Strollerderby : Coca-Cola

New Coke: The New Birth Control?

JeanneSager — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:51:00 GMT

High school seniors everywhere are counting on too much Mountain Dew to help them practice safe sex. Who knew they'd be better off with Diet Coke?

Turns out doin' the Dew isn't going to destroy his sperm count (you'll just have to trust me on this one . . . she's running around the living room right now). But a 23-year-old study by researchers at Boston University's School of Medicine that found Coca-Cola has the makings of a good spermicide resurfaced this week to win an Ig Nobel Award - the prize handed out by Harvard University for "research that makes people laugh and then think."

The study, published in the 1985 New England Journal of Medicine, found Diet Coke was the best beverage to pour on your lower parts to kill off little swimmers. Brings a whole new meaning to bringing a little bubbly to bed to celebrate your consumation. It also sounds messy . . . and more than a little kinky.

But before you try it, you might want to read up on the other Ig Nobel Chemistry Prize Winner this year: a group of Taiwanese scientists who found sperm retained up to 70 percent mobility despite the extra fizz in the bedroom.

Image: ABC News

La. Legislator Says: Let's Pay the Poor to Stop Making Babies

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World's Worst Kid's Products Announced

Karen Murphy — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:28:00 GMT

Every year, Consumers International ("the global voice for consumers") announces the year's International Bad Product Awards, international brands guilty of abusing consumer rights. Any thoughts as to the winners this year? McDonald's? Mattel? Good guesses, all of them, but sorry. Wrong. This year's winner is Takeda Pharmaceuticals of Japan, and you'll never guess why they won.

Sleeping pills. For kids. Complete with "back-to-school" images in the marketing. Because who doesn't think of sleeping pills when they think about back-to-school? And this despite obvious health warnings against pediatric use of the medication. But why worry about health warnings when you've got stuff to sell?

Next up: Coca-Cola, for selling Dasani bottled water, aka "tap water." What, you thought Dasani was maybe, I dont know, spring water? Or somehow better than tap water? Something other than tap water? Nope.

And then: Kellog's. Because high-sugar high-sodium junk food should always be marketed to kids using cartoon characters.

Not to leave out: Mattel. Because you know they had to make this year's list, didn't you? For "stonewalling US congressional investigations and avoiding overall responsibility for the global recall of 21 million products." That sounds substantial, doesn't it?

And a big round of applause to this year's winners!

Pour Some Sugar on Me: Soda Makers Pull a Fast One

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:06:00 GMT

Under pressure from parents and schools, Coke and Pepsi and Schweppes agreed to pull their sugar laden soda from schools last year and replace them with 100% juice, low-fat milk, and water.

For this, the companies were lauded.... but far far too soon it seems...

The companies have since regrouped, tweaked their agreement, and come out quite justified in now adding sports drinks, vitamin water, and other sugar-laden nectar for your (soon-to-be-chubby) little hummingbird to drink while at school.

I don't blame the big guys for trying to make a dime, but can't you leave the poor, tired, fat kids alone? Just this once?

A Game Plan to Encourage Healthy Habits

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:14:00 GMT

The Boys and Girls Club of America (along with Coca-Cola and Kraft) have developed a system to help parents help their kids be healthier. They are calling it The Triple Play Game Plan. It has a 'holistic approach' that focuses on the mind, body and soul.

For the mind part, they educate parents and kids about healthy eating habits. There are different lessons for different age groups, the body section focuses on sports and exercise and to strengthen the soul reinforced positive behavior and strives to strengthen each child's character.

I think it sounds really good. While I admit that Coca-Cola sponsoring a plan to make kids eat healthier makes me slightly skeptical, the idea that this is something that will be taught at the Boys and Girls Club and can be used by parents in the home sounds like a good way to get our children thinking in the right way about food, exercise and social responsibility.