What on Earth would you write on your resume?

What on Earth would you write on your resume?

Have you ever read an article or seen a headline that stops you in your tracks while the words "What the.....?" echo through your mind. It could be a serious research but there is juuuust something about it that strikes you as funny. Knowing my oddball humour you can imagine my reaction when I read the following lead on an article in April 5 New Scientist (Jones N. 2003)

Sperm Get their Kicks from Lily of the Valley.

What the.......?

It seems that scientists have been wondering if human sperm like that of sea urchins follow a scent trail toward the ova. Now, who thought of comparing men to Sea Urchins? I have read a lot of those "Men are Like" lists you know the ones:-

Men are like SHOES - because they are usually unpolished, with their tongues hanging out.

Men are like CAR TIRES- because they go bald and are often over inflated.

Men are like HAMMERS - because they haven't evolved much over the last 5,000 years, but they're handy to have around.

But men and Sea urchins? I don't quite see the connection. Perhaps:- Men are like Sea Urchins - they sit around all day and grab whatever floats by ?. No, I still don't see a connection.

Be that as it may - these clever scientists have actually found olfactory receptors in sperm. a statement that had me wondering "What do these people write on their resumes?" Can you IMAGINE their job description?

The research has "borne fruit" so to speak. It seems that the sperm get so excited by a substance called bourgeonal that they "wag" their tails harder swimming twice as fast. (Mental image of..... no, I will leave that one alone). What does this bourgeonal smell like? Channel No5? Red Door? Poison? Any of the well known and more expensive perfumes? No it smells like Lilly of the Valley. A scent popular early last century.

I can remember my grandmother telling me about how she used to line her drawers with Lily of the Valley sachets. Now .......?

I just don't want to go there.

Ref. Jones N. 2003 Sperm Get their Kicks from Lily of the Valley: New Scientist April 5 p. 19