How is everybody’s weekend going? Thanks for spending part of your Sunday reading the Six.
The line up today features articles on sports and schools continuing to play and open amidst the virus, the death of another rock icon, and a story on two of my favorite words in the English language: free donuts!
Let’s proceed with the Six:
Guitar God Eddie Van Halen Dies at 65
This is a real gut punch to rock music and anyone of my generation. Van Halen was more than a music band, they were a cultural phenomenon in the 1980’s. I remember arguing with my college dorm buddies about favorite lead singer in the two eras of Van Halen—David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar (I always squabbled in favor of DLR). No one can question the greatness of the group’s co-founder and lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen. “He introduced us to a new vocabulary of sounds. Sounds we didn’t know the guitar could make,” I heard one musician say on the radio this week. #RIP EVH.
Chicago-Based Wellness Brand Vital Proteins Owns Collagen Market
I received a container of Vital Proteins as a gift earlier this year. The label said ‘Collagen Peptides’ and honestly, I had to Google what the heck it was. Turns out the white powder inside the container was not your typical, every day, GNC-purchased supplement. Collagen is a protein that helps your skin, ligaments and connective tissues remain vibrant and structurally sound. The company, Vital Proteins’ is taking the billion-dollar wellness market by storm.
Lack Of Transparency With Virus Numbers In Illinois
Schools are re-opening in some capacity all across Chicagoland this October. Of course, there are cases of positive virus tests. What we don’t know is where the outbreaks are, as state health officials won’t release the information. Well done by the Tribune, with an assist from Pro Publica, in getting data from health officials confirming the number of school outbreaks. It shouldn’t take filing a FOIA request to get essential public health information but that’s Illinois for you.
Texas Teen Goes Missing, Crime Unsolved Four Years Later
Full disclosure—I’m not a insane true crime reader. I will occasionally go down rabbit holes with certain cases. I subscribed to a new podcast by Texas Monthly magazine that explores an unsolved case of a popular teenager in Canadian, Texas who turned up missing one night four years ago and never came home. Fascinating listen about a case that still has a firm grip on a town and its residents.
Krispy Kreme Giving Out Free Donuts For Halloween
There’s nothing I’m more excited for the remainder of October than this news—free Krispy Kreme donuts on Halloween. Smart marketing from the folks at KK (don’t think I didn’t snatch up a $1 Sweet-Or-Treat Original Glazed Saturday morning).
John Lennon Turned 80 Years Old Friday
Having recently finished a few Beatles books, we would have been so much richer as a culture with John Lennon in it the past 40 years. The songwriting master would have had his 80th birthday Friday and this is a nice tribute.
Have a suggestion for the Sunday Six? Send email to jon@jonjkerr.com.