Year: 2004

So, it turns out Coke’s Dasani pure water is just filtered London tap water.

Dasani takes tap water and removes any impurities, such as bacteria, viruses, salts, minerals, sugars, proteins and toxin particles, and then adds calcium, magnesium and sodium bicarbonate for taste.

But tap water suppliers maintain that what comes out of the water mains is perfectly fine to drink — and good value compared with Dasani.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has contacted the local authority covering Coca-Cola’s headquarters in west London, asking it to look into whether the label “pure, still water” on Dasani bottles breaches labeling guidelines.

Interesting, huh ?
Teaches us not to believe everything advertised on products.

[via CNN]

Arab television channel MBC is temporarily pulling the plug on its Arabic version of the hit reality show Big Brother after accusations of indecency.

Still they say they will re-launch the show after relocating it to somewhere outside Bahrain where it was originally produced.

Protesters in Bahrain said that showing unmarried people living together offended Islam and Arab values, customs and morals.
Several hundred Islamists went out chanting “Stop Sin Brother! No to indecency!” against the show, which they deemed un-Islamic.

The show, aired across the Arab world by MBC, raised eyebrows despite efforts to take into account Muslim sensitivities. Separate living and sleeping quarters for male and female participants were introduced, as well as a prayer room.

What do I think ?
I understand what the people against it are thinking, but still I think it’s just a game, and as long as everyone is watching, they’re not really alone, and it’s quite ok.

The European Union launches sanctions on the United States for the first time Monday as a dispute over tax breaks for U.S. firms turns into a trade war that could cost American exporters $300 million this year.

[via CNN]

After having the US impose sanctions on several countries time and time again, breaking their economy and putting their people in misery, it’s sort of good for a change to see things turned around this time, although the results won’t be as bad.

Maybe this will show the US administration how bad sanctions are for the people and businesses, not for the leaders. And maybe it will make them reconsider applying sanctions on other countries.
Maybe. But I don’t think so.

Which reminds me of this term the US & UK created: Smart sanctions.
Smart Sanctions my ass !

Recently we’re hearing more and more about something called The Greater Middle East.
It’s a new term that the Bush administration has created for a region that extends beyond the known geographical boundaries of the Middle East. It goes from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east.

They say that it’s a plan to promote democracy in the “Greater Middle East” that will adapt a model like the one used to press for freedoms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

It’ll supposedly come in the form of a package of incentives that will be given to countries of the region in return for concrete steps towards political reform, improving the record on human rights, women