But there's also a natural way to get your hands on it--dig it out of the ground in Wyoming. (The natural origin may or may not endear this chemical to the greenies.) The primary use of soda ash is to make glass.

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The Indian Room (952 S Pacific Ave, 310-514-3511) is another classic watering hole, complete with a friendly bartender who seems to have no problem keeping pace with her customers even if it means she might spill a cocktail every now and then or miss a glass with the soda sprayer.

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"All those tall buildings in Manhattan with glass exteriors and windows use soda ash, " says Nikhil Sen, GHCL's senior finance and strategy manager.

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The court heard Reilly made the bombs in glass bottles, one using caustic soda and the other kerosene, which he then filled with about 500 nails.

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Then Norris pans his emitter back to us, and our heads fill with the crisp pop of a soda can being opened and poured into a glass of ice.

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If you don't want to abstain entirely, there are ways that can help you cut down, including opting for smaller glass sizes, diluting alcohol with soda water or a low-calorie soft drink, alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and keeping a few nights each week booze-free.

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Track everything -- While keeping a food journal is important for all dieters, it is particularly important if you don't have much weight to lose, as even small, seemingly inconsequential things like a slice of cheese or mayo on a sandwich, a larger size non-fat latte, or a second glass of wine, juice or soda, can interfere with weight loss.

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The raw material is converted into soda ash, used in detergents and pharmaceuticals and in the manufacturing of glass.

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With glass as well as plastic in mind you might want to look into another raw material, soda ash.

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