Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Drink to the action movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards on National Daiquiri Day


As I wrote yesterday, "Stay tuned for the action movie nominees on National Daiquiri Day as the Sunday entertainment feature." Here are the nominees.
Best Action Movie

The Furious
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
Motor City
The Naked Gun
Normal
The Rip
Sisu: Road to Revenge
The Furious leads with three nominations; the rest of the field is tied at two apiece. I'll go with The Furious based on its three nominations here and its Astra Midseason Movie Award for Best Stunts, although The Rip has an Emmy nomination and Sisu: Road to Revenge won a Saturn Award.

Follow over the jump for the acting nominations and my analysis of what these nominations might mean for the Saturn Awards.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

More fun with wombats and ice cream on Souther 2026

Happy Souther, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Summer Solstice, a holiday created by John Michael Greer, who also designated the wombat as the animal mascot. Since the first Souther fell on National Ice Cream Day and usually occurs during July, National Ice Cream Month, the food for today is ice cream. Last year, I found a cartoon wombat who likes ice cream, so I'm returning to him and his friends in Work it Out Wombats Ice Cream for Breakfast Song.

Episode: Jun-Jun's Wake Up Call - From: Work It Out Wombats: PBS Kids Video

Work it Out Wombats is owned by Marcy Gunther, Robby Hoffman, Kathy Waugh, Marisa Wolsky, Pipeline Studios, GBH Kids, and PBS.
Ice cream for breakfast? I wish!

Since no actual ice cream appeared in the clip, I'm embedding National Ice Cream Month | July - National Day Calendar to make up for it.



July is National Ice Cream Month!

Ronald Reagan is associated with National Ice Cream Month but not National Jelly Bean Day? Surprising, given his love of jelly beans.

I close with Ice cream- The Wombats, the song for today.


That's a wrap for today's faux holiday. Stay tuned for something I can share in August, since the blog passed its page view goal for July yesterday.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Lost in the Pond delivers 'British Verdict on the Detroit-Style Pizza' for Detroit-Style Pizza Day

Happy National Detroit-Style Pizza Day! I'm continuing last year's theme of Brits try Detroit Pizza for Detroit-style Pizza Day with Lost in the Pond delivering British Verdict on the Detroit-Style Pizza.

I gave you my verdict on the New York and Chicago style pizzas, now it's time for something in between. Here's my verdict on Michigan's own, Detroit-Style Pizza. But how many Lorenzos did I give it?
I'd give it more than four, but I live in metro Detroit.

Laurence recorded and posted the above video on National Pizza Day 2020, more than a year before the first National Detroit-Style Pizza Day, so can be forgiven for not recording on the right day. It didn't exist yet! As he and his wife Tarah mentioned, he also reviewed New York and Chicago pizza. Here's the first of the two, A Brit's Verdict on Chicago-style Pizza.

After the controversy surrounding Jelly-gate, I thought I'd try an American food item closer to home: a Chicago-style pizza.
Well, at least I know what Jelly-gate was about. Also, this video lacks something — two things, actually, Lawrence's sing-song, self-mocking delivery that is on display in his more recent videos, like 'Let's Talk About America's Iconic Bald Eagle' and Tarah. She's in the next video, British Verdict on America's New York-style Pizza, recorded during National Pizza Week 2020.

Since it's National Pizza Week, it only seems right that I present to the world–with the help of Old Fashioned Af–my verdict on America's New York-style Pizza.
I grew up on New York style pizza in Los Angeles, but people from the East Coast looked down on it. They said it was better cold. Now that I think about it, they were right.

That's a wrap for Lawrence's take on pizza. I have more videos of Brits eating Detroit-Style Pizza that I'm saving for next year. I'm an environmentalist; I conserve my resources. In the meantime, stay tuned for the first of two World UFO Days, the last of the current string of holidays.

Saturday, June 6, 2026

'Bankrupt - Cicis Pizza' by Bright Sun Films and Company Man, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

Today's evergreen educational entry features Bankrupt - Cicis Pizza by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse.

Starting in the mid 1980's, Cicis Pizza was always the go-to pizza restaurant for cheap bites and great value. With their no-frills locations, cheap prices and innovative buffet concept, the restaurant became a massive success with hundreds of locations across the country. However, things have changed and following a bankruptcy, their once dominating presence has been severely diminished. Join me as we find out why.
As user tcbgarage2845 wrote in his comment, "Private equity, Leveraged buyouts, Covid 19 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy! The whole gang is here." Indeed.

