I felt a pang of anxiety when I read that Interstate Bakeries Corporation has entered Chapter 11 (via BoingBoing). They manufacture Twinkies!

I haven’t had one in years, finding them far too sweet, but they’re one of America’s Great Pop Cultural References. The deep fried twinkie is a testament to this food’s continuing ability to frighten and intrigue carb addicts everwhere. And without them, our slang would not be quite as sweet.

Perhaps they will be transmuted to organic form or become haute cuisine, but I’d hate to see the original Twinkie go away. So do your duty and buy a box (just don’t eat them all at once, geez). Pick up a loaf of Wonder Bread while you’re at it!

My sister commented that her local NPR station, WRNI, seems to be up for sale…distressing! That reminded me of this article about the rise of ‘middlebrow culture’ and how the nature of public radio changed when threats to their endowment allowed them to seek advert–er, underwriting from other sources. Also, how the demand for talk and news has displaced classical music over the years. Great article.