Wednesday, November 7, 2007

My application for the postion of Clerk in a Tropical Fish Store

In light of the recent opening of Parliament here are the most ridiculous British laws, as voted upon in a British newspaper poll. :
1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (What’s the punishment?)
2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down (Understandable, after all we wouldn’t want here to get a headache.)
3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (Um…yeah)
4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on Christmas Day.
5. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter (All burglars please take note of this law.)
6. A pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet (HAHA. I can’t wait to be pregnant and travel to Britain! Changing of the Guards here I come!)
7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the king, and the tail of the queen (I wonder where they would store such property.)
8. It is illegal to avoid telling the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing (Hmm?? I think this one speaks for itself.)
9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armor (Is the punishment death? If so can you really punish him for dying in Parliament?)
10. In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (But let him be if he has a gun and dynamite.)

2 comments:

Meghan said...

I almost bought a book this summer about a guy who broke all sorts of laws that are stupid and ridiculous like that, but in the US. The book is all about his experience breaking the laws and what happened to him in the aftermath. I wish I could remember what the book was, because some of the laws were really outrageous.

Anonymous said...

Meghan- That sounds like an excellent book. I would be interested to know what punishments, if any, he received. If you remember the title or author please tell me.