As I've written several times, no bankrupt company's story is complete without both Bright Sun Films and Company Man making videos about it, so I'm sharing Company Man Mike asking The Decline of CiCi's Pizza...What Happened?

Cici's pizza has been on the decline for more than a decade now. What was once the 5th largest pizza chain in the U.S. has fallen to number 10. This video takes a look at how they grew so large and theorizes where they went wrong.
There is also an AI-generated video summary.
CiCi's Pizza: from a humble beginning to a top-five pizza chain, this video explores the brand's rise and subsequent decline. The documentary analyzes the company's unique buffet model and its impact on CiCi's growth trajectory. It also examines factors that may have contributed to its recent struggles.
Company Man Mike uploaded this video on October 14, 2020, during the height of the pandemic, yet he didn't mention it. I'm surprised. Also, he produced this before CiCi's declared bankruptcy and before he began creating his lists of reasons for failure. Too bad — those lists are right up with his bar charts and line graphs among my favorite parts of Company Man Mike's videos. At least this video has plenty of those, along with enough shots of the menu items to make me hungry.

That's a wrap for today's lesson showing what not to do in business. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

HISTORY's 'Cinco De Mayo Foods: Tacos'

¡Feliz Cinco De Mayo! I'm being more light-hearted today than last year by taking advantage of the holiday falling on Taco Tuesday with History Channel's Cinco De Mayo Foods: Tacos.

Join Famous Fat Dave as he interviews a cook who knows how to make a great taco for Cinco de Mayo.
Yeah, I know combining Cinco De Mayo and Taco Tuesday is a bad dad joke, but I couldn't resist. Besides, I have lots of final exams to grade, so I'd better get to work. See you tomorrow for Revenge of the Sixth.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

'Bankrupt - Sbarro' by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

Today's brief evergreen educational entry features the latest episode in Bright Sun Films series Bankrupt - Sbarro.

Since it started in New York in the 1950's, the Sbarro fast food chain had grown to well over 1,000 locations, many of which inside of shopping malls. The chain became a staple in casual, Italian food and was one of the most recognizable shopping mall institutions in America. However, by the 2010's, the brand would ultimately declare bankruptcy... twice. Join me to find out why.
I last examined Sbarro in 2020's Company Man examines the rise and decline of Sbarro, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, the next to last Retail Apocalypse post before COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic. I hadn't gotten into the habit of taking screen captures of Company Man Mike's reasons for the company declining then, so I'm making up for it by sharing his list from six years ago.


Jake Williams of Bright Sun Films concentrated on the 2007 sale of the company to a private equity firm, followed by the Great Recession and the general decline of malls. As I wrote six years ago, "Sbarro's dependence on malls was helpful until the Great Recession but is hurting the chain now, as more than half of their stores have closed since the company's peak." Private equity taking over the company the first time couldn't have come under worse circumstances. On the other hand, the current private equity ownership has been good for the company so far, expanding it out of American malls to other countries and into other locations. Good news.

On the other hand, Jake had very little to say about the rest of Company Man Mike's list, mentioning ingredient costs first and briefly. He had very little bad to say about the food itself, confining his stale remark to the brand, and only briefly citing consumer comments about the product. For critiques of the food, I plan on turning to Weird History Food, which I featured in The rise and fall of Boston Market, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse for Flashback Friday, but not today. I'm running late because of the field trip I ran, so I'm going to be a good environmentalist by conserving that resource to use later.

Speaking of conserving resources, I missed two Facebook shares about the Retail Apocalypse in Bloomberg Television explains 'How Gen Z Is Bringing Back The Mall,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, so follow over the jump for them.

Friday, April 10, 2026

The rise and fall of Boston Market, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse for Flashback Friday

Happy Flashback Friday! Today's retrospective covers the most read entries about the Retail Apocalypse during the 15th year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News. Before I recap those, I'm sharing two videos about a restaurant chain I should have covered five or six years ago, Boston Market. I begin with the more recent, The Disastrous Downfall Of Boston Market, which Weird History Food uploaded last month.

Before meal kits, DoorDash, and cheap grocery store rotisserie chickens, Boston Market was a real presence. It promised comfort food classics, like Thanksgiving dinner any day of the week, without the cooking, cleanup, or family drama! At its peak, this fast-casual chain was booming, redefining how Americans ate homestyle meals on the go. But almost as quickly as it rose, Boston Market began to collapse.

So what went wrong? On this episode of Weird History Food, we're taking a look at the strange rise and fall of one of America’s most iconic comfort food chains.

