January 2008 – the first month of a brand new year, already filled with more than its fair share of violence, miracles, heartbreak, and no pants. Read on to find out what you may have missed during the month that was.
Chucky Cheese It Ain’t – Italian artist, Graziano Cecchini, pulls another stunt by releasing thousands of multi-coloured balls down the famed 18th century Spanish Steps. This comes months after Cecchini placed red dye in the Fountain of Trevi. Cecchini uses art “to stress our malaise” – I would say something smartass right now, but I find his off-the-wall antics kinda refreshing and amusing.
A New Year, More Violence – Violence is erupting all over Kenya post-election resulting in hundreds killed and thousands displaced. Ethnic clashing between the Kikuyu tribe (which backs the elected President Kibaki) and the Luo tribe (who support opposition leader, Raila Odinga) started immediately after the election results (Kibaki winning with a very slight margin) and continues to rage with no immediate end in sight as key political officials are killed off and the Kenyan death toll rises.
It’s Always Better Sans Pants – Commuters in Toronto, New York, Chicago, and other US cities, as well as Adelaide, Australia participated in Improv Everywhere’s seventh annual No pants! Subway ride. The online collective that promotes public chaos and joy mobilized deadpan participants to doff their pants and ride the subway in their skivvies – thongs are not recommended – to the bewilderment/ horror/fascination/laughter of fellow passengers not in on the event. (Image via improveverywhere.com)
Some Good Copyright News For Now – The Federal Court of Appeal put the kibosh on a tentative tariff approved by the Copyright Board of Canada on all iPods and MP3 players that could have seen increases up to $75 for a device depending on memory size. Obviously the Court made the right choice…but now we continue to wait with bated breath for the new copyright legislation that many fear will resemble the US DMCA. Big Sigh (in a sad way).
Shuddap! – The Republican and Democratic leadership elections are in full swing with Mitt and McCain going head to head, while Obama and Hillary dance around some issues and stab each other forthright on others. While the Watercooler makes no promises in political partisanship – it will highlight one uber-annoying thing: the use of the term ‘Billary’ — don’t do that. Don’t reduce Hillary’s hard work as the only female who has reached this political point into a Benniferesque reference. She can’t escape the fact that philandering Bill is her husband (well, I suppose she did choose to stay with him – but whatevs…they’re married). She loves the mofo (as do plenty of people, I suppose). But don’t do that. Don’t turn the first female who has an honest chance of being the elected political leader of the U.S. into something as disrespectful and dismissive as that. Shame.
WTF?!? – Imagine…you see someone across the room, you lock eyes and are instantly drawn towards each other. You fall in love and get married and think that there isn’t anyone else in the world more in tune with you. And you’re right, there isn’t. There isn’t because you’re adopted and you’ve just found out that your husband is actually your twin brother separated from you at birth. This unbelievable horror story is exactly the predicament that two Brits found themselves in. And you think you’re unlucky in love.
Bernie at the Cash Stop – In a bold McCarthy move (of the Andrew variety), two men used an office chair to wheel a corpse to a cheque-cahsing outlet, hoping to cash their dead friends’ government cheque.
Living Proof of the Impossible – Miracles do happen. The wife of Alcides Moreno held a press conference with a team of doctors who all aided in the recovery of her husband after he plunged 47 stories from a Manhattan skyscraper. Moreno, a window washer, was working with his brother when the scaffolding came undone and they plummeted almost 500 feet. Moreno’s brother didn’t survive, but somehow Moreno managed to come out of the accident with non-life threatening injuries – a condition that doctors have described as “unprecedented” and “miraculous”. If this story doesn’t melt your Bay Street heart, then take note that Moreno, after being unconscious for weeks, came to and uttered his first words on Christmas Day. Big Sigh (in a happy way)… Now, want to know what to do if you’re in the same pickle? Then read this.
The Watercooler is a monthly feature written by Ottawa lawyer AAK!