Monthly Archives: April 2008

Starbucks Stays Mum on Drink Math – The Numbers Guy – WSJ

http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/starbucks-stays-mum-on-drink-math-309

Starbucks has been saying since at least 2006 that it offers 87,000 different drink combinations. Depending on the context, the Seattle coffee company has wielded the number as a gee-whiz factoid, as demonstration of the skill required of its baristas, as evidence of its great variety of offerings and even to lobby against a new law in New York City. But one thing Starbucks won’t do with that number, at least with me, is explain how it was calculated.

http://shitamericaneeds.com/2008/04/02/5-someone-to-ask-tom-cruise-are-you-serious/


Shit America Needs – #5 Someone To Ask Tom Cruise: “Are You Serious?”

The majority of Americans familiar with Tom Cruise’s enthusiastic adoption of Scientology have already written him off as a nutjob. And not just a mid-level nutjob that’s par for the Hollywood course, but the type of nutjob that talks to himself in the mirror, refers to himself in the third person, and probably eats his own cult-flavored boogers.

Surly teenagers need 9hrs 12mins of sleep – Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/01/nsleep201.xml

Surly teenager syndrome could be cured by an extra hour in bed, research shows.

A study found that secondary school children are biologically programmed to need more sleep and at different times than adults.

It concluded that, rather than despairing at behaviour like that of Harry Enfield’s Kevin the Teenager, parents should feel sympathy because it is probably the result of a considerable “sleep debt”.

How Tai Chi could help diabetics control their sugar levels | Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=552189&in_page_id=1774

Traditional Chinese martial arts exercises could help diabetics control their blood sugar levels, say researchers.

They found that a 12-week programme of T’ai Chi led to a “significant” fall of 8 per cent in blood sugar levels in those suffering Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity.

Mugabes party loses control of parliament – Africa, World – The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/we-have-beaten-mugabe-says-mdc-803637.html

Zimbabwe’s ruling party lost control of parliament today and the opposition said it had also defeated veteran leader Robert Mugabe in a presidential vote.

Official figures said the combined opposition had taken 105 seats in the 210 seat parliament with one going to an independent. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF has so far taken 94.