https://barrypopik.com/ An etymological dictionary of American words, names, quotations and phrases, including regional dictionaries of New York City, Florida, Oregon and Texas. en bapopik@aol.com Copyright 2013 2013-08-23T23:51:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/summary_why_is_new_york_called_the_big_apple https://barrypopik.com/blog/summary_why_is_new_york_called_the_big_apple Above, the header from the February 18, 1924 New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of “Big Apple.” Part of a December 1, 1926 column is also available.          Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, where New York Morning Telegraph track writer John J. Fitz Gerald last lived. Google Maps. Dedicated, 1997. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.  Replaced with a green sign, July 2024.   Above, John J. Fitz Gerald (1892-1963), from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY)  Press, pg. 14.  Also see a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.   Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple restaurant/nightclub at West 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.   Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce “The Big Apple,” a hit song from 1937 for the “Big Apple” dance craze. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey’s Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich. Also listen to another 1937 “The Big Apple” song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra.     “WHY IS NEW YORK CITY CALLED THE BIG APPLE?”—SHORT SUMMARY:   “The Big Apple” (now the popular nickname of New York City) was the catchphrase of New York Morning Telegraph track writer John J. Fitz Gerald (1892-1963) in the 1920s. He explained “Big Apple” twice and it was the name of three of his columns. He picked up the term from African-American (“dusky,” he called them) stable hands at the Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, probably on January 14, 1920.    John J. Fitz Gerald possibly first used “big apple” in print in the New York Morning Telegraph of May 3, 1921, when he wrote, “J. P. Smith, with Tippity Witchet and others of the L. T. Bauer string, is scheduled to start for ‘the big apple’ to-morrow.” Fitz Gerald’s first New York Morning Telegraph “Around the Big Apple” column, on February 18, 1924, proudly declared:  “The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There’s only one Big Apple. That’s New York.”  The “Big Apple” racing circuit had meant “the big time,” the place where the big money was to be won. Horses love apples, and apples were widely regarded as the mythical king of fruit. In contrast, the smaller, poorer tracks were called the “leaky roof circuit” or “bull ring” tracks. The five original New York tracks of the “Big Apple circuit” were Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, Empire City Race Track (now Yonkers Raceway), Jamaica Race Course (closed in 1959) and Saratoga Race Course.  “The Big Apple” became the name of a restaurant/nightclub in Harlem in 1934, and Harlem itself was referred to as “the Apple” at this time. A night club in Columbia, South Carolina also took the “Big Apple” name, and it was here that 1937’s short-lived national “Big Apple” dance craze began.   “The Big Apple” was revived in the 1970s by Charles Gillett (1915-1995), president of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau (later called NYC & Company and now New York City Tourism + Conventions). A 1976 ”“I’m crazy about the Big Apple” ad campaign by William E. (“Bill”) Phillips (1930-2018), of the advertising firm Oglivy & Mather, further popularized the nickname.  The origins of “the Big Apple” were solved in the 1990s by Gerald Cohen and Barry Popik.  A “Big Apple Corner” street sign was dedicated in 1997 at West 54th Street and Broadway, where Fitz Gerald last lived. The honorary street sign has been frequently stolen.        “THE BIG APPLE” WEBSITE INTRODUCTION (July 2004):  The African-American stablehand who first called New York City “the Big Apple” at the Fair Grounds Race Track in New Orleans has never been honored. Not by New York City. Not by New Orleans. This information is not even on the Fair Grounds web site. The stablehand doesn’t even have a name, mostly because almost no one has helped look for him.  The New York track writer who popularized “the Big Apple” in the 1920s is buried in an unmarked grave in Menands, New York. The “Big Apple” plaque that I put on the building at Broadway and West 54th Street in 1996 was quickly removed during renovations and has never been replaced. The historic “Big Apple” columns are nowhere on the web.  If you search the web looking for an answer about New York City’s nickname, you’ll probably be told that “the Big Apple” comes from whores (a hoax).  It is now the summer of 2004. “Big Apple” sculptures are about to be placed in front of NYC buildings. The Republicans will soon have their convention here. Thanks for reading this. If you want the stablehands honored at last, please write to the mayor. I doubt that he has any knowledge of the information on this site.    “BIG APPLE” ARTICLES:  PRE-1920sApples and HorsesBet a Big AppleBig Apples Are Top of the BarrelBig Time and Big TownLands of the Big Red ApplesBig Apple Township, Oregon County, Missouri (1895)Big Red Apple City, Wenatchee, Washington (1908)“The big apple gets a disproportionate share of the national sap” (1909)“The Great Big Red Apple that grows in the very top of the tree” (1917)  1920s: JOHN J. FITZ GERALD AND THE NEW YORK MORNING TELEGRAPH1920s Vaudeville/Ragtime “Big Apple” Citations1920s Non-Horseracing “Big Apple” CitationsNumerous 1920s ‘Big Apple” Citations in the New York Morning Telegraph“Big Apple” date?: January 15, 1920First “Big Apple” citation: May 3, 1921First “Big Apple” citation in New Orleans: July 17, 1921First “Big Apple” citation in Saratoga: March 10, 1922First “Big Apple” explanation: February 18, 1924Big Red Apple (sculpture in Cornelia, Georgia, 1926-present)Second “Big Apple” explanation: December 1, 1926Big Apple Circuit (five New York race tracks)1925-1929: “Big Apple” in The Inter-State TattlerBig Apple (Broadway, in columns by Walter Winchell and O. O. McIntyre, 1927-1928)1928: “On the Big Apple” column1931: “Around the Big Apple” column1963: John J. Fitz Gerald obituariesWitness (1998): Washington Post writer Shirley PovichWitness (2006): Joe Zito  1930s: JAZZING THE BIG APPLE“Big Apple” in the 1930s (Two clubs, plus song and dance)“Big Apple—the major tracks of the country” (1933)Big Apple (Harlem bar/restaurant, 1934)Big Apple kiosk (Mumbles, Swansea Bay, Wales, 1930s-present)Big Apple dance craze (1937)Big Apple cap or Big Apple hat (named after the dance, 1937-present)“Big Apple” (song by Bob Emmerich and Buddy Bernier, 1937)La Grosse Pomme (Paris nightclub, 1937-1938)Canned Apple (Big Apple dance + Can-Can dance, 1937)“I feel like doin’ a Big Apple” (Mae West on a 1937 radio show)Big Apple (football play at Davidson College, 1937)Big Apple Inn (Somerdale, NJ, 1937-1999)The Big Apple (Arcadia, MI restaurant, 1937-2020)Big Apple (drinks using applejack, 1938)“Apple” defined in Cab Calloway’s “Hepster’s Dictionary” (1938, 1944)Big Apple Restaurant (Covington, KY, 1938)Big Apple Cafe (Cincinnati, OH, 1938-1963)Big Apple Cafe (Shamokin, PA, 1938-1947)Big Apple Cafe (Calgary, Alberta, 1938-1940)Big Apple Supermarket (Georgia supermarket chain, 1939-1980)Big Apple Inn (Jackson, MS restaurant, 1939-present)1940s-1950s: ASSORTED BIG APPLE CITATIONS“Big Apple” in the 1940s-1950sBig Apple Cafe (Neosho, MO, 1940-1942)Big Apple (Fort Worth, TX barbecue restaurant, 1941-1968)Big Apple Shine Parlor (Harlem, 1942)“Big Apple” (Dan Burley’s Original Handbook of Harlem Jive, 1944)Big Apple Grocery Store (Harlem, 1945-1949)Big Apple (Yeaju-Dake Escarpment, Battle of Okinawa, 1945)Big Apple (supper club near Buffalo, NY, 1945-1976)Big Apple (USS Appalachian, 1946)Big Apple Concession (City Park in New Orleans, 1947-1949)“The Boys on the Big Apple” (Harper’s Bazaar article, May 1947)“Big Apple” (spoken by Frank Sinatra, 1950)The Big Apple (farm in Wrentham, Massachusetts, 1950-present)“Big Apple as mecca“ (Jet magazine, 1952)Big Apple Bar & Restaurant (New Orleans, 1952-1970s?)“New York is the Big Apple” (Stephen Longstreet’s The Real Jazz: Old and New, 1956)Bill Johnson’s Big Apple (Arizona restaurants, 1956-2015)Big Apple Cafe (Puryear, TN and Murray, KY, 1950s-present)“Big Apple” nightclub (The Three Faces of Eve film, 1957)Big Apple Restaurant (Asheville, NC, 1957-1991)“Big Apple” (Perry Mason, “The Case of the Jilted Jockey” episode, 1958)Big A (Aqueduct Racetrack nickname, 1959)“To the musicians playing it, New York is ‘The Big Apple‘” (New York Is book, 1959)      1960s: FUN CITYBig Apple (disco in Berlin, Germany. 1962-1979)Big Apple (club in Munich, Germany, 1963-1975)“Big Apple” (Robert S. Gold’s A Jazz Lexicon, 1964)“New York, the ‘Big Apple,’ the jazz mecca” (Hart’s Guide to New York City, 1964)“I had heard so much raving about ‘The Big Apple,’ as it was called” (Malcolm X, 1964)“Fun City” nickname (1966)“The Big Apple: Destination New York” (NBC-TV documentary, 1966)Appletown Sporting Goods (store in Harlem, 1966-2015)“New York has been the Big Apple for several decades (in jazz)” (New York Times, 1967)“Get back to the big apple” (Ebony magazine, 1968)“Big Apple” in East Village Other (1968-1971)“Big Apple” in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.‘s novel Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)“New York’s the Big Apple, bub, the heaviest scene in the world” (Rolling Stone magazine, 1969)“Rapping about how the Big Apple is outta sight” (The Last Poets, 1969-1970)“New York, New York, the Big Apple” (The Last Poets, 1969-1970)        1970s: BIG APPLE REVIVALBig Apple 1970s Revival: Charlie Gillett and Lew RudinBig Apple (music venue in Brighton, UK, 1970-1971)Gwen Barrett and 1970s “Big Apple” campaign (1971)“Back in the Big Apple” (Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone? play, 1971)Red Apple Supermarket (supermarket chain, 1971-present)“Some Great Sounds in the Big Apple” (Newport Jazz Festival, 1972)“Penguin at the Big Apple” (instrumental song by The Trammps, 1972)“The Big Apple” (instrumental song by Hugh Masekela, 1972)The Big Apple Band (1972-1977); Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band (1976)“Big Apple Dreamin‘“ (song by Alice Cooper, 1973)Big Apple Ball (charity ball, May 1973)Big Apple (Robinette’s Apple Haus, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973-present)Big Apple Mini Storage (1974-present)Big Apple (convenience stores in Maine and New Hampshire, 1974-present)Big Apple (tourist information booth, Meaford, Ontario, Canada, 1974-present)“Big Apple” T-shirts from the Daily News (1975)Big Apple Comix (1975)“Save Grand Central. No more bites out of the Big Apple!” (1975)“Big Apple” lyric in the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “I’m a Country Boy” (1975)The Year the Big Apple Went Bust (book by Fred Ferretti, 1976)“Talking Big Apple ‘75” (song by Loudon Wainwright III, 1976)“I’m crazy about the Big Apple” (1976 ad campaign)Big Apple (official drink of the Belmont Stakes, 1976)Big Appling (to visit New York City, 1976)“Big Apple” lyric in the Joni Mitchell song “Song for Sharon” (1976)Apple Polisher & Polish the Apple (I Love a Clean New York campaign, 1976-1980)“From the Big Orange to the Big Apple” (Saturday Night Live film short, 