News of the Week: Summer Camp, Algospeak, and the Commodore 64 Is Back!

I Know What I Didn’t Do That Summer

I never went to summer camp. Is that weird?

I thought of this after looking at some of the summer camp covers the Post has had over the years. July and August are the months when most kids go to summer camp, and it made me remember that I never went.

It’s just something I never did as a kid in the 1970s. I don’t think anyone in my family went to summer camp, and most of my friends didn’t either. Was it a regional thing? If I had grown up in a different state, would I have gone? Was it a financial consideration? I honestly don’t think my mother ever even gave it a thought.

I spent most of my summers eating junk food and watching TV (which is pretty much how I spent the spring, fall, and winter too).

So that means I missed out on paddling canoes and pushing the camp counselor into the water and throwing water balloons at girls and eating watermelon. (But we had watermelon at home.)

Did I miss out on some basic life skills by not going to summer camp? Is this why I can’t swim, have never worn a friendship bracelet, and have never assembled s’mores?

Now This Is New Tech I Might Actually Buy

In a world of MacBooks and iPads and social media, where our devices do everything and we’re always connected, is there a place for the Commodore 64?

Yup, it’s coming back, courtesy of a true YouTube fan and some investors. Of course, it won’t be the exact Commodore 64 that I played baseball on; this one is called the Commodore 64 Ultimate and comes with features we didn’t have on the original. My friend Ernie Smith has the story.

Uploaded to YouTube by Retro Recipes x Commodore

If we’re bringing back things from the past, I’d like Marathon Bars, good music, and my hair.

Algospeak

Do you have “rizz?” Do you sometimes describe things as “dank?” Have you ever “glazed” someone? Has anyone ever accused you of being too “yimzat?”

Okay, I made up that last one, but the first three are real slang words that anyone over the age of 40 probably doesn’t use. (For the record, “rizz” is charisma, “dank” is something that’s excellent, and to “glaze” is when you compliment someone so much it’s annoying.)

There’s a new book out this week from Adam Aleksic (who writes the Etymology Nerd newsletter) titled Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language. It looks like a fascinating read, if you’re into all things wordy and techy. It also might be a good guide for parents who want to decipher what their kids are saying.

But I guess every generation has their own slang. I bet some kids would laugh at “golly,” “square,” “23 skidoo,” or saying that you got someone “on the horn.” Actually, I bet they’d love those words.

Skeet of the Week

Ah, yes, I remember reading how Paine loved the Honey Chicken Burrito Bowl.

(By the way, “skeet” is what people on Bluesky call posts, for some reason.)

RIP Connie Francis, David Gergen, Dave “Baby” Cortez, Rebekah Del Rio, and John Martin

Connie Francis had such classic songs as “Who’s Sorry Now,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” She died Wednesday at the age of 87.

Uploaded to YouTube by AllConnie

David Gergen was an advisor to several Democratic and Republican presidents and a political commentator. He died last week at the age of 83.

Dave “Baby” Cortez had hits in 1959 with “The Happy Organ” and in 1962 with “Rinky Dink.” He died in 2022 but the news just came out last week.

Uploaded to YouTube by Dave “Baby” Cortez – Topic

Rebekah Del Rio was known for singing the Spanish version of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” in the movie Mulholland Drive. She died last month at the age of 57.

John Martin was the publisher of Black Sparrow Press who gave Charles Bukowski a big break. He died last month at the age of 94.

This Week in History

Live Aid (July 13, 1985)

I was working at a pizza place and we had the concerts (from London and Philadelphia) on the big screen TV in the dining room. The Media Man picks the ten best performances.

First Detonation of Nuclear Bomb (July 16, 1945)

The test was conducted by the U.S. Army at 5:29 a.m. in New Mexico.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Pall Mall (July 12, 1958)

I think I know why there’s a watermelon in this cigarette ad, and I’m glad there is because …

… July Is Watermelon Month

I was in line at the supermarket last week and the woman behind me was buying a giant watermelon, and I said to myself, I haven’t had watermelon in years and I love it and I need to buy it again.

The Pioneer Woman has recipes for Watermelon Sweet Tea and Watermelon Wine Coolers. Allrecipes has this Watermelon Soup (yes, there’s watermelon soup!), Delish has a Watermelon-Feta Salad, and Oh, The Things We’ll Make! has a recipe for 5 Minute, Easy Watermelon Sorbet.

And if you want to wow your family and friends, make this Watermelon Fire & Ice Salsa. It’s served in a carved-out watermelon and looks like something they’d serve on another planet (or Martha Stewart’s house).

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Moon Day (July 20)

This is the day in 1969 that humans landed on the moon. Here’s eight hours of CBS News coverage of the event, if you have the time.

Amelia Earhart Day (July 24)

A new expedition to find out what happened to her and her plane will start in November, but I have my doubts.