survey by Abbey banking revealed that 70 percent of most British parents believe that choosing the right name for their children could influence their future success or failure. The survey showed that 32 percent or a eight million parents think that the right name can give a child confidence, while a further two million think it will help their children's career prospects.

hat could be one of the world's oldest trees may have been found in the northern Swedish province of Dalecarlia. According to scientists, who sent samples of the tree to a laboratory in Miami, Florida, the Norwegian spruce dates back to nearly 8,000 years. It grows at a height of 950 meters above sea level, is more than two meters (6. 5 feet) tall and about 20 centimeters (8 inches) in width.

British magazine Bookseller recently published poll results that revealed the past year's three strangest book titles, continuing the magazine's annual trend. The award, named the Diagram Prize, for the oddest book title for 2007 was given to one titled "If You Want Closure In Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs. "

Technology is displacing the telephone directory from American households. Environmentalists and households, among others, are now questioning the wisdom of printing 2,000 pages of phone numbers hardly touched by consumers who prefer speed dialing features of their mobile units or Internet search engines to find a contact number. A number of apartment buildings in South Boston reported 2008 editions of newly delivered phone books remain untouched in foyers.

study by a sociologist revealed that more and more women in Italy are opting to lead a hermit's life and turn their backs from the modern world. Sociologist Isacco Turina, a professor at the University of Bologna, said there are over 1,000 hermits currently in the country and many more all over Europe and the United States, a majority of whom are women. But these modern hermits no longer wear long beards and hide away in caves, instead they live in apartments and surf the Internet.