Splendid Irrelevances.

Now here's a story I like very much.

Just before Christmas last year an American computer games company called Maxis Inc. released an adventure game called SimCopter in which players had to fly rescue missions. When you completed the final mission you were suppose to get a audio-visual extravaganzas completing the storyline and filling you with a jolly old good feeling of self worth and accomplishment. However instead of the presumed surprise, the winners found images of men in swimsuits kissing each other. The rouge images turned out to be the work of one 33 year old game programmer called Jacques Servin. When contacted by the Times, Mr Servin said "he did it to call attention to the stark lack of gay computer characters in games". The company hastily recalled 78.000 games and invited Mr Servin to find employment elsewhere. 

Here is another story I like.

In June a couple of years ago, while travelling across America by car, Mrs Rita Rupp got it in her mind that she would be abducted by nefarious persons. So, just to be on the safe side, she prepared a note in advance, in appropriately desperate-looking handwriting, that read: "Help, I've been kidnapped. Call the highway patrol". The note then gave her name and address. Now if you write a note like this, you want to make certain that either (a) you do get kidnapped to make proper use of it or (b) you don't accidentally drop the note out your handbag. Well guess what happened? The Hapless Mrs Rupp dropped the note, it was then picked up and turned in by a conscientious citizen, and the next thing you know police in four different states had set up roadblocks, issued news bulletins and generally got themselves pretty excited. Meanwhile, Mrs Rupp drove on to her destination blissful unaware of the chaos she had left in her wake. 

The trouble with these two stories, as delightful though they are, is that I haven't figured out a way yet to get them into my blogs. That is the problem with the blog writing business, you are forever coming across interesting or amusing anecdotes and titbits of information. When I come across them I carefully file them away in my head under 'Computer Games (Man Kissing)' or 'Worse Travel Tips Ever', or whatever seems to suit. Then some time latter I will rediscover them in my mind and be at a loss as what to do with them or how to incorporate them in to my blogs . The trouble is I never know what I am going to write about so I just keep them filed away just encase by some miracle I do need them. 

Similarly I had a story entitled "Man Found Chained to Tree Again", it was the again that particularly court my eye. If the headline had been "Man Found Chained to Tree" I probably would have moved on. After all anyone can get themselves chained to a tree once. But Twice - well, now that is beginning to seem a tad careless. The person concerned was one Larry Doylen, who, it turns out had the interesting hobby of chaining himself to trees and then throwing the key just out of arms reach. On this particular occasion, he has been out in the woods for two weeks and had very nearly expired. A diverting story no doubt, and clearly a salutary lesson for any of us wishing to take up al fresco bondage for a hobby. 

I am at a loss to recall the presumed significances of any of this or as to why I choose to remember it but I have and yes, it is completely irrelevant but maybe this will just put a smile on your face the way only a funny story can. I hope you enjoyed this mornings blog because I have enjoyed writing it more than most. 

Love the Animosity Kid x