Retro Brands (31 August)

There's currently a movement in marketing to buy up old brands from the 1960s - such as the hair treatments 'Vitalis' and 'Brylcreem', and men's fragrances 'Brut' and 'Old Spice' - then relaunch them. Combe Inc, for instance, acquired the 'Aqua Velva' aftershave brand 18 months ago and is working its way through several marketing challenges: much of today's younger generation is unconcerned with getting a 'close shave', and thus don't even know what an aftershave is.
- "Orlando Sentinel"

Prisoners To Bad Taste (31 August)

A German company is planning to sell the 'authentic jail experience' to tourists looking for something different. For about $120, you'll be able to spend a night in the notorious Hoheneck Castle, the largest women's prison in former East Germany, where thousands of political dissidents suffered repression at the hands of the Communists. The tour company claims it's simply offering 'the chance to re-live the past first-hand instead of just reading about it in dry history books'. Former Hoheneck prisoners have begun a campaign to halt the project.
- Reuters

Amazing Fact (31 August)

Over the past century, an estimated $5-billion worth of art has been stolen. According to "Art Loss Register", which tracks stolen art worldwide, among the missing are 467 works by Pablo Picasso and 289 by Marc Chagall. Most often, high-profile works of art are never recovered.
- "Wall Street Journal"

Ticking People Off Is Pure Pleasure (30 August)

Do you derive a sense of pleasure from reprimanding people? Guess what? You're normal. Researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland have discovered that telling people off is linked to the area of the brain associated with enjoyment and satisfaction.
- BBC

Sexiest Leg Moments On Film (30 August)

1. Sharon Stone crossing/uncrossing her legs in "Basic Instinct".
2. Ursula Andress' seductive rise from the sea in "Dr No".
3. Cameron Diaz walking into the bank in "The Mask".
4. Brad Pitt in a skirt in "Troy".
5. Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina's high-kicking floor exercises at this year's Olympics.
6. Halle Berry in "Catwoman".
7. Julia Roberts in thigh-high boots in "Pretty Woman".
8. Marilyn Monroe's skirt blowing up in "The Seven Year Itch".
9. Anne Bancroft as 'Mrs Robinson' in "The Graduate".
10. The background girls in black dresses in Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" video.

Burning Man (30 August)

This week is the annual "Burning Man" celebration in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. It started in 1986, when San Francisco artist Larry Harvey was bitter about losing his girlfriend to another man so he built a wooden effigy, then burned it. Nowadays, some 30,000 participants gather, throw away their clothes or don outlandish costumes, and recite poetry, build avant-garde art objects and dance all night. At the finale Monday, they'll burn a 50-foot wooden effigy of a man. One of the weirdest celebrations anywhere!
For more info check out the Burning Man website.

The Wheels On The Bus Go Scritch, Scritch, Scritch (27 August)

The wheels on your vehicle may someday be replaced by - cockroach legs. Scientists from Case Western University in Cleveland OH have been working on 'cockroach vehicles' for years, claiming that replacing wheels with legs that replicate the speed and spryness of the cockroach will make it easier for vehicles to traverse rough terrain. They recently revealed their latest models at a robotics conference in Brisbane, Australia.
- "Sydney Morning Herald"

Too Stupid For Us To Make Up (27 August)

• For every 'A' they receive on their report cards, elementary school kids in Palm Beach FL are being offered - free Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
• Border Patrol officers along the US-Mexico border are now using non-lethal guns that shoot pellets filled with - chilli pepper powder.
• Teachers at JFK Middle School in Northampton MA have switched to purple markers to grade test papers because - students find the traditional red too scary. Purple apparently stands out but doesn't look as frightening as red.
• A Louisville KY teacher was pulled over and found to have a blood-alcohol content twice the legal limit - while driving to her first day of school. After being charged with drunk driving, she later returned to her 5th-grade class.

This Engine Blows (27 August)

Melbourne, Australia company Engineair has developed a vehicle that runs on - air! Their 'Garden Buggy', resembling a golf cart, runs on compressed air from a cylinder which is blown through a rotor to drive the motor.
- Australian Broadcasting Company Online

The Self-Chilling Beer Can (26 August)

Tempra Technology has developed the 'IC Can', an environmentally friendly aluminium can that uses a self-chilling process involving a cooling gel, a moisture remover and heat sinks. The company claims the gizmo can drop the temperature of a 10-oz beverage by 30 degrees Fahrenheit in just 3 minutes. Tempra is looking for a partner to put a branded beverage inside.
- "Gizmodo"

Canny Lady (26 August)

