The Think Thin folks have an impressive lineup including chocolate fudge, mudslide, and dark chocolate. They even have mini bars coming in at 100 calories with plenty of protein for fortification. You can easily conquer the sweet tooth craving.

Lara Bars are recognized more for their fruit flavor varieties, but the new dark chocolate bar will please those who shy away from the sweet date-nut taste and prefer a lingering chocolate flavor. The Jocalat line includes my personal combination of tastes: Chocolate Coffee. A win-win G-F taste!

As more people seek out high protein bars and quick snacks, the G-F marketplace continues to expand and offer possibilities.

How about a one-calorie chocolate you inhale. Yes, merely inhale: Make that Le Whif, a small tube that lets you literally breathe chocolate into your mouth. You even have a choice of flavors: pure chocolate, raspberry, and mint. OK, now the really big news. Yes, chocolate is of special interest, but what about coffee: Le Whif Coffee, a breathable coffee powder with the equivalent caffeine as from an espresso or closer to a double may solve those times when you want a spot of coffee but don’t have time to make one!

Is either product as tasty as having a piece of chocolate or holding a cup of espresso? No, of course not. It’s more like a party trick. Something fun to savor without worrying about a messy cup clean-up or chocolate bar stickiness.

These lipstick-like inhalers do the trick and demonstrate what happens when you combine the talents of David Edwards, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard, with design engineers:  You get a good-looking product that uses particle engineering. This product is part of his artscience labs where creativity has taken on an exciting definition. Pick a flavor, choose a tube, and enjoy.

Take a breather has a wonderful new meaning!

Check it out:

–A new study from the Netherlands found that coffee and tea drinking in moderation reduced the risk of heart disease. Too often we find studies with a particularly small sample size. Not this time. They followed almost 40,000 coffee and tea drinkers for 13 years. Impressive. Those that consumed 2-4 cups of coffee daily had a 20% lower risk of heart disease than those consuming less coffee. Tea drinkers: You’ll love this. Those who drank 3-6 cups of tea daily reduced their risk by 45%. Even those who drank more than 6 cups daily were able to reduce their risk by 36%. Wonder about the mixed drinkers: The coffee-tea-coffee-tea routine folks?

–More interested in the positive news re: wine? Got you covered. We’ve talked a lot about the health benefits from red wine and its major property, resveratrol, and now, not one, but two studies indicate the positive powers from the compound in red wine and grapes. Drink and be skinny one study finds (fat cell reduction protects against heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s). The other study reaffirms the overall heart-healthy benefits from red wine. Of course, the researchers point out additional research is needed, but these results are in the right column.

–Soft drink consumption down. Well, that’s not totally accurate but in a study at Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s University, researchers found that if they created a “soda tax” more people would forgo the sugary sweet drinks. They raised the price of the beverages by 35% for a 4-week period and watched sales drop while coffee and diet beverage increased by 20%. Not so sure about the diet drink approach but believe taxing sugary drinks may provide some of the positive health results (less diabetes, obesity) than relying completely on individual decision-making.

So it’s a hot week, this first official week of summer, cool yourself down with an iced coffee or iced tea. Enjoy dinner with a glass of red wine, and hydrate sufficiently with water. Your body will thank you.

An interesting side-note is that women seemed to fare better with this beverage link than their male counterparts. Just a few weeks ago we found that women are increasingly the largest purchasers of wine in this country but still are often ignored when a wine list is presented at a restaurant. Maybe someone will start to note that women are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about wines and are not afraid to walk into a wine store or order wine in a restaurant. Have you noticed that wine stores are hiring more women! Pay attention, restaurants!

A beverage at a totally different part of the spectrum has demonstrated positive results as well. Not that long ago we discovered that coffee drinking counted as part of our daily hydration endeavor. Now a study demonstrates that tea which had been considered a dehydrating beverage actually rehydrates better than plain water as it provides the positive, heart-healthy antioxidant effects.

Just one more bit of health news to ponder today. Again we look at the heart-health link and this time we toss out much of what we previously considered about the dangerous factors in dairy food contributing to higher cholesterol and possible weight gain. A new Swedish study demonstrates the opposite result between dairy foods and cholesterol. Again, women fared better than men; this time with improved heart-cholesterol numbers. Women who consumed the most milk products had an improved cholesterol profile.

