ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

It was Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky who made the following sage observation: “Silence will save me from being wrong (and foolish), but it will also deprive me of the possibility of being right.”

z You might be surprised to learn that a male lion can mate up to 50 times in one day.

z Before the iconic reclining armchair was dubbed “La-z-boy”, the names “Sit-n-snooze”, “Slack Back” and “Comfort Carrier” were considered.

z A researcher calculated that across the country of Great Britain, the weight of all the insects that are eaten by spiders in a year would be more than the combined weight of all the people who live there.

zz A 22-year-old man who was trying to board a flight in Cairo, Egypt, bound for Saudi Arabia was stopped by security officers when the X-ray of his hand luggage showed some strange results. It seems that the man was attempting to transport 250 baby crocodiles and – wait for it – a live cobra. (Animal lovers will be pleased to learn that the creatures were not harmed; they were turned over to the Cairo zoo.)

z In the US, automatic teller machines are three times more likely to be robbed between 6 and 9pm than at any other time of day.

z In some parts of Europe, red roses are considered to be omens of evil. Seeing the petals fall from a red rose is a portent of death.

z And in Switzerland, it is considered to be bad luck to tell anyone your baby’s name before it is born.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z O.L. writes: “Never store bread in the refrigerator. The cold will turn it stale, dry and tasteless, and it also will soak up odours from the fridge. Use a breadbox to keep moisture from escaping. In a pinch, you can store bread in a microwave.”

z When painting your own nails, always use a top coat, and give the tip of your nails a swipe with the polish. They’re less likely to chip.

z Cover rusty springs on your trampoline with short sections of pool noodles.

z “I had picked up a pizza for dinner and I had a longer-than-normal drive to get home. I used the sun reflector that I put in my windshield to wrap the pizza box. I figured it would be like one of those pizza delivery bags. It worked.” – H.P. z Add a cinnamon stick to your vacuum cleaner bag or to the collection container. It may help circulate a nice smell as you clean. z As the months turn colder, here’s a great tip to help start the day. “In cold winter months, keep your robe (and slippers or whatever else) under the covers with you when you sleep. Pull them next to or over you a few minutes before you get up. It’ll be toasty and will help make the transition into the cold a little less harsh.” – B.M. z Use a used fabric softener sheet to collect cat hair from areas where Kitty likes to nap – the back of the lounge, fabric-covered chairs, etc. This also works on curtains that are regularly rubbed up against. Make sure you use a sheet that has already gone through the laundry. z Send your tips to now-heresa-tip@dubbophotonews.com.au