It's A Wack World (21 May)

• A German couple brought up in a religious environment who went to the Lubek fertility clinic after 8 years of marriage have found out why they are still childless - they weren't having sex.
• Inmates about to be released from South African prisons have been attacking wardens - so they can remain behind bars. The jailbirds are reportedly following orders from gang bosses who want them to stay in the slammer so they can help in a recruitment drive.
• In an attempt to attract more tourists this summer, the regional government of Rome will offer a package that includes gladiator lessons, Latin classes, and a typical ancient Roman feast. But there's one change from the old days - the post-dinner purging ritual will be dropped.

Try This Idea On Your Kid (21 May)

Could this be the ultimate low-maintenance pet? 'The Ant Store' in Berlin, Germany caters to people who just don't have time for a dog or cat. The advantages to ants as pets - they don't eat much, they don't smell, they don't make any noise, and they are fastidiously clean.

Online Church Attracts Virtual Idiots: (21 May)

Last week the world's first Internet church, "Church of Fools", was launched as a cooperative effort between the Methodist Church and the multi-denominational 'Ship of Fools' project. The site enables worshipers to choose a 3-D animated character to kneel, sing hymns, hear a sermon, and - talk to others. And that's where problems have begun - several of the upwards of 10,000 daily visitors have been logging as 'Satan' and keyboarding profanity during sermons. Site designers are currently working to upgrade security. And what kind of church would it be without taking up a collection? The site allows 'offerings' via mobile phone.
For more info check out the Ship Of Fools website.

The Dirtiest Foods (21 May)

Things we eat that can be the most hazardous ...

• 10. Scallions (linked to fatal outbreaks of Hepatitis-A)
• 9. Cold Cuts (can contain Listeria, a dangerous bacteria)
• 8. Pre-Packaged Tossed Salads (contents are often contaminated with E Coli)
• 7. Peaches (tough to clean all the pesticide off because of the peach fuzz)
• 6. Cantaloupe (dangerous bacteria on the rind is hard to wash off)
• 5. Eggs (they cause over 600,000 cases of food poisoning each year)
• 4. Oysters (many are tainted with the Norovirus and bacteria)
• 3. Ground Turkey (1 in 4 packages contain bacteria)
• 2. Ground Beef (due to heavy processing, it's often loaded with E Coli bacteria)
• 1. Chicken (in one study more than 40% of samples contained sickening bacteria)

'Small Fry' (21 May)

Everybody knows about kittens and puppies, but what do you call the babies of the following animals?

• crab (megalops)
• turkey (poult)
• bee (larva)
• seal (beach weaner)
• monkey (infant)
• peafowl (peachick)
• spiny anteater (puggle)
• alligator (hatchling)
• owl (owlet)
• cockroach (nymph)
• llama (cria)

A Real Sucker (20 May)

A bungling thief in Scotland tried to siphon diesel fuel from a camper van but got a mouthful of raw sewage. It seems the would-be raider missed the fuel tank in the dark and stuck his tube into the RV's septic tank by mistake.
- "Daily Record"

Hi-Tech Threads (20 May)

Japanese clothing companies are adding substances to their products to create fashions with a function. When added to fabric, things like vitamins seep into the wearer's skin and work their magic. One manufacturer has created clothes that contain xylitol, a substance used to sweeten gum and candy. It also absorbs heat when it comes in contact with sweat, so it helps keep you cool while you exercise.
- "Owl" magazine.

How Dey Do Dat? (20 May)

Last night at an NYC club bash for British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, airfare to London on his Virgin Atlantic airline was awarded to any woman over 21 who could prove she's a virgin.
- "Page Six"

Scientists Say (20 May)

A compendium of recent 'discoveries' ...