If one study says go to the right, an author awaits to disprove the notion. That’s a possible end result of the dairy-cholesterol link. Call me a skeptic!

As with all studies, these are beginning pieces of welcome news for lifestyle changes and improved health benefits.

Stay tuned.

–Coffee. I am always on the lookout for the latest positive news about coffee and its potential health benefits. A meta analysis was conducted by researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health examining over 700,000 people who are coffee drinkers. They found that having more than six, yes, six 8-oz cups of coffee daily, did not boost the likelihood of getting colon cancer. They found the same effect from soda drinking, but we need to think about the sugar-laden drinks as causing other problems such as obesity. Now the tea drinkers did not receive as big a boost in the clean health department. The jury is still a little unclear on this one. Coffee and soda drinks did not yield an increase in colon cancer.

–Dark chocolate. As readers of this blog know, I have a special warm spot for news about dark chocolate. Today’s report from Johns Hopkins University finds that a compound in dark chocolate may protect the brain after a stroke by shielding the nerves from further damage. Researchers hope that this particular property may someday be used to protect people against strokes. So a simple translation means eat and enjoy dark chocolate while at the same time you are insulating yourself from the dangers of getting a stroke. We’ve recognized the heart healthy chocolate benefits so this further validates additional benefit from a little sweet.

–Vitamin D. So much has been written about the vitamins lately and Vitamin D was last year’s attention-grabbing darling as so many people were all of a sudden diagnosed with a D deficiency. Could it be that we are so dedicated to our sunscreen regimen that the sun has no chance to give us its beneficial D attributes? Now that millions have been told to take Vitamin D, this particular study from the Cleveland Clinic says the optimal time to take this vitamin is with your biggest meal of the day. Figure out that simple calculation and pop your D to protect yourself. It will make a major difference.

Keep in mind that this week, May 9-15, is Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Nothing complex about any of these reports, but they are all simple information solutions to improve our overall health.

Settle in with a hot brew and a piece of wonderful dark chocolate, and don’t forget to include your D with whatever meal has the most calories. We can enjoy ourselves and impact our health.

Now everyone’s vying for my attention. Let me explain the ground rules: I pretty much like a black coffee over ice. The other way is a black water drink that has little impact. I prefer a couple of espresso shots that I then pour over ice. If I am out and order a coffee, I often ask for a coffee and a separate glass of ice. Please. Trust me. This works and preserves the integrity of the brew. The only other process with some hope of eliciting a delicious sigh comes when a true coffee maven says, “Want a couple of shots of espresso that I pull over ice?” YES, that’s an ally.

If you wander over to Starbucks, you’ll see they’re focused on us. Yes, how would you like that Frappucccino is the question of the season. Here’s your chance to create the cool drink you want–make it lite with skim, skip the whipped, add an extra shot. You get the message. Your way. This is a good week to take advantage of their new approach to Frappuccinos as they celebrate 1/2-priced Happy Hour specials until the 16th.

Dunkin’ Donuts is quite serious about their iced response and intends to introduce a new, stronger dark roast that will boost the flavor profile for the iced coffee drinkers. They already do a double roast for their iced drinks in keeping with my personal mantra: Don’t water it down. Most locations have a free iced coffee afternoon on the 11th.

McDonald’s has not turned its back on the iced potential. They are into frappes and offer a wide selection of iced beverages. Their price point may make them a serious player in these still tough economic times.

Maybe the biggest news of all is that iced slushie or slurpee type drinks have an advantage before exercising. Green’s my favorite.

Love this icy season!

–Whole Foods Market started a week-long promotion (4/11-17), Tax Relief Week, with specials throughout the store and a cup of free coffee on the 14th–hope they plan to burn the midnight oil, too, as we’ll need that cup wayyy later than the regular closing hours!

–Starbucks has an early Earth Day present for you on Tax Day: Bring in a reusable travel mug on the 15th and get a free brewed coffee (up to 20 oz.). BTW, they are doing the mug venture daily by offering 10 cents off the cost of a beverage when you come in with your own mug.

–P.F. Chang’s celebrates the 15th with 15% Tax Relief Savings on every order except Happy Hour specials. That would be redundant!

