Cracker Barrel: The rise and fall

    The internet blows up like crazy when it comes to changing logos. This one in particular. And why is that? Well...the logo changed from classic to downright bland. 

    Insane to many...but for me, I didn't care, but a lot of people did that even Trump wanted the old logo back.

  First off, I want to talk about a restaurant and how it became a huge success before the failure arrived.

 

  Cracker Barrell started around 1981 and was considered a sit-down restaurant with a homey feel. Having old Country style chairs and tables; it felt as if your grandma's home. 

    It stayed the same for a few more years and in the early 90's, made over a billion dollars in profit.

   It became known as a homey restaurant that had carry out only services in other chain restaurants.

 Before the 2000's, Cracker Barrel had over 300 stores all over the US alone. They had a lot of comfort food and also a gift shop if you wanted to buy a shirt or keychains with their logo on it.

   I only been in there once and wasn't a fan. The logo had some sort of cozy feeling of an old general store.

   Some people would confuse the Cracker Barrel restaurant with the Cracker Barrel cheese created by Kraft. I think they sued Kraft once...I don't know how that went...but they might have settled that lawsuit.

  They had many fans, restaurants, gift shops inside the restaurant and was recognized as one of the best chain restaurants in the 2010's. So... what happened?

  Apparently, a few months ago, Cracker Barrel got a makeover, and everyone was pissed. They removed the old man and the barrel from the sign and made it just plain and boring.

   It was losing its comfort it had appealed to for over 43 years for something you would see now. It seems the Gen Z/Alpha trend is getting crazier.

  The inside of the restaurant has changed too. It went from a heartwarming comfort to cold and depressing. Changing the furniture's to make the update modern. 

   They have done that already with the fast-food restaurants. It's as if our childhood...is dying. 

  Some people have mixed feelings about the new logo. Some are admitted to change, and some... want to go back to the past to bring back the comfort homestyle that Cracker Barrel once had.

   Even though they say change is a good thing...you have to think about who the change is for. Is it for the company...or the employees? I think Cracker Barrel was only thinking of rebranding to a newer style for the future.

 A lot has changed in over 43 years and people are wondering if rebranding Cracker Barrel was a genius move.

   Now, they revealed after all the hate it's been getting from people on Instagram to reddit, they are changing the logo back to normal. I don't care anymore. People get upset over the stupidest things. It's also a restaurant I don't even eat it. But I fear the future for other restaurants. Is change really necessary? Yes and No... only when it depends on what's being changed.

Superman is NOT woke

 

   After seeing the new Superman movie in theaters, I thought it was pretty good. However, I have been hearing people saying that this new Superman is Woke. When, in any era is Superman Woke? I don't think he is. I guess because they didn't say much about his backstory and people thinking this Superman is different.

    People are starting to worry about things being 'woke'. I agree with a few things, but I don't know. Superman isn't one of them. This actor portraying this new Superman is actually pretty good. His name is David Corenswet from Philadelphia. He did a pretty good job. Even the sons of the late Christopher Reeve were involved in this recent movie.

 

  Dean Caine, who used to play Superman on TV, even thinks he is Woke. But nobody likes him anymore since he ended up joining ICE.

   The late Christopher Reeve will always be the number one Superman. David....might be second. This movie was actually pretty good, and I would give it a watch.

   Even his dog, Krypto, is a CGI do based on James Gunn's actual dog. This dog is beyond hyperactive and likes to play with Superman even when he's hurt. This dog is so adorable he reminds me of my brother's dog Vigo. He too...is hyperactive.

   

  Krypto, although CGI, is based on a real dog. Director James Gunn's adorable dog named Trouble. I think he's a rescue dog, but after seeing an interview with him talking about how Krypto is based on his own dog.

  It was adorable

    

  Like Superman, we have Lex Luthor. This new Lex Luthor starts out already conquering the world and the actor portraying him, Nicholus Hoult, was pretty good. He's like an evil businessman who wants to destroy Metropolis. 

  The actor portraying him was pretty good, better than Kevin Spacy that's for sure. But better than Gene Hackman? I think they're both equal.

   So, why are people saying Superman is woke? I don't know. People are saying everything is woke now a days. I do love the original Christopher Reeve will always be the superior superman to me. This new one, with the help of Christopher's Children producing it.... actually, is not bad. 

    His youngest son, Will Reeve, has a small cameo as an ABC correspondent. So, in my opinion.... Superman is not woke.  Watch for yourself, and you be the judge.

