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  • The Hard Facts About Soft Drinks

    Current mood:thirsty

    The other day my nephew was working a story problem whichrequired him to know how many ounces are in a gallon. I told him therewere 64 ounces in a gallon. Now before I get a tidal wave of emailsthat tell me how half right I am, let me tell you what happened next.The answer I gave him bugged me so I Googled it. There are 128 ouncesin a gallon. The answer I gave him equaled a half gallon. So there are32 ounces in a quart, 16 in a pint, 8 in a cup.

    So that got me a-thinking', about how many ounces were in a can of soda. Upon opening the refrigerator I learned thatthere are 12, one and a half cups. I remember that when I was a kid Icouldn't drink an entire can of soda and I would often splita soda with my little brother. As a kid, a soda was quite a luxury sowe cherished our Shastas.  But that was then when cute cartoons told us that Shasta tasted good. Nowdays, after the cola wars taught us that we didn't drink soda for the taste but rather because all of the popular kids are doing it,people drink gallons of soda a day.

    A Refreshing Can of Soda

    First let me start by saying, the most recent soda pop data isfrom 2006 so all or my calculations are based on 2006 numbers. Withthat out of the way; The top selling soda brands in the U.S. are, inorder:

    Coke Classic ~ 1.8 Billion Cases
    Pepsi-Cola ~ 1.1 Billion Cases     
    Diet-Coke ~ 1.0 Billion Cases
    Mountain Dew ~ 650 Million Cases
    Diet Pepsi ~ 610 Million Cases

    Even though Pepsi has 3 in the top 5, Coke has 43% of the market share beating out Pepsi's 31%, according to Beverage Digest.  Nowhere's where it get's fun. According to the Beverage digest report, in 2006, Coke produced 1.76 Billion (with a"B") cases of Coke Classic.

    Now here's a story problem for you.

    Based in the recommended 12 ounce can serving size, what's soda doing to our nutrition? Once I realized that soda comes in 12 ounce cans, I realized that the nutritional information available on Coke's and Pepsi's websites is calculated based on 8 ounce servings, so I used a little math to provide comparable statistics between the sodas.  And then I Compared to reality.

     ..> ..> ..>..>..>..>..>..>..>..> ..> ..>
       

    12 Ounce Can

            		   

    Calories

            		   

    Sodium
    Grams

            		   

    Sugar
    Grams

       
       

    Coke Classic

    		    140     50    

    39
    Pepsi- Cola    

    150

         		    

    30

         		 41
    Diet- Coke   N/A 45 N/A 
    Mountain Dew  170  65  46 
    Diet Pepsi  N/A 35  N/A

    http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/mail/goodanswer/soft_drink_nutrition.pdf
    http://www.pepsiproductfacts.com/infobycategory.php

    To put the calories in perspective, it takes me 15 minutes on the treadmill going 3.3 miles per hour to burn 150 calories. To put the sodium (salt) into perspective a teaspoon of salt is just under five grams (4.75) 45 grams of salt, the average of the five sodas, is just over 3 (3.16) tablespoons, the big spoon. For the non-diet drinks the average sugar in the can is 42 grams almost 3 tablespoons (2.95). Like the song says, "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down." I guess it takes three spoons of sugar to choke down three and a third tablespoons of salt.

    A Real Drinking Problem

    Now let's invite Dr. Reality to the conversation.(Dr. Reality like Dr. Pepper, is not a really doctor or for that matter, even a real person.) In reality we drink more than the fictional 8 ounces that the soda companies have on their websites, or even 12 ounces that come in a can. Dr. Reality tells us that usually weget 16 ounces or more soda when we get our greasy burgers. Add that up and we get a new chart.

     ..> ..> ..>..>..>..>..>>>..>..>..> ..> ..>
       

    16 Ounce

            		   

    Calories

            		   

    Sodium
    Tablespoons

            		   

    Sugar
    Tablespoons

       
       

    Coke Classic

            		   

    280

            		   

    7.25

            		   

    5.4795

       
       

    Pepsi-Cola

            		   

    300

            		   

    4.215

            		   

    5.7605

       
       

    Diet-Coke

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    6.3225

            		   

    N/A

       
       

    Mountain Dew

            		   

    340

            		   

    9.1325

            		   

    6.463

       
       

    Diet Pepsi

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    4.9175

            		   

    N/A

       

    At 16 ounces we have more than a third of a cup of salt and sugar and all of the regular sodas. Diet Coke has 2/5 cups of salt and Diet Pepsi has 3/10 cups of salt.  In all categories this is more salt than I would put on my fries! But you know that there are people who can't stop at just one.

