The long-running series in which readers answer other readers\u2019 questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts<\/p>\n
Read this week\u2019s new question: How is it physically possible to continue breaking sporting records?<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve heard that in Germany you can buy sausages in vending machines. What should be sold in machines that isn\u2019t offered at the moment? Sybil Freestone, Oregon<\/p>\n
Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.<\/p>\n
Reasonably priced train tickets. EddieChorepostCome on \u2013 be sensible. I\u2019ll take angel wings, magic beans and pots of gold but reasonably priced train tickets? Madness. RobRoy1975<\/p>\n
Anyone who has travelled in Japan has encountered the ubiquitous jid\u014dhanbaiki vending machines selling cans of hot and cold drinks. The hot coffee is terrible, but I\u2019ve bought some in desperation on train platforms or in stations when the lines at coffee kiosks were too long. And, of course, having a can of Boss Coffee with the kitschy image of the pipe-smoking man (Tom Selleck lookalike?) in your hand is too tempting to pass up. Nancy Cadet, New York, by emailI was quite impressed to see vending machines with bottles of whisky in them in Japan. I suspect they wouldn\u2019t have lasted very long in this part of the world. BruthaHave you seen the anime about the guys reincarnated in a vending machine that sells anything? No, it\u2019s not a joke. I wish. Balcke<\/p>\n
Mortgages for affordable houses? Girlyouknowitstrue<\/p>\n
Books, preferably good secondhand ones. There\u2019s no need for any more instant food gratification \u2013 unless the machines are in the middle of nowhere, like the ones supplying baguettes, and occasionally half bottles of champagne, which you sometimes encounter in rural France. Jane Reed, by email<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a wine bar in my town that has a wine vending machine. It\u2019s lovely. Uphillstruggleuk[You] see them all over Spain. JohnH1973The first wine vending machine was made by Hero of Alexandria, in first-century Roman Egypt. Tarlachmoorhouse<\/p>\n
When I was a child, the ladies\u2019 loos in our poshest local department store, Schofields in Leeds, had a vending machine that dispensed a squirt of perfume if you put in sixpence (I think) and pressed a button. There was a choice of four or five. I can\u2019t remember them all but my mother liked Yardley\u2019s flower fragrances such as Freesia, while my grandmother favoured Lenth\u00e9ric\u2019s Tweed. I\u2019ve never seen this anywhere else. MistyP<\/p>\n
I think there should be cat vending machines. There is a glut of unwanted cats. Maybe another vending machine with plumbers \u2026 David Neville, by email<\/p>\n
I would like small packets with a single nappy, two wet wipes, one soapy hand wipe and a nappy disposal bag \u2013 biodegradable if possible. To be deployed in baby changes in museums, rail stations, airports and all good coffee shops everywhere. Parenting is hard. 2opinionated<\/p>\n
Cigarette vending machines were everywhere when I was a lad. Most notably on the platforms of the London Underground. BristolBoyThat brings back memories. Also, those machines on the platform that sold odd-sized chocolate bars \u2013 they were more square than the rectangular shop-bought ones. reggiepurrin<\/p>\n
Seen plenty selling cheese and wine in France and Germany \u2013 even seafood. On a recent trip, we found one on Germany\u2019s Baltic coast selling eggs and vodka \u2013 ideal for breakfast! David Bridle, Brightlingsea, Essex, by email<\/p>\n
More than 40 years ago, in Strasbourg I think, we bought merguez in lengths of baguette from a machine. It was about the only thing available on a Sunday afternoon. More recently, we bought baguettes in a small village on the boulanger\u2019s day off. I have also bought chips in Amsterdam \u2013 not bad. Janet Carne, by email<\/p>\n