• Scientists say ... job strain combined with marital stress makes for a double whammy of a hypertension problem. A new study by Toronto's Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Center shows that's a deadly combo that almost guarantees high blood pressure.
• Scientists say ... doctors who play video games make better surgeons. A usual study at NYC's Beth Israel Medical Center finds that docs who spend 3 hours a week zapping aliens or racing video-game cars work 27% quicker than non-video-gaming docs and make 37% fewer mistakes in the O.R. during laparoscopic surgery. It makes sense - laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and instruments controlled by joysticks.
• Scientists say ... chocolate and cocoa can be good for your heart. A study at the Athens Medical School in Greece reveals that dark chocolate, rich in flavonoids (chemical compounds found naturally in some fruits & vegetables), actually seems to improve the tissue in arteries.
• Scientists say ... unfaithful men are more likely to die during sex than loyal spouses. A new German study of men who died during sex reveals that only 1 in 4 croaked while with their spouse or regular partner. More than half died in the arms of a lover or at a brothel, while the remainder passed away while making love ... to themselves.

New English 101 (19 May)

Recently heard new jargon ...

• 'Right-shoring' - A mix of 'off-shoring ' and 'on-shoring', it's restructuring a company's workforce to find the optimum mix of jobs performed locally and jobs moved to foreign countries.
• 'Wildcrafting' - The harvesting of wild plants for use as food or in herbal medicines.
• 'Early Birding' - A marketing strategy that creates enough buzz to convince consumers to pre-purchase a new product - not to get a discount - just to be among the first to own it.

Poke Your Chips (19 May)

The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain has turned Tuesday nights into 'Implant Night' when patrons pay for drinks and admission using a tiny microchip that's implanted under the skin. Clubbers can have the 'VeriChip' injected into any part of their body, as long as they're able to flash it in front of a scanner.
- Ananova

Heat My Heart (19 May)

A new study at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia has found that micro waving the heart could become an alternative treatment for heart rhythm disorders, a common cause of heart attack and stroke. The new device will selectively 'cook' areas of the human heart at 55 C (131 F) for a few seconds, thereby producing a lesion that blocks abnormal electrical signals. A researcher says the process works in the same way a microwave oven heats meat, but the exposure area is much more controlled.
- "Chemistry & Industry" magazine.

You Gotta Break Some Eggs To Make A Grand (19 May)

This month Norma's restaurant in NYC's Le Parker Meridien hotel began serving what is likely the world's most expensive omelette. 'The Zillion Dollar Frittata' is made with 6 eggs, a lobster and - 285 grams of sevruga caviar. It actually doesn't cost a zillion - just $1,000 ... plus tip. Beside the omelette's menu entry is the message: 'Norma dares you to expense this!'. So far, no one has. In fact, no one has even ordered it yet.
- "Daily News"

Too Stupid For Us To Make Up (19 May)

• Eastern North America is experiencing the appearance of cyclical cicadas, an event that only occurs every 17 years. And every 17 years this also happens - a Bloomington IN man has been admitted to a medical clinic suffering a severe allergic reaction after cooking and eating about 30 of the bugs. His recipe involves sautéing them in butter with crushed garlic and basil. He says they didn't taste bad but his wife didn't care for the aroma.
• A boozed-up lap-dancer sparked a terrorism scare when she sneaked aboard an empty jet in Aberdeen, Scotland - wearing only a G-string. The 22-year-old woman had just broken up with her boyfriend when she scaled the airport fence and walked right past security guards to climb into the cockpit of a private jet. She says she was just trying to find a place to spend the night.
• A 13-year-old girl got booted from her graduation ceremony at Holy Family Catholic School in Price Hill OH - for showing too much cleavage. Her furious mom says when you're as big as her daughter, there's gonna be cleavage.
• Fierce competition in the fast-food industry has led some restaurant chains to take an unusual measure to cut their bottom line - rationing napkins. Pay attention and you'll notice that paper napkins are now being hidden behind counters, wrapped individually with plastic silverware or stuffed in new dispensers that only allow customers to take one at a time.

Amazing Fact (19 May)

From the late 1950s to the early 1990s, the amount of sunshine actually reaching Earth's surface declined 2-3% per decade due to air pollution. In some areas, the decline was even more severe - 37% in Hong Kong, for instance. Fortunately, things have been getting brighter over the last decade as air pollution is being reduced.
- "Globe & Mail"

Gas (Petrol) Saving Tips (19 May)

Now that it's almost cheaper to have your car towed to work, here are a few money-saving suggestions ...