Did you ever eat there? What was your favorite dish? Let Us Know in the comments!
Of course private equity played an important role in this story, especially at the end, but it wasn't what started the chain's decline nearly 30 years ago. Too rapid expansion when the company was publicly traded did. Company Man detailed that when he asked The Decline of Boston Market...What Happened?

In 1997, Boston Market was among the fastest growing fast food chains in the country. By 1998 they filed for bankruptcy and have yet to make much of a comeback from it. This video attempts to find reasons behind what happened.
When my wife and I moved to Royal Oak, there was a recently closed Boston Market within walking distance. We would have brought home meals from there if it had been open. Instead, the nearby pizza place and Coney island got our business. Like Company Man Mike, who missed their cinnamon apples, I missed their food and wondered what had happened to the chain. Now that I've watched both Weird History Food's and Company Man's videos, I know.

Follow over the jump for the most read entries about the Retail Apocalypse last year.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Peaches and carrots, food history from Vox for Throwback Thursday

I closed PBS Terra warns 'A Hidden Antarctic Tipping Point May Have Just Been Triggered' for Wayback Wednesday by telling my readers, "Stay tuned for two videos about food history on Throwback Thursday..." Both are by Vox and the first is The biggest peach myth in America.

Peaches are one of America’s most recognizable fruits. In the US, hundreds of thousands of tons are produced each year, and the fruit is closely tied to one place in particular: Georgia.

The Georgia peach is on license plates, road signs, and even county names. But today, the state doesn’t grow the most peaches. Not even close.

This video explores how peaches became a state symbol, how that reputation spread through active mythmaking, and why the Georgia peach identity has lasted even as the industry changed.
That was a fascinating video that taught me a lot of new things about peaches, including California being the leading peach-producing state, not Georgia. I doubt California will become the new Peach State; my former home state has better things to brag about.

The second explains How we fell for carrot propaganda.

We all heard the myth while growing up: Carrots are good for your eyesight. Or maybe even: Carrots can make you see in the dark. But where did this myth come from? And is there any basis in science?

It turns out that carrots are chock-full of vitamin A, which is necessary for vision. But most people today get enough vitamin A in their normal diet, and eating an excess of the orange vegetable won’t boost your eyesight or grant you night vision. In fact, consuming more vitamin A than your body can handle (via supplements instead of natural fruits and vegetables) can be detrimental to your health.

The origins of this common myth actually lie in World War II.

During the Blitz (the German Luftwaffe’s bombing campaign against London and other British cities), the British government had several important reasons to persuade both its citizens and the wider world that eating carrots improved eyesight. The Ministry of Information and Ministry of Food worked together to spread some shockingly impactful carrot-based propaganda. And the myth remains prevalent to this day.

Vox producer Nate Krieger spoke to an ophthalmologist and a World War II propaganda historian to get to the bottom of the carrot vision myth. This video explores the impetus behind this strangely targeted propaganda campaign, explains why it was so successful, and reintroduces the world to Dr. Carrot.
LOL, World War II British propaganda. Keep calm and carry on, everyone.

Follow over the jump for the top posts featuring Vox on social media last year.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

'The Fall of Bahama Breeze,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

Today's "brief educational entry...I can share next month" is another tale of the Retail Apocalypse, The Fall of Bahama Breeze Poseidon Entertainment.

Wait, really? A video on Bahama Breeze? While it might be forgotten among other chain restaurants, I think that this is still a loss for themed entertainment and I discovered a level of depth here that I didn't anticipate. As weird as it sounds, I'm somewhat sad about the closing of this chain, so join me today as we discuss the fall of Bahama Breeze.
Like Poseidon Entertainment, I will miss Bahama Breeze. My wife and I have dined at both of the nearby locations in Troy, which closed last year, and Livonia, which will close next month. Both were fun places with good food. In fact, I had the conch fritters and mahi-mahi at the Troy location when my wife and I dined there more than a decade ago. I'm sorry we won't be able to repeat that experience.

For a broader perspective, I turn to Cory At Random, who uploaded Bahama Breeze Is Shutting Down — Why the Caribbean Chain Couldn’t Survive last month.

After nearly thirty years in business, Bahama Breeze is closing its doors.

Parent company Darden Restaurants announced it will shut down the remaining twenty-eight locations, with half closing permanently and the other half being converted into different Darden-owned brands over the next twelve to eighteen months. The final day of operations for Bahama Breeze will be April fifth.

This video breaks down why Bahama Breeze is disappearing while other Darden brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse continue to grow. We look at how inflation, shrinking disposable income, and changing dining habits reshaped the casual dining landscape, and why experience-driven chains have struggled to compete in a value-focused market.

