DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
IKEA store or baby-naming hotspot? PICTURE: Rendy Novantino/Unsplash
• Stumped for a baby name? How about Figge, Kajsa or Saba? Swedish furniture retailer IKEA’s Norway branch has helpfully added a “name bank” service recently under which it offers access to some 800 names which have all been used as names for the company’s furnishing offerings since 1948. It’s not as odd as it mighr first appear – the company’s names are typically based on Swedish towns, lakes and other geographical features as well as some more readily identifiable as those for people, such as Sabrina or Magnus.
• Speaking of odd international days (we weren’t, but we couldn’t think of a better segue), Tuesday, 14th June, marked International Bath Day, a celebration of ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes’ bath-time revelation. The day, which was created in 2016, pays tribute to Archimedes’ discovery that an object’s volume could be accurately measured by submerging it in water. The story goes that Archimedes, who was born in the year 287 BC and died in 212 BC, made his discovery while sitting in a bathtub (apparently on 14th June). He is then said to have celebrated the revelation by running through the streets proclaiming, “Eureka, eureka!” The US-based National Day Calendar describes the day as an opportunity to “[r]ealize that bath time is a great time to discover and learn”.
• It’s been 20 years since the film Scooby-Doo hit our screens and to celebrate the owner of a van designed to resemble the gang’s famous “Mystery Machine” is offering three individual one night stays. The van will parked in southern California and those who book will be able to enjoy some 2002 nostalgia including a lava lamp and the chance to wear Shaggy’s signature puka shell necklace as well as the opportunity to sample some of Shaggy and Scooby’s favourite foods and the chance to enjoy a late night watching of the film. You’ll have to be quick – bookings, for 24th, 25th and 26th of this month – open on 16th June at 1pm ET. Head to airbnb.com/mysterymachine. Zoinks indeed!