A glance at the week that was
8.8
The projected number of visitors in millions to Ireland in 2008, 3.3 per cent down on last year
1500
The amount in cash offered by a far-right Italian party to parents who'll name their children after Benito Mussolini or his wife
93,000
The price in euro reached by the auction of Spike Milligan memorabilia, including his director's chair
Heli-cropper
Forget the controversy about the government jet, for gobsmacking excess try Sean O'Brien, a 50-year-old pilot who borrowed a helicopter, flew 12 miles to a shopping centre in Athlone, where he landed on the roof so that he could get some keys cut. A security guard who tried to wave him away was slightly injured by the downdraft. O'Brien was this week banned from flying for 12 months. He claimed heliport landings were so safe that each one only had an accident every 344 years. "From the time of Da Vinci?" asked the judge.
Baby steps
Parents with an utter lack of self-awareness, and who want to make their kids figures of fun, will be interested in the baby high heels that made the papers this week. The UK company, Heelarious, is selling the soft shoes. "If you think about it - some mums think it's pretty to get their baby's ears pierced and that can be painful," said the company's owner. "These shoes are nothing like that - theyre completely soft, comfortable and safe for the baby." And tasteful too.
We now know
Truman Syndromeis a psychological condition in which a person thinks their life is playing out on a TV show. Named after the movie The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, psychiatrists have identified more than 50 cases.
The skull being held aloft by David Tennantin the London production of Hamletis a real one, bequeathed to the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1982.
Some British car dealers are offering "buy one, get one free" deals.