Odd

The possibilities of swine flu mutating are extremely well documented, but at the same time I don’t recall reading about it being a risk to rabbits.

When it comes to presents, a spectacularly unsuitable sweater or some sadly predictable socks may well be far from perfect, but it’s the thought, by all accounts, that counts.

Christmas decorations on the other hand, especially those that aren’t done very well or are downright depressing, could well be deemed as very different.

With his red-rimmed eyes and off-colour complexion, this slightly sinister Santa looks like he’d have little kids perched on his lumpy lap and peppered with inappropriate pats before they could even holler out a hesitant hello.

Japan’s high-tech toilets are often featured by the foreign media, but whilst well aimed washlets and the like are all well and good, the simple heated toilet seat is still the biggest bonus of most bathrooms. A water closet wonder that is even more welcome now that winter is well on its way, making the commode a terrifically comfortable place to type a few tweets whilst tackling a turd, or even dabble in a doze when doing a dump.

And for those who like to indulge their love of literature at the same time as offloading a log, help is also at hand, so to speak, as toilet giant Toto has opted to produce some paper featuring flowery language rather than flowers, allowing the perusal of a few poems when performing a poo.

Or, to be slightly more specific and somewhat less subtle, a shit and several senryu.