As you know, I tend to skim the news as I eat lunch or as I transition between activities. I set aside articles of interest to comment upon, hoping that I might be able to organize them into a theme. Looking at the current collection, today’s theme appears to be “something unexpected”: each of these articles is highlighting something you wouldn’t expect…
- Unexpected Behavior…from the Marines. As you know, this week saw the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. To observe this, in Kansas, the Marines were invited to set up a recruiting booth at a gay center. Mind you, the Marines were the branch of the service most opposed to repealing DADT. But guess what. They are the only service that responded to the recruiting call. Their attitude: they are going to prove that they will be better than the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in recruiting gay, lesbian and bisexual service members. Or, as the Sgt. doing the recruiting said, “My take is, if they can make it through our boot camp, which is the toughest boot camp in the world, then they ought to have the opportunity to wear the uniform.”
- Unexpected Behavior… regarding uniforms. As I’m talking about the Marines, perhaps I should talk about uniforms. It appears that teachers are scared that the weak little boys will be distracted from their studies by girls in short skirts. At least that’s my take on it: they are blaming the girls. Two examples. First, in Britain, some schools are banning the traditional skirted British School uniform in order to eliminate hemline creep. Second, in San Jose, Piedmont High has decided that short skirts are too distracting… so that banned them… and that included the official Cheerleading uniform!
- Unexpected Behavior… for a BBQ. Folks in the south love their BBQ. Especially BBQ Pork. Of course, this leaves Jews who keep Kosher and Muslims who follow Halal out in the cold. What to do? Answer! Organize a Kosher BBQ. This BBQ, held in Memphis, is bringing together Jews and Muslims in the sake of savory meat (and, I guess, a savory meet (ducks and runs)). In fact, the Memphis Islamic Center’s team, the “Halal Smokers,” won a third-place award for their brisket entry. Folks are now working up similar festivals in other cities.
- Unexpected Behavior… from salesclerks. Have you tried on clothes at a department store? Suprise: the sales clerks could see you changing. LAIst is reporting that stores often ensure that the slats on the doors, when viewed from the right angle, provide complete visibility to clerks. But we’re in the age of Facebook. Who needs modesty?
- Unexpected Behavior… from Sperm Collectors. Want to donate sperm? Better not be a redhead, for it seems that no one wants sperm from redheaded donors. The Cryos bank in Denmark has stopped accepting sperm from redheads, for they have reached their capacity of 70 liters of semen, and there are 600 donors on the waiting list.
- Unexpected Behavior… from a graffiti artist. It appears that, on Matilija Dam near Ojai, a graffiti artist has painted a “cut here” line with a scissors on the dam. No one is upset. “Everyone I’ve talked to has really enjoyed it,” said Jeff Pratt, Ventura County’s public works director. “It sends a good message.” They plan to leave the artwork in place.
- Unexpected Behavior… on a TV series. The LA Times has a nice review of the updated CSI… with Ted Danson. The surprise is they actually think he does quite well, and there wasn’t even the need for nudity (cough, Ashton, cough). In a related article, a prop house in El Segundo is succeeding by doing autopsies… and renting autopsy supplies!
