More fuel for the firing line
British troops taking part in military operations will soon have a new weapon in their armoury - Lucozade. More than a decade after athletes and clubbers, the MOD seems to have finally cottoned on to Lucozade's energy-giving qualities. Announcing the inclusion of a Sport Body Fuel drink in army ration packs, Defence Secretary John Reid said: "For a long time we have been very aware of the importance of getting the right combination of energy and nutrients from the food our soldiers eat, but it is only recently that we have started to examine the science behind what they drink. The new isotonic drink will help combat fatigue and dehydration."
Your dream date is just a cheese snack away
Sweet dreams are made of cheese - at least that's the suggestion from a new study of sleep. Researchers set out to disprove the old wives' tale that eating cheese before going to bed gives you nightmares. Two hundred volunteers reported no nasty dreams after a late-night snack, but it appears the type of cheese you eat affects the type of dream you have. The study, by the British Cheese Board, found that Stilton caused the craziest dreams, with 80% of volunteers experiencing odd and vivid dreams, such as Jamie Oliver cooking dinner in their kitchen or having a drunken conversation with a dog. Cheddar gave 66% of volunteers dreams about celebrities, including Jordan and Johnny Depp, while Red Leicester resulted in nostalgic dreams about school days and childhood friends.
How Ponytails became a sign of progress
An Indian hotel is making all of its senior staff grow ponytails. The five-star Lemon Tree hotel in Gurgaon says it is breaking from stiff precedents established by industry peers and creating a more fun environment. "You notice sometimes when you visit a five<2011>star hotel, people are hesitant to approach the man on the desk, as he looks too damn busy. Here, people walk up and the first question they ask is 'What's with the ponytail?' so it's a nice ice<2011>breaker. It gives a feeling of youth," says executive Gaurav Pillial. General manager Rahul Pandit adds: "It's very aspirational in the company. When people say they want to get promoted, they are not saying 'Hey, I want the next grade,' it's 'Hey, when can I grow a ponytail?'"