    Know When to Say When

    For those who don't know when enough is enough, I've included a table that represents 32 ounces and 64 ounces. In the 64 ounce section I have begun measuring salt and sugar by the cup.

     ..> ..> ..>..>..>..>..>..>..>..> ..> ..>
             

    32 Ounce

       

    Calories

            		   

    32
    Ounce

       

    Sodium Tablespoons

            		   

    32
    Ounce

       

    Sugar Tablespoons

            		   

    64
    Ounce

       

     Calories

    		   

    64
    Ounce

       

    Sodium CUPS

            		   

    64
    Ounce

       

    Sugar CUPS

       
       

    Coke Classic

            		   

    560

            		   

    14.05

            		   

    10.959

            		   

    1120

            		   

    1.74

            		   

    1.36

       
       

    Pepsi-Cola

            		   

    600

            		   

    8.43

            		   

    11.521

            		   

    1200

            		   

    1.04

            		   

    1.43

       
       

    Diet-Coke

      
    		   

    N/A

            		   

    12.645

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    1.57

            		   

    N/A

       
       

    Mountain Dew

            		   

    680

            		   

    18.265

            		   

    12.926

            		   

    1360

            		   

    2.26

            		   

    1.60

       
       

    Diet Pepsi

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    9.835

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    1.22

            		   

    N/A

       

     

    One note that struck me as quite interesting is that in my homemade, made from scratch, lemon cake recipe, I use 3 eggs (just the yolks no whites—I know it's not healthy but it is moist.), a cup of flour, a tablespoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of salt, a splash of lemon extract and a single (1) cup of sugar.  Drizzle some honey on the top when it's done or don't put anything on top and have it with your coffee.  DO NOT have it with 64 ounces of Mountain Dew or you may be getting way too much sugar.

    It's a National Crisis

    According to Beverage Digest's Carbonated Soft Drink report in the year 2006 the soda companies produced over 10 Billion Gallons of soda.  Now if we believe Arthur's Pools website,(when you think pools, think Arthur) the dimensions of an Olympic Sized swimming pool is approximately 164ft x 82ft and 6ft deep. So in the U.S. we had enough soda to fill Olympic sized swimming pools that could cover a 16.7 square mile surface area. That's as big as the entire town of Kirtland, Ohio.  Now that's a lot of soda.

     

    So let's look at the numbers as they calculate out. This is the last chart in this blog, I swear.

    ..> ..> ..>..>..>..>..>..>..>..> ..> ..>
       

    2006 Production of the top 5 brands

            		           

    Calories

            		   

    Sodium Tons

            		   

    Sugar Tons

       
       

    Coke Classic

            		     

    4
    Billion gallons

            		   

    Over
    9 Quadrillion

            		   

    3.6 Million

            		   

    2.8 Million

       
       

    Pepsi- Cola

            		     

    2.5
    Billion gallons

            		   

    Almost
    6 Quadrillion

            		   

    1.3 Million

            		   

    1.8 Million

       
       

    Diet- Coke

            		     

    2.3
    Billion gallons

            		   

    N/A

            		   

    1.8
    Million

            		   

    N/A

       
       

    Mountain Dew

            		     

    1.5
    Billion gallons

            		   

    Almost
    4 Quadrillion

            		   

    1.7 Million

            		   

    1.1 Million

      
      

    Diet Pepsi

           		    

    1.3
    Billion gallons      

    		  

    N/A

           		  

    847 Thousand

           		  

    N/A

      

     

    I checked the population clock on the U.S. Government's Census website at 8:00PM EST on 2/21/08 and it said the US population was 303,484,161.  That means that everyone in the U.S. consumes on average, 33 Gallons of soda a year.  That comes down to 352 cans of soda a year or just under a can of soda a day per person.

    Which leads me to two conclusions.

       
    1. Way too many of you are giving sodas to newborns!
      2.  
    2. Somebody is drinking my share.

    That's OK though.  I'll just go back to splitting a can of soda with my little brother.

    10th Place . . . Where we celebrate water, God's soda.

    3:25 AM
    • Post a comment...
      • Mickey Gamonal

        Nice very interesting study, where were you during the science fair?

        4 years ago

  • Altered-Reality TV

    Current mood:overstimulated

    It looks like the writers are going back to work.  YAY!

