1. I was in Florence with my wife. In one of the cafes, I noticed wooden sticks that looked like pointers. What are they used for?
The answer, to the surprise of many, is that these are newspaper headlines. The stick has a slot where the newspaper is inserted.
2. This isn't the first time I've noticed a gray metal box under the seat in a Dubai taxi. What's inside the box?
The answer to this question is simple: there's a piece of hardware that, by law, must be in a taxi in this city. For example, a GPS tracker or a receipt printer, which are already implemented in developed countries like Dubai.
3. If you look at the Libyan Desert on Google Maps, you can see that it's marked with an almost perfect grid. How and why is this done?
The answer is that these are seismic survey lines, which were made by special trucks.
4. Why did they add a ramp to this small window in the old hospital building?
The answer is that the coal was loaded through this window for the boiler room, which is probably in the basement; this way it was much easier to move it and put it down below.
5. The kitchen in my new apartment has a pull-out bar. Why is it necessary?
The answer is quite practical; this kitchen was fitted with a meat grinder or other similar devices for greater convenience when cooking.
6. Instead of the green traffic light, some type of device is installed.
The answer is that this is a new German traffic light, where there is no yellow signal and a loudspeaker is installed instead of a green one.
7. Why are there holes in the facade of this building built in 1700?
The answer is that these are ventilation ducts. It used to be a barn for drying tobacco.
8. Why do some old houses in London have the front door handle in the center?
The answer is that this arrangement is due to the design of old castles. When the handle was turned, the bolts were pushed back.
9. What is this box with round and oval holes for? I bought it as a decorative item for an apartment at a flea market.
The answer is that this is for an oxygen tank and mask, as part of a resuscitation kit in a fire department or ambulance.
10. I saw this in the luggage compartment of a Swiss train. What is it for?
The answer is that this is a ski rack.