Trends for October 15, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 | 8:26 a.m.

Go for a swim

Here's another one to stow in the"Why?" file:

First 7-Eleven brought us the Gulp. Then came the Big Gulp, followed by the Super Big Gulp and the Double Gulp, with each cup capable of holding enough liquid to sink the Titanic.

Apparently, we ain't seen nothin' yet.

Introducing the X-treme Gulp, a refillable mug that holds a ridiculous 52 ounces of liquid.

All together now: "Why?"

Just in time for football season, the mugs are adorned with licensed NFL designs featuring team helmets. The claim is the mug will keep drinks cold for up to six hours.

OK, so they'll be a great conversation piece at tailgate parties. But what are we supposed of do with these things the rest of the year?

Of course, 7-Eleven has figured that out for us, too.

Getting the mug to and from the game could prove tricky, since it's obviously too big to fit in most vehicles' cupholders."But you can strap it into the passenger seat." If that doesn't scream classy, we don't know what does.

Apparently when the X-treme Gulp is filled to the brim, it weighs a whopping 3 pounds. The convenience-store chain tongue-in-cheekly suggests using it was a weight"for building up pecs and doing curls."

Here's one we came up with: What goes in must come out. Once it's empty, the mug can double as a porta-potty.

Time's a-changin'

Consider this fair warning: Daylight Saving Time ends Oct. 28. Now you can't say you didn't know when you were supposed to turn the clocks back when you're an hour late and scrambling for an excuse for why you're late for work on the 29th.

Of course, if you were to purchase a new clock say one called the Atomix Clock you wouldn't have to worry about the time change.

That's because the Set-and-Forget clock automatically adjusts daily to the exact time as specified by the nation's official clock (bet you didn't know we had one of those) managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Visit chaneyinstrument.com for more information about the clock, which retails for about $30.

Birthday breakfast

Someone had a birthday last week and we missed it. Our bad. We're guessing you did, too.

In a feeble attempt to wish Cheerios cereal a belated happy 60th, we offer this trivia (courtesy of cereal conglomerate General Mills) about the beloved breakfast food:

Cheerioats (as it was originally called) was introduced in 1941 with the slogan,"The breakfast food you've always wanted." (The name was changed to Cherrios four years later.)

Among the prizes offered with or by Cheerios in the 1950s were a slew of Lone Ranger-character goodies (ID cards, a kit with a mask, silver bullet and badge, a coloring book), confederate money, a 34-piece airport set and a kite.

In 1976 Cheeriodle, a stick-figure animated cartoon, was introduced as the cereal's new mascot, alongside such good-for-you slogans as"Nutrition. That's the Cheerio's Tradition," and"Oats, the Grain Highest in Protein." Yum.