1977)Big Apple Circus (1977-present)Big Apple (roller coaster at Astroland, Brooklyn, 1977-2008)Big Apple Cafe (Rochester, NY, 1977-2005)“Big Apple Blues” (song by Slade, 1977)“The Minnesota Night Hawks. I’m coaching. The Big Apple!” (Slap Shot film, 1977)“Big Apple” float (NY Daily News in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1977-2017)“B.A., Buenos Aires, Big Apple” (Evita musical, 1978)“Big Apple” lyric in The Rolling Stones song “Shattered” (1978)“Everybody bites on the Big Apple” lyric in the Cat Stevens song “New York Times” (1978)“Big Apple” (song by Molly Hatchet, 1978)Big Apple (roadside attraction in Thulimbah, Queensland, Australia, 1978-present)Big Apple Turnover (Ray Williams nickname on New York Knicks, 1979)The Big Apple Bash (Jay McShann album, 1979)“Big Apple Waltz” (song by Sweet, 1979)“Big Apple Rock” (disco song by Black Ivory, 1979)Dracula Bites the Big Apple (short film, 1979)Big Apple Copy Center (1979-present)Big Apple Moving & Storage (1979-present)Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps (marching band, 1979-present)Big Apple College Fair (1979-present)2005: Statement from a co-worker of Charles GillettOff Topic: Charles Gillett on Conventions    1970s-PRESENT: FALSE ETYMOLOGIESGovernor Stuyvesant’s Tree (pear, not apple)New Orange (not Big Orange; 1673-1674)Big Apple Whore Hoax (1800s; proposed 1995-2006)Chelsea Apple Orchard (1820s)Slave Codes (1850s)“New York is a sucked orange” (not Big Apple; Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1860)Edward Martin metaphor (1909)Damon Runyon (who never used “Big Apple,” 1920s-1930s)Alain Locke and Harlem Renaissance as the “Big Apple” (1920s; suggested in 1988)Big Apple of Wathena, Kansas (1928-1940)Depression Apple Sellers (1930s)Harlem’s Jazz Musicians (1930s)Fletcher Henderson popularization of “the Big Apple” in the 1930sBig Apple dance craze (1937)La Grosse Pomme (Paris nightclub, 1937-1938)Cab Calloway’s “Hepster’s Dictionary” (1938, 1944)Big A (Aqueduct Racetrack nickname, 1959)Manzana Principal (suggested in 1966)New York City is shaped like an apple (1970s)There are many apples on the tree, but when you pick NYC, you pick the Big Apple (1975)Tightening of Adam’s Apple (suggested in 1978)Big Apple on New Year’s Eve Ball at One Times Square (1981-1988)New York State grows many apples (suggested in 1988)Five Apple Seeds, Five Boroughs (1990s?)Apple Store (2000s)An apple tree on every street (2013 movie explanation)“Big Apple” and the Dutch phrase, “to buy for an apple and an egg” (2020)“Why is New York City called ‘The Big Apple?’ Wrong answers only” (2021)Apple at the foot of the Statue of Liberty (2024) 1980s-PRESENT: BIG APPLE WORK BY GERALD COHEN, BARRY POPIK“Big Apple Rappin’” (rap by Spyder-D, 1980)Home Run Apple (Shea Stadium & Citi Field, 1980-present)Big Apple Pancake House (Chicago Heights and Joliet, IL, 1980-present)Big Apple Airline (New York Air nickname, 1980-1987)Big Apple Minute (WNEW-TV Channel 5, 1980-1987)Big Apple Movie (WNEW-TV Channel 5, 1981-1986)Big Apple logo for New York Urban League (1981-present)Big Apple City (Strawberry Shortcake animation, 1981)Big Apple on New Year’s Eve Ball at One Times Square (1981-1988)Big Apple Dyke News (1981-1988)La Gran Manzana (merengue band, 1982)“Apple” lyric in the Michael Jackson song “Human Nature” (1982)Apple Bank (renamed from Harlem Savings Bank, 1983-present)“Big Apple” (song by Kajagoogoo, 1983)Big Apple Flag (North American Vexillological Association, 1983)Big Apple Car, Inc. (1983-present)Big Apple Chorus (1983-present)The Big Apple (nightclub in El Paso, Texas, 1984-1986)N.Y.C. The Big Apple (Atari video game, 1984)The Big Apple (novel by Pat Booth, 1984)“The Big Apple” (Gimme a Break! episode, 1984)“Nueva York! New York City! The big apple!” (Against All Odds film, 1984)Big Apple logo for Javits Center (1985-present)Big Apple Bagels (Illinois bagel chain, 1985-present)Big Apple Pizza (Israeli pizza chain, 1986-present)“50K don’t get you to first base in the Big Apple” (Wall Street film, 1987)Big Apple logo for New York Cares (1987-present)Big Apple (roadside attraction in Colborne, Ontario, Canada, 1987-present)Big Apple Diner (Whitehall, NY, 1987-present)Big Apple bet (1988, 2003) between mayors of New York City and Columbia, South Carolina“Big Apple Blues” (The Facts of Life episode, 1988)Big Apple Awards (Public Relations Society of America-NY Chapter, 1988-present)“Big Apple” and Donald Trump (Fortune magazine photo, 1989)Big Apple book by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik (1991. 2011)“Bite the Big Apple” (Murder, She Wrote episode, 1991)Big Apple Florist (1991-present)“Big Apple, 3 AM” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time video game, 1992)Big Apple Greeter (1992-present)Big Apple Meat Market (1992-present)Big Apple Corner (1992-1997)Big Apple on a hockey jersey (New York Rangers practice jersey, 1994)Big Apple Hostel (1994-2014)Big Apple Cafe & Big Apple Tourist Orchard (Bacchus Marsh, Australia, 1994-present)Big Apple Cafe & Event Centre (Waitomo, New Zealand, 1995-present)“God Bless New York City, My Big Apple Pie” (song by Y’all, 1995)“Big Bugs in the Big Apple” (James and the Giant Peach film, 1996)“The Big Apple Can Bite Me” (Cybill episode, 1996)Big Apple plaque (1996)Big Apple Comic Con (1996-present)Big Apple Corner (1997 Law & Today)Big Apple Corner (New York Morning Telegraph site)Big Apple Jazz Tours (1997-present)Big Apple Coaster (New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, 1997-present)Big Apple Pizza & Pasta (Florida pizza chain, 1997-present)Big Apple Stars Awards Program (Hotel Association of New York City, 1997-present)Big Apple Ranch (country-western dance lesson and party, 1997-present)“Bite the Big Apple” (The Devil’s Advocate film, 1997)“It’s the dream, the Big Apple” (Howard Stern’s Private Parts film, 1997)Big Apple (roller coaster at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Norfolk, UK, 1998-present)Big Apple Bank (Futurama episode, 1999)“Big Apple” query and Ask Jeeves search engine (1999)Big Apple (sculpture in Medina, New York, 2000-present)Big Apple Martini or Big Apple-tini (cocktail, 2000)“When you got to the Big Apple, they treated you like a worm” (Me, Myself & Irene film, 2000)Big Apple (pachinko parlors in Japan, 2000?-present)Big Apple (crime drama television series, 2001)Big Apple Anime Fest (2001-2003)Iso Omena (Finland’s “Big Apple” shopping center, 2001-present)“Bad Seed in the Big Apple” (Beyblade episode, 2003)Big Apple Roll (rollerblading event, 2003-present)Big Apple logo for Made in NYC (2003-present)Big Apple (brand of Schwalbe bicycle tires, 2003-present)Big Apple Innovation Awards (LISC NY, 2003-present)The Big Apple (bar in Ballyforan, Ireland, 2003?-present)The Apple (sculpture in Hudson River Park, 2004)Big Apple Film Festival (2004-present)Big Apple Fest (2004)Betsy Gotbaum and the fictional “Big Apple whores” (2004)Big Apple Fest (2005)Big Apple Shake (Johnny Rockets, 2005)Bacardi Big Apple (apple-flavored rum, 2005)Big Apple Mojito (cocktail, 2005)“It’s another fabulous morning in the Big Apple!” (Madagascar film, 2005)Harlem Big Apple Club plaque removed (2006)Big Apple (sculpture by Romero Britto, LaGuardia Airport, 2006-present)Big Apple Elevator Service and Consulting (2006-present)Big Apple Donuts & Coffee (Malaysia chain, 2007-present)Big Apple Music Awards (2007-2022)Infinity Apple (GreeNYC symbol, 2007)Apple—New York State Symbol (2007)Mr. Met And His Journey Through The Big Apple (children’s book by Aimee Aryal, 2008)Oxford English Dictionary “Big Apple” definition (2008)“New York. The Big Apple” (The Hurt Locker film, 2008)Big Apple (sculpture at Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Japan, 2008-present)New York Nike LeBron 6 “Big Apple” sneaker (2008)“Big Apple” answer on “Final Jeopardy!” (2009)New York City’s Official Apple Proposal—Newtown Pippin (2009)“Pomme de New York” (Big Apple sculpture by Les Lalanne on Park Avenue and 52nd Street, 2009)“Big Apple” explained in a movie (Barney’s Version film, 2010)“The Big Apple” (Kate Plus 8 episode, 2010)Big Apple Hot Dogs (UK hot dogs, 2010-present)“Our trip to the Big Apple” (The Fairly Oddparents episode, 2011)Rising Apple (New York Mets blog, 2011-present)Big Apple (sculpture by Romero Britto, JFK Airport, 2011-present)Stephan Weiss Apple Awards (2011-2018)The Other Big Apple (Meaford, Ontario nickname, 2011-2014)“Big Apple is fantastic, but cuts you down to size” lyric in Nickelback’s “Kiss It Goodbye” (2011)Big Apple Fashioned (cocktail, 2012)Big Apple Church (Manhattan branch of New York City Church of Christ, 2012-present)Big Apple (cocktail with sake, 2013)Big Apple Showcase Day (race for New York-breds, 2013-present)Big Apple Awards (New York City public school teachers, 2013-present)The Big Apple Shopping Bazaar (Delray Beach, FL, 2013-present)Big Apple Blizzard (Dairy Queen dessert, 2014)Big Apple Hard Cider (2014-present)La Mela Reintegrata or The Apple Made Whole Again (Central Station, Milan, Italy, 2015-present)Apple Awards (Guides Association of New York City, 2015-present)“The Kid from the Big Apple” (two films, 2015 and 2017)“Big Apple or Die Tryin‘“ (Pee-wee’s Big Holiday film, 2016)“The Girl Who Went To The Big Apple” (Asia’s Next Top Model episode, 2016)“Wow! BoJack and Todd in the Big Apple!” (BoJack Horseman episode, 2016)“The Big Apple” (Strut episode, 2016)Big Apple Shoot Out (horse show event, 2016-present)The Big Apple (restaurant in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2016-present)Big Apple Ball (Donald Trump Presidential Inauguration, 2017)Big Apple Mall (Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines, 2018-present)“The Big Apple Bites” (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode, 2018)Big Apple of New England (Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center, Lancaster, MA, 2019-present)Big Apple Turnover (Daniel Jones nickname on New York Giants, 2019)Big Apple Turnover (Julius Randle nickname on New York Knicks, 2019)“Are there doctors in New York since it’s called the Big Apple?” (2019)“Big Apple” basketball logo (Big Apple Athletics, 2019; Aimé Leon Dore, 2020)Bigger Apple (Manhattan Institute newsletter, 2020-present)Big Apple Sauce (The Sauce episode in New York City, 2020)“Big Apple” on NPR’s “Ask Me Another” (2020)Big Apple cannabis (2020)Big Apple Doughnut (Krispy Kreme donut, 2020)Big Apple Compost (2020-present)“Back in the Big Apple” (The Real Housewives of New York City episode, 2021)“Big Apple” (Tom and Jerry in New York animated episode, 2021)“What’s a Met Gala?”