76-year-old Newfoundland-born Ann Ewell of Ossian IN is finally selling off her collection of soft drink cans - over 100,000 of them! The collection of rare and vintage cans that fills an 8-room, 50-by-100-ft shed, will be auctioned Saturday. Begun in 1976, the collection includes foreign cans, sports & comedy themes, and defunct brands such as Cliquot Club, Up, Tip Top and Twang. There's also a Coca-Cola room, containing just about anything that has ever had a Coke logo on it!
- "Fort Wayne News-Sentinel"

Radio Cats (26 August)

On the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, cats and their fleas have put the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation off-the-air. Only music and news bulletins are being broadcast while fumigators try to make the corporations 3 radio stations liveable for humans again. There have reportedly been more than a hundred stray cats running over the roof of the CyBC building and into the studios. At one point, a cat fell through the roof and landed on a broadcaster's head! The stations may be off-air for as long as 3 days.
- Reuters

Psst, Heard The Latest? (26 August)

Shugborough Estate, the centuries-old tourist attraction near Stafford UK that hired a professional live-in hermit 2 years ago, is now advertising for a professional - gossip. The 'ear-wigging, tongue-wagging, tittle-tattler' must be proficient at 'small talk, prattle and gibbering', and possess skills in 'artful snooping' and 'grapevine development'. The successful candidate will be dressed as a maid or footman and provide idle chatter about goings-on in the grand old mansion during tours. Oh, by the way, the pay is in cash and beer - a gallon of it every day!
- "The Guardian"

Buzzwords (25 August)

New terms leaking into the lingo -

• 'Pinheads' - Obsessive collectors of Olympic pins.
• 'Post Medal Depression' - A syndrome experienced by Olympians after achieving their goal as the begin wondering, 'What am I going to do now?'.
• 'Centre Guys' - Young Japanese men who go out for an evening wearing women's makeup and clothes. Named after the Centre Gai shopping strip in Tokyo. It's not considered kinky, just a fashion statement. In fact, many Japanese girls find 'Centre Guys' cute.
• 'Spange' [rhymes with range] - Meaning to beg for coins, it's shortened from the panhandling question 'spare change?'. It can also be used as the noun 'spanger', meaning someone who begs for change.

How To Keep Your Car (25 August)

• Always remove the key from the ignition. Seems dumb, but failing to do so is one of the prime causes of vehicle theft.
• Never rely on a car alarm. People have become so accustomed to hearing them go off they ignore them.
• Never stash a 'valet key' in the central console or glove compartment. Thieves can gain access to them simply by throwing a brick through a window.
• Be aware that older vehicles are the most frequently stolen, partly because more sophisticated theft-deterrent features make newer models harder to swipe. There's also a hot market for stolen car parts as their legal availability diminishes.
  

Chewing Chicken Crap Banned (25 August)

Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov has issued a decree forbidding his people from chewing 'nas' (aka 'naswai') in public, a drug made from tobacco, lime and - chicken poop. It's popular for its mild narcotic and stimulating qualities. For once the wacky despot may be on to something sensible - according to medical reports, about 80% of Central Asians diagnosed with throat cancer are nas chewers.
- Interfax

Fantasy Girl (24 August)

Remember the electronic pet 'Tamagotchi', the hot '90s kids' toy that needed to be virtually fed and played with or it died? Well, here comes the adult version - Hong Kong company Artificial Life has developed the 'Virtual Girlfriend', an electronic love interest that appears as an animated figure on cell phone screens. Subscribers can send text messages to the virtual woman, who'll respond by text, voice, and even video. However, she must be sweet talked and pampered with virtual flowers and diamonds to keep her interested. If she's neglected, she'll become unhappy and won't respond. And no, the game will not allow interactions of a sexual nature. The company hopes to develop a 'Virtual Boyfriend' for women by early next year.
- CNEWS

Make Your Own "Shrek 3" (24 August)

Computer scientists in Washington state have developed new software that can turn digital videos into - cartoon films. The software, which was presented at the SIGGRAPH computer graphics meeting in Los Angeles last week, scans the user's video for prominent objects and then turns their movement into a cartoon.
- "Nature"

Spam Exterminator (23 August)

Researchers at the Thomas J Watson Research Center in New York have developed an algorithm named 'Chung-Kwei' that can catch nearly 97% of e-mail spam. IBM's Bioinformatics Research Group based the formula on the Teiresias algorithm, which was designed to search DNA sequences for recurring patterns.
- "New Scientist"

Cast Iron Stomach (23 August)

