StrangeSights

• There’s an image of a headless bride, another of a group of people so blurry you can’t make out who they are, and, of course, images where much of the picture is taken up by fingers placed over the camera lens. UK company Red Cloud, which runs courses in good photography, is looking for Britain’s worst photographer and the gallery of images which have so far been submitted is enough to make anybody cringe. To see for yourself, head to www.redclouddays.co.uk

• More than 1,000 people armed with shovels and ladders took part in the annual Japan All-National Hole Digging Competition near Tokyo earlier this month. Entrants in the competition, now in its 12th year, compete for the Golden Shovel (and a cash prize) with the winners those who can dig the deepest hole in 30 minutes. Prizes are also awarded in other categories, such as the most creative hole and for the most creative costumes worn by the diggers.

• It’s a rug that can make you sick. Scientists in the US are reportedly investigating what they call “sickening rug phenomenon” in which the pattern of a rug can make people exhibit symptoms not unlike those of motion sickness. Dr Frederick Bonato, a psychology professor in New Jersey and lead author of the study, was quoted as saying he was surprised at people experienced symptoms after looking at a rug for only five minutes. “The carpet image was not moving; the people were not moving, but they reported feelings of self-motion and motion sickness,” he said, warning that people should be careful what they buy when looking for a new rug.

• Questions are apparently being asked about the citizenship of iconic cat cutie Hello Kitty following the publication of a new book, Hello Kitty’s Guide to Japan in English and Japanese. According to the official biography published by Sanrio, the company that owns the rights to her, Hello Kitty (real name Kitty White) was born in London. But, according to some, Kitty is so knowledgable about Japan in the new guide, which was reportedly authorised by Sanrio, that “the reader can only surmise she is either Japanese or an amazingly bilingual Japanese studies scholar”. The catfight has raised the ire of many in Japan and elsewhere and sparked countless internet debates but so far there’s been no official clarification forthcoming. Stay tuned.

• The voice of former German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck has been heard for the first time in 100 years in a series of remarkable recordings digitally restored by the Thomas Edison National Park museum in the US. The recordings, in which Bismarck can be heard reciting parts of songs and poetry in English, Latin, French, and German - including France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise - and advising his son Herbert to “live life in moderation”, was made in 1889 using a wax cylinder phonograph. Discovered in 1957, research on the recordings did not reportedly start until 2005.

• Being able to say words backwards is quite a remarkable feat yet Alyssa, a girl from Oklahoma in the US seems to be able to do so with little effort. In a video clip posted on YouTube which has, yes, gone viral around the globe, Alyssa is seen repeating backwards any word that’s thrown at her. You can see the video here.