/“A type of apple found in New York. Also why it’s called the Big Apple” (2021)Big Apple (city ornament of Columbia, SC, 2021)“Big Apple” T-shirt by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2021)Big Apple sculpture (Bella Abzug Park and Dante Park, 2021-2022)Big Apple Corner (sign stolen, 2021-2024)The Big Apple (ice cream shake at Forty Deuce in Columbus, OH, 2022)“Big Apple” answer in Jeopardy! game show (2022)Big Apple (act on America’s Got Talent, 2022)Big Apple Sauce (Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner nickname on New York Jets, 2022)“Big Apple, 3 PM” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge video game, 2022)Big Apple Connect (free high-speed internet and basic cable TV, 2022)The Queer Big Apple Corps (marching band, 2022-present)“We’re taking a bite out of the Big Apple tonight” (Blue’s Big City Adventure film, 2022)La Gran Manzana (sculpture opposite Radio City Music Hall, 2022)Gala “Big Apple” mascot (Metro Ink, 2023)Big Apple Pierogi (Veselka Restaurant pierogi, 2023)Big Apple Ballers Stadium (Spider-Man 2 video game, 2023)Meet at the Apple (New York Mets podcast, 2024-)“Big Apple” (painting by Vladimir Kush, 2024)“NY is no longer called the Big Apple. It is now called the Rotten Apple!” (artwork, 2024)“Big Flavor in The Big Apple” (New York Apple Association ad campaign, 2024)Big Apple Village (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 comic miniseries, 2024)“The Big Apple” (Korean comics or manhwa, 2024)Big Apples (Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team logo, 2024)“Is New York called the Big Apple because everyone living there is fruity?” (2024)“Big Apple” explained (“Countdown” UK game show, 2025)Big Apple (Hozea Massiah, Toronto hip-hop figure, 1971-2025)“The Dead Apple” (hip-hop track by Reason, 2025)Big Apples Fest (fall festival sponsored by Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team, 2025-present)Big Red Apple (red/communist + Big Apple, 2025)Red Apple (red/communist + Big Apple, 2025)Apple Stand (“Big Apple” art exhibit, 2025)Big Apple Triathlon (2026-present)“Big Apple” rap on Sesame Street (2026)LEGO’s New York City—The Big Apple (2026)“Big Apple” design in New York’s “key to the city” (2026)Google censorship of BarryPopik.com, “The Big Apple”“Big Apple” Cohen-Popik Work on Television (?)“Big Apple” Fame and Fortune (?)  “LITTLE APPLE” AND OTHER NICKNAMESIndianappleis & “Move over New York. Apple is our middle name” (Indianapolis, Indiana)Little Apple (Ithaca, New York)Little Apple (Manhattan, Kansas)Little Apple (Roosevelt Island, New York City)Little Apple (Toronto, Canada)Little Apple (Yonkers, New York)Mini-Apple or Minneapple (Minneapolis, Minnesota) “BIG APPLE” IN THE MEDIAThe Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), August 13, 1972Daily News (New York, NY), June 20, 1973Daily News (New York, NY), September 11, 1973Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, HI), May 11, 1975Miami Herald (Miami, FL), May 22, 1975Boston Globe (Boston, MA), December 7, 1975The Times-Tribune (Scranton, PA), April 30, 1978The New York Times (New York, NY), July 5, 1978The New York Times (New York, NY), July 12, 1978The New York Times (New York, NY), July 19, 1978Staten Island Advance (Staten Island, NY), November 12, 1978“Dear Abby” by Abigail Van Buren, September 3, 1982New York Post (New York, NY), May 22, 1986 (GenealogyBank.com)New York Post (New York, NY), May 30, 1986 (GenealogyBank.com)“Dear Abby” by Abigail Van Buren, May 12, 1988“Dear Abby” by Abigail Van Buren, August 2, 1988The New York Times (New York, NY), August 22, 1988The New York Times (New York, NY), February 1, 1989Newsday (New York, NY), April 2, 1992The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY), October 22, 1992 (GenealogyBank.com)Irish America, January/February 1994 (not online)New York Post (New York, NY), October 18, 1995 (GenealogyBank.com)The New York Times (New York, NY), December 6, 1995Newsday (Hempstead, NY), December 7, 1995“Dear Abby” by Abigail Van Buren, January 10, 1997 (with answers from 1988)New York Post (New York, NY), January 30, 1997 (GenealogyBank.com)“Dear Abby” by Abigail Van Buren, February 19, 1997The Word Detective, October 17, 1997New York Amsterdam News (New York, NY), July 30, 1998 (ProQuest)The Straight Dope, September 17, 1999Voice of America, March 24, 2002Gothamist, July 22, 2004The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario), August 14, 2004The New York Times (New York, NY), August 29, 2004The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario), September 4, 2004The New York Times (New York, NY), July 8, 2009Parade, October 2, 2013amNY (New York, NY), April 11, 2014Slate (Lexicon Valley), September 8, 20156sqft (New York, NY), April 13, 2017Untapped Cities (New York City), July 5, 2017AFRO (Baltimore, MD), February 16, 2018The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), September 23, 2018The Wall Street Journal, January 2, 2020Gothamist (New York, NY), January 21, 2020WNYC (New York, NY), January 21, 2020Daily Mail (London, UK), January 22, 2020The Christian Science Monitor, March 12, 2020Harlem Bespoke, November 23, 2020Daily News (New York, NY), May 3, 2021 (Tweeted by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio,)CBS Mornings, May 8, 2021La Voce di New York, September 10, 2022Fox 5 (New York, NY), January 31, 2024Untapped Cities (New York City), February 16, 2024@100YearsAgoNews, February 18, 2024Diario AS, March 21, 2024WRRV (Hudson Valley, NY), August 14, 2024Apples & People, August 16, 2024PIX11 (New York, NY), September 12, 2024Houston Style Magazine (Houston, TX), May 13, 2025Houston Style Magazine (Houston, TX), May 29, 2025 “BIG APPLE” ON WEBSITESWikipedia—“Big Apple”Wikipedia—“54th Street (Manhattan)”Wiktionary—“Big Apple”New York Public LibraryWorld Wide WordsWord OriginsMental FlossThoughtCo.WorldAtlasCity NicknamesSecret NYCGotta Love New YorkMinted NYCClassic New York HistoryNew York City AdvisorNew-York ForeverNYBRISKBig Apple SecretsSparkly Maid NYCRent Own Sell—New YorkVisit New YorkEpicenter NYCMuseum of the City of New York (from 1998)NY.com (from 1999)NewYork.comStreetEasyAmerica ExplainedThe MarginalianToday I Found OutToday I Found Out (video)Yeow’s PodcastHowStuffWorksHotBotFlavor365SlaylebrityTravel & Culture SalonHistory ChannelBritannicaDictionary.comUrban DictionaryPhrase Finder“BIG APPLE” ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE WIKIPEDIAWikipedia (Armenian)Wikipedia (Bangla/Bengali)Wikipedia (Basque)Wikipedia (Chinese—Traditional)Wikipedia (Croatian)Wikipedia (Dutch)Wikipedia (Estonian)Wikipedia (French)Wikipedia (Georgian)Wikipedia (German)Wikipedia (Indonesian)Wikipedia (Italian)Wikipedia (Japanese)Wikipedia (Korean)Wikipedia (Latvian)Wikipedia (Malayalam)Wikipedia (Norwegian)Wikipedia (Persian)Wikipedia (Portuguese)Wikipedia (Russian)Wikipedia (Spanish)Wikipedia (Turkish)Wikipedia (Ukrainian) New York City, The Big Apple, 2004-07-05T15:43:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/shoutout-to-everyone-who-takes-the-back-off-the-remote-control https://barrypopik.com/blog/shoutout-to-everyone-who-takes-the-back-off-the-remote-control When a tv’s remote doesn’t work, many people open the battery case and try to just roll the batteries around. “I’m personally a big fan of ‘opening the battery case and rolling the batteries around/switching them around instead of replacing them’” was posted on X/Twitter by Jillian🚦🍅 on August 4, 2020.     “Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 😆” was posted on Facebook by Tips4Home Group ·  Scarlett Sawyer on April 14, 2026, and this received over 1,800 likes. “Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them” was posted on X/Twitter by Mistress Dividend later on April 14, 2026, and this received over 21,000 likes. “Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them” was posted on X/Twitter by єℓαιηє on May 6, 2026, and this received over 6,800 likes.         X/Twitter Jillian🚦🍅 @pbandjilly__ I’m personally a big fan of “opening the battery case and rolling the batteries around/switching them around instead of replacing them” 7:37 PM · Aug 4, 2020   X/Twitter Stoc 🇺🇸|🇺🇦 ~Slava Ukraini~ @Stochasticiti When that doesn’t work, roll the batteries in the remote. Why don’t we just replace them? Ah, never mind; it’s working again. 👍🏼 We’re good🖖🏼 Quote TheHoff-Fella 🎗️ 🇺🇦🇬🇪 @JolokiaTheSpicy Apr 18, 2024 Shook my remote control to make the batteries less dead again. 10:25 PM · Apr 18, 2024   Facebook Tips4Home Group · Scarlett Sawyer · April 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM · Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 😆   X/Twitter Mistress Dividend @mistressdivy Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 9:30 PM · Apr 14, 2026   Bluesky Jade Valkyrie @tsjadevalkyrie.com Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them… 1:01 AM · Apr 15, 2026   X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 1:35 PM · May 6, 2026   Facebook Tim Davis May 6, 2026 at 9:29 PM · Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them.   X/Twitter XTester @Sportrepreneur4 Shout out to the homey’s that take the back of the remote off and roll the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 9:29 PM · Jun 11, 2026   X/Twitter Mike Bales 🫡🇺🇸 @MikeBales Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 7:07 PM · Jun 29, 2026   X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 3:46 AM · Aug 15, 2026 New York City, Radio/Television, 2026-08-16T17:27:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/shout-out-to-everyone-who-takes-the-back-off-the-remote-control https://barrypopik.com/blog/shout-out-to-everyone-who-takes-the-back-off-the-remote-control When a tv’s remote doesn’t work, many people open the battery case and try to just roll the batteries around. “I’m personally a big fan of ‘opening the battery case and rolling the batteries around/switching them around instead of replacing them’” was posted on X/Twitter by Jillian🚦🍅 on August 4, 2020.     “Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 😆” was posted on Facebook by Tips4Home Group ·  Scarlett Sawyer on April 14, 2026, and this received over 1,800 likes. “Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them” was posted on X/Twitter by Mistress Dividend later on April 14, 2026, and this received over 21,000 likes. “Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them” was posted on X/Twitter by єℓαιηє on May 6, 2026, and this received over 6,800 likes.         X/Twitter Jillian🚦🍅 @pbandjilly__ I’m personally a big fan of “opening the battery case and rolling the batteries around/switching them around instead of replacing them” 7:37 PM · Aug 4, 2020   X/Twitter Stoc 🇺🇸|🇺🇦 ~Slava Ukraini~ @Stochasticiti When that doesn’t work, roll the batteries in the remote. Why don’t we just replace them? Ah, never mind; it’s working again. 👍🏼 We’re good🖖🏼 Quote TheHoff-Fella 🎗️ 🇺🇦🇬🇪 @JolokiaTheSpicy Apr 18, 2024 Shook my remote control to make the batteries less dead again. 10:25 PM · Apr 18, 2024   Facebook Tips4Home Group · Scarlett Sawyer · April 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM · Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 😆   X/Twitter Mistress Dividend @mistressdivy Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 9:30 PM · Apr 14, 2026   Bluesky Jade Valkyrie @tsjadevalkyrie.com Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them… 1:01 AM · Apr 15, 2026   X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 1:35 PM · May 6, 2026   Facebook Tim Davis May 6, 2026 at 9:29 PM · Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them.   X/Twitter XTester @Sportrepreneur4 Shout out to the homey’s that take the back of the remote off and roll the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 9:29 PM · Jun 11, 2026   X/Twitter Mike Bales 🫡🇺🇸 @MikeBales Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 7:07 PM · Jun 29, 2026   X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 Shoutout to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them. 3:46 AM · Aug 15, 2026 New York City, Radio/Television, 2026-08-16T09:20:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/no-one-warned-me-that-once-i-got-older-the-weather-app https://barrypopik.com/blog/no-one-warned-me-that-once-i-got-older-the-weather-app Many people check weather apps more as they grow older. A young child (who doesn’t have responsibilities) usually doesn’t care or stress about the weather.     “No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” was posted on X/Twitter  by Tanuj Choudhary on April 2, 2025. “Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine” was posted on Facebook by Girls Meet The Internet on April 2, 2025, and this received over 9,700 likes.   “nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine: was posted on Facebook by Cursed Posts on August 14, 2025, and this received over 43,200 likes.  nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by “gum” on August 13, 2026, and this received over 38,000 likes.   “No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by єℓαιηє on March 26, 2026, and this received over 52,000 likes.       X/Twitter Stephen @stephenwegman As I get older I use my weather app so much. I just always want to know the temp. “Shit there’s a 30 percent chance of precipitation at 4, fuck.” 8:36 PM · Jan 12, 2018 from Tennessee, USA   X/Twitter Tanuj Choudhary @Choudary_tanuj No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 3:52 AM · Apr 2, 2025   Facebook Girls Meet The Internet April 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM · Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine   Facebook Geriatric Millennial April 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM · I check my weather app more than I check my messages 😆 #millennial #geriatricmillennial #aging #gettingold (“No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” is shown on an image.—ed.)     Facebook “jus’sayin” April 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM · No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a vital part of my daily routine.😁   X/Twitter Helga Von Tippler @DanaLeaB1 No one told me once I got older the weather app would be part of my routine. 11:50 AM · Apr 10, 2025     X/Twitter ✨💫Cali💫✨ @505Cali2 No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 🤣 11:35 AM · Apr 11, 2025   Bluesky 🌴✨🦋 Kathryn 🦋✨🌴 @kathrynkatiekwrites.substack.com No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 10:26 PM · May 6, 2025       Facebook Cursed Posts August 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM · nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine   X/Twitter dior ✞ @deeore5 nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 12:30 PM · Aug 14, 2025       X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine. 4:11 AM · Mar 26, 2026   Facebook Matthew Valentine March 27, 2026 at 2:41 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Facebook For When You Can’t Breathe March 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Bluesky Bill ♥️ @billwx.bsky.social I have always been a weather nerd but the smartphone apps make it more convenient.  I still use weather sites from my home computer for the more serious weather tracking. [*No one. warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part daily routine Should I wear sandals or real shoes today? ALT] 12:29 PM · Jun 16, 2026     X/Twitter gum @gumvape nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 2:11 PM · Aug 13, 2026 New York City, Time/Weather, 2026-08-16T09:16:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/no-one-told-me-that-once-i-get-older-the-weather-app https://barrypopik.com/blog/no-one-told-me-that-once-i-get-older-the-weather-app Many people check weather apps more as they grow older. A young child (who doesn’t have responsibilities) usually doesn’t care or stress about the weather.     “No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” was posted on X/Twitter  by Tanuj Choudhary on April 2, 2025. “Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine” was posted on Facebook by Girls Meet The Internet on April 2, 2025, and this received over 9,700 likes.   “nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine: was posted on Facebook by Cursed Posts on August 14, 2025, and this received over 43,200 likes.  nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by “gum” on August 13, 2026, and this received over 38,000 likes.   “No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by єℓαιηє on March 26, 2026, and this received over 52,000 likes.       X/Twitter Stephen @stephenwegman As I get older I use my weather app so much. I just always want to know the temp. “Shit there’s a 30 percent chance of precipitation at 4, fuck.” 8:36 PM · Jan 12, 2018 from Tennessee, USA   X/Twitter Tanuj Choudhary @Choudary_tanuj No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 3:52 AM · Apr 2, 2025   Facebook Girls Meet The Internet April 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM · Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine   Facebook Geriatric Millennial April 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM · I check my weather app more than I check my messages 😆 #millennial #geriatricmillennial #aging #gettingold (“No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” is shown on an image.—ed.)     Facebook “jus’sayin” April 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM · No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a vital part of my daily routine.😁   X/Twitter Helga Von Tippler @DanaLeaB1 No one told me once I got older the weather app would be part of my routine. 11:50 AM · Apr 10, 2025     X/Twitter ✨💫Cali💫✨ @505Cali2 No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 🤣 11:35 AM · Apr 11, 2025   Bluesky 🌴✨🦋 Kathryn 🦋✨🌴 @kathrynkatiekwrites.substack.com No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 10:26 PM · May 6, 2025       Facebook Cursed Posts August 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM · nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine   X/Twitter dior ✞ @deeore5 nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 12:30 PM · Aug 14, 2025       X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine. 4:11 AM · Mar 26, 2026   Facebook Matthew Valentine March 27, 2026 at 2:41 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Facebook For When You Can’t Breathe March 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Bluesky Bill ♥️ @billwx.bsky.social I have always been a weather nerd but the smartphone apps make it more convenient.  I still use weather sites from my home computer for the more serious weather tracking. [*No one. warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part daily routine Should I wear sandals or real shoes today? ALT] 12:29 PM · Jun 16, 2026     X/Twitter gum @gumvape nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 2:11 PM · Aug 13, 2026 New York City, Time/Weather, 2026-08-16T09:14:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/nobody-told-me-as-i-get-older-the-weather-app-would https://barrypopik.com/blog/nobody-told-me-as-i-get-older-the-weather-app-would Many people check weather apps more as they grow older. A young child (who doesn’t have responsibilities) usually doesn’t care or stress about the weather.     “No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” was posted on X/Twitter  by Tanuj Choudhary on April 2, 2025. “Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine” was posted on Facebook by Girls Meet The Internet on April 2, 2025, and this received over 9,700 likes.   “nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine: was posted on Facebook by Cursed Posts on August 14, 2025, and this received over 43,200 likes.  nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by “gum” on August 13, 2026, and this received over 38,000 likes.   “No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine” was posted on X/Twitter by єℓαιηє on March 26, 2026, and this received over 52,000 likes.       X/Twitter Stephen @stephenwegman As I get older I use my weather app so much. I just always want to know the temp. “Shit there’s a 30 percent chance of precipitation at 4, fuck.” 8:36 PM · Jan 12, 2018 from Tennessee, USA   X/Twitter Tanuj Choudhary @Choudary_tanuj No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 3:52 AM · Apr 2, 2025   Facebook Girls Meet The Internet April 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM · Nobody told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my daily routine   Facebook Geriatric Millennial April 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM · I check my weather app more than I check my messages 😆 #millennial #geriatricmillennial #aging #gettingold (“No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine” is shown on an image.—ed.)     Facebook “jus’sayin” April 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM · No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a vital part of my daily routine.😁   X/Twitter Helga Von Tippler @DanaLeaB1 No one told me once I got older the weather app would be part of my routine. 11:50 AM · Apr 10, 2025     X/Twitter ✨💫Cali💫✨ @505Cali2 No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 🤣 11:35 AM · Apr 11, 2025   Bluesky 🌴✨🦋 Kathryn 🦋✨🌴 @kathrynkatiekwrites.substack.com No one told me that once I get older, the weather app will become a part of my routine. 10:26 PM · May 6, 2025       Facebook Cursed Posts August 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM · nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine   X/Twitter dior ✞ @deeore5 nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 12:30 PM · Aug 14, 2025       X/Twitter єℓαιηє @elainesim28 No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine. 4:11 AM · Mar 26, 2026   Facebook Matthew Valentine March 27, 2026 at 2:41 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Facebook For When You Can’t Breathe March 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM · No one warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part of my daily routine   Bluesky Bill ♥️ @billwx.bsky.social I have always been a weather nerd but the smartphone apps make it more convenient.  I still use weather sites from my home computer for the more serious weather tracking. [*No one. warned me that once I got older, the weather app would be a crucial part daily routine Should I wear sandals or real shoes today? ALT] 12:29 PM · Jun 16, 2026     X/Twitter gum @gumvape nobody told me as i get older the weather app would become part of my daily routine 2:11 PM · Aug 13, 2026 New York City, Time/Weather, 2026-08-16T07:34:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/everything-used-to-be-20-dollars-and-now-that-i-finally-have-20-dollars https://barrypopik.com/blog/everything-used-to-be-20-dollars-and-now-that-i-finally-have-20-dollars A single $20 bill used to go far, before inflation. Twenty dollars used to fill up a car’s gas tank. Twenty dollars used to buy groceries, or a dinner for two.   “Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars” was posted on Tumblr by velvetys on May 31, 2026, and this received over 27,000 likes. “everything used to be 20 dollars and now that i finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars” was posted on X/Twitter by “27.” on June 29, 2026, and this received over 243,000 likes.       