The Double A Lounge

Caffeine - could we ever live without it?  Probably not based on the amount we use.  I’m not surprised that caffeine intake has increased.  Stand in line at any coffee shop and you won’t find too many people asking for decaf.  In fact, they usually will get the most heavy caffeinated stuff they can get.  It might be dressed up with fancy flovors and whipped cream, but in the end it’s the zing that counts.  This interesting article points out what we already knew about caffeine, but what surprised me is the range of products to get your fix on.  Everything from lip balm to…bath soap?  I’m surprised someone hasn’t come out with a line of cosmetics based on caffeine or a line of perfume or cologne that is caffeine based.  The soap pictured below also comes available as body wash for those who have evolved beyond bar soap.

I did the college thing and one thing you can’t avoid when going to college is buying books. You find out they are not cheap, you have to buy many of them, and if you sell them back you get squat for them. What’s even more appalling is that many times you barely use the book or it’s of such dubious quality that it is tossed aside in favor of better alternatives. The professor in this article has the right idea. He caught on to the idea that students would do well to spend their money on better things than overinflated textbooks. Why more instructors haven’t caught on to this is beyond me. I think it would even be worth considering making all textbooks available in electronic form for a reduced price. If you find it useful, then allow the student to order a real copy if they want.

Well, I grew up in the 80’s so I know what this is all about. I remember well the first time I saw the music video on MTV for the song “Thriller” by Michael Jackson from the album of the same name. I think it was tagged at the time as the most expensive music video ever made. Great song and everything about the video was motion picture quality. Apparently, as evidenced by the video below, even prisoners can appreciate what this is about. This version was performed by inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines. So what’s next week - Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”? They do a heck of a job but then again, if you had nothing better to do in prison, wouldn’t you?

Most people have tried a slot machine at one time or another so you have to wonder about how they are made and used in casinos. This article is part of an online course from Stanford University that has all sorts of interesting info not just about slot machines but casinos in general. There were some real eye openers concerning the methods casinos use to keep you there. I won’t feel quite the same again then next time I step into a casino and take a breath of air.