After Trump kicked off the news and media outrage for 2017 (and he still is pretty up there for sure), it’s not inconceivable to think that the news has other stories than politics. January had plenty of natural disasters and refugee news, but February has a bit of a twist this time around. Here are a few of this past month’s headlines that you may have missed.
- Transgender Rights Headed to Supreme Court: Gavin Grimm is seeking his rights to access the men’s washroom in his school. His school is refusing to acknowledge this even after he won his original case in 2015. Laverne Cox made her stance on Gavin Grimm’s transgender fight and, #StandWithGavin took over Twitter and Tumblr following her announcement. Celebrities like William Shatner, Natalia Cordova, as well as millions of others spoke up in support. As of this moment, his school has taken him to the Supreme Court and thus the battle continues.
- Mariana Trench Pollution Discovery: The most remote place on the planet is even facing struggles with our ecosystem thanks to our pollution. From manmade chemicals to tons of cans of Spam and plastic, the deepest trench in the ocean is showing signs of decay. Even some small crustaceans that live in the deep dark depths were tested to have had 50 times more toxic chemicals than those found in China’s waters. Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University who led the research said it best: “We still think of the deep ocean as being this remote and pristine realm, safe from human impact, but our research shows that, sadly, this could not be further from the truth.”
- Japan Filled With Celibacy Syndrome: The shocking topic trending on some popular millennial social media sites is that Japanese couples aren’t having sex anymore; some are even calling it a “looming national catastrophe.” The reasoning behind these nontraditional couples is that the era of baby boomers has officially ended. Young couples don’t feel the social obligation/duty to give birth to babies anymore. Not to mention how many younger citizens are choosing to stay single too.
- Kenya Doctor Strike: Hospitals in Kenya are almost ready to shut down with a doctor strike raging on after the healthcare ministry refuses to raise pay.
- Man Hammers 38 Nails With His Skull In Pursuit Of World Record: Nicknamed “Hammer Head,” John Ferrero uses his thick skull, literally it’s twice as thick as the average humans’, to set records doing some crazy things; such as setting world records for hammering nails with his face.
- Meet The Man Who Gave Up Everything To Hunt The Loch Ness Monster: Steve Feltham has spent 25 years searching for Nessie. Many people make the journey to Loch Ness in Scotland just to see what they can see, but Feltham now lives right up on the shores of the loch to make sure he doesn’t miss any waves.
- Maker Of Durex Condoms Now Also Owns Baby Formula Brand: The British company, Reckitt Benckiser, also known as the maker of Durex condoms, has agreed to buy Mead Johnson Nutrition, also known as the maker of Enfamil baby formula. Talk about a One Stop Shop, eh?
- Get Your Resume Ready: There’s A Job Opening For ‘Chocolate Taster’: Mondelez International, also known as the owner of Cadbury and Oreo, is seeking out a team of chocolate testers to test out the company’s future products. The job itself is only a part-time deal that takes place in Reading, England on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-2:45 PM. If you think you have what it takes, go study up on the Willy Wonka movies and apply here.
- Just Some Guys In England Driving A Tank To The Gas Station: A trending video is passing around with a few average guys on their normal trip to the gas station… in a British CVR(T) Scorpion Light Tank that is. The group knew their tank was getting a little low on gas while they decided to go out for a convertible joy ride, so they did what anyone would do in a vehicle low on gas.
- Adult Swaddling Is Tokyo’s Top New Trend: This new trend is coming about to help expectant mothers. Apparently, it’s supposed to help these mom’s overcome labor pains. You’re wrapped up from bottom to top in a white bag and rocked from side to side. After the tragic news of January, February surely brings up spirits for some. From the silly comfort antics around Japan to the boys being boys on the road, and everything in between, it’s still surprising how the mainstream media’s been missing out. Who knows what the headlines of March will bring.
This article was co-authored by Cassandra Vella.
Featured Image via Pexels.
Point of correction of no.4 Kenyan doctors have gone on strike for 100 days from December 5th 2016 paralysing all activities in public hospitals due to a wage dispute that would see the lowest earning doctor in Kenya earning upwards of $2000 per month. It has been resolved but many patients have died because they could not afford private healthcare.