• Mummy’s secret recipe
A terminally ill taxi-driver from Torquay has volunteered to be mummified for a Channel 4 documentary. Here is what Egyptian mummification involved, according to Herodotus:
— Extract brain through nostrils.
— Cut opening in side of torso with sharp stone and remove contents.
— Wash cavity with palm wine and pounded spices.
— Fill with crushed myrrh and cassia.
— Sew up opening and place body in natural salts. Cover and leave for 70 days.
— Wrap in linen.
• The green stuff
David Cameron has summoned energy companies to explain why their prices are rising so fast. A few possible explanations:
Renewables obligation (the requirement for energy companies to source some of their electricity from expensive green sources such as Dave’s father-in-law’s wind farm: £16 on average bills this year
European emissions trading system (obligation to buy carbon permits): £13
Carbon emissions reduction target (obligation to subsidise insulation): £48
Feed-in tariffs (obligation to buy electricity from Guy Ritchie’s solar panels and other micro-generation plant): £3
Community Energy-Saving Programme (obligation to fund energy improvements in low income areas): £3
Source: Ofgem
• Dangerous games
British driver Dan Wheldon was killed in an Indy car race in the US. He is the second driver to die during races or warm-ups in ten years, which suggests a chance of dying in a single race of around one in 3,000.
Risk of dying in one event
BASE jumping: 1 in 2,317
Swimming: 1 in 56,587
Cycling: 1 in 92,325
Running: 1 in 97,455
Skydiving: 1 in 101,083
Football: 1 in 103,187
Hang-gliding: 1 in 116,000
Horse-riding: 1 in 175,418
Table tennis: 1 in 250,597
Source: Bandolier
• Junior ministers
Chloe Smith has become Economic Secretary to the Treasury, one of the most senior positions outside the Cabinet, at 29. The young politicians to beat:
Age at arrival in Cabinet
William Hague: 34 and 102 days
Ruth Kelly: 36 and 221 days
David Owen: 38 and 234 days
Comments