Raining chocolate: People might use the expression, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” but no one ever says, “It’s raining chocolate!” That’s what happened in the town of Olten, Switzerland, recently. Many people reported seeing chocolate powder in the air, and others mentioned that vehicles were covered with an accumulation of the sweet, brown stuff. Turns out that there was a logical reason for the phenomena. The town is home to a chocolate factory that had a problem with its ventilation system. The chocolate powder made its way outside and was blown around by strong winds.

Working the land: Apartment dwellers in cities expect to look out their windows to see such things as parking lots, malls, stores, and gas stations. At one apartment complex in Lublin, Poland, the view is a little different. At harvest time, the buildings’ occupants can look out and see a farmer in a combine harvesting the crop. While other farmers in the area sold their land to urban developers, this one decided to keep his property so he could keep farming. Most people living in the nearby buildings don’t seem to mind at all; they like seeing agriculture in action, rather than asphalt and urban sprawl.

Artsy hairstyle: Clients who get haircuts from stylist Truong Xuan Tuan wish their hair would never grow again! That’s because the stylist, of Hanoi, Vietnam, creates works of art on the backs of people’s heads using razors and trimmers. He might trim hair to form a celebrity’s face, a cartoon character, a spider, or an urban scene. Because he cannot simply rub out any mistakes, he only creates designs that he has practiced making in the past. Those coming into his shop can browse through a portfolio and pick something they like. Warning: the designs become a bit fuzzy as the person’s hair grows back!

Manhole lights: City planners in Tokorozawa, Japan, have a novel idea to decorate manhole covers. They outfitted 27 of these necessary, but usually unattractive, pieces of the city’s infrastructure with solar-powered LED lights. The lights reveal designs that incorporate anime characters, which are popular in Japan. The 27 artistic designs are illuminated every evening at 5 p.m., and those who are out late can enjoy them until they turn off at 2 a.m. Another motive that inspired the city’s planners is that the extra lighting may help prevent nighttime crime. See them here: www.myCoffeeNews.ca/extra

Dating game: If you are trying to meet that special someone, it’s best not to damage their property in the process. But that’s what Yoshito Harada of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, did. He got into the bad habit of slashing the tires on women’s cars, then following them so he could offer to help. Recently, one of his targets remembered him from a previous tire-slashing incident, and she called the cops. It wasn’t long before the police discovered that Harada had played this “game” several years earlier and had been caught. He paid compensation for the tires and didn’t go to jail, but none of the ladies was interested in dating him.

Tiger tales: Getting caught in floodwater is no fun, even for tigers. One such feline, a resident of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, in north-eastern India, was looking for shelter when it discovered a goat shed on someone’s property in Kandolimari Village. Park officials identified the animal as a not-quite-full-grown, male Bengal tiger. Officials kept a close eye on the situation so nobody, including the tiger, would get hurt. During heavy rains, many animals in the park, including elephants and rhinos, must find sanctuary by moving to higher ground.

New from old: An American mother of three knows how to save money on clothing. Caitlin Trantham taught herself how to sew, and she now uses her skill to transform second-hand clothing into modern pieces. She tries not to spend more than about $10 USD on any one item, but does allow herself a few dollars for things like buttons and zippers. Her creations include turning a 1980s prom gown into a cocktail dress, a huge printed shirt into a snazzy, belted outfit, and a plaid, collared get-up into a spaghetti-strapped sundress. Trantham, who plans to donate some of her creations, shares her work on social media.

Sandy beach? Homeowners who would like to have their own backyard beach can call a Spanish company called Piscinas de Arena, which translates to “Sand Pools.” This company builds pools that look like a beach oasis. They use a special sand/concrete mixture that looks like sand, but is actually a smooth surface. This “sand” slopes into a turquoise pool of calm, clear water, so sunbathers can seem to be wading into the sea. The builders then complete the mirage by rimming the area with rocks, shrubs, or any other natural items that suit the owner’s fancy.