Tumblr velvetys May 31, 2026, 10:51 AM Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars   Bluesky Cheryl @chrrrlwav.bsky.social wenn man einfach bis so kurz vor Corona arm war… [Tumblr user velvetys: Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars ALT] 5:14 AM · Jun 15, 2026   X/Twitter ♡ glaive shady facts and secrets | avalie grace ♡ @um_itsavalie Parody account Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars 3:24 PM · Jun 23, 2026     X/Twitter 27. @dimvji everything used to be 20 dollars and now that i finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars 7:29 AM · Jun 29, 2026   X/Twitter @artfuIchaos everything used to be 20 dollars and now that i finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars 7:12 AM · Aug 13, 2026 New York City, Banking/Finance/Insurance, Work/Businesses, 2026-08-16T07:03:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/ai-will-replace-you-id-like-to-see-ai-turn-a-small-inconvenience https://barrypopik.com/blog/ai-will-replace-you-id-like-to-see-ai-turn-a-small-inconvenience AI (artificial intelligence) can do many jobs, but it can’t do everything a human can. A popular meme starts with “AI is coming for your jobs” or “AI will replace you,”  and then describes some humorous thing that some people do at work.   “‘AI will replace you’ I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack” was posted on X/Twitter by Sopranos World on August 4, 2026, and this received over 1,300 likes. “‘AI will replace you’ I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack” was posted on X/Twitter by @artfuIchaos on August 14, 2026, and this received over 35,000 likes.     “‘AI is coming for your jobs.’ I’d like to see AI take a 30 min poop right after clocking in” and “‘Al is going to replace you.’ I’d love to see AI drink 6 beers before 11 AM in Spain” are related sayings about AI.     X/Twitter Sopranos World @SopranosWorld “AI will replace you” I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack 10:34 PM · Aug 4, 2026   X/Twitter @artfuIchaos “AI will replace you” I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack. 8:45 AM · Aug 14, 2026   Facebook Daily Feeds August 14, 2026 at 2:04 PM · “AI will replace you” I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack.   X/Twitter sun 🐙 @sunsetsherebro “AI will replace you” I’d like to see AI turn a small inconvenience into a huge panic attack. 7:56 PM · Aug 14, 2026 New York City, Work/Businesses, 2026-08-16T06:23:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/america-the-beautiful-pairing-of-words-to-the-music-of-materna https://barrypopik.com/blog/america-the-beautiful-pairing-of-words-to-the-music-of-materna   Wikipedia: America the Beautiful “America the Beautiful” is an American patriotic song. Its lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey, though the two never met.[2]   Bates wrote the words as a poem, originally titled “Pikes Peak”. It was first published in the Fourth of July 1895 edition of the church periodical, The Congregationalist. At that time, the poem was titled “America”.   Ward had initially composed the song’s melody in 1882 to accompany lyrics to “Materna”, basis of the hymn, “O Mother dear, Jerusalem”, though the hymn was not first published until 1892. The combination of Ward’s melody and Bates’s poem was first entitled “America the Beautiful” in 1910.   Wikipedia: Clarence Barbour Clarence Augustus Barbour (April 21, 1867 – January 16, 1937) was an American Baptist clergyman and educator most notable for having served as the president of Brown University. He and his wife, Florence, put together the tune from the hymn “Materna” by Samuel A. Ward and the poem “America the Beautiful” by Katherine Lee Bates to create the standard anthem we all love now. This was in 1904. People had fallen in love with the poem but always sang to a different tune.[citation needed] (...) His wife, Florence Newell Barbour, was a musician and composer. New York City, Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus, 2026-08-16T03:56:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/the-greatest-trick-politicians-ever-pulled-was-convincing-people https://barrypopik.com/blog/the-greatest-trick-politicians-ever-pulled-was-convincing-people “The greatest trick politicians ever pulled was convincing people that the free market caused problems that were actually created by government intervention” was posted on X/Twitter by Connor Boyack 📚 on April 16, 2025. The saying was put on an image on Instagram by tuttletwins on December 2, 2025.   The saying means that the “free market” is often blamed by the very politicians who have created government interventions, preventing it from being “free.”     X/Twitter Connor Boyack 📚 @cboyack The greatest trick politicians ever pulled was convincing people that the free market caused problems that were actually created by government intervention. 3:41 PM · Apr 16, 2025   Facebook Bobby Easterly April 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM · The greatest trick politicians ever pulled was convincing people that the free market caused problems that were actually created by government intervention.   Instagram tuttletwins December 2, 2025 (“The greatest trick politicians ever pulled was convincing people that the free market caused problems that were actually created by government intervention” is shown on an image. Connor Boyack is credited.—ed.) New York City, Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health, 2026-08-13T14:15:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/the-economy-is-so-bad-that-scam-messages-went-from https://barrypopik.com/blog/the-economy-is-so-bad-that-scam-messages-went-from When the economy is bad, people are desperate for even very little. This was posted on X/Twitter by Neet on July 15, 2026, and it received over 298,000 likes:   “The economy is so bad that scam messages went from ‘you won the lottery’ to ‘remote job available $18/hr.’”     X/Twitter Neet @neet_sol The economy is so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “remote job available $18/hr” 4:38 AM · Jul 15, 2026   Facebook Brandon Deonte Avie July 15, 2026 at 8:45 PM · The economy is so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “remote job available $22/hr”   Facebook The Cozens July 16, 2026 at 2:49 AM · The economy is so bad scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “remote job available £20/hr”     Reddit—BrandNewSentence Durian_Queef—July 19, 2026 The economy is so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “remote job available $18/hr” (The tweet by Neet is shown.—ed.)   Facebook Pilar Newman July 20, 2026 at 8:17 PM · The economy so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “we found ground beef for $1.64/lb.” Call me back.       Facebook Trend Alert Finance July 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM · Scam messages used to promise you millions. “You won the lottery.” “Congratulations, you’ve been selected for a cash prize.” Now the bait has changed completely. “Remote job available, $17.50 an hour.” That’s it. That’s the hook. No fortune. No jackpot. Just a normal job at a normal wage, and somehow that’s what gets people to click. Scammers don’t pick random bait. They study what people are actually desperate for. Right now, that’s not riches. It’s just a job that pays a livable wage and lets you work from home. Think about what that says about where things actually stand.   X/Twitter Rishabh @_Rishabh_Code The economy is so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “remote job available $18/hr” 11:51 AM · Aug 9, 2026   X/Twitter Akash @Akasheth_ the economy is so bad that scam messages went from “you won the lottery” to “free claude subscription available” 6:34 AM · Aug 16, 2026 New York City, Work/Businesses, 2026-08-13T14:01:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/every-few-years-a-solar-eclipse-happens-and-every-time https://barrypopik.com/blog/every-few-years-a-solar-eclipse-happens-and-every-time For seemingly every solar eclipse, the news media inform how rare the event is. This joke was posted on X/Twitter by @synszo on August 11, 2026, and it received over 181,000 likes:   “Every few years a solar eclipse happens and every time they be like ‘this is the first solar eclipse since 1734.’”         X/Twitter Heather Tillotson @TillotsonH BC 2nd graders witnessing the Solar Eclipse of 2K17. First solar eclipse since 1918. @BCBraves 8:09 PM · Aug 21, 2017   X/Twitter Mike Bolger @SellYourHouzz 🌞Get ready for a celestial spectacle! This year, we will witness our first solar eclipse since 1979, and what’s more special? It falls on my birthday, April 8th! Let’s celebrate this rare astronomical event together. GET FREE SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES: https://mikebolger.ca/solareclipse.html 8:32 AM · Mar 28, 2024       X/Twitter News 4 Reno @News4Reno It’s the first solar eclipse since 2017 and the last until 2044. Here’s some shots from across the United States. More: https://bit.ly/4as1oDt 6:11 PM · Apr 8, 2024   X/Twitter @synszo Every few years a solar eclipse happens and every time they be like “this is the first solar eclipse since 1734” 4:23 PM · Aug 11, 2026   X/Twitter Garble @Generalkenobi47 it’s gonna happen again in like 2 years than everyone’s gonna go ooouu this is the first solar eclipse since 700 bc https://x.com/flpcharthiatus/flpcharthiatus/status/2087526904039362596 3:29 PM · Aug 12, 2026 New York City, Time/Weather, 2026-08-13T03:45:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/there-are-two-types-of-folks-in-this-world-1-folks-who-go-oooooh https://barrypopik.com/blog/there-are-two-types-of-folks-in-this-world-1-folks-who-go-oooooh Pets often stretch out, and pet owners often comment on this.     “if your dog stretches and you dont say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by Andrew Lawrence on March 10, 2020, and this received over 249,000 likes. “If your dog stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on Reddit—Dogs on April 26, 2020. “If your pet stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by mariana Z on August 6, 2026, and this received over 5,200 likes.   “There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go ‘Oooooh big stretch’ when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths” was posted on X/Twitter by Janet Forklift on May 2, 2021. “you’re legally required to say ‘OH big stretch’ when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch” was posted on X/Twitter by 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 on June 15, 2026, and this received over 21,000 likes.         X/Twitter Andrew Lawrence @ndrew_lawrence if your dog stretches and you dont say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you 10:44 PM · Mar 10, 2020   Reddit—Dogs secretsmokeshow—April 26, 2020 [Discussion] If your dog stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you.       X/Twitter Janet Forklift @janetforklift There are 2 types of people in this world: 1. People who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths 7:44 PM · May 2, 2021   X/Twitter Tails.com @tailsdogfood Two types of people in this world: 1. People that say OHHHH BIG STRETCH when your dog stretches 2. Psychopaths We do not claim the latter 4:39 AM · May 5, 2021   Reddit—AskUK Antoxic—January 4, 2023 Why do people say “Aww, big stretch” when someone or something stretches in front of them? It’s always in the same way and same intonation, I do it too but only because I’m emulating the way other people have done it around me. Does anyone know the origins of this?   Facebook Janet Massey November 4, 2023 at 10:53 AM · There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths.   X/Twitter 🍖Arie Bear🍖 @ArieDoodle What do you say when your dog stretches? We say OH BIG STRETCH! 