I assume the consumption only increases through time, but let's take the daily 2007 numbers from Global INForM Cases Sales database: The total number of Coca-Cola cans sold per worldwide is 67,873,309. Diet Coke and Coke Zero sold 35,387,241, while My Coke sold 103,260,550. Yes, that's all per day.

So using only classic Coca-Cola's daily sales figures, that means 24,773,757,785 are sold every year. Twenty-four billion cans. That is indeed a lot of paint and paint removal products. Because this doesn't only affect the production. It also affects the recycling process, eliminating one step:

The naked can help to reduce air and water pollution occurred in its coloring process. It also reduces energy and effort to separate toxic color paint from aluminum in recycling process. Huge amount of energy and paint required to manufacture colored cans will be saved. Instead of toxic paint, manufacturers process aluminum with a pressing machine that indicates brand identity on surface.

Sounds good to me, and it even looks better if you take into account all kinds of Coke. That brings up the number to 75,380,201,500 cans. I don't know how much paint that represents, but I'm guessing quite a few thousand tons. [7760 via Likecool, Sales info from Let's Get Together]

The ads were designed to highlight the better grip the new bottles offer. They placed them in bus stop shelters in Paris, ready to rip cashmere sweaters and expensive clothes. But instead of hating them, the French bought 3.8% more of their sugar water.

What I want to see is an image of one of these ads after a week of being there. I can imagine giant balls of dust with cats and drunk people inside. [Daily]

Sure it's been the lead story on CNN and a big story on Gawker, but there just wasn't enough DIY mechanics or cellphone-related mayhem for us to pounce on this little gem. As a dad, I don't like seeing shit like this, but knowing there's a happy ending made it a bit easier to view. Oops, did I give too much away? [Gawker]

Hairband balladeers from the roaring '80s will be disappointed to learn that holes in the heart previously only able to be filled by some girl who is already dating some other guy can now be filled by a patch made of stem cells. As for the rest of us, we naturally assumed that if stem cells could give Christopher "Butthole" Reeve real Superman strength and build replica's of Shakey's Pizza, well, of course they can patch heart holes. [PopSci]

By March of next year, many British police officers will be handed a smartphone in order to maintain communication while increasing time in the field. It may work, assuming they block like a million distractions. Frankly, the only reason I wanted to even mention this in Remainders was to remind the world of that stroke of British police genius, Hot Fuzz, through Photoshop. It was that or an image of the gmilfy Prime Suspect herself, Helen Mirren. Did I choose wrong? [BBC via Engadget]

Science produces explanations great and small, and finally got around to one we've been waiting for since Heinrich "Coca" Cola invented the fizzy beverage: Why do we love the carbonation? Everyone used to think it was the exploding carbonation bubbles, but sure enough, it's the carbon dioxide itself—you listening, Al Gore???—that sends a message to open up the sour taste buds, delivering a genuine flavor change. Sure, it's not gadget news, but now, when you head out to the bars, you can order beer in the name of science. [Daily Mail UK]

The machine is more technologically complex than you'd imagine. The "PurePour" technology was originally developed to measure extremely precise amounts of dialysis and cancer drugs. Beyond that, RFID scanners are used to match cartridges to dispensers, and the onboard computer confirms everything is in place. Existing soda fountains use five-gallon concentrate bags and lots of backroom labor. Now all that is required is a highly concentrated 46-ounce cartridge inside a self-contained machine.

Using a touchscreen UI, customers can navigate through the dizzying array of sodas, flavored waters, energy drinks and other beverages in what appears to be a fairly straightforward way. The machines are currently being tested in Georgia, California, and Utah, but Coca-Cola plans to roll out 60 additional dispensers across the country by the end of the summer. [Fast Company]

Just align your feet on the painted skis on the floor and imagine you are barreling down the mountain bare-assed on a rocket full of feces. Yeah, Metamucil can't compete with that. The only problem is that you will have to book a flight to Japan to enjoy the benefits. These stalls have been built in various ski resort bathrooms there a part of a promotion for Coca-Cola's Georgia Max Coffee. [Coloribus via Pink Tentacle via DVICE]

[eBay via Technabob and Flickr]

The Sprite-branded, cellphone-only network (because Sprite's more extreme? Why not just bring back Surge? Actually, please do—Vault sucks.) will let teenyboppers post profiles, pictures and hook up with other sugar-addled stalkers teens. Whatever happened to using polar bears to sell soda? – Matt Buchanan

Coca-Cola sets up mobile social network [Yahoo!/Reuters]
Image via Flickr

Now excuse me while I drive my big SUV down the block in order to purchase ozone-depleting cans of aerosol spray and non-biodegradable styrofoam cups. – Nicholas Deleon

Coke Is It Video [SWAMP via we make money not art]

[YouTube video by mattkenyon]

Yeah, so when can we expect cellphone payment here in the U.S.? Oh, right, never. – Nicholas Deleon

Japanese Coke machines to accept cellphone payment [Fareastgizmos.com]

• Intel M778 processor, 1.66GHz
• Intel 915GMS chipset with GMA900 display chip
• 12.1 inch wide screen monitor
• 512MB DDR2 memory
• 80GB hard disk
• External Combo drive
• WiFi, Bluetooh, 56K modem, and 100Mbps ethernet port
• Build in 1.5W stereo speaker
• 3 USB ports, 1 IEEE1394 port
• All-in-one memory card reader
• Dual batteries for 8.5 hours usage
• Weight: 1.4KG

This will cost 13,499RMB ($1,687 US), and should be released before the 2008 Olympics (duh). All in all, it's not a very powerful laptop for quite a bit of money, but if you've got the Olympic fever, the only cures are this Laptop and more cowbell, and we're all out of cowbells. – Jason Chen

Lenovo F20 [Sohu via Ideal Gadget]