3/12/24 - Razzies, Decaf Ban, and Time Change

Tuesday 3/12/24

Celebrate:

Girl Scout Day

National Alfred Hitchcock Day

National Baked Scallops Day

National Milky Way Day

National Organize Your Home Office Day

National Plant a Flower Day

National Working Moms Day

World Day Against Cyber Censorship

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There's a report that lawmakers in California want to ban decaf. 

The issue is that many manufacturers use methylene chloride to remove the caffeine from the coffee beans. 

That's a chemical that's also used in paint stripper, which has been labeled a "probable carcinogen" after being linked to several cancers, including blood and breast cancer.

There are other ways to decaffeinate coffee, including processes using carbon dioxide and water . . . but they are more time consuming and expensive.

Like it or not, California has been tough on potential carcinogens.  Last year, California became the first state to ban four candy chemicals linked to cancers and other health problems. 

 Coffee manufacturers argue that the chemical is completely washed out of the beans after treatment.  Plus, any remnants would be burned off when the beans are heated to 400 degrees during roasting.

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Still feeling groggy from changing the clocks?  Here's a fun reminder:  You're were also more likely to die yesterday. 

According to the American Heart Association, there's always an increase in the number of heart attacks in the first week after we spring forward each year. 

A study in Michigan found a 24% increase on the first Monday after clocks shift.  And a separate study in Finland found an 8% bump in the number of strokes in the first two days. (not out of the woods today!!)

They're still not sure why it happens, but they think it has to do with disrupting our body's internal clock.

Springing forward can be deadly in other ways too.  For example, sleep-deprived drivers have been linked to a 6% increase in fatal car crashes this time of year.  So slow down and be a little more careful this week.

In general, accidents are most likely to happen during morning commutes, between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 AM. 

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Let's talk about the WORST performances of the year.  The 2024 Golden Raspberry Awards were Saturday.  Here are the winners:

Worst Picture:  "Winne the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

Worst Actor:  Jon Voight in "Mercy"

Worst Actress:  Megan Fox in "Johnny & Clyde"

Worst Supporting Actress:  Megan Fox in "The Expendables 4"

Worst Supporting Actor:  Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables 4"

Worst Screen Couple:  Pooh and Piglet as Blood-Thirsty Slasher/Killers in "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel:  "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

Worst Director:  Rhys Frake-Waterfield in "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

Worst Screenplay:  "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

Fran Drescher was also given the Razzie Redeemer Award for her work as the SAG-AFTRA president during the actors strike.

Here's the official video.

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - There have been 54 different animals in the original brand of Animal Crackers since 1902.  The most recent addition was the koala in 2002.

But it's true that everyone has their head bitten off first!

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