Things I learned lately - 13 July

• A ruling from New York State's highest court, holds that towns can ban fracking in city limits. More than 170 towns across America have followed suit and this ruling will resonate.
• Some highways in BC have just raised the speed limit to 120km/h. Yes the Coquihalla is one of them.
• Less than 16% of eligible voters turned out for the by-election on 30 June in Fort McMurray-Athabasca. That is now the worst by-election voter turnout in Canadian history.
• Some new studies suggest that non-celiac gluten sensitivity is likely a myth. People with gastrointestinal upset (who don't have celiac disease) are likely NOT reacting to gluten after all.
• Even in the late 1950s, the bikini was not deemed acceptable for American women "with tact and decency," according to a quote from Modern Girl magazine.
• South Africa banned juries in 1969 amid fears of racial prejudice among jurors and a reluctance on the part of many people to serve.
• After Coke, Diet Coke and Pepsi, the next best selling soft drinks in the US are Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper.
• Salt water taffy was invented in Atlantic City.
• S'mores were invented by the Girl Scouts.
• Great Slave Lake is deeper than Lake Superior.
• India consumes half of the world's whiskey.