ODDS, ENDS & INSPIRATION

z Kahlil Gibran once said: “I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.”

z Those who study such things have determined that one out of every four alcoholic drinks consumed in the world has vodka in it.

z Famed actor Clark Gable, dubbed the King of Hollywood, was once a hobo.

z At some point you’ve almost certainly heard a coward described as “lily-livered”, but did you ever wonder where that expression came from? It was once believed that the seat of courage in the human body was the liver; therefore, someone who was timid presumably lacked blood in the liver, causing that organ to become white.

z Every day, more money is printed for Monopoly than for the US Treasury.

z Those crazy Americans... There once was a law in Marshalltown, Iowa, stating that it was illegal for a horse to eat a fire hydrant. And in Oregon, it was at one time illegal for a dead person to serve on a jury.

z Would the history of medicine be different if Sigmund Freud had gone into law instead of psychoanalysis? That was his original aspiration in life – to be a lawyer.

z Karaoke and karate: Other than the fact that they are both from Japan, you wouldn’t think they have much in common. However, they both have the same root word, “kara”, which means empty. “Oke” means “voice” and “te” means “hand”; hence, “karaoke” is “empty voice”, and “karate” is “empty hand”. z As at 2018, 29 per cent of the Australian resident population, or 7,341,910 people, were born overseas. z It’s believed approximately 30 per cent of what we place in our kerbside recycling bins doesn’t belong there, including greasy pizza boxes, wet cardboard, plastic bags, food-tainted materials, and even bowling balls and garden hoses. z Paper lunch bags make excellent receptacle for cat litter waste. They are much more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, and can be folded down and placed directly into the wheelie bin. The bags are easily stored near the litter box, because they lay flat. z “Use a slotted spoon to separate eggs. The whites go through; the yolk does not.” – Y.E.

z Do you need to go to a fancy store for simple syrup? No way! Simply mix equal parts sugar and water, bring to a simmer and store in the fridge in a covered jar. Use in drink recipes and to sweeten iced tea.

z Here’s one to keep in mind for wintertime: “Wrap lint from your dryer in 15cm (6 inches) of wax paper. Roll it up 2.5cm (1 inch) on both ends and you have the perfect fire starter.” – M.K.

z Scoop up this trick when cooking scallops: Refrigerate uncovered for about 30 minutes before they will hit the pan or grill. This will help to dry out the surface, giving you a good sear instead of a steam. Make sure your pan is hot, and don’t leave the stove or grill, because scallops don’t take more than 1 1/2 minutes per side.