–Cinnabon. Hit the mall stores from 6-8 P for Tax Day Bites. Get two free bites of their new cupcakes with flavors as tantalizing as Chocolate Passion or 24-Carrot Cake.

Check your individual city as so many local places figured out you need a break on the 15th whether or not you’re getting a refund. Here’s a winner from DC:

– Zola offers a repeat of its popular strategy from last year: Sit in the bar, sip a special IRS Raspberry Cocktail and enjoy the 3-course prix fixe special for lunch or dinner, and they’ll pick up the taxes. The Day is taxing enough! If your chaotic nature takes charge that day, don’t worry as the restaurant will have IRS forms, calculators, and envelopes. If you can manage the completion by 11 P, they’ll even mail the forms for you. Grab a seat.

Go out. Enjoy. Mark the end of the anxiety with a mini-celebration.

A half a bar of chocolate a week lowers blood pressure. That’s easy to understand; you’re less tressed about whether or not to have the treat. Have it and your blood pressure will thank you. Over 19,000 individuals were studied during an 8-year period. That in itself helps validate the data as so many studies involve far fewer people and cover a more limited time period. This translates into a reduced risk for strokes and heart attacks. Of course, the caveat is that too much chocolate produces negative results such as weight gain. The simple takeaway: The little bit of chocolate reduced heart attacks and strokes by 39%. That’s well worth the minimal chocolate addiction! Once again we have the flavanols to thank.

As for coffee, scientists believe they have found the ingredient that could help individuals who have difficulty digesting and enjoying a perfect cup of caffeine. This turns out to be a significant part of the population that voices stomach issues: 2 out of every 10 people. Several products are already marketed as helpful to this population, but this particular European study focused on the specifics that cause irritation. Interestingly enough they found that espresso, which most assume is stronger, produces fewer irritations and is easier to digest and tolerate. The darker the roast, the easier for the stomach to handle the beverage. Know it sounds backwards, but the research supports forward-thinking.

The perfect pair: The darker the better. Chocolate and espresso. Yes.

It’s unofficial but McDonald’s seems to be moving toward a summer $1 beverage promotion. Some locations may consider opting in sooner, but that’s an on-the-go price that’s hard to ignore. Stay tuned.

You want some good news sooner than Summertime, how about next Tuesday? Score a double win: Starbucks will be offering free pastries (up until 10:30 A) on the 23rd with a beverage (a handcrafted one) purchase. You need the coupon, so print away. Before you panic about the bad news in the pastries, remember these are free of high fructose corn syrup and are without artificial trans fats. Sounds like you can treat yourself.

Dunkin’ Donut Mondays continue until the end of the month.

As a further incentive, there’s the health news that validates our love affair with coffee and tea:

–A European study further supports the power of multiple cups of coffee daily in reducing cholesterol numbers and lowering the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.

–A new study out of Japan lends support to the health benefits in green tea. This time the beneficiary is improved dental health. The health benefits of green tea seem to inhibit a rise in periodontal problems.

So your choice. Hot or cold, these beverages line up with good deals.

OK, this is so obvious, what am I getting at? It turns out that lunch may be a critical meal for women. If they have coffee with their meal, they are less likely to get Type 2 diabetes, the most common form often associated with a higher body mass index or being overweight. So if you count calories and think diet soda is the way to go, research says otherwise. In a significant study (70,000 participants) from Brazil that followed women for multiple years, they saw a decrease in Type 2 diabetes most significantly from women who had at least a cup of coffee at lunch. Maybe someone will test Brazilian coffee beans next!

BTW, this is not the only coffee study that linked positive results between coffee and lessening the likelihood of Type 2. This study found no difference between caf or decaf beverages or if the drinker chose to sweeten it or not. LUNCH was the critical discovery!

It is unclear whether coffee needs to be the only drink or if you can end the meal with coffee and be covered, but one fact remains: This is another positive coffee outreach study and maybe the first that targets a meal period.

Off to lunch.

Food labels: The FDA has had a busy week with the various recalls and its announcement that it will be spending more time scrutinizing those so-called healthy food labels. We often grab food with a banner notation indicating its healthy properties. The FDA wants proof that these claims are accurate and not just marketing strategies. They promise to get tough on misleading labels. Time to understand a label and not just give it a quick once-over: Watch for saturated fat and sugar.

