Walk into select Lloyds Pharmacy locations in Britain complaining of a headache, and you may be more likely to walk out with a Simon & Garfunkel CD than a packet of painkillers. The pharmacy chain commissioned a study that found 41 per cent of all people suffering persistent pain (and 66 per cent of people aged 16-24) felt better after listening to music, reports the Telegraph. Now the store is "trialling the use of music within our pain service in some of our pharmacies," said a company pharmacist. The study of 1500 people found pop music was the most effective pain reliever, followed by classical, then rock or indie music. The songs with the highest pain-relieving powers reported were Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel, Angels by Robbie Williams, Albatross by Fleetwood Mac, Candle in the Wind by Elton John, and Easy by The Commodores. (Source: Newser.com)
BBC not laughing now
The BBC has been accused of defaming Prince Harry after comedian Jo Brand claimed he takes cocaine. As she presented the pre-recorded show Have I Got News For You, Brand said: "George's godparents include Hugh van Cutsem ... I presume that's a nickname as in Hugh van cuts 'em and Harry then snorts 'em." Critics have also attacked the programme for mistakenly naming Hugh van Cutsem, rather than William van Cutsem, as Prince George's godfather. Hugh, a longtime friend of Prince Charles from Cambridge University, died last month.
Art: Human organs made out of vegetation ...
Maps: A fascinating animated map showing the most popular names for girls in each state of the US from 1960 through 2012. Then the same for boys here.