Monday, February 24, 2020

The United States ranks 39th on a list of nations whose children have the best health and education outcomes

The “child flourishing index,” made its rankings based on child survival rates, prevalence of violence against children, nutrition, and typical amount of education. Though the U.S. fell far behind dozens of other nations in the rankings, researchers cautioned that even some of the top-ranked nations measured poorly on a “global sustainability index,” that looks at carbon emissions over the coming decades. A health director at UNICEF who co-wrote the report said “no country is in the right place with adequately making children flourish today and in the future.” Overall, the report found that the top 10 rankings on the child flourishing index were the countries of:

1. Norway
2. South Korea
3. Netherlands
4. France
5. Ireland
6. Denmark
7. Japan
8. Belgium
9. Iceland
10. United Kingdom (CNN)

Burger King is re-“molding” the image of its signature Whopper

Revealed in a nauseating new ad campaign, it promotes efforts to eliminate artificial preservatives and other additives from the company’s menu. The burger chain unveiled pictures of its new, preservative-free Whopper. In the campaign, the Whopper is covered in mold, decaying as it’s consumed by green fungus. The ad shows the all-natural Whopper slowly rotting over the course of 34 days as soul singer Dina Washington’s 1959 hit “What a Difference A Day Makes” plays in the background. Deliberately absent are food coloring and special effects commonly used to make restaurant meals and their ingredients look appetizing in commercials. By the end of the 45-second commercial, the Whopper has transformed into a green and blue mess. “The beauty of no artificial preservatives,” the ad’s tagline reads. Burger King, is betting customers are craving healthier, organic ingredients. Just over half of millennials and 57% of millennial parents said they are buying more organic products now than they did five years prior, according to a September YouGov analysis commissioned by Whole Foods. Burger King restaurants throughout most of Europe have already done away with food preservatives amid an industry-wide shift toward healthier and organic ingredients. Whopper fans in the United States may have already tasted a preservative-free Whopper without realizing it, according to the president if Burger King’s Americas division. “The product is already available in more than 400 restaurants in the country and will reach all restaurants throughout the year,” he said in a statement. (CNN)

An Iowa man is accused of forcing a woman to watch the miniseries “Roots,” purportedly to better understand her racism

The 52-year-old man faces charges of harassment and false imprisonment, according to the public safety spokesman for Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids, Iowa police were sent to an area in the city for an open-line 911 call “with lots of screaming,” police said in a statement. Dispatchers and officers were able to find the home by using GPS. When they arrived, an intoxicated man answered the door, police said. A 37-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter were found crying inside, police said. The woman told police that he had been assaulting her all night and had made her sit with him to watch the miniseries “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s bestselling book “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” which drew attention to the brutality of slavery. The woman said that when she tried to move, he told her to remain seated and made threats to kill her. She was eventually able to call 911 and leave the line open, according to police. The man was arrested and taken to the Linn County Jail. (NBC News)

Americans may have a “cultural fear” of math

According to a new study, researchers at the University of Chicago found that participants who claimed to have high “math anxiety” would willingly opt to complete easy math problems for a small amount of money instead of attempting harder problems for a greater amount of money, even when those participants had the requisite skills to complete the problem. The president of Barnard College and contributor to the study, believes “Americans have an inherent, deep-down fear of mathematics that feels impossible to shake.” Those who fail early on at math may, she believes, develop “math anxiety” and avoid the subject for years, even when they are perfectly capable of learning and improving. (Quartz)

Cereal, for $13 a box

General Mills wants to make breakfast cereal popular again in the face of changing consumer tastes, and it appears to be paying off. As shoppers increasingly opt for protein-filled breakfasts or skip the meal altogether, the food maker has introduced a $13 almond-based cereal box called Morning Summit, as well as Blueberry Cheerios and a probiotic cereal. The healthier products are helping lift its sales in the category this year, said the CEO. The wider U.S. cereal market saw its sales stall in 2019 and had been declining for several years prior to that. (CNBC)