The dark side of "The Wizard of Oz"

      It's already been 86 years since "The Wizard of Oz" came out. Sad to say all the actors in that movie are long gone. Not many people know what it was like working on the movie. Some people would deal with long working hours; not being paid enough, even wearing costumes that almost would kill them.

        It's true. It might be a fairy tale movie based on a few L. Frank Baum books, but nobody knew how hard it was to not only be a part of a movie but how damaging it can do to someone physically and mentally.

   We all knew that the lion costume was made from real lion fur as well as knowing Ray Bolger ended with a scared face after being scarecrow.

  Jack Haley was not the first choice for the Tin Man. Buddy Ebsen, who was in green acers, was the first choice. However, the makeup he was using caused a massive allergy attack almost to the point of near death.

   He had to be in the hospital and dropped out of the movie after the allergy attack was so severe. Jack Haley took over after that.

    The actress that portrayed the Wicked Witch, Margaret Hamilton, ended up getting a skin graph after a burn doing a scene in the Wizard of Oz. The green paint was also toxic as well and was hard to get off. It was also flammable as well which caused all the injuries to happen.

    They used a stunt double for a few shots while she was getting better. She did come back and finish the movie but was considered cautious for which roles she would take in the future.

      Burt Lahr, who portrayed the cowardly lion was sweating most of the time being in that heavy costume and the lighting being on him constantly in certain scenes.

   He even almost fainted from being in the costume for long takes. It was hard for him to move around in certain scenes. He even accidently stepped on Toto's foot replacing the dog temporarily as well

    Judy Garland had to suffer worst of all. She was forced to go on a liquid diet, had to stay thin by wearing clothes that were too tight for her. Even was slapped by the director of the movie when she was giggling on set.

   She even was being slapped by some of the Munchkins.

   There was also some strange rumor going around that said a munchkin hung himself in the forest scene after Dorothy and the scarecrow bring the Tin Man along to see the wizard. Near the back, people could swear they could see a shadow of a Munchkin hanging himself on a tree.

   However...that was a myth. The truth was that it was a large bird lifting its head in the background. The myth was eventually debunked.

 

   Another tragedy happened after the movie ended. The actress that played Auntie Em' committed suicide after dealing with an illness. Reports written that she placed a bag over her head after taking sleeping pills. With a note attached saying: I can't take the pain much longer.

   She was in so much pain, that this actress was only known for playing the aunt int Wizard of Oz and nothing else.

   Judy Garland's life wasn't much the same after the Wizard of Oz. Sure she did do a few more movies, but it seemed being in the Wizard of Oz took a lot out of her. If you have seen many movies about her life after Wizard of Oz, it was considered tragic.

    She died around her late forties by overdose and drowning as well. Eliza Minelli is still alive and will always be known as Judy's daughter.

        Today, we know this movie as a classic. The ruby red slippers, the wanting to go home from a place of make believe. To meeting friends that you've recognized in the past.

   It's a movie I grew up loving and still do today. Sure, a few scenes of the movie can be creepy, but once you find out what happened behind the scenes, you realize...the movie is not as frightening as what happened afterwards. There's no place like home.

Back to School-POEM

 

It's that time again

a new school year has begun,

textbooks,

pencils,

and much more,

school supplies,

Kids preparing,

for a new year,

with teachers,

friends,

and learning,

new things

School year gets closer,

with every summer ending,

School has arrived,

every time,

July ends,

when the heat of summer,

feels as if,

it starts to cool down

and summer,

becomes no more

Kids happy,

teachers groan,

knowing this school year,

has just begun,

time to learn,

think,

and grow

Some have started before,

Labor Day arrived,

but now,

it is the true start,

of the new year

College students started early,

while other grades,

start after,

from K to 12,

it is time,

for the school year,

to start

As a new school year arrives,

we know that time,

is going by faster

and the kids in first grade,

will soon graduate

and so on and so forth,

enjoy the new school yearrrrr,

class has begun

Which Gum is the best?

    Not many people realize gum is very well known to people who just want to have a good chew in between meals.

   Some gums you blow, some to get rid of plaque while others... are used to freshen breath. Which gum is the best? Well, here are a few brands that I have tried.

  Don't get me wrong, chewing gum isn't a bad thing, but for some people...it's a bad habit. I like to chew gum to help me conquer hunger as well as clean my teeth. There's an old saying four out of five dentists recommend with certain gum brands. Here's a few that I've tried and well...wasn't a fan of.

   Bubble Tape is a bubble gum that was created back when I was kid. They had these commercials for the gen X kids that stated 6 feet of flavor...for you, not them. Them being the adults which we ironically are now.

