Starbucks Unveils a New Logo

5 Jan

The new logo is located on the far right. Starbucks unveiled their new logo with a video message from CEO and founder Howard Schultz. The change occurs close to the 40th anniversary of the company. Gone are the words “Starbucks Coffee” and the border around the siren. Her image remains, however, in all green.

I think the new logo makes a lot of sense. Schultz comments on staying true to the company’s heritage with the use of the siren, but all refers to their changing business model. This new logo reflects a broader Starbucks brand, as the company sells products in addition to coffee.

Welcome to the Fattest Place on Earth

5 Jan

It’s not where you think. ABC News’ Nightline traveled to the tiny island nation of Nauru, which was recently named the heaviest population on Earth.  More than 95 percent of the population is overweight and close to half of the citizens have Type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization report found that the 7 heaviest nations on earth are Pacific Islander.

The reasons for the staggering amount of obesity remain contentious. Nauru’s health chief claims that Pacific Islander people are simply prone to weight gain. International experts, however, fault the shift in diet that occurred in the 1980s when the nation enjoyed a period of brief prosperity, bolstered by rich phosphate mines. After the mining explosion, the nation began to import fatty foods from other nations and shifted away from their traditional diet of fish and root vegetables. The mines dried up but the bad eating habits remained.

For a concrete example, look no further than the “national drink” of Nauru. A mixture of iced coffee with lots of added sugar. Politicians from the island nation quickly point out that they are committed to fighting the epidemic with weekly walks around the island and national weight loss competitions. From the looks of it, they have a long ways to go.

Articles You Should Be Reading

4 Jan

Today, in a very New York Times heavy post, I bring you some more articles that you should be reading. Some are long, and others are shorter.

1) Goldman Offering Clients A Chance to Invest in Facebook- Dealbook: Fresh off being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, Mark Zuckerberg, and his company Facebook, are working with Goldman Sachs in a deal that could increase the social network’s value to $50 billion. Zuckerberg’s personal wealth could also double to around $15 billion.

2) Chop, Fry, Boil- Mark Bittman in The New York Times: The popular chef penned this op-ed for the Times. He argues against the myth that fast food is cheaper, saying that a family of four can eat well for $10. Not a good chef? Bittman says that three simple dishes (and their thousands of variations) can satisfy anyone’s hunger without requiring much skill to prepare.

3) A Bronx Elementary School, Surrounded by Prostitutes- New York Times: This article is quite hard to read, but reminds everyone that the hard life of the inner city remains very much a reality in New York City. Prostitutes host clients in a tent within view of West Farms Elementary School in the Bronx.

4) The Year Ahead in Bikes- Grist: One author’s predictions for what the coming year will hold for cyclists around the country. Lots of interesting links throughout the article. Well worth clicking around.

5) Aftershocks- Mother Jones: A peak into the hellish refugee camps in Haiti, nearly one year after the earthquake. The author speaks to survivors and chronicles the violence many women (and children) have faced in the months since the disaster.

A New Way For Food to Kill You

3 Jan

The Guardian reports that six people in Japan have died this holiday season alone on Mochi— the traditional Japanese rice cakes. An additional 18 people were hospitalized after eating them.

What’s wrong with these particular mochi, you might ask? Nothing. All of the victims were between the ages of 70 and 95. Every year, members of the Japanese government issue warnings to the elderly and small children, urging them to only consume bite-sized pieces of the dish. Tragically, every year, some people don’t heed the warning and choke to death.

Undercity: A Documentary About the Secrets of New York

3 Jan

Filmmaker Andrew Wonder and Urban Historian (great title) Steve Duncan explore the mysteries of New York City in this short documentary. The two men (illegally) explore the abandoned City Hall subway stop (previously blogged about on this site), the first sewer of the city, and several other treasures, hidden below ground.
Vodpod videos no longer available.

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