Remembering Hurricane Katrina

I had my surgical procedure on my back yesterday (everything's fine) so I wasn't able to post about this but I think it's very important we remember that yesterday was the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Two years later, only 60 percent of the population has returned to New Orleans. The city has the highest murder rate in the country. Thousands of families are still displaced, living with relatives or in FEMA trailers. I learned yesterday that the FEMA trailers were created to house families forjust a few short weeks and a component of their building material can be hazardous to the health if people stay in the trailers for long periods of time - as has been done in New Orleans. Only three hospitals are open in New Orleans and most of the people living in the city can't get insurance - the sick keeps getting sicker and the death toll continues to rise.

The millions of dollars to fix the levees have not eradicated the problem - New Orleans is still vulnerable and at risk for another traumatic natural disaster.

It's important we remember the strength of the people that survived this event and the heroes that helped them to do it. These people have shown incredible resilience and I truly admire them.

This month the magazines of Time Inc. (Sports Illustrated, Time, Fortune, People, etc.) are featuring a special edition entitled, "Returning to New Orleans." While the article are somewhat interesting, what I found most inspiring was the pictures. Like they say, " A picture's worth a thousand words." Check it out if you have some time: Hurricane Katrina

Re-Fresca

I made a post a while back when this blog was relatively new about the re-introduction of Fresca, and the new flavors that Coke had in store for the venerable brand. Well, it's been a couple of years and unfortunately it had kind of fallen off of my radar, until the other day.

My local grocer had Fridge Packs on sale for a ridiculous price, so in addition to the normal Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, etc. I would normally pick up, I grabbed a case of Black Cherry Citrus Fresca as well. I have to tell you that was a refreshingly excellent choice I made.

I'm going to make it a point to not go two years between samplings again!

Not Haterade, Accelerade

I'm not usually much on sports drinks, but I've been seeing a lot of ads for a new one called Accelerade. As everyone knows, (hello, look at the name of the blog) I usually prefer the taste of an ice cold diet soda, but after reading the reviews over at BevNET.com, I decided to give one a try. It wasn't the BevNET top-rated Citrus Grapefruit (isn't Grapefruit a citrus fruit? Is this redundant?) I tried since I will gravitate immediately toward blue drinks; so I picked up a Mountain Berry instead, natch! As opposed to the BevNET reviewer, I am a fan of the slightly bitter flavor, plus IT'S BLUE!

Checking out the ingredient panel I wanted to find out more about trehalose, so I took a look at what the Calorie Control Council has to say about it. So I guess it is "diet" in a way.

Here's the commercial that has been running, I don't know about the 4:1 ratio they tout, or much of the science, but if it can help me stay on the treadmill a bit more, it might become a regular part of my "regimen."

Accelerade ad:

Johnny Blue Jeans

I think I noticed Michael Ian Black first back on a show called Viva Variety where he played the character Johnny Blue Jeans (he's on the right with Mr. and the Former Mrs. Laupin, natch). Since then, he's appeared in so many funny things like I Love the 80s, Wet Hot American Summer, and Ed. I was really hoping he would win be the host of The Late, Late Show after Craig Kilborn left, but he lost the competition to Craig Ferguson.

So, how does this tie in to diet soda?

Well, I just noticed that Sierra Mist has put up a few of their TV ads, and some that are web only (see here and here). The best (in my opinion) just happens to be one starring Michael Ian Black for their diet soda, Sierra Mist Free . Check it out below. And BONUS, it has Jim Gaffigan too!

Tingle and Bounce

Who knew that the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and some of my favorite music videos, like Everlong by the Foo Fighters and Lucas With the Lid Off by Lucas, directed two Diet Coke ads back in 2004? Check out Tingle and Bounce below.

Tingle (2004) - dir. Michel Gondry, starring Kate Beckinsale



Bounce (2004) - dir. Michel Gondry, starring Adrien Brody



It's definitely a Diet Coke thing!

Friday Factoids

To ensure your weekend conversations are lively and full of random, useless information, I present to you Friday’s Factoids*. Happy weekend everybody!

Until early in the 20th century, Monday the 13th, not Friday the 13th, was considered unlucky

Scratch and sniff stickers were originally used as medical tools. Their purpose was to detect and identify any deficient smell receptors.

The catfish is the only fish that can consciously and independently blink its eyes.

Over half of all earthquakes occur between the hours of 2:08 AM and 5:47 AM

A variation of the idiom "easy as pie" exists in almost every major language, ranging from "simple as cooking wontons" in Chinese to "easy as making snow-cake" in Swedish.

The typical bedroom closet in American homes contains 37 percent more clothing than it was designed to hold

In 2005, 147 people were admitted to hospitals in Canada after having touched their tongue to freezing cold metal.

Among cities in western Europe, and North America, Jersey City, NJ, has had the largest percentage increase in office space over the past seven years.

On average, the 'T' key will be the first key to fail on a Blackberry. The failure generally occurs after the 42,000th time it is depressed.

On average, left-handed people type ten words per minute faster than right-handed people.

*courtesy of http://www.gullible.info/

Diet Soda and Weight Loss

Unless you've been living under a rock the past couple of weeks you've seen the stories on diet soda and possible weight gain. I've even blogged about it here already. Read my previous post if you want to see my feelings on this "science." If you don't believe me, hear what Dr. John Fernstrom has to say about diet soda, aspartame and weight loss in this YouTube clip I found:



(I've been trying to include more videos for you guys, what do you think?)