What Coke Contains (2013)

Basic concrete is actually not that complex.

You need to burn limestone until it collapses into a powder, then add sand and water. Done. For stronger cement, add clay powder.

Have you never had relatives who built a house? Sure, usually you'd buy the powdered stone, but I've heard stories of my great grandparent's generation making it on site.

Medicinal use clarification--an official from Mallinckrodt who "asked not to be named" had this to say:

"We purchase a crude extract and purify it further into one chemical form, cocaine hydrochloride U.S.P."

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/01/business/how-coca-cola-obt...

I looked that up because I don't work in health care:

"Cocaine Hydrochloride is used topically to produce local anesthesia of accessible mucous membranes of oral, laryngeal, and nasal cavities. It is often used for emergency room sutures and outpatient nasal and facial surgery.

Because Cocaine Hydrochloride is readily absorbed from mucous membranes and can cause severe adverse effects, the drug should be used with caution, and careful attention should be given to dosage and administration technique.

Repeated topical application of cocaine can result in psychic dependence and tolerance."

http://mallinckrodt.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Specialty_Phar...

The english translation doesn't do justice to it but this comic is relevant:

http://english.bouletcorp.com/2012/12/09/homo-technologicus/

The article waxes so eloquently about this beloved product that I would have mistaken it for a paid PR piece. The article is great read nonetheless.

For those who are also interested in the other darker, grimier side of the same coin, might want to check out its use of mercenaries for union busting in South America(by murder of course. In the hands of the right spinners that would be 'terrorism'), similar stuff happened in India as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola#Bottling...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola#Environm...

I wish Coca Cola would make a acid free version of coke. The Phosphoric Acid adds a slight tang to the drink, but in exchange absolutely destroys your teeth over years of consumption.

For regular drinkers like myself I'd happily pay a small premium to buy the "acid free" version of the drink. The sugar still does damage but with both the acid AND sugar it is like a double whammy of "badness" (acid which destroys your teeth's natural protective coating, and sugar to feed the bacteria which actually eat away at your teeth).

No amount of brushing can really undo the amount of damage acidic soda does to your teeth, trust me I know! Even with prescription toothpaste with fluoride 5x times stronger than normal (5000 ppm toothpaste Vs. 1100 ppm) you're only slowing down the progression.