StrangeSights

• It takes the idea of life on the road to whole new level. When authorities announced plans to build a four lane highway running through where a five storey apartment building stands, the families - with the law on their side - refused to leave. So they simply built the freeway around it - leaving the multi-storey property on a small island in its midst. One of the residents at the property, located in eastern China, was reported as saying that the government didn’t offer enough compensation for them to move. To see the house, which is known as a Nail House (and for link to the full story), follow this link to our Pinterest page…

• Want a multi-tasking baby? Then the ‘Baby Mop’ might be just what you’ve been looking for. Essentially a romper suit (or ‘onesie’) with mop fringes attached, the baby mop enables your baby to clean the floor while crawling about it. The idea reportedly came from a Japanese spoof ad, according to the company that produces it - US website BetterThanPants - and since it’s release, sales have gone through the roof. They say not only will the baby mop teach your baby a strong work ethic and give them a good workout, it will also save you “lots of money on house cleaning costs”.

• It’s the low cost hotel that takes pride in a bad reputation. A low priced hostel in Amsterdam - the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel -says it has been “proudly disappointing travellers for forty years”. Its website boasts that levels of comfort in the hotel are “comparable to a minimum-security prison”, noting that the “Hans Brinker also offers some plumbing and an intermittently open canteen serving a wide range of dishes based on runny eggs”. Other features at the hotel include “a basement bar with limited light and no fresh air”, “an elevator that almost never breaks down between floors” and “the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel, Amsterdam Luxury Ambassadorial Suite (featuring the Hans Brinker’s one and only bath-tub).” The self-critical marketing campaign has reportedly proved something of a hit with its rather brave clientele.

• Think you look like Superman? Or perhaps it’s Batman that you reckon you resemble? Whichever you choose, it’s now possible to create an action figure of your favorite superhero complete with your face. Online firm Firebox say they just require you to send through two photos of your face - one from the front and one from the side. They will then use these to create a custom made head bearing your face which can be put on top of your favorite action figure character - everyone from the Joker to Catwoman. The figures could make a great conversation piece - after all they all come with a supplied plinth upon which to stand, and, where they will “remind you (and others), who you really are”. You can see a picture on Sight’s Pinterest page here…

• Can’t decide between a pizza and a cheeseburger? Why not have both. Pizza Hut’s Middle Eastern stores have reportedly released a new pizza which features 12 mini cheeseburgers placed on top. There are apparently no plans to introduce the Crown Crust Pizza to the US as yet. You can see a picture of the pizza on Sight’s Pinterest page here…

• It’s all a bit exciting - well, for these towns anyway. The Scottish town of Dull recently reportedly announced that it was seeking to become a twin town to the US town of Boring. The twinning, which apparently becomes official on 5th May, was the brainchild of a Scot who cycled through the town of Boring - which was named after its founding family.

• Ever wanted to live like a hamster? A hotel in France has been designed to allow humans to try out life as a hamster. Villa Hamster, located in a modernised 18th century building, reportedly features cages for rooms, haystacks in place of beds and human-sized running wheels. Guests are served organic “hamster grains” and water and have the option of wearing hamster hoodies as well. The hotel in Nantes has apparently been open for three years.

• Riding the elevator may never be the same again. UK biscuit maker McVities’ Jaffa Cakes has created a lift with lickable walls in a London building. It reportedly took food technicians and artists a month to stick more than 1,300 Jaffa Cake-flavoured stickers to the walls. The stickers are apparently removed once licked.

• A new cable channel has been launched in the US aimed solely at dogs. The on-demand channel DOGTV was originally launched in California with the aim of helping stay at home dogs stay out of trouble while their owners are at work. The content is specifically tailored for dogs with sound, colors and camera angles all apparently adjusted accordingly. And the stars of the shows are, of course, dogs. See http://dogtv.com.

• Theme tours are all the rage these days but here’s one that stands out from the crowd. IsraelThemeTours.com - having teamed up with the US-based Elvis Presley Enterprises - is offering an Elvis Presley-themed tour of the Holy Land next month which, as well as following in the footsteps of Jesus, cruising the Sea of Galilee and even perhaps being baptised in the Jordan River, will also feature a visit to an Elvis-themed restaurant and performances by some of Elvis’ favorite Gospel artists, Joe Moscheo and Terry Blackwood of Elvis’ Imperials and Bill Baize, a former member of J.D. Sumner and The Stamps. Limited to 100 travellers only, the clock is ticking. For more, see www.israelthemetours.com/elvis.

• Deckchairs don’t come any bigger than this one. A UK sculptor, Stuart Murdoch, has reportedly created the world’s biggest deckchair at the British beach resort of Bournemouth. The massive seat, which stands eight metres high, weighs six tonnes and could easily accommodate a whole family, was commissioned by drinks company Pimms to mark the start of British summer time last Sunday.

• Forget buying a house in France or even a chateau. What about an entire village? Located in Limousin, in central France, the deserted village of Courbefy was reportedly placed on the market in late February but passed in despite an asking price of just 300 euros (about $AUD382,00). Now in the hands of a bank it is going to be put up for auction again - with a slightly higher asking price - and the story has apparently attracted would-be buyers from across the globe. The village features more than a dozen buildings - the interiors of which have largely been stripped out - as well as a swimming pool, horse stable and tennis court.