The following is a modified post from the Motley Fool Editor's blog. You can see all the posts by clicking here.
Did you know that the Jewish deli is dying?
Me neither. But these two stats from a New American Media article blew my mind:
Kosher Jewish delis in NYC circa 1930s: ~1,500
Kosher (and non-kosher) Jewish delis in NYC now: A couple dozen
Who knew?
Now, for my belly's sake, I'm declaring the Jewish deli still alive. Viva la Reuben grill!
Some other things are on the way out, though. New York magazine has a slideshow of "everyday stuff rendered obsolete in the aughts." Basically, the aughts made the 1980s obsolete. I'll save you the trouble of flipping through (and give you the pleasure of my commentary):
Answering machine [Hello, voice mail from Verizon
Lickable stamp [Why do we still lick envelopes?]
Foldable roadmap [Garmin
Cathode ray tube TV [Flat screens, baby.]
Incandescent light bulb [They'll live on in thought bubbles.]
Paid pornography [ahem]
Smoking in bars [Altria
Fax machine [This may be a little early?]
Hydrox cookie [underappreciated Oreo-esque cookie? Lance Choc-o-Lunch cookies.]
Cassette tape [Weren't they dead in the '90s?]
French Franc [French Pierre remains alive, though.]
Floppy disk [Only for bad double entrendres now.]
Phone book [Yet they continue to send three different ones to me each year ...]
Polaroid photo [and don't forget its buddies 35mm film and the disposable camera.]
Bank deposit slip [Especially in this last year or two.]
Subway token [Most overrated subway system ... DC's.]
The Rolodex [If you ain't in my five, you ain't worth tracking ...]
I have no idea where this comment stream will lead, but please share your thoughts on Jewish delis, paid pornography, and lickable stamps below. Bonus points if you can identify something that was created in the aughts and is already obsolete.