Allah Wasayo blames his bizarre diet on his inability to find a wife. The 55-year-old Pakistani enjoys eating carpets, light bulbs, cups, saucers, pieces of glass and grass. He claims his relatives will not allow him to wed because they fear he'll eat his wife. Wasayo has had X-rays done which show that there's nothing unusual about his digestive system, yet he has never been cut by the sharp objects he eats and has never suffered from stomach aches or digestive problems. "All edibles taste the same to me," he says.
- "Ananova"

Smells Like A Hummer (23 August)

Hummer is lending the powerful brand identification of its oversized SUVs to a men's cologne. 'Hummer Fragrance for Men' will sell for $52 a pop in a boxy, truck-like bottle. It's targeted at 25- to 45-year-olds with a penchant for the ultra-masculine. Aftershave, body wash and deodorants will follow as soon as the new fragrance gets off-the-ground.
- "NY Post"

Stickin' It To The Man (23 August)

A 66-year-old Malaysian man has become an instant celebrity after discovering a strange talent for - sticking heavy objects to his body. Tan Kok Thai discovered the rare gift while taking off his shirt one day and a coin fell out of the pocket and stuck to his chest. Since then, he has found that rock, metal, plastic, wood, and rubber items all stick to his body and refuse to fall off unless he gets sweaty. During exhibitions for locals, Thai has attracted bananas, cell phones, books, biscuits, flashlights, meat cleavers and plastic bottles. His proudest achievement is sticking a 45-lb rock to his chest. Scientists from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia are on their way to begin studying the outlandish feats.
- "Star"

Getting A Kick From Champagne (20 August)

In her new book "A Natural History of Love", author Diane Ackerman writes that when a mistress of France's Louis XIV became jealous, the king decided that only a bold gesture would appease her. He had her lie down with her breasts exposed while his artisans cast a mold from one. They then produced glasses in its exact shape, so he could always sip Champagne from - her bosom. Today, Ackerman claims, we still drink Champagne from glasses fashioned after his mistress' breast.
- "Social Studies"

Plastic Soldiers (20 August)

Between the years 2000 and 2003, US Army doctors performed 96 breast enlargement surgeries on soldiers and their dependents. In the first 3 months of 2004, they performed 60 breast enlargement operations. US military officials have confirmed that their surgeons, on a very limited basis, practice reconstructive surgery skills on enlistees and their dependents if time and space is available. Recipients must pay for their own implants but the surgery is covered. However, the US Department of Defence is currently reviewing its policy on elective cosmetic surgery.
- "New Yorker" magazine.

Top Sandwich (20 August)

"Maxim" magazine's September issue will list the all-time top 10 sandwiches. The sandwich ranked #1 is the 'Fat Darrell', a sub-style concoction stuffed with chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks and french fries. The runner-up is 'The Nuke', which combines ham, roast beef, turkey and 3 different cheeses.
- "Maxim" magazine.

For The Record (20 August)

• Terrye Jackson of Springdale, Maryland has broken the Guinness record for 'Continuous TV Viewing' by watching 50 hours, 7 minutes of non-stop Olympic coverage on NBC-TV while staying at the Universal Orlando Resort.
• John Winter is on a mission to drink coffee at every single Starbucks outlet in the world. So far, he's visited 4,194 North American outlets, 114 in Britain and 53 in Japan and downed about 17 cups of coffee a day. But he now admits he may never accomplish his goal of sipping in all 5,000-plus outlets, in part because 10 new Starbucks open - every week!
  Stores he's yet to visit ...
  For more info check out the Starbucks Everywhere website.

Liar Liar, Pants On Fire (19 August)

A 29-year-old Calgary man could go to jail for - setting flame to his drunken pal's crotch. Seems the one bud fell asleep in a chair after a night of drinking, so the other gets the brilliant idea of trying to wake him up by firing up a lighter near his legs. The passed-out guy's pants caught on fire, causing 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns to 5% of his body. Now he has permanent scarring to his inner thigh and genitals.
- "Edmonton Sun"

Amazing Facts (19 August)

• Every person has a unique tongue print.
• An albatross can sleep while it flies, often dozing while cruising at 40 mph.
• Antarctica is so c-c-cold (we're talking as low as 110 degrees below zero) that scientists stationed at the South Pole have to put ice cream in the freezer to warm it up enough to eat.

Web Goodie (19 August)

OK, so a video is tough to use on radio, but this one's worth linking to your station Website. German brewery Gaffel Kölsch has put up '32 Ways to Open a Beer' ... some of them very innovative.
For more info check out the Gaffel Kölsch - '32 Ways to Open a Beer' website.

