feedback for ABC

This morning (January 17, 2011), the female anchor during the end of the broadcast of World News Now (currently being continued as America This Morning) spoke of a new 31-oz. coffee drink [presumably at Starbucks, as she mentioned the largest-to-date size as 'vente']. After demonstrating how much liquid is in one container, she stated flippantly that if a person drank all of that, at least they would not be dehydrated.

This is wrong. Caffeine, especially when obtained via coffee, is a diuretic.

I hope the anchors correct this misinformation before their broadcast is over.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-coffee-a-diuretic.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-coffee-a-diuretic.htm

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If you Google "caffeine diuretic" or "coffee diuretic", you'll encounter many conflicting sources of information. However, the two to which I linked are of the most recent. They also explain that the more voluminous the intake the increased efficacy of caffeine's diuretic effect. 31 oz. of coffee is not in the "moderate to mild" range of caffeine consumption.

twenty20 Journal & The Flea

twenty20 Journal has released its second issue. My short poem "Operandi" features there. (twenty20 accepts work 20 words or fewer. One's bio also has to fit within those bounds. If you can accomplish both, I would recommend submitting. The editor is hands-on & very responsive.)

The Flea, back from a near-year hiatus, publishes my piece "Azrael" in its twelfth broadsheet. The journal showcases formal poetry & is presented in a quirky, antiquated style.

clear paternalism at work

Pregnant woman says she was kicked out of bar: Legal experts say taverns can't discriminate against expectant mothers

This is plainly discrimination. Consider: what if she were only three months along? Do the bouncers ask every woman if she is pregnant? Also consider that health experts recently concluded that an occasional glass of wine during the last trimester is relatively safe. (Never mind that the woman in question was drinking water.)

I hope she does something more than just give bad word-of-mouth advertising. I think the bar would be emboldened otherwise & would continue its bad behavior against an easily distinguishable population.