Read This!
The Summer of Death: The Great Heat Wave of 1936 and the Making of Modern-Day America by Geoff Williams. An intriguing look at what was quite possibly the worst heat wave in U.S. history, caused by just the right conditions. Williams explores the deaths it caused, the ways people beat the heat back then, and how the terrible conditions led to changes in what we wear today.
The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian. An 18-year-old female golf prodigy accidentally kills a teenage caddy by hitting him with a ball during practice. But wait! Was it an accident?
Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead. This is the third and final book in Whitehead’s acclaimed “Harlem Trilogy.” It’s set in 1981 and has Ray Carney planning one last heist to save his wife’s travel agency.
Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty. What if you could go back in time, any time at all, to visit something in history or relive a part of your own life, with no repercussions?
He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1960 by Jonathan Earle. The title says it all: a look at how Lincoln became the 16th president, in what many historians call the most important election in history.
Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest by Martin Sorge. This cookbook by the winner of the 2023 Great American Baking Show features sweet and savory foods from the Midwest: breads, cookies, cakes, pies, biscuits, and more.
Back to School Already?
The back-to-school commercials have started.
I’ve always found it cruel that many kids have to go back to school at the beginning of August while kids in other states are still on vacation, riding their bikes, playing video games, running for the ice cream truck.
Do kids still run for the ice cream truck?
Here’s a list of each state and when the new school year starts. A friend of mine who lives in Georgia said his kids started back this past Monday. I hope they at least got out of school before June.
Do they have air conditioning in schools now? They didn’t when I was a kid. September was warm enough; I can’t imagine a school room in August. Maybe air conditioning in schools is more common in the South.
Maybe They Can Pour Coffee into Plain Yogurt?
I can empathize with the people upset that Dannon discontinued their coffee-flavored yogurt (or “DCY,” as the fans call it). I still miss Marathon bars, Quisp cereal, and Baby Swiss Cheez-Its.
Some of the die-hard fans have been eating the yogurt every day (sometimes more than one a day) for 40 or 50 years! So you can understand why they’re upset. They’ve started a petition to urge Dannon to bring it back, but the company says that’s not going to happen.
I’m trying to think if there’s anything I have eaten every single day for a few decades and the only thing I can come up with is high blood pressure medication.
Where the # and the @ Came From
You can impress all of your friends when you drop the word “octothorpe.”
Uploaded to YouTube by RobWords.
Headline of the Week
“If You Think Kids Will Respect a Robot Teacher, You Have Never Met a Kid”
RIP Vincent Pastore, Glen Hansard, Ursula Hegi, Kay Granger, Arlene Smith, Jeff Conolly, and Scott Hylands
Vincent Pastore starred on The Sopranos and appeared in such shows as Blue Bloods, The Practice, Law & Order, and General Hospital, and in films like Carlito’s Way, True Love, Goodfellas, Manhattan Murder Mystery, and Made. He died Saturday at the age of 80.
Glen Hansard was the lead singer of the Frames and won an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly,” from the film Once. He died last week at the age of 56.
Ursula Hegi was an acclaimed novelist whose works included Stones from the River and Floating in My Mother’s Palm. She died last month at the age of 80.
Kay Granger was the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the House of Representatives. She died last weekend at the age of 83.
Arlene Smith was the lead singer of the 1950’s girl group the Chantels, known for the song “Maybe.” She died last week at the age of 84.
Jeff Conolly was the lead singer of the rock band the Lyres, known for songs like “Don’t Give It Up Now” and “She Pays the Rent.” He died last week at the age of 69.
Scott Hylands starred in the ’80s Canadian drama Night Heat and appeared on Fargo, V, The Outer Limits, and Centennial, and in movies like Daddy’s Gone a-Hunting and The Boys in Company C. He died last month at the age of 83.
This Week in History
Columbus Sets Sail (August 3, 1492)
Here’s how he got his own day.
Billboard “Hot 100” Chart Debuts (August 4, 1958)
The magazine had other charts before the Hot 100, but this was the first chart to put everything in one main chart. The first number one song? This one.
Uploaded to YouTube by Rick Nelson – Topic.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: “Bathing Beauty and Beach Ball” by Ellen Pyle (August 7, 1926)
I think we should bring back “the copy” and use it on the cover of new issues.
Saturday Is National Zucchini Day
Here’s Curtis Stone with his recipe for Zucchini Grilled Cheese, and here’s his Veggie Lasagna (which includes zucchini).
The New York Times has a recipe for a Crispy Zucchini Hero, Good Housekeeping has Grilled Basil Chicken and Zucchini, and Delish tells you how to make the Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins.
For dessert, The Pioneer Woman has Triple Chocolate Zucchini Bread and Allrecipes has these Zucchini Bars with Spice Frosting.
You don’t have to tell anyone those desserts are made with zucchini.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (August 8)
Besides big holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, this is the holiday I always mention in this column. I mean, look at the name!
Perseid Meteor Shower (August 12 and 13)
Here’s everything you need to know about one of the better meteor showers of the year.
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