Buzzwords (18 August)

New terms leaking into the lingo -

• 'Irritainment' - Entertainment or media spectacles that are simultaneously annoying and compulsively watchable.
• 'Erogance' - Short for 'erotic elegance', it's the latest female fashion in Tokyo. (Basically bikini tops and wrap skirts.)
• 'Cash 'n Kerry' - New nickname for Teresa Heinz Kerry & Democratic candidate John Kerry.
• 'Munge' - Disguising your e-mail address to make it more difficult for spammers to use. For example, using zeros instead of 'o's (feedback@t0bydabrit.c0m). A person can still interpret your address, but the automated programs that spammers use can't.

A Tisket, A Casket (18 August)

Costco Wholesale has begun test-marketing - coffins. Six different models from the Universal Casket Co are now on display in the mattress section of two Costco outlets in the Chicago area. They're priced at $799.99 and come in a variety of colors including lilac and Neapolitan blue. There's no lugging required, you can order delivery within 48 hours.

Betting On Bugs (18 August)

More than 100 gamblers have been busted in Hong Kong for betting on - cricket fights. Cops seized about 300 crickets and $1,000 in cash, and participants now face up to 3 months in the slammer.

The Morning After (18 August)

A 22-year-old Brisbane, Australia man has pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals after winning a pub contest during which he drunkenly set off a mouse trap with his tongue, ate a cup of maggots, sucked 3 chewed chilies through a straw, drank a pint of anchovies and - the stunt he was charged for - bit the tail off a live mouse. He admits he doesn't remember much of the competition but will likely remember the $500 fine.

Save Time, Take The Burro (18 August)

You think you have gridlock in your town? Officials in Viana do Castelo, Portugal wanted to show how congested local traffic was so they ran a mile-plus race between a Porsche and a donkey. You guessed it - the 7-year-old donkey named 'Tironi' won!

Monkeying Around (17 August)

Thailand's Safari World is luring thrill-seekers with kickboxing matches involving - orangutans. The fights involve orangutans in boxing gloves and shorts, bikini-clad chimps who prance about with number cards for each round, and the theme music from "Rocky" to get everyone in the mood. Safari World's owners say the fights are choreographed and animals are never harmed but the International Primate Protection League claims the spectacle makes a mockery of the animals and dooms them to early death.
- Ananova

Work Is For Suckers (17 August)

A French economist faces a disciplinary hearing with her employer after publishing a book called "Bonjour Paresse" ('Hello Laziness'), a treatise about the art of doing the least work possible for your employer. Author Corinne Maier offers advice for what she calls 'neo-slaves of middle management' and the 'damned of the service industry'. Her book includes the chapter titles: "The Morons Who Are Sitting Next To You", "Business Culture, My Arse", and "Why You Can't Lose By Resigning". The book promises to teach you how to take advantage of the system by doing as little work as possible and promises that your laziness will pay off because the most ineffective people are promoted to senior positions where they can do the least damage.
- BBC World News

The Security Shirt (17 August)

Japan has suffered a string of gruesome and violent crimes in recent months and the latest stats show that 2003 was a record year for crime, up a whopping 23.4% from the previous year. That's perhaps why an enterprising company has developed an innovative new security product - stab-resistant clothing. The coats and sweatshirts look ordinary but are made from fibreglass and a material called 'Specter' which is also found in bullet-proof vests. The tops cost around $500 in kids' sizes and over $800 for adults.
- "Asian Pacific Post"

Weird World Of News (17 August)

• Geana & Kurt Morris of Glenolden, Pennsylvania just became parents to quadruplets that are actually - 2 sets of identical twins. The odds of that happening are estimated at 1 in a million.
• An Aussie recently called cops to his house - to report his marijuana plants had been swiped! The man said thieves stole his plants after smashing a window in his house. Police later decided they couldn't charge the man because the only potential evidence in the case was gone.
• A UK drug dealer is facing 30 months in the slammer after cops received tips he was walking around his hometown wearing a T-shirt reading, "I am a dealer". After investigating, they found some $10,000 worth of crack, cocaine and heroin hidden in his bedroom.
• In October, China will host the world's first "Miss Plastic Surgery Pageant", a beauty contest specifically for those who've gone under the cosmetic surgeon's knife.

