Dr Doctor, MD; no kissing, sandcastles, squeaky sandals…the list goes on; and, no more office gossip!
• Ever noticed that a person’s surname will often resemble their job (one need think no further than Seinfeld’s ‘library detective’, Mr Bookman, for an example!) Well, it may not be just you who thinks so. A series of studies in the US has found that a person’s surname may well influence the career they choose later in life. Carried out by Professor Ernest Abel, of Wayne State University in Michigan, the research apparently shows that doctors and lawyers are “disproportionately more likely” to have surnames resembling their professions, ie. Doctor for a doctor and Lawyer for a lawyer.
• Kissing while driving, building sandcastles and wearing squeaky sandals are among the activities reportedly banned in parts of Italy after a raft of new public order laws were introduced by local authorities as part of a campaign to stop anti-social behaviour. Other bans are reportedly aimed at feeding pigeons and stray cats, gathering in groups of more than two in public parks at night, and, wait for it, opening a kebab shop in Lucca, Tuscany (officials want to protect the town’s culinary heritage).
• Sick of gossip in the office? A US financial firm, Bridgewater Associates, has reportedly adopted a novel approach to the issue by banning such chat under a three strikes and you’re fired policy. Company president Ray Dalio has also reportedly ordered that all company meetings be recorded and stored in a ‘transparent library’ so the 1,000 staff can hear what they’re bosses are saying about them.