Because Jared lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, he had few options for earning a living. He found an orchard that would sell him a pickup truck full of too-ripe papayas for $25. He figured most of these were still quite edible, and so he could sell them to tourists near the hotels. He bought a load, made a sign and parked his truck. The first day, he made $100 or so, and he was delighted with his new business idea. The second day, all the papayas were becoming too ripe and he only made $50. The third day, it was obvious he couldn’t sell any more papayas, even though his truck was still almost entirely full. He tried to bury them in his yard, but after an hour of digging, he had only a small hole. He took them to the dump, but they were not accepting truckloads of produce. They rotted in the back of his truck. Because of the stench, the truck was no longer drivable. I don’t know how the story ended, but I’m sure Jared’s truck was never completely clean and stink-free again.
Category: Food and Drink
Harry and David’s
The lesson here is don’t assuming something is finished until you’ve tested it thoroughly:
Right before Christmas, Harry and David’s, the big mail-order company, put a new computer system into service. It had bugs. Hundreds of orders were mixed up. One woman who ordered a large turkey received one large turkey every day for a month. Soon after they started arriving, she called the company, and they told her that they were overwhelmed, so she could just keep the turkeys. At first this was great, but after she ran out of freezer space, and after everyone she know got free turkeys, they kept coming. She had to carry them to the trash.
Too Much Coffee
You can accidentally kill yourself by drinking over forty cups of coffee in one day. The amount of caffeine is sufficient to cause respiratory failure.
Food Poisoning
In 1985, a valve in a dairy leaked a little bit of raw milk into a large tank of pasteurized milk. Two hundred thousand people got food poisoning.
Fifty percent of all turkeys and 37 percent of all chickens that you can buy in grocery stores are contaminated with Campylobacter (food poisoning) according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Last year 81 million Americans got sick from food poisoning and 9,000 of them died. The average American will get food poisoning 100 times in a lifetime. The symptoms are headache, sick feeling, diarrhea. Most people think this is the flu. To prevent food poisoning, clean all kitchen items with heat, never leave food at room temperature for more than a few minutes, and never handle prepared food after handling raw meat or poultry.
Salmonella
Baby Whales
A baby blue whale gains 200 pounds (90 kg) per day while drinking 50 gallons (189 liters) of milk. Her mom eats 4 tons (3,628 kg) of plankton out of the water every day.
Koalas
Koalas have a diet that consists of only one thing, eucalyptus leaves. Aren’t you glad you are not a koala? Interestingly, their appendix is up to 8 feet long.
Taverns in New York
In 1637, one out of every four shops in New York City were taverns.
Thanksgiving
Served at the first Thanksgiving meal in 1621 were lobster, roasted pigeon, eel, stuffed cod, turkeys, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, popcorn and cranberry sauce. But, it was not a dinner. There were 92 native Americans at this breakfast.
American Candy
If you filled trucks with all the candy American kids eat in one year, they would line up bumper to bumper from San Diego to San Francisco.
Sugar is highly addictive. Some have said it’s more addictive than cocaine. Sugar is also strongly implicated in numerous scientific studies covering a wide range of diseases from high blood pressure to cancer and especially diabetes.
Alcohol and Grain Saved
If everyone quit drinking alcoholic beverages, twenty million starving people could be fed on the grain saved.
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
7-Up Illustrates Power of Product Naming and Placement
See also
Soft Drinks.
This Drummer is at the Wrong Gig.
There’s power in names. What would happen if you come up with a catchy name for your product or service?
7-Up was originally called Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda when it was invented in 1929. The drink probably didn’t sell well until it was renamed. The first rename was “7-Up Lithiated Lemon Soda.” The 7 is for the original size – 7 ounces – and the Up was for “bottoms up.”
The first advertising slogan for 7-Up was, “It takes the ouch out of grouch.”
That slogan probably didn’t help sales much, but the experiment was valid. Keep trying new things and don’t be surprised if you have a sudden breakthrough.
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The original formula of 7-Up contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug. It was removed in 1948.
Unlike many other soft drinks that have undergone significant flavor alterations over the years, the taste of 7-Up has remained relatively consistent.
Fido Dido: 7-Up briefly used a mascot named Fido Dido in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a quirky character known for his laid-back attitude.
Clear Cola Craze: During the 1990s “clear cola” craze, 7-Up introduced a clear version of their soda called “7-Up Ice Cola,” but it was discontinued shortly after.
Natural Flavors: 7-Up boasts of using natural flavors, which gives it a distinctive taste compared to other lemon-lime sodas.
No Caffeine Jolt: While some soft drinks provide a caffeine boost, 7-Up offers a more mellow experience due to its lack of caffeine.
Global Presence: 7-Up is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, making it one of the most widely distributed soft drinks.
Limited Edition Flavors: Over the years, 7-Up has released limited edition flavors, including cherry, pomegranate, and holiday-themed varieties.
Formula Changes: Like many sodas, 7-Up has undergone formula changes over the years to adapt to changing consumer preferences and regulations.
Health Concerns: Like other sugary beverages, regular consumption of 7-Up has been linked to health concerns such as obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
Citrus Base: The lemon-lime flavor of 7-Up comes from a blend of citrus oils extracted from lemon and lime peels.
Popular Mixer for Mocktails: 7-Up is often used in non-alcoholic cocktails or “mocktails” to add fizz and sweetness without the alcohol.
Variants Around the World: In different countries, 7-Up may have unique flavors or variations tailored to local tastes.
Association with Christmas: In some regions, 7-Up has become associated with the Christmas season, often mixed with cranberry juice or used in holiday punch recipes.
Nostalgic Appeal: For many consumers, 7-Up holds nostalgic value, evoking memories of childhood parties, family gatherings, and refreshing moments shared with loved ones.
