Is Your Name a Spam Magnet?

Ever wondered why you get so much more spam than your spouse or friends? A new report indicates that its to do with what letter your name begins with. So for less spam change your name to Quentin! "Those whose...

Gordon Brown's 'deeply gloomy' taste in art revealed

Brown's choice in art is conventional in many respects and shows a good solid taste if perhaps a little dark. The Hodgkin piece with typically the painting going on to the actual frame is an interesting choice. "...

The father of pinyin

Zhou's life story is fascinating. He was an economist who could speak English in the the 1940s.  Because of his language skills he was asked to assist with developing pinyin. He says he was lucky to have...

Can you say your "ZYXs"?

[Please scroll down to begin the story.]  The words you are now reading will flow from left to right, when suddenly           ...

Chinese couple wants to call baby @

"Chinese couple wants to call baby @ Monday, 20 August 2007 15:57 A Chinese couple have applied to name their child @. The country's State Language Commission, which has not said if it will accept the name, said the couple claimed the character echoed their love for their...

Solve the Brooke Shields mystery

I think this is a fantastic publicity stunt! An encrypted message has been popping up as graffiti around London, Hamburg and the Netherlands and people are going bonkers trying to find out what it all means. The...

Colts Jinx: Belgium Forbids 18 and 88

Bad omen for Peyton Manning, from Brussels Journal:Patrick Dewael, the Belgian minister of the Interior, has forbidden the wearing of football shirts displaying the numbers 18 and 88. According to the Liberal...

Dublin-Impac Award Announces Longlist: Ishiguro Garners Most Nominations for ...

"The 2007 International Impac Dublin Award - the most eclectic and unpredictable, as well as the richest, of the world's literary awards - has announced its longlist. As usual, the range is breathtaking. From Leila Aboulela to Zoran Zivkovic, the 138-strong list ranges over...

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