StrangeSights

• The dogs recently hit the surf in California for the 7th annual Loews Surf Dog Competition. This year saw more than 50 dogs showing their moves on the waves at Imperial Beach in San Diego - they are judged in a range of categories including small dogs, large dogs and tandems (sounds like a page out of Dr Seuss’ Go Dogs Go!) - as well as the setting of a number of new world records including one for the most dogs ever to ride on one board - 14.

• The Welsh community of Monmouth - famous for being the birthplace of King Henry V - has become the world’s first “Wikipedia town”. The move, dubbed Monmouthpedia, means Wikipedia now hosts more than 700 articles about the town and means visitors can use their phones to scan barcodes at places like historical sites, schools, museums and pubs to bring up relevant articles in a range of languages.

• The word ‘bogan’ has reportedly officially entered the Oxford English Dictionary. The dictionary’s June list of new word entries has apparently included the word which it defines as being Australian and New Zealand colloquial “depreciative term for unfashionable, uncouth, or unsophisticated person, esp. of low social status”.

• The UK might be preparing to host the Olympic Games later this year but some events, like shin-kicking, the wheelbarrow race and the sack race have already started. The annual Cotswold Olimpicks date from 1612 - meaning they celebrated their 400th anniversary this year. Shin-kicking is the star event at the games, held near the town of Chipping Camden, and involves competitors trying to kick each other in the shins and bring down their opponent. This year’s world champion was Zac Warren from the town of Pershore.

• Ever had that experience when a dog chases you for while as you ride a bike? A Chinese hound has reportedly taken it the next step by following cyclists competing in a road cycle race for more than 1,000 miles over 20 days. Xiao Sa, who has since become something of a sensation and now has her own ‘microblog’, started following the cyclists after one of them gave her some food. The 1,000 mile journey included climbs over at least 10 mountains.

• A robotic catfish called Charlie, a dead rat used to transport secret messages and a room in which visitors can try their hand at spycraft by negotiating a series of moving laserbeams are all part of a display of spy-related artifacts in New York City. SPY: The Secret World of Espionage is a new exhibition at Discovery Times Square features historic and modern gadgets culled from agencies including the CIA and FBI. Items on show also include a collapsible motorbike for use behind enemy lines in World War II and a camel saddle used by one of the first CIA agents in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. The exhibition runs until March next year.