In other health news:

–Chocolate: A Harvard study says enjoying a few pieces of dark chocolate daily may lessen the possibility of certain types of strokes.

–Potassium-rich foods: Also related to issues of preventing strokes, foods that are high in potassium (potatoes, bananas, avocados, and leafy greens, for example) helped lower the risk for stroke and coronary heart disease. Sounds like a reminder to eat fruits and vegetables.

–Metal cans and BPA: Several environmental and scientific groups have called for the immediate banning of metal cans for their various health risks. Tests indicate higher BPA levels than originally expected and fears of overall exposure has heightened attention to this issue.

–Dieting. An Israeli study found that weight-loss diets, whether Mediterranean, low-fat, or low-carb, help reverse atherosclerosis. The probable benefit of these diets comes from reduced blood pressure. Great news. The type of diet is not as critical as the fact that one diets!

–Lessen salt intake. Now that’s a shocker! A government study found that billions of health dollars could be saved if salt intake could be reduced by 10 %. They are trying to get the food industry to understand the overall implications and get them to hold back on salting up foods. When dining in we can get a tighter grip on the shaker.

–Milk allergies. A simple blood test may determine if young children are allergic to all milk products or if they can tolerate heated milk. Knowing the severity of the allergy would make it easier in determining the safest foods. The test is not yet available, but it is definitely one to watch.

As with most weeks, it is fun to end on a good news coffee note. Several studies presented at the recent American Heart Association conference found good news in the coffee department! Coffee drinkers had a lower risk of getting heart rhythm problems. Another study found no link between coffee intake and atherosclerosis. The third significant study found that women who consume multiple cups of coffee daily had a lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes!

Healthy coffee or coffee health: Works for me.

Back to coffee. Consumer Reports just came out with another coffee study and has disappointing news for many home brews: They tested 37 caffeinated and decaffeinated blended varieties and no bag scored higher than a good rating. Starbucks should have some degree of a smile as it at least scored a good caffeine rating for its House Blend. Green Mountain’s Signature Nantucket Blend Medium Roast matched it on the top of the Good Rating pile.

Small consolation for home coffee drinkers who want that perfect morning cup. I learned a long time ago that coffee comparisons are a little like restaurant reviews. Everyone has an opinion. Some you can even agree with! I have real trouble with the flavored coffee folks as I believe hazelnut or whatever is added to a mediocre bean in an attempt to improve the taste! Hey, that’s just my opinion after 1,000s of cups of coffee!

The Decaf column had a few brighter stars with Allegro, Peet’s, Caribou, and Buck’s County each having a product in the top scoring good column.

If you are only looking at price, you might benefit from knowing that Maxwell House and Folgers resided near the bottom of the list. If it’s a combination of finding a good cup of coffee and not breaking the bank, then Melitta Classic Blend Roast (11 cents a cup), and Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend (15 cents) are good products to consider. In the decaf universe Seattle’s Best Blend Decaf Light Roast (15 cents) and Sam’s Choice Organic Blend Decaffeinated Medium Roast (18 cents) are the ones to purchase.

Note that this study is quite different from one they conducted two years ago as the focus this time was on blended coffees (beans from multiple regions or countries). Last time it was on 100% pure Arabica beans, the more expensive bean. This is by no means a conclusive study as there are so many coffee choices out there, and there is so much consolidation of companies, as in Seattle’s Best is really a Starbucks company.

So many other factors contribute to a good cup of coffee: Water plays a major role in its outcome. The machine that brews the coffee, the freshness of the beans, and the specific grind are additional factors. What does this study say about the coffee at restaurants or coffee shops that serve the various brands? If it’s a cup from your favorite coffee shop, concentrate on consistency. Does it come out the same every time? That’s critical.

I know; it’s about the balance, the delicate interconnectedness of what goes into the machine or the scooper. I know. It’s personal.

They don’t call me “all about coffee” for nothing!

Now I understand how a simple little comment can further validate my modus operandi. In flipping thru the channels this AM while doing treadmill hills, I heard a report that had me hit the pause, I’m with you on this channel button. The topic was the importance of having at least 9 glasses of liquid daily (12 for men), and guess what, the reporter said the magic words: Coffee Counts. All those years thinking that my all-important coffee was just a stand-in for all the water I was supposed to drink, had just been given validation. She did say 1-4 cups of coffee count. OK, so all coffee, all the time’s not gonna work, but hey, if the first 4 count: I’m well on my way.

