At a hotel, there was a sign next to the toilet that said:

Why is this nonsense?

First of all, how exactly do they expect people to flush the toilet less often? Leave urine sitting there so it can stink and create stains and buildup on the bowl?

Secondly, this kind of water conservation can actually make things worse for the environment. I once watched a TV program where sewer system workers explained that people nowadays use less water, which means there is less flow in the sewer pipes. As a result, blockages occur more frequently, waste is carried away less effectively, and maintenance costs increase. In the end, this drives up water prices for consumers. So there is no real financial benefit either.

Workers at wastewater treatment plants have made similar complaints. Because people use less water, treatment facilities receive more concentrated and polluted wastewater. It is harder to process, produces stronger odors, and can cause unpleasant smells to spread for miles around the treatment plants.

There is no real environmental benefit here. It's just the appearance of caring about the environment rather than actually helping it.

In The Fifth Element, there's a brief and easily overlooked scene in the middle of the movie where a spaceship takes off toward Fhloston Paradise. It only lasts a couple of seconds, but if you pause and take a closer look, you'll notice an interesting detail from the director.

I've numbered the key spots in the screenshot.

What we see is New York of the future. The ocean level has dropped dramatically, making the city look almost unrecognizable. The only question is - where could all the water have gone for sea levels to fall that much?

1 - The Statue of Liberty. It looks taller because of the extended base underneath.
2 - This marks the future ocean level. Somehow the ice caps didn't melt to add more water to the seas. Did humanity ship the water off to other planets?

3 - Manhattan, 4 - Brooklyn, 5 - The Brooklyn Bridge connecting them. With the water gone, the bridge is now spanning a canyon instead of a river.

And on what used to be the ocean floor, they've built a spaceport.

I'm staying with my family at a five-star all-inclusive in Belek - not a cheap place. Around 8 or 9 in the morning we head straight to the sea for a swim, skipping the pool. By that time, the poolside loungers already look like this:

Remember that memorable interrogation scene on Pier 32 from The Naked Gun?

The actor who played the sleazy dock foreman is named Joe Grifasi.

For years, I avoided clear broths. Childhood memories told me they were bland and only meant for sick days. Then I tried this recipe — and everything changed.
It’s crystal clear, gently aromatic, and full of flavor.

Ingredients

1 chicken breast, skin on

2 liters (about 8 cups) water

3 allspice berries

3 whole black peppercorns

2 sprigs fresh parsley

½ tablespoon salt, level