Author Archive
Groupon = Fastest growing company…ever?
When the company’s name is starting to become a part of the daily vocabulary (“hey, I got a ‘Groupon’ for that place”), you know the business is taking off. Groupon’s CEO and Founder, Andrew Mason, “has managed to build the fastest-growing company in Web history,” according to Forbes Magazine. “The company is on track to pass $500 [...]
Banning Burqas in France
The French senate approved (overwhelmingly) on Tuesday a ban on wearing any veil that covers the face including a burqa. We covered most of this topic back in May ’09, but a few new details are necessary because the subject has resurfaced. Key facts to supplement any conversation that pops up: “According to opinion polls, [...]
Lutheran Church Ordains Noncelibate Gay Pastors
Religion and sexuality are rarely comfortable topics at the dinner table, but they are a couple of the most common subjects brought up by families and friends who love to debate. The following statement encapsulates the latest news regarding the hot topic of religion and homosexuality: “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, known as the E.L.C.A., [...]
Prop 19: legal weed in LaLa Land?
This topic is sure to get the conversation ball rolling no matter the setting. As you probably know, medical marijuana was legalized in California back in 1996 via Prop 215. Days later, thousands of jokes about having glaucoma surfaced. Since then, 13 other states have also legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes only. In a few [...]
Shanghai World Expo – facts, figures, and its purpose
The Shanghai World Expo is in full gear right now, about halfway through its 184-day run. Yes, you read that right – 184 days! Ticket sales will likely exceed $1 billion USD, yet few Americans are probably even aware of its existence. Here’s a quick education: China put in the bid to host the 2010 [...]
Rare Earth Elements – your iPhone depends on it!
So you’ve seen it in the headlines — the U.S. has uncovered an estimated $1 trillion worth of minerals in Afghanistan. Besides iron and copper (largest mineral deposits discovered), there are deposits of niobium, a soft metal used in producing superconducting steel, lithium, gold, copper, and rare earth elements (REEs).1 If your chemistry is as [...]
Karate Kid Kicks Competition
Back in April, Dinner Topics alerted you to a new Karate Kid movie coming out. You must have been reading, because the box office was boffo for The Karate Kid over its opening weekend. Sony (Columbia Pictures) will be rolling out the film worldwide through the end of September, 2010. With Jackie Chan being a [...]
Little known Tony facts
The 64th Annual Tony Awards just aired tonight, and while it’s not as popular as the Emmys or Oscars, it still has its place in television. Sean Hayes (actor, comedian, musician – classical pianist) hosted the show. He is popularly known for his role as Jack McFarland in the TV sitcom Will & Grace for [...]
