People in London have been perplexed by a bale of hay hanging from the Millennium Bridge, a modern structure that spans the River Thames, Sky News reported on Oct. 18. The bridge is undergoing maintenance that has reduced the room for boats to pass below it. When social media lit up with questions, the City Bridge Foundation came to the rescue: In accordance with an ancient rule in the Port of London Thames bylaws, a bundle of straw must be dangled from a bridge to warn boats of work being done under it. At night, the construction crew resorts to a more-modern signal — a warning light.

If it ain't broke ...

A restaurant in Tokyo, Abe-chan, recently revealed the secret behind its popular pork skewers, Oddity Central reported. The skewers are dipped in a sauce jar that hasn't been cleaned in more than 60 years and is covered on the outside with a hardened goo. Each day, cooks pour new sauce over the previous day's sauce, as they have throughout three generations of owners — a practice they say contributes to its rich flavor. Experts said as long as the concoction is heated, there shouldn't be any bacterial growth.

Quit bugging me

As Volaris Flight 221 prepared to leave Guadalajara International Airport on Oct. 6, passengers and crew were delayed by an infestation of mosquitoes in the cabin, ABC7-TV reported. The flight was headed to Mexico City, and crew members and passengers tried for two hours to eradicate the pests, swatting them and spraying bug repellent. Finally, passenger Elizabeth Corona said, the insects settled down when the cabin lights were turned off.

Memorable medal

Adorchita Di Perno of Calgary was proud of finishing her 22nd marathon in Chicago on Oct. 8, so she decided to have her name and finishing time engraved on the back of her medal, Running magazine reported. When she picked up the medal from the engraver, though, she saw that not only was the time wrong, but the F-word also had been engraved. "This is my medal, but this is not my time," she said. "And I did not ask for the F-word." Later that day, store employees figured out that her medal had been confused with another runner's, who, oddly, DID want the F-word engraved on the back — but declined to say why. Di Perno said she was upset about the mix-up at the time, but now she's laughing about it.

Art for nutrition's sake

Japanese milk producer Seki Milk has devised an entertaining solution to a growing problem, Oddity Central reported on Oct. 11. The company did research showing that 65% of students weren't finishing their milk at lunch, so it partnered with a manga studio to produce an original comic series and print it in white on its glass milk bottles. As they drink, kids are compelled to finish the beverage so the artwork is revealed. The company says Milk Manga encourages healthy behavior and reading, and gets kids thinking about food loss.

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