WorldWide Drilling Resource

The “Idiots” Corner by “Billy Bob Smith” Do you think the world is as crazy or worse than we are? If you think there are a lot of idiotic rules, laws, and behaviors in the U.S., here are just a few of the things over the years which have been banned or done in other countries that make us look like the smartest people in the world. Seriously, having visited a few countries during my travels, I won’t share the hundreds of things I have witnessed in many coun- tries, but here are some you might find interestingly stupid . . . Burundi: No Jogging - During a period of ethnic strife in the country that only ended within the last decade, citizens would go jogging together in large groups as a way to get out their energy and use one another as protection from dangerous militias. However, in March 2014, the country's president banned these jogs, claiming they are used as cover for people to plan subversive activities and, in fact, many opposition members have been jailed for taking part in group jogs. Turkmenistan: No Lip-Synching - Well, at least at large cultural events and on television programming. In 2005, then-President Saparmurat Niyazov banned lip-synching to preserve "true culture." He had also banned opera and ballet, deeming them "unnecessary." China: No Reincarnation without Government Permission - A 2007 law in China on the "Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism" made it illegal for Buddhist monks to reincarnate without prior gov- ernment approval. Romania: No Scrabble - In the 1980s, Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu banned the game of Scrabble because it was "subversive" and "evil." Singapore: No Importing or Sale of Gum - This makes it essentially impossible for locals to get any. India: No Advertising Alcohol - The late 1990s saw the Indian government ban advertisements for alcoholic beverages. Germany: No Running Out of Gas on the Autobahn - If you do run out of gas, don't think about heading off on foot to find a gas station - walking on the Autobahn is also prohibited. Philippines: No singing “My Way” by Sinatra - This is technically a de facto ban and not actually legislated, but many karaoke bars have banned the song, and many patrons would refuse to sing it even if they did carry it. Why? The song has led to at least six murders, stemming from arguments over, some believe, the "arrogant" tone of the tune. The phenomenon has even been dubbed the "My Way Killings." How about one more before I can’t laugh any more . . . there is a ban on "noisy footwear" in Capri, Italy. So flip-flops and squeaky shoes are not allowed. If you have ever been outside the U.S., I’ll wager you have seen some really stupid stuff too - feel free to share with us. Hope you are having a "stupid-free" summer . . . Billy Bob Contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 38 AUGUST 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®