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Barry Popik

@barrypopik.bsky.social
103 followers 97 following 890 posts

Author of an online dictionary (over 41,000 entries) investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. King of Dad Jokes & Oneliners. BarryPopik.com

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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 4h
"Why drive 6 minutes for food when I can order DoorDash for $85" & “My Kids: ‘Why drive 13 mins for food when I can sit and have it delivered for only $63 more?’” (Cursed Posts on Facebook, 2021). #quotes #jokes @DoorDash #food #delivery barrypopik.com/blog/my-kids...
barrypopik.com
"My Kids: 'Why drive 13 mins for food when I…
Why spend a few minutes to drive to a restaurant to pick up food when you can call DoorDash and have it delivered to your home -- for a lot more…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 6h
“Coffee doesn’t fix everything, but it does add a tiny emotional handrail to the staircase of nonsense” (Facebook, October 13). #quotes #coffee barrypopik.com/blog/coffee-...
barrypopik.com
"Coffee doesn’t fix everything, but it does add a…
"Coffee doesn’t fix everything, but it does add a tiny emotional handrail to the staircase of nonsense" is a coffee saying that was…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 8h
1927 is my old work. The latest on "trick or treat" is that it's from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in 1917. www.lougheedhouse.com/halloween-hi...
lougheedhouse.com
Story Halloween & Historical Research — Lougheed House
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 17h
“Every single commercial is for alcohol, glp-1, sports betting, or AI” (@BeenServin, October 3). #quotes #commercials #alcohol #sports #betting #GLP1 #AI 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/every-s...
barrypopik.com
"Every single commercial is for alcohol, glp-1,…
Television advertisements can help create addictions. "Every American commercial: 'We know you're depressed because society is…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 17h
“Every American commercial: ‘We know you’re depressed because society is collapsing, but have you tried gambling, fast food, or medication?’” (ogcryinryan on Threads, Oct. 2). #quotes #depression #commericals #gambling #fastfood #drugs 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/every-a...
barrypopik.com
"Every American commercial: 'We know…
Television advertisements can help create addictions. "Every American commercial: 'We know you're depressed because society is…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
“Washing machine minutes aren’t real minutes" & "#Washingmachine minutes are longer than real minutes” (2014). “Why are the washing machine minutes not real minutes?” (2021). “Washing machine minutes are not real life minutes” (@_zmc_x, September 20). barrypopik.com/blog/why-are...
barrypopik.com
"Why are the washing machine minutes not real…
Washing machine minutes often seem longer than real minutes when one is waiting for the machine to finish. "Why are the qashing machine…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
“I’m posing nude for an art class. No one asked me to. I think they’re making ceramic bowls” (@FattMernandez, 2013). “Posed nude for an art class today. They didn’t ask me to. I think they were making ceramic bowls” (2014). #jokes #art #nude #models barrypopik.com/blog/posed-n...
barrypopik.com
"Posed nude for an art class today. They didn't…
Many people believe it's an honor to be asked to pose nude for an art class, reflecting that other people admire the poser's body. A joke…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Excellent stuff. I just wrote to Hell Gate "tips." I'm a historian, and I'm trying to honor the black stablehands who called New York the "Big Apple." I tried to contact Eric Adams many times, but I guess he only responds to special interests. www.dailymail.com/news/article...
dailymail.com
New York City's 'Big Apple' nickname is traced back 100 years to 1920
Historian Barry Popik has spent three decades delving into how New York City got its nickname, The Big Apple, and he has linked it to the horseracing industry in Louisiana in 1920.
