Fonseca Trending 08/25/21

Flower-Scented Roads Are About to Become a Thing?

I don't know if this is a real concern, but my first thought here was wow . . . a lot of BEES are about to get hit by cars. A construction firm in Poland has invented flower-scented ASPHALT. And they're planning to start using it in new roads soon.

It's got essential oils mixed in that mask the smell of asphalt and make it smell like flowers instead. The point is to provide a more comfortable working environment for road workers, who have to stand around smelling asphalt all day.

We don't actually know how strong the smell is once it dries, so maybe the finished roads won't smell any different. But at the very least, you might be driving down the highway someday . . . get a whiff of something nice . . . and realize there's just construction up ahead.

80% of Americans Say the Summer of 2021 Sucked

This poll confused us, because most people think this summer SUCKED . . . but we also want more of it? A new survey of 1,500 Americans found 80% of us had a, quote, "bummer summer." But 48% also wish there was a way to extend it for another two weeks. Here are a few more random stats from the survey. . . 1. 27% said they'd rather have a root canal than relive this past summer. 37% would rather move in with their parents. And 9% would rather feel seasick for three months straight. 2. The states where people were most likely to say they had a terrible summer are: South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 3. And here's the weirdest question they asked: What did the summer of 2021 TASTE like? 21% said "fruity" . . . 18% said it tasted like "boredom" . . . 15% said "bitter" . . . 11% said "salty" . . . another 11% said "spicy" . . . 10% said "boozy."

A Study Found You Shouldn't Take Pills with Coffee, Juice, or Soda

Well this would have been useful information to have for my entire life leading up to now . . . It turns out you might have been swallowing PILLS wrong, or at least chasing them with the wrong types of drinks. A new study found you should always take pills with water . . . never with coffee, juice, or soda. And maybe not milk either. Researchers looked at different types of drinks and the effect they have on different pills. They tested five over-the-counter meds we take for pain, inflammation, and allergies. So, things like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Zyrtec. And they found that taking them with anything other than water might affect how your body ABSORBS the medication. Coffee, juice, and soda can make pills dissolve faster than they're supposed to. So your body doesn't have as much time to absorb what's in them, and they might not work as well. It also happened with buttermilk, which suggests dairy products could do it too. It might not affect some types of pills as much. But unless your doctor says otherwise, they say water is the better option in general.

We Spend Nearly $1,500 Every Year on Food We'll Never Eat

When you're carefully selecting items at the grocery store, do you ever think, "I'll buy this. It'll sit in my fridge for a couple weeks. And then I'll throw it away"? That's what happens to almost a FIFTH of stuff we buy. According to a new study, every year the average American spends $1,493 on groceries that they never eat . . . before ultimately tossing them in the garbage. They got that number by determining that we waste 18.2% of the groceries we purchase, and, on average, we spend $8,231 at the store every year. The most commonly wasted foods are fruits and vegetables, since they go bad the fastest. Dairy products are next, followed by grains, proteins, and snack foods. 76% of people say they feel guilty about it because it's a waste of money, and yet 46% admit to buying and tossing the same items every month, thinking that they'll eventually get around to eating it. Some tips for AVOIDING this include: Shopping alone . . . not shopping while hungry . . . and sticking to a grocery list.

After Working from Home, Women Don't Want to Wear Makeup Anymore

The pandemic has changed our daily habits in lots of ways. Here's one more: A lot of women don't want to wear MAKEUP anymore after working from home. And the effect might stick, even as people get back into offices. "HuffPost" just did a big write-up on it and talked to a bunch of women who said they're never going back to full makeup after this. A survey last summer found 71% of women who normally wear makeup were using less of it. And beauty product sales were down 25% at that point. They've started to rebound since then. But a lot of women say they just can't see themselves spending 30 minutes a day painting their face up anymore.

Today's Showbiz Highlights

1. ROLLING STONES drummer CHARLIE WATTS died yesterday. He was 80 years old. There's no word on the cause of death, but he did back out of this year's tour due to health issues. Charlie had been with the Stones since 1963. 2. TOM CRUISE had to land his helicopter in a British family's backyard, because he was running late and the nearby airport was closed. So he let the kids have a ride in the chopper while he went to a meeting. 3. JASON MOMOA and DAVE BAUTISTA are going to make a buddy cop movie set in Hawaii. Jason said, quote, "It sells itself . . . Dave loves wearing Speedos. I love wearing board shorts . . . He'll be grumpy and I'll be charming . . . Boom." 4. BOB ODENKIRK appeared briefly on an online comedy show . . . which he joined by phone. We haven't heard much about Bob's condition since his heart attack a month ago, but he sounded good. 5. Showtime said "Dexter" is a jewel in their crown, and quote, "We didn't do it justice in the end." Also, the possibility of a spin-off or continuation of the new season has NOT been ruled out. 6 MAYA RUDOLPH and ANDY SAMBERG will be hosting a holiday baking competition show called "Baking It" on Peacock. Teams will compete in holiday themed challenges and will be judged by a panel of opinionated real-life grandmothers. 7. The kid on the cover of NIRVANA's "Nevermind" album is suing the band, the photographer, and the record labels, calling the picture child pornography. Both he and the album are now 30 years old. 8. WOLFGANG VAN HALEN responded to people who want him to honor his dad by playing VAN HALEN songs. He said, quote, "I honor my dad by existing and doing what I do every day. I'm not [effin'] playing 'Panama' for you guys." 9. MEGAN THEE STALLION got the law involved because her record label was trying to block the release of her "Butter" remix with BTS. They claimed it would be bad for her career, but she thinks they were just trying to shake her down for more money. A judge ruled in her favor though, so the remix will release Friday. 10. GARTH BROOKS is doing another Dive Bar Tour . . . but you'll have to show proof of vaccination to get in. No word yet on the cities or dates. 11. Applebee's has brought back the Oreo Cookie Shake, thanks to WALKER HAYES' "Fancy Like". They also launched a new ad campaign centered around the song.