Ye Olde Sayings (17 August)

• Where did the phrase 'three sheets to the wind' come from? Now meaning a very drunk person, the phrase originally came from sailing, not from the sails but from the chains that were once used to regulate the angle of the sails. These chains were called 'sheets', and when the sheets were loose, the boat would become unstable and tipsy.
• How did the use of the word 'lush' for a drunkard originate? From Dr Thomas Lushington (1590 - 1661), who was an English chaplain who liked his liquor.
• Where did the word 'crap' come from? It derives from the first flush lavatory, Crapper's Valveless Water Waste Preventor, developed in 1837 by English sanitary engineer Thomas Crapper.
• How did the expression to 'make a bed' originate? The ancient Romans constructed their beds by placing straw into a cloth sack. The straw had to be emptied every night to dry, therefore the beds had to be re-made every night.

Be Fat, Be Safe (16 August)

A recent study reveals that fat people are much less likely to suffer violent deaths than thin people. Why? Researchers say it's possible overweight people have different habits that keep them out of harm's way.

Females Are Stronger (16 August)

Scientists at Britain's Nottingham University have found that women who are vegetarians are more likely to have girls. Researcher Pauline Hudson says one reason may be the additional stress placed on the body by a vegetarian diet. Weaker male foetuses die, while females, which are hardier, survive.

Blow-Ups On The Set (13 August)

The crowd of 7,000 that jammed the racetrack stands in "Seabiscuit" were - inflatable dolls. It was the first movie to replace extras with inflatables, and they've since become a hot commodity on film sets everywhere, most recently used as Depression-era boxing fans on the Toronto set of "Cinderella Man" starring Russell Crowe (who some say is a tad inflated when it comes to ego). Joe Biggins, who works in DreamWorks' development department, created the pneumatic dolls and is even developing one that looks like a corpse for movies with battlefield casualties. The advantages of blow-ups are numerous - they can be made to look realistic from any angle, a 'crowd' of 10,000 can fit into a 50-foot truck, they don't require lunch or bathroom breaks, and they won't snap secret pics of movie stars for the "Enquirer". And then there's the cost - a single real extra can cost $200-a-day, especially when you factor in meals and transportation. An armless inflatable costs about $50 to build, appendages extra. (Acting unions are not thrilled.)
- Popbitch/"LA Times"

Scientists Say (13 August)

A compendium of recent 'discoveries' ...

• Scientists say ... dog owners are more assertive than other people. According to a German study, people who are domineering are more likely to own dogs.
• Scientists say ... babies as young as 8-months-old can suffer from depression.
• Scientists say ... you can imagine your pain away. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre have found that imagery, a simple method of distraction, can be combined with medications to reduce pain.
• Scientists say ... you can work in your sleep! Harvard time management expert Alan Lakein says if you pose a question to yourself just before you fall asleep, your subconscious will work on the problem throughout the night.

Infested Down Under (12 August)

Think you've got an ant problem in your kitchen? Check this out - a Monash University researcher in Australia has discovered a giant super-colony of Argentine ants that stretches from Taylors Lakes, north-west of metropolitan Melbourne, to Sorrento, a suburb south of the city - a distance that spans some 100 km or 60 miles!
- AAP

Over My Dead Dog (12 August)

UK rock band The Darkness encountered a strange request from a male fan - to autograph his grandma's dead dog. The whack fan apparently believed he could obtain peace of mind with his late estranged grandmother if the group signed her stuffed canine. Always trying to be helpful, drummer Ed Graham claims he had the balls to sign 'E' and 'D' - one letter on each testicle.
- "Irish Examiner"

Living Dangerously (12 August)

In her new book "100 Most Dangerous Things in Everyday Life & What You Can Do About Them", Detroit author Laura Lee says she wanted to poke fun at our current culture of perpetual fear. She spent months combing through medical journals & studies to find out that ...

• Your office desktop is 400 times dirtier than your toilet seat, with 21,000 bacteria per square inch compared to 50. That's because we don't often clean our desks but we sure scrub our toilet seats.
• Each year thousands of us receive injuries from dishwashers. Among them - burns from steam when opening the door while the machine's running, or falling in to be impaled on knives in the silverware rack.
• 40% of all hospital admissions due to falls are caused by footwear, and of those about half are attributed to high heels. Not just from wearing them ... also from being stepped on by them.
• An estimated 15,000 people are injured each year by knickknacks, odds & ends, bric-a-brac, vases & urns. How so? You reach up to dust one and everything comes crashing down on you!
• If you live in a city, you're more at risk of being killed by an SUV than being mugged in an alley.
• Stuffed bears are far more dangerous than grizzly bears. More than 20 deaths a year are caused by plush bears, less than one per year by the real deal.
• Even weekends aren't good for you. A Dutch study says many suffer 'leisure sickness' on weekends - because that's when we finally have time to be sick. And if you're hospitalized, your odds of survival are worse - hospital deaths are 9% higher for weekend admissions.