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
“If you see me in public, it’s AI” (Facebook, 2025). #quotes #jokes #introvert #stayathome #goingout #AI barrypopik.com/blog/if-you-...
barrypopik.com
"If you see me in public, it's AI"
Some people like to stay at home and do not like to be seen in public. "If you see me in public, it's AI" is a jocular saying that…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
“Life is chaos and I am basically always tired but I have fairly easy access to hot cheese so I guess I will hang in there” (@SICKOFWOLVES, 2017; All You Can Eat on Facebook, October 13). #quotes #jokes #cheese #hotcheese barrypopik.com/blog/life-is...
barrypopik.com
"Life is chaos and I am basically always tired but I…
Is hot cheese a good reason for living? This was posted on X/Twitter by NOT A WOLF on June 5, 2017, and it received over 4,000 likes: "LIFE IS…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
My "Big Apple Corner" sign was stolen twice. Both signs Big Apple Corner" and "Señor Wences Way") were replaced in 2024, and are now green (not blue). I kind of liked the blue, though. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:54...
commons.wikimedia.org
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
"Uncle Sam" on the Library of Congress blog, Part 3. #UncleSam blogs.loc.gov/folklife/202...
blogs.loc.gov
Origins of Uncle Sam Part 3: Cartoons and Advertising in the Nineteenth Century | Folklife Today
“Uncle Sam,” as a personification of the United States, certainly goes back to the early days of the nation, emerging soon after the American Revolution. Everyone agrees that his name is an expansion ...
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
"Uncle Sam" on the Library of Congress blog, Part 2. #UncleSam blogs.loc.gov/folklife/202...
blogs.loc.gov
Origins of Uncle Sam: Metafolklore of an American Icon Part 2 | Folklife Today
“Uncle Sam,” as a personification of the United States, certainly goes back to the early days of the nation, emerging soon after the American Revolution. Everyone agrees that his name is an expansion ...
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
The Library of Congress has addressed "Uncle Sam," finally agreeing that the term predates the War of 1812 and Samuel Wilson's "U.S."-stamped meat barrels. Most important is the first part (where I am cited). #UncleSam blogs.loc.gov/folklife/202...
blogs.loc.gov
Origins of Uncle Sam: Metafolklore of an American Icon Part 1 | Folklife Today
“Uncle Sam,” as a personification of the United States, certainly goes back to the early days of the nation, emerging soon after the American Revolution. Everyone agrees that his name is an expansion ...
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
“You leave potatoes alone for a week & them mfs start growing teeth & box braids” (Facebook, October 10). #quotes #jokes #potatoes barrypopik.com/blog/you-lea...
barrypopik.com
"You leave potatoes alone for a week & them mfs…
Potatoes grow fast. "Nothing freaks me out more than when you leave potatoes in the pantry for too long and they start growing horns" was…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
“Weddings are so fun because you get to see what meal you were in the mood for six months ago” (@Tom_Smyth_, October 11). I forgot--did I check chicken or fish? #quotes #jokes #wedding #food barrypopik.com/blog/wedding...
barrypopik.com
"Weddings are so fun because you get to see what…
A wedding guest often has to confirm the invitation, and also state the type of meal desired (such as chicken or fish). This was posted on…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“I love my coffee, but also being alert and aware isn’t all it’s cracked up to be right now either so…” (@thisone0verhere on Threads, 2026). #quotes #jokes #coffee 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/i-love-...
barrypopik.com
"I love my coffee, but also being alert and aware…
Coffee might help someone to be awake and alert and aware, but is that really something positive? "I love my coffee but also being awake…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
"I love my #coffee, but also being awake isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be either so idk" (@thisone0verhere, 2023). “I love my coffee, but also being alert isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be either right now so idk” (@thisone0verhere, 2025). 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/i-love-...
barrypopik.com
"I love my coffee, but also being alert isn't…
Coffee might help someone to be awake and alert and aware, but is that really something positive? "I love my coffee but also being awake…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“The phrase ‘almost there’ has been used by hikers for centuries. Historians believe it has never been accurate” (@NatlParkService, July 2026). #quotes #jokes #hikers #hiking #almostthere barrypopik.com/blog/the-phr...
barrypopik.com
"The phrase 'almost there' has been used…
Hikers often tell themselves that they're "almost there" at the end of the hike. This was posted on Facebook by National Park…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“Oh nothing, just wondering how the govt. acquired the earth and why do we have to pay them to live on it” (July 2026). #quotes #memes #government #propertytaxes 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/oh-noth...
