April Fool’s Day: Six of the best

No one quite knows how the tradition of April Fool’s Day pranks began, but they have become an annual delight for media readers and viewers and an occasional embarrassment for the unwary.

Faces that have been lived in

A face that has been “lived in”. It’s an expression that brings a smile of recognition and warmth. Growing older has its drawbacks, but maybe there are compensations too.

All the gnus that’s fit to print

Robert Williams Wood (1868-1955) was an American physicist and inventor whose patents and theoretical work explored optics and, in particular, the physics of ultraviolet radiation. But he had a more frivolous side to his character.

Mouse and Supermouse

Those who scoffed at the notion of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police training unmounted sniffer-mice to detect cheese-smuggling will be interested in the following story from last week’s Guardian newspaper.

Croque-monsieur or a crock of another kind?

Much mirth has been occasioned in Canada by reports of racketeering in maple syrup and cheese. But fear not, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have devised a cunning plan to curdle the activities of these criminal masterminds.

Royal leapfrog

A newly discovered tree frog has been named after Prince Charles in recognition of his charity work to protect its rainforest home.