The Week by the Numbers: June 2-8 , 2013
By Matt Phifer
Sometimes the real story is in the numbers and this past week had some pretty fascinating and big numbers.
2 – The Number of Countries That Coca-Cola Does Not Do Business In
On June 4 Coca-Cola opened a new bottling plant in Myanmar. The move comes after the United States lifted economic sanctions on the country, which was ruled by a military junta from 1962-2011. Now Coca-Cola does business in every country in the world except North Korea and Cuba.
2:55 PM– The Least Productive Time of Day
A survey by LondonOffices.com revealed that 2:55 PM is the least productive time of day. Many of the workers surveyed said they go on Facebook and Twitter at this time, while others begin planning their evening. In contrast, 10:26 AM was revealed as the most productive time of the day.
2.6 Miles – The Widest Tornado on Record
On June 4 the National Weather Service reported that the EF-5 tornado that struck El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31 was 2.6 miles wide, which makes it the widest twister on record. Its winds reached a staggering 295 MPH. As of June 3 the Oklahoma medical examiner’s office reported that the tornado and subsequent flooding killed 18 people, including six children, and sent another 115 people to area hospitals.
$12.5 Million – The Price Tag of Napster Co-Founder Sean Parker’s Wedding
Napster co-founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker agreed to pay $2.5 million to the California Coastal Commission on June 3 for his lavish wedding held over the weekend. According to the AP, Parker built a rustic cottage, fake ruins, waterfalls, staircases and a dance floor near the redwood forest and a stream with threatened steelhead trout, an area in which the California Coastal Commission must approve construction. The commission learned of the construction through a complaint. The total cost Parker’s wedding to Alexandra Lenas was already $10 million before the June 3 settlement. The additional $2.5 million will reportedly go to coastal conservation programs.
$33,765,000 – The World Record Price of a Persian Rug
A 17th-Century Persian rug sold for $33,765,000 to an anonymous bidder at a Sotheby’s auction on June 5. The bid shattered the previous record of $9.6 million for a 17th-century rug from Iran that was sold in London in 2010. The roughly 8-by-6 foot rug sold Wednesday features swirling vines and vibrant colors. The auction company estimated that the rug would sell for between $5 million and $7 million.