• Accelerating quickly is one of the worst things you can do to reduce gas (petrol) mileage.
• Running the AC reduces fuel efficiency by 3 to 4 mpg.
• Never race to a stoplight and then brake hard. It's hard on gas (petrol) mileage and the vehicle.
• Always put your vehicle in overdrive or in the top manual gear when cruising on the highway.
• Buying a new or used vehicle? The smaller engine that comes with the base model is almost always powerful enough and uses less fuel.
  - "Indianapolis Star"

Hah, Made You Blink (18 May)

An impromptu staring contest at a train station in Osaka, Japan went a little wacky, with one participant spraying the other - with tear gas! It seems the two men's eyes made contact near a ticket gate, then locked in a staring competition which escalated into an argument. The assault occurred after one remembered he was carrying a spray can of tear gas for self-defence. He was arrested, while the victim and several bystanders had to receive medical treatment.
- "Mainichi Daily News"

Not Just For Kids Anymore (18 May)

In an attempt to target gamers in their 20s & 30s, the $11-billion video-game industry is now placing hi-tech game consoles in nightclubs for grown-up clientele. It makes sense - a new survey finds the average age of video gamers is now 29, and 41% of gamers are now female. Some clubs are hooking their games up to giant plasma screens and young couples rent blocks of time to play against each other. One club owner says it makes for a competitive, flirting environment.
- "NY Post"

Public Pool Costs An Arm & A Leg (18 May)

Swimmers who use the Water World pool in Stoke-on-Trent, England, are a truly a forgetful bunch. How else can you explain the 10 artificial limbs found in the water over the past year? And unbelievably, the pool manager says none of the prosthetics have been reclaimed!
- "Gadsden Times"

In The Pink (18 May)

According to fashionistas, pink is the new blue - for men. Menswear designers such as Ralph Lauren, Izod, J Crew and Brooks Brothers are all featuring pink for guys. And we're seeing it everywhere - from Donald Trump's shiny pink tie on "The Apprentice" to Outkast's Andre Benjamin in a pink-and-white checked shirt in "People" mag. Some say the soft hue is hot because it goes so well with khakis and blue jeans. Designer Tommy Hilfiger says pink is great for spring because it looks fresh and exuberant, sexy and sophisticated, but still fun.
- Cox News

No Stars & Stripes (18 May)

US athletes have been warned not to wave the flag during medal celebrations at this summer's Athens Olympic Games for fear of provoking crowd hostility and further harming America's battered public image. The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of Olympic competition, but US Olympic officials have ordered the 550-member team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behaviour.
- "London Telegraph"

Hotel Says Thank-You (17 May)

Just what the relationship is between Britney Spears' "Onyx Hotel Tour" and a new hotel of the same name is unclear. At one time the Onyx Hotel in Boston said it had no knowledge of why she so-named her tour. Now it's calling itself 'the official hotel' of the tour and will unveil a 'Britney Spears Suite' in June, designed by Britters and her mom. The hotel's grand opening was scheduled for today.
For more info check out the Onyx Hotel website.

Feeling Testy? (17 May)

Falling in love causes changes in men's and women's testosterone levels. The levels fall in men and rise in women so that they become more like each other. Italian scientist Donatella Marazziti of the University of Pisa made the discovery after studying 24 people in love. Interesting that 2 years later, when the same people were tested again and were no longer madly in love - their testosterone levels were back to normal!
- "New Scientist"

Up With Pants (Trousers)! (17 May)

Louisiana state representative Derrick Shepherd has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to wear low-slung pants in public that 'intentionally expose undergarments or intentionally expose any portion of the pubic hair, cleft of the buttocks or genitals'. When he spoke in support of his legislation, the state house broke out into laughter, with some of his fellow reps chanting "No more crack! "No more crack!"
- "Daily News"

Stinking To High Heaven (14 May)

Fred Dale has died, the Englishman who founded an air freshener company, then concocted custom smells for theme parks and special events as a sideline. Among his repertoire of foul smells - 'Dead Roman Soldier's Armpit', 'Viking Loo', and his favourite - 'Dragon Breath', created for a model dragon at the UK's Camelot Fun Park. His son says the only aroma his pop couldn't quite get right was the smell of baking bread.

