Sideswipe

This cryptic road sign at Waitangi, Chatham (Rehoku) Island, appealed to Peter J. de Lange

Adult nappy sales in China are booming as millions prepare for marathon train journeys to be with their families for New Year. Finding a vacant toilet is often impossible during journeys that take as long as 30 hours on overcrowded trains, says the Australian.

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Last time Eddie visited Holland, various homes around the town he stayed in had a national flag and an old schoolbag hanging from the flagpole. "I was aware that the Dutch display flags at every opportunity - national feast days, Europa Cup soccer, weddings, 25th anniversaries, welcoming Olympic medal winners back home - but I had never seen an old schoolbag tied to them. Apparently the schoolbag is hung on the flagpole when one of the youngsters living there passes their exams."

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A Kate Moss-inspired diet? When faced with an evening pre-dinner work-social with drinks and a combination of healthy and not-so-healthy nibbles, Caryn Zinn recommends cutting back, not cutting out ... "Usually: four sausage rolls (480 calories), six sushi rolls (218), three glasses of wine (300). Total: 998 calories. New plan: one sausage roll (120 calories), five sushi rolls (180), one Diet Coke (0), one glass of wine (100) and one line and soda (30) ... "

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Some chronic street alcoholics can make up to 30 trips a year to Seattle hospitals. Officials estimate they cost the city up to $100,000 a year each in jail stays, hospitalisation and emergency services. So the city has decided to house up to 75 of them in their own apartment building. Medical workers will be on hand, but residents will be allowed to come and go as they please and to drink on premises. Neighbours say the building, which hasn't yet opened, has already hurt their property values. (Source: Reason.com)