This just proves you can find proof for your personal belief with just a little time and effort. Made my whole exercise regime pay for itself!

Push the magic button, here comes another espresso–they’re small, maybe 8 of ‘em go into the important liquid column.

Love this type of report!

–Coupon use was way up–grocery stores doubled and tripled the value of coupons in response to consumer belt-tightening and renewed interest in home cooking. No longer did grocers rely solely on newspaper coupons, but they expanded their online coupon promotions. Who would have expected Whole Foods to aggressively participate in this type of endeavor? Not me. They did and became as serious about coupons and sales as any of their competitors.

–Grocers worked on their house brands and made them palatable and popular. The price differentiation between the big brands and the new house brands became a deciding factor for many shoppers. House brands scored well in this contest.

–Restaurants increased promotions such as half-priced wine nights and 3-course prix fixe menus. They strived to emphasize how they have changed and how they could respond to the new, emerging diner. The strategy continues with greater emphasis on value dining.

–Restaurants revamped their menus and placed a greater emphasis on small, shared plates. Restaurant Weeks, with their specialty menus for lunch and dinner, were expanded to become multi-week experiences and commonly became a fixture both in winter and summer.

–Food recalls became more frequent as we became more diligent in monitoring the possible health risks of numerous foods. It was a bad year for packaged ground beef and a bad year for government watchdogs who had not tightened the rules enough to stop a problem at the source. “Voluntary recalls” became popular responses to early questions.

–Value became an important focus whether we were talking about new-found wines, sparkling beverages that tasted like Champagne, or a regular cup of coffee. All food-related businesses and others in the hospitality industry understood the importance of repeat business and strived to wow consumers with their own loyalty programs.

It was a good year to write about COFFEE as so many health research studies confirmed my basic mantra: Another Espresso, please (Sure, there are numerous studies that question that wisdom).

I learned a lot. Way more than this mini list details, but the search function should give you an opportunity to refresh your tastebuds.

I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the life and times of an opinionated food and beverage blogger.

Artisan beers became a craze, and big brewers needed to step down into the craft market. Wait, for many that became a significant financial step upwards. Look at the popularity of Blue Moon and the significant number of brewers making Hefeweizens. Slice of lemon, please.

Remember expensive bottles of French wine? OK, they still exist as do the reserve wine lists, but as the recession took its toll on our dining out and dining-in budgets, we learned to embrace new regions of the world and become familiar with other wines and sparklings such as Malbec, Cava, and Prosecco. What was being poured in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa became of greater interest to us as we scoured those regions for our new vintages.

No longer were we limited to American wines from California, Oregon, Washington, and New York. We learned Thomas Jefferson was right: Virginia became an established wine region with award-winning wines from Barboursville, Chrysalis, and Jefferson Vineyards.

We even became fascinated by different wine glasses for different wines. What was once limited to high-end stores and fancy restaurants became more commonplace on the shelves at Target as Riedel moved into the consumer space with its 4 and 6-boxed items. A glass for red, one for white, and the emergence of the flute instead of the floating half circle for sparkling! Of course, those who follow every trend knew they needed a specific glass for a specific pour. Stop, not that one, that’s for Zinfandel only!

We even bought the whole wine lineup including the darling of the opening set, the Rabbit, and the multitude of decanting carafes. We became serious wine drinkers, and as we traveled wine regions, we became more knowledgeable, and less intimidated, by what we drank!

As we look forward, we’ve gone back to the old cocktail routine and elevated the bartender to a drink specialist who has studied the chemistry, or alchemy, of an ingredient-shaken beverage. Specialty cocktail menus re-emerged and the high priced, fun-sounding cocktail helped many restaurants survive.

We became caffeine freaks with an almost unstoppable fascination with coffee drinks, both hot and iced. It was clearly the Starbucks decade, a title the company hopes to regain in the upcoming year. Grocery stores proudly introduced coffee bars. We decided one double espresso was too limiting and added caffeine-based energy drinks to our daily consumption routines. All these steps hit soda sales as they plummeted, and the old brands started to lose the high fructose corn syrup and explore cane sugar drinks.

