Pizzas have shed their distinctive round shape for a more romantic one during Valentine’s Day since the mid-1950s. The earliest reference to heart-shaped pizza pie seems to be when the Villa Capri allegedly served the dish in 1955, but the concept became more popular after Dinah Shore featured heart-shaped pizza on her television show in 1960 and 1962. In the 70s and 80s, heart-shaped pizzas slowly appeared in local and chain pizza stores across the US until they were finally adopted by mega-chains in the 2000s. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
