The QS Top Universities Institute rates over 600 of the world’s top universities. In 2008, UCT was ranked 179th, up from 200th in 2007. (www.topuniversities.com)

This week’s theme: Stop Whining

South Africa won 21 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. That is more than Canada, Russia, Brazil, Spain, Germany and France, and 56 other countries. (The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games)

This week’s theme: Stop Whining

There are 136 countries perceived to be more corrupt than South Africa. Poland, Greece, Brazil and Argentina are among them. (Transparency International, 2007 CPI)

This week’s theme: Stop Whining

The JSE all share index is 44% below its May 2008 peak. Japan’s Nikkei index is 82% below its 1989 peak, and is at its lowest level for 26 years. (Bloombergs, xinhuanet.com)

This week’s theme: Stop Whining

The forecast maximum temperatures for Cape Town for Monday to Thursday this week are 23, 27, 25 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively. For London they are 11, 8, 5 and 8. (BBC Weather Service, 2008-10-26)

This week’s theme: Stop Whining

Of those who drank wine in the past 7 days, 67% had drunk 3 glasses or less in the week. (AMPS2008A)

This week’s theme: Win a case of wine a day with Eighty20 Fact-a-Day and Getwine

Of the people who read Wine Magazine on a regular basis, only 34% drank wine in the past 7 days

This week’s theme: Win a case of wine a day with Eighty20 Fact-a-Day and Getwine

51% of wine consumed in the past 7 days was consumed by people over the age of 35. (AMPS2008A)

This week’s theme: Win a case of wine a day with Eighty20 Fact-a-Day and Getwine

Male headed households spend an average of R1,690 per annum on alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics. For female headed households the average is R1,058 per annum. (This effect persists even after allowing for differences in household size. Households with no spend in this category excluded). (IES 2005/6)

This week’s theme: Win a case of wine a day with Eighty20 Fact-a-Day and Getwine

The average household spend on wine (outside of restaurants) is approximately R1,100 per annum for wine drinkers. The equivalent for beer drinkers is approximately R1,300 per annum. (IES2005)

This week’s theme: Win a case of wine a day with Eighty20 Fact-a-Day and Getwine