Striking While The Iron's Hot (14 May)

Monday members of the 'Extreme Ironing Bureau' begin a 2-week tour of the USA as part of their campaign for Olympic recognition of the sport. 'Extreme Ironing' is described as the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt. They'll be showing off their expertise by ironing at high-profile locations such as Mount Rushmore and Times Square.
For more info check out the Extreme Ironing website.

International News (14 May)

• In Australia, Cadbury-Schweppes is investigating how a can of Jim Beam & cola was erroneously labelled as regular Pepsi, then sold and drunk by an 8-year-old girl. It seems the can was manufactured at the company's Melbourne plant that also produces pre-mixed alcoholic drinks.
• A Barnsley, England man has been forced to paint a polka-dot bikini and shorts on his garden gnomes after neighbours complained the naked gnomes were offensive. They previously had fully exposed little gnome bodies.
• After a German man mistakenly filled his tank with gasoline instead of diesel at a service station in Frankfurt, an attendant helped him siphon the fuel out. Then the driver decided to suck out the last few drops - with a vacuum cleaner! Gas fumes exploded inside the vacuum, causing over $1,500 in damage.

True Crime (13 May)

A judge has told a wannabe bank robber in Dusseldorf, Germany to give it up because he lacks the talent. The 28-year-old loser arrived at a bank before it even opened one morning, then spent 3 hours loitering outside, building up the courage to go in. When he finally entered, he pulled his woollen cap down over his face but couldn't see - because he'd cut the eye-holes in the wrong place! He then ripped off the cap in frustration - right in front of a security camera - before threatening a teller with a pistol-shaped lighter. She told him to leave, which he did - only to find the police waiting for him outside.
- Ananova

In-Flight Morgue (13 May)

Singapore Airlines has just added a new wrinkle to it's airliners - an on-board 'corpse cupboard' to store passengers who die during flights. Sounds gruesome but this week the airline launched the 'World's Longest Non-Stop Commercial Flight' from Singapore to Los Angeles. What does one do during an 18-hour flight in the rare occasion that a passenger passes away? It's not always possible to find a row of seats where the deceased passenger can be placed (or desirable either!), so now the special compartment can be used for storage.
- PA News

Because Wine In A Box Is Just Too Snooty (13 May)

When it comes to packaging, Northern California wineries are thinking outside the box - and beyond the bottle. Following the lead of winemakers in Australia, Italy and New Zealand, a number of Napa Valley winemakers are set to package wine in a host of new ways. As well as screw-top bottles, California wines will soon be available in aluminium cans and Tetra Pak cartons like those used for milk. The new packaging is designed to appeal to a 'younger, hipper crowd'.
- "San Francisco Business Times"

Go Forth & Multiply (13 May)

Australia's national treasurer Peter Costello says that 2 children per couple in a country of 20 million just isn't adequate. So in this week's federal budget, he's promised a $2,000 reward for every baby born after June as part of a new 5-year 'family package'. Costello says procreating is a couples' patriotic duty and they should get on with it.
- Reuters

For The Record (13 May)

• Garry Trainer from Auckland NZ has been named the 'World Champion Worm Charmer'. He won the coveted title by convincing 51 worms to come to the surface of a one-meter-square section of field in 15 minutes.
• A group of 6 Brits and 1 Aussie have set a new world record for the 'Highest Altitude Formal Dinner'. The team wore white ties & top hats and carried tables, chairs, silverware, floral centerpieces, a candelabra, plus food & wine for a 5-course meal - 22,000 feet up Tibet's Lhakpa Ri.

Buzzwords (12 May)

New terms leaking into the lingo -

• 'Disc Rot' - The gradual deterioration of the data-carrying layer of optical discs (CDs & DVDs) which may be less long-lived than originally thought. The 'rot' resembles tiny pinpricks and can cause the disc to skip or fail to function at all.
• 'Grief Tourists' - People who travel to the scene of a recent tragedy to mourn the victims.
• 'Canvention' - A convention of beer-can collectors, a hobby whose popularity is now mostly limited to men middle-aged or older.

