The Big Iced Coffee Debate
Back when I actually went on in-person job interviews, I sometimes brought a cup of tea with me. It wasn’t something I did at every job interview, but sometimes you get to the place a little early and you’re walking around the neighborhood and you stop in a place to get a cup of coffee or tea and then you go to the interview.
I didn’t realize that I was making a career faux pas, and I’m not even Gen Z.
Apparently, bringing an iced coffee with you to a job interview is a no-no. One recruiter on TikTok said it looks like “this interview is just a stop on your list of errands for the day.” While I can understand this reasoning (and my advice would be to not bring one, just to be safe; you can get one after the interview), I also think that a job applicant who does it is probably nervous and wants to make the interview a bit more casual, so it seems like they’re relaxed and would fit into the office atmosphere.
Also, the job interview probably is one of the errands that they have to do for the day. It doesn’t mean they’re not taking the job interview seriously. Though if you bring a coffee to a job interview and you’re also late, they’ll probably assume you’re late because you stopped for that coffee.
If the job applicant brought a bowl of soup with them and slurped during the interview or was munching on a bag of potato chips, I’d thank them for their time and escort them out of the building immediately.
Another question: if it’s unprofessional for the applicant to sip on something during the interview, is it also unprofessional for the interviewer to do the same? Discuss.
Dumb Phone Company Has Applicants Do Handwritten Cover Letters
I should note that I’m not calling this phone company “dumb.’ It’s a company that makes dumb phones, the kind of phone cell phones used to be, a flip phone. In fact, the company is called Dumb.co.
I should have phrased that title better.
Anyway, the company is looking for interns who actually like being offline and not connected all the time. And to cut down on the use of artificial intelligence on cover letters, the company is having applicants submit handwritten cover letters.
As a fan of all things analog and a skeptic of AI, I like this. I especially like that real people are reading the applications and making the decisions. However, I don’t understand how the company could stop an applicant from using AI to write the cover letter and then just write by hand what the AI has written.
The Most Popular Apples
Not the tech company, the fruit.
According to this chart from the U.S. Apple Association, we love Gala, Red Delicious, and Honeycrisp. But the most popular apple seems to be “Other.” It sounds really good!
The chart isn’t really that important, I guess. You’re going to eat what you like, and use what you need to use in certain recipes. But I am glad I saw it because I had no idea there was an apple called Envy.
Did You Ever Play Mumblety-Peg?
I was watching an old episode of Leave it to Beaver – I’m not sure why I used the word “old” because there aren’t any new episodes – and Ward suggested that the boys go to the park and play mumblety-peg.
I had no idea what this was so I went to Wikipedia. Apparently, it was a game where you threw pocket knives in various ways and tried to make them stick into the ground. A more exciting variation on the game involved throwing the knives at your opponent’s feet.
And they say the 1950s were a more innocent time.
RIP Dennis Haskins, Pete Byrne, Bob Pettit, Judy Markey, Peppino Mazzullo, and Dee Brock
Dennis Haskins played Principal Belding on the kids’ sitcom Saved by the Bell. He died Saturday at the age of 75.
Pete Byrne was the lead singer of the synth-rock band Naked Eyes, known for such songs as “Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises.” He died last month at the age of 74.
Uploaded to YouTube by Chrysalis Records
Bob Pettit was a two-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, and a Hall of Fame basketball player. He died last week at the age of 93.
Judy Markey was a syndicated humor columnist and co-host of the popular Chicago radio show The Kathy and Judy Show. She died last month at the age of 82.
Peppino Mazzullo was the voice of the popular puppet Topo Gigio on The Ed Sullivan Show. He died Wednesday at the age of 100.
Dee Brock created the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She died last month at the age of 96.
This Week in History
“In God We Trust” Appears on Paper Currency (October 1, 1957)
The phrase had already been on coins in the U.S. starting in 1864.
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Debuts (October 1, 1962)
Johnny took over from Jack Paar, but the first episode – with guests Groucho Marx, Tony Bennett, Joan Crawford, Mel Brooks, and Rudy Vallée! – is lost (as are many of the early New York episodes). Though there are some photos and some audio that still exists.
Carson expert Mark Malkoff has the original NBC press release for the credits of the show, released the day after his debut.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: “Apple Picking Time” by John Falter (September 27, 1947)
I’m not sure what variety of apple those are.
October Is National Apple Month
Let’s start off with a cocktail. Country Living has A Walk in the Orchard, which sounds like the title of a Hallmark Channel rom-com but is actually a drink with apple juice, tequila, and maple syrup.
You can then try the Seared Pork Chops with Roasted Apples and Sweet Potatoes from Curtis Stone, the Skillet Apple Cider Chicken from Sally’s Baking, or the Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Sausage Pasta from The Kitchn.
For dessert, the New York Times has an Apple Crumble, Martha Stewart has these Apple-Oatmeal Muffins, and Delish has Apple Cheddar Bundles, which combines apples and cheddar cheese along with honey and roasted pecans in a puff pastry.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
NFL London Games (October 4-18)
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts will play the Washington Commanders at 9:30 a.m. ET. On October 11, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 9:30, and on October 18, the Houston Texans will play the Jaguars. All games will be on the NFL Network.
Mad Hatter Day (October 6)
Yes, the day celebrates the character from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But why on October 6? Because of the hat he wears.
Walk to School Day (October 7)
This is the day that parents/grandparents can tell the kids, “Why, in my day, we walked five miles to school in the snow! And we never brought iced coffee to a job interview!”
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