The Beginning of the End
The funny thing about the summer is, just when it begins, it almost immediately starts to end.
This happens in a few ways. First, we’ve been losing a minute (or more) of daylight every day since July 1. Just a week and a half after summer starts the days start to dwindle.
Then comes the Fourth of July, which is very early in the summer but is actually something that a lot of people – even people who love the summer – look upon as a marker that signifies that we’re on the back nine of the season.
And then there are the areas of the country where school starts the first week of August. The first week of August! I’ve mentioned this before, but as someone who grew up in the Northeast, where we start school just after Labor Day in September, it amazes me that school starts during the hottest time of the year, when there’s still so much summer time left. I have friends in the South whose kids start school in early August, and I feel bad for them. Hope their schools are air conditioned.
Sure, most of the kids who start school in August get out of school earlier, in late May. But I think if I were a kid I’d rather go to school for a couple of extra weeks in the spring than have to go back to school before September.
Here it is July 25 and I have already been seeing back-to-school commercials on television for the past week. Walton Goggins trying to get kids to buy backpacks and notebooks at Walmart. That’s cruel and unusual punishment for kids (to have back-to-school commercials in July I mean – I have nothing against Walton Goggins).
By the way, when I said that the days are getting shorter and we can sense that summer is ending, it wasn’t a complaint. Not at all. I can’t wait until Labor Day gets here, and I really can’t wait until we have 4 p.m. sunsets again. Summer is a young person’s game.
Shark Week!
I was reading this story of the teen surf instructor who had his foot chomped on by a shark at Florida’s New Smyrna Beach (“the shark bite capital of the world”) and I thought, wow, that’s an extreme way to market Discovery’s Shark Week.
It ends this weekend so there’s still time to celebrate. If “celebrate” is the word to use when talking about sharks.
What the Heck Is Corn Sweat?
No, it’s not the new Superman.
But it is one of the reasons why people in the Midwest can experience such high humidity.
You learn something new every day …
The Moon (and Moon Pies)
Jolene Handy writes one of my favorite newsletters, Time Travel Kitchen, and in the most recent edition she talks about the moon. Last Sunday was the 56th anniversary of a person landing on the moon, so she has CBS’s coverage of the landing and even talks about Mad Men. And since it’s a food newsletter there’s also moon pies!
Quote of the Week
“…a faux-quirky, manic pixie dream girl crossed with the Donner party vibe.”
The Above the Law site, describing how a summer intern at a large New York City law firm bit several co-workers on her first day.
RIP Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Chuck Mangione, Alan Bergman, Eileen Fulton, Felix Baumgartner, Jimmy Hunt, Vince Calandra, and Paulette Jiles
Ozzy Osbourne was the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, known for such songs as “Crazy Train” and “Paranoid.” He also had a very successful solo career, with songs like “Shot in the Dark” and “Flying High Again,” and had a popular reality show. He died Tuesday at the age of 76, just a few weeks after a farewell Black Sabbath reunion concert.
An interesting tidbit: Osbourne was good friends with Pat Boone.
Hulk Hogan – real name Terry Bollea – was one of the classic WWE wrestling superstars over the past 40+ years. He was also an actor, appearing in such films as Rocky III, No Holds Barred, and Mr. Nanny, as well as many TV shows and video games. He died yesterday at the age of 71.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was best known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. He died Sunday at the age of 54.
Chuck Mangione was the trumpeter and flugelhorn player known for the hit 1970s instrumental “Feels So Good.” He released 30 albums and won two Grammys. He died Tuesday at the age of 84.
Alan Bergman was an Oscar-winning songwriter who, along with his wife Marilyn, wrote such songs as “The Way We Were,” “Nice ‘n’ Easy,” “Windmills of Your Mind,” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” as well as the theme songs to Maude, Alice, and Good Times. He died last week at the age of 99.
Uploaded to YouTube by Frank Sinatra
Eileen Fulton played Lisa Miller on As the World Turns for almost 50 years. She died last week at the age of 91.
Felix Baumgartner was a daredevil and pilot who got the world’s attention in 2012 by parachuting from space. He died last week at the age of 56.
Jimmy Hunt was a child actor who appeared in Invaders from Mars (and its 1986 remake), Cheaper by the Dozen, Pitfall, The Lone Hand, and Sorry, Wrong Number. He died last week at the age of 85.
Vince Calandra was the Ed Sullivan Show talent booker who helped bring the Beatles to the show and dealt with controversies involving Jackie Mason and Jim Morrison. He died Saturday at the age of 91.
