Snippets: April 2003 Archives

In an act of sheer brilliance absurdity, Cadbury's have started a campaign whereby children will be able to justify their burgeoning maladdiction to chocolate and refined sugars by exchanging a crazy number of proof-of-purchase coupons for sports equipment. Ostensibly to promote healthy living, this farce has been cleverly constructed; one the one side, you could argue that the chocolate is going to be eaten anyway, but on the other - reality - well, you just know what kids are like... sweets! free footballs! ...buy...buy...buy! Unfortunately, the numbers involved are staggering.

In high profile cases, the tobacco industry has recently paid enormous amounts to recompense individuals damaged by its products. Will Cadbury's be among those forced to pay out for the rise in type-II diabetes and its knock-on toll on our healthcare system?

A little advertised fact of the day; it is the 50th anniversary of the 'Discovery of DNA' - actually, that's not strictly true, as the existence of DNA was proposed in, oh, roundabout 1868. What took place in 1953 right here in Cambridge, through significant collaboration with Birkbeck and King's Colleges, London, was the elucidation of its structure as a binary helix. I won't risk boring you with further details, or my own factual inaccuracies, but if you're interested - and you should be (your DNA is who you are) - just mosey on to the BBCi page linked to above!

I've just discovered that there are people in this world who believe that the only drink of choice for gay men in particular - I quote, the 'gayest cocktail' - is the one that contains pineapple juice. Interesting. Why? Well, all "gays drink pineapple juice." Why? Well naturally...