The Colour Of Gluttony (12 May)

An interesting new marketing & nutritional science study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign suggests that food presentation and its variety of colors helps determine how much we want to eat. In one experiment, participating adults ate 69% more jellybeans when 6 colors were mixed together in the same bowl than when the colors were sorted into separate bowls. In another experiment, moviegoers ate 43% more M&Ms when given 10 colors than those who were offered the same amount in 7 colors.
- ANI

For The Record (12 May)

An 80-year-old man in Orali, India who's been married to 90 women wants to wed 10 more before he dies to round off his record to an even 100. He set the goal long ago when his first wife left him. At the moment he's still married but has been receiving proposals from all over, including Japan, Hungary, and the USA.
- "Asian Age"

A Real Kick In The Pants (12 May)

A suggestion in a meeting that some sort of device was needed for clients to kick the participants' butts has led J Reese Leavitt, owner of Leavitt & Associates Engineers Inc in Nampa, Idaho to develop the 'Manually Self-Operated Butt-Kicking Machine'. The device features a size-15 red high-top running shoe filled with concrete for impact. Leavitt is now seeking a patent.
- "Salt Lake Tribune"

Scientists Say (11 May)

A compendium of recent 'discoveries' ...

• Scientists say ... plastic wine-bottle stoppers are bad for the environment - even if you recycle them. How so? "Bird Watcher's Digest" says over 40 bird species live in the cork-producing woodlands of Spain and Portugal. If cork farmers go out of business, the birds will be out of a habitat.
• Scientists say ... women with overactive bladders are less likely to enjoy sex, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Scientists say ... you're more likely to dream about someone if you try to avoid thinking about them before going to sleep. A Harvard researcher tells "Psychology Today" that's because the brain uses sleep time to spill out thoughts we're trying to suppress.

News Around-The-World (11 May)

• A 24-year-old Polish man has been bitten to death by - a sexually-aroused horse. It seems the stallion began straining and bucking after getting the hots for a nearby mare. When its owner tried to calm the big guy, it attacked him!
• An interior designer from Hinckley in Britain's East Midlands who's also a sci-fi fan has listed his tiny apartment for $1 million. Why so much? The 500-sq-ft pad has had a makeover mimicking the 'Starship Enterprise', complete with voice-activated lighting, back-lit paneling and a hi-tech control console.
• The town of Oulu, Finland, home to the annual "World Air Guitar Championships", now has another musical oddity to brag about - 'The Shouting Men's Choir', 30 guys in black suits who move in unison and shout in harmony.
• 28-year-old Jai Shankar is campaigning in India's national elections with - a live rat in his mouth. He says the stunt is to highlight the plight of starving farmers who must eat rats to survive.
• German theatre director Christoph Schlingensief is attempting to 'liberate opera from elitism and take it to the streets' by staging performances of Richard Wagner's works accompanied by - street drag races.

Invention Convention (11 May)

Tomorrow-Saturday, North America's largest invention trade show INPEX (Invention & New Product Exposition) is holding its 20th annual show in Pittsburgh. Among the new products and innovations on display ...

• 'Towel Down' - A multi-functional beach blanket that quickly and easily converts into a backpack, tote or sleeping bag.
• 'Right-Height Picture Hanger' - A wall mountable hook that adjusts 3-4 inches, enabling users to quickly and easily hang pictures, mirrors or shelves at the right height.
• 'Jon-E-Vac' - A toilet seat with built-in air filter/fan.
• 'Hector's Helper' - A sanitary plastic glove used for picking up pet poop.

For The Record (11 May)

Australian engineer James Trusler has been declared 'world's fastest texter' for taking just 7 seconds to send the difficult text message - "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they never attack a human."

Gardening By Gender (10 May)

According to the soon-to-publish book "Lost Gardens of England" by Kathryn Bradley-Hole, men and women have distinctly different approaches when it comes to gardening. Men are more likely to plan lawns and gardens in geometric patterns. Men are also far more likely to enter giant fruit and vegetable contests.
- "London Observer"

It's A Wack World (10 May)

• Russian scientist Klim Sulimov has created a new breed of dog that's part wild Jackal and part Northern Husky. His new 'Huskjackals' have a sense of smell 50 times sharper than other dogs.
• Florida's Daytona Cubs Class A minor league baseball team is holding an essay contest with the grand prize of ... an all-expenses-paid funeral.
• When Paris police pulled over one of their own for drunk driving, they found him wearing only ... a pair of fishnet stockings. He admitted he was moonlighting as a prostitute in order to make ends meet ... as it were.
• A radio show in Denmark made a tongue-in-cheek appeal to Danish citizens to help out their neighbours in Norway where a truckers' strike has led to a run on toilet paper in stores. Concerned listeners have responded by send in more than 1,000 rolls!

