How the fatty oil substitute Olean “exploded” on the snack scene then disappeared!
Olestra treated products became a $400 Million dollar business in 1998 as Time magazines 50 worst inventions ever created. Like the “New” Coke debacle of 1985 a product that saw so much promise fizzled horribly as quickly as it rocketed to fame. Luckily both Frito Lay and Coca cola were able to survive the consumer hurricane pivoting away from the “Madmen” campaign mistake for different reasons. “New Coke had consumer backlash as they were partial to the old recipe for the cola favorite. …
The last moments of John Lennon’s Life
Fourteen years prior to John Lennon’s tragic death he lived in great fear of being shot. His first wife Cynthia plainly noted this in her book about her ex-husband called “John”. Ironically this did not stop Lennon from mingling with fans and strangers while living in New York City. Even befriending common folks so he could feel “normal”, did not frighten him. One of John’s last photographs in which he signed his final album “Double Fantasy” for his killer, Mark David Chapman, was taken by amateur photographer Paul Goresh. Goresh hung around the…
From the most wanted Director in Hollywood to a quiet Retirement with Wine of course and a few thoughts on film making.
By Steven C. Owens
One could say that Life imitates Art and Francis Ford Coppola “went to the mattresses” for the past twenty years? Similar to the characters in The Godfather when Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) shot and killed a police Captain and a rival mob boss, Virgil Solosso. From there Michael went into hiding and so did the Corleone family in the semi-fictitious move “The Godfather”.
“Going to the mattresses” was a phrase used for when Mob Families had to hide in one room apartments, mattresses on the floor, to avoid a long bloody mob war usually after they…
The 1982 Tylenol Scandal that altered our buying confidence.
There was a time when you could walk into any supermarket or drug store and purchase a bottle of Tylenol and pop off the top and take a couple of pills. No sealed barriers or foil to puncture. This was a time of naivety and bold trust in humankind when you could never conceive of the notion that a person would poison a capsule with the purpose to kill random souls just for the thrill of it? This actually happened in the United States in 1982!
Tylenol was a giant in the industry of pain relief. Johnson & Johnson, was…
How a shocking Home Run changed the course for Donnie Moore’s life.
Sports fans who want you to believe that the results of professional games are intertwined with the realities of life really need to get a life! The burden of giving up an important home run in a playoff or world series game shouldn’t ruin anyone’s life? Yet for some it does. Even kills them. Perhaps not directly or instantaneously but slowly and methodically. Like a slow torture until it eats you up inside and you feel like there is no other choice but to kill the pain. Sometimes…
The tragedy of Freddie Prinze. Before the age of 22 years-old Freddie was guest hosting for the legendary Johnny Carson and starred in his own sitcom.
His head slumped to the side after an earnest plea to put down a hand gun that Freddie held tightly to his left temple moments before. Instantly his Agent, Marvin “Dusty” Snyder, knew something had gone wrong. Prinze’s rich dark black hair swooped over his once engaging brown eyes now half closed in a coma like state. The muffled sound of a disengaged gun Snyder attempted to try and wrangle away from Prinze while…
The rise and tragic end of Anchor Woman Jessica Savitch.
The controlled manner in which Jessica Savitch brought us the news every night was a far cry from the emotional instability that lurked internally. After all, she was one of the first woman to anchor a news desk and was a pioneer with bringing attention to woman and equal pay with her male counterparts. Heavy burdens to carry while making sure she was flawless in her physical appearance and with every move on and off camera. Unfortunately, one evening (October 3, 1983) during a slurred and confused delivery of NBC’s…
Our World was brilliantly colored by Prince’s enormous talent.
The sky was all purple
There were people running everywhere
Trying to run from the destruction
You know I didn’t even care, 1999.
“Purple” went from being a verb to a noun when Prince re-introduced us to his interpretation of this color with a low budget film called “Purple Rain” in 1984. My generation was never same and even now when I see or hear this color in normal speak I will always think of Prince. I graduated High School in 1985 and at a time the 1980’s were all about…
Edgar Allan Poe, brilliant or just mad?
Most ultra-intelligent people have a lower social skill level making them appear strange and vastly different from those of us we deem as “normal”. Even during the time that Edgar Allan Poe lived was no exception as Poe was one who was viewed as “different” with a both brilliant and creative mind.
In 1826 at the age of 26, Poe entered the University of Virginia. There he stood out for reading everything that fell into his hands and being a diligent student who translated classical languages almost effortlessly. He was also known for…
The growing number of suicides among New York City Police Officers is alarming and guess what? It should be!
There was a time when the highest risk of becoming a New York City Police Officer came from the general population of criminals. Today, the demon is not only outside the precinct but it is now within each police officer assigned to serve and protect.
An alarming number of officers of all ranks and status are turning the gun on themselves due to the extreme pressure of a growing hostile New York City population. The lines have been blurred (not only…
Steven C. Owens
Writer of life lessons sprinkled with meaningful sports and history editorials.
