Monday, November 3, 2003 - Car number plates ending in 4 have been banned in Beijing because they are said to be unlucky. The move has been taken because the word “four” sounds like the word for “dead” in Mandarin. “No vehicle registration numbers ending in 4 will be issued in the Chinese city from now on,” says the South China Morning Post quoting the Beijing Times. “Although Beijing is the first Chinese city to introduce such a measure, buildings throughout China do not have any floors ending in four, so they have no 4th, 14th, or 24th floors.” I wonder if they have 13th floors? Is bad luck territorial? Babe Ruth admits “I have only one superstition. I touch all the bases when I hit a home run.”

Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - A Dutchman who lost both legs in separate accidents says the health service has given him two false right legs. Jelle Wagt says he will not stand up until he gets a prosthetic left leg because he would look ridiculous. He lost his right leg after he fell into the hold of a ship in 1998, then lost his left leg in another accident three years later. Mr. Wagt says the Dutch health service originally gave him a prosthetic right leg which was too long for him. They corrected that mistake but sent him home with another right leg after his left leg was amputated. “I was stunned to find a right foot on my left leg. I’d love to try to walk again but with two right feet it just doesn’t feel comfortable.”