Category: Uncategorized

There are a couple of things you should take away from Trump’s news conference yesterday, in which one of the suggestions he made

1. A news conference is not the time for spitballing. You can do that in closed meetings and brainstorming sessions, but doing it in a news conference undermines its purpose: to get one to three messages across.
2. This is only the most recent incident where someone has suggested to a nationwide audience that maybe disinfectants could be applied internally.

Case in point: Old ads for the Lysol. Today, we know it as a household cleaner, but when it first came out, it was marketed in different ways. In its earliest days, it was marketed as a way to help fight epidemics and pandemics — first in 1889, with the cholera outbreak in Germany, and then in 1918 for the flu pandemic of that era. But in the 1920s, it was billed as a feminine hygiene product — housewives were told to douche with good ol’ Lysol.

There’s also a connotation to the phrase “feminine hygiene” that a modern reader would miss — according to historian Andrea Tone, the term was also a euphemism for contraception, which isn’t surprising, given that the U.S. once had the repressive Comstock laws. She writes about it in her book Devices and Desires: A History of Contraceptives in America.

Here’s a selection of old Lysol ads. Read ’em, and give thanks Lysol isn’t marketed that way anymore.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Tap the ad to see it at full size.

Kudos to Cass Street Deli for participating in The Restaurant Workers Relief Program, which converts restaurants across the country into relief kitchens. If you’re a service industry worker who’s lost their job or have their hours cut, you can pick up a dinner from Cass Street Deli from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. each day until at least May 11.

Here’s what Suzanne Crouch, Cass Street Deli’s executive chef has to say:

“I think it’s important for people to realize that they’re not forgotten and and even before the pandemic good food equals good mood and we’re just trying to keep that cycle going you know.”

Roberto Torres speaks at Café con Tampa, March 6, 2020.
Tap the photo to see it at full size.

Roberto Torres, whom you probably know from his Blind Tiger Cafés, bought Cass Street Deli recently, and has this to say:

“It’s a flood with no water or a hurricane with no wind so we’re really trying to figure out how is it that we can utilize our skill set and turn our kitchen into an emergency or relief kitchen to help other people.”

Cass Street Deli is still open for regular business for curbside pick up or delivery within their radius. In addition, the restaurant is accepting donations that provide meals to first responders and front line workers.

I’m going to give them a donation. If you can, you should too!

One of my favorite business in Tampa Bay needs your help — Aspirations Winery, located in Clearwater, and maker of tasty wines using local fruits. Many places just sell wine, but Aspirations Winery makes drinking wine an event with tastings, get-togethers like Wine-O Bingo, painting nights, and other gatherings that bring people together with good wine, food, and conversation. I’m not the only one who thinks this — lots of people have been raving about Aspirations Winery on TripAdvisor.

Anitra and I love Aspirations Winery. Their regular Wine-O Bingo night was one of my first outings as a new arrival to Tampa in 2014, and it was quite easy to get to know Bill and Robin Linville, the owners (the wine and accordion helped). Over the years, we’ve been buying their wines, our most recent purchased being this gift basket in a local auction.

Bill even helped me get my start here in Tampa, what with introducing me to some local businesspeople, meeting with me to discuss what sort of apps I could write for him, and even giving me the opportunity to have some serious bragging rights: Aspirations Winery’s Wine Crush was the first app I’d ever submitted to the App Store (I asked if I could use their winery as the theme for an app, and Robin provided me with a lot of artwork).

Like many small businesses, and especially those here in Florida that rely on tourist business, COVID-19 has been hard on Aspirations Winery. The fact that aid meant for small business went to the wrong people didn’t help, and that money was gone before Aspirations’ applications were “officially” received. Their tasting room is a big part of their business, and with tourists and even regulars gone, they had to close it on March 15th.

They need money to help their employees get through this time while being out of work, and I was only too happy to donate to their GoFundMe fund. If you have a little extra money and are looking to help a worthy business, please consider helping Aspirations Winery out!

To donate to Aspirations Winery’s GoFundMe find, click here.

Tap the poster to see it at full size.

This year’s Gathering of the Juggalos — the annual camping get-together party for fans of Insane Clown Posse — has been canceled. A lot of people mistake Juggalos and thugs and criminals, but for the most part, they’re fans of a hip-hop duo with a backyard wrestling aesthetic and a strong anti-racist and community ethic.

In honor of Juggalo sensibility, let me share one of my favorite ICP tracks: Homies! (Be warned: There’s some swearing.)

Tap the image to see it at full size.

I’ve already had to convince a couple of people not to mix bleach and vinegar. One asked for proof, and I’m too nice a guy to say “Okay, Avogadro, why don’t you just mix ’em, take a deep breath, and I’ll call 911.”

I generally have no talent for chemistry with one notable exception: I can balance chemical equations (probably because it’s really just math).

In case you’re not up on your finance lingo: EBITDA.