No matter what you do, there will always be someone opposing it. Until recently, the American public blamed its obesity epidemic on companies selling fast food. Now that the sale of sweetened drinks of more than 16 ounces might get banned in New York City restaurants, cinemas, etc, people are turning against the mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
Fizzy drinks make you fat, can contribute to the onset of diabetes and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Which, in turn, increases your risk of an early death. All right, so they taste nice. That's not saying much in defence of something that positively screams out to you in curly lettering, "Wash down your cholesterol-laden crisps with me if you would: a) like to pack on the pounds and b) help up the mortality rate of the country."
New Yorkers whinge on about how their mayor doesn't need to outline their drink portions for them and mollycoddle them like a motherly hen. I have a sweet tooth, but I don't see the harm in Bloomberg's idea. If you really feel like a Coke extravaganza, you can always buy two.
Teenagers are a furiously independent race, and therefore indignant about the proposed law. In New York, the fizzy drink ban could have the greatest effect on teenagers out to see a movie. It injures our pride to be told what to do, or worse, being seen by our peers to comply with what we are being told to do.
Perhaps that's why you see so many teenagers having a cigarette in mall parking lots or shisha bars. Of course teenagers know smoking can cause lung cancer and so on; schools have been showing us gory images of tar-damaged organs ever since we were little. Teenagers do it because we shouldn't be doing it, and doing what we shouldn't be doing is cool. We are also extremely resourceful: we'll find a way to get around whatever laws you impose on us.
A new fad, especially in the UK, is the electronic cigarette, which is not covered in the smoking ban. These are rechargeable devices resembling your run-of-the-mill cigarettes and they work by heating up propylene glycol solution into an aerosol mist. They come in different enticing flavours - including blueberry pancake - and supposedly contain no tobacco or carcinogens. What's more, the act of inhaling the vapour from these sleek wonders is called, somewhat unimaginatively, "vaping". "I'm just nipping out for a vape" sounds much more current, and impressive, than "going for a quick smoke". What's not to love? The fact that their principal ingredient is nicotine.
In cigarettes, nicotine is what gives you a rush - and gets you addicted. The e-cigarette industry is targeting vulnerable teenagers who are lulled into a false sense of security with the "no-tobacco" claim. The makers say nicotine is harmless. Tosh. The effects of nicotine are well known - it can lead to brain malfunction and pancreas damage and play havoc with diabetics' systems.
It's time someone took a leaf out of Bloomberg's book and a stand on what appears to be a dodgy practice of luring teenagers into yet another quagmire.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.