People Aren’t Drinking As Much
According to the latest Gallup Poll, only 54 percent of the U.S. population say that they consume alcohol. That’s the lowest in Gallup’s 90-year history.
I’m assuming that’s 54 percent of the population that’s of drinking age. If you include kids at high school keggers that number probably gets much higher.
The reason? The belief that drinking – even a moderate amount – can lead to health problems. Thankfully the lack of drinking hasn’t led to an increase in the usage of more powerful substances.
On the flip side, people are now hopelessly addicted to their smartphones.
I don’t drink as much as I used to, but it’s not for any health reason or that I don’t enjoy it. I just…don’t drink as much anymore. I have a terrible social life.
Funny, you’d think that with all of the tensions right now people would be drinking more.
August, That Devil in Cargo Shorts
I would read an entire novel or book of poetry by this guy.
Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller
The magic duo have been partners for 50 years. They were recently interviewed in the New York Times and did a special show last night at Radio City Music Hall. They also made an appearance on CBS Mornings to show the hosts a new card trick.
Some people have trouble remembering which is which. It’s actually pretty easy (beyond their height difference). Teller doesn’t speak so that’s how you can remember he’s “Teller.”
Something I Learned This Week
How did I not know that there was an actual person named Condé Nast?
So, was Random House named after Joe Random?
RIP Terence Stamp, Gerry Spence, Tristan Rogers, Michael Sloan, Jules Witcover, Joe Caroff, and Ronnie Rondell Jr.
Terence Stamp appeared in such films as Superman II, Billy Budd (for which he received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination), The Limey, The Collector, The Phantom Menace, Far From the Madding Crowd, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He died Sunday at the age of 87.
Gerry Spence was a flamboyant, acclaimed attorney who took on many high-profile cases. He died last week at the age of 96.
Tristan Rogers played Robert Scorpio on General Hospital for 45 years. He also played Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless and had many other TV roles. He died last week at the age of 79.
Jules Witcover was a veteran political reporter and columnist for The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and other publications. He also wrote several books. He died Saturday at the age of 98.
Michael Sloan co-created The Equalizer and the Mystery Woman series of TV movies. He also produced and/or wrote for such shows as The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, and Quincy, M.E. He died last week at the age of 78.
Joe Caroff designed the 007 logo and also the posters for such movies as West Side Story, Manhattan, A Hard Day’s Night, Cabaret, and many others. He died Sunday at the age of 103.
Ronnie Rondell Jr. was an actor and stuntman who worked on dozens of films and TV shows over a long career. He’s probably best known for being the man on fire on the cover of the Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here. He died last week at the age of 88.
This Week in History
First Color Sound Cartoon Premieres (August 16, 1930)
It was called Fiddlesticks and was directed by former Walt Disney animator Ub Iwerks. It featured the character Flip the Frog.
Uploaded to YouTube by CCCartoons
Orville Wright Born (August 19, 1871)
The younger of the Wright Brothers died in 1948 at the age of 76. His brother Wilbur died in 1912 at the age of 45 from typhoid fever.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Heublein Cocktails (August 20, 1960)
If you can’t read the small print, it’s pronounced “Hugh-Bline.”
Cocktails!
I guess this is for the folks who still drink.
Inspired Taste has the recipe for a Perfect Old-Fashioned, while Food & Wine has the recipe for a Manhattan. Alton Brown has a Classic Negroni, Allrecipes has a Dark ‘n’ Stormy, and Love & Lemons shows you how to make a French 75. Liquor.com has a Gin Fizz Cocktail, Allrecipes has a recipe for a Tequila Sunrise, and The Kitchn has the Honey Deuce.
By the way, the Honey Deuce is the official drink of the U.S. Open.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
U.S. Open (August 24)
The big news this year? All-star mixed doubles teams. After three hours of coverage from ABC on Sunday at noon ET, ESPN and ESPN2 will take over. Tennis Channel will have highlights and commentary every morning at 9 a.m.
Little League World Series Championship (August 24)
The big game airs on ABC at 3 p.m. And then the kids have to go back to school.
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Comments
Wow Bob, your lead story last week on Cracker Barrel has only worsened in the week since with its disastrous woke rebranding, losing over $100 million in revenue, and surely this is just the beginning. Bud Light’s still the champion there, with $4 billion. They’ve never recovered, and never will from having set fire to their own brand.
Cracker Barrel’s even lashing out at their own customers for their own corporate stupidity and ‘coastal elitist’ attitude. Obviously ashamed of the chain and its customers, they’ve “unburdened” it of what’s made it successful for decades. They hate average Americans; look down on them, want to make them ‘more sophisticated’ with their completely misguided idea of what CB should be. Stocks plummeting, horrible PR, everyone loses here.
It hasn’t reached Pacific Palisades or Lahaina levels yet, but will soon. This is a major f-up, and the only way to fix it is to admit it, apologize, and return it to the way it was as quickly as possible, taking a page out of Coca-Cola’s playbook in 1985. Return the classic logo and image, offer freebies and whatever it takes to move past this disaster so it’ll be just a bad dream hopefully forgotten and forgiven by the public. Corporately, they’ll be in hot water for years over this!
Love the first color cartoon here from 1930, and the 1960 Heublein Cocktails ad. I thought it was pronounced “Hugh Bleen” until you noted the right way here. I don’t drink, but still like to pronounce everything correctly.
Our electric bill went up about 100.00 here in rural TN this month due largely to the extreme temperatures experienced. I’m hoping for some relief soon.
Seriously! You drop a mention for the Little League World Series but no mention at all of the American Legion World Series that just concluded Tuesday (also on ESPN networks)!
And this being the American Legion’s Baseball Centennial!
It was another fantastic season and amazing playoffs. By far the best baseball there is because it’s baseball for all the right reasons.
What has the Post got against the American Legion anyway?