Headscarves
Often worn by Muslim women the world over. When the planned French ban hits in September, be sure there will be a lot of upset people— who won’t be mollified to know that Jewish skullcaps will also be out.
Gansta Clothing
Alarmed at spiralling violent crime in schools, US authorities have banned the most visible elements of the culture they believe inspires it; the bling-bling bad boy garb of the rap world.
Beards
Some really have it in for the hirsute. Turkmenistan’s president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov has banned beards. He’s also banned gold teeth, and renamed the month of January after himself.
Second-Hand Underwear
Yes. The Tanzanian ban last October struck when the government felt these were responsible for the spread of disease. Several poor countries apparently import used underwear from Europe.
Culture Vulture
The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Sue Townsend
The secret what? Diary of an angst-ridden British teen. Hilarious chronicle of his troubles, from warring parents to giant pimples. Also, sharp satire exposing unglamorous ’80s Britain.
Latest instalment ‘Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years’. He’s a bitter, balding 30-year-old TV chef and the love of his life, Pandora Braithwaite, is a Blair Babe.
Who’s a bigger nerd? You know Gian Sammarco played him in the TV series
So you thought you knew all about
Brad Pitt
The screen hunk is back after a two year hiatus with the epic Troy, opening this weekend in the US. Find what’s amiss in his bio.
A. Tore his Achilles tendon during the shooting of ‘Troy’, in which he plays, ironically, Achilles!
B. Attended the University of Missouri where he majored in journalism.
C. Past jobs include stripping, dressing as a giant chicken while working for ‘el Pollo Loco’.
D. Dated Gwyneth Paltrow once, now married to Jennifer Aniston.
E. Banned from entering China because of his role in ‘Seven Years In Tibet’.
Answer C. Once had a job driving strippers in limos.
what is
Mandarin
Thin, loose-peeled orange found all over East Asia. Alternatively, a high government official or bureaucrat. Also the official national standard spoken language of China, based on the principal dialect spoken in and around Beijing, and the most spoken language in the world.
