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Oh, come on, people, relax already! Drop the pencils, turn off the cell phones and power down those Crackberries. (I know, I know – this is usually only a monthly event. But the round file is getting way too full; there’s just so much unusual, weird and just plain bizarre stuff happening across the globe I’m going to have to do this more than once a month.)

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen – the time has come for another exciting edition of… OOB!

Amazing Google Earth Dept.

I know, I know, it seems there’s no end to the fascinating things found on Google Earth, and now that marketers know it too, they’re trying to create ad campaigns that include stuff visible from space, like the Firefox crop circle, the KFC logo and the Maxim magazine cover. Ho hum, so you can make a really, really huge logo. Big fat hairy deal.

No, what really puts a tinkle in my toes are natural formations (like the one of an American Indian listening to his IPOD), or bizarre stuff (like the giant earwig attack in Germany). But here’s another natural formation that looks like a huge pair of women’s lips. According to the scale, they are about a kilometer long. Big enough to take on the KFC logo, and more!

Close, But No Cigar Dept.

This sounds like the basis for a Monty Python routine to me. In a recent survey of 1,015 Britons conducted by MYVOICE, 63% of respondents thought the word Arrabiata refers to an infection you get from sex. Well, they’re close – it’s actually a fiery Italian hot sauce! “Hello, marketing department? This is Donald Trump. You’re fired!”

On the other hand, maybe there’s a way for the manufacturer to make lemonade out of this: “Try Arrabiata, the spicy sauce that’s so hot, it makes 63% of all Britons think of sex!” (And to think, Bill Clinton was worried about not leaving a legacy! See how easy it was to link this story to him?)

Useless Idea of the Month Dept.

Chris from spurgeonblog created a USB storage device from a 16-lb bowling ball. O-kay. That in itself appeals to my sense of the absurd. Congratulations for a true OOB thinker; someone who asks, “Why not?” instead of “Why?” (We gotta come up with some kind of trophy, something like the FFFF. Suggestions, anyone?)

The picture is funny enough, but if you have a few minutes to waste, you should read the comments, too. I mean, c’mon – some people just HAVE to lighten up!

Corner Office Dept.

Research by Lee McPheters at the W.P.Cary School of Business has finally revealed something I knew all along, but never seen quantified. By studying the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2006 list of “High Rollers”, Lee found the key to being in the executive suite is not necessarily business skill, talent, or even luck – it’s the man’s first name. (Yes, you read it right – of the top 100 High Rollers listed, 96 are men. But let’s not go there.)

“The top three names account for 20 percent of the High Rollers. According to U. S. Social Security Administration numbers, those top three baby names — Robert, John and Steve — accounted for less than 10 percent of births from 1945 through 1965.

The six most frequent names accounted for 15 percent of all births during the period, but account for 35 percent of CEOs, or more than double their share in the general population, McPheters’ article states.”

Want to know what the most popular name for CEOs is? Robert. (Cue the fireworks! I always knew I was destined for greatness. So… when does the bus leave?)

Addictive Time Wasters Dept.

For those of you who haven’t any time to waste – lighten up! For those who do –

There’s Line Rider, a truly fun and innovative website on so many levels. I like Seth Godin’s summary of Line Rider vs. Playstation 3 in his post, Which is more fun? “Hint: the other might get you shot, cost you money, and be ultimately disappointing.” And he ain’t kidding!

You draw a line, push the PLAY button, and the little guy slides down the line you drew. Pretty simple in concept; remarkably complex potential. There’s actually an amazing amount of physics calculations going on behind the scenes. Check out these two for a sample of what’s possible (but seriously, only if you have plenty of time – and no life).

Risky Behavior Dept.

Hunting season in Texas might just become more exciting than ever. In a story worthy of an episode of The Simpsons, State Representative Edmund Kuempel is trying to pass a law that allows blind people to go hunting. Actually, it’s not really illegal for blind people to hunt, it’s just illegal for them to use the devices that enable them to hunt (things like laser sights and other high-tech devices).

The plan (no wait, let me use sneer marks here: the ‘plan’) is to have them use a special “offset scope” that lets a sighted person look through it and tell the blind person when to shoot. That way the blind person gets to pull the trigger (sound of Bevis & Butthead giggling here) and fully enjoy the thrill of hunting like the rest of us.

Hey, don’t get me wrong – I’ve been hunting (when I was younger), and I fully believe in it as a viable game management technique. But you have to ask yourself – is it really worth the risk? I mean, think about it. Most people absolutely HATE it when you tell them what to do – and now you’re going to do it to someone who’s holding a loaded gun?

Good Thing it Wasn’t a Virgin Dept.

It seems there’s a maintenance supervisor at Turkish Airlines who’s in a bit of a spot. He allowed his workers to celebrate a great job by sacrificing a camel, a practice (sacrificing an animal, that is, not specifically a camel) that many Turks celebrate during the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice (usually held in January). The Airline has put him on suspension pending an investigation.

But what’s the big deal? The story notes that after the ceremony all the workers shared the meat from the camel. We Americans sacrifice animals in celebrations all around the country, and at the drop of a hat, too. They’re often called “tailgate parties”, and they are held by football worshippers everywhere.

Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.

By the way, for those of you who might be new to the Middle Zone, or unfamiliar with OOB, you might want to check out the earlier episodes (#1 will explain it all):

OOB #1
OOB #2
OOB #3
OOB #4
OOB #5
OOB #6

Then again, you might not (but if this describes you, then a pox on thee!)

…Kidding.

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