See you soon: When prison inmates make an escape, they usually hope not to return. This was not the case for two incarcerated men in an Italian prison. Cousins Davad Zukanovic and Lil Ahmetovic managed break out of jail in the middle of the night. They left a note explaining that they had urgent family business to attend to, adding a dubious promise that they’d be back in 15 days. Regardless of the convicts’ stated intentions, police took the escape seriously and are doing their best to track the men down. If they get caught, authorities will add five years to their sentences.

Team spirit: One traditional sport that came from the Zhuang people of Gunaxi province in southeastern China requires immense teamwork. It’s called board shoe racing. In this sport, three team members place the toes of their shoes in leather straps attached to two planks that each are one metre (3.2 ft.) long. To race, they must run in perfect unison to avoid falling over. While board shoe racing requires athleticism, an important requirement of the team is working together and cooperating with each other. The sport likely dates back to the Ming Dynasty, when it was used to help train soldiers.

Pen art: Many people keep a stash of ballpoint pens on hand for writing notes or letters. But for Ukrainian artist Andrey Poletaev, the ballpoint pen is his paintbrush. Poletaev is an artist who creates drawings using these pens, and his work looks almost like black-and-white photographs. They are intricate and can take hundreds of hours to finish. He layers ink in some places, and lightly covers other areas to create many shades. He creates street scenes, portraits, animals, and landscapes using old techniques and creating many of his own.

Photo-crazy: A photographer in India really loves his craft and likes to let the world know it. Ravi Hongal, from Belgaum, Karnataka, has been taking photos since he was a child, and today he has his own studio. To show off his obsession, he built his three-story home using a camera-themed style. A gigantic replica of a camera lens and flash are mounted on the wall above the front door. What appears to be a length of film hangs down the side of the house. But Hongal didn’t stop there in expressing his passion for cameras. He named his sons after well-known camera brands: Canon, Nikon, and Epson.

Sculpture garden: Xilitla, San Luis Potosi, in north central Mexico is the home of Las Pozas, a surrealistic sculpture garden. It was the brainchild of the late Edward James of England and was built between the 1960s and 1980s. A wealthy man, James loved orchids, and he grew many varieties on his Mexican property. However, everything was wiped out in a hailstorm in 1962. That’s when he started building his tropical campus of interesting sculptures, with the help of his Mexican friend and foreman, Plutaco Gastelum. There are over 30 rock and concrete sculptures left today, going by such names as The Staircase to Heaven.

Tea time: It may come as a surprise that, in a tea-loving locale, the oldest tea shop in London began as a coffee shop more than 300 years ago. Today, the cafe is called Twinings Tea Shop, but when it opened three centuries ago, it was called Tom’s Coffee House. It was started by Thomas Twining, who was in the business of importing commodities, including tea and coffee. His shop became known among his aristocratic customers to have some of the best tea in the city. Today, the shop still stands at 216 Strand, and the name “Twining” has gone down in history as a popular brand of tea.

Vertical cave: A deep cave in Mexico is called Sótano de las Golondrinas (Cave of the Swallows). Located in the forest in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, this open-air cave shaft is over 370 metres (1,200 ft.) deep, and even deeper in some spots. Its name stems from the brightly coloured parakeets and swifts that settle down along the walls at night. In the morning, all the birds fly up and out of the cave, making a spectacular sight. The Cave of the Swallows also attracts human visitors who enjoy extreme sports. They jump in with a parachute or spend a full hour rappelling to the bottom using specialized ropes and gear.

Pyramid crazy: Andrey and Victoria Vakhrushev from the village of Istinka near St. Petersburg, Russia, are enamoured by the Great Pyramid of Giza. In fact, they are so captivated by the ancient structure that they built a replica in their backyard. While much smaller than the original, the couple’s creation is still a sight to behold. They thoroughly researched the project and applied similar specifications to scale. They ended up using about 400 tonnes of concrete blocks. Finding a contractor took a while, but eventually one agreed to take on the job. See their creation here...

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