😂🧸 #Saturday #weekendsmiles #GRC #dogs #AriesWorld 10:55 AM · May 2, 2026   X/Twitter 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 @AbakpaJob you’re legally required to say “OH big stretch” when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch 11:26 AM · Jun 15, 2026   X/Twitter mariana Z @mariana057 If your pet stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you. 10:00 AM · Aug 6, 2026 New York City, Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses), 2026-08-13T01:00:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/if-your-dog-stretches-and-you-dont-say-oh-big-stretch https://barrypopik.com/blog/if-your-dog-stretches-and-you-dont-say-oh-big-stretch Pets often stretch out, and pet owners often comment on this.     “if your dog stretches and you dont say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by Andrew Lawrence on March 10, 2020, and this received over 249,000 likes. “If your dog stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on Reddit—Dogs on April 26, 2020. “If your pet stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by mariana Z on August 6, 2026, and this received over 5,200 likes.   “There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go ‘Oooooh big stretch’ when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths” was posted on X/Twitter by Janet Forklift on May 2, 2021. “you’re legally required to say ‘OH big stretch’ when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch” was posted on X/Twitter by 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 on June 15, 2026, and this received over 21,000 likes.         X/Twitter Andrew Lawrence @ndrew_lawrence if your dog stretches and you dont say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you 10:44 PM · Mar 10, 2020   Reddit—Dogs secretsmokeshow—April 26, 2020 [Discussion] If your dog stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you.       X/Twitter Janet Forklift @janetforklift There are 2 types of people in this world: 1. People who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths 7:44 PM · May 2, 2021   X/Twitter Tails.com @tailsdogfood Two types of people in this world: 1. People that say OHHHH BIG STRETCH when your dog stretches 2. Psychopaths We do not claim the latter 4:39 AM · May 5, 2021   Reddit—AskUK Antoxic—January 4, 2023 Why do people say “Aww, big stretch” when someone or something stretches in front of them? It’s always in the same way and same intonation, I do it too but only because I’m emulating the way other people have done it around me. Does anyone know the origins of this?   Facebook Janet Massey November 4, 2023 at 10:53 AM · There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths.   X/Twitter 🍖Arie Bear🍖 @ArieDoodle What do you say when your dog stretches? We say OH BIG STRETCH! 😂🧸 #Saturday #weekendsmiles #GRC #dogs #AriesWorld 10:55 AM · May 2, 2026   X/Twitter 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 @AbakpaJob you’re legally required to say “OH big stretch” when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch 11:26 AM · Jun 15, 2026   X/Twitter mariana Z @mariana057 If your pet stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you. 10:00 AM · Aug 6, 2026 New York City, Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses), 2026-08-13T00:58:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/youre-legally-required-to-say-oh-big-stretch https://barrypopik.com/blog/youre-legally-required-to-say-oh-big-stretch Pets often stretch out, and pet owners often comment on this.     “if your dog stretches and you dont say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by Andrew Lawrence on March 10, 2020, and this received over 249,000 likes. “If your dog stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on Reddit—Dogs on April 26, 2020. “If your pet stretches and you don’t say ‘OH BIG STRETCH’ every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you” was posted on X/Twitter by mariana Z on August 6, 2026, and this received over 5,200 likes.   “There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go ‘Oooooh big stretch’ when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths” was posted on X/Twitter by Janet Forklift on May 2, 2021. “you’re legally required to say ‘OH big stretch’ when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch” was posted on X/Twitter by 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 on June 15, 2026, and this received over 21,000 likes.         X/Twitter Andrew Lawrence @ndrew_lawrence if your dog stretches and you dont say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and i dont want to know you 10:44 PM · Mar 10, 2020   Reddit—Dogs secretsmokeshow—April 26, 2020 [Discussion] If your dog stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you.       X/Twitter Janet Forklift @janetforklift There are 2 types of people in this world: 1. People who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths 7:44 PM · May 2, 2021   X/Twitter Tails.com @tailsdogfood Two types of people in this world: 1. People that say OHHHH BIG STRETCH when your dog stretches 2. Psychopaths We do not claim the latter 4:39 AM · May 5, 2021   Reddit—AskUK Antoxic—January 4, 2023 Why do people say “Aww, big stretch” when someone or something stretches in front of them? It’s always in the same way and same intonation, I do it too but only because I’m emulating the way other people have done it around me. Does anyone know the origins of this?   Facebook Janet Massey November 4, 2023 at 10:53 AM · There are two types of folks in this world: 1. Folks who go “Oooooh big stretch” when a dog stretches. 2. Sociopaths.   X/Twitter 🍖Arie Bear🍖 @ArieDoodle What do you say when your dog stretches? We say OH BIG STRETCH! 😂🧸 #Saturday #weekendsmiles #GRC #dogs #AriesWorld 10:55 AM · May 2, 2026   X/Twitter 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓉 @AbakpaJob you’re legally required to say “OH big stretch” when a cat or dog stretches, regardless of the actual size of the stretch 11:26 AM · Jun 15, 2026   X/Twitter mariana Z @mariana057 If your pet stretches and you don’t say “OH BIG STRETCH” every single time then you are a psychopath and I don’t want to know you. 10:00 AM · Aug 6, 2026 New York City, Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses), 2026-08-12T04:30:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/missouri-joe-bowers-folk-song https://barrypopik.com/blog/missouri-joe-bowers-folk-song   “Joe Bowers”, sometimes called “Old Joe Bowers”, is an American folk song that originated in the 1850s. Its lyrics detail the protagonist, Joe Bowers, traveling to California from Pike County, Missouri in order to finance a home for his bride-to-be, Sally Black, though she eventually marries another man. The song was one of the most popular of its time, being a particular favorite among Confederates during the American Civil War, and still retaining relevance throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. The song is also known for later giving its tune to the anti-American Confederate song, “I’m a Good Ol’ Rebel.”   Lyrics My name, it is Joe Bowers. I have a brother, Ike, I came from old Missouri, Yes, all the way from Pike. I’ll tell you why I left there, And how I came to roam, To leave my dear old Mammy So far away from home.   I used to love a girl there; Her name was Sally Black. I asked her to marry me; She said it was a whack. Says she to me, “Joe Bowers, Before we hitch for life, You’d ought to have a little home, To keep your little wife.”   Says I, “My dearest Sally, Oh, Sally, for your sake, I’ll go to California And try to raise a stake.” Says she to me, “Joe Bowers, You are the chap to win, So give me a kiss to seal the bargain,” And I throwed a dozen in.   I’ll never forget my feelings When I bid adieu to all. Sal, she catched me around the neck, And I began to bawl. When I set in, they all commenced, You’ve never heard the like, The way they all took on and cried The day I left old Pike.   When I got to this here country, I hadn’t nary a red. I had such wolfish feelings, I wished myself most dead. At length I went to mining, Put in my heaviest licks, Came down upon the boulders Just like a thousand bricks.   I worked both late and early, Through rain and hail and snow, For I was working for my Sally, And it was all the same to Joe. I made a very lucky strike, As the gold itself did tell, For I was working for my Sally, The girl I loved so well.   One day I got a letter From my kind, dear brother Ike. It came from old Missouri, Yes, all the way from Pike. It told me the goldarndest news That ever you did hear. My heart it is a-bursting, So pray excuse this tear.   It said my Sally was fickle. Her love for me had fled, That she had married a butcher Whose hair was awful red. It told me more than that, It’s enough to make me swear, Said Sally had a baby, And the baby had red hair. [3] Other Expressions, Other States, 2026-08-12T03:49:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/run-like-youre-chasing-an-ice-cream-truck https://barrypopik.com/blog/run-like-youre-chasing-an-ice-cream-truck “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck” (or “Run like you’re chasing an ice cream truck”) is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Ice cream trucks used to cruise neighborhoods for customers, and children would run after the trucks. The jocular running saying means that one should run fast.   “And no matter what, RUN LIKE YOU’RE CHASING AN ICE CREAM TRUCK!!” was posted on the newsgroup middlebury-running-group on April 30, 2011. “Run! Run! Run like you’re chasing after the ice cream truck!” was posted on very VERY busy mom on March 25, 2012.   “Run like you’re chasing the 🌮  truck” was posted on X/Twitter by ATHLETA on April 27, 2016. “run like you’re chasing the taco truck” was posted on X/Twitter by becky meyer on April 28, 2016. “I bought a t-shirt today. It says ‘Run like you’re chasing a taco truck’ on it” was posted on X/Twitter by tubular20 on September 7, 2020.           Google Groups: middlebury-running-group Race Tomorrow!!! Adrienne Matunas Apr 30, 2011, 9:42:17 PM (...) And no matter what, RUN LIKE YOU’RE CHASING AN ICE CREAM TRUCK!!     very VERY busy mom March 25, 2012 · 12:46 pm Baseball: America’s Favorite Pastime or Just a Mound of Dirt? (...) Run! Run! Run like you’re chasing after the ice cream truck!   X/Twitter ATHLETA @Athleta Run like you’re chasing the 🌮  truck. http://gap.us/1SLCpy5 11:40 PM · Apr 27, 2016   X/Twitter becky meyer @robeckster “run like you’re chasing the taco truck” I hope this gets you through your day 9:33 AM · Apr 28, 2016   X/Twitter Rockport Snap Fit @RockportSnap We all know you do it.. So run like you’re chasing that Ice Cream truck! (The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.) 9:55 AM · Jan 5, 2018   X/Twitter Mama Scar @___nwahs___ Run like you’re chasing the taco truck. 4:43 PM · Jan 21, 2020       Facebook Diego Bengochea May 19, 2020 at 6:01 AM · Run like you’re chasing the taco truck 🚐 🏃💨   Facebook Charity Louise August 20, 2020 at 10:13 PM · Run like you’re chasing a taco truck 🌮☀️🖤   X/Twitter tubular20 @tubular21 I bought a t-shirt today. It says “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck” on it. 4:46 PM · Sep 7, 2020   Facebook Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association October 18, 2020 at 8:30 AM · Run, like you are chasing a taco truck! A little motivation for our 5K Fun Run participants! #OMED2020 #FunRun5K #DoctorsthatDO (The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.)   