Bovine Boob Job (11 August)

Brisbane, Australia's agricultural show, the 'Ekka', has been hit with controversy after a dairy farmer was expelled for allegedly injecting a substance into his cows - to make their udders appear larger. The Royal National Association disciplinary committee has sent both the farmer and his cows home, and called in police to investigate the udder scandal.
- ABC News

When Cats Fly (11 August)

Villagers near the central Russian city of Kursk have reportedly killed - a winged cat. It was discovered by one Nadezhda Medvedeva who says her hair stood on end when she saw the stray stand up in her yard and stretch out its wings just like a chicken. A gang of locals drowned the deformed puss, believing it was a messenger of Satan.
- "Pravda"

Hug Fest (11 August)

Since they began in NYC in February, hundreds of people have paid $30 each to touch and embrace others in intimate gatherings called 'Cuddle Parties'. It's a touchy-feely experience that involves snuggling up to strangers wearing pyjamas. Co-creators Reid Mihalko and Marcia Baczynski claim it's a good way to meet new people. After an introduction to the process, participants form a circle on their hands and knees, rub shoulders and moo like cows. After a bit of swaying, everyone falls to their side, which puts them into an easy cuddling position. But the rules are clear - PJs have to stay on the whole time and there is absolutely, positively no dry humping! If things get too steamy, a small chime is rung.
- Reuters

Goofy Gizmos & Gadgets (10 August)

• Mexican restaurant Diego in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel is serving up 'margarita pops'. Yep, it's a drink on a stick, in the form of a popsicle, served in a salt-rimmed margarita glass.
• Australian scientists have developed a wallpaper that blocks cell phone signals. Constructed from a metallic grid, it's being touted as a hi-tech security device.
• The new 'Laser Comb' from Hair Max purportedly uses 'phototherapy' to make men's hair thicker and fuller. The inventor claims it's a 'progressive, non-invasive restorative solution'.

Baritone's Better At Bedtime (10 August)

According to a survey of families, when it comes to hearing bedtime stories, deep male tones are preferred by both children and adults. Women's voices are often perceived as less likely to aid restful sleep.
- "London Observer"

The Nail-On Stamp (10 August)

Swiss Post, which in the past has released scratch-and-sniff chocolate-scented stamps and stamps made of lace, has launched another unusual commemorative stamp, this one made of wood. The new stamp celebrates Switzerland's lumber industry and is made from small squares of 120-year-old pines that are cut roughly the thickness of a credit card. The wooden stamps go on sale at Swiss Post offices September 7th, but collectors can already buy them online.
- CNEWS
For more info check out the Dr. TattOff website (Click 'English' in top right corner).

Webfoot On The Walk (9 August)

Today 'Donald Duck' gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sailor-suited cartoon fowl's star will fittingly be located in front of Hollywood's Disney Store. The 'Donald' turned 70 this year, having first appeared in the animated short "The Wise Little Hen" on June 9, 1934.
- "Hollywood Reporter"

Wacky Water (9 August)

The anti-depressant drug Prozac is being taken in such large quantities that it can now be found in Britain's drinking water, which environmentalists claim could cause 'hidden mass medication'. The UK's Environment Agency has revealed that Prozac is building up in both river systems and groundwater used for drinking supplies.
- "The Observer"

Slip Of The Tongue (9 August)

A 30-year-old man from Arnsberg, Germany has won the right to - stick his tongue out in his passport photo. After a local passport office rejected the goofy photo the troublemaker took it to court, which found there's no rule against making goofy faces on German documentation. However, he was made to sign a promise not to take the issue to court again if he has problems crossing borders.
- Agence France-Presse

Your Next Gig? (6 August)

Yesterday's "Times of London" featured an ad looking for applicants to become Britain's first court jester in 350 years. The position of 'court jester' died along with King Charles I, who was executed by Oliver Cromwell's supporters in 1649. The monarchy was restored 11 years later, but the position of jester did not return. English Heritage, which manages various historic sites in Britain, will be the new employer and lists the qualifications for the position ...

• "Must be mirthful and prepared to work summer weekends in 2005."
• "Must have own outfit (with bells). Bladder on stick provided if required."