Bahama Breeze wasn’t a sudden failure. It was a brand built for a different era of dining, one that thrived on atmosphere and escape. This is the full context behind why it’s ending, and what its closure says about the future of casual dining in America.
It's not just Bahama Breeze. Ruby Tuesday, Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, and Hooters have all suffered from the changing economic environment and consumer tastes. At least Bahama Breeze's parent company, Darden Restaurants, is doing well, especially with Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.

Since both Poseidon Entertainment and I mentioned conch fritters, I'm closing with Bahama Breeze: Conch Fritters from the chain's YouTube channel.

Bahama Breeze demonstrates how to make delicious conch fritters using the unique conch meat.
At least I know where to find the recipe should I ever want to eat conch fritters again.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned to see if I post the first retrospective of the 15th year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News tomorrow for Wayback Wednesday.

Monday, March 16, 2026

Vox explains why 'The banana is under threat'

I begin today's educational post I can share next month, I'm recycling the opening of Vice News on the 'Bananapocalypse: Why Bananas May Go Extinct'.
I first wrote "the dessert bananas people eat are threatened by fungus because of the unintended effects of growing monocultures of clones" ten years ago, and I haven't stopped warning my students about it since. It's right up there with bees as a story I tell my students, although I write about bees a lot more here than bananas. The last time was 2021 and the time before that was 2014. The latter was an audition for a video to show my students instead of "The Top Banana" trailer, and it failed. They decided that they liked the more fun teaser for a documentary that never happened than the more informative Seeker video. I didn't even try the Business Insider video. I'm planning on trying again with Bananapocalypse: Why Bananas May Go Extinct by Vice News.
I think I showed the Vice News video once three years ago and it didn't get nearly the reaction that "The Top Banana" regularly gets, so the latter stayed in my lectures on biodiversity as natural capital. I plan on trying one more time with Vox explaining why The banana is under threat.

Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits. They’re a staple crop in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In the US, the average person eats more than 25 pounds of bananas per year.

The banana found in nearly every lunch bag, smoothie, and cereal is likely a Cavendish banana (a single variety that accounts for 99 percent of global exports), despite there being over 1,000 different species of bananas. This kind of uniformity is what allows the beloved banana to be cheap, durable, and ubiquitous.

It also makes them extremely vulnerable.

A variant of Panama disease, a soil fungus that once wiped out the world’s most commercial banana, the Gros Michel, in the 1950s, is back. And this time, there’s no obvious replacement for it waiting around the corner. So what will it take to save one of the world’s most beloved fruits?

This video explores how monocropping became both a blessing and a curse in the search for the most commercially viable banana, how this assumed ubiquity could lead to the end of the banana as we know it, and what scientists are doing to prevent the extinction of the Cavendish.
Between giving up the Cavendish for other varieties of bananas or accepting genetically modified Cavendish bananas, I'd bet on Americans accepting GMO Cavendish bananas first. We already eat a lot of GMOs in our corn and especially soybeans and have for years.


The rest of the world may not be so accepting and might be persuaded to expand the diversity of the bananas they eat.

This video reminds me of another Vox video I show to my students right after "The Top Banana" trailer, The race to save endangered foods.

Wild animals aren’t the only ones facing extinction.
...
We’re letting foods we’ve eaten for thousands of years disappear from farmers’ fields, and from our plates. Saving them isn’t just a matter of cultural preservation. In the next 30 years, we’re going to need to learn how to feed more people on a hotter planet, and the more genetic varieties we lose, the harder it’ll be to adapt.

To learn more about the foods facing extinction in the US and around the world, check out the Ark of Taste, a project of Slow Food USA.

Journalist Mark Shapiro’s book, Seeds of Resistance, goes into much more detail about the risk that genetic homogeneity poses to our food supply. He also profiles some of the efforts, many led by indigenous communities, to preserve older seed varieties.

For more on seed relabeling, check out the Farmers Business Network’s 2018 Seed Relabeling Report.

The chart on declining global yields for corn, wheat, and rice comes from an article in the academic journal Disasters and Climate Change Economics from agricultural economists Mekbib G. Haile, Tesfamicheal Wossen, Kindie Tesfaye, and Joachim von Braun. Their prediction model takes into account both climate change and price volatility, which is why their estimates are higher than those of some other researchers.

Special thanks to Marie Haga of Global Crop Diversity Trust, and Marleni Ramírez of Bioversity International for sharing their knowledge with me.
The students like this one, too, which I play right after "The Top Banana," but I wonder whether two Vox videos back-to-back will have the same impact.

