Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If you need more news of all things random and strange, check out “Snippets and Soundbites” on page 38 of this month’s (and every month’s) issue of ec. We’re always on the lookout for random bits of strange news to send your way! Like these . . .

• Think turtles aren't all that smart? One sea turtle seems dead-set on proving us wrong.  Why, you ask? Well, the sick loggerhead sea turtle  swam nearly to the front door of the only veterinary hospital licensed to treat—you guessed it—sea turtles exclusively. The  turtle, who weighs in at 73 pounds, was suffering from a bacterial infection and staff members initially ignored him when he swam up to the facility in the Florida Keys. Eventually, though, they checked him out, treated his condition with medicine, and gave him a blue tank to stay in until he's completely better. Read all about it (and see the turtle's pretty little face) here.

• Did First Lady Michelle Obama make a  mistake in etiquette when she —GASP!—touched the Queen while in conversation? The president and first lady are in London for the G-20 summit currently being held. During a reception this week, the first lady and Queen Elizabeth II were chatting and it appears Michelle Obama briefly placed her hand on the Queen's back. The first rule of etiquette regarding the Queen: Don't touch the Queen!  Well, there are exception to that rule. If the Queen offers her hand, you should return the gesture. Just don't give her a good ol' American handshake; simply touch her hand. It appears Mrs. Obama only put her hand on the Queen's back after the Queen had placed her own hand on the first lady's back during the course of the conversation. The Queen did not seem bothered by the action. For more information on that situation, go here. For more information on etiquette and the Queen, go here.

• Pink's a nice color, right? But what if the water coming out of your tap at home was pink? That would throw you for a loop, huh? Well, it happened in Painesville, Ohio, last weekend.  An official with the Lake County Department of Utilities northeast of Cleveland said the problem stemmed from a malfuction with a  chemical feeder that released too much of a chemical used to improve taste and control odor. No health problems have been reported due to the glitch and the system was completely flushed on Sunday. The wat over-treated water  has been completely cleared out of the filtration plant and water has returned to its normal color. But can you really say water has a color? Learn all about the pink water here. 

•  Finally, April is here! Meaning there's a new Question of the Month for you to answer. This month, we want to know what you would change your name to if you could.  Submit your responses here at the blog (look over in the sidebar!) or at our fan page on Facebook.