X/Twitter Brady Tauber @Loveyoumon Today Magicalmysterytour makes his debut @OaklawnRacing. He has his work cut out..a homebred up against a couple 500k yearlings!  Know luvnotionumbernine passed her demeanor on to him. This is what racing is about..safe travels, & run like you’re chasing the taco truck! 11:17 AM · Apr 10, 2021   Facebook John Michael Elambayo Honrales November 9, 2021 at 6:16 PM · “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck”...yes ma’am! Love me some Tacos! (The saying is shown on a runner’s shirt.—ed.)   X/Twitter Girls on the Run® @GOTRI “Run like you’re chasing the ice cream truck!” The perfect motivational sign for summer, right? Thanks for the ongoing inspo and always-awesome vibes, Gamma Phi Beta (@gpbcrescentmoon)! Learn more about our partnership: https://bit.ly/3CRgNhx (The saying is also shown on a sign.—ed.) 2:47 PM · Jul 3, 2023   Facebook Iron Hull SC March 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM · Ready to run like you’re chasing the ice cream truck? 🍦🏃‍♂️ New York City, Exercise/Running/Health Clubs, Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores, 2026-08-11T19:02:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/run-like-youre-chasing-a-taco-truck https://barrypopik.com/blog/run-like-youre-chasing-a-taco-truck “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck” (or “Run like you’re chasing an ice cream truck”) is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Ice cream trucks used to cruise neighborhoods for customers, and children would run after the trucks. The jocular running saying means that one should run fast.   “And no matter what, RUN LIKE YOU’RE CHASING AN ICE CREAM TRUCK!!” was posted on the newsgroup middlebury-running-group on April 30, 2011. “Run! Run! Run like you’re chasing after the ice cream truck!” was posted on very VERY busy mom on March 25, 2012.   “Run like you’re chasing the 🌮  truck” was posted on X/Twitter by ATHLETA on April 27, 2016. “run like you’re chasing the taco truck” was posted on X/Twitter by becky meyer on April 28, 2016. “I bought a t-shirt today. It says ‘Run like you’re chasing a taco truck’ on it” was posted on X/Twitter by tubular20 on September 7, 2020.           Google Groups: middlebury-running-group Race Tomorrow!!! Adrienne Matunas Apr 30, 2011, 9:42:17 PM (...) And no matter what, RUN LIKE YOU’RE CHASING AN ICE CREAM TRUCK!!     very VERY busy mom March 25, 2012 · 12:46 pm Baseball: America’s Favorite Pastime or Just a Mound of Dirt? (...) Run! Run! Run like you’re chasing after the ice cream truck!   X/Twitter ATHLETA @Athleta Run like you’re chasing the 🌮  truck. http://gap.us/1SLCpy5 11:40 PM · Apr 27, 2016   X/Twitter becky meyer @robeckster “run like you’re chasing the taco truck” I hope this gets you through your day 9:33 AM · Apr 28, 2016   X/Twitter Rockport Snap Fit @RockportSnap We all know you do it.. So run like you’re chasing that Ice Cream truck! (The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.) 9:55 AM · Jan 5, 2018   X/Twitter Mama Scar @___nwahs___ Run like you’re chasing the taco truck. 4:43 PM · Jan 21, 2020       Facebook Diego Bengochea May 19, 2020 at 6:01 AM · Run like you’re chasing the taco truck 🚐 🏃💨   Facebook Charity Louise August 20, 2020 at 10:13 PM · Run like you’re chasing a taco truck 🌮☀️🖤   X/Twitter tubular20 @tubular21 I bought a t-shirt today. It says “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck” on it. 4:46 PM · Sep 7, 2020   Facebook Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association October 18, 2020 at 8:30 AM · Run, like you are chasing a taco truck! A little motivation for our 5K Fun Run participants! #OMED2020 #FunRun5K #DoctorsthatDO (The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.)   X/Twitter Brady Tauber @Loveyoumon Today Magicalmysterytour makes his debut @OaklawnRacing. He has his work cut out..a homebred up against a couple 500k yearlings!  Know luvnotionumbernine passed her demeanor on to him. This is what racing is about..safe travels, & run like you’re chasing the taco truck! 11:17 AM · Apr 10, 2021   Facebook John Michael Elambayo Honrales November 9, 2021 at 6:16 PM · “Run like you’re chasing a taco truck”...yes ma’am! Love me some Tacos! (The saying is shown on a runner’s shirt.—ed.)   X/Twitter Girls on the Run® @GOTRI “Run like you’re chasing the ice cream truck!” The perfect motivational sign for summer, right? Thanks for the ongoing inspo and always-awesome vibes, Gamma Phi Beta (@gpbcrescentmoon)! Learn more about our partnership: https://bit.ly/3CRgNhx (The saying is also shown on a sign.—ed.) 2:47 PM · Jul 3, 2023   Facebook Iron Hull SC March 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM · Ready to run like you’re chasing the ice cream truck? 🍦🏃‍♂️ New York City, Exercise/Running/Health Clubs, Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores, 2026-08-11T03:55:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/tabasco-sauce https://barrypopik.com/blog/tabasco-sauce Tabasco pepper sauce is named after the “Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco,” in Mexico. The TABASCO BRAND website says that “Tabasco” is “a word of Mexican Indian origin believed to mean ‘place where the soil is humid’ or ‘place of the coral or oyster shell.’”   “Tabasco pepper” was printed in the Courrier De La Louisiane (New Orleans, LA) on February 25, 1818. “Tobasco pepper” was printed in the Louisiana Gazette (New Orleans, LA) on March 15, 1819.   Maunsel White (1783-1863), of New Orleans, Louisiana, made the first Tabasco pepper sauce. “I must not omit to notice the Colonel’s pepper patch, which is two acres in extent, all planted with a new species of red pepper, which Colonel White has introduced into the country, called the Tobasco red pepper” was printed in the Daily Delta (New Orleans, LA) on December 7, 1849. “Owing to its oleaginous character, Colonel White found it impossible to preserve it by drying; but by pouring strong vinegar on it after boiling, he has made a sauce or pepper decoction of it, which possesses in a most concentrated and intense form all the qualities of the vegetable” was printed in the Daily Delta (New Orleans, LA) on January 26, 1860. “Tobasco Pepper Sauce. 3 cases of this popular SAUCE, made pure and fresh, on the plantation of Col. Mansel White” was printed in The Courier (New Orleans, LA) on February 10, 1860.   Edmund McIlhenny (1815-1890) trademarked “Tabasco” and based his company on Avery Island (near New Iberia), Louisiana, but Maunsel White clearly had the first commercial “Tabasco” sauce. “The Tabasco pepper and sauce display, manufactured by Mr. E. McInhenny, and exhibited by Messrs. W. H. Henning & Co., of 95 and 97 Camp street, was quite a tempting array” was printed in the New Orleans (LA) Times on April 8, 1869.   A version of Tabasco sauce history was printed in The Daily Iberian (New Iberia, LA) on September 26, 1952, and this does not mention Maunsel White:   “A soldier of fortune and friend of the McIlhenny family, named Gleason, stayed in Mexico after the Mexican War. On his return to the States, in 1852, he stopped to visit his friend, Edmund McIlhenny, a New Orleans banker. He presented Mr. McIlhenny with some pepper seeds from southern Mexico which he said would produce a choice pepper of unusually fine color and flavor. (...) Mr. McIlhenny began experimenting with the peppers and in 1865 developed the famous sauce which was to bear the name Tabasco.”       Wikipedia: Tabasco sauce Tabasco is an American brand of hot sauce made from vinegar, tabasco peppers, and salt. It is produced by the McIlhenny Company of Avery Island in southern Louisiana, having been created in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenny. Originally, the tabasco peppers were grown only on Avery Island; they are now primarily cultivated in Central America, South America, and Africa. The Tabasco sauce brand also has multiple varieties, including the original red sauce, habanero, jalapeño, chipotle, sriracha, and scorpion. Tabasco products are sold in more than 195 countries and territories, and packaged in 36 languages and dialects.   History According to the company’s official history, Tabasco was first produced in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenny, a Maryland-born former banker who had moved to Louisiana around 1840. However, as Jeffrey Rothfeder’s book McIlhenny’s Gold points out, some of the McIlhenny Company’s official history is disputed, and the politician Maunsel White was producing a tabasco pepper sauce two decades before McIlhenny.     Wikipedia: Maunsel White Maunsel White (c. 1783 – December 17, 1863) was an Irish-born American slave owner, Episcopalian politician, merchant, and entrepreneur. He is remembered for promoting the use of peppers and peppery sauces—a brand of which his descendants still manufacture today. (...) An 1850 New Orleans Daily Delta newspaper article (reprinted in several other sources at the time) noted that “Col. White has introduced the celebrated tobasco [sic] red pepper, the very strongest of all peppers, of which he has cultivated a large quantity with the view of supplying his neighbors, and diffusing it through the state.” Furthermore, observed the newspaper, “by pouring strong vinegar on it after boiling, he has made a sauce or pepper decoction of it, which possesses in a most concentrated form all the qualities of the vegetable. A single drop of this sauce will flavor a whole plate of soup or other food.”   Although White never marketed this pepper sauce, his heirs advertised it for sale beginning in 1864, a year after White’s death (as “Maunsel White’s Concentrated Essence of Tobasco [sic] Pepper”).   Wikipedia: Edmund McIlhenny Edmund McIlhenny (/ˈmækəlhɛni/; 1815 – 25 November 1890) was an American businessman and manufacturer who founded the McIlhenny Company, which was the first to mass produce Tabasco sauce. While company legend attributes the invention of the sauce to McIlhenny, plantation owner Maunsel White is said by some to have been the first to cultivate and make a sauce from tabasco peppers in the United States, and gave the recipe and pepper pods to his friend McIlhenny. (...) Tabasco sauce According to one legend, McIlhenny was given tabasco peppers and a recipe for tabasco sauce by a friend, plantation owner Maunsel White, who died in 1863 – though company legend says McIlhenny himself invented the sauce between 1866 and 1868. In 1868, he grew his first commercial pepper crop, selling the first bottles of his product the following year, which he called Tabasco brand pepper sauce.   TABASCO BRAND THE HISTORY OF TABASCO BRAND “That Famous Sauce Mr. McIlhenny Makes” McIlhenny grew his first commercial pepper crop in 1868. The next year, he sent out 658 bottles of sauce at one dollar apiece wholesale to grocers around the Gulf Coast, particularly in New Orleans. He labeled it “Tabasco,” a word of Mexican Indian origin believed to mean “place where the soil is humid” or “place of the coral or oyster shell.” McIlhenny secured a patent in 1870, and TABASCO® Sauce began its journey to set the culinary world on fire. Sales grew, and by the late 1870s, he sold his sauce throughout the U.S. and even in Europe.   