ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION
STRANGE BUT TRUE
It was 17th-century French philosopher Rene Descartes who made the following sage observation: “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
When you think of large tyre manufacturers, the companies that immediately spring to mind are probably Goodyear and Michelin. You might be surprised to learn, then, that the world’s largest manufacturer of tyres is actually Danish toy company The Lego Group. It’s true; they produce more tyres than any other manufacturer. (Just don’t try to put them on your car.)
The active ingredient in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, is derived from the bark of the willow tree. Those who study such things say that when buying beer at the bottle shop, men tend to get six-packs, while women are more likely to stock up with 12-packs.
In 2010, a man in Canada heard a strange sound coming from a dumpster in his neighbourhood. When he looked in, he was shocked to find a newborn baby. He rescued the infant, of course, and took it to the authorities. It was only later that he found out that he was the baby’s father.
Thought for the day: “Marriage is like higher education; as great as it is, it ain’t for everybody.” – Ray Charles
NOW HERE’S A TIP
“Put a family calendar inside your kitchen cabinet to keep everyone on track. You can list important dates/obligations/ appointments there. We colour code ours by using different highlighters for each person, and we keep it inside the cabinet by the coffeemaker, so Mum always looks at it.” – contributed by W.S.
“If you fill a small spray bottle with alcohol, you can use it to clean your glasses. Use a soft cloth, not a paper towel, as those leave lots of lint behind.” – D.P.
Combine a few drops of essential oils with a cup of either baking soda or cornflour. Sprinkle liberally on bare mattresses to give them a more pleasant smell. Let sit 10-15 minutes, then vacuum up. It’s particularly nice to use lavender.
If you don’t regularly clean out your dryer vents (i.e. vents that run to an outside wall), now’s the time to put it on your cleaning schedule. Every six months at a minimum, but every three is better. Remove the dryer vent hose and shake out to remove sand or dirt, then run a vent brush to loosen stuck-on lint. Use the wand attachment of a vacuum cleaner to clean the dryer itself, and don’t forget to wipe down the inside drum with a damp cloth. Don’t risk a dryer fire!
“Need to chop nuts? Place them in a bag, and crush them with a biscuit baking tray. Just rock back and forth over the sealed bag. This really works, and it’s kind of fun, too.” – Y.L.
Use aluminium foil to line a small metal tray (like the kind that goes in a toaster oven), which can then be used on the grill. If I simmer onions in broth to go with my steak, this works really well because it doesn’t burn. The little pans are just the right size! – C.C.