What's the stitch?

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Heinz just solved the problem of how to manage that ketchup for your fries, a dry spell might just be good for you, and why you should be reading more 📖

But first, our weekly poll!

Heinz may have just produced the most impressive and important innovation of the 21st century: a side compartment on a box of fries to store ketchup for dipping on the go.

In all seriousness, the Heinz Dipper really is quite a useful add-on for situations in which you’re trying to enjoy your chips with a little dip but you only have two hands. The condiment giant did its homework, and according to the National Restaurant Association, about three quarters of all restaurant orders in the United States last year were taken to go.

Fast food restaurants sold two thirds of the fries consumed in the United States last year, and that included those in stadiums or arenas. In other words, the vast majority of people ordering fries are taking them to eat in their cars, in their concert/sporting event seats, or even while they’re just walking from A to B.

Since you need one hand to hold the fries and the other to eat them, how are you supposed to include ketchup without pre-treating the golden brown magic sodium sticks and consigning your dominant hand to become a mess?

Heinz just provided the answer, and participating North American establishments for the Dipper’s soft launch earlier this week include Fat Sal's in Los Angeles, Devil Dawgs in Chicago, Lucky's Hot Chicken in Dallas, Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, and several others.

‘Tis the season of temperance for many trying to dry out after the holidays and get a jump on their health and wellness as 2026 kicks off.

A study conducted by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine looked at how alcohol abstention for several weeks by adults over 60 would impact their health, and the results were pretty solid.

Most notably, the volunteer participants were found to have lower blood pressure and fewer cholesterol-related markers after kicking the bottle for a few weeks. They also reported feeling more energetic throughout the day, better and more consistent sleep, and generally better mood regulation.

These results were measurably documented even for those who were used to drinking moderately, and didn’t just apply for those who were typically heavy drinkers.

“For many older adults, alcohol is part of social life and routine,” the researchers noted. “Our results don’t suggest everyone needs to quit permanently, but they do show that intentional breaks can be a practical, low-cost strategy to support healthier aging.”

Remember when we were kids complaining about being bored? Do you remember the most common response after go outside?

“Read a book!”

But reading doesn’t just have to be a cure for boredom; reading can itself be the intention, and being entertained, stimulated, mentally satisfied, curious, and a whole bunch of other adjectives can be the byproduct.

Lots of people want to read more, but don’t or can’t find the time. Sitting with a book actually may not get the job done for plenty, especially given the overwhelmingly distracting external stimuli we’re constantly exposed to in today’s tech-driven world.

That tech can, of course, be leveraged for the purpose of reading, though; there’s a reason audiobooks have become so popular after all, even if the experience may be different from physically reading.

“Despite the relationship between brain representations of information perceived by listening versus reading is unclear, neuroscience research shows the way our brain represents meaning is nearly the same whether we are listening or reading.”

Another way to get more reading done is by joining a club. Book clubs help expand the meaning derived from a book through ongoing discussions. They also encourage community building, and keep you accountable to your reading goals.

More and more people are trying to get off their phones these days. Setting and accomplishing a reading goal is a great way to do it.

Last month, Gene Simmons took aim at former Kiss drummer Peter Criss, accusing him of having nothing to do with the composition of the ballad Beth, which was sung by and co-written by Criss on the Kiss album Destroyer.

"Through politics and hint, hint, nudge, nudge—and I wasn't there when the conversation went down—Stan Penridge apparently agreed that Peter's name would go in the songwriting credit," Simmons alleged. "It appears first. Peter Criss, (Destroyer producer) Bob Ezrin, and (Criss’ former bandmate) Stan Penridge, or the other way around. But Peter's first. Peter had nothing to do with that song. He sang it.”

In a recent interview with Billboard, Criss responded, calling Gene’s accusation ridiculous and uncalled for, while accusing him of talking about things he knows nothing about.

“Gene wouldn’t know how the song was originally written because Gene wasn’t there from the conception of the song in the late ‘60s and he wasn’t there for the completion of the song with Bob Ezrin," Criss said, noting the melody and phrasing he wrote in the ‘60s were brought into the studio in the mid-70s when he sat down with Ezrin to rework it.

"Bob and I sat at the piano at the Record Plant studio working out the song. Bob Ezrin changed the tempo and made it slower, and I worked on changing some of the second verse and the phrasing with the slower tempo.”

A la carte

Happy Friday, Staker! It’s time for another round of trivia à la carte.

We’ve got a set of 10 random questions—the only thing connecting them is that they’ll make sense if you were born in the ’60s. So walk on down memory lane with today’s trivia!

Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Amazon Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Monday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*