Paulette Jiles wrote the novel News of the World, made into a film starring Tom Hanks. She was also an acclaimed poet. She died earlier this month at the age of 82.
This Week in History
Scopes Found Guilty of Teaching Evolution (July 21, 1925)
Here’s Ben Railton’s look at the historic trial.
First Test Tube Baby Born (July 25, 1978)
Louise Joy Brown was the first baby born via in vitro fertilization. She now has two kids of her own.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: SPAM (July 23, 1938)
The can says “A New Hormel Meat.” SPAM was introduced the year before this ad appeared and has inspired great recipes, annoying emails, and a Monty Python sketch.
National SPAM Day
It’s next Thursday, the 31st (I’m giving you a big heads up), and in addition to the recipes in the ad above, here are a few more you might want to try.
Eat Richly has a recipe for SPAM, Eggs, and Rice, while Allrecipes has a SPAM, Tomato, Cheddar Cheese, and Sweet Onion Sandwich. The Kitchn has this SPAM Hash, Food52 has SPAM Buns, and This Mama Cooks! has an Easy Slow Cooker SPAM Soup.
And if you’re really daring, you can make a SPAM-DY. It’s SPAM dipped in chocolate and covered in candied pecans. It’s from the official site so it must be good.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Parents’ Day (July 27)
Even if you’re not a test tube baby, get something for your parents.
Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day/Take Your Pants for a Walk Day (July 27)
Yes, you can do both in one day! Just make sure you’re wearing the pants.
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Comments
You make some very good points on summer here. The only time I liked it was because I had nearly 3 months off from school, and got to go to the pool almost every day. There was morning summer school some years, but that was different.
Also nice vacations. Going back to school in early-mid August is horrible all around. I mean Sept. was bad enough with the heat too out here, and October was no prize either. Thank goodness for In-Out-Burger Bob, truly!
I’m very impressed with Sam Hollis, the 18-year old surf instructor and (foot) shark bite victim. Glad he’s recuperating, and nothing like this will ever happen to him again. It’s a risk, but his decision to make. I also found it pretty neat Ozzy and Pat Boone were next door neighbors and friends. Almost reminds me of Bing Crosby and David Bowie being friends, and in their case recording together.
Hulk Hogan’s greatest moment was just one year ago at the RNC onstage, physically shredding America’s weak sauce left image, for the right stuff image badly needed to be seen here, and around the world with that dramatic shirt shredding.
In another seemingly odd pairing, yet not really, Benjamin Franklin would have been clapping and cheering Hogan too for the coming change (in the nick of time) had he been alive the past several years. He knew desperate times called for desperate, drastic measures in the 18th century, and would in the 21st also, of course.
Alan Bergman was EXTREMELY talented, so thanks for including the ‘Nice ‘n’ Easy video by Mr. Cool himself. Spam (the meat) is good—–any ole time!
I always enjoy Midnight_Rider_1961’s prose. If he hasn’t written a book yet, he should!
Maybe The Saturday Evening Post could entice him to send in a short story or contribute an ongoing on the road biker column?
What do you say, Mr. Midnight?
Moon Pies are awesome and there are many other flavours than the most commonly known chocolate. I urge anyone to visit the Moon Pie store in downtown Chattanooga, TN or even visit the bakery in Chattanooga where they are made. Tours are available. What goes well with a Moon Pie?..,Why a Royal Crown (RC) Cola, of course…One other note regarding both RC Colas and Moon Pies, there is a festival held every year in Bell Buckle, TN where a Moon Pie Queen is crowned and the world’s largest Moon Pie is consumed (in pieces of course). Plenty of RC Colas are available at each Moon Pie Festival held every June.
So what do Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osborne have in common with Pat Boone? They are/were all born again Christians. I can add Alice Cooper, Shawn Michaels, and other professional wrestlers and entertainers to that list. Check yourself if you wish.
Finally, Spam (the meat, not email) is awesome. Fry me some up anytime for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Include scrambled eggs for breakfast and cheese for a great sandwich. It’s one the the best “manufactured” meats ever invented/cooked up. Thank you Hormel.
Bob, found it quite interesting that Pat Boone and Ozzie Osborne were neighbors. Two completely opposite genres of music but otherwise friends over the garden hedge. Also enjoyed the Spam skit by Monty Python. Even the rolling credits were hilarious. Almost tempted me to buy a can of Spam…….not really.