I close with a video about the Gros Michel and Cavendish bananas that is too long to show to my students, I Ate the Extinct Banana (so you don't have to).

Just a truly devastating video to have to make...
I've spread the myth about banana flavoring being based on the taste of the Gros Michel before I watched this video. Now I say that banana flavoring is more like the smell of Gros Michel. That made watching this video worth it to learn that fact alone and correct my teaching. As I've written before and hope to write again, any day I learn something new is a good day.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for a celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Happy Lunar New Year and a solar eclipse on Fat Tuesday/Paczki Day!

So long Year of the Wood Snake! Welcome, Year of the Fire Horse! Watch ABC News (Australia)'s Lunar New Year 2026: The Year of the Horse explained.

It's time to say goodbye to the Year of the Snake and hello to the Year of the Horse. What do you know about the Year of the Horse? 0:00 Kai Feng, reporter for ABC Chinese, explains the significance of the horse in Chinese culture and history, 0:49 why 2026 is a 'fire' year, 5:10 and how people across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year.
Not only did ABC News (Australia) explain Lunar New Year, it explained the importance of horses to humans. Bonus educational content!

This is a U.S.-based blog, so I usually include how people celebrate the holiday here. Instead of a Disney parks video, I have two shorts on my YouTube channel that do just that, beginning with Lion Dance at Hudson Yards for Lunar New Year 2026 2/7/2026.

Lion Dance at Hudson Yards for #LunarNewYear2026 2/7/2026
#nyc #lunarnewyear
https://www.twitch.tv/aprylanonymous
I couldn't resist the lions unfurling the banner of the New York Chinese Cultural Center as a finale.

Next, Ribbon Dance at Hudson Yards for #LunarNewYear2026 2/7/2026.

Ribbon Dance at Hudson Yards for #LunarNewYear2026 2/7/2026
#nyc #lunarnewyear
https://www.twitch.tv/aprylanonymous
That's more culture than I'm used to seeing in a mall!

Follow over the jump for Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday and a solar eclipse.

Saturday, February 14, 2026

The History Guy remembers Charles Darwin and chocolate for Valentines Day

A late happy Darwin Day on Valentines Day — two holidays at once! I begin today's double celebration with The History Guy remembering Almost Not History: Darwin and HMS Beagle.

February 12 represents the 214th birthday of Charles Darwin, a scientist whose ideas transformed human understanding of the natural world, and undoubtedly one of the most influential scientists in history. But that history may have been different, as Da[rw]in’s career altering voyage aboard HMS Beagle almost didn’t happen.
First, The History Guy uploaded this video three years ago, so last Thursday was Darwin's 217th birthday. Second, I had no idea Robert Fitzroy, captain of the Beagle, was himself an accomplished scientist. Third, I knew that Fitzroy wanted a gentleman scientist companion, but I didn't know Darwin was essentially his third choice; I certainly didn't know the names of the two men who could have gone in Darwin's place. Still, Darwin turned out to be the best person available. Fourth, the video reminded me that Darwin was the grandson of Josiah Wedgwood, the founder of Wedgwood & Sons; I had heard that before, but couldn't have remembered that off the top of my head. I think I'd heard, but had forgotten, that his uncle Josiah II had finally allowed him to go. While not mentioned in the video, I did know that he married his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood, daughter of Josiah II. Talk about a close family!

By the way, I recall being a member of the Paleontological Research Institute back in the late 1980s. I've long since let my membership lapse, along with the rest of my professional association memberships. I've been concentrating on teaching instead of research the past 30 years and didn't have the time, and sometimes the money, for meetings and membership dues.

The History Guy has several videos about Valentines Day. Today's is Chocolate: A History.

From The History Guy archive for Valentine's Day, a brief history of the food of the Gods.
That was fascinating, from cacao's prehistory in Mesoamerica to today, including mentions of almost all of today's big names in chocolate, including Cadbury, Lindt, Nestle, Hershey, Reese, and Mars — sorry, no Godiva. I learned a lot from both videos, making today a good day. The second video also made me hungry. Lunchtime!

That's a wrap for today's educational holiday post. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature with the nominees for Best Action/Adventure Film at the Saturn Awards — Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning vs. One Battle After Another!

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

'Bankrupt - Hooters' by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

Last year, I wrote, "No bankrupt company's story seems to be complete without videos from both Company Man and Bright Sun Films." Company Man already asked "The Decline of Hooters...What Happened?" The other shoe has now dropped as Jake Williams of Bright Sun Films uploaded Bankrupt - Hooters on Boxing Day, when I last posted about the Retail Apocalypse.

