ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z It was Hungarian psychiatrist Thomas Stephen Szasz who made the following sage observation: “If you talk to God, you are praying. If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia.”

z You might be surprised to learn that David Duchovny, best known for his role as Agent Fox Mulder in “The X-files”, was just a dissertation away from being awarded a doctorate in English literature.

z Did you know that the world’s most popular fruit is the banana?

z In 2009, a Saudi couple who had spent their honeymoon in Malaysia encountered difficulty on the return flight home. It seems that the groom felt the bride was taking too long in the airport restroom, so he boarded the flight back to Saudi Arabia before she did. When he allowed the plane to leave without her, she insisted on an immediate divorce.

z Most people don’t realise that in 1938, Time magazine featured Adolph Hitler on the cover as its Man of the Year.

z Removing one’s wedding ring is considered to be a no-no by many. However, one superstition holds that doing so is perfectly acceptable – as long as the ring is being used to ward off a witch.

z Ever wonder why magazine publisher Hugh Hefner chose a rabbit as the symbol of his Playboy magazine? Evidently, when the mogul was a small boy one of his treasured possessions was a blanket with bunnies all over it.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z Add a few drops of water to votive cups before adding a candle. The wax will float on the water, and when the candle burns down, it won’t get stuck in the votive glass.

z Experts say: For every foot high your tree, you should plan for 9 feet of garland. So, a 7-foot tree would need about 63 feet of garland.

z Got build-up on your battery terminal? Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a large mug of hot water, then stir vigorously. Pour over the corrosion to foam it away, then rinse, rinse, rinse. Make sure the device is disconnected from any other power source first.

z Put on a bracelet with no help, with the aid of a paperclip! Unfold one end to create a long loop. Hook one end on the loop, and hold the other end of the paperclip in your hand, with the bracelet end on your wrist. You have only to loop the bracelet around and hook it. z Glass doors in the shower can be cleaned with a dryer sheet. Simply wet and rub. In fact, the texture almost gives a scrub. z Create your own “on this day in history” calendar, just for your family. Purchase a large wall calendar each year dedicated to memories. Start with just listing birthdays. Then you can document things that happen throughout the year. Maybe someone bought a new car, or lost a tooth. Write down visitors to your home and holidays. Then at the end of the year, transfer them to a new calendar, noting what year something happened. As the years progress, you’ll have a wonderful reminiscing calendar! z Send your tips to now-heres-atip@dubbophotonews.com.au