November 27: AIDS
The Clinton Foundation is to be credited with negotiating with international companies that make generic antiretroviral treatments to provide these drugs at $139 per year per person (a drop from $500 per year).
November 26: Poles
Estimated number of stripper poles sold in the U.S. last year for home or gym use: 59,000
November 25: Redeem!
Estimated amount that Americans lose every year by not redeeming gift cards: $8,000,000,000
November 24: Plain
‘Even though we know the virtues of plain language, many still believe that using million-dollar words makes them appear smarter. In a study by Daniel Oppenheimer of Stanford University, in which readers were asked to judge the intelligence of writers, the results overwhelming show that the loss of readability and fluency due to needless complexity leads to negative evaluations of the writer, especially of their intelligence.’
November 23: Task-based
In task-based language learning, tasks are central to the learning activity. It is based on the belief that students may learn more effectively when their minds are focused on the task, rather than on the language they are using.
November 22: Bicentenary
On March 25, 1801, the British Parliament passed An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. 26 years later, passage of the Slavery Abolition Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire.
November 21: Condom
Researchers at the German Institute for Condom Consultancy plan to launch a spray-on condom, suited to every size of penis. The condom spray can is expected to reach market in 2008 for a price of around EUR 20 and will offer around 20 applications.
November 20: Ikea Catalogue
With an estimated 175 million copies distributed in 2006, the IKEA catalogue is thought to have surpassed the Bible as the most published printed work in the world.
Thanks, Oliver!
Thanks, Oliver!
Bonus: Ringtone
About half a million Spaniards have downloaded a mobile phone ringtone featuring Spain's King Juan Carlos telling Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, ‘Por que no te callas?’ or ‘Why don't you shut up?’
November 19: Pop Tarts
From Today in History: Kellogg's Pop Tarts pastries were created on this day in 1965.
November 17: Dark
Astronomers do not know the nature of ‘dark matter’, mysterious material in the universe that exerts a gravitational pull, but does not emit nor absorb light.
November 16: Brands
Some brands that retailers cannot typically ship to Canada from the States: Red, Burton, Anon, Quicksilver, Roxy, Rossignol, Salomon, The North Face, Arbor, K2, Ride, Vans, Oakley, O'Neil.
November 15: Banan
In Eastern Africa you can buy banana beer, brewed from bananas. The word ‘banan’ is Arabic for finger.
November 14: Iqaluit
Up in the Canadian North, ‘Iqaluit’ translates as ‘place of many fish.’ Southerners often pronounce it ‘Iqualuit,’ which means ‘your dirty ass.’
November 13: $320 million
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has purchased an Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, for private use.
November 12: Night Owls
‘A growing parliament of night owls is finally starting to hoot in protest. Citing genetic differences that force them to wake up late, these dawdlers are organizing worldwide to overthrow a workplace bias they say favours early birds.’
November 11: Mr. Toilet
Sim Jae-duck, South Korea's ‘Mr. Toilet’, has built a toilet-shaped home complete with the latest in lavatory luxury.
November 10: Oh dear...
A British man has been placed on the sex offenders' register after being caught trying to have sex with a bicycle. Telegraph story here.
November 9: Skinny-dip
The British Columbia Supreme Court confirmed the right of Canadians to skinny-dip at private parties - even if they're held in municipal pools governed by prudish politicians.
November 8: Cancer
The World Cancer Research Fund's most rigorous study so far on the links between food, physical activity and cancer, calls for attention to what you eat and drink. Individually (except for smoking), these risks are small, However, in total they add up to something significant.
November 6: Benetton
In the 1970s, Bennetton ‘built an international clothing brand on a novel business model: dyeing clothes at the last minute to respond to changes in fashion.’
November 5: Density
The population density in The Netherlands is 392 people per square kilometre, making it more dense than India or China.
November 4: Kibbutzim
‘Portion of Israel's 265 kibbutzim that are now at least partially privatized operations: 7/10’
November 3: Subsidies
‘Number of Manhattan residents who received federal farm subsidies between 2003 and 2005: 573’
November 2: Distribution
Newspapers published for distribution in the late afternoon (evening or PM papers) outnumber morning papers approximately three to one.
November 1: Argentine
The first five-star gay hotel in Latin America opened on October 31 in Buenos Aires.
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