Since its 1983 debut in Florida as a casual sports bar, Hooters grew exponentially through the 1980's and 90's, growing to become a massive brand across the world with hundreds of restaurants, tens of thousands of employees and a very controversial brand name which created a whole new segment in the industry. However despite all of this success and notoriety, the chain has struggled recently, ultimately filing for bankruptcy in 2025. Join me today as we find out what happened.
Jake Williams added to the story Company Man Mike told with Hooters Air and Hooters Casino, both of which failed because of issues with the brand, which didn't appeal to women, families, and upscale travelers. In addition, Millennials grew up with a poor perception of the brand. Also, Jake made a bigger deal of private equity's role in the story, noting that the same private equity firm owned both Hooters and TGI Fridays. As Jake joked, that ended well — not.

Speaking of endings, I closed my reaction to Company Man Mike's video by writing, "As for Hooters' identity crisis, I wish the chain good luck; they'll need it." That seems to be Jake's take, too.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

New guidelines flip the food pyramid on its head


I'm switching from topical posts to evergreen and holiday entries today. PBS NewsHour explaining Why experts are divided over the new federal dietary guidelines is both topical and evergreen, so it makes for the perfect transition.

The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines that will shape everything from school lunches to medical advice. The guidance puts a bigger emphasis on eating more protein and dairy, something Health Secretary Kennedy has long sought. William Brangham discussed the recommendations with Lindsey Smith Taillie, a nutrition epidemiologist and co-director of the Global Food Research Program.
Hearing Lindsey Smith Taillie talk about ultraprocessed food reminds me that I have two questions about the topic in 'Food, Inc. 2' worksheet for National Food Day.

16. What in ultraprocessed foods drives appetites/overeating?
...
19. How much of U.S. calorie intake comes from ultraprocessed food? France? Brazil? Italy?


I haven't shown Food, Inc. 2 either enough times or that recently to have the answers to both questions memorized in detail, but generally the response to the first involves additives to make ultraprocessed food more appetizing while that for the second is that Americans get the majority of our calories from ultrprocessed food while citizens of the other countries eat much less, generally around a quarter. Americans should eat less ultraprocessed food and more whole foods. Yes, I'm agreeing with RFK Jr. on this issue. File that under a stuck clock being right twice a day, and RFK Jr. is definitely a stuck clock.

That's the good news about the food guidelines. The bad news is the recommendation to eat more meat and dairy. That's not good for either health or the environment. Here are the questions I ask my students about the effects of meat and dairy on the environment.

9. Why are dairy farms moving from Wisconsin to California and Arizona and what are the environmental costs, especially on water? Answer both parts of the question.
...
24. Which food contributes most to climate change?


Dairy production requires a lot of water, which is in short supply in California and Arizona, where dairy farmers are moving to because those states have lower non-water costs. As Smith Taillie mentioned, beef has very high environmental costs, including being the food that contributes most to climate change.

William Brangham mentioned that FDA loosened its guidence on alcohol consumption. That got the attention of Stephen Colbert and his writers in Rubio: U.S. Wants To Buy Greenland | Stealing Venezuela's Oil | Dr. Oz: Booze Brings People Together. Skip to 9:04.

The Secretary of State says America's goal is not to invade Greenland but to purchase it from Denmark, President Trump said he will sell 50 million barrels of Venezuela's oil and that he will determine where the profits go, and the FDA removed its own guidance on how much alcohol is safe to drink on a daily basis.
Ultraprocessed food, meat, and dairy may be more important, but booze is funnier. Why do my readers think I post so many cocktail recipes? Because they're fun; I actually drink very little, as I lost interest in alcohol once I developed diabetes. Priorities.

Speaking of priorities, I have to do some maintainence then go to work to prepare for the new semester. See you all tomorrow!

Saturday, December 27, 2025

'How cheap renewable energy is finally flattening emissions' is Science Magazine's 2025 Breakthrough of the Year

I'm beginning my year-end retrospectives with Science Magazine explaining How cheap renewable energy is finally flattening emissions, its 2025 Breakthrough of the Year.