barrypopik.com
"Oh nothing, just wondering how the govt. acquired…
"Oh nothing, just wondering how the govt. acquired the earth and why do we have to pay them to live on it" (also "How did the…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“How did the government acquire the earth and why do we have to pay to live here?" & “How did the government acquire the earth and why do we have to pay them to live on it?” (June 2026). #quotes #memes #government #propertytaxes 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/how-did...
barrypopik.com
"How did the government acquire the earth and why do…
"Oh nothing, just wondering how the govt. acquired the earth and why do we have to pay them to live on it" (also "How did the…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
“If it involves steak, sunshine or potatoes, I’m probably down for it” (Riley Williams on Facebook, May 2026). #quotes #steak #sunshine #potatoes #barbecue barrypopik.com/blog/if-it-i...
barrypopik.com
"If it involves steak, sunshine or potatoes, I’m…
"If it involves steak, sunshine or potatoes, I’m probably down for it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The speaker…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
“Orzo is the pasta that sounds least like a pasta. Rigmarole is the non-pasta that sounds most like a pasta” (@ryiacy, 2021). #quotes #jokes #pasta #orzo #rigmarole #rigamarole 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/orzo-is...
barrypopik.com
"Orzo is the pasta that sounds least like a pasta.…
"Rigmarole" (also spelled "rigamarole") means something long, complicated and tedious. It is not the name for a pasta shape…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
“Rigmarole would be a good name for a complicated pasta dish” (@CynicalTherapi1, 2023). "The most difficult pasta to make is 'Rigamarole'" (Facebook, 2024). #quotes #jokes #pasta #rigmarole #rigamarole 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/rigmaro...
barrypopik.com
"Rigmarole would be a good name for a complicated…
"Rigmarole" (also spelled "rigamarole") means something long, complicated and tedious. It is not the name for a pasta shape…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
“Babybel cheese, the unblinking red eye of a demon god, a cheese so powerful they cage it twice: in wax and then catch it in a net. ‘Murder me,’ it screams, ‘peel off my skin and eat me.’ Baby hell cheese" (@philmann, 2018). #quotes #jokes #cheese @Babybel barrypopik.com/blog/babybel...
barrypopik.com
"Babybel cheese, the unblinking red eye of a demon…
Mini Babybel cheese in encased in red wax, and several cheeses are grouped in a netted bag. This comment was posted by Phil Mann on X/Twitter (now…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
"The pain you feel today will be the strength you (will) feel tomorrow" & "The pain you feel today is the strength you (will) feel tomorrow" (Robert Moore, 2010). #quotes #adages #exercise #workout barrypopik.com/blog/the-pai...
barrypopik.com
"The pain you feel today is the strength you feel…
"The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow" (or "The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
"It's been snowing barely an hour and I've already eaten all the toilet paper" (@JohnKelly, 2018). “Day 1 of quarantine and I already ate all of the toilet paper and dog food I bought” (@poodoggins, 2020). #jokes #toiletpaper #snow #COVID19 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/its-bee...
barrypopik.com
"It's been snowing barely an hour and I've…
For an emergency (such as a hurricane), many people stock up on food and toilet paper. However, they often eat the food before the emergency event.…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“The winter storm hasn’t even hit yet and I’ve already eaten all the toilet paper I bought” (@MoMohler, Jan. 23). "The hurricane hasn’t even hit Florida yet and I’ve already eaten all the toilet paper I bought" (@MoMohler, Oct. 9). #jokes #toiletpaper 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/the-win...
barrypopik.com
"The winter storm hasn’t even hit yet and I’ve…
For an emergency (such as a hurricane), many people stock up on food and toilet paper. However, they often eat the food before the emergency event.…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“Crazy is often being right, but too early” (@forrestmaready, 2020). “Crazy is often being right, too early” (2022). #quotes #crazy #genius barrypopik.com/blog/crazy-i...
barrypopik.com
"Crazy is often being right, too early"
"Crazy is often being right, too early" is a saying that has been printed on many images Going against the current popular opinion is…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“Blue cheese is for people who sleep with jeans on at night” (2020; All You Can Eat on Facebook, October 9). #quotes #jokes #cheese #bluecheese barrypopik.com/blog/blue-ch...
