Blondes bombard broadcast television, have more fun
After enduring centuries of hair color jokes, blondes will have the last laugh, according to Slate Magazine editor Jack Shafer. In his report, 'TV's Aryan Sisterhood,' Shafer states that since only one in 20 white adult Americans are naturally blonde, either most blonds become news anchors, or most news anchors share a bottle of dye. The report relates the modern broadcast-blonde phenomenon with a social fetish dating back centuries.
In addition to the social edge, blondes have an evolutionary advantage, says blonde scholar Joanna Pitman. Pitman notes that because of its association with youth and fertility, blondes have a higher likelihood of finding a mate. While ancient cultures resorted to saffron, mud and pigeon urine to tint their tresses yellow, you need not go to such extremes to get in on the blond edge: Paul Mitchell offers an entire 'blonding system' that includes shades from 'Champagne on Ice' to 'Swirled Honey.' If only Mitchell introduced a 'Pigeon Urine' option, brunettes would have enough dumb blonde jokes to last another millennium.
Yemens disproportionately contribute to new world population milestone
It's a party and you're invited... all 6.5 billion of you. At 6:16 p.m. Feb. 25, an estimated 6.5 billion people will inhabit this planet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's World Population Clock. Thankfully, because the population growth rate has dropped from 2.1 percent to 1.1 percent over the last few decades, there's slightly less of a chance we'll reach a Mad Max-style apocalyptic state. Huzzah for that. Still, the data comprising this statistic is skewed due to inconsistent birth rates between countries. As developed nations approach the threshold of two children per female, the current Yemeni female bears an average of seven kids. So, party it up now, since the seven billion milestone isn't expected for another six years at current growth rates.