Amazing Facts (10 May)

• A new poll finds that 46% of low-carb dieters actually believe they can lose weight just by cutting carbs without cutting calories.
• For the first time ever, "Premiere" magazine's annual list of "The 100 Most Influential People in Hollywood" includes ... Jesus. But he only made it on at #100.

Getting From 'A' To 'B' (7 May)

Today UK police officer Paul Perry begins an odd 10,000-km (6,000-mile) cycling trip that begins in the tiny village of Aa in Norway and will end at Bee, Nebraska in the USA. Along the way he'll pass through 6 European countries before boarding a ship for NYC. He'll then cycle north into Canada, visiting Ottawa and Toronto before crossing back into the US at Detroit. To complete the 4-month journey, he'll ride a 24-speed 'tandem' bike - in case someone wants to hop on and help pedal.
- "Euro Sport News"

Absent Friends Anxiety (7 May)

A University of Haifa study finds that many TV viewers experience loss similar to the break-up of a long friendship when a favourite show or character disappears from the tube. You're thinking mostly loners and losers, right? Wrong! Lead researcher Jonathan Cohen says those who have the most intense relationships with real friends are the ones most likely to suffer when a favourite show goes off-the-air.
- "Washington Post"

Too Stupid For Us To Make Up (7 May)

• A 25-year-old Portuguese plumber who left an unattended bag at Britain's Birmingham International Airport while stepping out for a smoke has been jailed for causing a 'full-scale security alert'. Inside the bag - his teddy bear.
• This week President Bush toured Ohio in a bus emblazoned with the campaign slogan, "Yes, America Can!" It turns out the bus was built in - St Claire, Quebec.
• As part of the promotion for the release of "Spider-Man 2" next month, Major League Baseball has agreed to decorate its bases, pitching-mound rubbers and on-deck circles with - a spider-web pattern.
• A woman stunned employees at a north London store by buying 10,656 Mars bars - a total of 220 box loads - and paying the $3,823 tab in cash. Unbelievably, nobody thought to ask her why she wanted so many!
• Stoney Creek ON-based Vanguard Response Systems has a $2.5-million contract from the US Marine Corps to develop equipment spray systems for - slippery gel. The 'Mobility Denial System' will make surfaces so slippery it will be impossible to walk or drive on them.

Barbie-Shaped Women Are Most Fertile (6 May)

At last, the male penchant for women with an hourglass figure may have some biological justification. A new study conducted at Poland's Jagiellonian University reveals that large-breasted, narrow-waisted women have the highest reproductive potential. According to the researchers, women with a relatively low waist-to-hip ratio and large breasts have about 30% higher levels of the female reproductive hormone than women with other body shapes.
- "New Scientist"

Buzzwords (5 May)

New terms leaking into the lingo -

• 'Whitelisting' - The opposite of blacklisting. Creating a list of people or companies you'll accept e-mail from. To reduce spam, people are using Internet 'whitelisting' services to filter e-mail.
• 'Mini-Dolls' - The dolls that are really moving in toy stores these days are mostly 2 to 5-inches-tall. Sales of mini-dolls (anything under 9 inches) have shot up by 60% in the past year.
• 'Viagra Divorce' - A divorce granted on the grounds that a husband is behaving aggressively or unfaithfully after taking an anti-impotence drug.

Travelers Are Such Pigs (5 May)

A new poll by online travel company Orbitz shows that some of us are really lacking when it comes to hotel etiquette. A few survey lowlights ...

• 60% take the toiletries supplied in the bathroom.
• 50% of singles admit to sneaking a partner into their room, 10% of guests admit to sneaking a pet in.
• 33% bring an alarm clock because they don't trust the hotel to wake them up.
• 31% admit to locking themselves out their rooms.
• 25% leave their wet towels lying on the floor.
• 18% admit to stealing towels, 14% ashtrays, 2% bathrobes and bath mats.
• 13% leave the TV on when they check out.
• 9% eat in bed, leaving a crummy mess behind.