barrypopik.com
"Blue cheese is for people who sleep with jeans on…
Many people do not understand how other people like to eat blue cheese. Some people think that the blue cheese-eating people are weird, like people…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“Losers quit when they’re tired. Winners quit when they’ve won” (unknown, 1996). First credited to Mike Ditka in 2017. #quotes #sports #business #inners #losers barrypopik.com/blog/losers-...
barrypopik.com
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit…
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won" is a sports and business saying that has been printed on many…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“If a cop pulls over a U-Haul, is he trying to bust a move?” (2013). “If a cop pulls over a U-Haul, did he bust a move?” (2019). #quotes #jokes #puns @uhaul #bustamove barrypopik.com/blog/if-a-co...
barrypopik.com
"If a cop pulls over a U-Haul, did he bust a…
"If a cop pulls over a U-Haul, did he bust a move?" is a joke that has been printed on many images. A U-Haul is a vehicle for moving…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
“Some people are the human equivalent of the liquid that comes out of the mustard bottle first” (Facebook, February 2026). #quotes #metaphor #mustard barrypopik.com/blog/some-pe...
barrypopik.com
"Some people are the human equivalent of the liquid…
"Some people are the human equivalent of the liquid that comes out of the mustard bottle first" is a saying that has been printed on many…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
“Life tried to chew me up and shit me out, but I’m built like corn” (unknown, 2022). #quotes #jokes #corn barrypopik.com/blog/life-tr...
barrypopik.com
"Life tried to chew me up and shit me out, but I’m…
"Life tried to chew me up and shit me out, but I’m built like ,orn" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Some corn comes…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“We need a ‘Take Your Friend to Work Day.’ I want to see what y’all actually do and meet the people from all the stories” (@zentwo0, October 7). #quotes #jokes #work #friends 2/2 barrypopik.com/blog/we-need...
barrypopik.com
"We need a 'Take Your Friend to Work Day.'…
There is such a thing as "Take your daughter to work day," but why not a "Take your friend to work day"? "there should be…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“There should be a ‘take your friend to work day’ so we can actually see what our friends do all day and meet the characters from all their work stories” (@anuatluru, 2023). #quotes #jokes #work #friends 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/there-s...
barrypopik.com
"There should be a 'take your friend to work…
There is such a thing as "Take your daughter to work day," but why not a "Take your friend to work day"? "there should be…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
"I went into my local printers today and said, 'I need a 6 foot A, a 6 foot S and a 6 foot K, and I need them by tomorrow.' He said, 'I’ll see what I can do, but it’s a big ask…'" (2017). #jokes #puns #idioms #bigask barrypopik.com/blog/i-went-...
barrypopik.com
"I went into my local printers today and said,…
A "big ask" is a big request made of someone -- a "big favor" to do a big, important job. This doesn't mean literally that…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“Due to personal reasons, I need money” (2019). “Due to personal reasons, I need more money” (2021; @ricblurs, October 6). #quotes #jokes #memes #money #personalreasons barrypopik.com/blog/due-to-...
barrypopik.com
"Due to personal reasons, I need more money"
"Due to personal reasons, I need..." is a meme. "Due to personal reasons, I need a hug" is one popular version of the meme.…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
"I'm going to start being more assertive, if that's OK with you" (@someecards, 2011). "I’m going to start being assertive, as long as that’s ok with everyone" (@millsalice144, October 7). #quotes #jokes #assertive #assertiveness barrypopik.com/blog/im-goin...
barrypopik.com
"I'm going to start being more assertive, if…
"I'm going to be more assertive, if that's OK/okay with you" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images.…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you" (#SocialSecurity card) (Reddit-Mildlyinfuriating, 2024). #jokes #sarcasm barrypopik.com/blog/hey-kid...