Virus: Deaths outside China rise

Five fatalities reported in South Korea, Iran and Japan are fanning fears about the spread of the coronavirus beyond China. Almost 2,130 deaths have been reported so far, the vast majority on the mainland, and more than 75,700 people have been infected worldwide. Two Japanese passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship (the single biggest concentration of infections outside China) were among the newest fatalities. With Apple, Foxconn, Air France-KLM, Qantas and Norwegian cruise warning on impact to earnings from the effects of the virus, global growth prospects are being shaken. (Bloomberg)

MGM hack hits 10.6M guests

The personal and contact details of more than 10.6 million former MGM Resorts guests (including tech CEOs, government officials and reporters) were published on a hacking forum, the hotel and casino operator has confirmed. Leaked information included full names, home addresses, emails and dates of birth. Unauthorized access to a cloud server was discovered last summer, and no payment or password data was involved, according to MGM. (ZDNet)

McDonald’s creates candles that smell like 6 Quarter Pounder ingredients

The Quarter Pounder Fan Club has launched a new line of swag that includes candles that smell like the ingredients of a Quarter Pounder, according to a McDonald’s press release. The six-pack of candles includes the following scents: sesame seed bun, ketchup, pickle, cheese, onion and 100 percent fresh beef. The line also includes couples Quarter Pounder mittens, a 2020 Quarter Pounder calendar, a Quarter Pounder with Love locket, a Quarter Pounder Fan Club T-shirt, an “I’d rather be eating a Quarter Pounder” sticker and a Quarter Pounder Fan Club pin. (Quarter Pounder Fan Club)

KFC launches fried chicken and doughnut sandwich nationwide

KFC is offering a sweet alternative in the chicken sandwich war. The Colonel has cooked up a fried chicken and donut sandwich: a fried chicken fillet sandwiched between two glazed donuts. The sandwich will appear at restaurants beginning February 24 and will be available through March 16, or while supplies last, according to KFC. “Chicken & Donuts is the newest fried chicken trend we’re bringing to all of America,” said the chief marketing officer at KFC U.S., adding that the donuts will be glazed-to-order. KFC and donut fans can experience this sweet and savory meal in a variety of options starting at $5.49:

• Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Basket meal – chicken on the bone or Extra Crispy chicken tenders, paired with one donut. Also available as a big basket meal, which includes two donuts.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Sandwich – a juicy, hand-breaded Extra Crispy chicken filet sandwiched between two fully glazed donuts.
  Guests can satisfy their sweet tooth by adding a donut to any meal for an additional cost. (PRNewswire)

Cargo Ship Delivers Cheese, Candy and Science Gear to Space Station Astronauts

Crew members living aboard the International Space Station got a special delivery this week of fresh fruit, candy, cheese, and science gear. In addition to treats to satisfy the crew’s sweet tooth, the cargo included “novel science gear,” such as the first-ever small scanning electron microscope to be used in space. Delivering the cache was Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft, which was named the S.S. Robert H. Lawrence in honor of the late Major Robert H. Lawrence, the first African American to be selected as an astronaut. (Aviation Pros)

A big happy birthday to this cutie

Peyton Elizabeth Logan was born February 20, 2020 at 20:20 (military time) at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has a very unique birthday that includes a lot of 20s. “We think it’s pretty cool,” said the mom of the unique time of birth. According to a Hillcrest Medical Center spokeswoman, “It was a long labor and we didn’t think we were going to make it but at the last minute she decided to make it a go. Our doctor was there and ready and made it happen. We’re super excited!” Both mom and baby are doing very well. (KTUL)

Monday Kicks In With:

• Fasching
• Forget Me Not Day
• Losar
• Museum Advocacy Day (Last Monday & Tuesday)
• National Cupcake Day (Canada) (Last Monday)
• National Dance Day
• Play More Cards Day (Last Monday)
• Shrove Monday
• World Bartender Day