*Mornings Archives

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The device that can do just about anything seems to have a dark side — it’s encouraging the world’s bullies. Parents say their daughters are constantly teased about their name, “Alexa,” with schoolyard bullies taunting them and demanding they play music. One mom, Lauren Johnson, even started an awareness campaign called “Alexa is a human.” Amazon issued a statement saying, “We’re saddened by the experiences you’ve shared, and want to be very clear: bullying of any kind is unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.” But the company said they won’t be changing Alexa’s name — noting that any user can make their device answer to another name if they wish. (Gizmodo)

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More proof that it’s better to give than to receive … A new study found that a really easy way to make yourself happier is to buy a toy for your pet. Researchers from Elmhurst University in Illinois found that buying your pet a gift triggers greater feelings of happiness than buying something for yourself. (Mental Floss)

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Finally! It’s an age-old BBQ dilemma … hot dogs typically come in a pack of 10 – but hot dog buns come in a pack of 8, often causing an over-buying of buns. Well, Heinz has had enough. The condiment company has introduced their Heinz Hot Dog Pact – which is  a petition “calling on big bun and big wiener companies to finally sell buns and wieners in even packs.” “We’ve seen our fans through social media express their outrage about the bun-to-hot-dog ratio issue for years, and we know there must be a better way. We believe that the time for change is now and we are hopeful,” said Daniel Gotlib, associate director of brand building and innovation for the Kraft Heinz Company. Now the question becomes — Do hot dog makers drop their package to eight – or do bun makers increase their packages to 10? Time will tell. (Food & Wine)

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Adventurous … but clueless? A new survey found that Millennials consider themselves to be the most adventurous cooks compared to other generations. That said, Millennials were also found to cook the fewest meals at home – and know the least about cooking and kitchen safety. And as a “geriatric Millennial” myself, I will confirm all of this.

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Stressed out lately? You might want to watch the top of your head. It turns out that stress really does make you go gray … but there’s good news: Reducing stress can reverse the process. Researchers at Columbia University found that eliminating stress can return gray hair, long thought to be permanent, to its “younger, pigmented state.” So try not to get stressed about eliminating the stress in your life…best of luck!

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The U.K. celebrates “Thank You Day” on July 4th . . . just as America is celebrating its Independence Day. Which seems a bit…passive aggressive. Anyway…so British researchers conducted a study on how and when we show our appreciation . . . and there are some interesting findings. For starters, the average adult will say “thank you” 207 times a month, which is roughly 6.8 times per day.  That’s a lot of gratitude . . . but some of it is FAKE. On average, 54 of those thank yous are insincere.  That’s 26%. About a quarter of people surveyed think that’s a problem . . . because genuine appreciation is “dying out.”  33% said they’d still prefer to hear the words, even if the person is just saying “thank you” for the sake of it. And 55% of people claim they have become “more grateful” during the pandemic.  (But 26% probably didn’t mean it.)

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And now for some useless but interesting information today…If you’ve ever wondered why Ritz crackers have those ridges around them — wonder no more. A video posted on Ritz’s official TikTok revealed that the reason the crackers have those scalloped edges is to … slice through cheese.

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Feel like you have nothing to wear? You’re not alone. A new survey by Nordstrom found that 36% of respondents said they have “nothing to wear” after almost a year and a half without dressing for social events. The survey also found that the average person has purged seven items from their wardrobe because they no longer fit.

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Seems there’s a new box to check when you’re RSVPing for an upcoming wedding – whether or not you’re vaccinated. A new wedding trend gaining traction among brides and grooms is requiring that guests at their wedding be vaccinated – and in some cases, that has meant that even close family members wouldn’t be attending. (Insider)

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There’s a reason we’re happier by the water … According to researchers, being near water can boost our well-being in numerous ways, from bringing back happy memories of childhood, to reducing stress, to giving us a sense of peace and calm. (Real Simple)

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And, prepare your stomach. Cookouts are coming. Something called the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says we’ll eat 150 MILLION hot dogs on July 4th, making it the top hot dog-eating day of the year. They did a new poll, and asked people to name the best DRINKS to pair with a hot dog.  And one in 11 Americans must be fancier than I am . . . because 9% said WINE pairs well with them. Soda is #1, with 76% of people agreeing it goes well with hot dogs.  That’s followed by beer, 57% . . . lemonade, 54% . . . iced tea, 48% . . . orange juice, 12% . . . milk, 9% . . . and wine, 9%.

They also looked at America’s most-loved regional hot dog STYLES . . . and New York style is #1.  That’s an all-beef dog, topped with steamed onions and deli-style mustard. Second on the list is Chicago style . . . with mustard, relish, onions, peppers, tomatoes, a pickle, and celery salt all jammed into a poppy seed bun. And third on the list is Detroit-style Coney dogs . . . topped with mustard, onions, and chili.  (The Hot Dog and Sausage Council’s website has a list with another 15 regional style dogs.)