Friday Snippets and Soundbites

We don't know about your week, but it's been a long one here in the ec offices. So what's a better way to get in the Friday frame of mind than with some random and interesting news stories from this week?

That's right: it's Friday and we've got this week's online edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" all ready to go. If you want to read even more news of the weird, be sure to check out "Snippets and Soundbites" on page 38 of this month's (and every month's) issue of ec.

Here's what we found:

It's going to get ugly.
We've all heard of ugly lawsuits. You know, the ones full of gossip, mud-slinging, and name-calling. But that's not what we're talking about. Nope, apparently you can sue because something's ugly. At least that's what a corporation that owns a swanky hotel in New York City is doing. The Paramount Realty Group of America Corp. claims that a couple from Iceland rented an apartment in one of their NYC hotels and failed to make promised renovations on time. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that the couple installed an "ugly" kitchen from IKEA in the 16th floor apartment they rented at the Gramercy Park Hotel. The lawsuit claims the kitchen is unsuitable for such a luxurious home. We have no idea how that will play out, but many of the staff members of ec love to shop at IKEA. Read all about it here.

Move over, "American Idol." 

Like to sing? Have a band? Heard about "Rock The Camp"? We recently got a press release about this online music competition and couldn't wait to share the info with you. A partnership production of Camp Electric, Premier Christian Cruises and Endavo media (an Atlanta-based Internet TV platform profider, Rock the Camp is an online contest for Christian bands. Bands from across the country can compete by uploading their music video or MP3 using Endavo Media's platform through February 28 (Sunday). Fans can register and vote for their favorites. The top 10 entries will be judged by music industry professionals who will select the grand prize winner. The grand prize is the opportunity to open for TobyMac in Nashville, a recording session with Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Ebersold, and a performance on K-LOVE Friends and Family Music Cruise. Get all the rules and information here and here. But act quickly! The deadline is Sunday and nearly 600 bands have already signed up!

For the record books.

Khagendra Thapa Magar is only 22 inches tall. And he wants the official title of World's Shortest Man. That's why he's traveling from Nepal, his home country, to Europe this week: to campaign for the Guinness World Record title. He applied for his place in the record book in October shortly after he turned 18, but hasn't gotten a response. So he's taking matters in his own hands and going to Europe to plead his case in person. He and his father plan to appear on an Italian talk show while they're in Europe, talking about his bid for the title of world's shortest man, of course. After they get to Italy, Magar, his father, and a supporter will decide what to do and where to go next. The current holder of the world's shortest man record is He Pingping of China, who is 29 inches tall. To read all about it, go here.