French woman gets English accent after tonsil surgery

Laetitia, from Montval-sur-Loir, France, started speaking with a strong English accent since undergoing tonsil surgery 14 years ago, despite not speaking English beyond a few school-taught words.

She noticed a change in her voice after the operation. Multiple examinations revealed nothing abnormal. Eventually, Laetitia was diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a rare condition often linked to brain trauma, stroke or surgery. Her medical records suggested reduced brain irrigation during the operation may have triggered it.

Though some people think she’s faking, Laetitia has come to accept her English-sounding voice as part of her identity.

Man gets dropped head syndrome from phone use

A 25-year-old Japanese man developed severe dropped head syndrome after spending hours daily looking down at his phone. Neck muscle weakness and a large bulge at the back of his neck caused neck pain, difficulty in swallowing and rapid weight loss.

The man had been bullied in school, leading him to spend most of his time on his phone with his neck bent. Scans showed distorted, dislocated vertebrae and scar tissue from prolonged neck extension.

Initial treatment with collars failed, so surgeons removed damaged vertebrae and scar tissue, then inserted screws and rods to correct his posture. Six months after surgery, he regained normal head movement, which persisted a year later.

Doctors warn this extreme case highlights the dangers of excessive smartphone use.

You need a permit to wear high heels in this city

The small city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, requires visitors to get an official permit to legally wear heels higher than two inches in public.

This unusual law, passed in 1963, was meant to address tripping hazards caused by uneven sidewalks. It was introduced to reduce lawsuits against the city for accidents caused by narrow high heels on uneven surfaces.

Interestingly, until recently, Carmel also banned eating ice cream downtown to avoid sticky sidewalks, reflecting the city’s long-standing concern over liability from unusual causes.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 14, 2025