Read This!
Here are a few new books to read this summer (or whenever you get around to reading them).
This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History by Beverly Gage. Just in time for America’s 250th, a visit to various places around the country, from museums and historic sites to roadside attractions and Disneyland.
The Au Pair by Teddy Wayne. A floundering novelist with a failing marriage sees his creativity reignited after he gets involved with his au pair. But we all know that getting involved with your au pair never ends well.
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. A dying 81-year-old gets to relive moments of his life via a time-traveling train.
The Frenzy by Joyce Carol Oates. A collection of suspense stories from the veteran writer, whose contributions to the Post include an essay on her mother’s quilt for their September/October 2012 issue.
Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess by Ben Mezrich. An in-depth look at the 2022 chess match between 19-year-old prodigy Hans Niemann and world champion Magnus Carlsen. Niemann defeated Carlsen, and Carlsen accused the teenager of cheating.
The Martha Way: Essential Principles For Mastering Home and Living by Martha Stewart. The ultimate guide to becoming someone like Martha Stewart. Look, you’re never going to be like Martha Stewart, but I’m sure this book has some great recipes and tips.
Are You a Luddite?
Luddites get a bad rap.
It’s not that they hate technology, it’s that they have worries about technology, especially about how it could replace or exploit human workers or disrupt life in general.
I think I might be a bit of a Luddite. I’d rather talk on a landline than a smartphone. And with artificial intelligence seeping into every aspect of our lives, shouldn’t all of us be a little more Luddite-ish? Just seems like common sense.
Are dogs Luddites? I would have said yes – natural ones instead of it being a choice for them – but then I read that they’ve made a phone for dogs. If dogs starting texting each other, we’re all doomed.
They Should Put a Giant Yogi Bear Next to It
Do you have an extra $8.5 million? Then you can buy the building shaped like a giant basket.
That actually doesn’t sound like a lot of money for such an iconic, interesting building. Some big company should grab that and make it their headquarters, even if they don’t make baskets.
A Product I Didn’t Know Existed
I came across this the other day during my web travels, the Shower Drink Holder. It’s something to hold your beer while you take a shower.
Now, several thoughts come to my mind as I’m sure they have come to yours. Who drinks beer in the shower? I mean, who drinks anything in the shower? Especially since you have all of that water to drink!
I wouldn’t want to have any drink or food in the shower. What if shampoo or soap gets into it? Also, are you supposed to finish the entire can of beer while you’re taking the shower or leave the can of beer in the shower overnight so you can finish it the next day?
May I suggest that if you’re drinking beer while taking a shower maybe you have other problems to worry about.
RIP James Burrows, Alan Greenspan, Clive Davis, Tom Dreesen, James Bradley, Walter Parazaider, Mark Singer, Jill Smokler, and David Sheiner
James Burrows was the king of the TV sitcom. The multiple Emmy-winner directed such shows as Friends, Will & Grace, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Frasier, Taxi, and dozens of others. He also co-created and directed Cheers. His father was writer Abe Burrows. He died last week at the age of 85.
Here’s Donald Liebenson on eight essential episodes directed by Burrows.
Alan Greenspan was chairman of the Federal Reserve for almost two decades. He died Monday at the age of 100.
Clive Davis was one of the most powerful executives in the music industry. For 60 years he had a hand in the successes of such musicians and bands as Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, and many others. He died Monday at the age of 94.
Tom Dreesen was a veteran standup comic who was Frank Sinatra’s regular opening act. He died last week at the age of 86.
James Bradley was the co-author of the best-selling World War II book Flags of Our Fathers. He died earlier this month at the age of 72.
Walter Parazaider was co-founder and saxophonist for the band Chicago. He died last week at the age of 81.
Uploaded to YouTube by Chicago Band
Mark Singer was an acclaimed writer for The New Yorker. He died last week at the age of 75.
Jill Smokler was the popular writer of the “Scary Mommy” blog. She died Monday at the age of 48.
Since the early 1950s, David Sheiner appeared on dozens of TV shows and in films like The Odd Couple, Blue Thunder, and They Call Me Mister Tibbs! He died earlier this month at the age of 98.
This Week in History
Pledge of Allegiance Officially Adopted (June 22, 1942)
They added the “under God” part in 1954.
First SAT Exam (June 23, 1926)
I did really well on the reading/writing part of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, but the math part? Not so much.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Track 11 by Stevan Dohanos (June 21, 1947)
The kids are going to camp but nobody in this picture looks happy.
National Onion Day
It’s Saturday. I don’t really think of eating onions during the summer – unless they’re in ring form – but here are a few recipes.
You could make Curtis Stone’s Spice-Rubbed Lamb Rack with Vinegar-Mint Sauce and Zucchini-Feta Fritters, which not only has green onions (in the fritters) but is also one of the longest, dash-filled recipes I’ve ever mentioned here.
Meanwhile, The Cozy Cook has French Onion Chicken, Delish has this Sour Cream and Onion Dip, and The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for a One-Pot French Onion Pasta.
A dessert with onions? How about the Caramelized Onion and Apple Upside Down Cake from Slumber and Scones?
Next Week’s Headlines and Events
Wimbledon Begins (June 29)
Serena Williams is making her singles comeback during the tournament. The two-week event airs on ESPN, with replays and analysis on Tennis Channel.
A Capitol Fourth Concert: 250th Celebration (July 3)
It airs on PBS starting at 8 p.m. ET.
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