    I personally can't take another minute of "The Stars Come Out to Dance" or some other crap that network execs have used to fill the dead air on the idiot box.  This week I will review my two least favorite writer-less, mind-puddin' programs:

    American Gladiators (2008)


    Man, who didn't love this show when they were a kid?  Battling the gladiators through the Powerball event, where the gladiators slammed the contestants to the ground if they were unfortunate enough to be caught, made for mighty fine television viewing.  The elaborate set which included some giant ball things that contestants would get into was just plain old fun.  Adding the Hulkster and the Queen of Women's Boxing did not improve this already tried and tired idea.

    I'll bottom line it for you people.  All this version does is remind us that the first version was better and is gone forever.  Zap, Nitro and Lace, now those were some gladiators.  In the olden days we only needed 6 gladiators to make things pop (the other three were Malibu, Gemini, and Sunny).  But the real stars of the show were spandex and sweat.

    Originally the show was syndicated and had no network sponsorship.  Just like the Gladiators and contestants, the show itself was just trying to survive from week to week.  Assault, the Joust, Breakthrough and Conquer, Powerball, The Wall, and The Eliminator were interesting and exciting back in the day.

    This new version has to afford Hulk Hogan his face time (WAY too much) and if I didn't think she would pound me to dust, I would rip the microphone out of Ali's hand myself.

    There are currently 14 steroid-infused character actors who work as Gladiators now.  The new gladiators appear to have been selected based on focus groups and range from the "Stealth" the smallest at 5' 2" and 123 pounds to the largest "Justice" a 6' 8" 290 pounder.  The network would have us believe that the fan favorite is "Hellga" (a.k.a. Robin Coleman    ) a 6' 1" blonde former body builder from the exotic land of Texas.  Sorry to ruin the fantasy for any trailer dwellers but instead of watching this bastardization of a truly fun show, clean up the doublewide, the Easter Bunny will be on his way soon enough.

    Big Brother (US)


    How in a just world can this show keep coming back?  Freddy Kruger hasn't made a new movie in years but this monster keeps reviving and scaring the pants off me.  This show is based on the wildly popular series of the same name from Great Brittan.  It adds to all of the other cultural gifts from England that we didn't want like English Cuisine, Football Hooliganism, Golf     and that Amy Winehouse gal who took all of the Grammys.  Get a dentist now, Amy!

    In the U.S., Big Brother began in 2000.  Since then, every summer we must suffer new houseguests, new challenges, and new evictions.  Yawn!

    Last year they had an estranged father/daughter pair on.  Together they snookered everyone and eventually won the whole shootin' match.  This touching reunion of jerk father and questionable daughter had Americans glued to the set.  It even inspired an old cynic like me to comment.

    WHO CARES?????  WHO CARES????? 
    WHO CARES?????  WHO CARES?????

    Get a life people!  This is not entertainment!  It's not even good voyeurism!  I would rather watch mold grow on cheese.  (The preceding idea for the MOLD reality show is mine!  Don't none of you try to make a buck off my hard show creation work!)

    What's on the horizon?


    In mid January with no apparent end in sight to the Writer's strike, CBS announced that it will pick up three reality programs:
    "Game Show in My Head"
    "America's Top Dog"
    "Secret Talents of the Stars" (my Favorite!)

    Since the above reviews prove that I don't actually need to see the shows to review them, I will be the first to offer a pre-review for:

    "Secret Talents of the Stars"

    In "Secret Talents of the Stars" third tier, c-list stars will compete weekly for grocery/liquor money and one final grand prize.  The basic premise of the show is the fading stars will be judged by a panel of three.  (possible judge candidates include:  Kato Kaelin    , The guy who played Freddy Kruger, not George Michael but the other guy from Wham!.

    Based on their ability to make special guest appearances at mall openings, court hearings and unemployment lines, the judges will select the three celebs and let the state of Virginia vote to see who goes and who stays.

    The original plans to have a national 900 line were abandoned when it came to the attention of the shows produces that most of the target audience couldn't work a phone.  They selected Virginia because one of the producers was from there and had 7 members of his family commit to voting every week.  He is reported to have said to a reporter from     Entertainment Tonight    , "If them dumb hillbillies don't vote I'm not going to send them their Wal-mart Christmas gift card this year.  Did you hear that you hayseeds?  No Votie, No Giftie!!!"

