Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe RUSSIANS OFFER COSMIC HONEYMOON In its latest attempt to develop space tourism, Russia is offering a pair of newlyweds a cosmic honeymoon on board the International Space Station. Advertisement For the cost of two tickets -- $65 million -- the couple could be the first to be members of the 240-mile club, the Australian reports. "The International Space Station is as large as a football field. There are plenty of nooks and crannies where a couple could hide," says Rob Volmer of Space Adventures, the company that has teamed up with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. "If Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck want to get away from it all on their honeymoon, we have the perfect solution." DIETERS DON'T KNOW CARBOHYDRATES Just as millions of Americans are making New Year's resolutions to lose weight, a new survey by Shape Up America! finds many people widely misunderstand low- and no-carbohydrate diets. Conducted by Lifeline Associates, the survey shows most Americans cannot identify which basic foods are primarily carbohydrates -- essential information for anyone trying to follow the diets. For example, 67 percent could not identify tomatoes as primarily a carbohydrate and 47 percent could not identify apples as primarily a carbohydrate. Advertisement "People need to wake up to the reality that diets that restrict the consumption of entire food groups -- especially essential carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables -- are unhealthy and can be dangerous," says former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, founder of Shape Up America! MOST POPULAR FANTASY DATES Ashton Kutcher, star of "Just Married," and Angelina Jolie, star of "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," were voted America's favorite fantasy New Year's Eve dates. The online survey by Blockbuster also finds "Pirates of the Caribbean's" Johnny Depp and Catherine Zeta-Jones, star of the recent hit, "Intolerable Cruelty," ranked second as a fantasy date. The other popular male fantasy dates are: Keanu Reeves, Hugh Grant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cuba Gooding Jr. Meanwhile, men dream of a date with Jessica Biel, Queen Latifah, Diane Lane and Jada Pinkett-Smith. The survey was conducted Nov. 11-24 on blockbuster.com and included 31,969 responses. Advertisement UNITY AMONG PEOPLE THEME FOR BIG BALL Many people's eyes are glued to the "big ball" in Times Square as it's lowered on New Year's Eve. The Times Square ball is made of specially designed handmade Waterford crystals over strobe lights, reflective pyramid mirrors and colored bulbs, the New York Post reports. The 72 triangle-shaped crystals are designed for a "Hope for Unity" theme -- in the center of each triangle are three flowing waves surrounded by cuts that look like sunbursts -- the pattern represents unity among all the people of the world. "This ball is spectacular, it's priceless," says Pete Cheyney, director of communications for Waterford Crystal. Very few people, however, get to the see the ball up close.
