StrangeSights

• Saving words from being disgarded into oblivion may not be the most noble of causes but the Times newspaper in London has taken up the challenge after Collins Dictionary decided it was going to cull some of the more obscure words in the English language. It’s asked readers to vote to save one of 24 words on the chopping block, ranging from abstergent (cleansing or scouring) to fatidical (prophetic), niddering (cowardly) and vilipend (to treat or regard with contempt). I’m voting for fubsy (short and stout; squat).

• Plans are reportedly afoot to create a Vegemite museum in Melbourne’s Docklands. The Herald-Sun newspaper reports that the museum, which will be located at Waterfront City, will includes an interactive exhibition and historic displays such as the original jars, recipes and ad campaigns. Kraft recently celebrated the creation of Vegemite’s billionth jar with the creation of a special jar containing 22 and 18 carat gold and silver which has been on a national tour.

• A man in Poland has reportedly decided to move house after finding he can’t get a broadband connection at the location where he lives. Ironically, he lives in Internet Street.

• It looks like an idyllic Indian Ocean island community but the inhabitants of the nation of The Maldives are reportedly preparing for the worst. The country’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed, is apparently looking to establish a land-buying fund so his nation’s inhabitants can relocate when rising sea waters finally claim the islands - a growing possibility in a nation of nearly 1200 islands (200 of which are inhabited) where the land doesn’t rise more than 2.3 metres above sea level. Apparently the 300,000 strong nation is looking at India, Sri Lanka or even Australia as a possible future location.

• A British street artist is reportedly planning to give away artwork worth an estimated £1 million. Artist Adam Neate has announced plans to place 1,000 works of art around the city of London in an urban art project which he says is about taking art to the masses. Mr Neate says that while he wants as many people as possible to see the works, he’s happy for them to be taken by those who find them.

• Finally, Oxford Uni researchers have reportedly come up with a list of Britain’s 10 most irritating phrases. The top of the list is “at the end of the day”, followed by “fairly unique”, “I personally”, “at this moment in time”, “with all due respect” and “absolutely”. Others in the top 10 include “it’s a nightmare”, the grammatically incorrect “shouldn’t of”, “24/7″ and “it’s not rocket science”.