Banter Bites

Watching Football? Or The Commercials?

Is it called the “Super Bowl” because bowls of food are always involved?

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: The Super Bowl may be THE most anticipated sporting event of the year, but although Red isn’t a football fan, she used to watch it with her daughter Sawyer before she left for college (Sawyer focused on the game, Red the singing of the national anthem and half-time show); while for Black it’s always been about the commercials, but this year …


As an empty nester, Red hadn’t planned to watch the Super Bowl. There’s an assortment of shows she’d rather watch (all, of course, would include a bowl of freshly popped popcorn). Until she received an email a few days ago from a friend with the subject line, “Popcorners on TikTok,” and included a video that was about two of her favorite things … Popcorners (once she discovered them a few years ago, she became an unpaid spokesperson, touting them to anyone who’ll listen) and the lead characters from Breaking Bad. (Red admits that even though the series is over 10 years old, she’s only recently started watching it, actually, “binge-watching” would be more accurate.)

The funny thing is, for years, Black has always gone to a Super Bowl watch party that was only a handful of dear friends. And while some would “demand” quiet and no side conversations during the actual game, Black would “shhh” people during the commercials. Now, with most of the commercials available in advance, she only does that for her favorite commercials. Although she impatiently awaits the premiere of one commercial,

Given all the controversy over M&M’s and the company’s decision to sideline (pun intended) its spokescandies, supposedly in response to cultural backlash, including changing the green M&M’s shoes, I want to see if it was merely a brilliant marketing ploy. If so, it worked.

At first, Red could not believe the drama surrounding the M&M’s, but now that she started watching sneak previews of some of the Super Bowl commercials, she understands how they’re such an important part of the game. And has decided that she might have to watch the Super Bowl after all. Or, technically, the commercials. With the added bonus of hearing one of her favorite singers, Chris Stapleton, sing the National Anthem.

“A Dictator & His Mistress” might have been a catchier title, but that doesn’t change the fact that the combination of history and food makes this one of Red’s favorite Banter Bites. While Black loves the leadership lessons (from a dictator?!). Curious? If so, read on …

Quick! If someone says "Julius Caesar," what comes to mind?

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Almost everyone has heard of Julius Caesar, but how many of us really know much about him, or at least that's what Red starts to wonder when she receives the usual flippant, but still accurate, reply from her sister, after feeling very proud that she knew that July was named after the famous Roman.

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Today’s technology may be very different from when we first ran this four years ago, but it makes  communication skills even more critical, and Effective Communications Month is the perfect time to acknowledge it’s a superpower …

Talking isn't the same as communicating. And hearing isn't the same as listening. Think about it.

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Being an effective communicator, whether in our personal lives or at work, is a critical skill but one-size-doesn't-fit-all as we each use very different methods and styles … ranging from lots of words and talking stuffed animals (Red) to bullet points and racing flags (Black).

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What better way to celebrate May Day than bringing back one of Black’s favorite posts? A little history (for Red), mixed with fertility and workers’ rights (no, we’re not kidding), and a reminder that sometimes "pole dancing" doesn’t only happen in clubs …

If you’ve never thought about May Day, don’t worry, most of us haven’t.

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Red appreciates that some holidays have historical significance, some have ancient traditions, and some are opportunities for one of Black’s unexpected, but often amusing and clever, comments, but May Day checks all those boxes.

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