barrypopik.com
“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need…
Americans are supposed to keep the card with their Social Security number for their entire life. This sarcasm was posted on Reddit --…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“I miss when ‘The News’ was just a guy in a suit telling you what happened, instead of a 24 hour panic machine designed to make you hate your neighbor so you don’t notice your rent went up 30%" (@fwrenzo1, July 2026). #quotes #news #tvnews barrypopik.com/blog/i-miss-...
barrypopik.com
"I miss when 'The News' was just a guy in…
The television news in the 1960s used to be just a guy in a suit (such as American broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite). Today's news has…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
"...and even saying ‘trick or treat’ — which our research shows a 1917 reference, 10 years earlier than most other records show!” #Halloween #trickortreat #history #origin 2/2 www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
ctvnews.ca
Spooky events at Calgary’s Lougheed House This October
Calgary’s Lougheed House has announced a full lineup of events in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Calgary's Lougheed House on the 1917 origin of "trick or treat." My work is cited. #Halloween #trickortreat #history #origin 1/2 www.lougheedhouse.com/halloween-hi...
lougheedhouse.com
Story Halloween & Historical Research — Lougheed House
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
“Having nutrition information on a bag of Cheetos is like having dating tips on a box of Crocs” (@KentWGraham, 2017). “Having nutrition information on a bag of Cheetos is like having dating tips on a pair of @Crocs” (2025). #quotes #jokes #Cheetos #food barrypopik.com/blog/having-...
barrypopik.com
“Having nutrition information on a bag of Cheetos is…
"Having nutrition information on a bag of Cheetos is like having dating tips on a box/pair of Crocs" is a jocular saying that has been…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Pandemitard (pandemic + retard, May 2026). “Don’t be a pandemitard. Walk away from the fake pandemic conversation. Not every cluster is the next apocalypse. Know the facts. Touch grass. Move on” (May 2026). #quotes #jokes #pandemic #portmanteau #memes barrypopik.com/blog/dont-be...
barrypopik.com
"Don't be a pandemitard. Walk away from the…
"Pandemitard" is a portmanteau of the words "pandemic" and "retard." A pandemitard overreacts to pandemic information…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
“I personally think it’s nice that we give tortilla chips a little window on the bag to look out of. I hope one day we can show our other chips the same kindness” (@ronnui_, 2021). #quotes #jokes #tortilla #chips #bags barrypopik.com/blog/i-perso...
barrypopik.com
"I personally think it's nice that we give…
Many tortilla chips bags have little plastic windows so that a customer can see the chips, but potato chips bags usually do not have this window.…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“I can’t call someone stupid at work, so I say ‘walk me through your thought process’” (@Skinwalker5110, March 26). “I can’t call someone a dumb fuck at work, so instead I say, ‘walk me through your thought process’” (@EmployeeTears, Oct. 1). #work #jokes barrypopik.com/blog/i-cant-...
barrypopik.com
"I can't call someone stupid at work, so I say…
It's not polite to insult coworkers and to call them stupid. "I can't call someone stupid at work, so I say 'walk me through…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“The FDA has recalled the light in my eyes” (breezebois on Threads, September 28). It hasn't been that bad, or has it? #quotes #jokes #FDA #racall barrypopik.com/blog/the-fda...
barrypopik.com
"The FDA has recalled the light in my eyes"
In 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled many things, even lettuce. Some people felt like the joy in life was taken away. This…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“I love when dogs bring you a toy and then immediately decide you’re not allowed to have it” (Tony Gravix on Threads and @omgsidewalks, October 2). #quotes #jokes #pets #dogs #toys barrypopik.com/blog/i-love-...
barrypopik.com
"I love when dogs bring you a toy and then…
Dogs often bring a toy, and then take it back. This was posted on Threads by tonygravix on October 2, 2026, and it received over 29,600 likes:…
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Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"Why does every recipe start with “Marry Me” now?? Someone needs to post single serving versions of recipes and name them 'Leave Me Alone Spaghetti' and 'I’m An Introvert Chicken'" (@itsnwts, October 4). #quotes #jokes #recipes #marryme barrypopik.com/blog/why-doe...
barrypopik.com
"Why does every recipe start with 'Marry…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will…
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