For decades, rising carbon emissions have accelerated climate change, but this year marked a critical turning point that could finally reverse that trend. Renewable energy has now graduated beyond the need for subsidies and incentives, emerging as a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels in many countries. News Editor Tim Appenzeller and policy expert Li Shuo describe the economic forces behind this shift, and the obstacles that remain to the continued rise of green energy.
...
1:15 The graph has mislabeled trend lines. "Other renewables" generate more energy than hydropower alone.
This is the same good news reported in PBS Terra says 'We Just Crossed Our FIRST Tipping Point… And It’s NOT What You Think'.
Unlike passing the other tipping points, like the AMOC, permafrost, West Antarctic ice sheet, and coral reefs, passing the renewable energy tipping point is good news. I wrote about it in DW News asks 'Earth Overshoot Day: What can we do to try live within the planet’s limits?'
[C]onvincing people to be less wasteful, particularly creating less food waste and eating less meat, especially beef, would be helpful. [One] could consider that to be a technology. So is renewable energy. Between the two, it would move Earth Overshoot Day back more than a month. Progress!
Yes, it is, and it's good news I can share with my students. Welcome to blogging as professional development.
Science Magazine's video is shorter and more focused than PBS Terra's, so it's one I'm more likely to show to my students. Again, welcome to blogging as professional development.

Here are the runners-up:
  • Custom gene editing shows promise for ultrarare diseases
  • New weapons against a sexual scourge
  • Neurons make a deadly donation to cancer cells
  • An all-seeing eye on the sky
  • Face to face with a Denisovan
  • Large language models do science
  • Triumph of calculation helps resolve particle mystery
  • Xenotransplants set new records
  • Rice that beats the heat
Including the "winner," that's four health stories, two computer science stories, one of which is also a physics story, an astronomy story, an evolution story, a genetics story that touches on climate change, and an energy story that also touches on climate change. Six of these are biology in some form, so these selections please me as a biologist. One of them is also paleontology, so I'm doubly pleased as a paleontologist. All of that is on top of the good sustainability news.

Not all of 2025's science stories were good. Follow over the jump for the bad news this year.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Broken Peach sings 'Christmas Day'

Merry Christmas! I promised this year's version of Broken Peach sings 'Winter Wonderland' for Christmas, so I kick off today's holiday entry with Broken Peach - Christmas Day (Christmas Special).

"Christmas Day" is a song written, arranged, produced and mixed by Broken Peach.
Yes, an original song by Broken Peach instead of a cover!

I'm continuing the musical portion with Broken Peach - Winter Wonderland (Official Audio), another upload of last year's Christmas Special.

"Winter Wonderland" is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himber, it has been covered by over 200 different artists. Its lyrics are about a couple's romance during the winter season.

As a mashup, we have used a melody from the great Bruce Springsteen song: Dancing In the Dark.

"Dancing in the Dark" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the first single released ahead from his 1984 album, Born in the U.S.A., and became his biggest hit, helping the album become the best-selling album of his career.
I'm closing the musical portion with Broken Peach - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (2021 TV Peachformance).


This post wouldn't be complete without one of my holiday traditions, a drink recipe video. For today's post, I'm sharing MISTLETOE COCKTAIL | CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL.

CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY Cocktail
Ingredients
Rosemary
Cranberries
Lemon Juice
Honey
Cognac

Directions
Boil 3 Rosemary Sprigs in a pot of water. Strain and add to ice cube tray with Cranberries. Once frozen add into a glass Lemon, Honey and Congac. Stir ingredients together. Add 3 cubes of the Frozen Rosemary along with a Rosemary Sprig as a Garnish.
Drink responsibly!

Finally, as Broken Peach themselves wrote eleven years ago, "¡Feliz Navidad! - ¡Bo Nadal! - ¡Bon Nadal! - Eguberri! …. Merry Christmas!" Now stay tuned for an update on the Retail Apocalypse for Boxing Day, followed by year-end retrospectives through New Year's Eve.

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Harp Twins play 'Silent Night' and other carols for Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve! I promised a musical celebration for today and I'm following through with three Christmas carols played by Camille and Kennerly, the Harp Twins. I begin with the most recent, Silent Night, Holy Night (Harp Twins) - Official Music Video, which premiered four days ago.

“Silent Night, Holy Night” arranged for harps and voices by Camille and Kennerly
I twice hoped for Broken Peach to Sing “Silent Night, Holy Night” but the Harp Twins played it first. I'll take it.

Working backwards, the next piece is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Harp Twins) - Nordic Winter Lullaby, uploaded last month.

We filmed this video in the dead of winter, and it sure was cold! When snow is coming, most people snuggle up for a day inside, but we grab our harps and head out to film! We hope this video brings peace and light to your Christmas season and beyond!
...
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” arranged for harps by Camille and Kennerly
The final Christmas carol today is The First Noel (Harp Twins) - Celtic Christmas, uploaded last year.

