What Saparmurat Niyazov did in Turkmenistan is pretty funny as well:
* Niyazov banned the use of lip syncing at public concerts in 2005, citing a negative effect on the development of musical arts incurred by the use of recorded music.[21]
* Dog and cat ownership in the capital is restricted to one animal by a law restricting the keeping of herds of animals in Ashgabat.
* According to the Asgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru right hand-drive imported cars converted to left-hand drive were banned due to a perceived increased risk in accidents.[22]
* Niyazov requested that a palace of ice be built near the capital, though Turkmenistan is a desert country with a hot and arid environment. The palace was never built.
* All hospitals outside of Ashgabat were ordered shut, with Niyazov feeling that sick people should come to the capital for treatment.
* He declared that doctors were to swear an oath to him directly instead of reciting the Hippocratic Oath.
* After having to quit smoking in 1997 due to his resultant heart surgery, he banned smoking in all public places and ordered all government employees to follow suit. Chewing tobacco on Turkmen soil was later banned as well.
* In February 2004 he decreed that men should no longer wear long hair or beards.[23]
* He also barred news reporters and anchors from wearing make-up on television, apparently because he had difficulty telling male and female newsreaders apart.
* Gold teeth were outlawed in Turkmenistan after Niyazov suggested that the populace chew on bones to strengthen their teeth and lessen the rate at which they fall out. He said:
"I watched young dogs when I was young. They were given bones to gnaw to strengthen their teeth. Those of you whose teeth have fallen out did not chew on bones. This is my advice..."
* Niyazov banned the use of lip syncing at public concerts in 2005, citing a negative effect on the development of musical arts incurred by the use of recorded music.[21]
* Dog and cat ownership in the capital is restricted to one animal by a law restricting the keeping of herds of animals in Ashgabat.
* According to the Asgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru right hand-drive imported cars converted to left-hand drive were banned due to a perceived increased risk in accidents.[22]
* Niyazov requested that a palace of ice be built near the capital, though Turkmenistan is a desert country with a hot and arid environment. The palace was never built.
* All hospitals outside of Ashgabat were ordered shut, with Niyazov feeling that sick people should come to the capital for treatment.
* He declared that doctors were to swear an oath to him directly instead of reciting the Hippocratic Oath.
* After having to quit smoking in 1997 due to his resultant heart surgery, he banned smoking in all public places and ordered all government employees to follow suit. Chewing tobacco on Turkmen soil was later banned as well.
* In February 2004 he decreed that men should no longer wear long hair or beards.[23]
* He also barred news reporters and anchors from wearing make-up on television, apparently because he had difficulty telling male and female newsreaders apart.
* Gold teeth were outlawed in Turkmenistan after Niyazov suggested that the populace chew on bones to strengthen their teeth and lessen the rate at which they fall out. He said:
"I watched young dogs when I was young. They were given bones to gnaw to strengthen their teeth. Those of you whose teeth have fallen out did not chew on bones. This is my advice..."


Libya petitions UN to dismantle Switzerland
03/09/2009 10:17:36 PM
- 827 Views
Explain to an ignorant world citizen here. Why Switzerland? *NM*
03/09/2009 10:29:53 PM
- 286 Views
Ghaddafi has a personal beef with the entire country
03/09/2009 10:39:05 PM
- 547 Views
Oh, good. I had expected something stupid like lingering colonial resentments.
03/09/2009 10:41:37 PM
- 532 Views
I don't think Switzerland ever had any colonies
*NM*
03/09/2009 10:45:12 PM
- 277 Views

I didn't think so, either, but you have to admit it would make more sense. *NM*
03/09/2009 11:07:40 PM
- 249 Views
I'd say the appropriate reaction is kicking Libya out of the UN...
03/09/2009 10:51:34 PM
- 427 Views
True - except we're so nice we wouldn't even dare suggest such an idea
*NM*
03/09/2009 11:20:50 PM
- 268 Views

There is no sense here. My dad got caught speeding in Poland, can Poland go now?! *NM*
04/09/2009 12:19:08 AM
- 397 Views
Yes?
04/09/2009 12:26:06 AM
- 521 Views
No!
*NM*
04/09/2009 12:27:12 AM
- 266 Views

Ja!
04/09/2009 01:13:22 AM
- 529 Views

I say we make them a U.S. Colony
04/09/2009 06:14:18 AM
- 495 Views
Excellent idea!
04/09/2009 04:54:22 PM
- 517 Views
04/09/2009 06:48:46 PM
- 530 Views

Take the chocolate...leave the women.
*NM*
04/09/2009 07:08:38 PM
- 270 Views

I read that as "Labia petitions UN to dismantle Switzerland" at first glance.
/
*NM*
04/09/2009 12:21:55 AM
- 171 Views


Um... how would that even work?
*NM*
04/09/2009 12:26:44 AM
- 258 Views

Well with Ghaddafi acting like a p
it makes it almost more a pun than a misread. *NM*
04/09/2009 12:30:26 AM
- 263 Views

You weren't the only one. *NM*
04/09/2009 12:26:51 AM
- 279 Views
Libya, not "Lybia" - the story got it right, why couldn't you? *NM*
04/09/2009 01:03:45 AM
- 194 Views
In fairness, that spelling doesn't make much sense.
04/09/2009 01:06:49 AM
- 550 Views
Oh, good. One of the first things you've posted that I can actually read.
*NM*
04/09/2009 05:45:10 AM
- 235 Views

But being mean to Switzerland is like kicking puppies
04/09/2009 08:55:36 AM
- 527 Views

You mean it is fun but you don't want the hot girl you like to catch you doing it?
04/09/2009 12:23:07 PM
- 502 Views
Also, who would be the hot girl in this metaphor?
*NM*
04/09/2009 12:47:38 PM
- 267 Views

England
*NM*
04/09/2009 12:54:08 PM
- 240 Views
