists with “Please Come To Boston.”
The songs “Sunset Woman,” “Touch of Pennsylvania,”Goodbye Eyes,” “The Ballad of Cowboy Twenty,” and “You’ve Got Me To Hold On To” (successfully covered by Tanya Tucker) really help showcase his songwriting and singing skills.
Besides the aforementioned songs, his skill at weaving a story can be heard in many of the country hits he wrote for artists such as Don Williams (“Maggie’s Dream”), Alabama (“Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)”), and Wynonna (“She Is His Only Need”).
In 1974 and beyond, Loggins showed real tenacity and made sure that his creations found a home, interpreted by others, and given to those of us who love a true troubadour.
His was a real talent, and well respected by so many. Rest in piece.
Thanks for this tribute notification . He certainly deserves it as a comedian, and frankly CBS owes it to him. I loved ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ (still do), but watched ‘Newhart’ more sporadically. The final scene really is the simply the best to borrow a line from Tina Turner.
I really liked his early 90’s sitcom, ‘Bob’ where he was a cartoonist. Only on one season, it apparently didn’t catch on ratings wise which was too bad. It’s also very hard to find any information about it online.
I hope you’re back in your own place again now, and the renovations went well. You explained in the July 5th ‘News’ how you’re able to keep cool in your apartment overcoming and working around the obstacles its physicality presents in preventing having a/c. Terrible heat waves out my way on the west coast, not subsiding!
Even with the a/c on, I like having the narrow, cylinder unit blowing that nice indoor breeze in addition that’s wonderful. I’ve got my LADWP bill paid ahead by $100, but am frequently monitoring. Have to get myself a better deal though again, with Spectrum.
Loved Steve Hartman’s feature on the raccoon! Those guys knew what to do, and trusted their instincts to save that little guy. He knew they were there to help. Once the weather cools down I’ll be spending time with the horses a couple of times a week. There’s a goat farm I’m looking forward to visiting also, putting those no-longer-nice jeans to good use.
I agree with you (and Miss Manners) on the leftovers. Sometimes people can take this or that in a plastic container so it doesn’t get thrown out. It helps if others are doing so, and shouldn’t be awkward. I’m good at sizing things up and taking it from there.
Thanks for the BLT links, Bob! I gotta say the California BLT looks like the best one there. They had me with the avocado and lemon-herb mayo. I don’t think it would lend itself to the Y-cut. Mmm, maybe in half or diagonally.
CBS is going to have a tribute to Bob Newhart on Monday, July 22 at 8pm.