ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z It was 19th-century French novelist and poet Victor Hugo who made the following sage observation: “Men hate those to whom they have to lie.” z If you’re planning to visit the Hawaiian island of Kauai, you might want to trek up to Mount Waialeale. If you do, though, be sure to take an umbrella, as that mountain holds the distinction of receiving more rainfall than any other place on Earth, with an average of about 40 feet – yes, feet – of rain annually. That’s about 12.192 metres! z According to the US National Chicken Council’s annual Chicken Wing Report, 1.35 billion wings were consumed during America’s Super Bowl weekend this year. That’s an all-time high; the number crunchers have determined that if all those wings were laid end-to-end, the resulting line of poultry would stretch 36,576km. That would be long enough to circle the Earth three times – or to cross a road 13 million times.

z When archaeologists discovered the tomb of King Tut, one of the objects they found inside was a bronze razor – and it was still sharp enough to use.

z Did you ever wonder how the lollipop got its name? A man named George Smith first put the hard treat on the end of a stick, but sweetsmaking wasn’t his only interest. It seems that Smith also had a keen interest in horseracing, and he named the treat after a popular racehorse of the time, Lolly Pop.

z Those who study such things say that all mammals, from rodents to elephants, urinate for approximately 21 seconds. This is now known as the “Law of Urination”.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z “We recently got a cute pot rack, but when we put up our stainless steel pots, it became clear that we weren’t doing a great job of cleaning them – eew! My neighbour and best friend came to the rescue with a product called Barkeepers Friend. It’s a scouring powder, but it doesn’t scratch. Anyway, all the yellow stains on the bottom of our pots came off. And it de-grossed a cast-iron skillet too (we re-seasoned it). Our pot rack now looks great.” – contributed by M.D.

z Fine particles of dust and grease mix in the air in the kitchen, and when they settle on things, it can get sticky! If you have a build-up of this sticky dust on appliances, try this trick: Make a paste from baking soda or cream of tartar and water. Apply with a damp sponge for a little gentle abrasive. Follow with a clean damp cloth. This works especially well on the top of the fridge. z If you dye your own hair, apply a border of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the outside of your face at the hair line. This will keep those drips from staining your face. Apply some to your ears as well, and the back of your neck for the same reason. z Don’t forget to wash your kid’s backpack from time to time. The places it goes and the things it sees make me shudder, especially in this hot sticky season. z Send your tips to now-heres-a-tip@dubbophotonews. com.au