  I've tried it and, and I wasn't a fan. It had too much sugar in it and it didn't taste that great. It changed companies as I got older. Now with Hubba Bubba owning Bubble Tape, it went from six feet to three feet of gum.

 

  This gum made my jaw hurt and I thought it was similar to Bubble Tape. Very sugary. Every chew seemed like you were working your jaw to death. You can't blow many bubbles in it. That's the sad truth.

   I've tried it once, maybe twice, and never again.

   Orbit gum was considered a healthy way to clean your teeth while chewing. They had ads where a certain woman would show how dirty your mouth is by showing a scenario of people politely cursing. Chewing the gum changes that. I think? I don't know.

   I tried it and I didn't care for it.

   This gum was one of the first of many bubble gums I would try. Bazooka Joe was a famous old-time gum that had a fun comic strip on the wrappers.

   It tasted ok when I was young. They changed the recipe when I was older and...it started to hurt my jaw. Even cut it. I don't know why they would change such a classic. I stopped eating this gum.

  Back in the 80's, there was this ad that showed this gum with people either skiing or going to the beach saying, "Juicy Fruti, the taste is gonna move yeah." Somebody was smoking something while creating this ad.

   The taste doesn't do anything to me. I don't care for it, and for some reason, there's some artificial flavoring.

   I still chew this gum. This is the gum that dentist recommend. Trident is actually a pretty good gum. Although...I just eat the bubblegum one.

   It doesn't make a lot of bubbles, but it does have an interesting taste. I don't mind it. However, word of advice. If you want to eat this gum...or any, please remember to chew after you clean your mouth. This gum leaves food residue of stuff you ate before the gum.

  When I was a kid, Carefree was the gum my mom would buy. I tried a piece...and wow...this gum is disgusting. 

  Not her fault. This gum is considered sugar free. Not a bad thing, it's good to have a gum with no sugar. I think it was something else in this gum that made it a turnoff for me.

   The gum shaped in a cube. I buy this gum as well. But I buy the peppermint flavor instead of the bubble gum one. 

  It has pellet like crystals inside that makes my mouth feel cold on the inside. And when I drink water while chewing this gum...it gets colder, and colder.

  I love this gum. However, I don't have time to eat it all, so I try my best to keep as many pieces as I can before I choose a different gum.

   This gum is supposed to be one of those...chewing gum that gives you energy and goes through five of your senses.

  I think someone was high while making this. I never tried it, but some people think it's ok. I don't care for it and well...I feel this is a gum suited for athletes.

  This gum is an old timey version gun where it comes in small pellets. I used to eat gum that came that way. Not Chiclets, but another brand.

   Chiclets I feel is an old-fashioned style gum that isn't really known as much as it was back then. The only reason I know about this gum is seeing it in movies when I was a little kid.

  Winterfresh gum is a Wrigley brand gum that supposed to cool your mouth. I've tried it before, but it was nothing like Icebreakers where it really did make my mouth feel cold.

  Winterfresh does try it's best with advertising saying that it's the only gum that will cool you off. I don't know if that's true but...who knows.

    I haven't had this gum in a long time, and I think I'll stick to a gum that makes my breath feel cooler.

   Extra is a similarity to Trident. They both are great gums...they help you with cavities (sort of) and they both taste good.

    I like both Extra and Trident. Extra has a gum that not only freshens your breath but leaves a message saying.... give a little Extra to someone you love. The gum is a pretty basic bubble gum. They have other flavors as well, but I think I will stick to the bubble gum flavor.

   Gum, and bubble gum, are going to be around for a long time. From great flavor brands to ones, you wanna throw in the garbage.

   Bubble Yum, Double mint, and other brand gums I never tried, and I don't think I will. When I like a certain gum, I stick to it.... pun intended. 

They always come in threes-POEM

 

Things that always

come in threes

Stooges

Pigs

Musketeers,

and the deaths,

of celebrities

Trouble,

always come in threes,

like death,

strikes,

three times,

for any celebrity

Whether from Cancer,

Drowning,

Overdose,

heart attack,

and much more

Why in threes,

is it a magic number,

that is good,

yet bad,

why in threes

One,

after the other,

falling,

to death,

from a drowning,

to a heart attack,

The rule of three,

as it stands,

three famous people,

must die,

one,

after another,

after,

another

and then,

a new crop,

of three,

emerge

By the end,

of the year,

the threes,

mushroom,

into many

There have been theories,

wondering,

when this all began,

and if,

it will ever end,

who started it,

who thought of it,

why is it still,

happening?

Many people die, 

every day,

but when a celebrity dies,

two more follow,

it could be anyone,

at anytime,

and anywhere,

and always,

always,

in threes