ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z It was US presidential hopeful Adlai Stevenson who made the following sage observation: “A free society is a place where it’s safe to be unpopular.”

z In proportion to its size, the strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue.

z Beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss had a hobby that few people were aware of: He col-lected hats.

z If you’re planning a trip to the American state of Kentucky anytime soon, you’d better keep a close rein on your interactions with strangers. It seems that flirting there is illegal and could get you 30 days in jail.

z It’s well-known that Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize, but most people are misin-formed about what he won it for. He didn’t receive the award for his theory of relativity, but for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

z The name of one of the most popular early video games, Pac-man, comes from the Japa-nese words for “to eat”. “Isuzu” means “50 bells” in Japanese, and “Atari” means “prepare to be attacked”.

z The lyrics to that favourite Irish ballad “O Danny Boy” were actually written by an Eng-lishman.

z Hong Kong is not a city – it’s an island. The name of the city commonly known as Hong Kong is actually Victoria.

z In ancient Rome, slaves with red hair commanded a higher price from buyers.

z Actress Meg Ryan’s given name was Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra.

Thought for the Day:

“The trouble ain’t that people are ignorant; it’s that they know so much that ain’t so.” – Josh Billings

NOW HERE’S A TIP

z Turn off notifications during homework time. This means you, too, Mum and Dad. Whistles, buzzes and bells distract more than just the person whose phone is sounding the alert.

z Did you know that when iron and copper in metal kitchen knives come in contact with cer-tain fruits and vegetables, it causes them to brown more quickly? It’s better to use a glass, plastic or ceramic-coated knife to cut fruit & veg items, especially lettuce, apples and avo-cados, which are prone to browning.

z To remove the scent of garlic from your hands, sprinkle salt on a cut lemon and rub it on your hands. Then, wash as normal with soap and water.

z This tip comes to me from my grandmother. If you roll sausages in a very light coat of flour before you cook them, it will reduce the shrinkage.

z Now, here’s a great solution, from G.H.: “After I pressure wash my patio and driveway, I mix up a gallon of vinegar with a cup of salt and a few drops of dish soap. I use this on cracks to deter weeds from growing in them. It’s safe and works quite well.”

z “If you use a thimble when sewing, here’s a tip from my seam-stress mum: Wet your thumb or finger before you pop the thimble on. It will stay put, as the moisture helps to create a little suction. It’s aggravating when a thimble falls off.” – J.R.

z Keep paper lunch bags at the ready to ripen produce. This method can be used for peaches, pears, apples, avocados or tomatoes.