That's an easy one. It just depends on your definition of "sound." According to dictionary.com: "the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or other medium."

So, by that definition, if there are no ears to translate the vibrations of the air, then no, the tree doesn't make a sound. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yes, winter sucks.

As for the Coriolis effect, don't hurricanes spin the opposite way down under too? Of course, they're called cyclones or something, aren't they?

Wikipedia seems to clear this up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect

As mentioned by others here, the geometry of the toilet affects the flow more than anything else. Per the Coriolis effect only, it should be actually be flowing COUNTER-clockwise in the north...

Mike