This is our arrangement of the ancient carol "The First Noel" – the 9th track of our WINTER LIGHTS album... We filmed this video in the dead of winter, and it sure was cold! When snow is coming, most people snuggle up for a day inside, but we grab our harps and head out to film! We hope this video brings peace and light to your Christmas season and beyond!
As the previews at the ends of the last two videos show, the Harp Twins have more Christmas songs, which I'm saving for a future holiday entry. I'm an environmentalist; I don't just recycle, I conserve my resources!

In lieu of a drink recipe, I'm sharing National Day Calendar celebrating NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY - December 24.

National Eggnog Day raises a holiday toast once a year on the day before Christmas. Also known as egg milk punch, eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States during the holidays.
That's a wrap for today's holiday observance. I mentioned Broken Peach above, so stay tuned for this year's version of Broken Peach sings 'Winter Wonderland' for Christmas.

Monday, December 15, 2025

The Maccabeats sing 'HanuKpop Demon Hunters,' a Kpop Demon Hunters Hanukkah Medley

Happy Hanukkah! KPop Demon Hunters, TIME's Breakthrough of the Year, has inspired today's music for the holiday, HanuKpop Demon Hunters | The Maccabeats | Kpop Demon Hunters Hanukkah Medley.

We’re thrilled to share this year’s Chanukkah video, inspired by the dynamic style of KPop Demon Hunters. This project blends our music with a bold animated world that aims to bring Chanukkah to life in a fresh, vivid way. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it :-)

Please subscribe, comment, like, and share with your friends who love Chanukkah, KPop Demon Hunters, or both!
I've been seeing The Maccabeats in my YouTube search results for Hanukkah videos for years and this year's video finally inspired me to use one of their songs. Behold the power of the YouTube algorithm KPop Demon Hunters! Also, I'm hungry.

The other big musical movie this year is Wicked and The Maccabeats covered it last year, Defying Gravity (We’ll Rise Above) | 2024 Hanukkah Anthem | The Maccabeats, which I'm using for an encore.


I think these videos qualify as evergreen and educational, as I promised yesterday. Stay tuned for more awards show coverage tomorrow, as I will finish my grading today.

Friday, December 12, 2025

Gingerbread houses at Disney World and Disneyland for Gingerbread House Day 2025

Happy Gingerbread House Day! I'm returning to Disney World and Disneyland for this year's celebration beginning with EVERY Disney World Gingerbread Display for 2025 + A SECRET Christmas Fireworks Viewing Spot from Magical Hijinx.

Sup my dudes! It’s Demi, and tonight we are going on a full resort crawl to check out the 2025 Walt Disney World Gingerbread Displays!🎄✨

Every holiday season, the Disney resorts transform with incredible pastry creations, but this year is a little different. We are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Beach Club Carousel (with 5 incredible horses!), checking out the Boardwalk’s Deli replica, and heading to the Contemporary for a Frozen-style castle. HOWEVER, we have some shocking news regarding the iconic Grand Floridian Gingerbread House and the new construction in the lobby. Is it gone forever?

Come along as we hunt for hidden Mickeys, review the exclusive holiday treats (Italian cookies, frozen hot chocolate, and more), and catch the Very Merry fireworks from a secret viewing spot! Plus, we take a peek at the ALL-NEW display coming to Wilderness Lodge. Let’s get into some Holiday Hijinx!
No Grand Floridian gingerbread house because of construction, but Wilderness Lodge's gingerbread cabin returns for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving to Disneyland, Daps Magic presents Mickey's Christmas Carol Gingerbread House at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa 4K.

A new gingerbread house at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa brings 'Mickey's Christmas Carol' to life at this beautiful hotel.
There is one more gingerbread house inside Disneyland proper, which Attractions Magazine covered in Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House at Disneyland 2025.

Each year, a new design for a real gingerbread house is created for Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland Park. This is the 2025 edition.
Welcome to the "scary Christmas house" and Merry Creepmas!

That's a wrap for today's holiday. Stay tuned for Time's Person of the Year.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

SciShow explains why 'Your Coffee Mug is a Physics Disaster'

Today's evergreen educational entry is SciShow explaining why Your Coffee Mug is a Physics Disaster.

Coffee spills more than most beverages. And it all comes down to an unlucky connection between your walking pace, the cup, and that tasty morning brew.

Hosted by: Madelyn Leembruggen (she/her)
I'll repeat what I wrote for SciShow explains 'How To Make The Best Coffee, According To Science' for National Coffee Day: "Lots of great science — ...chemistry, and physics — in this video, as well as practical science-based advice" for choosing a coffee mug and carrying it. May my readers and I not spill our coffee!

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for more science tomorrow on Nobel Prize Day.