The Activity Cart (6 August)

A recent poll of parents in the UK found that 75% think shopping with children is stressful and almost half had experienced 'boredom tantrums' in supermarkets. That's why supermarket chain Tesco is developing a shopping cart to keep tots busy while their parents shop. Cart manufacturer Wanzl is looking to incorporate DVDs, CDs and educational games for children in what's being called the 'Tantrum Tamer'. The design features an electronic screen attached to the shopping cart handle and a kiddie seat at the front.
- BBC News

Secrets Of Screen Screamers (5 August)

Sky Movies has hired a group of researchers to watch scores of horror films and devise a formula for the perfect scary movie. Some of their findings ...

• Suspense is obviously one of the key elements, and it's created by escalating music, the unknown, chase scenes, and the sense of being trapped.
• For a film to be truly terrifying, it has to be realistic.
• The number of characters is a factor. Fewer characters increases shock factor.
• There's a maximum level of gore, beyond which a movie becomes just average.
• Using a mathematical formula, the researchers found that the 1980 Jack Nicholson film based on the Stephen King book "The Shining" is as close as there is to a perfect horror film.

Chocolate Dipped (5 August)

Bad Eisenkappel [bahd ICE-an-cop-pull], a health spa in Klagenfurt, Austria is now offering a tempting new treatment, a relaxing soak in a tub full of - melted chocolate. The spa's cosmetologist say the bubbly brown baths include cocoa butter which has restorative properties to help protect skin from developing wrinkles.
- CNEWS

Clinic Of The Future? (5 August)

People with regrets about getting a tattoo (Nick Carter, for instance?) no longer need to resort to the old technique of bleach and a Brillo pad. Inspired by stories of adult movie stars who were unhappy with how their tattoos looked onscreen, Beverly Hills entrepreneur James Morel has opened 'Dr Tattoff', LA's first clinic dedicated to laser tattoo removal. The newest laser removal process is said to be simple and safe, without the scarring that used to occur. Now mistakes can be fixed or unwanted tats removed for just $49 per square inch - per visit.
For more info check out the Dr. TattOff website.

Listening In (5 August)

Special cell phones called 'Spy Phones' or 'Trojan Horse' phones were first developed in Taiwan 2 years ago and are now being sold across Asia. They look and work like a conventional mobile phone but in reality are sophisticated bugging devices that allow suspicious spouses to secretly listen in on their partners' conversations. How do you get your spouse to use one? Marketers suggest the bugged phones can be offered as a gift or swapped for an unsuspecting target's own model.
- "Social Studies"

Rubbing You The Right Way (4 August)

We can only hope this catches on here - an increasing number of companies in New Zealand are turning to workplace massage to relieve employee stress and battle 'Occupational Over-Use Syndrome' (OOS). The service may be either paid for by the employer, subsidized, or the staff pays for it, but it is always administered on company time. Typically, a 10-minute massage costs whoever ends up paying about $120.
- "New Zealand Herald"

The Hacker Mob (4 August)

In Britain, a million-pound underground economy is growing through the sophisticated use of Internet sabotage involving extortion, blackmail and fraud. Services available include sending a million e-mails to an enemy (£50), hijacking users' Internet browsers to display a pornography site (£200), and a full-blown assault on a Website (£8,000-12,000).
- "The Independent"

The New English (4 August)

New lingo for the 21st century ...

• 'Manscaping' - The removal of male body hair by electrolysis, laser or other methods.
• 'Odourtype' - The genetically determined smell that is unique to each person. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking to develop a security machine that can detect individuals by their body odour.
• 'Furkid' - A pet that's treated as if it was a child by its 'animal guardian'. ("We decided not to invite Amy for lunch because she lugs her snarly little furkid Chihuahua around with her wherever she goes.")
• New terms added in this year's update to the "Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary" include 'MP3' (audio file format), 'DSL' (Digital Subscriber Line), 'pleather' (fake leather), 'teensploitation' (exploitation of teens by the producers of teen-oriented movies) and 'IT' (Information Technology).

Too Stupid For Us To Make Up (4 August)

