Random Trivia

Harvey Keitel is 13 days younger than my dad.

Odd observation

Traffic in this country happens on the left hand side. Not only on the roads but also people walking around outside or in the office will keep to that (which often creates confusion in international offices like ours as non-British people will try and avoid other people by stepping to the other/same side).

The one situation where this doesn't seem to apply is stairs. Why is that? Good recent example: When I left Midsummer Common on Saturday, there was a neat line of poeple going up on the right hand side of the stairs to Victoria Bridge and down on the left (as seen from the Common).
The only explanation I can think of is that the majority of people is right-handed so would want to hold on to the railing with their right hands.

ETA: It turns out the French are to blame. Again. *giggles*

[Science] What happens when you combine Diet Coke and Mentos?

A new definition of "soda fountain"

Less scientific but equally good, especially for the (graphic) artists among you:

Animator vs. Animation

The German bear problem

So now they are going to send in US experts to try and catch it alive and if that doesn't succeed, they'll send in Finnish hunters to finish it off (why not use tranquilizer guns?).

Too bad it's too far away (about 400km, I reckon) because there's a handy bear trap in the hills near my hometown. Basically, a solid stone building with a trapdoor at each end where they used to tie up a live bait (sheep etc.) inside and when a bear got in, the doors were dropped. The bear could then be shot/speared from the "balcony" above without much danger to the hunters. The bait usually didn't survive, though.
Admittedly, the last bear was caught in 1760...