Newspapers.com 25 February 1818, Courrier De La Louisiane (New Orleans, LA), pg. 3, col. 3: 40 bags Tabasco pepper   Newspapers.com 15 March 1819, Louisiana Gazette (New Orleans, LA), pg. 2, col. 3: Tobasco pepper   Newspapers.com 7 December 1849, Daily Delta (New Orleans, LA), “Deer Range—A Model Sugar Plantation,” pg. 2, col. 4: I must not omit to notice the Colonel’s pepper patch, which is two acres in extent, all planted with a new species of red pepper, which Colonel White has introduced into the country, called the Tobasco red pepper. The Colonel attributes the admirable health of his hands to the free use of this pepper.   Newspapers.com 26 January 1850, Daily Delta (New Orleans, LA), “Pepper,” pg. 2, coll. 2: Col. White has introduced into the State the celebrated Tobasco red pepper, the very strongest of all peppers—of which he has cultivated a large quantity, with a view of supplying his neighbors and diffusing it through the State. The Tobasco pepper yields a small red pod, less than an inch in length, and longitudinal in shape. It is exceedingly hot, and but a small quantity of it is sufficient to pepper a large dish of any food. Owing to its oleaginous character, Colonel White found it impossible to preserve it by drying; but by pouring strong vinegar on it after boiling, he has made a sauce or pepper decoction of it, which possesses in a most concentrated and intense form all the qualities of the vegetable. A single drop of this sauce will flavor a whole plate of soup or other food. The use of a decoction like this, particularly in preparing the food for laboring persons, would be found exceedingly beneficial in a relaxing climate like this. Colonel White has not had a single case of cholera among his large gang of negroes, since that disease appeared in this State. He attributes this to the free use of this valuable agent.   Newspapers.com 10 February 1860, The Courier (New Orleans, LA), pg. 2, col. 4: Tobasco Pepper Sauce. 3 cases of this popular SAUCE, made pure and fresh, on the plantation of Col. Mansel White. BULLITT & WHALEY, 30 and 32 New Levee Streets.   Newspapers.com 19 October 1860, The Daily Delta (New Orleans, LA), pg. 4, col. 1: ... in the case of the Woodville journal, approaches the pungency of Colonel Maunsel White’s celebrated decoction of Tobasco pepper.   Newspapers.com 26 November 1864, The Daily Picayune (New Orleans, LA), pg. 3, col. 2: Amateurs, Connoisseurs, and Bon Vivants Attention! MAUNSEL WHITE’S CONCENTRATED ESSENSE OF TABASCO PEPPER. THE undersigned has just received a consignment of the above celebrated PEPPER SAUCE, which he offers to the public at reduced price. E. MONTEUSE. Successor to Hugh Kennedy, Wholesale Druggist, Corner Chartres and Bienville street   Newspapers.com 8 April 1869, New Orleans (LA) Times, pg. 1, col. 6: The Tabasco pepper and sauce display, manufactured by Mr. E. McInhenny, and exhibited by Messrs. W. H. Henning & Co., of 95 and 97 Camp street, was quite a tempting array. Messrs. E/ J. Hart & Co., of Nos. 73, 75 and 77 Tchoupitoulas street, showed between fifty and sixty different varieties of fancy crackers. They were manufactured in London.    Newspapers.com 25 December 1869, Opelousas (LA) Journal, pg. 2, col. 1: MR. JOHN POSEY, Druggist, Opelousas, has for sale a new table sauce—Tabasco Sauce—manufactured at Petit Anse (Avery’s Island) by Mr. McIlheny. It is an excellent article. We recommend it to all gastronomers.   Newspapers.com 8 April 1869, The Daily Picayune (New Orleans, LA), pg. 2, col. 3: There is a fine display of Tabasco pepper, and sauce, grown and prepared by E. McIllenny, Louisiana, and placed on exhibition by Messrs. W. H. Henning & Co., agents, 95 and 97 Camp street. These preparations are said to be finer than the celebrated “Maunsell White.”   Newspapers.com 20 May 1870, The Daily Picayune (New Orleans, LA), pg. 4, col. 3: McIlhenny’s Tabasco pepper sauce is, on account of its many superior qualities, used very extensively at public places as well as in families.   Newspapers.com 20 May 1870, New Orleans (LA) Times, pg. 5, col. 2: McILHENNY’S TABASCO PEPPER SAUCE (...) W. H. HENNING & CO. Agents, 95 and 97 Camp street   Newspapers.com 21 March 1889, Pulaski (TN) Citizen, pg. 4, col. 3: Tabasco Pepper Sauce. Commenting upon the large amount of pepper sauce or vinegar sold in our shops, nearly all of which is bottled at the North, where the red pepper plant is an exotic, the following paragraph appeared in a late number of the Times-Democrat:   With the exception of the well-known extract of pepper, popularly called “Maunsel White,” no pepper is bottled for commercial purposes either in New Orleans or Louisiana.  It seems, however, that Mr. E. McIlhenny, of New Iberia, La., is largely engaged in the manufacture of the extract of Tabasco pepper, a sample of which has been received in good order, and is very creditable to the manufacturer.   In connection with this subject and others of like character the thought is suggested that our Southern people are prone to despise such small things as the manufacture of pepper sauces or vinegar which is done with so much profit elsewhere. And it is the same with many other article we might mention. These smaller industries are often the most profitable.   Newspapers.com 26 September 1952, The Daily Iberian (New Iberia, LA), pg. 84 (?), cols. 1-5: Tabasco’s Place in 150-Year-Old Island Empire (...) A soldier of fortune and friend of the McIlhenny family, named Gleason, stayed in Mexico after the Mexican War. On his return to the States, in 1852, he stopped to visit his friend, Edmund McIlhenny, a New Orleans banker. He presented Mr. McIlhenny with some pepper seeds from southern Mexico which he said would produce a choice pepper of unusually fine color and flavor. (...) Mr. McIlhenny began experimenting with the peppers and in 1865 developed the famous sauce which was to bear the name Tabasco. (...) It was in 1868 that Edmund McIlhenny registered and patented the Tabasco sauce name that was to make the family and product names known around the world.   Newspapers.com 8 February 2001, The Daily Iberian (New Iberia, LA), “Tabasco’s home bas is almost as popular as the sauce itself” by Jennifer E. May, Newcomers Guide, pg. 24, cols.  1-4: (McIlhenny company timeline.—ed.) New York City, Food/Drink, 2026-08-11T02:57:00+00:00 https://barrypopik.com/blog/slopocalypse-slop-apocalypse https://barrypopik.com/blog/slopocalypse-slop-apocalypse “Slopocalypse” is a portmanteau of the words “slop” and “apocalypse,” and refers to a high volume of AI slop content. Wiktionary defines “slopocalypse” as “A point where AI generated content becomes overwhelming, breaking safety standards and suffocating human produced content,” and states, “Coined by American cognitive scientist and psychologist Gary Marcus in 2025.”     “Let the SLOPocalypse commence” was posted on X/Twitterby JustEliA on February 20, 2020. “Tom Fulks: The Four Horsemen of the ‘SLOpocalypse’ — have they no shame? https://trib.al/p3whhiE” was posted on X/Twitter by The Tribune on December 19, 2020, but this refers to San Luis Obispo (SLO), California.     “can’t wait for the impending AI advertisement slopocalypse” was posted on X/Twitter by yaoi gagarin on February 15, 2024. “The slopocalypse” was posted on Mastodon by Julius Welby on May 24, 2024. “‘slop’ was a really good recent memetic coinage. we really needed it. kudos and props to wherever that came from. here in the age of slop. the slopocalypse” was posted on X/Twitter by QC on September 13, 2024. “The news was AI-generated and came from a website in Pakistan. The AI-slopocalypse in real time” was posted on X/Twitter by Irusan on November 2, 2024. “Sloptimism, slopulence, sloptocracy, slopportunism, sloptionality, slopaganda,  slopocalypse, sloptimization, sloponomics, slopulism, sloptics, slopium….what am I missing?” was posted on X/Twitter by Daniel Keller on Novembe 24, 2024.   “Slopocalypse Now” by Gary Marcus was posted on Marcus on AI on August 4, 2025, but it did not coin the term.     Wikipedia: AI slop AI slop, also known as slop content or simply slop, is digital content made with generative artificial intelligence that is perceived as lacking in effort, quality, or meaning, and produced in high volume as clickbait to gain advantage in the attention economy, or earn money. It is a form of synthetic media usually linked to the monetization in the creator economy of social media and online advertising. Coined in the 2020s, the term has a pejorative connotation similar to spam. “Slop” was selected as the 2025 Word of the Year by both Merriam-Webster and the American Dialect Society.   Wiktionary: slopocalypse Etymology From slop + -pocalypse. Coined by American cognitive scientist and psychologist Gary Marcus in 2025. Noun slopocalypse (plural slopocalypses) 1. (artificial intelligence, informal, neologism) A point where AI generated content becomes overwhelming, breaking safety standards and suffocating human produced content   X/Twitter JustEliA @Elijaharizmend1 Let the SLOPocalypse commence 10:44 PM · Feb 20, 2020   X/Twitter The Tribune @SLOTribune Tom Fulks: The Four Horsemen of the ‘SLOpocalypse’ — have they no shame? https://trib.al/p3whhiE 10:24 AM · Dec 19, 2020   X/Twitter emily freeman @editingemily We’ve entered the stage of slopocalypse* in which people ask NextDoor for medical advice.  *The slow apocalypse due to pestilence and self-inflicted environmental decay. 4:00 PM · Jan 12, 2022   X/Twitter Etch El Jay @HungerlordIII The slopocalypse is upon us @TrillBroDude 12:09 PM · Feb 9, 2023   X/Twitter Danyel Fisher @FisherDanyel The “SLOPocalypse” was pretty good. And my first ever bugfix at Microsoft was “Crashing on Root (66)” 3:09 AM · May 2, 2023   X/Twitter yaoi gagarin @vehiclefan53 can’t wait for the impending AI advertisement slopocalypse 3:49 PM · Feb 15, 2024     Mastodon Julius Welby @jwelby@treehouse.systems May 24, 2024 * @chockenberry @JoeUchill The slopocalypse.   X/Twitter QC @QiaochuYuan “slop” was a really good recent memetic coinage. we really needed it. kudos and props to wherever that came from. here in the age of slop. the slopocalypse https://x.com/moonandmouth/s/moonandmouth/status/1834609322623406248 [This Post is from an account that no longer exists. Learn more] 6:00 PM · Sep 13, 2024   Bluesky Steven Flow @windblow.org Welcome to the Slopocalypse [Deleted] 8:03 AM · Oct 1, 2024   X/Twitter Irusan @turbarius The news was AI-generated and came from a website in Pakistan. The AI-slopocalypse in real time. 9:37 AM · Nov 2, 2024   Bluesky jt @helloiamjt.bsky.social inspiring that even when staring down the gen AI slopocalypse, animators have been putting out such incredible work this year. 8:12 PM · Nov 17, 2024   X/Twitter Daniel Keller @dnlklr Sloptimism, slopulence, sloptocracy, slopportunism, sloptionality, slopaganda,  slopocalypse, sloptimization, sloponomics, slopulism, sloptics, slopium….what am I missing? 10:49 PM · Nov 24, 2024     Bluesky big worm @maractusstan.bsky.social That or it may just be a clear indicator that the AI slop apocalypse (slopocalypse) is already here 1:07 AM · Dec 18, 2024   Marcus on AI Slopocalypse Now The Horror Gary Marcus Aug 04, 2025 (...) My efforts to enshrine Doctorow’s term (enshittification) in AI context haven’t thus far been entirely successful, but a slightly more polite term does seem to be gaining traction, AI slop.   X/Twitter Ur bags are poo @FrauShitcoinz one more day to grab “5:43 pm” from the slop apocalypse ai series. have you joined the slopocalypse yet? 🔥 c’mon ya laggard 2:33 PM · Oct 6, 2025 New York City, Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet, 2026-08-10T21:51:00+00:00