p.s. round up #2: the european mind can't comprehend
nfl sundays, red lobster, supermarket dating, russian spies
I’m having a double QPC from McDonald’s while watching Sunday Night Football. The living room is lit by a 3-wick candle, white pumpkin scented, and I’ve got a power ballad night playlist going (Spotify is bullying me with these playlist names). When I think of American culture, I think of Sundays. Sundays are for football; the beers are flowing, the wings are fresh, and the bets are hitting (we hope). Sundays are for community; morning mass, visit to the farmers market, slow-cooked roast, and family dinner. Sundays are for recovery; hit the gym, take a walk, call the parents, get groceries, clean the house, and then seize the means of relaxation. Sundays are for getting ahead; catching up on work, picking up an extra shift, writing a blog post, making a video, practicing some painting, or studying for an exam. Sundays are whatever you want them to be. The freedom to do anything, that's the American way.
thoughts and links
NFL Kickoff: Football viewership only goes up with the first Thursday Night Football reaching an average of 48.9 million, an 18% increase from last year. The Chiefs beat the Ravens, and Taylor Swift was in attendance — another season of daughters watching football with their fathers.
Red Lobster’s comeback: Former leader of P.F. Chang’s, 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun has taken on the challenge of reviving Red Lobster from the depths of bankruptcy. His first order of business? Getting rid of the endless shrimp: “Thai Union said last November that the shrimp deal contributed to an $11 million quarterly loss for the chain, and earlier this year said it would divest from the chain.” American culture is also the industry of restaurant chains. Have you been to the Times Square Olive Garden?
Spaniards are ditching the apps for groceries: A TikTok trend has overtaken Spain. Singles are tired of the apps and are now browsing the local mercado with specific fruit to signal what they’re looking for. The Pineapple is apparently a clear signal. Maybe when the run clubs slow down, Whole Foods will be the new spot.
Russian spies are on podcasts: “The indictment accuses state broadcaster RT, formerly Russia Today, of paying a Tennessee firm $10m (£7.6m) to ‘create and distribute content to US audiences with hidden Russian government messaging’.” Podcasts have decentralized how a lot of Americans receive their news. Anyone can make a podcast, even the Russians.
Finally, let’s check in on The Gaps revival