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By TIMES WIRES
Published July 29, 2006

UF to research appeal of binge drinking

Researchers at the University of Florida, one of the nation's best known "party schools," will use a federal grant of more than $280,000 to study why freshmen binge drink - and how to get them to stop. Researchers want to learn what benefits students see in downing all of those Jell-O shots and dollar beers. They will focus on curbing football game-day drinking and the perception that alcohol "facilitates sexual opportunities," UF says. And they hope to determine what kind of health advertising would reduce binge drinking. Maybe something subtle: Binge drinking can kill you. Don't do it.

Wikipedia publicity fake and real, like site

St. Petersburg's Wikipedia is testing the adage that "any publicity is good publicity." The user-written encyclopedia is the subject of a lengthy article in the July 31 New Yorker. While exploring concerns about Wikipedia's accuracy, the story points out that the site regularly attracts more eyeballs than MSNBC.com and the online versions of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal combined. And then there's humor site the Onion, which this week carried this main headline: "Wikipedia Celebrates 750 Years Of American Independence." The story includes extensive (fake) quotes from Wikipedia co-founder James "Jimbo" Wales. In an e-mail to the St. Petersburg Times, Wales said jokingly that he wasn't sure which of the two articles would be "bad press," then added, "It is a great honor to be satirized in the Onion."

Publix adds healthier brown rice to sushi

Brown rice is good for you, and now Publix hopes it's good for its bottom line. Those little slabs of raw tuna, salmon, shrimp and eel you can find at the Lakeland supermarket chain now rest of on beds of brown rice, and the California and spicy rolls are wrapped around layers of the beige stuff, too. "It's a healthier alternative," said Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patton. "People asked for it, so we thought we'd try it." The change has been rolling out for several weeks and finally reached many stores in the Tampa Bay area. "I've heard the flavor and consistency are a little different," Patton said, "but I haven't tried it yet." For purists, white rice sushi is still available.

Unlike a test, you can't make up tax holiday

Procrastinators beware: You have two more days to take advantage of the sales tax holiday on back-to-school items. Purchases eligible through Sunday include books, clothing, shoes and some accessories priced at $50 or less and school supplies that cost $10 or less. Sorry, kids, that leaves out back-to-school must-haves like Sidekicks and iPods.

[Last modified July 29, 2006, 01:51:29]