Clip Time

"Ohhhh, Crystal Pepsi"

Red Bull Cola?

Interesting article over at BevNet.com about a cola offering from Red Bull. It's full of some inside baseball industry stuff, but the fact that Red Bell is bringing a cola to market is very interesting to me. All of the stuff I've been reading for the past two years talks about how conventional carbonated soft drinks are on the way out, to be replaced by waters, energy drinks, and sports drinks. If Red Bull is looking to enter the soft drink business, maybe cola isn't as dead as some have said.

Apparently, this cola will be all "natural." Whatever that means. There isn't any regulation on the use of the term natural, and it gets thrown on all sorts of items. Also, just because something isn't natural doesn't mean that it is not safe or healthful.

All of this doesn't mean that the new cola will succeed. From the article: “I think there'll be some initial trial, but as far as long term, I don't know if cola energy will make it," Wrathaol said.

The recent success of Coke Zero has kind of bucked the trend. I know there will always be a spot in my fridge for a pack of diet soda. I can't be the only one.

BevNet: Industry insiders unsure of Red Bull's "Simply Cola"

Cool Bottles

Coke is test marketing some really cool looking aluminum bottles for Coke Classic, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. According to VendingMarketWatch News, "Coke is offering sleek new 250-ml aluminum bottles in red, black and silver for regular Coke, Coke Zero and Diet Coke."

Debuting the bottles at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, a Coke spokesperson had this to say, "We wanted to provide the analysts (at the conference) with a snapshot of some of our ideas currently in the pipeline," he said in a prepared statement. A sign by the vending machine at the Florida conference says that "the new design is a modern interpretation of the classic contour bottle in aluminum form."

The new bottles aren't in stores yet, but if you're lucky you might see it at an event or nightclub.

Check out the pic for yourself.

News story: Coca-Cola Co. Tests Aluminum Bottles

Dear Diet Soda

A friend in Little Rock forwarded over a great column by Jennifer Christman that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last month. Unfortunately it's not online for free anymore. :-(

It puts a humorous spin on some of the studies that garnered so much press in February. Here are some choice parts:

"So why does it seem that everyone is trying to convince me to dump you? Two recent studies have linked you to potential health problems. A Purdue University study released in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience indicates that you and other artificially sweetened beverages and foods could be hazardous to sippers' waistlines. In the study, those who consumed food made with fake sugar gained more weight than those who consumed foods made with real sugar. All a person can say to that is "rats." Literally, rats. This study involved only a relative few rodents..."

and my feelings echo this:

"I could totally quit you. Easily. I could give you up. No problem. I'm keeping you around because I want to. Not because I have to. Or because I'm hooked or anything. I'm totally in control. In control and thirsty."

Mmm, a diet soda sounds good right now.

Oh No!!!

As a huge fan of Dirty Dancing, I was saddened to hear the news that Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

I can't tell you how many times I tried to re-enact Baby's leap into Johnny's arms with my best friend growing up. Suffice it to say, it never worked out quite as well as when Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze did it.

Also, I've probably spent 2% of my life watching Road House on TBS. Buttkickin' Swayze is probably second to Dirtydancin' Swayze, but it isn't by much.

Get well soon Johnny Castle!

Seattle Times: Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer

News clip from Reuters



Sexy shirtless Patrick from Dirty Dancing

And check out this trailer for Road House, did Swayze wear a shirt in the 80s?



and RIP Jeff Healey

Taste of Tava

Sometimes there are definite advantages to being the writer of the I Love Diet Soda blog...like free beverages. I was lucky enough to be able to sample the new zero calorie sparkling beverage from Pepsico, Tava. I know a lot of people are moving away from soft drinks, so these flavored sparkling waters might be just what they are looking for. I like all the flavors, very fruity and nicely sweet, but must say that the black cherry citrus was my favorite.

I like the cool names for the flavors too: Brazilian Samba, Mediterranean Fiesta, and Tahitian Tamure. Are you like me and don't know what a Tamure is? Check this out then. All of this makes me want to grab some of these and be in the sand and surf.

Although, I'm not in the target demographic (apparently men and women aged 35 to 49, according to this story) I don't have any problem recommending this new calorie free drink.