Self-confessed geeks in Japan who might ordinarily be too shy to ask someone on a date are trying a new kind of matchmaking: wearing cartooncharacter masks.

In a small town north of Tokyo, 15 men and an equal number of women donned plastic masks of Doraemon, Mickey Mouse and other fictional creations to try to find a date on Friday.

“I feel this is an easier way to talk to people,” said a 27-year-old woman wearing a rabbit mask, who introduced herself as Jet-Black Wings.

The party, in Washinomiya, was organised for the benefit of otaku – people obsessed with high-tech products, Japan’s manga comic books and the anime (cartoons) that sprang from them. (AFP)

Tongue-tied by prosciutto

British foodies are struggling with the pronunciation of foreign foods, a survey claims.

Dishes such as the Greek dip tzatziki, the Italian ham prosciutto, quesadillas, ciabatta, dauphinois and the cheese haloumi are all foods people struggle to get their tongue around.

The study for manufacturer Glorious Foods also revealed that many people order food in a restaurant which they do not want, just because they know how to say it. (PA)

Wartime pigeon puzzle

A secret World War II message found on the leg of a dead pigeon has left 21st-century codebreakers flummoxed.

The code, hand-written on a small sheet of paper headed ‘Pigeon Service’, was in a small red canister attached to the skeleton of a bird discovered up a chimney at a house in Bletchingley, Surrey.

Experts from UK intelligence agency GCHQ said the message, which has 27 five-letter code groups, is impossible to crack without its codebook. (PA)

Mexico to get rid of ‘US’

Mexico’s President is making one last attempt to get the ‘United States’ out of Mexico – at least as far as the country’s name is concerned.

The name United Mexican States or Estados Unidos Mexicanos was adopted in 1824 after independence from Spain in imitation of Mexico’s democratic northern neighbour, but it is rarely used except on official documents, money and other government material. Now President Felipe Calderon wants to make the name simply Mexico.

Mr Calderon first proposed the name change as a congressman in 2003 but the Bill did not make it to a vote. The new constitutional reform proposed will have to be approved by MPs. (PA)

Hard work down the drain

Authorities in Florida have revealed a man confessed to trafficking methamphetamine – and then flushed the detective’s recorder down the toilet.

Polk County deputies say they found 30-year-old Patrick Townsend driving with 32.4 grams of meth in his boxer shorts during a traffic stop.

Deputies say Townsend confessed, claiming he usually deals in much larger quantities. A detective recorded the confession but left the recorder on a desk.

Authorities say Townsend grabbed it, hid it in his armpit and asked to use the toilet, where he flushed it.

Townsend was jailed without bail yesterday, charged with meth trafficking and destroying evidence. (PA)

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