MAN FINDS MOUSE IN MOUNTAIN DEW, AND THAT'S NOT THE WORST PART!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

It’s a disgusting thought that someone might find a mouse in a can of Mountain Dew Soda, but that’s exactly what Roland Ball from Illinois is claiming. Ball is suing Pepsi over the alleged mouse found in a can he purchased in November of 2009.

Pepsi rejects the claim, saying that the acid in the Mountain Dew would have disintegrated the mouse’s body. Now THAT is even more disgusting! I’ve heard stories that Coke can dissolve a nail or strip a penny, and that didn’t stop me from drinking my Diet Coke several times a day, but somehow knowing that there is enough acid to melt a mouse, well, it makes me think I should be switching to water!

I did a little research and “Life Science” (http://www.livescience.com/7198-acids-popular-sodas-erode-tooth-enamel.html) reported about a study done on soft drinks and their effect on tooth enamel due to acid levels. They found that :

“The erosive potential of colas is 10 times that of fruit juices in just the first three minutes of drinking, a study last year showed. The latest research, published in Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) journal General Dentistry, reports that drinking any type of soft drink hurts teeth due to the citric acid and/or phosphoric acid in the beverages.”

RC Cola was found to be the most acidic soft drink studied, with a pH of 2.387 (the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 for most liquids, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the least acidic—or most alkaline). Cherry Coke was found to be the next most acidic (pH of 2.522), and Coke was the third most acidic soda tested (pH of 2.525). Battery acid has a pH of 1.0. Pure water at room temperature has a pH of 7.0. Root beer was found to be the least acidic of all soft drinks, with a pH 4.038 for the Mug brand. The reason for the reduced acidity is that root beer is often non-carbonated and contains no phosphoric or citric acids.

So knowing that my Diet Coke can damage my enamel and possibly melt a mouse, will I really give it up and replace it with all natural, life-giving, pure water? Probably not! It might kill me, but I love my Diet Coke! What about you?

NO PAIN NO GAIN

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

Pear shape or apple shape? Or just regular sausage shape?

When the chips are down, you can't eat the dip.

If your pants are the same size as a regular sleeping bag, you don't need the s'mores.

NO PAIN NO GAIN

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

The Amusement Park Diet: Eat hot dogs, cotton candy and soda pop. Ride a roller coaster. The hot dogs, cotton candy and soda pop will be right back.

The Child Diet: Eat taco shells, marshmallow creme and candy. Complain of a tummy ache.

The House work Diet: "Dust" powdered sugar onto donuts, the "vacuum" them into your mouth.

NO PAIN NO GAIN

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

Chromium, copper, iron, magnesium: if you take all those supplements, you'll set off the metal detector at the airport.

If the counter guy offers you fries with that, it's rude to refuse.

It's not overeating. its stockpiling calories.

NO PAIN NO GAIN

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

The Female Diet: Eat chocolate. Drink diet soda. Buy a workout video.

The Empty Nest Diet: Eat frozen dinners in front of the TV. Enjoy yourself immensely.

The Kid-Away-at- College Diet: Eat macaroni and cheese. A LOT!

COKE OR PEPSI - PART I - IT'S THE REAL THING

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Coke or Pepsi?  The age old war between the two iconic cola companies continues. Either you’re a Coke person or a Pepsi person; it’s politically incorrect to be both! Let’s look at the history of each company, their impact on society and the cleverness of their slogans and then, of course, the taste. After that, you decide. Tell us which kind of cola connoisseur you are!

Coke was invented in May of 1886 by a pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton in a brass kettle in his back yard. He took the syrup to his drug store in Atlanta Georgia where his bookkeeper suggested the name Coca Cola because of the ingredients cocaine and kola nut. It was this bookkeeper’s neat script handwriting that became the famous logo still used today.

The syrup was mixed with carbonated water at the soda fountain of the Pharmacy and sold about 9 glasses a day. It was advertised as an elixir or tonic to improve digestion and settle upset stomachs. By the late 1890’s the formula was sold to Asa Candler who launched an aggressive marketing campaign which led to Coca Cola being one of America’s most popular fountain drinks. Clever advertising, updating the product (Diet Coke, Coke Zero, New Coke, Coke Classic etc) and bottling helped Coke to grow into a household word around the world.

The effect of Coke on our culture? HUGE! Besides being the first major soda company to bottle and distribute coke in machines, the Coca Cola Company practically invented the now accepted image of Santa Claus. Their brilliant ads in 1931 depicting that “Jolly Old Elf” as a rosy cheeked, red nosed, chubby old man in a red suit gave children what became the iconic image of Santa for ages to come. It was also Coke that hired famous artists Normal Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth to paint much loved versions of mid-century American life. And who can forget the historic 1971 commercial “I’d like to teach the world to sing”? It was also Coke that was the first soft drink to be consumed in space in July of 1985.

So now you know the history and some interesting facts. What about the taste?  Most people describe it as “fuzzy, sweet, refreshing, crisp and sugary. The truth is, you have to taste it for yourself to really know. 

So, are you a Coke person? Think you know all about Coca Cola?

Take the Coke quiz and find out!

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/quiz/quiz.html

The competitor: Pepsi Cola  will be explored in part II!

PIONEER GIRL

MARION PELLICANO AMBROSE

I've come to the conclusion that it’s a very good thing that I wasn’t born in the pioneer days!  When I was younger, I used to think that I would love the challenge and romance of those times. Today I learned, without a doubt, I never would have made it!



This morning the electric company turned off the electricity in our neighborhood for a few hours. No problem, or so I thought! I slept in little later (I forgot my alarm wouldn’t work) and got up to have my MUST HAVE morning cup of Earl Gray. I forgot: electric stove = no tea. OK, diet coke it is! Time to check in on face book and hit the Delayed Reaction Lounge! What? No connection? But I have wireless! Reset what? No internet for a while. OK. I’ll watch TV, no! Do some sewing, no! Make cookies, no, no no! I tried to switch on fans, turn on lights, play some music. I just couldn’t get used to not having electricity for even a few short hours! Pathetic!