Hotel Chain Finds Crabs, Python, Breast Implants Left Behind In 2012 

A hotel chain in the U.K. is sharing a long list of items travelers left behind in 2012.  According to the "Daily Mail," Travelodge U.K. says the most common items include teddy bears, phone chargers, pajamas and toiletry items.  Employees also found some 20-thousand books, and more than a third of those were E.L. James' erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey."  But Travelodge says there were plenty of bizarre items on the list as well.  A search of the lost-and-founds from the past 12 months turned up an 81-thousand-dollar Rolex, a pop-up spray tanning booth, a pair of breast implants, a set of four Power Rangers costumes, a winning lottery ticket, and a pet python apparently named Monty -- just to name a few. 

Woman Reunited With Lost Lobster 

A Canadian woman has been reunited with her lost lobsters.  According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a Halifax bus driver found the black suitcase containing the frozen lobster, along with a Nintendo Wii, gifts and clothing, and turned it over to police.  Officers put out a release saying they were "unable to find any identification to determine the rightful owner," and once the story hit social media networks it spread quickly.  When Krista Nash saw the advertisement she notified her sister-in-law Stacey Nash, who owned the bag.  Stacey was visiting Nova Scotia from Toronto, and the bag apparently fell off the back of Krista's truck as she was taking Stacey to the airport.  Krista says the seafood was Stacey's souvenir from Nova Scotia.  One police constable says Stacey will still be able to enjoy the seafood because they've kept the lobster frozen.  

Cat Survives 80-Foot Fall 

One free-falling feline is lucky to be alive after plummeting 80-feet.  According to the "Standard Times" of New Bedford, Massachusetts, the cat fell from an eight story tree and came away from the fall with only a few pulled muscles and a possible parasitic infection.  Apparently, the cat and firefighters had been locked in a week-long stand-off until the firefighters decided to cut the branch she was holding out on.  After the fall she darted into a nearby brush before being recovered.  Dr. Rachel Francis of the Marion Animal Hospital -- who has been caring for the cat -- calls the cat's survival "unbelievable."  She has since given her a new name -- Fortunate.  Francis says it will take Fortunate about six weeks to fully recover, but once she does she will go up for adoption. 

Japanese Inventor Creates Wagging Tail For Humans 

A Japanese inventor has come up with an easy way to let others know when you're in a good mood.  According to Orange News, Shota Ishiwatari recently designed a tail for humans that wags when the wearer is happy.  Dubbed the "Tailly," the faux appendage is attached to a belt that measures the user's pulse -- when his or her heart beats faster, the "Tailly" wags faster.  Shota is pretty sure the device will be a hit, explaining that it's fun to wear at parties or while playing with kids.  He also says it could help people express their true feelings on a date or "add a level of subconscious communication" between significant others. 

Hundreds Of Tires Wash Up On Scottish Beach 

Authorities in Scotland are still trying to solve the mystery of a couple hundred surprise rubber visitors on a beach near Edinburgh.  According to "The Scotsman," 250 worn out car tires washed ashore just before Christmas.  No one has been able to figure out where they came from, although many suspect they were dumped in the water illegally.  A group of residents volunteered to collect the tires and stack them at the top of the beach, but they still need to be properly removed.  City deputy leader Steve Cardownie says the area is of "special scientific interest," making it imperative that someone -- and he says he doesn't care who -- cleans up the beach as soon as possible. 


Survey Says 

Majority Of Americans Have Noticed Decline In Manners, Etiquette 

The words "please" and "thank you" have become too few and far between for most Americans.  In a Survey.com poll of wine drinkers conducted for Ecco Domain Wines of Italy, almost 80-percent say that over time etiquette has become less and less important to Americans.  And 65-percent agree that generations younger than their own generally have poor manners.  In addition, 79-percent admit they wish good manners were considered as important now as they were for previous generations.  Almost half of the respondents add that they believe their parents' generation put more of an effort into entertaining and grooming habits than they do currently. 

Americans Want Healthier Restaurant Options 

More Americans are becoming health-conscious in making food choices.  Nearly two-thirds of the respondents in a new Technomic survey say they believe it's "important to eat healthy and pay attention to nutrition," which is up seven-percent from 2010.  In addition, half of those polled now indicate they eat healthy foods as part of a "nutritious and balanced diet."  Fifty-percent also say they'd like to see restaurants offer more healthy options, and nearly half add that they would probably order something from among those selections.  Nearly 40-percent say they'd be more inclined to go to a restaurant that offered healthy menu options even if they weren't going to order one of those dishes. 

However, restaurants might want to be careful about how they describe their more healthful cuisine.  Half of the respondents admit that expressions like "low salt," "lowfat," and "low sugar" make a dish sound healthier but less tasty.  But they say descriptions that indicate an item provides a full serving of fruits or vegetables, or is made with 100-percent whole wheat, sounds both healthy and appetizing.

(Metro Source Entertainment)