• A 26-year-old protestor will face a mischief charge after halting work at a Montréal construction site by spending a night and a day on top of a crane. The reason for the demonstration? He was demanding money for his education.
• A jeweller in the United Arab Emirate of Bahrain claims he was robbed of cash after being hypnotized by 3 mysterious women. The 46-year-old says he was counting out change when the women began making 'strange actions with their hands'. He claims he can't remember what happened next, but later discovered he was out a whack of cash.
• Facing what it says could be budget deficit of more than $1 billion in coming years, NYC's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is exploring the idea of selling naming rights to its subway stations, bus lines, bridges and tunnels.
• A dock worker in Thailand has cut off his own penis. 29-year-old Po Dong performed the self-surgery after his wife refused to have sex with him and he drank himself into a rage.
• A retail chain in the Czech Republic has scrapped a plan that would have required female cashiers to wear red headbands - on days they had their 'little friend'. The idiotic idea was hatched by male bosses to identify women who might need to use the washroom more often.
• The New Zealand government has just published a new 100-page "Occupational Safety & Health Guide for Sex Workers". It's being given out at brothels and includes advice on safe sex, how to use and disinfect sex toys, and also lists mattresses that provide good back support.
• A 71-year-old woman in Mulheim, Germany called cops to say she couldn't sleep because of a horribly loud noise. When officers arrived, they found the racket was coming from - her own radio.
• Officials in Boston MA have just approved special license plates with the famous 'smiley face' design on them in an attempt to help 'eliminate road rage for all time'.
• A 7-year-old drug-sniffing Springer Spaniel has died of - an overdose. 'Todd' was employed by British police to search for drugs and apparently succumbed to ingested amphetamines.
• An 83-year-old retired academic in Japan has been arrested for attempted murder. Police say the geezer prof was working in his garden when he was approached by a pair of sewage-drain salesmen. He promptly went into his house, returned with a samurai sword and proceeded to stab one sales rep in the buttocks.

Amazing Facts (4 August)

• Triathlon is one of several Olympic sports for which alcohol is a banned substance. Even after their races are over, triathlon competitors risk a doping violation and the stripping of medals if they are caught with traces of alcohol in their bodies.
• We ingest around 50 million bacteria every day. Dr Gregor Reid of the University of Western Ontario has found the average person has 10 times more bacteria in them than human cells.
• We're a self-centred lot - a new MSN poll finds 39% of us have looked up our own names on the Internet.

History From The Horse's Mouth (3 August)

California inventor Robert Barrows has applied for a patent for a video-equipped tombstone, which will allow the dead to get the last word. The deluxe headstone is fitted with a flat LCD touch screen and a hard drive or microchip, which allows one final message to be delivered by the recently departed. If the patent is approved, Barrows hopes to create ever more elaborate final resting places at ever-increasing costs. Why? Cemeteries are places where people try to outdo each other, and display their wealth and power.
- "New Scientist"

Chips Ahoy (3 August)

So far, computer chips have been implanted into pets in order to help locate them if they get lost; then paranoid rich folks began implanting microchips in their kids in case they went missing or were kidnapped. Last year VeriChip rolled out the 'Chipmobile' which has been touring the southern US micro-chipping seniors with implants which carry their medical records. And now, Mexico's Attorney General Rafael Macedo says he's received a non-removable microchip in his arm in order to give him secure and exclusive access to a new computerized crime database and also to help find him if he is ever abducted. Macedo says as many as 160 Mexican government employees will also receive implants in the near future.
- CNN

Invisible Waterproofing (3 August)

University of Durham scientists have developed a revolutionary nanometer-thick coating that will waterproof almost anything. The invisible coating was first developed to protect military uniforms against chemical and biological warfare. Said to be 3 times more water repellent than Teflon, it may radically change sportswear, clothing, mobile phones and medical devices. UK-based P2i Limited is set to make and market the product to coat textiles, plastics, glass, metal and wood.
- PA News

Revenge Is In Your Genes (2 August)

Don't be upset about your urge to seek revenge - it's all in your genes! New research reveals that the craving to settle scores with rivals is similar to satisfying a burning desire for chocolate. University of Wisconsin neuro-scientist Eddie Harmon-Jones says that people bent on avenging an insult, experience a burst of activity in the left frontal cortex of the brain, an area commonly associated with enjoyment and positive emotions as well as the anticipation of a pleasurable experience ... such as eating.
- "This is London"

Addiction Shots? (2 August)

A plan to vaccinate children against future drug addiction is being considered by the British government. Under the plan, doctors would immunize children at risk of becoming smokers or drug users with an injection. Childhood immunization would provide adults with protection from the euphoria that is experienced by users, making drugs such as heroin and cocaine pointless to take. Such vaccinations are being developed by pharmaceutical companies and are due to hit the market within 2 years. UK biotech firm Xenova has carried out trials on an anti-cocaine vaccine which showed that 58% of patients remained cocaine-free after 3 months.
- "Independent on Sunday"

City Plants Greener (2 August)

A new study reveals that urban settings are more beneficial for sustaining the longevity of plants. The research also suggests they grow greener in such an environment. The study led by Xiaoyang Zhang of Boston University and sponsored by NASA shows that urban greenery lives at a more intense pace, getting as much as a 7-day jump-start in Spring and up to 8 additional days before winter dormancy compared to vegetation in surrounding rural areas.
- ANI

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