Rock-A-Bye Robot (5 May)

Design student Garry Cho of London's Brunel University has developed the 'Caring Cot', based on a standard wooden child's crib. But his invention has some extras - a microphone fitted to a sensor detects when the baby starts to cry and sets off a mechanism which moves the crib up-and-down for approximately 45 seconds, putting the child back to sleep. Experiments have shown the up-and-down movement is more effective than the traditional side-to-side rocking motion that's been used for eons. If the baby has not stopped crying, the automatic crib repeats the motion.
- "Ananova"

Too Stupid For Us To Make Up (5 May)

• The Arizona state House of Representatives has just voted to repeal a law that prohibits people from carrying loaded weapons into bars.
• The Camino a Canaan Cemetery in Santiago, Chile is now offering an add-on feature to its regular burial charges - coffins with motion sensors, which detect any movement after burial and send a signal to attendants.
• A 34-year-old Henderson TX man is facing 20 years in the slammer after setting up a romantic bubble bath for his wife complete with candles and music, then trying to electrocute her by pushing a radio into the bathtub. Unfortunately - for him at least - she caught the radio before it hit the water.
• An airline passenger on a Qantas flight from Melbourne, Australia to Wellington, NZ got a little more than she bargained for after ordering an in-flight salad - a 4-cm (1.5-inch) whistling tree frog, sitting on a slice of cucumber.
• New legislation in Germany will fine companies that do not have at least 1 apprentice for every 15 workers, and that includes - brothels. That means that, if and when the law is passed, Germany's houses of prostitution will be required to hire 'trainee' hos.

New Gizmos & Gadgets (4 May)

• University of Guelph biologist Paul Hebert is developing a handheld gadget that will read DNA like a bar code. He and his associates are assembling a database that will eventually contain all the codes of Earth's estimated 10 million species. The hope is that eventually the gadget will be able to scan and identify the source of a fragment of DNA from any living thing.
  - "Canadian Geographic"
• University of Nebraska computer professor Shane Farritor has come up with robotic cones to replace those ubiquitous orange pylons you always see around road construction. Why bother? His robotic cones can be moved remotely, ending any hazard to workers trying to place them on busy roads.
  - "New Scientist"
• UK company Astucia has perfected a tiny radar camera which can be concealed in road studs as small as those little highway reflectors known as 'Botts Dots'. The camera is currently undergoing trials and has proven accurate for speeds up to 150 mph. It's also sophisticated enough to scan your tires to see if they have enough tread.
  - "Independent"

Wait Till Winter (4 May)

According to new Wake Forest University research, September is the worst month in which to have laser eye surgery. About 50% of patients who do so need a follow-up procedure later on. Why? It seems the extra moisture in the air during hot & humid months reduces the laser energy absorbed by the cornea, the part of the eye reshaped during laser procedures. So researchers say the best bet if you're going to have laser surgery is - wait until the drier winter months.
- "Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery"

Amazing Facts (4 May)

• To qualify for a no-limit 'American Express Black Card', you have to charge at least $150,000 a year. Among the celebs to whom Amex has awarded the honor: Sean Combs, Russell Simmons, Denzel Washington, and Lil' Kim - who wears a diamond-encrusted one around her neck.
  - "NY Daily News"
• There are approximately 50,000 radio stations worldwide. There are more than 14,000 in the USA, 5,000 in Brazil, and about 3,000 in Europe.
  - "Focus" magazine

Nuke Danger (3 May)

A physician is calling for clear warnings on microwave ovens after exploding food damaged a girl's eye. The 9-year-old was hit in the face by fragments of a boiled egg that she reheated intact in its shell at full power for 40 seconds. The egg exploded 30 seconds after it was removed from the oven. Safety experts say warning stickers might help, but parents should teach children about the potential dangers of microwaves.
- "British Medical Journal"

Kevlar In A Can (3 May)

US Army scientists are working on body armour that comes in a - spray can. The liquid armour. hardens in an instant when hit. It has already stopped arrows in tests and researchers hope it will do the same for bullets and shrapnel. Liquid armour could be applied to sleeves and pants, areas not protected by bullet-proof vests. The concept may also be used for civilian crash protection in cars and planes.
- AP

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