We were a thirsty group and little has quenched our thirst as we reach for the next tantalizing trend.

There are plenty of studies that have such small sample sizes you only hope the results hold up. Not this one. The numbers are impressive.

This particular research found that 4 cups of coffee or tea lowered the risk of Type 2 Diabetes! It gets better: Each cup reduced the likelihood of getting diabetes by about 7%. The simple translation: 3-4 cups of coffee daily reduces diabetes by about 25%. They found that those who consumed more than 3-4 cups of decaf lowered their risk by about one-third. If it’s tea you prefer, 3-4 cups of tea lowered the risk by one-fifth. Now there’s no need to hesitate having that 3rd or 4th cup!

An earlier study from Harvard reported that men who drank 6 or more cups of coffee a day had a 60% lower chance of getting prostate cancer! Coffee, the frequent villain of numerous discussions, has been elevated to an important position in the scientific literature and in our lives.

Now if you add 2 teaspoons of sugar to each cup of coffee…That’s another study.

I’m sure someone is trying to figure out that metric right now!

The news gets worse: Coffee may NOT help you sober up! Now we have a serious problem. What about all those mornings after when you went to a multitude of college parties? How did you make it back to the world by morning? Coffee, right.

The lead author wants to dispel the myth because he feels people will believe that they can drive now that they’ve had the magical elixir (coffee, caffeine). Or he worries they’ll think they are operating at full capacity in all matters because they’ve had the cup! The study believes the combination of alcohol and coffee  solves little and may actual create residual problems.

Note that the people in the study had the equivalent of eight cups of coffee.

That’s some serious alcohol-caffeine partnering!

–Dunkin’ Donuts celebrates the season with a new flavor: Peppermint Mocha Latte. They also have a special $1.99 small hot latte offer for the new drink and their other choices such as Caramel or Mocha Swirl til the end of the month. Don’t forget that the Peppermint one comes topped with whipped cream and a little mocha squiggle.

–IHOP decided their coffee needed an extra holiday buzz: They’ve added four new flavors to ease our caffeine habit: Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Irish Cream, and Swiss Mocha. They also decided to sweeten their pancakes with several new flavors such as gingerbread and eggnog hotcakes.

–Bruegger’s Bagels does not want to miss the sweet boat and has two new flavors: a Cinnamon Roll Bagel which gets topped with vanilla icing. They also introduced a Cinnamon Cream Coffee.

–Krispy Kreme brought back their snowman-shaped doughnuts.

These are just some sweet thoughts. So many more.

Guess no one thinks we should be watching the calories. All these super-sweet choices should help us reach a sugar high within minutes!

Think I’m there.

Now to make it an even more enticing experience, coffee companies and beverage outlets have decided to reward us with little extras. McDonald’s continues to be a significant player with its full espresso line. By this summer they plan to have frappes ready for those looking for a reasonably priced beverage.

Caribou Coffee decided to carve its niche as the company with real chocolate drinks. By using Guittard Chocolate, they have a new line of drinks featuring beautifully crafted chocolates joining forces with coffee and creating drinks such as a dark chocolate latte. Chocolate and coffee have always created an impressive pairing blend.

Godiva Chocolatier decided to join the fray by introducing new coffees, including truffle-infused blends, for the growing home market of coffee drinkers. Again we see the chocolate notes working into the coffee profile.

It’s all about the important wake-up call. Coffee still has more steam than many other beverages. At this time of the year as we’re thinking of holiday meals and presents, nothing wrong with a coffee purchase!

Personally I like mine in a cup without any flavorings. Just good beans, roasted properly, filtered water and bingo! Don’t forget my dark chocolate square, right next to my cuppa.

No problem. I’m waiting.

I think the irony is that today, this revered bean day for those looking for a single-day celebration, coincides with Starbucks National Roll-out of Instant Coffee. Almost everywhere, but the market reach is growing. Great name: VIA, but only time will tell if this is a winner. So many months ago, the concept was introduced. It felt odd then and still has that flavor: Instant. Don’t we want just-brewed–what happened to that mantra?

Ok, how funny: A day to honor the Great Bean and an Instant footnote!

Comical, I’d say!