    The contestants are competing for a career-reviving guest appearance on Fox T.V.'s Sunday night hit, The Family Guy    , where they will be the guest voice for one of Stewie's mess diapers that comes to life and enters into a romance with Family Guy neighbor, eccentric gay pedophile, Herbert.  Hilarity should then ensue.

    Turn off the damn television!  Instead of watching reality TV, this season tune into reality . . . reality!

    10th Place . . . If trying were an Olympic event, we'd get a bronze! Maybe.

    10:40 PM

  • Fat Tuesday Weight Loss Tips

    Current mood:sweaty

    As I write this it's Shrove Tuesday, or as I like to call it, Fat Tuesday.  And what better topic for Fat Tuesday than weight loss.  I've been going to the Gym.  Since December, I've lost 5 pounds but I think I've trimmed up more than that.  I'm making muscle and we all know that that weighs more so I think I'm in better health than when I opened the 10th Place.

    What's My Secret?


    Eat less and exercise more.  Simple enough but I know that other folk in this world do many more exoctic things to loose the excess pounds.  My Google search produces 157 Million links on the web when I enter the term "Weight Loss."  To help you fight through all of the listings I have chosen to highlight 3.

    Fat Camp . . . For Adults!


    Majorca, Spain is the place to be this fall for the Best Bodies Boot Camp!  For a mere $3,250.00 you can go to Fat Camp in Spain.  This price is for the camp only and you will have to get your own self to Spain.  Now I'm kind of big and I am already uncomfortable in an airplane seat let alone to be trapped on an airplane for 12 hours eating rubber chicken.  I know that people who sit next to me are uncomfortable in an airplane seat.  An d I don't look forward to fighting with a bunch of other chubbies for the Tapas.  

    The 32 hundred will covers everything though.  According to the website it includes: accommodations, meal, laundry service, maid service, all training, five one hour massages, a detox kit, gifts, and 2 weeks  of distance coaching after you leave Best Bodies Boot Camp.  The Boot camp is also offered in Florida and North Carolina but neither of them are as fun to say as "Majorca."

    Ancient Chinese Secret!


    The tag line from Okuma's Chinese Wu-Long Tea says, "How would you like to drink away pounds of stubborn body fat and inches from your waistline in as little as 3 minutes a day?"  My answer to this is, "Hell yeah!  I would like to drink away pounds in as little as three minutes a day.  Right now I do about 30 minutes a day on the treadmill.  It's sweaty, messy and it takes a great commitment on my part.  I would love to pitch the treadmill and it's bouncing belly show, for 3 minutes of soothing tea.  So I read on.

    Apparently Okuma's Tea can boast of  over 400,000 satisfied customers.  Well that's good to know.  I wouldn't want to drink an unpopular tea.  You can also find the claim on the website that Okuma's Tea May Burn 2.5 Times MORE Calories Than Authentic Green Tea.  Huh . . . I didn't know that Authentic Green tea burned calories.  But for me, I will refrain from all tea unless it's Okuma's Tea.  They are also calling it "Hollywood's New Slimming Secret!"  saying , "Discover for yourself why this is the hottest thing in Hollywood!"  Well it's hot because it's Tea.  I guess it could be iced tea but I just figured that Okuma's Tea would be served hot.  You can get a package, 60 servings, of this miracle Tea for 29.97 on sale.  Sounds a little pricy for tea I'll admit, but when you consider that you can drink away pounds in three minutes maybe it's worth it.  I don't care much for tea so I'll continue Googling.

    It Works Like Magic Because it's Magick!


    Could I make this up?  I don't think so.  If all of the hard work and effort are too much for you, If drinking tea for three minutes a day is too rough you can navigate to a site called www.weightlossspells.net .  On the site Diana Lite (quite an ironic last name if she was overweight before the spell) said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I never witnessed anything like this before. It's a 21st century miracle! I can finally go outside without being embarrassed."  However the benefits of the spell casters don't end there.  Their website sys, "A magick weight loss spell can make you lose your desired weight, gain muscles and also make you gain sexual charisma!"  Well there you go, NO Effort and I get the sexual charisma—sign me up.  But perhaps I am too hasty.  So I click the about us page to learn more about these people who will bring supernatural powers to my weight loss struggles.  

    Unlike the gym where I can have one personal trainer, It turns out that my  "spells are cast by a coven of four very respected and high powered individuals."  Sounds about nine short of a coven if you ask me.  But the best information on the entire website is located under the terms of use (This page has all of the disclaimers and such.)  I will list my top three favorite disclaimers from www.weightlossspells.net .
    1. When you buy a spell please be sure to give us the desired weight loss you want. This is important if you want to get the result you wish for.

