ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z It was industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was born into a poor Scottish family and emigrated to the United States as a teen, who made the following sage observation: “There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” z You might be surprised to learn that the United States has officially designated approximately 30 houses across that country as authentic haunted houses. z Australia has been officially using the metric system of measurement for more than 40 years and, while 95 per cent of the world now uses the same system, the United States still stubbornly clings to the archaic units of measurement derived from the old British Imperial system. This hodgepodge ranges from the mile (originally the distance a Roman soldier could march in 1000 double steps) to the foot (originally the length of Emperor Charlemagne’s foot, later “standardised” to the length of 35 barleycorns laid end to end) to a yard (the distance between King Henry I’s nose to his extended fingertips) to an inch (the length from the tip to the first joint of a man’s thumb). z You probably didn’t realise there’s a word for it, but a pregnant goldfish is called a twit. z A man named Robert Boyd entered a lingerie shop and attempted to hold up the store using a Japanese sword. A fan of video games, Boyd claimed in his defence that at the time of the holdup, he believed he was an elf.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z “Large dogs can benefit from a raised water and food bowl. Why not make it pretty at the same time by putting a stainless-steel bowl into a decorative planter? Find a planter and bowl that have the same size opening. Your pup will thank you.” – I.B.B. z “Here’s a novel way to store your skewers that’s both handy and safe: Once they are clean and dry, wrap in plastic wrap. They will stay together, and the plastic can save you from being poked by the ends when they’re loose in the drawer.” – T.H. z The secret to avoiding stains on your carpet is to get to spills right away. If you have a liquid spill, rcemove as much of the liquid as you can, then spray the stain with a solution of half vinegar and half water. Let it sit for two minutes, then blot with a towel. If it’s solid food, try using a plastic card to scrape it up from underneath so it doesn’t get ground in. Then follow the same steps as for a liquid stain. z “It’s better to use a dry, lint-free cloth to clean your DVD player and other electronics. Moisture will damage your electrical circuits, so no spray cleaners. But there is one thing you can spray into those cracks to help you clean: canned air! It’s is a great alternative for dislodging dust from vents without risking your tech. While you have it out, you might try ‘dusting’ the headphone and charging ports on your mobile phone, too.” – M.F. z “Need sliced mushrooms for your salad or recipe? They are hard to cut, but you might have the perfect tool for doing the job already in your kitchen. If you have an egg slicer, get it out. It works very well for mushrooms, and it’s easier to use than trying to cut those slices yourself.” – J.R.