• Dept. of Followups #1: The Next auction ended after 4 days with all tables sold and a total of $339,000 raised for the University of Chicago Cancer Center.
• Dept. of Followups #2: Baconfest Chicago saw all its tickets snapped up within the first three minutes, but with some transactions failing to be completed, it was actually about 3-1/2 hours before the event finally sold out. [LTHForum]
• Here’s a non-shocker: Americans don’t know how to lose weight; we may in fact focus on cutting calories too drastically. [NYDN]
• Wal-Mart is eyeing China, having just taken a controlling stake of Chinese online retailer Yihaodian, which sells groceries, among other things. [USAT]
• Some flowers regenerated out of nuts that had been buried 30,000 years ago by squirrels and remained frozen. This sounds like something Rene Redzepi would use as a garnish. [Not Exactly Rocket Science/Discover Magazine]
• Kids, gather ye Snickers while ye may: The Obama administration is considering national rules mandating healthy food for school vending machines. [NYT]