    2. We offer a re-cast or 6 months 100% money back if you are not happy with the spell's result.

    3. Our services are, according to law, to be considered as "entertainment" and is the subject of your own interpretations.
    Currently the coven is offering a special.  Buy the Advanced Weight Loss Spell for the same proice as the regular!  $49.00.  And, you can't beat that with a broomstick!

    What is a Chubster To Do?


    Now I just feel like a fool when I go to the gym and hop on the treadmill for 30 minutes.  Like I said I've only lost 5 pounds.  But on the other hand I could have lost 5 pounds and $3,250.00, 29.97 or 49.00.  I don't have thousands to throw at my weight so I guess I'll just eat less and exercise more.

    10th Place . . . Momma says I'm the 10th winner!
    9:56 AM

  • Holy Cow! The wolves are at the door. Or are they?

    Current mood:nerdy

    Holy Cow!  The wolves are at the door.  Or are they?


    The Federal Reserve Board today decided to cut interest rates at approximately 2:15 PM EDT.  This action was immediately observed on the New York Stock Exchange where the Dow Jones Industrial Average moved from negative territory into high positive territory .  Despite all of that the Dow closed almost 40 points lower than when it opened.

    Today's action follows on the heels of the Fed's actions nine days ago which means that the past ten days the Fed has cut the Federal Funds rate by 1.25 percent .  In its actions today the Fed also signaled that future cuts were possible.  Currently the fed funds rate is at 3.

    The move by the Fed cut the interest rate is in response to a slow growing U.S. economy.  The Gross Domestic Product only expanded at a rate of 0.06 .  In a press release explaining the move the Federal Reserve said,


    What is the Fed?


    Federal Reserve Board     is made up of financial experts who sets the interest rates at which one bank may lend money to another .  In theory, when they cut interest rates the banks pass the savings on to the consumers.  This move should make more credit available to business and ultimately to individuals.  The problem we have here is for the past seven years the interest rates were low and loan approval standards were lax.  The end result was consumers took money out of their home equity to live a better lifestyle.

    Beginning sometime last year, maybe May or June, it was clear that this upside-down lending practice could not sustain itself.  A lot of people jumped into the mortgage brokerage industry and handed out huge loans with little or no proof of income or proof of ability to repay the loan.  A lot of Americans went on buying sprees purchasing all of the things that make life good—they did this on credit.  Well friends now the time has come to pay the piper.

    What you can do to take advantage of the current situation?


    If you haven't yet started saving for retirement start now.  While the Dow is down the companies' stocks are available to be purchased at the lower price .  As the Dow recovers the value of your investment will also recover.  There is no wrong time to start saving for your retirement.  Even if you open an online trading account and buy one good quality stock, based on the history of domestic investing, you should see some growth.

    As credit becomes more widely available is wise to use that credit judiciously .  Putting diapers on a credit card is not a wise move.  Long after the diapers are gone you will be paying for them.  If you approach your credit with the idea that you will continue to use what ever you purchased on credit during all the time you're paying for it you should be better off.  The problem occurs when people use credit to sustain their existence, at Starbucks, the night club or any other temporary purchases with no immediate plan to pay it off.

    Lastly, in 2007 foreclosures grew at a rate of 75%.  If you find yourself in some kind of adjustable rate mortgage GET OUT NOW!  Banks and lending organizations have realized their mistake and they will not make it again soon.  A fixed rate mortgage at a higher rate of interest will be more predictable for your household budget than an A.R.M..

    Don't hold your breath while waiting on the government.


    In his     State of the Union address    , President Bush asked Congress to pass legislation that will stop the bleeding in the home ownership were old .  Some hardliner economists have suggested that the people who borrowed money did so at their own expense and should therefore not be bailed out by the American public.  The reckless lending at the beginning of this decade got us to where we are and reckless government spending is not the thing that is going to bail us out.

    A lot of the regular Blog readers will have no use of this information.  They don't have houses and have limited credit; but if they can remember to use credit wisely, one day they may have a house and invite me over for drinks.

    10th Place . . . Where we don't do loans!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    THIS BLOG IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. This is merely opinion and isn't any more or less valid than the taxi driver's, homeless man's, or President's.  If you have come across an idea that you think is good, I strongly suggest that you discuss it with your CPA, Financial Planner, Banker or someone else before making any major financial decisions!  In other words do not take financial advice from internet blogs!
    2:01 AM

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