Football in today’s media landscape is a cultural throwback.  The weekly TV broadcasts are perhaps the last remaining events when Americans watch the same TV shows at the same time. And, the Super Bowl is the biggest example of holding a mass audience together.  Even the ratings powerhouse, “60 Minutes” showed reruns against the game.  

  I write this blog every year after the Super Bowl.  Honestly, I’m typically not all that interested in the game itself.  But the commercials, the commercials are the draw for me. Sadly, I wasn't all that impressed this year, although a few stood out for different reasons:  

Facebook is protecting me. I have a Facebook friend that I knew in high school. Over the years I have not kept up with her other than what I see on Facebook.  Her posts, that I see on my news feed, have consisted mostly of pictures of her children and pets. And, for the past year, pictures of her grandson.  

The uncharacteristically mild day enjoyed yesterday certainly invited folks to spend time outside. I did. I even donned one my my N95s. Not to protect me around others. The outing remain totally solo. The mask made sense because I opted to go under my deck and clear the leaves that got through. In the past the dirt from the raking and sweeping might induce a round of sneezing. Not this time.  

In this world of crazy products...this one takes the cake (or the French fry)   The Idaho Potato Commission announced it's celebrating Valentine's Day with a limited-edition (thankfully) potato perfume named, not surprisingly, Frites by Idaho. The fragrance is made from distilled Idaho potatoes and essential oils and is designed to smell like a fresh plate of French fries.   The IPC President and CEO Jamey Higham said in a news release. "This perfume is a great gift for anyone who can't refuse a French fry."  

Do you remember The Invisible Man?  In that H.G. Wells book a scientist invents a way to become invisible.  Well today our youth oriented society has relegated many of my vintage to virtual, if not actual, invisible status :( Have you ever noticed how many people look through or just ignore you? Have you ever noticed how older people have adopted the counter strategy of leading with a headlight grin or big smile? Some say I have lost my filter, but truth be told it is my way of retaining visibility :)

I recently received two boxes of K95 masks that I ordered when the CDC advised to upgrade from cloth masks to K95s. Today the mandate in New York for masks indoors has expired and is not being extended. As we move to the hopeful next phase of COVID, we will all have to get comfortable with new realities — as we did earlier in the pandemic. And the recently-acquired masks?

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” has sold over $1.6 Billion in tickets worldwide. (without even a China release) It has sold $784 million in tickets in the United States and people are waiting anxiously to see when Spidey will be streaming.