News of the Week: August Notes, Bingebuster, and the $10,000 Martini

Random Thoughts

Sometimes I feel like everyone has a tattoo but me.

Summer suddenly hit us the past ten days. The season was actually fairly comfortable, and then BAM!, several days in a row of temps in the high 80s and dew points over 70. Ugh.

Thank you, 36″ Quiet, Oscillating Tower Fan.

If you had told me 20 years ago that I’d now be eating (and liking) “low-salt” foods, I would have said you were crazy.

Actually, I would have said, “how the heck do you know what I’ll be eating in 20 years?”

They should make a prequel to The Brady Bunch, where we see Mike and Carol with their former spouses.

New Orleans is going to have AI answer 911 calls instead of humans. What could possibly go wrong?

They’re opening a real Freddy’s pizza restaurant in New Jersey, like the one shown in the horror movie franchise. Isn’t that like an airline showing Airport ’75 during a flight?

There’s a new martini that costs $10,000. It’s topped with caviar. I would never pay $10,000 for a cocktail, but if someone else was buying I’d still want it without the caviar.

The drink comes with a tennis bracelet worth over $11,000 so maybe it’s worth it (especially if you sell the tennis bracelet).

Let’s Go to Bingebuster!

Do you miss Blockbuster? Then head on over to Bingebuster, where you can “shop” the store and see what’s on all of the streaming services. It’s a great recreation of Blockbuster, though I noticed there’s no cash register or employees. And if you try to leave the store to go over to Borders Books or Sam Goody … well, it takes you someplace else.

Quote of the Week

“Play tennis, cash check, repeat.”

– Danielle Collins, on her tennis philosophy and why she’d rather just make the final of a major slam instead of winning a lesser tournament.

RIP Lloyd Robertson, Ben Jones, Jon Cypher, Abbe Lane, Don Nelson, William Orbit, John Crowley, Jeanne Gibson, and Bill Wine

Lloyd Robertson was a veteran newsman and the lead anchor on Canada’s CTV for many years. He died last week at the age of 92.

Ben Jones played Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard and served two terms in Congress. He died Sunday at the age of 84.

Jon Cypher was a character actor who appeared in dozens of TV shows and had regular roles on Major Dad, Hill Street Blues, Dynasty, Knots Landing, and several daytime soap operas. He died earlier this month at the age of 94.

Abbe Lane was a singer and actress who was once married to bandleader Xavier Cugat. She died in April at the age of 92.

Don Nelson was the second-winningest coach in NBA history and as a player won five championships with the Boston Celtics. He died Sunday at the age of 86.

Grammy-winner William Orbit not only produced songs for such people as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Pink, he released several instrumental albums of his own, including Strange Cargo. He died last month at the age of 69.

John Crowley was a multi-award-winning writer of science fiction and fantasy. He died Saturday at the age of 83.

Jeanne Gibson was one of the last of the Rosie the Riveters. She died last month at the age of 100.

Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning

Bill Wine was an Emmy-winning film critic for several Philadelphia TV and radio stations and a columnist at several newspapers. He died in June at the age of 81.

This Week in History

Louvre Museum Opens (August 10, 1793)

The Paris museum’s iconic pyramid is 71 feet tall and has a base surface area of 11,000 feet. It opened in 1989.

Herbert Hoover Born (August 10, 1874)

He served one term, from 1929 to 1933. The public wasn’t thrilled with how he handled the Great Depression and he lost re-election to FDR.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Betty Crocker’s Frosty Pineapple Pie (August 8, 1953)

I never eat pineapple but I suddenly have the urge to go to the store and get some.

Today Is National Pineapple Juice Day

“Today” as in Friday, so you better get started on these recipes before the day ends.

Let’s start off with the most obvious recipe, Fresh Pineapple Juice from J Cooking Odyssey.

After that, how about this New York Times recipe for Hawaiian Buns, this Pineapple Fruit Salad with Melon from I Knead to Eat, or the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake from Food Network.

Of course, you also have to make this Pineapple Martini from Allrecipes. Caviar on top? That’s up to you.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Tell A Joke Day (August 16)

What did 0 say to 8?

Nice belt.

(I had to Google it to find out what it means.)

Little League World Series (August 19-30)

The regional games are going on right now. Here’s the complete schedule. ESPN and ABC have coverage.