The Scottish government has unveiled the ‘Drinking Mirror’ smartphone app, which claims to show the visible effects of regularly drinking too much, such as deeper wrinkles, red cheeks, and weight-gain. By taking a picture of the user, the app aims to prove that ‘dropping a glass size’ could improve your looks over 10 years, with a so-called ‘magic mirror’ showing you how much better you will look if you drink a little less booze. In the same way that dieters sometimes switch to a smaller plate to eat less, the Scottish government is calling on drinkers to drop a glass size as a way of cutting back.

Changing climate threatens to reduce the flow of coffee, which fills 1.6 billion cups a day, to a trickle. It may not be long before that after-dinner espresso costs more than the wine with the entrée. If that prospect fills you with dread, you are not alone. There are some 26 million farmers who depend on coffee to feed their families. It’s most valuable tropical export crop, and as the world’s favorite drink, it is big business. In fact, it’s 2nd-most-traded commodity after oil, with exports worth a whopping $15-billion a year. All that is under threat because the coffee industry is built on a plant that is peculiarly vulnerable to our changing climate. (Why not grow it in greenhouses like tomatoes? Because those hothouse ‘maters are plastic-y pink and hard as walnuts.)

You know, I’d love to but …
• I’m teaching my ferret to yodel.
• I have to check the freshness dates on my dairy products.
• I changed the lock on my door and now I can’t get out.
• I’m sandblasting my oven.
• My patent is pending.
• I never go out on days that end in ‘Y’.
• I’m trying to be less popular.
• I have to study for a urine test.
• I’m trying to see how long I can go without saying ‘yes’.
• The guy on the radio told me to say tuned.

Some movies in the making …
• “The Fifth Estate” – The WikiLeaks movie based on the book by “Guardian” newspaper writers David Leigh & Luke Harding began principal photography at an undisclosed location this week. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the whistleblowing anti-hero Julian Assange. The cast also includes Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney. The film’s earmarked for a November 15th release.
• “Gone Girl” – David Fincher (“The Social Network”) is in talks to direct this adaptation of the Gillian Flynn novel that has sold 2 million copies. It’s the dark and suspenseful story of a woman who disappears on the day of her 5th wedding anniversary. Actress Reese Witherspoon will co-produce, but it’s not yet known if she’s looking to star as the mysterious wife.
• “Kill Your Darlings” – ‘Harry Potter’ actor Daniel Radcliffe’s indie movie has been given a boost as it has found a buyer after its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The bio-pic, starring Radcliffe as beat poet Allen Ginsberg, has been snapped up by Sony Pictures Classics. Radcliffe recently called his performance as Ginsberg the best of his career.
• “The Muppets 2” – Ray Liotta, who appeared in 1999’s “Muppets From Space”, has been cast in Disney’s upcoming sequel. The European-set caper will feature new human stars including Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, and Ricky Gervais. Liotta’s role is being kept under wraps. Production starts in London this month.
• “Skate God” – Retired pro skateboarder Alexander Garcia wrote the screenplay and stuntman Peewee Piemonte is making his directorial debut with this indie 3-D skateboarding film which centers on a boarder who is the descendant of a Greek god. Model Esti Ginzburg (“Sports Illustrated”) is onboard as the female lead. Filming is targeted for late Summer in New Mexico.