ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z It was British politician John Sweeney who made the following sage observation: “How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners and instant cameras teach patience to its young?”

z Golfers beware: Don’t chew on the tees. One golfer who was in the habit of gnawing while he played overdosed on pesticides after playing 36 holes in one day.

z The longest word in the English language that can be typed using only one hand is “stewardesses.”

z It’s been reported that the last words of 19-century American author, essayist, biographer and historian Washington Irving were, “Well, I must arrange my pillows for another night. When will this end?”

z Famed actor Gary Cooper was offered the role of Rhett Butler in the film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone With the Wind”, but he turned down the part. He said he believed the movie would be “the biggest flop in Hollywood history”. The film went on to win 10 Academy Awards, including one for Best Actor, which was taken home by Clark Gable, who took the part that Cooper refused.

z If you know you have coronary issues, beware of extreme temperatures. Those who study such things say that you’re more likely to have a heart attack on a particularly hot or a particularly cold day.

z Records show that in England in 1552, William Shakespeare’s father had to pay a fine for littering.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z Mirrors make a room feel larger, because they reflect space, essentially doubling the visual area. But for maximum impact, experts say to hang your mirror on the wall adjacent to your window, not across from it. z If you have an issue with odours remaining in your plastic food containers (such as kids’ lunchboxes), here’s a fix from B.P.: “Fill container with hot water, and add a teaspoon of baking soda. This should remove smells. Let sit overnight if necessary.” z Here’s a way to remove stickers, especially ones that don’t tear off. Rub labels with straight white vinegar or soak a paper napkin with vinegar and lay it over the label. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then remove. You should be able to rub the adhesive right off. Reapply if necessary. z Whether you recycle because of global warming, landfill overload or environmental issues, the planet thanks you. But remember that recycling is only one part of going green. “Reduce” and “re-use” are just as important. Choose products with less packaging. Have small appliances fixed instead of automatically replacing them. And keep recycling. z Clean your coffeemaker this way: Fill your coffeepot with equal parts water and vinegar. Add to machine and run as normal. Halfway through the cycle, turn the pot off and let the heated mixture sit for an hour or more. Complete the cycle, and run another pot or two of plain water through to rinse.